Chapter Ten

Wren sat on the floor of her room, throwing a tennis ball at the wall and then catching it after its bounce. Wall. Floor. Hand. Wall. Floor. Hand. Wall. Floor. Hand. The rhythm counted seconds, since Wren's room lacked a clock. If she wanted to know the real time, she would have to go to the gym or cafeteria, and she really did not feel like seeing other people. Part of her knew it was unhealthy for her to isolate herself, especially within her room at Prometheus. Prisoners in solitary confinement usually deteriorated mentally, and with the monotonous wall-floor-hand-wall-floor-hand of the tennis ball, Wren felt insanity creeping in already. Another part of her brain wondered if she would really feel insanity creeping like a vignette in her mind.

Wall.

She wondered if Connor and the others had gone through the medical files she found.

Floor.

Was there anything useful, or was it just diagrams of her mechanics?

Hand.

Had Rhett even taken the flash drive to them?

Wall.

What if there were details of the horrific things she'd done on those files?

Floor.

What if Connor saw her do something awful, and no longer wanted her?

Hand.

Wren flinched when her door opened and Rhett walked in. Rhett looked down at the tennis ball clenched tightly in Wren's hand. "You look like you're having the time of your life in here."

Wren dropped the ball and flexed her fingers before standing. "Yeah. I can see why Prometheus so desperately wanted me back, with all this waiting around for missions." She glared at the video camera in the corner of the room.

"Uh huh," Rhett lifted a brow. "Look, I'm really busy, which is why I came here instead of having someone bring you to me. Too much of a hassle."

"Just checking to see that Prometheus is behaving? Or I am?"

"Both," said Rhett, walking around the room with his hands in his pockets. "I love what you've done with the place." He indicated to the blank walls, the solitary bed, the corner with the toilet and shower, and the single florescent light illuminating the room. The only thing with color was the tennis ball, which rolled across the floor and tapped into the wall before rolling underneath the bed.

"Ha, ha. What's up?"

"That case the DPD's working on? It might be bigger than them," said Rhett.

Wren folded her arms. "The androids killing humans and then themselves case? How so?"

"I'm sure you've been informed that there was Typhon insignia on the bodies of the androids, right?"

"You think they tell me anything here?"

"I'd hoped they would tell you about this," said Rhett. "I don't have the case file with me because I assumed you were up-to-date on this. All we really know is that their symbol is branded onto the bodies of the androids."

"Who is Typhon, exactly?" Wren leaned against the cinderblock wall.

"We're not really sure. All we know is that Typhon and Prometheus have corresponded in the past, but we're not sure if they're enemies or allies. But if Typhon is really doing this, then Prometheus better hope they're enemies."

Wren's lips quirked. "Are you hoping that Prometheus gets involved?"

"I—and I speak for the CIA too—hope that Typhon is stopped before this gets worse."

"Worse how?"

"I'm guessing you're not familiar with Typhon's other work, are you?"

"I know a little," said Wren, sitting beside Rhett.

"They're notoriously anti-android. I'm worried that these murders are just test runs for something bigger."

Wren balanced her elbows on her knees and clasped her hands. "What can I do?"

"Nothing, yet. I'm about to have a meeting with Agent Thomas. I just wanted to keep you informed." Rhett stood.

Wren walked him to the door and stopped to stare into his eyes, hoping for some sort of sign that he had passed along the flash drive, seen its contents, and was going to get her out. Some part of her heart crumpled when she saw nothing in Rhett's eyes. But really, how much could he tell her with just a look?

He squeezed Wren's shoulder and left her room. Wren scrunched her lips together and plopped onto her bed, staring at the blank ceiling.

…

The next day, Wren followed an irate Pauline Thomas across the walkway toward the infirmary. Wren tried to swallow her heart as it hammered in the back of her mouth. She wanted to throw up as they neared the infirmary. They knew. They knew what she did. They were about to show her evidence of her crime, or interrogate her, or the Sicilian androids were going to torture her—

But Pauline walked past the infirmary to a massive metal door. She scanned her ID card and the doors slid open. Oh. An elevator. Wren relaxed slightly and stepped onto the elevator with Pauline. She hit the buttons for her floor number: ten. Wren examined the buttons. They only went up to ten, but went down to negative thirteen. Underground?

