~Connor~
"Connor, please, for the love of God, explain to us why this couldn't wait until morning." Hank moaned, sipping his fourth mug of coffee.
At least Hank had cut back on the alcohol, but he had only traded one addiction for another. Stress was causing him to relapse and there was not much Connor could do to make work any easier. The meeting time was not ideal, but Connor had to bring everyone together. The DPD was scrambling to regain control of the chaos that RK900 left in his path.
On top of all that, Fowler was threatening their jobs after getting word of Hank and Connor's involvement with the Kairi. When Connor requested a 24/7 detail be put on the orphanage, Fowler needed answers. So, Connor stepped forward with the truth, and the captain was obviously not pleased. Agreed to the police detail as long as Hank and Connor worked from home with police surveillance in the area. Hank had not been keen on adding police presence in the neighborhood, and oddly Connor agreed. Police presence only drew in media attention, which was the last thing that they needed.
Everyone could at least breathe easy knowing that news of the RK900 had gone relatively unnoticed by the media. On the other hand, news of the data breach had leaked online and faith in the DPD. Not that the public had much in the prior. But it was not going to stop him from doing his job. Connor stood at the helm of his peers ready to tackle what Connor perceived to be his only enemy.
"We don't have the luxury of sitting around on our asses doing nothing," Connor asserted, rolling up his sleeves.
Tina, who had been the only one to attend the impromptu meeting prepared, gave Connor an approving nod. Connor liked that about Tina; though he figured that she was only helping as a favor to Reed. It warmed his bio components knowing that she had taken the time to gather intel was a breath of fresh air.
"I overheard Fowler talking about a call he got from the Commissioner," Tina whispered to Connor. "Commissioner Young told him to bench the two of you. Fowler was not happy." Tina paused to look over her shoulder at Reed. "I think it was a bullshit call."
Connor would have to look into the validity of the call from Commissioner Young later. The 24-hour downtime had hurt their case. Reed and Ben could only do so much without his involvement. Even Fowler knew that. So, it was no surprise that Markus had not agreed to allow them entry into Jericho.
Then, there was the matter of manpower and android power, which had drastically dwindled. There were still a few PC200 models that Connor was able to keep employed with the DPD. At least they had been grateful for Connor's intervenience; there were a few other androids as well he thought. Four PM700 had also stayed in the department. Although they were required to remain at the station. In accordance with law enforcement agencies, androids were not allowed to be armed; Connor was the only exception.
Connor glanced over at Reed, who sat with his face planted on the table. Zombie-like sounds seeped through his folded and bandaged arms whimsically. He wondered how someone so mentally unstable had a right to carry a weapon, while his kind had been legally restricted from even touching one. It just seemed logically incompetent of the government to allow such lackadaisical laws to exist for humans when it came to wielding a firearm in public.
Connor thought back to Hank, who had just as carelessly held his gun to his head at the pier, and even in protest to Reed in the interrogation room. It was not traditional behavior in the least bit. It was impulsive and dangerous. But Connor could relate, he had been impulsive at the bar, then again in the bathroom. While it was not the time or place, he smiled thinking back on his impromptu behavior. Admittedly, he would do it all again. Whether it was a lustfulness that he was feeling or just a deep willingness to please Hank, he liked the notion of intimacy. The way humans loved one another, and how that love could produce other humans, like Kairi. That alone fascinated Connor, Kairi was something that Kamski could never attempt to recreate.
Quietly, Connor sat a cup of coffee down on the table next to Reed, who had clearly had enough of being bossed around by a bunch of old men. Then, Connor shifted his gaze to Chris, who was getting chewed out by his wife via screen call. Chris shook his head and dragged his thumb across his neck as Connor waited for him to wrap things up. For security reasons, he sent his wife and son to spend a few days at his aunt's house. It was cheaper and safer than being at a hotel for an undetermined amount of time. Other officers had done the same.
It had only been a month, Connor thought, only a fucking month and shit had only gotten worse. Markus's vision seemed further and further out of sight than either of them had hoped. God, Markus, Connor had been ignoring his messages. He too would have to take a backseat because tonight Connor had other plans.
