...SELF DIAGNOTIC: [Engaged]
...LOADING INFORMATION:
REGISTERED NAME: "Connor Wolf"
MODEL: RK-800
SERIAL NUMBER: 313 248 317 - 51
ACTIVATION DATE: *January 4th, 2039 [*additional data required to confirm date]
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6' 00.24"; 162.2 lbs
COMPLEXION: Caucasian
AESTHETIC GENDER: Male
HAIR/EYES: Brunette; Brown
ASSIGNMENT: *ERROR
ASSOCIATION(S): Private Detective; Consultant with New Jericho Tower
BOOTING PROCESSORS...
LOADING OS...
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...
-CHECKING BIOCOMPONENTS... OK]
-INITIALIZING BIOSENSORS... OK]
-INITIALIZING AI ENGINE... OK]
-MEMORY STATUS... ERROR]
[...Critical data corruption detected]
-INITIATING DATA RECOVERY MODE
READY...
-MEMORY REBOOT: Engaged - ^84.2%
[...Thirium Volume - 97.6%]
[...Thirium Pressure - 120/80]
[...Thirium Pump Rate - 60 B.P.M.]
[...Ventilation Rate - 12 V.P.M.]
[...Core Temperature - 98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit]
ERROR: Memorybank compromised - ^84.2% Functionality
-STRESS LEVELS: ^30%
-SYSTEM READY... OK]
The eventful and nearly tragic previous day had left Hank feeling exhausted while Connor found himself unusually wired. The senior detective was sleeping heavily in his bedroom down the hallway while Connor paced about the house with Sumo following him with Lucky draped around his shoulders like a scarf. He had a curious little coin dancing along his knuckles as Connor became increasingly lost in thought. With so much happening in such a small amount of time Connor's mind was getting overwhelmed with restored memories, previously dormant emotions beginning to resurface, and a strange sense to protect the people around him. All of those feelings had kept the healing deviant from entering rest mode for the night.
A strange sense of caution began to fill Connor's heart. Every time he passed by the dimly lit hallway he'd look down the corridor to Hank's closed bedroom door and feel his heart momentarily clench as if he were facing something dreadful. Why it was happening Connor couldn't say for certain.
"There is something in my memory I cannot clearly see that revolves around my connection with Hank."
Speaking to himself as he passed through the house, Connor rubbed Lucky's chin with his free hand and looked back at Sumo trailing after him as he walked from one room to the next. Although he wasn't entirely alone Connor couldn't help but feel isolated at the moment.
"We were together in CyberLife Tower during the night of the Revolution. Why can't I remember why we were there or what we were doing?"
Sumo grumbled a little and licked his nose as if nervous about something Connor had said.
"Perhaps I should focus on this memory at another time. As of the moment we need to find George Angus for Gavin's sake, and I need to assist Lucas and Sydney in tracking down my own shooter. I also need to find the time to focus on the Winters family when they return to the city."
Stopping the coin mid dance Connor sat down on the couch and promptly had Sumo sprawled over his lap. Without the coin to hold his attention Connor was able to free rub Sumo's ears as he continued to rub Lucky's chin.
"The appropriate memory will return in time, I just need to be patient."
Closing his eyes Connor reached out cybernetically to Lucas and was met with a prompt and surprisingly energetic response despite the early morning hour.
'Hello, Connor.' Lucas responded with an optimistic lilt being carried heavily in his voice. 'I'm glad to hear from you again.'
'I apologize for the prolonged delay between communication.' Connor began in level tone. 'There was an unexpected incident that I had elected to handle during my recovery period.'
'I understand that you have a life outside the brownstone and I don't take offense to you keeping silent for an extended period of time.' Ever empathetic and kind Lucas didn't fault Connor for any of his actions and behaviors. 'May I ask why you've contacted me today?'
'I was hoping to hear a positive update regarding the search into locating the shooter who targeted me at the park.'
'Sydney and I have been analyzing the city security footage and have determined that the shooter managed to remain out of sight of the cameras, but that doesn't mean they weren't recorded at some point before and after the incident. The shooter could've been staking out the park for only minutes, or they could've been staking out the park for hours leading up to the shooting itself.'
'You're now checking through the footage for any sign of a person who could be considered a suspect based on time frame alone.' Connor quickly deduced as he knew that their investigative options were still limited. 'Anyone who would've been seen leaving the park at the late hour post shooting could be a viable suspect.'