When the elevator doors opened, Wren blinked at the harsh light. This level of Prometheus differed greatly from the lower level of zero, where Wren resided. There were windows along the top of the walls, letting in bright daylight that stung Wren's eyes. It looked less like a cinderblock bunker and more like a hospital or CEO's office. It was an odd mix. Linoleum floors, white walls, and florescent lights like a hospital, but glass doors and sharp, modern-looking furniture like a CEO's office. They walked down the corridor until they arrived at Pauline's office. Hers was the most elaborate office. The floor looked like white marble. The chairs were square-shaped and black leather. Her desk was sleek and black. A white monitor sat atop the desk's surface. Behind the desk were windows, but they were covered by curtains so Wren couldn't see out them. A crystal chandelier hung above the desk. Photos of a man and a little girl decorated Pauline's desk. Wren glanced toward Pauline's left hand. A wedding band.

It was weird to think of Pauline as married and as a mother. There was no way Miss Waterboard-the-agents-if-they're-disobedient was also a Mrs. Get-milk-on-your-way-home type. How could Pauline watch as Wren or the other cyborgs scream in pain and go to fucking ballet recitals? Did Prometheus even allow vacation time for their higher-ups? Did Pauline go home on weekends—

"I'm sure you know why you're here," said Pauline, sitting at her desk. She gestured for Wren to take a seat.

Wren sank down in the uncomfortable leather chair. "Uh… No. I don't."

Pauline locked her fingers together. Wren tried not to scowl at Pauline's pink fingernails. "I met with Agent Anson yesterday, and we've reviewed the evidence you obtained from the DPD. Typhon is indeed involved in this, and Prometheus is interested in stopping them."

Wren straightened. "Why?"

Pauline's face tightened. "Typhon doesn't normally target humans, but they are directly attacking them. As I've stressed to you before, Prometheus is interested in saving human lives. If these attacks keep occurring, more human lives will be threatened."

Wren narrowed her eyes. "There have only been four human deaths so far. That doesn't seem like it's hardly worth Prometheus's attention."

"Four confirmed human deaths, yes," said Pauline. "But I pulled my resources. Other attacks like this have occurred across Michigan and the surrounding Detroit area. Those did not end in human deaths. The androids malfunctioned and shutdown before anything truly distressing happened."

Wren gritted her teeth but swallowed her scathing remark. "Anson told me that these could be test runs for something bigger."

"I agree," said Pauline. "The DPD does not have the resources to get close to Typhon, and I want a close eye on this investigation. But Prometheus can't just take the case from the DPD. Because these attacks could become a serious issue, and I need someone on the inside of this case, it appears that Prometheus and the DPD need to be allies."

Wren folded her arms. "How so?"

"Well, we will send an agent to cooperate on this case. It will be beneficial to both parties."

"And which agent will you send?"

"I thought that would have been obvious. You."

Wren laughed. "Me?"

"I thought you'd be pleased. You'd get to see your friends again."

"Of course I want to be pleased. But I'm not stupid. You wouldn't trust me around them."

"I don't trust you. However, I trust your desire to protect them. I trust that you'll be a threat to Prometheus if we threaten them."

"So, why not kill me?" Wren shrugged.

"Because you're a resource and an investment. Prometheus doesn't waste investments or resources."

"So, you're sending me because I might be a threat?"

"Partially. The DPD trusts you, and you have a good relationship with Agent Anson, who you will be reporting to as usual. The DPD wouldn't trust an outsider and would complicate solving this case."

Wren smirked. "And you want to look good for the CIA."

Pauline's smile failed to reach her eyes. "You're being assigned this case, but don't forget, 01: We're watching you. You said you didn't want Prometheus near your friends, so we're obliging by assigning you to the case. But if we find out you're conspiring with them, if you tell them things you shouldn't, if you do anything that marks you as a threat to Prometheus's security, then I will send one of our top assassins to get rid of your friends in the most painful way they can experience it. Understood?"

