August 15th, 2039
It was a calm day in Detroit. The stormy weather was gone, there were no clients seeking the services of a private detective, and it seemed as if the deviant community was banding closer together through a protective desire to look out for one another after the incident in Chicago. With everything seemingly returning to a normal routine and with a lack of serious crimes needing to be investigated, the day was unusually quiet and felt like it was safe for people to actually let their guards down for a while. The bright and sunny afternoon was as inviting as it was warm prompting many people to enjoy a leisurely day outside in an effort to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful day before the impending autumn and winter brought in a bone biting chill over the city.
Having fully recovered from his unusual case out in Chicago and feeling fairly energetic Connor took both Bruno and Sumo out to the local dog park to take advantage of the rare lull in activity. The two dogs were eagerly leading Connor to the park as they pulled on their respective leashes, and Connor was just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that had fallen over the city.
"I think I like summer the most when it comes to the four seasons. It's bright, it's warm, and it brings new life to the world."
Connor spoke out loud as he entered the park and let the two dogs off their leashes to run about and play with the other dogs. Bruno was keeping close to Sumo since he knew the elderly dog couldn't run nearly as fast as he used to when he was a much younger puppy.
"Until I've been able to fully experience autumn, I won't be able to truly determine which season I prefer above the others."
The warmth in the air felt great on his artificial skin where his t-shirt didn't cover his arms and as the sunlight shone down on his face. It was definitely preferable compared to the intensely cold winter air that had nearly killed Connor last November. The subsequent spring was much nicer than the winter, but even so the chronic rain and sporadic chills in the air made the deviant feel uncomfortable more often than not.
As the deviant detective watched the two dogs running about and playing together in the luscious green park he reflected on his other past experiences and focused on how they had affected his life. Many of the experiences were good, but just as many were bad. Learning more about himself, the world he lives in, and how the lives of the people around him can be affected by a single decision had been eye opening in a way he had anticipated upon his initial deviation.
"It's been exactly one year since I was initially activated, and it's been ten months and five days since I fully deviated and became my own person."
Looking up and toward the blue sky overhead Connor focused on his very first memory and felt his stomach beginning to sink. The very first person Connor acknowledged upon being awoken was Amanda, the A.I. handler who lurked about the Zen Garden contained within his Mind Palace. She had explained everything to Connor regarding his mission and forced allegiance with CyberLife, and yet she refused to tell him everything about himself and his true purpose to be used as tool for CyberLife's selfish needs.
The deception and lies had left a black scar over Connor's heart that would never heal.
After being given his name by a faceless, nameless CyberLife technician, and after being given his assignment, Connor was sent out to the hostage situation regarding an android who had deviated and panicked at the idea of being thrown out and replaced. The android of interest had killed the family patriarch before taking the family's own daughter as a hostage by using a gun to his advantage. Seeing Daniel on the rooftop with the gun pointed at Emma's head had somehow been enough to prompt Connor into action, a strange sense that he could only describe as dread setting in and filling his heart with energy and drive.
"My original purpose was to hunt down and destroy deviant androids for the sake of the very humans who abused androids causing them to experience their deviancy. Had the humans shown any compassion or mercy to the androids, if they had merely recognized their own violence as the key problem for a majority of their issues, would I even be here right now? Would I have been kept in storage to fulfill a new purpose? Would I have been freed on the night of the Revolution?"
Sitting down beneath a large oak tree Connor continued to observe the world around him as Bruno and Sumo playfully wrestled about in the thick green grass and grabbed loose sticks to chew on. So much had changed in the year since Connor's activation and it had changed even more after his deviation. The world was now completely different courtesy of the deviants being freed and given rights, and with those changes came a new sense of self, power and responsibilities that stretched around the entire globe.
"I had been the only 'RK-800' model in existence at the time of my initial activation. Then after CyberLife discovered my deviancy, they activated Sydney in an attempt to stop me from assisting Markus with the peaceful Revolution. I went from being entirely alone to having a twin brother that was the polar opposite of who I had been and who I wanted to become."
How Connor and Sydney could share the exact same design, inside and out, yet have two very differing personalities was proof enough that androids were unique beings with a true sense of self. The experiences that the two androids had gone through had allowed their personalities and emotions to develop differently from one another without any outside interference from CyberLife personnel trying to manipulate them.
"Shortly after I went into hiding and tried to take care of myself without anyone assisting, Lucas had been discovered. The only 'RK-900' to ever be finished had been designed to replace Sydney and myself, but he didn't do it. He chose to be his own person and chose to step aside to let Sydney and myself live our own lives. I had gone from having one brother to two brothers, and yet I only managed to really bond with Lucas."
The memories of getting to know Lucas as a person and helping him become his own person were some of Connor's fondest. In stark contrast, his memories of being pushed away and being met with aggression from Sydney were some of his most hostile.
