- NOV 8TH, 2038 -

- PM 04:13:34 -

After a quick explanation of what I had missed, I watched as Connor walked over to the screen with the security footage. "I hadn't even thought of watching those."

"Well, that's why I'm here. To make sure you get to stuff you would have missed," Connor said, smiling a little. I watched as he wound the tape forward, then back a little, then forward again. There were four androids, one of which pressed a button on the door.

"They didn't break in?" I questioned. Connor looked at the cop who had walked them in.

"No, no signs of forced entry."

"There are cameras in the hallway. The staff would have seen what was happening," Connor pointed out, looking between the cop and the cameras, "Why did they let them in?"

Hank shrugged when I looked at him. "Maybe they didn't check the cameras..."

I thought back to my time as a receptionist. It wasn't often when I would find myself just looking at the cameras. Just when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

"Makes sense," I mumbled. Connor looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

As he continued to talk to Hank, I looked at the chair that I had been leaning on. The back read 'Android'.

"We stored the station androids in the kitchen. There's no evidence that they were involved but we didn't know what else to do with them." The cop explained. Connor looked towards the kitchens but hesitated. I, quite frankly, didn't even want to interrogate anyone today, so I wasn't about to go in there.

I leaned against the desk and looked around, noticing little things. Bullet holes in the wall, officers milling around. Connor turned to the screen next to me, and he motioned for the worker to play the video.

I watched as Connor's eyes scanned the screen. His shoulders relaxed, and his face softened.

"Think that's rA9?" Hank asked from Connor's other side. I looked at him, I hadn't even thought of that.

"Deviants say rA9 will set them free. This android seems to have that objective." His voice was... flat. Eyes remained fixated upon the android on the screen.

"D'you see something?" Hank asked, looking at Connor.

Connor hesitated, "I identified its model and serial number..."

"Anything else we should know?" I asked.

Connor looked at me, shook his head, and looked back at the screen, "No, nothing."

Hank nodded, walking off. I watched as Connor's head hung a little before he too walked away.

Feeling really useless here. Fuck, Fowler, couldn't I have just stayed in my hospital room this time? I rubbed my shoulder, trying to get rid of the aching.

I watched as Connor walked around, scanning over the room. I'm sure his software was telling him exactly what guns the deviants used, how many shots they took, exactly where they went. Part of me ached for the power to be able to do that. To be able to do my job perfectly. But I knew that I would never be able to. Not for years and years.

I gripped my arm, hugging into myself. I continued to watch as Connor walked around.

Hank approached me, "How's your shoulder?"

I looked at him, "I wish Fowler had let me just stay in the hospital. Honestly."

Hank laughed, patting my good arm. We noticed Connor begin the ascent to the rooftop, so we took off after him.

The hallway was cramped, the dark colors seemingly making it even smaller. I could feel the cold outside, and the shivering that began certainly didn't help my shoulder. Again my arms wrapped around myself, but this time in an attempt to warm myself up.

Connor gently opened the door, allowing for me and Hank to cross the threshold before closing it.

"They made their way up through the whole building," Hank mentioned casually, "past all the guards, and jumped off the roof with parachutes. Pretty fucking impressive I'd say."

"Yup," I said, looking around. The tops of other skyscrapers were the only things I could see without looking down. The thought of just how high we were was enough to get my stomach churning. I stepped a little closer to the door, fighting off the urge to just run back inside and down the stairs.

Connor began scanning things without a word. He hadn't been talking much since the video- not even his usual little quips. Was everything alright? I made a mental note to talk to him after we finished here.

I walked forward, approaching two officers who had their helmets on. I didn't know who they were, and they looked like they were busy anyway. Maybe it was for the best.

My nose began to tingle just as Connor gently pushed past me. His steps were frantic, and he seemed... worried. Just as worried as I was.

An android feeling fear? What was going on with him?

Maybe I'm wrong, I thought, looking around as well. I spotted an extra parachute in the duffle bag on the ground.

"Connor," I said gently, pointing to the bag when he looked at me.

"How'd they manage to smuggle in a big bag like that?" Hank asked, walking over.

"I don't think they could have," I mumbled.

"They didn't," Connor said, looking over the bag. "Someone brought it in for them."

"They had an extra parachute. Think they accidentally grabbed it?" I asked, thinking over the broadcast room. Was there an extra deviant?

"Maybe they just messed up," Hank said bluntly.

"Unless one of the deviants was left behind," Connor replied, standing and whirling around a bit. I followed behind him, pointing out the few blue blood traces that I could see. Connor sent a smile at me each time I did before kneeling down to analyze it.

We approached one of the AC units (I think- I'm a cop, not a technician) and I noticed a pattern that looked more like a handprint than a splatter. I nudged Connor, pulling out my gun.

"Mae, just stand back. You'll hurt yourself again," Connor reprimanded gently.

I sighed and nodded, backing up a little. Connor leaned forward, opening the door without a thought. He peeked inside, looking around-

BANG! Connor fell to the ground and the deviant followed after. I was too shocked to move for a second, but as soon as I saw blue blood leaking out of Connor I sprung into action. I grabbed his arm, pulling him behind one of the other bits on the roof as the Deviant hid behind the tube in front of the building he was in.

"Are you okay, Connor?" I asked, the sounds of gunshots filling the air. Hank appeared next to me, panting and gun raised.

"We have to stop them! If they destroy it, we won't learn anything!" Connor cried.

"We can't save it, it's too late!" Hank reprimanded from beside me, "We'll just get ourselves killed!"

Connor took off. I yelled, reaching out for him. I watched as he dodged bullets, jumping over the deviant's cover. I stood, running after him now that the other officers were no longer shooting at us. I watched as Connor grabbed the deviant's arm, their hands turning white.

I stopped, watching in horror as the deviant raised the gun and shot itself. It slumped to the ground as Connor backed away, staring at it.

I circled around to him, "Connor." He didn't seem to hear me. I grabbed his arm, moving him away from the body as other officers approached, "Connor!"

What I saw broke my heart. Connor's eyes were wide, and from what I could feel, he was trembling. His stare was blank, and his mouth moved like a fish out of water. Connor leaned heavily on the tube, breathing ragged. I noticed his LED, red.

"Connor! Connor you all right?" Hank asked, approaching us.

"Okay..." Connor managed out.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, gripping his hand.

"I'm ok..." Connor said, voice shaking harder.

"Jesus!" Hank mumbled, standing up straight, "Oh, you scared the shit outta me. For fuck's sake, I told you not to move! Why do you never do what I say?"

"Hank!" I cried, looking at him.

"I was connected to its memory..." Connor said softly, keeping his gaze on the deviant. "When it fired... I felt it die..." His breathing sped up, "Like I was dying. I was scared..." His gaze met mine, voice breaking.

My heart shattered at that. I grabbed Connor's hand, gently moving him away from the body.

"I saw something, in its memory," Connor mumbled, pulling away from me but not straightening up, "a word, painted on a piece of rusty metal." He looked at Hank, "'Jericho'."