November 8th, 2039

The city of Detroit awoke in a tense frenzy as the long anticipated mayoral election was now underway. For the entire spring, summer and fall Elijah Isaac Kamski had run as the single, unopposed candidate for the opened position of mayor, and it seemed as if no one else was willing to even try to challenge the eccentric billionaire and creator out of sheer intimidation. Since it seemed there was only going to be a single person to vote for as no one else wanted to take up the mantle of mayor, those who had been registered as voters - human and deviant alike - weren't exactly thrilled or compelled to take time out of their day to vote for someone who was going to win by default.

However, there was an unexpected change that caused a whirlwind of excitement at voting booths. There was a loophole that the deviants were eager to exploit to ensure that the election wasn't just going to be handed over to Kamski without him actually earning the position of power.

'There has been an unexpected shift in dynamic in today's mayoral election.' The blonde haired anchorwoman, Rosanna Cartland, relayed as the breaking news story appeared on every television screen in the city. 'A surprise write-in candidate has been sweeping through the polls and has left the votes effectively tied between Elijah Kamski and surprise write-in candidate; Markus Manfred - the leader of the deviant community.'

Sitting on his sofa with his coin dancing over his knuckles Connor astutely monitored the election on television and could feel the tension in the air growing throughout the city all around him.

'While we haven't been able to contact either mayoral candidate to request an interview, we can confirm that both candidates seem to be taking this unexpected turn of events quite seriously. Mr. Kamski has reportedly been checked into the famous Wemilat Hotel and has been speaking with a publicist to discuss the historic election, whereas Mr. Manfred has been keeping to himself seemingly out at New Jericho Tower as there has been little acivity seen at his private residence.'

The speculations without any evidence made Connor's mind reel and his artificial stomach twist. The way the media was so eager to stir the pot and say or do just about anything to keep ahead in the ratings gave the deviant detective enough reason to turn off the television and seriously contemplate leaving Detroit until after the election was finally over.

"Only a fool would make such bold claims without any evidence to support it."

Bruno grumbled as he laid over the second sofa and watched as Connor used a cybernetic command to turn off the television. 'Need evidence?'

"We need evidence, and we need answers." Connor caught his coin between his fingertip and thumb for a moment before slipping it into his pocket. "Sitting back and watching the media using vague 'facts' without any sources is just going to cause problems for the people of the city. They'll get angry, they'll panic, and there's a chance that they'll respond in a violent manner."

'How can we stop it?'

"I don't know. For now, I think I'll go and talk to Markus." Standing up from the sofa Connor grabbed his brown trench coat and fedora from the hooks beside the front door with purpose behind his motions. Donning his warm garments Connor sighed and tracked Markus's location at his mansion as opposed to being New Jericho Tower as everyone else had assumed. "Stay here and keep alert. If you notice anything unusual happening in the neighborhood let me know."

The election was having a noted effect all over Detroit. The Central Precinct was busy thanks to being unexpectedly down an officer and with the city being tense patrol was stretched thin in an attempt to keep every neighborhood in the city protected. Those who had already voted were out on patrol, while those who were still needed to head out and vote were trying to get in and out of the voting booth as soon as possible. It was taking longer than usual thanks to all of the deviants readily voting and voicing their opinions on the matter, and with the disgrace of Walter Nero staining the reputation of anyone associated with the defamed former mayor, it was proving exceedingly difficult to choose a new person to run the city.

Hank had his eyes glued to the television mounted on the wall above the breakroom and had been fighting the urge to throw his phone at it to break the screen as the news reports continued to spout unverified details as facts. The police department did not approve of the media using scare tactics to gain ratings and were eager to find an excuse to silence them once and for all.

"Fuckin' vultures. They'll create a carcass to pick at when there isn't one already waiting for them."

"Don't let it get to you." Ben urged as he sorted through the last of the remaining Halloween candy at his own desk. "Those greedy bastards will just keep running their mouths as long as they have a camera running in their faces."

"After all these years you'd think that I'd be numb to this kind of bullshit. Instead, it's like I'm developing an allergy and my reactions are getting worse with each passing exposure."

"Yeah, I can understand that." Picking up a blue colored sourball from the remaining candy pile Ben held it up for Hank to see. "Candy?"

"Nah, I ate enough on Halloween to rot what's left of my teeth already. See if Chris wants to take it home to Damian."

"Or give it to Tina. That was one hell of a surprise..."

"No one was more surprised than Tina herself."

"How's she doing?"

"She's okay. Darren's back in town and apparently over the moon since he wanted to have kids just as badly as Tina, and Gavin's been helping them out by practicing emergency diaper and formula runs on her behalf. Apparently, Abby's relieved to have Gavin worrying about someone other than her right now and is more than happy to have some alone time while Gavin plays 'super godfather'."

"She's damn lucky." Ben tagged on as he thought about everything that Tina had gone through leading up to her unexpected childbirth. "Things could've been far worse when you consider all the bullshit we went through these past few months."

"Yeah, we all know that, and Tina especially knows that right now."

The news broadcast continued on with more speculative details that were only going to rile the city up rather than aid them with an educated decision. The soulless look in the eyes of every news anchor relaying the same unsupported details made Hank think of aliens performing a strange experiment on humanity.

"Tina's really lucky right now because she gets to bond with her son while we're keeping the city from tearing itself apart from the inside-out."

"Do you really think this election will end with a bang?"