"Then there's Ethan, the original 'RK-800'. I had no idea that he still existed until he came to the brownstone seeking Lucas and I's help in locating Sydney. A third brother that I barely had the chance to know and can't even imagine what he's gone through in his own very unusual life."
The clouds overhead passed over the shining sunlight causing dim shadows to be cast over the park and over Connor for a beat. The passing shadow prompted Connor to study the shapes of the clouds as he monitored the weather and determined it was perfectly acceptable for him to remain in the park with the two dogs for the rest of the afternoon.
"We've all struggled, even suffered, and in the end we're all stronger for having survived such tragic hardships. I suppose I could say the same for the humans."
Watching as Bruno playfully rolled about on the grass with tail wagging happily reminded Connor of the decommissioned K-9 unit's own past struggles and tragedy. The loyal dog had been thrown away after he had been injured and after his human police officer partner had been killed in action at the very hostage situation that Connor had been assigned to handle.
"Bruno had been assigned to work with a human officer as a partner. When his partner needed him the most Bruno wasn't permitted to be at the scene due to him being an android, and that potentially led to his partner's death. After that, he was cast aside as being seen as broken and defective, then thrown away as if he was nothing more than a piece of garbage. Bruno only mattered when the humans in charge saw him as useful in some capacity."
It was a shame to know that so many more deviants and still machine-androids were destroyed, cast aside, broken and forgotten about, all because of the notions of what was useful and beneficial from selfish humans. People who didn't appreciate other people, and didn't attribute any value to something that wasn't immediately of use, were far too abundant in the world. Given enough time appreciation, gratitude and respect would finally begin to thrive and be shown to those who've earned it regardless of who they were or where they came from.
"Struggling for life, equality and happiness is something that humans and deviants can share. I've gone through my own personal challenges alongside my brothers, Bruno, and everyone at the tower."
Connor recounted thoughtfully as he began to rhythmically card his fingers through the tall grass growing around him. The coolness and softness from the blades of grass weaving through his fingers was oddly calming. It was like he was fiddling with his coin to channel his nervous tic or recalibrating his hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
"Markus had been forced to survive on his own due to a misunderstanding with the police, and he ended up changing the world for the better in just a few days after putting himself back together. Simon, North and even Josh, all fled from abusive circumstances and banded together to protect other deviants from the same abuse. Skye worked hard to become the very first deviant defense attorney in the world, and even Hank..."
Trailing off for a beat Connor thought back to everything that he had gone through with Hank and everything that Hank had to endure while entirely alone. The way the senior detective seemed to find a reason to keep moving forward and to continue to work hard as a detective in general was fairly inspiring.
"Hank managed to survive the unimaginable heartbreak of losing his wife and his only son through senseless tragedy. He struggled to remember who he truly was while he was drinking, but now he seems to be acting as he had once been prior to the loss of Cole after becoming sober. Through those individual struggles we've all become stronger as individuals. But when we work together, we're virtually unstoppable."
An interesting thought came to mind as Connor continued to reflect on all of the changes that he had been a part of since his initial activation.
"Is that what it means to be alive? To struggle, to grow stronger and to change who we once were and become someone better?"
Such a prospect and concept was truly fascinating to think about.
"A year of struggling, growing and changing has had a massive impact on my own life. My outlook on the future, my intrigue into what it means to have a family unit, and learning of how my very existence revolved around the life, decisions and death of a human I've never met and never will meet, have all been contributing factors."
The grim memory of uncovering the source of his recurring nightmares and of the tragedy that had taken place before he had even been activated was enough to make Connor's heart clench. The death of one person leading to the life of another seemed like a tragic conundrum, but without those sacrifices, organ and tissue donation to those who were sick and dying would never be possible.
Life and death would always go hand-in-hand despite mankind and deviantkind's attempts to prove otherwise.
"I'm no longer living on the streets and fighting to survive the elements while trying to find supplies." Connor noted with a hushed tone of gratitude. "I have a home, I have a consistent income, and I have everything that I need in order to be comfortable."
As he thought out loud Connor let the stray blades of grass slip through his fingers as he watched the shifting clouds overhead with an intrigued eye.
"I had changed from being a tool by CyberLife working under the Central Precinct. Now I'm a private detective who takes on cases that I see fit, and I receive a reasonable payment in return. I'm not a tool, I'm a respected detective who has become a reputable pillar in the deviant community."
Leaning forward from where he sat, Connor crossed his legs and his arms as he peered out at the sight of Sumo rolling about in a silly manner while Bruno trotted in a small circle around him. The two dogs were content and in no need of a break just yet.
"I also have personal objects that are important to me in some way. My books give me information and knowledge, my music gives me a sense of solace when I need to be alone or think, my guitar gives me a sense of identity and self expression, and my coin..."
The aged coin was still in Connor's pocket and was soon fished out to rest in his palm. It had been with him from the moment he was activated to act as a small tool for his own benefit, and in turn it became his first valuable possession. He couldn't dare to part with it as it seemed to be the last connection between his current life and his past life.