"Get to it then," Hank urged.
Connor took his place once again amongst his human peers with vigor in his voice. "RK900 hasn't been wasting time, and neither should we." Connor pointed out, his gaze shifting between Hank and Reed. "The strange cases our officers have been responding to must be linked."
"Exactly," Tina added. "Chris and I were reviewing our case files this afternoon and look at this." She pointed to her tablet and handed it to Hank. "These are just a handful of what we responded to in the last 72 hours."
Hank grabbed the tablet from her as Chris sighed his way back to the table.
"What am I looking at?" Hank asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Androids…behaving normally as if deviancy never happened. Moreover, reports of odd behavior across the city. Androids running impromptu diagnostics checks, reporting system interferences, freezing up when processing basic tasks, and software corruption." She paused to collect her thoughts.
"You've been working on tailing this android, while we've been getting these reports. At first, I thought they were unrelated, but after Connor showed us the AX400 model from the orphanage, her subtle behavioral change went unnoticed by her co-workers. That RK900 was responsible for that." Chris added. "What if its responsibility for all of these?"
"So, you think this RK900 can revert deviancy?" Hank questioned, shifting his gaze to Connor.
"If Connor and Markus can convert, then it's not even up for debate," Tina stated.
"Fuck!" Reed cursed before answering an incoming call.
Everyone paused to listen in as Reed excused himself from the room. It was an inbound call from the station. It was Detective Collins, Connor discerned from the pitch of the voice and Reed's overt look of annoyance. Hank downed the last of his black coffee before calling Sumo over to ease some of his tension. Connor felt Hank leering at him, he had done his best to act normal, but Hank had noticed his software glitch at the orphanage. He was thankful that Hank had removed his LED, it would be harder for him to see how stressed he was without it. Though his LED sat amongst his other CyberLife attire, he was not sure he would ever need it again.
"What do you think?" Chris asked Hank with a body nudge.
"That we're fucking screwed," Hank leaned back in his chair and folded his arms as Reed returned.
"That was Ben," Gavin stated, reclaiming his seat. "He's staying at a hotel with his wife and daughter tonight, he won't be able to attend this little soiree."
"Until this RK900 model is detained, no one's going to feel safe," Tina added, brewing more coffee.
"No, shit! Any ideas where it is?" Reed asked, looking at Connor.
"Unfortunately, his unpredictable behavior is a bit jarring." Connor assessed, skimming the files on Tina's tablet. "But, I have a hunch."
Hank turned abruptly to look at Connor. "Since when?" He asked.
Reed and Chris obtained photos of the missing, defective, and deactivated android models. Connor turned off the kitchen lights and displayed the images.
"Just now," Connor replied. "Markus might also be able to shine some light on the matter. We'll need access to the androids he rescued from the campsites."
"Fucking King of Jericho refused to give us access without detective plastic here, fucking prick hates humans," Reed commented, still fuming over the earlier incident with Markus.
"Ironic coming from the man that openly voices his disliking of androids on an hourly basis," Hank added.
"Fuck you, Hank, a month ago, you were right there with me until this plastic fucker showed up," Reed shouted, bringing the room to a halt.
"You got something to get off your chest there, Gavin?" Hank asked with a formidable gaze that made Reed buckle.
Connor wished he had been there when the two of them had gotten along. It would make working together so much easier. But here they all were tiptoeing around the past like it would catch them on fire. Perhaps it would tensions living off fumes. Connor was not oblivious to Reed's childish pouting and tantrums, hell he had dealt with Hank. The only difference was proximity and fate. Reed and Hank's tumultuous relationship needed mending and everyone in the room seemed to be aware of that, even the two of them.
Hank dismissed Reed and pointed out the map. "What do these marks mean?"
"White means that the android has been deactivated, purple means missing, and orange means active but behaving strangely," Tina explained as Reed begrudgingly reclaimed his seat.
The room fell into silence as the information stewed.