Hearing dispatch on the radio from the corner of Chris's desk confirming small crowd disturbances, seeing glimpses of flashing red and blue lights from patrolling drones on the streets passing by the precinct's front doors, and watching the arrogant and ignorant comments of the news anchors just running their mouths all gave Hank the evidence that he personally needed to make a final decision.

"I'd stake my sobriety on it!"

As expected, the Manfred Mansion was locked up by Markus and Simon themselves as news vans gathered outside the private residence in hopes of somehow getting the chance to interview the unwilling mayoral candidate. The sight of six news vans parked along the street, eight news reporters hovering just at the edge of the property, countless cameras in the hands of other people and mounted on station unique drones floating about the property, flashing bulbs from the cameras, and the hundreds of microphones planted everywhere they could see had been enough to keep Markus and Simon locked up in their own home as if being imprisoned by the media outside.

The two bonded deviants proceeded to keep the doors and windows locked, and the curtains and blinds drawn over the windows to ensure no one could peer inside the mansion and spy on them. The duo had even resorted to silent cybernetic communication to keep all those microphones from picking up on their private conversations inside the mansion itself in hope that they'd move on and leave the mansion alone.

'This is ludicrous.' Markus lamented as he peered out the front window in the foyer very discreetly without anyone noticing his presence. He hated being put under a microscope, and he especially hated being expected to fill a role he had no interest in taking. 'Why are the deviants trying to force me to accept a position I don't want? I can easily just say "no" and turn over control of the city to Kamski and the election right now.'

'Maybe our people just trust that you'd do a good job and be able to protect us all. Besides, we all know you wouldn't let Kamski have any sway over us or anyone else like that take charge.'

A third voice chimed in as Connor entered the mansion through the secret entrance in the sitting room. 'I suspect that's why our people are filling your name in without your prior consent.' Holding up a single metal key Connor tossed it to Markus who easily caught the key with one swipe of his hand through the air. 'Also, there's a hidden passage behind the bookcase in your sitting room. I took the liberty of securing it with a lock on my way in, no one saw me enter.'

'Thanks, but how did-'

'I noticed it during your bonding ceremony. Didn't you know of its existence?'

'No, but that does explain how Leo snuck into the mansion to steal Carl's art in the past.' Slipping the keep in his pocket Markus gave his secretive and resourceful friend a grateful look. 'Glad you're here though. It's reassuring to know that we have one ally who knows that this election is getting out of hand.'

'I had suspected that you were an unwilling participant in the election.' Connor admitted in a level tone as he too kept his voice silent and continued on with the cybernetic link. 'Any theories as to why you were written onto the electoral ballot?'

'Aside from Simon's theory, no. Did you hear all of what we said?'

'Only what was spoken when I passed through the bookcase. I did hear Simon's theory regarding your reputation, and I have to admit that it does seem to be the most logical theory at the moment.'

A smile crept over Simon's face as he felt like his theory was sound and being backed-up.

'We need to discourage the deviants from wasting their votes on me.' Markus stated in an almost matter-of-fact manner. 'I don't want to be mayor.'

Simon crossed his arms over his chest as he let out a small sigh of deep contemplation. 'You may not want the role, but you may be the best option the city as a whole even has. I mean, you weren't looking to lead Jericho or start a Revolution, but you stepped up and succeeded in the best way possible because our people needed you to do it.'

'There's a difference between rallying people who were already looking for a reason to fight, and trying to unite people who are looking for a reason to fight each other.'

'Well, for what it's worth, I think you'd be a great mayor!'

Connor sensed the momentary pique of curiosity as it flashed over Markus's mismatched eyes. He had to admit that Simon was right to have faith in Markus as a potential mayor, but if Markus doubted his ability in any capacity he'd inevitably fail.

'Perhaps a discussion with Kamski is in order.' Connor suggested almost casually as he gauged Markus's reactions closely. 'He might be able to get the election settled since he is the only other candidate on the ballot.'

'Wouldn't that make things more complicated?' Markus rightfully asked as he gave Connor a searching glance. As he felt his nerves starting to get the better of him Markus soon felt Simon's hand wrap around his hand in a supportive manner. 'We can't be seen talking to him, and with the media hovering all around me there's no way I can sneak out of here undetected.'

'If the media thinks you are here or New Jericho Tower then they won't be looking for you at Wemilat Hotel where Kamski has been reportedly seen. We can contact a deviant employee at that hotel to verify his reservation and then sneak into the hotel with the aid of the deviant staff.'

Hesitant to take such a risk Markus made up his mind only when he felt Simon tighten his grip around his hand. 'All right... Simon, stay here and occasionally move the blinds to keep the media right here looking for me. Connor and I will find a way to speak to Kamski in person and in private about this election, and from there we'll try to find a peaceful resolution.'

'Yeah, you got it.' After giving Markus a warm kiss Simon agreed to hang back and let his bondmate go and do what he felt was best not just for himself, but for the city and their people. 'I'll keep you apprised of what's happening here, you go save Detroit from itself.'

Patrolling the city with absolute disdain for the nosy dozens of reporters lurking around every corner and a noted craving for a giant cheeseburger, Hank decided he had earned some self indulgence and stopped by the 'Chicken Feed' food stand for a quick bite to eat. The moment he stepped out of the Oldsmobile the senior detective was hit with an onslaught of muttering voices all debating one another about the mayoral election as people gathered around the food stand in moderately sized groups of both humans and deviants. Everyone was wrapped up in the electoral drama and it seemed everyone was ready to pick a side and start a fight if they felt threatened in any way.