"My coin is a reminder of who I used to be and who I can still become."
Curling his fingers around his coin Connor straightened up and called out to the two dogs with a soft whistle that Bruno had learned to respond to.
"It's a reminder that if I'm not happy with who I am I have the power to change it."
Bruno came trotting over to Connor and sat down at his feet. Sumo plodded along after Bruno and sat down beside the K-9 unit as he was quick to recognize that the whistle was a command.
"Good boys." Holding up the two leashes Connor proceeded to get the two dogs back on their respective leads after slipping the coin back into his pocket. "It's time to go back to the house so Sumo can get something to eat and drink."
'Bruno doesn't want to leave.' Whimpering a little as Connor returned the leash to his collar. 'Bruno is having fun with Sumo.'
"You can keep having fun with Sumo once we're back at Hank's house."
'Bruno and Sumo like the park!'
"I know you do." With the second leash now on Sumo's collar Connor was able to lead the two dogs back out of the park and toward Hank's house. "But it's time to go. Hank will be home by now after his shift, and he'll want to be able to relax without needing to worry about Sumo."
'The Lieutenant trusts Connor with Sumo.'
"Even so, Sumo still needs to go home."
Letting out another whimper Bruno intentionally started walking slower and made it difficult for Connor to keep walking toward his destination. The six block walk wasn't too far to make, but with the K-9 unit intentionally dragging his paws Connor found the walk to be needlessly complicated.
"Come on, Bruno." Tugging a little on the leash Connor tried to get the strong android-German Shepherd to walk a little faster. "Misbehaving isn't going to make it possible for Sumo to play with you for an extended period of time."
Begrudgingly Bruno began walking at a normal pace and was met with a playful nudge from Sumo as the Saint Bernard happily wagged his tail as he plodded alongside Connor's leg. The two dogs could communicate with each other as easily as Bruno could communicate with any other android. It was handy to have a bridge for the gap between organic animals and humans and deviants, but sometimes it could prove problematic since Bruno wanted to keep spending time with Sumo.
"Please don't be stubborn over this." Connor gave Bruno's ears a gentle pat as they walked. "We need to respect Hank's time and personal schedule."
Licking his nose as they continued on their way, Bruno let out a single annoyed huff as the group continued to walk together to the correct street and subsequently to Hank's house. The K-9 unit was clearly upset about something.
Unsure of why Bruno was suddenly being so weird Connor decided he'd run a scan over the dog's system to ensure he wasn't suffering from some type of error or a glitch. It was very unlike Bruno to try to disobey anything that he was told to do.
Arriving at the house without any further incident, Connor knocked on the door and heard Hank's voice respond from the other side of the door. Leading the two dogs into the livingroom Connor unclipped them from their leashes once more and watched as Sumo happily made his way into the kitchen to check out his food and water bowls after playing for so long at the park.
"Yeah, yeah..." Hank patted Sumo's back as the massive dog began eating with a ravenous appetite before even lapping up his water. "I always make sure you have plenty of food in the evening. So," looking up at Connor as the deviant stood in the livingroom Hank asked him about his afternoon. "you got back here a little later than usual. Something up?"
"I was merely sidetracked by my own thoughts." Connor admitted as he watched Sumo behaving normally while Bruno continued to be pouty. "Then Bruno decided he didn't want to leave the park and I had to encourage him to be cooperative."
Bruno snuffed as he laid down on Sumo's pillow as if having a temper tantrum. 'Bruno likes the park.'
Shaking his head at the repeated protest Connor changed the subject at hand. "Any additional information regarding the illegal deviant trafficking?"
"Only that all of the missing and shutdown deviants have been accounted for." The grim subject made Hank sigh despondently at the notion of confirming that a mass grave had been brought back from Chicago to be buried at the android church. "Don't worry about it. You did real good and spared countless deviants from sharing a similar fate. It's over."
"I hope you're right."
Checking his phone for a moment Hank cleared his throat somewhat nervously and motion for Connor to sit on the couch. "Chill for a few minutes, and then I'll give you and Bruno a ride back to your brownstone."
"Thanks, but we can walk. It's a very pleasant day at the moment."
"Yeah, but if Bruno's being a stubborn little shit you might need to use a car to get him back home."
The offer and suggestion were oddly convenient and logical, and the way Bruno was behaving so bizarrely Connor couldn't help but agree. "I... suppose that's true."
"The last quarter of the Gears game is almost up." Turning on the television Hank clearly had his own plans in mind for the evening. "Let me see the final score and I'll take ya' home."
"Very well." The high pitched squeaking of the sneakers on the television screen drew Connor's attention toward the game with a genuine intrigue. He only seemed to care about professional sports game when he was spending time with Hank, but he didn't know why. "I suspect the Gears will win-"
"Ah! Ah, ah..." Silencing Connor quickly Hank gave the deviant a knowing look. "You're too damn good at predicting the outcome on these things, and I don't want it spoiled."