"There are only AP700 models reported missing here, and look here, several of these other models are older." Reed pointed out as Connor stepped behind him to make notations.
"Connor, what's the difference between the AP700 models and these models here. Inside wise?" Hank asked.
Connor took a moment to scan through the files and pulled up the schematics of all the androids. "AP700 models have a more powerful thirium pump than the PB600 models. They closely resemble Markus, RK900 and I's thirium pump regulators, though slightly altered and less powerful. As prototypes, the differences are rather significant. Markus' cerebral processing system is unique to him. My forensic, analysis and deciphering programs are unique to me. But I don't know enough about the RK900. These androids can retrieve and interpret data to better multitask based on human needs. Additionally, they are connected to the CyberLife service towers. Unfortunately, I have concluded that RK900 is fully aware of minute differences," Connor explained.
"Connor?" Tina called, lightly touching his arm.
Immediately, he knew what she had concluded. "The RK900 is targeting the newer models." Connor paused. "Older ones seem to be malfunctioning and deactivating themselves because their programming can't be reverted after conversion. Androids that were manufactured during the revolution who woke to be deviated simply revert to normal." Connor adjusted his shoulders as he felt a tick coming on.
Not only did Hank notice it, but Tina did too, Connor hated that he could not keep himself composed.
"Ha, normal," Reed interjected with finger quotes, eyeing Connor warily.
Fuck, even Reed noticed.
"So, he can't revert older models?" Chris confirmed with a brow raised.
"Not entirely," Connor corrected.
Pulling up a detailed map of the reports, Connor pointed out the locations where RK900 had traveled. Starting with the most obvious, the CyberLife tower, it was the center point of all the activity but that was what the android wanted them to think. Somewhere in Detroit was RK900's real hideout, but what they did have was RK900's chaotic path of conversion. Several of the branches of activity pointed to Jericho and that too had to be intentional.
"He can, but older models if not properly updated their software would not be able to support the conversion. The two systems would be incompatible." Connor paused, taking a moment to recall how the RK900 had been several steps ahead of him. "We assumed RK900 had been hiding out in the lower levels of the tower, but that was just to throw us off. He has been moving back and forth for about two weeks around the city." Connor assessed. "That includes Jericho."
"And Markus?" Hank asked.
"I have not said anything to him about the RK900 model, however, he has reported deviants behaving strangely as well," Connor replied. "I think RK900 is deliberately pointing us towards Jericho."
"What makes you think that?" Chris asked.
"These markers are time-stamped," Connor highlighted them for everyone to view. "They're sporadically positioned around Belle Isle. No two are exactly alike."
"So?" Reed urged.
"So, RK900 is doing all this on purpose," Connor paused.
"Why would it be doing all this if it's after you or that other tin can freak?" Reed asked.
"Good question," Connor replied. "RK900 has not targeted Markus, thus far. His attention on been on people closest to me."
Connor watched as Reed handed Hank the photo he found at CyberLife. Hank looked between Tina and Connor, then dropped his head as he seemed to struggle to come up with something to say.
"When were you going to tell me about this?" Hank asked, looking at Connor with frustration.
"I did not want to spook you old man, so I told him to keep his mouth shut," Reed jumped into Connor's defense.
Connor's eyes widened as the room fell into a surprising state of shock. Reed had done something nice for him twice now, defending him at the station and now taking the blame for withholding information. Maybe this was Reed's way of apologizing to him, Connor was not sire, but he touched him nonetheless.
Hank just groaned as Chris approached the display.
"What is it?" Chris asked as Connor zoomed in on the area Chris was referencing.
It was a small area just outside the invisible city limits, Connor was not sure what had been there recently. It was city-owned and operated. There were five androids that had been reported as missing from the same area, but at vastly times and the android's models were all different.
"Perhaps our first lead," Connor asserted.
"We're going to have to watch our backs," Tina added. "It's dangerous, the way it thinks makes me wonder if it's just toying with us."
"No, shit it is," Hank agreed. "I'd want any of you going out there alone. Got it?"