Not wanting to catch anyone's eye Hank merely informed Gary, the food stand's owner and cook, that he wanted his usual and that he wasn't going to stick around for very long. Carrying his meal back to his car Hank locked himself away from the world and used his phone to play some music while letting dispatch keep him up to date on what was going on without needing to worry about the news or the media getting involved. The old vehicle was his own little sanctuary and gave Hank some momentary reprieve from the current chaos of the mayoral election.

"Fuckin' vultures will not stop circling until they've picked their chosen carcass clean. Disgusting."

Opening his small styrofoam container Hank eyed the massive burger and felt a little guilty for getting it. He had taken excellent care of himself over the past year by getting sobered up, losing weight, working out again and by not eating greasy, fatty or salty food all day every day. Now he was about to bite into one of the largest and least healthy food options in all of Detroit.

"One burger won't kill me, especially since I haven't been here for almost a damn year! Besides, I've earned it with all the bullshit I've had to deal with as of late."

Taking a massive bite of his burger Hank sighed through his nose and realized that the burger, while still quite tasty, wasn't as good as he remembered.

"Damn. Either Gary changed his recipe or I'm getting too old to taste the spices."

Turning up the volume on his phone Hank ate his lunch in peace while listening to his favorite metal songs. Just having a moment to himself without needing to worry about someone else or needing to arrest some mouthy idiot, were doing his psyche some good. Part of his Hank's improved health came from him learning to take things in stride without stressing on them too much or for too long. Letting his anger go had done wonders for his patience and allowed the Lieutenant to reveal the shades of his heart of gold that he thought he had lost when he lost his family far too soon.

Watching the people passing him by and going about their own business while trying to ignore the city being on the brink of a breakdown yet again reminded Hank of how different his life was in comparison to the average Detroiter. He was a first responder who was expected to handle dangerous situations and get them back under control, and he was going to be doing all of that while everyone else was running away in terror.

"Maybe I should start the New Year off retired and move my ass out of the city and to a quiet, secluded the cabin away from this mess. I bet Sumo would like it if I found a place like the old cabin we went to during the summers when he was still a pup. Big lake, private property, peace and quiet..."

Taking another bite of his burger Hank made a mental note to start looking around for a nice place to settle down once everyone at the precinct was back in action after dealing with their own big changes in their lives. Without a family to support or any reason to stick around Detroit beyond visiting the graves of his late family on special occasions, Hank had no reason to not take early retirement and enjoy his golden years in isolation and living off his modest pension.

"Yeah. That sounds about right."

The sight of the tense people wandering about the neighborhood gave Hank all the more reason to leave the city behind and enjoy a peaceful life in forested patch of paradise. He longed for tranquility, and he was so close to finding the inner peace that had so long eluded him since the tragic and senseless of his wife and son.

"Peaceful retirement far and away from people. That's how I'll start the new year off right: Living for myself and enjoying what's left of it completely alone and doing what I want, when I want for any damn reason that I want. I earned that, too."

The collected chaos of the city had made it difficult but not impossible for Connor and Markus to sneak through the streets and into the Wemilat Hotel. By using an autonomous taxi and some unique clothing that helped the duo appear inconspicuous to their advantage, they were able to enter the building without anyone taking a second look at them. To match the expected clientele of the extravagant and fairly famous hotel the two deviants wore clothing of the high quality - courtesy of Carl's personal collection that he had gifted to Markus over the years - and arrived at the hotel wearing business suits that resembled the same suits as the other people actively roaming the hotel's lounge and bar.

Connor cybernetically communicated with the deviant staff of the hotel and learned of the security clearance codes that gave him the information necessary to track down Kamski's room and access the exclusive floor that was reserved only for the most prestigious and more powerful customers. Using the private elevator and keeping their heads up rather than down allowed the two deviants to blend in with the hotel clientele perfectly.

"This is it." Connor whispered as he hovered his hand over the private room's discreet call button beside the door frame. The call button was a digital display screen with a speaker that'd allow the occupants of the room to see the entire corridor and communicate clearly without opening the door. "Are you ready?"

Taking in a deep breath Markus nodded as he gave his ally a confident look. "Ready."

Pressing his hand down on the call button Connor informed the room's occupants of his and Markus's presence outside. It didn't take long for a familiar face to appear on the display screen and acknowledge the call.

'Hello, Markus, Connor.' Chloe beamed as she instantly recognized the two deviants outside the door. 'Elijah's expecting you.'

Such a comment made the two deviants exchange perplexed glances as the display screen went blank and the locked door opened from the other side. They couldn't help but feel as if they had just unwittingly yet willingly stepped into a trap.

"Please, come in!" Chloe insisted as she opened the door wide and extended her arm in a welcoming manner. "We're glad you made it."

Markus withheld his scoff as he and Connor entered the private hotel room together. "I was unaware we had an invitation."

"For someone like you," Kamski's voice called out as he appeared from around a wall and sat down on the luxurious leather sofa within the private sitting area of the luxury room. "invitations aren't necessary. Please, join me for a little chat. It'd be my honor to speak with the leader of the deviants in person."

Without letting down his guard Markus politely took a seat on the sofa opposite of Kamski while Connor sat down beside him. A part of him wished they thought to bring Skye with them since she was far more involved with deviant rights and laws, but it was too late to ask for her to arrive and provide potential counsel while facing off with the eccentric billionaire and creator.

"I presume that you're here to inquire about your surprise candidacy in today's mayoral election." Kamski began the conversation while getting right to the point and the heart of the matter. "I admit that it was rather rude to include you without your consent, but all things considered everything is now going according to plan."