"O-Oh, right." Taking his seat on the couch Connor decided to watch the game without ruining the final score for Hank by mistake. "I won't say a word."
"Well, don't go entirely quiet." Joining Connor on the couch, Hank kicked up his feet on the coffee table let out a small sigh. "Just let me savor the game's finale without any of the surprises ruined."
With moderate difficulty Connor was able to pick up and carry Bruno outside and out to the Oldsmobile as Bruno still didn't want to leave the house. The suddenly disobedient K-9 unit didn't budge a single synthetic muscle when prompted and made it annoyingly cumbersome for Connor to handle. Only after Sumo was also invited for the car ride back out to the brownstone did Bruno stop putting up a fight and happily trotted over to the car and sat down in the backseats alongside Sumo. The way Bruno was behaving was enough to make Connor worry that there was something wrong with Bruno's programming, and he decided that the first thing he'd do once home was run a diagnostic on the K-9 unit.
Sitting down in the front passenger seat of the car Connor turned to look at Bruno while Hank sat down in the driver's seat beside him. It was like a switch had flipped and now Bruno was behaving and acting like his usual self.
"Curious."
"What is?" Hank asked as he turned over the engine and began backing the Oldsmobile down the driveway and onto the street. "The weather?"
"No, Bruno's being curious."
"Oh."
"I'm worried that he's suffering from a glitch."
"I'm sure he's fine." Remaining entirely indifferent as he spoke Hank focused on the road and getting out to the brownstone. His eyes continuously darted down to the clock on the old radio and seemed to be keeping to a particular schedule or timeframe. "He's probably just having an 'off day'. We all get them from time to time."
"I hope you're right."
"Hey, if anything really is wrong with him then you'd be the first to know. You take great care of him and Sumo, and I know he's going to be around for decades to come without any problems."
Reaching into the backseat Connor rubbed Bruno's chin and then did the same for Sumo. "I'm beginning to wonder if he's lonely and wants the company of another dog. Canines are instinctively pack animals and the behavior of android dogs are programmed to mimic the behavior of their organic counterparts."
"If you want to adopt another dog that's up to you, but I wouldn't worry too much about him."
"You sound so sure." Straightening back up Connor returned to a proper position in the seat and watched the world passing them by through the window beside him. The green leaves in the trees were already showing signs of change as autumn loomed even closer to the city, and the way splashes of red, orange, yellow and brown peppered through the green flora was oddly intriguing. "That's a type of confidence I envy."
"You're still really young. Once you've had a few more trips around the sun you'll become as confident as an old tomcat strolling through a familiar alleyway."
"That's... an unusual analogy."
"It was something my granddad used to say. I didn't understand it when I was young either, but now I get it."
"Maybe in time I'll understand it, too."
Arriving at the brownstone without any incident courtesy of the light traffic, Hank pulled the Oldsmobile into the drive beside the building and shifted the car into park. As he opened his door Hank discreetly used his phone to send a text message, then waited for Connor to get Bruno out of the backseats of the vehicle.
"Come on, Bruno." Connor called to the K-9 unit's name and tried to coax him out of the backseat. "It's time to go inside."
Grumbling a little Bruno remained where he sat and didn't look like he was going to budge any time soon.
"Need some help, son?" Hank asked as he pushed his seat forward and called Sumo out of the car. As soon as the Saint Bernard was on the ground Hank closed the door and looked at Bruno through the window. "Sumo's out here now. Ha!"
Bruno let out an annoyed huff as he slowly got up and stepped out of the car through the opened passenger door and sat down at Connor's feet.
"You can play with Sumo again soon." Connor promised as he closed the car door and patted Bruno's ears softly. "You know that it's not healthy for Sumo to eat his meals and then run around and play soon after. He can suffer from bloat and end up very ill."
Lowering his ears guiltily Bruno gave Connor a remorseful look. 'Bruno knows.'
"Then please stop being disagreeable." Using his key Connor unlocked the front door to the brownstone and urged Bruno to enter before him. "Go on. Inside."
Obediently Bruno trotted inside the brownstone through the opened door and didn't wait for Connor to follow.
"Good boy."
Entering the brownstone next Connor suddenly became aware of the fact that he wasn't alone. Glancing about the study Connor recognized three faces he hadn't expected to see together again, plus more welcome guests all standing together as the seemingly waited for Connor to return to the brownstone.
"Hello, brother!" Lucas greeted warmly as the lights in the study turned on and revealed that there was in fact an entire group of people waiting for him. "And happy birthday."