Everyone nodded. Reed sat up and leaned forward as if he had something to add, but as Connor moved towards Hank, Reed returned to his sulky posture before cracking his knuckles. Reed sipped at his lukewarm coffee, then gestured for Tina to join him. His coffee would have been warm had he not been sulking for so long, Connor noted as he glanced over to Hank. He too had already been in a rather foul mood, the photo had only soured it more. Connor could see the hurt between the aged lines on Hank's face. Connor was not intentionally keeping secrets from Hank, he just did not want him to be worried.
Though Connor's persistence in keeping things to himself had not really made things easier in hindsight. He was still determined to keep up appearances. Hank meant the world to him, he would be here now had it not been for his time learning from Hank, who looked hurt by Connor's lack of information sharing. However, there was enough stress going around for everyone.
It did not matter, who Connor was trying to protect, he was hurting the people around him whether he liked it or not. Even Reed, whose pride had taken a beating, was not immune to the havoc Connor's existence was causing.
"How do you explain this activity then?" Reed asked, folding his arms, and clicking his teeth impatiently, but he had a point. Several of the markers showed the same start time, varying by milliseconds if that.
"Perhaps RK900 has a partner. Someone had to release him, right?" Chris added out of the blue.
"Could be," Hank muttered, scratching his chin. "Who would have known he was down there?"
"What if this other android found him after scavenging for parts?" Tina stated. "No other heat signatures were shown to be coming from this area."
"Evidence dumping?" Chris shrugged. "Former employees were caught doping a large number of data files, some opted to rat out higher-ups, supervisors, shareholders, you name it."
"Yeah," Tina agreed. "It made it hard to arrest them when they were pointing fingers and the lack of evidence."
"Possibly," Connor replied, his concern growing in his chest as the clock struck midnight. "The humans that lost their jobs were not too pleased with the demolishing. Because CyberLife was not manufacturing parts, there were hundreds of androids across the nation scrambling for parts and humans that are furious that they have lost their jobs."
"Kamski has not been much help," Hank added, swatting his face in frustration.
"No, he hasn't," Connor confirmed.
Kamski's idea of helping was to supply goods at outrageously high prices that he knew most could not afford. His antics had also contributed to the rise in black market dealings, which were not part of Hank and Connor's job detail, but affected them nonetheless as it had Tina and Chris.
"Even with the junkyards and campsites closed, even red ice dealers are on the prowl for supply," Chris said, stretching out his aches and pains. "It's easier to cover more ground with a partner."
"How fitting that the demand for red ice has only risen. Now androids and humans are smuggling goods too." Hank noted visibly exhausted and suffering from a hangover that even four cups of coffee could not have cured. Hank groaned aloud in frustration as the veins in his forehead rippled to life.
"So, to sum up, we have a non-deviant android hitting reset on deviants to get back at Connor and another android gathering parts for illegal distribution?" Reed questioned.
"Obviously, RK900 can't be in two places at once," Tina stated with her arms folded.
"Markus told us many of the androids who sought out Jericho required repairing and parts before the revolution," Chris concluded, checking his watch for the time. "Why would they need so many parts now?"
"Many androids were abused by their owners and not properly maintained. They made their way to Jericho with the hopes of returning to working order," Connor stated in a softer and more agreeable voice.
"So, we got two tin cans working together?" Reed shouted as if demanding a response. "This is some fucking bullshit. What could this plastic fuck hope to gain?"
Connor interjected, "Maybe not looking to gain anything, but to insight fear."
"Yeah, the public is already scared," Chris added, making his way around the room.
"Anxiety leads to fear and fear leads to irrational thoughts and decisions," Connor stated, flipping through pictures of humans at war.
"Enough Connor," Reed ordered.
"But why?" Tina asked. "If he's pointing us towards Jericho after the androids fought for their freedom that would only jeopardize it now. Why would anyone help RK900 do that?"
"Why do humans keep repeating history? There are always going to be two sides to every coin. We just need to figure out what's motivating him to act." Hank added insightfully to the wonderment of the room.
"Why is any of this goddamn shit happening in the first place?" Reed questioned as he crossed his feet atop the table.