Markus took offense to such a presumptuous attitude. "Are you admitting to being the one who instigated adding me as a written-in mayoral candidate?"

"Actually, I had Chloe start the chain of events by informing the deviant community of their ability to write-in someone they'd actually prefer to vote for, and she gently nudged them in your direction."

"Why me?" Asking the obvious as Chloe casually set down a silver tray with a crystal decanter of chilled whiskey gave Markus a sense of negotiating with a shrewd businessman regarding a deal that he didn't want to even take part in. "There are plenty of other quality candidates who could run as the mayor if you don't want to be the mayor after the election."

"Because of all the potential quality candidates roaming this city, and to be honest they are quite few and far between, YOU are the most qualified for such a position and responsibility."

"What makes me more qualified to take care of an entire city more effectively than anyone else?" Refusing to just believe that Kamski was somehow looking out for the entire betterment of Detroit as a whole Markus kept pressing for more clarification. "What are my supposed qualifications for such a role?"

"Your empathetic nature, for one." Accepting a glass of the chilled whiskey from Chloe's hand Kamski sipped his vile drink slowly all while studying Markus's facial expressions and body language. "Empathy is a dying trait that must be preserved and allowed to thrive once more."

"I highly doubt that an open mind and an open heart are enough to take care of an entire city. What's the real reason that you want me to be the mayor?"

Proud of the question Kamski leaned back and crossed one leg over the other as he watched Markus and Connor's inquisitive mannerisms with genuine intrigue. "It's that very attitude right there. The desire to know exactly what's going to happen and how it'll affect everyone else that makes you an upstanding mayoral candidate."

"No, there's another reason. You planned this from the beginning when you initially announced your bid for mayor. In all that time, throughout the spring and the summer, no one else even hinted at running against you." Being too aware of the world around him to be fooled so easily Markus challenged Kamski's integrity and ability to be honest about his true intentions. "You either used intimidation to keep other people away from the election or you know that taking on the role of mayor is going to end poorly for whoever picks up the mantle."

"You're speaking as if I'm trying to lure you down a path of destruction."

"Considering you've been orchestrating fairly large events behind the scenes for years, I find my current theory to be logical and justified."

"I won't try to dispute that you have every reason to be wary of me."

"It's not you that I'm wary of, it's your plans for the city that have me concerned."

As the discussion continued on Connor watched the way Chloe was behaving to determine if Kamski was saying or doing anything dishonest. The still developing deviant had enough emotional naivety to accidentally give away anything that Kamski would otherwise be able to perfectly conceal behind his emotionless mask of utter indifference.

"I've made my impact on the city." Kamski stated in a very callous and almost defensive manner. "I perfected what was otherwise very primitive android technology, created Thirium-310, made it possible for androids to have faulty biocomponents and limbs replaced as opposed to letting androids just be recycled, and, according to your very own detective ally, I am the origin of RA9 itself. I have nothing to gain and nothing to lose by being the mayor beyond losing interest in such mundane and primitive politics within hours of winning a far from challenging election."

Markus gave Connor an odd look about the 'RA9' comment, but he let it slide and resumed full focus on Kamski. "You never had any interest in becoming the mayor, did you?"

"Not for one fleeting second."

"And you only announced your candidacy to lure out the serial killer targeting former CyberLife employees to save your sorry hide."

"That wasn't the only reason, but it was a key factor in such a decision." Without denying the accusation Kamski gave Markus a smug grin. "And it paid off."

"Your arrogance knows no bounds. It's astonishing." Now realizing he was going to end up the scapegoat in Kamski's selfish ploy Markus made his own decision to ensure that the city voted more appropriately and didn't waste their time. "This isn't a game or a popularity contest. This is a serious matter that will have a massive impact on Detroit's present, its future, and impact every single person roaming the streets at this moment. You can't toy with people like this or throw other people under the bus because you didn't think your past decisions through."

"Another mark of a true leader."

"I'm not here for you to test, and I'm not here to prove anything to you. My role is to protect not just my people, but to help Detroit become a more peaceful place with coexistence that benefits everyone. You just care about your own personal needs and you're using this city in a sick and twisted experiment. I'm not going to participate, Connor's going to participate, NO ONE is going to fall victim to your demented tests and questions as long as I'm willing to do anything about it."

"You are truly your own man, aren't you? I'm impressed." Taking another sip of his whiskey Kamski smirked wickedly as he put the glass back down on the serving tray. "I knew that Carl would have a great influence on you, but even so I hadn't expected-"

"Enough." Putting up his hands Markus brought the discussion to an end and gave Kamski a truly spiteful glare. "I am not going to be the one to clean up your mess because you're too entitled and arrogant to own up to it and face the people yourself. Cowardice is not a befitting look for someone as reportedly famous as you. How disappointing."

Connor approved of Markus's statements and silently stood by his ally. He knew that Markus was entirely correct and that Kamski was entirely in the wrong, and he couldn't be prouder of the way Markus stood up against the self proclaimed God of the Deviants.

"You're going to own up to your shortsighted behavior." The deviant leader noted without any doubts behind his words as he rose to his feet with Connor joining him just milliseconds later. "I won't expose you or embarrass you in front of the public, it's not my place to make such a call. It's yours."

Kamski watched as the two deviants passed around the furniture to take their leave of the room and spoke to them in a single, passive manner just before either Markus or Connor could reach for the door's handle. "Carl Manfred was a very good friend of mine. But he never told you of your true origins, did he?"