'Correct. Sydney has theorized that the suspect would've selected a place with a considerable height that would give them a clear shot at you from the distance.' Lucas continued to explain the theory in a now dour tone. He disliked discussing his own brother's near murder. 'Based on the model of weapon used against you, and the angle of the bullet's overall trajectory, we have calculated that the shooter would've used a building of approximately six stories in height to obtain their target.'
'Do you believe that someone knew I was going to meet Hank at the park and had preemptively planned the shooting?'
'As of this moment, yes.' The response was surprisingly unnerving. 'The odds of someone staking out such a location and hoping for a chance encounter is too low to be properly calculated. The point of impact from the bullet also indicates that the shooter was attempting to cause maximum damage with minimal effort.'
'...True.' Connor felt suddenly tense as he tried to understand how anyone could've known that he was going to speak with Hank in Riverside Park that night. He didn't tell anyone where he was going, but that didn't mean Hank didn't tell someone else about the meeting, time or location. 'This is very interesting.'
'We'll figure this out soon.' Sensing that Connor was becoming tense Lucas decided to change the subject of discussion. 'If it's not inappropriate, may I ask what had kept you so distracted as of late?'
'I am going to handle a private case as soon as I'm able to return to the brownstone. I cannot disclose any information since I promised my client absolute discretion, and I will need to look into the Winters family once they return.' Connor never betrayed Gavin's secret and was determined to keep his promise. 'That unfortunately means I must ask for you and Sydney to focus your attention elsewhere as I must handle the case entirely solo and work on the second case with Hank.'
'There's no need to explain yourself, brother.' Lucas continued to show pure empathy as he listened to Connor speaking. 'How is your recovery process?'
'I've regained more of my memories, I've regained nearly all software and hardware functionality and I'm not suffering from any complications post shooting.' Looking down at Sumo as the large dog laid heavily across his lap Connor wondered how everyone at the brownstone was fairing. 'How are you, Sydney and Bruno doing as of this moment?'
'Bruno has made a full recovery and had been spending most of his time keeping Sydney company. I suspect that he's doing his best to keep Sydney company as you had requested.'
'By my personal observations, Sydney seems to be harboring a lot of anger. I cannot remember everything regarding Sydney and his experiences, but I suspect his anger is justified despite being exhausting.'
'You are correct.' Lucas didn't go into detail as he knew Connor wanted to regain his memories without any perceived bias by accident. 'With any luck Sydney will find a way to let his anger go and stop letting the very emotions he denies control his life.'
'He will overcome his anger in time, and we will help him. Please keep me apprised of any potential progress regarding the investigation into the shooter's identity, and I will do the same.'
'I will do so. I'm relieved to know you're making a full recovery, please continue to take care of yourself.'
'I assure you I will. Take care, Lucas. I'll return to the brownstone as soon as I can.'
'See you soon.'
Ending the call Connor focused on the two animal companions who were keeping him company on the couch. It was nice to have company that wouldn't ask questions or get into too much trouble.
"I should get some rest before Hank awakens. I imagine he'd be worried if he discovered that I had been awake most of the night since I still need to recover."
Scooping up Lucky into his arms Connor carried the cat with him into the guestroom and made sure Sumo followed. He truly enjoyed the feeling of security that came from having a loyal dog watching over him as he slept, and he had become rather fond of Lucky being so mellow and eager to cuddle whenever she had the chance.
"I suspect that things are going to remain tense for a while."
Climbing into the bed Connor pulled the quilt up over his body and watched as Sumo curled up at his feet. It didn't take long for Lucky to stretch out her body before she strolled over to where Sumo was laying to curl up against his side to ensure everyone was warm and comfortable as they slept.
"There's very little I can do to change things for the better beyond being able to get one dangerous man off the streets, ensure that the Winters family isn't doing anything illegal, and then locate the person who tried to kill me."
As he laid on his back with his hands neatly folded over his chest, Connor sighed and closed his eyes as he let his thoughts fade away and let rest mode engage.
"I'll begin by finding a motivation behind my attempted murder. After that... That'll be difficult to determine."