Wren clenched her teeth and nodded. "Am I dismissed?"

"I'll walk you," said Pauline, getting up from her seat. They walked back to the elevator. Wren curled her fingers toward her palms.

The elevator ride remained silent until they reached Wren's floor. Pauline stuck out her bony hand to stop the doors from closing behind Wren.

"Remember, 01: You are there to solve a case and to finish your mission, not reconcile with your friends. As soon as this case is solved, you will return to Prometheus."

Wren dipped her head. Pauline smiled and withdrew her hand. The doors closed, and Wren returned to her wing of Prometheus. She wanted to be excited. She was going home, even if for a little bit. She was going to see Tina, North, Hank… Connor. All of her friends—her family—together again. But a fresh wave of prickling, nauseating anxiety washed over her. How was she going to protect them? She couldn't let Prometheus think she was conspiring with them or even reconciling with them. She had to maintain some sort of distance from them. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't just pick up where she left off with them.

Wren sought the cafeteria of her wing, praying that no one else sat in there. She relaxed a little upon finding it empty. She made herself a cup of coffee and added too much creamer for Connor's liking. She felt as empty as the cafeteria as she sat down to sip on her coffee. She wondered what Connor was doing. Probably at the precinct, working a case. Or maybe a crime scene, analyzing evidence.

Footsteps echoed through the room as Nina entered. Wren tightened her jaw and set her coffee mug down. Nina sat across from her. "I heard you're going to Detroit."

"News travels fast."

"06 already knew about it."

Wren puckered her brow. Why would 06 already know about it? "Are you guys going to be the ones to kill me if I screw this up?"

Nina's face tautened. "I hope not."

Wren brought the mug to her lips but said, "Why, you like me or something?"

"I thought we were becoming friends."

Wren's lips twitched. She sipped her coffee and set the mug down. "Yeah, me too."

Nina parted her lips but looked down at her clasped hands. Her eyes flicked toward the video camera in the corner of the room. "I know you broke your rib on purpose."

Wren stopped breathing for a moment. Nina seemed just as tense. "So, why haven't you told anyone?"

They spoke in low enough voices that the video camera would have trouble picking up their conversation, but Wren still angled her back to it slightly.

"Because I believe you're the only honest person here," breathed Nina.

"Careful," Wren uttered, "you don't want anyone to hear that."

"I know," Nina's gaze flicked to the camera. "I wanted to ask you something. And I know you'll be honest with me."

Wren's chest clenched. "I will try."

"What's it like? Being in love?" Nina's eyebrows curved as she gazed at Wren.

"I don't really know how to answer that. I'm not… I'm not with the person I love anymore."

"But you still love him," said Nina. "The RK800."

Wren swallowed. "Yeah, I do." Her voice cracked and she lowered her head.

"So, what's it like?"

Wren stared at her cooling coffee. "Being apart from him… This is the worst thing in the world. Sometimes I wish we'd broken up badly, so I could move on or he could hate me, but… We're in this in-between now. In between what we were, what we could've been… and what we are now, whatever that is. We both need to move on, but it's hard when it doesn't really feel like it's over."

Nina's shoulder slumped and her face fell.

Wren leaned forward and lowered her voice. "Being in love feels like… I can't really describe it. It's different for everyone, but for me… I guess it was like coming home. And I'd do anything to keep him safe. Understand?"

Nina nodded. Wren trembled, knowing Prometheus listened in on her, so she reached forward and gripped Nina's hand. They interfaced.

Don't confide in me. They're always listening.

Wren withdrew her hand, tapped her ear and raised her eyebrows at Nina, who nodded. Wren stood and dumped her coffee into the sink. She turned to Nina and tried to smile, but her lips were weak. "I'll see you around."

Wren nearly missed the way Nina's shoulders dropped with her gaze and the scrunch of her brows. Wren wished she could forget that look on Nina's face. It would make leaving her behind easier.