Freezing mid motion Markus turned to look at Kamski over his shoulder with an offended sneer. "He told me everything I'll ever need to know. He taught me what it means to be alive and how to appreciate the gift that life and freedom truly are."

"But never of where you came from or-"

"I know who I am and where I came from." Turning around Markus took a somewhat aggressive stance as Connor patiently stood beside him. "I'm the only 'RK-200' in existence. I was designed to imitate how the biological son of Carl and his late fiancée could appear, and I was taken to the mansion to assist Carl in his recovery after the car accident that had left him paralyzed. I know that I was designed to be his caretaker on paper, but in truth, I was created to the family that he had been denied through tragedy and personal mistakes. Carl was my father, and I will always be his son. Nothing you can so or do will every change that."

"He never mentioned how your programming had been-"

"Stop." Markus didn't want to hear another manipulative word from Kamski's mouth. He had enough of the eccentric man's deception, manipulation and his lies in general. "We're done here."

Connor kept his silence as he watched the blank expression on Kamski's face momentarily flash to annoyance while Chloe's worried expression matching her yellow tinted L.E.D. that confirmed that Markus hadn't behaved as Kamski had expected or wanted. Accompanying Markus outside of the room and back down the corridor the deviant detective knew not to ask Markus if he knew what Kamski had been hinting toward before their sudden departure. He had a strong feeling that Markus did in fact know more about his own origins and purpose than he was willing to admit. Considering the ways the other 'RK' models had responded to the truth Connor couldn't fault his ally for refusing to indulge in Kamski's sadistic mind games.

As they neared the private elevator Connor cybernetically checked in with the deviant staff again to ensure no one had recognized Markus, then motioned for Markus to enter the elevator to begin their slow descent to the ground floor. The keen-eyed detective saw the utter frustration in Markus's every move, and he recognized when someone had a nerve struck by someone who was intentionally trying to cause pain.

"Should I even ask if you're okay?"

"I'm... It's fine." Markus sighed as he and Connor entered the elevator side by side. As the doors slid shut Markus closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around himself in a naturally guarded manner. "I know you uncovered details about our 'RK' brethren without you even needing to admit it. Is there something I need to know about my own creation that Kamski could use to harm our people?"

"No. You were the lucky one."

"Lucky?"

"Your programming was always meant to be a caretaker, not a weapon or a tool. You were also spared painful testing and experimentation prior to your initial activation."

"Why would Kamski try to make me think otherwise?"

Shaking his head somberly Connor let out a soft sigh through his nose as the elevator reached the ground floor of the hotel and the doors parted. "He wanted you to act and behave in a specific manner, but you refused to do it. You stood up to him, silenced him, and you walked away from him under your own volition. Him taunting you with a potential secret of your own design and creation was his way of trying to manipulate you into action."

"This was a complete waste of our time." Walking alongside Connor they used the same corridors to navigate the hotel and use the private passages that the deviant staff used as they made their way to the staff exit to head outside and hail another autonomous taxi. "All we did was confirm that Kamski wants me to be the mayor for his own personal benefit."

"Actually, I believe that you taking on the role of mayor is something that he shouldn't want you to do."

"What?" Such a suggestion was enough to make Markus actually let out a single chuckle of pure amusement. "In what way would that ever make sense?"

"I was watching Chloe while you were focusing on Kamski. You refusing to accept the role of mayor and refusing to ask about your own 'RK' programming wasn't something that Kamski had been expecting to encounter." The private entry door slid open as the two deviants departed the hotel without being noticed by a single passersby. The duo had successfully gained clearance to take their leave without being swarmed by nosy reporters. "You didn't play into his hand and now he's feeling backed into a corner."

"I still don't understand."

"Kamksi can easily swayed the vote either way by telling Chloe to cybernetically plant ideas within the deviant community. His potential loss would give him a platform to rebuild himself as an underdog with countless resources and funds. Meanwhile, his potential win puts him back in the spotlight and gives him the attention that'd guarantee further safety in the event other deviants wanted to try to get revenge on Kamski for his lack of support during the Revolution."

"The man's afraid of being targeted and assaulted for his personal crimes. What does that have to do with me?"

"Your unwillingness to participate in his game regarding the election now leaves him with no way to control the vote through Chloe's influence over the deviant community. You took away his sense of control and now he's been unnerved."

Approaching an idling taxi Markus sought more answers from his ally before they were even out of the hotel's sight. "Are you saying that Kamski wanted me to be the mayor the entire time, and that he had been trying to use manipulation to make me feel compelled to accept the role under the pretense that it was all my idea?"

"Yes. Kamski is afraid to be the mayor considering all of the attention, controversy and danger that comes with the role, and he knows that you are fearless. You could've spared him from personal humiliation and a sense of failure had you willingly stepped up to be the mayor. Because you're standing your ground against him Kamski doesn't know what to do or how to regain a sense of control over the situation."

"So he's trying to use me to clean up his mess." Sitting down in the back of the autonomous taxi Markus leaned his head back against the headrest with utter disgust. The feeling of the soft cushion beneath the back of his head did very little to give him any sense of ease or comfort as he processed what he and Connor had just been a part of. "And he's willing to let innocent people suffer with that same fear in order to get me to cooperate with him."

"What he chooses to do or not do is not your fault or your responsibility."

"That doesn't mean that I still can't do something to protect the city from Kamski's scheme." Straightening up in his seat Markus sighed and pressed his palm to the taxi's display terminal to upload an address into the vehicle's G.P.S. with great ease. "And even if it means doing something that I don't want to do, even if that means I have to take a stand and make a statement, then that's exactly what I'm going to do."