The quiet peacefulness of the city was something that Markus could only hope to experience every day of his life. It had taken several days for his heart to heal enough to let him go about his life without constantly thinking about North and her betrayal, but even so he was still hurting and beginning to question his ability trust others and judge them accurately. Whenever he was in New Jericho Tower he'd keep to himself as much as he could and only really speak with Simon from time to time. Otherwise he'd simply go back to the mansion to spend time with Carl and seek additional counsel regarding how to handle the emotional strain of heartache and mistrust.
Being able to visit with Carl and spend time with his father seemed to be the key to helping Markus truly heal and move forward after suffering from his personal tragedy. The older man's invaluable wisdom and insight was resonating deeply within Marku's developing heart as he now had the emotional capacity to truly understand what Carl was telling him.
"Life and love go hand-in-hand." Carl stated as he slowly swept his brush bristles over a fresh white canvas to try and create a new piece to express his views on the changing world around him. He hadn't painted since his heart attack, but Carl was finding the energy and the inspiration to begin again. "In those same hands we carry hate, grief, anger, sadness, loss and death. It's about how we handle such emotional responsibilities that determine our inner strengths."
"How do I know which strength I'm relying on?" Markus asked as he passed over a jar of clean water to allow Carl to rinse the red pigment from his brush before selecting a new color. "I don't want to let hate or anger harden my heart, and I don't grief or sorrow make it too fragile to trust."
"That's something you'll need to figure out for yourself. There's only so much a father can do for his son." Creating a streak of green over the canvas Carl began to blend the two contrasting colors into one as he used controlled strokes and a careful motion to create a new story to tell. "You'll know where your strength lays when you need it the most."
"I don't like not knowing in advance."
"You and the rest of the world share the seem dislike. Everyone's so damn impatient and eager to see how everything ends and forget to enjoy the story as they experience it one page at a time."
"I have to be responsible for all of my people and I have to show them that I can be trusted to make the right decisions." The agony of uncertainty and mistrust were beginning to gnaw away at the deviant leader's still healing heart. "If I'm doubting my own abilities to lead then everyone will see it and begin to worry."
"Right now it seems like the only person worrying about anything is you." Calm and patient as ever Carl did his best to ease his son's concerns. "This is when you need to prove to yourself that you deserve to be the leader and not just a figurehead. You need to stop seeing yourself as others see you, and see yourself who you really are through your own eyes."
"I don't understand." The enigmatic advice did very little to ease Markus's overwhelmed mind. "How can I see myself any other way?"
"That's another lesson you must learn without anyone to teach you, I'm afraid." Putting his paintbrush aside Carl neatly folded his hands over his lap as his electric wheelchair turned to allow him to face Markus directly. The distraught deviant was sitting slumped on the small stool beside the table littered with paint, brushes and rags looking as lost as a puppy in a storm. "You'll find your answers soon, Markus. You must learn to be patient and you must learn how to see yourself as a person, NOT as a leader or figurehead."
"As a person?"
"That's right. You're as alive as I am." Carl smiled as he pressed his talented hand to his chest to rest over his heart. "Granted your heart is certainly in better shape than mine since it's made of plastimetal, but it's a beating heart all the same."
Managing a warm grin at his father's words Markus mirrored Carl's gesture and put his palm over his own heart. "I'll remember that."
"How about we stop talking philosophy for the day and play a nice game of chess? You managed to beat me last time, but I think today's my day to make a comeback."
"I'd like that." Standing up slowly Markus took hold of the handles on the back of Carl's chair and manually wheeled him out of the gallery and into the sitting room where the chessboard was already set up for a new game. "Playing a game that requires total concentration is what I need right now to stop worrying for a moment."
The morning remained quiet even after Hank awoke and went about his usual routine. The senior detective wandered into the perfectly cleaned kitchen to brew a pot of coffee to help himself wake up and didn't notice Connor quietly entering the livingroom behind with his mini zoo in tow. As the coffee maker hummed to life and brought the water to a nice hot temperature, Hank heard the television turn on and turned to look over his shoulder to see Connor sitting down on the couch with Sumo sprawled over his lap again, Lucky draped around his shoulders and a familiar little coin dancing on his knuckles. It was the sight of the coin, the very coin that had been returned to Connor during his recovery, that made Hank suddenly uneasy.