…

Wren awoke in a blank, pre-furnished apartment. 06 sat across from her. He stood when Wren stirred and scowled at him. "Welcome to your new apartment. At the end of every week, one of the squad will observe you and review your progress. Remember that you're here to complete a mission, not fuck your little android boytoy."

Wren clenched her teeth for a moment. She forced herself to relax. "I thought I was reporting to Rhett Anson?"

"You are. We're checking to make sure you're doing your job. You'll probably never know we're here." 06 flashed her a sharp smile.

Wren bared her teeth. "Must suck being reduced to a babysitter, huh?"

06's smile faltered. "Only because of you."

"Or maybe you're not as good at missions as you thought."

06 curled his hand into a fist. Wren laughed.

"Go ahead, hit me. I fucking dare you."

06 narrowed his eyes. "You should be goddamn scared of me, 01. You're obsolete. Your time is running out." He stood and headed for the door.

"Okay, have a good rest of your day, asshole." Wren closed and locked the door behind him. On the kitchen table sat a file folder with the case's information. Wren scanned it before checking the bedroom. She wrinkled her nose at the blandness of the room—grey and white—because it reminded her of her cell back at Prometheus. Her closet was empty. They did provide her with the same body wash, shampoo, razer, and toiletries that she possessed at Prometheus. Wren grabbed her keys.

She took the train and walked a few blocks until she arrived at the Detroit Police Department. Stepping inside, Wren's heart jumped to her throat. She headed straight for the bullpen.

"Excuse me, ma'am!" called a male voice. Wren stopped. The doors glowed red. She no longer had access to come and go in the precinct. Closing her eyes for a moment, Wren stepped back and approached the front desk. The secretary was a familiar face.

"Oh. Hey, Casper."

Casper brightened when he recognized Wren. "Detective Morgan!" His face faltered. "Oh… It's not detective anymore… Or Morgan…"

Wren braved a smile. "Yeah… Just Wren Blanchard."

"Well, Agent Blanchard, Captain Fowler informed me of your involvement on the case. Let me just authorize your access."

Wren furrowed her brow. "How do you know I'm an agent?"

Casper smiled. "Everyone knows you left the precinct to join the CIA."

Wren pursed her lips and dipped her head. Casper handed her a keycard. Wren took it and entered the precinct. She slinked to the elevator without anyone really noticing her and took it to the HAD floor. Wren made her way to the stations that the HAD occupied. Her heart jumped from her stomach to her throat and back again. She paused and her breath hitched.

Tina, Gavin, Chris, Hank, and Connor. They sat together at a conference table littered with tablets, empty coffee cups, crime scene photos, and forensics reports. They all looked tired. Tina bounced her knee, shaking a pencil between her fingers. Chris rubbed his face. Gavin pinched his nose and downed the rest of his coffee. Hank rested his hand on his knuckles, eyeing the case with a furrowed brow. Even Connor looked tired. His LED cycled between blue and yellow. He peered down at a tablet with half-lidded eyes.

"Jesus, we just keep hitting dead ends," Gavin slammed his empty cup down. Wren couldn't see his face, but she imagined the wrinkled of his scarred nose.

"Need some help?" she called.

Everyone's attention snapped to her, and her neck prickled with heat. Tina dropped her pencil. Gavin folded his arms as he stared at her.

"You here to steal more of our evidence?"

Wren smiled dryly. "Not this time. I'm here to help you find some."

"They… They sent you to help us?" Tina breathed.

Wren inched forward, but somehow, she felt like a stranger in her own home. She folded her arms. "Since Typhon seems to be behind this, Prometheus wants in. And because they're actually honoring my agreement with them, I'm the agent they sent to work with you."

"So… You're back?" Chris raised his eyebrows.

"For now," Wren allowed.

Connor didn't question her. Instead, he approached her slowly with that soft look in his eyes and parted lips. Then, he hugged her. Wren squeezed her eyes shut and clung to him.

But if we find out you're conspiring with them, if you tell them things you shouldn't, if you do anything that marks you as a threat to Prometheus's security, then I will send one of our top assassins to get rid of your friends in the most painful way they can experience it.