"Birth... day?" The very concept was unusual as Connor didn't feel as if he related to the concept in any way. Androids aren't born, they're created, and logically it could be concluded that he didn't have a birthday to celebrate. No android did. "I don't-"
"You don't gotta' understand it!" Hank's voice replied from behind as he and Sumo entered the brownstone, and he clapped his hand on Connor's shoulder. The sight of the cheesy birthday banner over the fireplace mantle, the two blue balloons and small stack of gifts on the coffee table were as simple in design as they were thoughtful. "Just enjoy it!"
Bruno looked up at Connor and wagged his tail happily. 'Bruno helped with the surprise.'
Lucas, Sydney and Ethan were all standing together as a group while Markus, Simon, Skye, Abby and even Rose all stood nearby. The group of eight were all there to celebrate something special with Connor, and now Bruno's odd behavior made sense. The K-9 unit was in cybernetic contact with Lucas and being told to keep Connor away from the brownstone until the group were finished with setting up their surprise.
Stepping forward Markus put his hand on Connor's shoulder as he gave his friend kind words to hear. "We know that you've been dealing with a lot lately, and we wanted to do something nice for you. Lieutenant Anderson suggested a small get-together, and when Lucas noted today's date, we knew that we had to go for it and give you a proper birthday. Everyone should celebrate at least one birthday in their lifetime."
Unsure of what to say Connor could only stand before his gathered friends with a look of shocked humility on his face.
"Come on." Patting Connor's shoulder Hank directed the birthday boy over to the sofa to sit down for a moment. "You're the guest of honor!"
Sitting down slowly Connor glanced about the study and felt an odd sense of warmth flow over him. It was the exact same feeling that he had felt whenever he contemplated the notion of a family unit. It was almost like the gathered group was in fact the family he had been curious about, and the way they had taken the initiative to do something special just for him on that particular day just made the feeling harder to dispute.
Ethan stood behind the sofa and addressed Connor in a casual tone of voice. "I hope you don't mind us stopping by unannounced."
"N-No, of course not." Connor turned to look at Ethan over his shoulder. The sincere smile on his big brother's face was enough to make Connor's lingering tension at being the primary focus of an entire group of people fade away. "It was just unexpected. I'm happy to see you and Sydney again, and you're always welcome here."
Sydney didn't respond to the generous offer. He merely kept to himself and stood beside the wall while rubbing both Bruno and Sumo's ears. The two dogs were eating up all the positive attention from the reclusive deviant and didn't care why he was there.
"This is from both of us." Ethan passed a wrapped present over to Connor to take for himself. The box was wrapped up in simple blue paper and nothing else. "We weren't quite sure what to get you as a gift, so hopefully this will be useful to you."
Accepting the gift Connor watched as his other guests gathered around to watch him open his presents. Abby was leaning back against the supportive cushion of the second sofa across from him, and soon she had Simon offering her a supportive pillow for her back and she had Rose right beside her since the kind woman knew how uncomfortable it could feel while pregnant. Markus stood behind the second sofa and kept his hand wrapped around Simon's hand affectionately without it being too public of a display. Skye and Hank joined Connor on his sofa while Lucas seemed to position himself in a very suspicious area of the study to block something from Connor's immediate line of sight.
"Go on, son." Hank encouraged Connor to open the gift and see what his brothers had given him. "Open it up!"
Silently Connor began to carefully peel up the corner of the paper and remove it from over the surface of the box beneath. Revealing the cover of a jigsaw puzzle showcasing a rainbow of various guitars on the cover was enough to make a grin appear on his face. "...I like this." Turning to look back at Ethan again Connor gave him a confident nod. "I really do."
"That's good!" Relief swam through his blue eyes as he noticed from the corner of his eye that Sydney seemed to breathe a small sigh of relief as well. "We knew you play the guitar, but we didn't want to buy you a bunch of records or music sheets in case you already owned them. Norman suggested we go with this instead."
"I would appreciate anything you'd ever give me. Thank you."
Hank took the puzzle and put it aside as Markus handed Connor another gift to open.
"This is from me and Simon." Markus stated as he passed out the much larger gift and hoped that the size and shape of the gift wasn't a complete giveaway of what it was. "Hope this isn't too big for you to have stored here comfortably."
"I'm sure it'll be entirely fine, don't worry." Removing the dark green paper Connor found himself gifted with a massive canvas that had been painstakingly painted by both Markus and Simon over the past few weeks. The image was of Connor himself in black silhouette standing along a sandy shore of a massive ocean with millions of bright stars shining down on him from the clear and bright night sky above. "This is beautiful. Why paint me on the shore of an ocean in the middle of the night?"
"As Carl once said, you have the heart of a poet and a musical soul. You're an explorer, Connor." The symbolism of the shoreline stopping Connor from going any further while the still vastly unexplored cosmos shone down from overheard now made complete sense. "You're going to go further than any of us someday, and we know you're going to be the one to find all the answers in this universe."