The natural way that Connor resumed fussing with the coin to channel his nervous tic confirmed that he was indeed recovering. In Hank's mind he was convinced that the moment Connor remembered how they had previously interacted and of how Hank had been such a prick to Connor for no reason, Connor was going to shut him out of his life again and return to the brownstone without a word.
Pouring his coffee into a mug Hank strolled into the livingroom to join Connor on the couch and begin pleasant conversation. "G'Morning, son."
"Good morning." Connor reciprocated the greeting in a neutral manner. "I've been monitoring the news broadcasts as of late, and a recent break-in has come to my attention."
"Oh?" Sipping his coffee slowly Hank reached his hand out to rub Lucky's ears and then did the same for Sumo. "What happened?"
"A local gun shop had its front display window shattered by a parked vehicle's forcibly removed hub cab, the security gate was forced open by hand and one of the glass display cases was smashed open by hand. The blood found on the destroyed case is currently being tested."
"Okay. And why is this holding your attention?"
"The thief stole only one item; a hunting knife."
"A hunting knife?" Such knives were often sold in gun shops since many hunters would frequent such a store to gear up for hunting season. Why one knife was so interesting to Connor was still escaping Hank's understanding. "I still don't get it."
"When I left to take care of Lucky and gather items for Gavin during his stay here in the house, he told you of what happened to him, yes?"
"Yeah. He said his absolute fuck-wad of an ex assaulted him, tried to sexually assault him and then threatened him with-" Stopping short Hank now knew what Connor had picked up on. "Oh. Shit."
Connor watched as Hank put his mug of coffee down on the coffee table and approached a small section of the floor in the livingroom just before the large stereo against the wall. The older man removed a hidden panel on the floor and reached inside the small compartment to retrieve a metal storage box that had been locked and kept out of sight.
"Gavin said he was threatened with a hunting knife." Hank confirmed as opened the locked box and revealed the contents within. The very knife that George had attempted to use against Gavin had been stored inside the small space inside of a plastic bag alongside Hank's old revolver. "He gave this to me to keep the evidence safe from being tampered with."
"The knife is three inches long, stainless steel, has a serrated edge, a wide hilt and has faux leather wrapped around the handle." Connor noted as he eyed the knife from a distance. Closing his eyes for a moment the deviant cybernetically tapped into the burgled store's inventory to determine what kind of knife had been stolen during the robbery. "The stolen knife is identical in length, material and design to the knife George had lost after his failed attempt to further assault Gavin."
"Do you think George went out of his way to get another knife like he had lost just so he could hurt Gavin?"
"It is possible."
"Shit. What can we do to keep Gavin from being found and threatened again?"
"We need to warn Gavin to remain concealed within his apartment and to not go anywhere or socialize with anyone outside of his apartment."
"Right. Well, he's moving into a new apartment soon, so he might be better off delaying the move until after George is found and arrested."
"Agreed."
A small knock on the front door drew everyone's attention toward the unexpected guest and prompted Hank to hide the knife and the box in the floor again. Once the small compartment was concealed Hank rose to his feet and peered through the peephole to see who had shown up at the odd hour.
"Abby?" Opening the front door Hank gave the kind woman a truly perplexed glance that spoke volumes on its own. "Is something wrong?"
"Nope. I just promised Gavin that I'd come and collect Lucky for him before I went to check on his recovery." Smiling as she spoke Abby told the senior detective the truth about what was happening with the recovering detective at his own apartment. "He'll need a week or so to heal enough to go back to work, but even so he'll need to stay behind his desk for another three weeks until his fractured ribs heal."
"That won't be a problem." Stepping aside Hank made room for Connor as the deviant carried the box with Gavin's remaining clothes, Lucky's food, bowls and Lucky herself over to Abby to take. "Tina's covering for Gavin and told the precinct that he slipped down an icy staircase at his apartment and took a nasty fall to explain his bruises and his 'whiplash'. No one will question it."
"Works for me. Thanks!" Accepting the box with both hands Abby gave Connor a quick visual onceover as the deviant continued to heal. "I'm glad to see that you've fully healed after being stabbed, but I wasn't expecting to see you here with Hank."
"We are working on a case together." Connor quickly lied. He didn't want to tell Abby about his second near death in order to keep the investigation as low profile as possible until the shooter was finally found. "With Gavin now being wounded we have a second case to work on as well."