I'd do anything to keep him safe.

Remember that you're here to complete a mission, not fuck your little android boytoy.

I'd do anything to keep him safe.

You should be goddamn scared of me, 01. You're obsolete. Your time is running out.

I'd do anything to keep him safe.

Wren let go of Connor rather abruptly. His brow puckered, but he said nothing. Wren hugged Hank and Tina, but kept it brief. Part of her knew she was being silly. Prometheus couldn't hear her hug people. But some part of her felt Prometheus's eyes on her.

She braved a smile. "Fill me in."

…

As it turned out, there wasn't much the HAD could fill Wren in on. She already knew the case pretty well. There was only one thing new, and that was because of the new bodies discovered the day before: Typhon left an insignia on the human body as well.

"We had the other bodies checked, and we missed the Typhon symbol because the bodies were in such bad shape," Chris grimaced.

Hank rubbed his knuckles. "So, did Prometheus give you any info about Typhon that could help us out?"

"Not really," Wren muttered, "just that they're very interested in solving this case and that we're welcome to resources if we need them. Based off of what we have so far, I'd say it's safe to look into the victims' backgrounds a little closer."

"Yeah, that was on the agenda," said Tina.

"They really didn't give you anything?" Gavin pouted.

Wren pressed her lips together in a grim, apologetic smile. "I don't have top clearance there."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Gavin huffed, leaning back in his chair.

"Look, we should call it a night. Wren, you got a place to stay?" Hank said, pushing in his chair.

"Yeah, Prometheus put me in an apartment," Wren folded her arms as everyone else gathered up the files. "But I'll need to pick up some of my clothes if that's okay, Tina."

"Yeah, totally. It's your stuff."

Wren managed a smile, but her heart sank. She wanted to fit back in with them, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was an outsider. As long as Prometheus listened to everything she said and heard, she would remain an outsider.

"Alright, well, Wren you can ride with us."

"Where?" Wren stiffened.

Hank exchanged a glance with Connor before meeting Wren's gaze. "We're gonna catch up some, kid."

Wren swallowed as her gaze flicked around. "I… I'm supposed to focus on the case." She lowered her gaze as heat dusted her cheeks.

"We've worked on the case some. There's not much more we can do till tomorrow. We can grab some clothes from Tina's and then catch up. Okay?" Hank raised his eyebrows at her.

Wren nodded. She followed Hank and Connor to Hank's car. She slid into the backseat like she used to, and tried to ignore the looks Hank shot her through the rearview mirror. The car ride to Tina's simmered in awkward silence. Wren looked at her hands. Hank parked in the driveway. He twisted in his seat to bore his eyes into Wren. She pretended to look out the window.

"We'll wait for you in the car."

"Thanks." Wren got out and hurried to the front door. She knew Hank and Connor talked about her as soon as she left, but she didn't want to hear what they had to say.

Tina let Wren in. "It's weird that they won't let you stay with us."

Wren nodded as she headed for her old room. Tina followed. Wren entered and started tossing clothes into a bag. Tina helped pick some things out. Wren paused and met Tina's gaze.

"I…" Wren lowered her gaze.

"This is awkward," Tina offered.

Wren looked up and half-smiled. "Yeah. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"That this is awkward."

"Oh." Tina shrugged. "It doesn't have to be, you know?"

Wren slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll try to be less awkward."

Tina grinned. "Cool. It really is good to have you back. Even if it's not forever."

Wren's heart tugged. "Yeah. Detroit's definitely better scenery than Prometheus."

When she finished packing, Wren hurried back outside and slid into Hank's car. She said nothing when he drove to CyberLife instead of to a restaurant.

"Just delivering something to Kamski to see if he can help us with the case," Hank explained as they walked inside. Wren walked through the security scan and rode the elevator with them to the secure room. Once inside, Wren found herself locked in a room Rhett, North, Markus, Josh, Gavin, Tina, Chloe (how the heck did they beat Wren here?), Hank, and Connor. Chris probably chose to go home to his wife and son, which Wren did not blame him for.