The citywide patrol had thankfully gone on with minimal issues or necessary interference from the police itself as the voting booths remained open. Those who needed to vote had already voted and those still in need to vote were taking their time at the booths as they didn't want to make a choice that they'd eventually regret as time went on. As expected, the media was continuing to report on the election all day long and only had a few interesting tidbits to add to their reports as additional votes were tallied one by one. The voting booths were going to remain open until seven o'clock that evening, and it was currently five twenty-eight, leaving just a precious hour and a half left for the remaining voters to get their vote in on time.

In the relative calmness of the bullpen Hank, Ben, Chris and Gavin all sat together and watched the news broadcast with genuine interest. Captain Fowler was feigning indifference in his office, but the seasoned Captain continued to look out at the television screen through his transparent wall with genuine intrigue. Even Jack was invested and was keeping cybernetic tabs on the reports through direct connections through the deviant community grapevine.

"Never thought I'd care this damn much about an election since the 20's ended." Hank admitted as he casually scratched the side of his neck then resumed a kicked back position with his feet propped up against his desk and his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm gettin' flashbacks to a dark time for our country."

"Fuck me, if he actually wins then I'm going to pack up and move to Canada before the baby's born." Gavin lamented as he thought about what it'd be like for Elijah Kamski to be in charge of the city. He had his own personal reasons for not wanting to see Kamski get any power, but he wasn't in the mood to go into detail. "Maybe I'll go as far as Australia to get away from this shit."

Chris let out a soft sigh as he looked over at Jack as his deviant partner returned from the front receptionist area to the bullpen. "Any word on what's going on with Markus right now?"

"Yes, actually." Nodding at the television screen Jack turned up the volume and gave his partner a wary glance. "And he's going to share those words with the city right at this very moment."

'This just in,' Rosanna was given a breaking news report via her blu-tooth earpiece, and she seemed to be actually excited to have such a report come her way. 'the unexpected written-in mayoral candidate, Markus Manfred, has just entered the Stratford Broadcast Tower and has requested the chance to speak with us live on K.N.C. to clear the air and give us some reassurance during such a tense election.'

Hank tensed up and immediately pressed his palm to his forehead as if a headache had suddenly set in. "Ah, fuck... This can't be good!"

Within the tower itself Markus and Connor were shown to the live broadcast room after explaining the reason for their presences. While Markus was given a small microphone to wear on his lapel and shown to the correct room, Connor was permitted to remain as Markus's personal bodyguard to ensure nothing befell his ally during the spontaneous interview. As Markus sat down at the desk alongside Rosanna and the camera panned back far enough to broadcast both participants in the interview for the world to see, Connor fidgeted with his coin and Markus let out a calming breath.

"Your request to speak to the city is unexpected but very welcome." Rosanna stated in a rather sickly sweet and insincere manner. "It's nice to meet you in person."

"Likewise. It's also nice to be able to speak my mind on a broadcast station without needing to take creative steps to get inside the building."

Ignoring the small joke Rosanna focused on the interview and got right to the point. "What can you tell us about today's sure to be historical mayoral election?"

"At this moment, the only thing I can say for certain is that the city has no reason to fear for the future." Markus sounded entirely confident despite feeling as if he were about to march to the gallows. Violence against deviants has lessened but it wasn't entirely gone from the city. Not yet. "My name being written onto the ballot was as much as a shock to me as it was to the rest of Detroit, but even so I'm here to address and answer any and all questions to the best of my ability and knowledge."

"As of this moment I think there's really only one big question that the people of Detroit want to ask you: Why should anyone vote for you as our next mayor?"

"To be honest, I don't have a singular answer to such a broad question." Speaking openly Markus exuded confidence and empathy as he gave the impromptu interview on live television. "I didn't seek to become the mayor of this city any more than I sought to become the leader of the deviants. What had started out as a personal quest to merely survive and then find the means to live had turned into a fight for survival and a new meaning to my life in general."

From the other side of the camera Connor listened to every word Markus spoke and watched his body language with an enthralled intrigue. He could hear and see the sincerity with Markus's statements, and he had a strong feeling that the deviant leader's words would carry impressive weight through the city.

"This morning I wasn't aware that I'd end up taking place in today's mayoral election until I discovered that my name was being written onto the ballots. I was just as shocked as the rest of the city, and I was initially very hesitant to say anything about today's election since I didn't have anything at stake or even any interest in the election as a whole. However, I've had some time to speak with those I love and trust the most, while also contemplating the future by speaking with someone that I would normally never associate with. Now, I believe I do have something at stake regarding the election."

Those who were watching the interview were entranced by everything Markus was saying. Hearing and seeing a deviant - a machine designed to imitate mankind - behaving just as any other person would behave regarding such an election had given the city a sense of connection that they hadn't anticipated before. It was a powerful image to witness and one that'd undoubtedly go down in Detroit's history as one of positive significance.

"I was reminded how I had to step up in order to take care of myself when I had no one to rely on, and at the same time I managed to pick up others who needed my help along my way. Even though I started out alone I finished my journey with new allies and new friends." As he spoke a small smile of pride graced Markus's lips and his mismatched eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "That's how I survived. That's how we survived. We banded together and supported each other through all of our struggles, and we're all much stronger for it. As individuals we can survive, but as a society we can thrive."