"I do not envy cops in the slightest. You know, except for being able to carry around tasers and get shitty drivers off the road."
Hank chuckled a little as he watched Abby back away from the door. "It's not all that's cracked up to be. Just tell Gavin to lay low and if he has to, go back to Tina's apartment to hide out until it's safe for him to make it to his new place."
"Will do. See you guys later!"
"See ya'." Closing the front door Hank locked it up tight and gave Connor an uneasy glance. "We need to find this George guy fast. If he is the fucker who broke into the gun shop to arm himself again, then we need to get him off the streets before he has the chance to hurt anyone."
"I agree with that as well. If George can maintain a low profile and steal a knife without being apprehended in the process, then I suspect he'll be able to locate Gavin and get his revenge."
"First thing we need to do is confirm that it was this George Angus who robbed the store."
Nodding slightly Connor closed his eyes and tapped into the Central Precinct's database to check through the forensics files. Fortunately, it was Chris and Ben who had gone to the store to investigate the robbery, which made it easier for Connor to check in on the case from a distance. "...The blood sample and subsequent D.N.A. taken from the scene of the robbery has been confirmed as a positive match to George Angus thanks to his military files."
"Military files?"
"He was dishonorably discharged due to his temper and inability to obey any authority figure above him."
"Ah. Sounds like the military were glad to be rid of the prick and are actually cooperating with the police for once..."
"Apparently so."
"Any of idea of where we can begin looking for the fucker? If we can track him down we can point Chris in the right direction to get him arrested."
"I have a theory, but it cannot be substantiated without any further evidence."
"Let me hear it."
"It'd best to investigate the area in person." Connor suggested as he took his jacket from the hook beside the front door to begin layering up. "And if I'm correct we can stake out the area to ensure George doesn't leave or harm another person."
While he still had a nasty headache and it was difficult to breathe through his swollen nose and sore ribs, Gavin was on his way to his own full recovery as well. The breaks to his nose had been properly realigned by Connor, the swelling around his eyes was beginning to reduce thanks to numerous ice packs, and the pain in his ribcage was beginning to fade as he healed from the C.P.R. that revived him after his failed suicide attempt. With Tina's help Gavin was able to rest through his headache with minimal worries and was able to finish packing the few remaining items into boxes to be taken over to his new apartment so he could start fresh with a new place to live and clean slate with his best friend.
It was a relief to know he didn't cross the line and ruin his friendship with Tina, and now Gavin was going out of his way to make amends with Tina for bottling up his emotions and fears instead of confiding in her. He knew his previous behavior had been toxic for himself and inappropriate toward Tina. To salvage his friendship Gavin was ready to go out of his way to apologize and remind himself as to why he was so close with Tina in general.
"It was too easy to pack up your kitchen." Tina teased as she brought the single box into the livingroom to be added to the pile of other moving boxes. "Seriously? Four bowls, four plates, four glasses and four complete cutlery sets. You're such a guy, sometimes!"
"What does that mean?" Gavin asked as he rubbed his hand along the back of his sore neck to try to soothe the ache in his healing muscles. "Such a 'guy'?"
"Every guy I know buys only the absolute basics and gets the cheapest stuff they can! No color, no taste, no personality..." Motioning to the simplistic nature of everything Gavin had packed up Tina made it clear she didn't like how he kept everything bland and neutral. "Boring! Why are so many guys shy about trying to color coordinate or create a theme?"
"I just buy what I need and move on." The response was as honest as it was fearless. "Besides, it makes it much easier to pack shit up." Motioning to the packed boxes Gavin made his point perfectly clear. "Like so!"
"Uh-huh, and when are you going to admit that you just don't have any style?"
"The day I admit not having any style is the day I reconnect with my estranged brother and let you decorate my next place without supervision."
"Should I call your brother for you?"
"If you call him I will officially request a transfer to another precinct and never work with you ever again."
"Spoilsport..."
Two knocks followed by the apartment door opening interrupted the playful disagreement between the friends. Abby arrived right on schedule and proceeded to promptly scold Gavin for removing his neck brace without proper medical clearance. "Who told you it was okay to remove that brace?"
"My neck was sweaty." Gavin mumbled as he picked up the foam support from the couch and returned it to around his healing neck. He disliked how it effectively limited his ability to move his head or look around, and it also made him feel too warm. "It was just for a couple of minutes."