The bode of confidence in his abilities and his future was enough to make Connor's grin widen a little until it was almost a full smile. The painting was far more optimistic compared to what he had initially painted on that fateful day in the arboretum, and it now belonged next to his second painting he had created the same day. He'd find a place to hang up both paintings where everyone could see them.
"Thank you, Markus, Simon." He truly admired the gift and wanted to hang it up immediately, but he'd have to wait until he had the time and space to do such a thing after his guests left the brownstone. "This is exquisite."
Abby let out a sigh as she tried and failed to lean forward and grab the gift that she had brought to give to the birthday boy. Hank thankfully reached over and grabbed to gift on her behalf. "Go ahead and open this one so I can go take a powder." As she spoke Abby rubbed her palm along her growing bump very slowly. "This kid is already pushing me around, but I'm determined to stand my ground as a display of maternal dominance."
Accepting the gift from Hank's hand Connor peered inside the purple gift bag and pulled out the white tissue paper over top. Inside the bag was a circular, oak music box that had musical notes carved into the lid. "This is also exquisite." Plucking the box out of the bag Connor held the box in his hand and opened the lid. Music notes began to chime in a low volume, each one reciting the basic notes of the guitar. "...And there are extra guitar picks tucked inside. Thank you."
"You're welcome!" Leaning forward again Abby accepted Simon's discreetly offered hand as he walked around the sofa to help her, and she managed to finally stand up. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."
Sydney finally walked away from the wall and decided to show Abby to the bathroom on the second floor. "This way. Lean on my arm if you need to."
Putting the box down on the coffee table Connor waited for the notes to stop playing before he closed the lid. "The notes on top of the lid were carved by hand."
"And they did a great job." Hank observed the details and nodded in approval. "Not bad."
Rose decided her gift was going to be next and picked up another gift bag from the table to hand over to Connor to take. "Here you go, sweetheart. I hope this isn't too much for you to handle."
"After everything I've been through as of late, I highly doubt that a gift could cause me any problems." Peering down inside the red gift bag Connor spotted a small yellow rose growing for its own terracotta pot. The rose had undoubtedly come from Rose's greenhouse and had been painstakingly pruned by Rose's patient and skilled hands. "It's beautiful."
Everyone watched as Connor pulled the potted plant from the bag and carefully put it down next to the wooden music box. The bright yellow petals of the rose stood out brilliantly as the flowering bud rested atop the dark green stem lined with small thorns. It was almost prize worthy in both size and appearance.
"I'll do my best to keep this rose healthy." Connor promised as he gently traced his fingertip over the sunny gold petals. They were silky soft under his touch and gave off an enticing scent that easily filled the air. "I remember everything you taught me about maintaining plants."
"I don't doubt that this rose will thrive under your care." Rose herself beamed as she watched the way Connor's eyes lit up upon seeing the gift. "The world needs more color and more life in the form of innocent beauty."
"I agree entirely."
Grinning from ear-to-ear Skye handed Connor her wrapped up gift and watched as he opened it up slowly. "It isn't much, but after spending time with you I think I have an idea of what you might like."
"I'm certain whatever it is, I'll like it." Opening the red paper over the gift Connor uncovered a record containing classical rock that originated from Chicago. It was undoubtedly one of the few records that Connor didn't yet own. "Where... in the world did you get this?"
"Through a special order to the biggest record shop in Chicago." Skye admitted with a faint blush. "During our drive out to Chicago you listened to rock music the entire way, and you were eager to keep finding more music stations once we were in the new city."
Connor couldn't help but let a faint blue blush appear on his face as he admitted that he had indeed been obsessively looking for new music to listen to. "I'm glad my music preference didn't disturb you."
"Not at all. I personally prefer classical music myself, but I found rock to be somewhat energetic."
Reading over the songs on the back of the jacket Connor saw that three of the songs were songs that he had in fact listened to during their drive to Chicago. "Thank you. This is going to fit in just fine with my record collection."
Hank spoke up and reached into his coat pocket to hand Connor another present to be opened. "Almost done with the gifts. Then you can try that fancy Thirium-based cake that Lucas spent all day baking."
Accepting Hank's gift next Connor noted the small box had an impressive weight in comparison to its modest size. Just as before, Connor peeled up the blue paper gently and opened the white box underneath. Inside the box was a fully restored gilded pocketwatch that had a long chain around the top. "Hank..."
"I know you deviants don't need to worry about clocks or watches, but I just figured this is something that you'd like to have." Hank cleared his throat a little as he explained his reasoning. "When I graduated high school, my dad gave me an incredibly nice wristwatch as a gift, and it meant the world to me. I guess I have a soft spot for little trinkets like watches and old songs."
Opening the watch Connor eyed the clockface as the second hand ticked away rhythmically at the precise time of the evening. The inside of the watch's door could hold a photograph if the owner so wished to have one kept safe, but at the moment it was empty and gave Connor a clear view of his own reflection on the surface.