"We went over the files you gave us," said Rhett. "Well, most of them. But we found evidence. You didn't sign the contract willingly. You were coerced and there's fucking proof, Wren."

Tina clasped her hands together and grinned. "We can get you out. CIA can launch an investigation."

"You can come home for good, kid," Hank beamed.

Wren looked at Connor. He offered her a tired twitch of his lips. Wren's throat swelled. She started to smile, then stopped. Nina. Wren's smile faltered. She lowered her gaze. "I can't."

"Can't? The fuck you mean you can't? We found a way to get you out," Gavin scowled at her.

"I know, but…"

"You've been saying you want out all this time and now you have the chance to, and you don't want it?" Rhett folded his arms.

Tina looked hurt. "Did you ever want out?"

"Of course I want out," Wren breathed. "I… There are others at Prometheus. People like me. Other cyborgs who are close to deviating, who are trapped there, people that…" Wren stopped and took a breath.

"They're your people," North stated.

Wren lifted her eyes to meet North's and nodded. "Yes. I can't just leave them behind. They're in danger and it's my fault. If I hadn't been around them… They might not be deviating in the worst possible place to break your programming. They're in the heart of Prometheus. I can't just leave them behind—"

"Kid, calm down," said Hank, holding up his hands. He placed them on Wren's shoulders. "We're with you. You don't need to give yourself an aneurism trying to explain. Our jobs just got a whole lot harder, but we're with you."

Wren's eyes filled with tears. She breathed a smile. "Thank you."

Kamski, who Wren failed to notice in the back corner of the room, stepped forward, his lips slanting with a smirk. "Well, if you're going to infiltrate Prometheus, you're going to need some tech to help you. It seems I've got some inventing to do."

Wren dipped her head to him. Rhett approached her. "If at any point, this gets too dangerous, say the word, and we'll pull you out. We'll get you out."

Wren patted his arm. "Thank you." She turned to Connor again and offered him a small smile. He took her hand and squeezed it. Wren faced her friends, Connor's hand in hers. "I have to make them think that I'm still following their rules. They've given me strict orders to focus on the case, not 'reconcile or conspire' with any of you. If we're going to take them down, then I have to gain their trust, or at least maintain the little trust I have with them already."

"So, no talking about Prometheus outside of this room?" Hank guessed.

Wren pursed her lips for a moment. "Definitely not."

"Okay, well you at least have to catch up with us," said Tina. "I have so much to tell you."

Wren cracked a smile. "Okay, but it'll have to be another time. They knock me out every time I leave Prometheus and that's not exactly a good night's rest. I haven't really slept in the past forty-eight hours."

"C'mon, kid, we'll drive you home," Hank offered.

"Wait," called North, getting up from her seat. She hugged Wren tightly for a moment. "Don't be a stranger."

A knot formed in Wren's stomach as she pulled away. She tried to avoid North's gaze as she ducked out of the secure room. The silence in the car ride to Wren's apartment broke only as the navigation system announced directions to Hank.

"Thanks for the ride," Wren muttered, pushing open the door.

"No problem, kid," Hank replied.

To Wren's chagrin, Connor also stepped out of the car and walked her to her apartment. She paused outside the door. She avoided his gaze, instead training her eyes on her hands.

"I'm sorry," she blurted, meeting Connor's eyes.

His LED flickered. "Why?"

"I know this wasn't what you wanted."

Connor's mouth tightened for a moment. He looked down. "Oh."

"It's just…"

"You don't have to explain," said Connor; his eyes softened. "I know you wouldn't be able to sleep until you did everything you could."

Wren managed a small smile. "Thank you for understanding."

Connor dipped his head. Wren gave his hand a squeeze, and then slipped inside her apartment before her resolve broke and she kissed him.

…

Hey guys! So, Wren's back in Detroit and ready to solve the case! Let's see how they all handle this new development, shall we? ?

Thank you all so much for your support and loving feedback! I'm always so moved when I see your support!