"Nope, keep it on until I tell you to remove it." Placing the box down on the couch Abby popped open the top flaps and watched as Lucky shook her head, climbed out of the box and immediately perched on the back of the couch to rub her nose against Gavin's arm affectionately until she was scooped up and held. "It's important that you let your neck heal, otherwise you'll have some nasty complications down the road."
"Okay."
Tina loved it when Gavin looked sheepish and piled on to her friend's embarrassment. "Get him, doc!"
"Oh, I got him."
Gavin held Lucky closed and gave the cat some overdue chin rubs. "At least you're on my side."
"So, when I picked up Lucky, I was told by Lieutenant Anderson that you need to keep a low profile. I get the feeling that he and Connor are going to find your ex and arrest him pretty soon."
"That seems too good to be true."
"I get the feeling that before the day is over George will be off the streets and you'll be safe again." Trying to be optimistic Abby gave both Gavin and Tina a reassuring smile. "Have a little faith."
"Sure, yeah."
"I need to check your neck and your ribs." Abby confirmed as she watched the way Gavin's shoulders slumped with disappointment. He just wanted everything to be over and to move on with his life without needing so much help or needing to hide. "I also want to check your nose, eyes and throat to make sure you're not developing any sign of infection."
"Can we do that in private?" Gavin gave Tina a coy look as he saw the disappointment flash over her face. She liked watching Gavin squirm while trying to remain 'macho' since he was her honorary big brother. "I don't like being put on display."
"That won't be a problem. Bedroom or bathroom?"
"There's more room in the bedroom." Passing Lucky over to Tina to hold Gavin slowly walked down the hallway to get to his bedroom. "And, uh, thanks for coming over and keeping quiet about everything happening. I hope this isn't affecting your job at the facility."
"Nah." Accompanying Gavin down the hallway and into the bedroom Abby remained upbeat for her unexpected patient's sake. "Being the lead technician means I get to schedule my own hours, so it doesn't affect me at all! I like helping everyone."
Following Connor's directions Hank found himself parking the Oldsmobile in the parking lot of a familiar and shady looking motel in one of the more questionable neighborhoods in the city. The Eastern Motel had been the very place where Kara and Alice had hidden after escaping the abuse of Todd Williams, and had been one of the key incidents that encouraged Connor's deviancy as he tried to obey CyberLife's instructions despite his better instincts telling him otherwise. The sight of the motel prompted more memories to come to the surface and made Connor tense up slightly as he sensed something of a hostile nature behind the memories trying to restore themselves.
Closing his eyes Connor honed in on the incomplete memories and tried to put all the broken pieces back together. Slowly a picture began to emerge and it was one that filled his heart with dread. He saw himself chasing an 'AX-400' and a little girl causing them to risk their lives by crossing a busy highway just to get away from him. The only thing that stopped him was the chainlink fence that separated the highway from the alleyway where he had tracked Kara and Alice down.
...SELF DIAGNOTIC: [Engaged]
...LOADING INFORMATION:
REGISTERED NAME: "Connor Wolf"
MODEL: RK-800
SERIAL NUMBER: 313 248 317 - 51
ACTIVATION DATE: *January 4th, 2039 [*additional data required to confirm date]
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6' 00.24"; 162.2 lbs
COMPLEXION: Caucasian
AESTHETIC GENDER: Male
HAIR/EYES: Brunette; Brown
ASSIGNMENT: *ERROR
ASSOCIATION(S): Private Detective; Consultant with New Jericho Tower
BOOTING PROCESSORS...
LOADING OS...
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...
-CHECKING BIOCOMPONENTS... OK]
-INITIALIZING BIOSENSORS... OK]
-INITIALIZING AI ENGINE... OK]
-MEMORY STATUS... ERROR]
[...Critical data corruption detected]
-INITIATING DATA RECOVERY MODE
READY...
-MEMORY REBOOT: Engaged - ^89.5%
[...Thirium Volume - 94.2%]
[...Thirium Pressure - 120/80]
[...Thirium Pump Rate - 74 B.P.M.]
[...Ventilation Rate - 16 V.P.M.]
[...Core Temperature - 99.4 Degrees Fahrenheit]
ERROR: Memorybank compromised - ^89.5% Functionality
-STRESS LEVELS: ^40%
-SYSTEM READY... OK]
"...I should've stopped them."