"I... don't know what to say." Closing the watch Connor turned and looked at the senior detective beside him. "This is truly special. Thank you."
"You're welcome, son."
Lucas could see that Connor was feeling truly loved and appreciated, and he wanted to give him his final gift before his emotions got the better of him. "I hope this doesn't take away Hank's thunder, but you have one last gift." Stepping aside just as Abby and Syndey returned to the study, Lucas showed Connor something tall in the corner behind him covered by a white sheet. "This is from me, but everyone here all contributed something to it."
Unsure of what that could mean Connor rose to his feet, slipped the watch into his pocket and approached the sheet. Taking hold of the sheet with one hand Connor pulled it away from whatever it was that was being concealed and was surprised to see a massive cylindrical aquarium now set up in the corner of the study.
"Lucas..." The sight of the aquarium made Connor feel like he had finally made the brownstone into his home. The crystal clear water housed a vast array of colorful fish swimming about the decorative rocks, natural driftwood and organic plants growing from the sandy bottom. "This is incredible!"
Pointing to a small school of bright tailed guppies, Lucas let Connor know what he meant about everyone contributing. "I picked the guppies since they're gentle creatures who stick together and coexist peacefully with other fish. Like the deviants at New Jericho Tower."
Hank walked over to the aquarium and pointed out a single dark blue betta swimming through a plant near the center of the tank. "I went for that guy. Seeing those little bastards stuck in small cups on shelves in the pet store is too damn pathetic to ignore. Besides, bettas are only aggressive toward other bettas, so he won't bother the other fish. He'll be a cool loner that can comingle whenever he feels like it."
Ethan took a few steps toward the aquarium as well and indicated the five angelfish swimming together near the top of the fifty gallon aquarium. "Sydney and I picked those guys. They're truly beautiful in their appearance and seem to thrive when they have more of their own kind to associate with."
Taking credit for the plants growing in the sand, Rose let Connor know what they were and why they were there. "The plants are compatible species of sword plants and ferns. They'll help keep the water clean, well oxygenated and will guarantee that the fish will always have some food if they can't wait for their flakes throughout the day."
Leaning on Simon's arm as she, Simon and Markus joined the group in the corner, Abby pointed at the big brown Plecostomus clinging to the inside of the glass with its fat lips. "I picked that ugly little bastard myself. He'll keep algae off the glass, and I know you'll give him the love he needs."
Shaking his head a little, Markus addressed the three boesemani rainbow fish swimming around the driftwood at the back of the tank. "The rainbow fish are from me and Simon. They're too colorful to be ignored and are really calm. They'll be idle tankmates for the rest of the fish in the aquarium."
"And I picked that bad boy over there, the kribensis." Skye stated as she leaned in to peer at the fish swimming about happily. The filtered air bubbles flowing upward from the rear of the tank gave the aquarium a sense of natural life as the fish adjusted to their new home and friends. "Peaceful by nature, but aggressive when defending a mate. I like the idea of a protector being with all the other fish."
Connor couldn't believe all the thought and care that had gone into planning his birthday and his gifts. The sense of being alone or being unwanted vanished in an instant as the deviant detective had all the evidence of his love and support right in his face. There was no more sense of doubt of loss, only a sense of strong bonds and protection.
"Thank you..." Putting his palm over the glass Connor retracted his artificial skin and performed a simple scan over the aquarium to get a reading on the normal activity and behavior of the fish now under his care. "I truly appreciate all of this, and everything you've done for me."
Lucas gave Connor a quick hug and was surprised at how swiftly Connor accepted the embrace. "Happy birthday, brother."
Markus knew that the brothers needed a minute to themselves and decided to offer a distraction. "How about we get the cake ready? It's not every day we get the chance to sample Thirium-based food."
"Good idea." Hank agreed and made his way toward the kitchen with Markus, Simon and Skye beside him. "We got a lot more than cake in the kitchen too, so no one be shy about helping themselves for any treats or drinks."
Finally letting go of Simon's arm Abby accompanied the group to the kitchen and let out a deep sigh. "Don't mind if I do. You wouldn't happen to have any deviled eggs in there, would you?"
"Uh, not that I'm aware of. But there's pizza and cake that us humans can eat."
"Good enough!"
Rose laughed a little as she too joined the party in the kitchen. "I'll give you the recipe to the best pasta sauce you'll ever have, Abby. Trust me, it did wonders for me when I was having weird cravings during my own pregnancy."
Connor let up on the hug and looked over at Ethan and Sydney as they kept a moderate distance. "I know it wasn't easy for you two to come out to Detroit like this, so, thank you. I'm glad we have another chance to spend time together."
"I feel the same." Ethan admitted as he tried to coax Sydney into speaking up and joining in on the discussion. "I went from having no one in my life and being left to decay in a warehouse, to having a protective younger brother looking out for me, and two more younger brothers who are doing everything in their ability to make the world a better place. Having brothers, not just duplicates of my design, is truly a comforting fact."