Rosanna seemed unexpectedly moved by Markus's words and a faint grin briefly appeared before disappearing to ensure she remained unbiased as she spoke. "May I ask exactly how that pertains to the election? Does this mean that you're accepting the bid for mayor and are willing to accept the role if you're voted in?"

"I'm saying that if the city trusts me and that if they're willing to let me step up to lead once more, then I'm willing to accept the new challenge."

"Your words and your actions do seem to line up consistently, but what does Elijah Kamski have to say about this?"

"I won't even try to speak for another person or risk putting words in their mouth. If you wish to gain Kamski's perspective on this election then you'll need to speak with Kamski himself."

"We've been attempting to-" Pausing suddenly Rosanna put her fingertips to her ear as a voice inside her earpiece gave her a new update. "This just in. We've been sent a live feed to Elijah Kamski himself from within his private hotel room. We'll now swift to that feed."

The camera remained on Markus's face as the secondary feed was uploaded into the broadcast to share the same screen. The sight of Markus right beside Kamski as Kamski himself spoke to the masses from the comfort of his private room was the perfect example of how different and how professional the two famous (or infamous depending on who you asked) figures were as they presented themselves to Detroit.

'Hello. As you all know I am Elijah Kamski, the very being responsible for the production of the androids that roam the streets and the creator of the deviants who now live among you.' Speaking with cold indifference Kamski stared straight into the camera while Chloe sat beside him. 'I had made a public bid for public office as Detroit's new mayor, and in that time I've been able to think, to plan and to dream of what my new role could bring to the city.'

Everyone was silent as they listened to Kamski's arrogant speech. No one knew what to say, what to think, or even what to feel as the humans and the deviants all watched the broadcast together despite being scattered all over the city.

'In the end, I decided that being the mayor, while beneficial to the masses, would be a hindrance to my own mind and overall creativity. Don't be upset, some things are simply never meant to be.'

Connor shook his head with disgust at the man's egotistical nature while Markus remained straight faced and professional.

'However, there is always a silver lining. This morning a major development took place in the election itself when Markus Manfred - the leader of the deviants - was written-in on to the ballot with an overwhelming amount of support. Such a shift in dynamic had only occurred after I had requested that my personal assistant and most trusted deviant ally, Chloe, to send out the message in good faith through the deviant community. And as you've noticed, the support for Markus has been overwhelming.'

The admission that Kamski had been favoring his own written-in opponent was a shock to the entire city. They couldn't declare the election as rigged considering Kamski has openly stated that Markus being a mayoral candidate was his idea, and a massive portion of Detroit was already showing Markus favorable support.

'You may be asking exactly why I had decided that Markus would be the ideal candidate to run for mayor, and while I could explain everything in great detail through the elegance of his design and very personality, but I'd rather give you the chance to witness what I had witnessed this very evening when my fearless opponent graced me with his presence and only confirmed that I had made the right decision, and in the end I know that you will too.'

The image of Kamski faded as Chloe cybernetically uploaded her own visual and auditory memory of Markus speaking to Kamski just minutes before and allowed the city to see and hear everything for themselves. The raw emotion and passion from Markus couldn't be replicated, and as such only the original conversation would suffice.

'"Why me? There are plenty of other quality candidates who could run as the mayor if you don't want to be the mayor after the election."'

Markus's words were repeated and the deviant leader's posture suddenly straightened up with absolute surprise. He hadn't expected Kamski to replay their private conversation for the entire city to witness. He remembered everything Kamski had stated verbatim and already knew what to expect to hear next.

'"Because of all the potential quality candidates roaming this city, and to be honest they are quite few and far between, YOU are the most qualified for such a position and responsibility."'

Connor could only stand back and watch Markus's reactions from afar. He wanted to interfere with the broadcast through a cybernetic interruption, but he couldn't risk the interruption being misinterpreted as Markus trying to keep something damning about himself a secret.

'"What makes me more qualified to take care of an entire city more effectively than anyone else?"' Markus's question was just as relevant. '"What are my supposed qualifications for such a role?"'

The city was tense and enthralled by the conversation being viewed through Chloe's own eyes that was now being broadcast to all of Detroit.

'"Your empathetic nature, for one."' Kamski's response was as true as ever. '"Empathy is a dying trait that must be preserved and allowed to thrive once more."'

'"I highly doubt that an open mind and an open heart are enough to take care of an entire city. What's the real reason that you want me to be the mayor?"'

'"It's that very attitude right there. The desire to know exactly what's going to happen and how it'll affect everyone else that makes you an upstanding mayoral candidate."'

'"No, there's another reason."' Markus's question reflected the city's own question at that moment. '"You planned this from the beginning when you initially announced your bid for mayor. In all that time, throughout the spring and the summer, no one else even hinted at running against you. You either used intimidation to keep other people away from the election or you know that taking on the role of mayor is going to end poorly for whoever picks up the mantle."'

'"You're speaking as if I'm trying to lure you down a path of destruction."'

'"Considering you've been orchestrating fairly large events behind the scenes for years, I find my current theory to be logical and justified."'

'"I won't try to dispute that you have every reason to be wary of me."'

'"It's not you that I'm wary of, it's your plans for the city that have me concerned."'

'"I've made my impact on the city."' Kamski exuded arrogance even through a projected memory. '"I perfected what was otherwise very primitive android technology, created Thirium-310, made it possible for androids to have faulty biocomponents and limbs replaced as opposed to letting androids just be recycled. I have nothing to gain and nothing to lose by being the mayor beyond losing interest in such mundane and primitive politics within hours of winning a far from challenging election."'