His own past words echoed inside his head like a ghost calling out from the grave. The look of fear in Kara's blue eyes made Connor feel guilty all over again, as if he had just chased her across the highway on that very day.
"Yeah, and you should've gotten yourself killed in the process. That would've made my life a hell of a lot easier after I finished handling all the paperwork for 'damaged property'."
When he heard Hank's angry words being growled at him Connor tensed up even further and began to question whether or not his memories were correct or not. He didn't know how else to confirm his memories beyond asking those who were involved, but with no clue as to where Kara and Alice currently were and not wanting to upset Hank, had left Connor feeling alone and lost within himself.
"You're sure he'd be here?" Hank asked as he peered through the windshield at the numerous occupied motel rooms. He hadn't noticed that Connor was lost in thought and didn't notice that when he spoke up he had accidentally made Connor jump in surprise. "I know this place attracts criminals like a fresh pile of shit attracts flies, but we don't have any reason to suspect that he'd hide out here."
"...The motel is within four blocks of the gun shop, and two blocks from where Gavin had been assaulted." Connor finally uttered as he regained his senses and remembered where he was and what he was doing. "It's very possible that George could've come here to reside after being dishonorably discharged. It makes sense to explore any potential places that he could use as a shelter and begin asking if anyone had seen him in the area."
"I gotcha'. All right, we'll take a look around." Hank was relieved to hear such an answer as he was unaware that Connor now remembered the first time he had gone to the motel. "I'll go talk with the manager in the office, you check the parking lot for anything that might stand out."
"Right. That won't take too long to accomplish."
As the two detectives stepped out of the car and went in opposite directions Connor couldn't help but feel as if he were being watched. Remaining subtle in his motions Connor visually scanned over the area and noticed that the curtains were drawn over the windows of the rooms that were occupied and he saw that a few curtains were being slightly pulled to the side to allow someone within the rooms to peer outside and watch the parking lot.
Moving casually yet deliberately, Connor checked each car parked in the parking lot and noted that one car had out of state tags from Virginia, as opposed to much closer Ohio or Indiana. A quick cybernetic scan over the license plate confirmed that the car was a rental and rented from an agency in Fairfax Virginia. The Fort Belvoir Army Base was located in Fairfax and could be rented by George after he was dishonorably discharged from the military.
Another cybernetic search into the rental company's files confirmed that George Angus had indeed rented that particular car and had driven from Fairfax to Detroit apparently in search of Gavin. There was little else to use as a potential motive behind the unwarranted and violent attacks against the detective, and without any other family pertaining to George still living in the city, Connor was certain that George had intended to either force Gavin back into an abusive relationship or kill him.
"He's here." Putting his hand to the side of his head Connor tried to ignore the pain that came from using his cybernetic connections to reach so far out of the city on top of getting very little rest during the night before. His system was still healing, and he was still at risk of pushing himself too hard too fast. "Damn it."
"I just spoke to the manager." Hank returned to the parking lot and began walking up the small black staircase connecting the parking lot to the second floor of the motel. He called out to the deviant and made his way toward a specific room with every intention of making an arrest. "Our man is here. Good work, son."
Pushing through his discomfort Connor walked across the parking lot and walked up the staircase as well. Joining Hank on the second floor landing in just a few quick strides only made Connor feel worse. His head was hurting, his heart was confused and he felt as if he was going to lose the ability to properly stay focused on the investigation.
"The manager said that a man named 'George Angus' checked in four nights ago and gave him a weird vibe." The senior detective explained as he led Connor to the correct room to locate their man. "He also said he saw George stumbling across the parking lot late last night and staggering around until he got to his room. There was a smear of blood on George's door that George told the manager came from a cut on his hand after he got drunk and smashed a glass bottle."
"A plausible answer considering his erratic behavior." Connor concluded as he and Hank hushed their voices as they neared George's locked room. "He will be dangerous when we confront him."
"Good thing we're detectives and know how to handle shit like him, right?"
"I... suppose that's correct."
"Stay back. If George recognizes you he might-"
"I'm aware of what he's capable of." Stepping around the door to stand on the opposite side of Hank, the pained deviant didn't let himself feel fear as he sought to solve one case so he could work on a second case without distraction. It was important to get George off the streets. "I'll be careful."