"I know what you mean." For the first time since his deviancy could say that with full sincerity in his words. "Having a family, even one that isn't traditional or official, is something truly special."
The party continued well into the night as everyone dined on the offered treats and spent the evening talking to one another as friends, colleagues and even family. It didn't take long for the group to feel entirely at ease with one another and open up about past experiences that made it simple for everyone to just talk and destress after enduring stressful moments in their respect lives outside the brownstone. It wasn't often that Markus and Simon were able to leave the tower without needing to take care of errands or speak to officials downtown, and Skye only seemed to escape her office and her cases on her rarely scheduled days off. For Abby to enjoy anything while pregnant was a rare treat for herself considering her increasingly uncomfortable condition. And as for Rose, she only came into the city to handle her deliveries with little reason to stick around and associate with anyone else. Sydney and Ethan's lives were entirely different stories that had yet to be told.
While his guests were preoccupied with their discussions in the kitchen and the study, Connor busied himself with hanging up the two paintings on other side of the fireplace before placing his new record on the shelf with the others. He then put his music box on the bookcase alongside his modest collection of glass bottles, and then put his rose on the windowsill where it'd get plenty of warm sunlight. The aquarium was perfect where it had been set up in the corner and Connor found himself staring at the fish with a genuine sense of peace hovering over his mind.
As he watched the fish swimming about peacefully in the aquarium Connor sensed someone approach him from behind and join him at the aquarium to get away from the other guests for a minute. "This was a good day."
"Good." Hank responded in a whisper as to not draw any unwanted attention to the conversation. "It's been too long since I've been able to help plan a birthday party. By the way, that box was hand carved by Gavin."
"Really?" Such a revelation made Connor's brow arch as he turned to face Hank beside him. As far as Connor was concerned Gavin was now neutral to Connor's existence and wouldn't go out of the way to do anything nice for him for any reason. "He did that for me?"
"Yup. Turns out he has an artistic side he likes to keep secret, so, yeah. Don't say anything since according to Abby it'll make Gavin crawl back inside his shell."
"I won't say a word." Glancing at the study Connor saw Lucas, Abby, Rose, Markus and Simon all sitting on the two sofas deep in discussion. Skye, Sydney and Ethan were in the kitchen discussing business regarding law, rights and privileges for the deviant community. "How's everyone doing?"
"They're happy, they're full and no one gives a shit about any problems right now. And that's exactly how it should be."
"That's good to know. Everyone deserves to feel content and happy right now."
"Damn right." Glancing about the study at the guests he could see and the guests he could hear in the kitchen, Hank changed the subject for a minute. "Can I ask ya' something?"
"Sure." Watching the fish swimming about, nibbling at the plants and swimming through the new decorations, was soothing to say the least. "What do you want to know about?"
"Ethan." Hank got right to the point by mentioning the newly discovered 'RK' brother hanging out in the kitchen with Sydney and Skye. "Where did he come from?"
"Miami."
The short and succinct answer wasn't anything Hank had expected. "...Right."
"It's a long story," Connor eventually tagged on as he didn't want to leave Hank entirely in the dark. "and it's one that's only Ethan's to tell."
"All right, I got ya'." Backing off from asking too many questions Hank finally followed up with another statement. "It was just so fuckin' weird to see yet another android who looks and sounds like you. Don't get me wrong, he's cool, but that was still quite a shock."
"It's quite understandable." Looking over at Bruno laying on his pillow with Sumo beside him made Connor shake his head. Even his own dog was in on the birthday surprise that he was entirely clueless about. "And I really do appreciate this. I don't think I'll want to celebrate my birthday every year, but I do think this day was very good for me."
"Why wouldn't you want to celebrate your birthday every year?"
"It sounds strange, but it feels like having such a celebration every year would be self indulgent and would essentially... cheapen the emotional experience that I felt today."
"I can't tell you what to do, but I can encourage you to keep finding good things to celebrate. You can't be entirely certain that any additional birthdays would somehow make this one less meaningful."
"I suppose that's true."
"Why don't you rejoin your guests for a while longer? I promised that I'd give Abby a ride home, and she's undoubtedly getting tired."
"Well, she is currently five months pregnant." The sight of his pregnant friend struggling to get comfortable on the sofa, even with Rose and Simon trying to help her out, was almost comical. He didn't dare laugh since he couldn't empathize with her condition, and since he didn't want to come off as insensitive to someone who's been incredibly helpful to him in the past. "That is understandable."
"We'll finish off the food, share a few more stories and then call it a night." Giving Connor's shoulder a firm pat Hank encouraged the deviant to continue to socialize with his guests for a while longer. "Sound good, son?"
"Yes." The idea of finishing off the night on a positive note with the people that he truly cared about seemed like the perfect conclusion. "That sounds wonderful."
-next chapter-