Hank swatted his feet down and scowled at him like a disapproving parent.
"What if RK900 does have an accomplice and they're both using Jericho as their hideout?" Chris shared.
"Without Markus knowing?" Hank contested, getting to start yet another pot of coffee.
"Think about it. They could be hiding in plain sight." Chris continued. "Blending in."
"It has Connor's face, right?" Tina looked to Reed.
"Yeah," Reed growled, roughing up his hair.
Connor and Hank glanced at each other, then glanced at Reed, who looked ridged with anger and frustration as he looked over his bandages. Reed was not the only one mad. Connor was trying to piece together the evidence that they had, but the more he tried the more apprehensive he became.
"It's plausible." Connor struggled to say.
"Chris, I think it's about time you took that exam," Hank commented with a supportive smile.
Connor knew Hank was referring to the test for Chris to become a detective. Chris had been purposefully malingering to avoid failure. He did not blame him. He had been afraid of failure too, hell he still was to some degree. He was more afraid of failing to protect his friends.
"So, what's the plan?" Tina asked, folding her arms, and peering out the window. "The timestamps are all over the place, and we've only got a few hours before dawn."
"Chris and Tina go back on surveillance for tonight. In the morning, they can check out these campsites nearest Jericho. With everyone on duty, calls will be slow. Fowler has all police drones back on a secure line, but all DPD station androids have been temporarily deactivated for the next 48 hours. Do as you normally would to avoid suspicion." Hank ordered, downing the last of his coffee. "Tomorrow, Connor and I will be back on duty. We'll head back to Jericho. This time…" He paused to look at Gavin. "Connor will take the lead."
"We'll need a warrant," Reed stated.
"I'll put in the request." Connor closed his eyes and quickly sent off the documents. "I'll also notify Markus of our visit."
Sleep lingered in everyone's goodbyes; even Connor felt the need to rest. A feeling he detested as he walked Tina and Chris to the door. It had just begun to sleet as they slipped past Sumo into the frigid night air. Hank did not bother with goodbyes; he would be seeing them in only a few hours anyway.
"Thanks, Connor. Night Lieutenant. Night Reed." Chris called out, bending down to pet Sumo goodbye. "Make sure they both get some sleep."
"Certainly," Connor replied as he turned to see Tina patting Gavin on the back. "Sorry for any inconvenience. Please apologize to your wife for me." He told Chris.
"Tell her yourself when you come over to meet Jayden for Christmas. Natasha told Hank he's not to refuse Christmas dinner." He laughed. "Much like you, she knows how to put him in his place."
"I look forward to it." Connor smiled. Chris grinned back a little disheartened look flashed across his face as Tina brushed past him.
"Night Connor." Tina leaned back and whispered as Chris began making his way to their cruiser. "Take it easy on him." She winked referring to Reed before joining Chris.
Connor waited by the doorway as Gavin gathered his things. Between his fractured hand, the bruises on his neck, and his wounded pride, Reed was not going to be of any use until he rested.
Grumpy and depleted looking, Reed took his time walking to the front door. Connor, who had been eerily still, seemed to bother Reed as he shivered by him. Hank stepped behind him and watched as Reed turned back as if he wanted to say something. Reed swore before as Connor fought off another uncontrollable tick.
"You can stay the night if you need," Connor offered, unbuttoning his shirt. "Fowler doesn't want anyone going off on their own or I could join you."
"Fuck that," Reed exhaled, throwing his body back with a callous laugh. "Besides I'll be back within the hour, I don't need the Lieutenant reporting me. Plus, I gotta feed my cat." Reed added, putting on his jacket and stepping into the cold night. "Tin can?"
Connor paused scanning the surrounding area, the hint of paranoia still lingering over him like a dark cloud. He eased the door shut as Reed turned back.
"Forget it." Reed took one last look at Connor before the door closed.
Quickly, he sent Reed a quick message, hopefully ensuring that he would return within the proper window of time.
[You have 58 minutes and 47 seconds remaining] Connor texted.
[FUCK YOU] Reed replied.