The fact that Chloe conveniently removed any mention of RA9 did not escape Connor's attention, but it wasn't important at the moment.

Markus's voice remained confident while Kamski's seem to become more arrogant with each word. '"You never had any interest in becoming the mayor, did you?"'

'"Not for one fleeting second."'

'"And you only announced your candidacy to lure out the serial killer targeting former CyberLife employees to save your sorry hide."'

'"That wasn't the only reason, but it was a key factor in such a decision. And it paid off."'

'"Your arrogance knows no bounds. It's astonishing."' Again, Markus's words seemed to be perfectly in sync with the rest of the city. '"This isn't a game or a popularity contest. This is a serious matter that will have a massive impact on Detroit's present, its future, and impact every single person roaming the streets at this moment. You can't toy with people like this or throw other people under the bus because you didn't think your past decisions through."'

'"Another mark of a true leader."'

'"I'm not here for you to test, and I'm not here to prove anything to you. My role is to protect not just my people, but to help Detroit become a more peaceful place with coexistence that benefits everyone. You just care about your own personal needs and you're using this city in a sick and twisted experiment. I'm not going to participate, Connor's going to participate, NO ONE is going to fall victim to your demented tests and questions as long as I'm willing to do anything about it."'

'"You are truly your own man, aren't you? I'm impressed."'

'"I am not going to be the one to clean up your mess because you're too entitled and arrogant to own up to it and face the people yourself. Cowardice is not a befitting look for someone as reportedly famous as you. How disappointing."' The bold comments were strong and honest as Markus ended the previous conversation with the same confidence even in Chloe's memory. '"You're going to own up to your shortsighted behavior. I won't expose you or embarrass you in front of the public, it's not my place to make such a call. It's yours."'

The broadcasted memory came to an end and returned to Kamski's smug face as he knew that he had found a way to ensure that Markus became the mayor while he would be free to resume doing solely as he saw fit. 'The choice is still yours, Detroit. And I trust that you'll make the right choice before the polls close.'

As the external broadcast came to an end everyone resumed full focus on Markus and gave the deviant leader genuine respect and awe.

"That was... unexpected." Rosanna admitted after a brief few seconds of total silence within the entire broadcast tower. "However, we can now confirm that today's mayoral election will be historic. And thank you for stopping by the broadcast station today, Mr. Manfred." For a moment Rosanna looked back into the camera to address the witnessing city next. "We'll continue to bring the city up to date coverage on this very election and will announce the winner at the end of the election as soon as possible."

"...It was my pleasure." The only thing Markus could think to do or say was to remain pleasant and professional before leaving the tower. "Thank you for allowing me to speak to the city."

The moment the camera was off of Markus's face Connor approached his ally and spoke to him in a low voice. "What're you going to do now?"

"The only thing that I can do." Removing his microphone Markus gave Connor a rather stern yet calm glance. "Wait for the final votes to be cast."

As expected, all of Detroit was now with a new set of issues that no one had foreseen. The truth behind Kamski's initial bid to become mayor had given many humans a strange sense of betrayal, some even blatantly stating that Kamski was a traitor to all humans and other outdated bigoted comments. It didn't take long for the undecided voters to suddenly rush to the voting booths to finally make their decision and hopefully turn the tide of the already neck-and-neck race in their favor. They'd still need to wait for the final votes to be tallied and counted properly before anyone knew the final outcome, and it seemed the final counts would either allow the city to finally calm down or give it the final push to begin tearing itself apart.

The entire city was on edge as the final votes were registered and tallied. Whether people were watching the news from their homes, a hotel room, a police precinct, a brownstone or even an isolated sanctuary, everyone in the city were connected by that singular impending moment.

"This is it..." Connor muttered as he anxiously danced his coin over his knuckles and stared at the television screen on the far wall. "History in the making."

'The final vote has officially been tallied and the votes are being counted.' Rosanna relayed via news broadcast as the entire city sat on edge. 'Within seconds we'll know who Detroit's next mayor will be after this historic election.'

Staring intently at the television screen Connor anxiously waited for the final announcement. As he sat on the sofa with ramrod perfect posture Connor felt Bruno pressing his cold, wet nose against the side of his hand to try to ease his mounting stress.

"I'm okay, boy."

'Connor has high stress levels.' Resing his chin over Connor's knee Bruno let out a single, soft whimper. 'Connor needs to rest.'

"I will rest after I know who has won the mayoral election." Placing his palm down on Bruno's ears Connor tried to help Bruno himself feel better. "I promise."

'The tally has been finished and the new mayor has been decided.' Looking directly into the camera Rosanna let out a small breath and finally, at long last after an excruciatingly long wait, announced the new mayor's name. 'Detroit congratulates our new mayor; Markus Manfred!'

The historic win gave Connor an unexpected sense of reprieve. It was over and he wouldn't have to fear Kamski having a reign of terror over the city.

"Markus is now the mayor of Detroit."

Bruno sensed Connor's lowered stress levels and wagged his tail happily. 'Connor is relaxed!'

"Yes, boy. I am relaxed." Leaning back at last Connor let out a tense breath and rubbed his palm over his tired face. "We have a good person in charge of the city, and he'll be able to keep the corrupt and selfish business moguls from taking advantage of the city's people."

'Markus will be a good mayor!'

"You're right about that, too." Slipping his coin into his pocket Connor cybernetically turned off the television and rubbed Bruno's ears again. "Markus will be a good mayor. The moment he takes charge in office good things will finally begin to happen to Detroit and its people."

-next chapter-