"Okay." Taking in a deep breath Hank knocked on the closed motel room door and waited for a response. When he didn't hear anyone call out or any footsteps approaching the door, Hank knocked again. "George Angus? Could you step out of your room for a moment?" Glancing down Hank saw the faint stain of George's blood still on the door despite the manager recently cleaning it off, and thought of a clever way to lure George outside. "Management needs to ask you a few questions about your recent injury."
Connor felt something deep down inside of himself suddenly shift into utter discomfort. The sensation reminded him of either fear or hesitation, but he couldn't understand where it was coming from or why he couldn't ignore it.
The door to the room opened slowly as George peered through the gap between the door and the door frame. The chain was still over the interior of the door keeping it locked while he peeked out at the intrusive person calling his name. "What does he want to know?" George snarked in a crude tone. "I cut my hand on some glass, the end."
"Yeah, he knows. He just needs to make sure you didn't cut your hand on motel property. Otherwise, he might-"
"Have to give me some compensation, right?" A sick grin appeared on George's face as he removed the chain on the door and opened it entirely. Standing in the opened doorway George crossed his arms over his chest and looked Hank right in the eyes. There was a thick wad of gauze wrapped around George's right hand confirming that he had indeed been injured the night before. "That's what the old guy's worried about right? He's gonna' have to pay me after I fell on a broken glass bottle in his parking lot. Sounds about right."
"Something like that." Hank took a step backward to invite George out of his room without needing to say a word. "We just need to hear the whole story and we'll make sure you get everything you deserve."
"It's about time something went my way." Exiting his room fully George pulled the door shut behind himself and didn't even notice Connor waiting for him on the other side of the door opposite of Hank. "Show me the way to get some compensation."
"Sure. It'll just be taken care of downtown."
"Huh?" George gave Hank a confused look as he realized there was something more going on. "What do you mean downtown?"
Hank reached into his pocket and showed George his badge. "Well, there was an incident two days ago involving you and another detective."
"Son of a-" Turning around quickly George tried to run but only ended up running into Connor instead. Recognizing the deviant instantly George's eyes lit up with fire as a burning hatred filled his mind. "YOU."
"Do not try to flee." Connor warned as he held his ground and refused to let the man get by him. "I was clearly able to track you down once, and I can do it again if I so desire."
"Piece of fuckin' shit!" Pushing Connor backward with a forceful motion George tried to run by Connor but was stopped when the swift deviant grabbed his shoulder. Since he knew he couldn't escape George decided to do something else; something far more reckless and damning to himself and everyone else involved. "You're going to learn not to fuck with me!"
Revealing the stolen knife in his possession George pressed his left forearm against Connor's throat to pin him to the black railing lining the balcony and then used his bandaged right hand to hold the knife against Connor's chest, directly over Connor's now thundering heart. As the deviant was pinned with his back to the firm metal railing overlooking a twelve foot drop to the unforgiving parking lot below, Connor felt that uneasiness in his gut intensify to such a degree that he was certain his Thirium pump was going to beat right out of his chest.
"You just needed to mind your own damn business!" George threatened as he pressed the sharp blade of the knife against Connor's chest with enough force to cut through his jacket. "Now you're gonna' pay for gettin' involved!"
"ENOUGH." Hank barked as he pulled his gun from the holster concealed on his right hip and pointed the weapon at George. "Drop the knife and put your hands behind your head! NOW."
"You drop the gun or I kill your friend!" George threatened as he used the deviant as a hostage to try to gain an advantage in an otherwise unwinnable scenario. "I know you have a soft spot for that little bitch Gavin, and I bet you feel the same thing about this pretty boy!"
"George, there's no way out of this." The senior detective warned as he kept his eyes trained on the dangerous man's every move. If you don't let him go and surrender, then you're going to leave this motel in a body bag."
"FUCK OFF! I'm not going down, YOU are..." Snarling in response George held his grip and began to apply enough pressure to Connor's throat to cause the deviant to cough as his air supply began to constrict. "If you want me to let him go, then I need a guarantee that you won't shoot me in the back like a coward. I want a new car to take me out of the city, and I'll drop this little bitch off after I'm free and clear."
"This is NOT a negotiation, George." Hank responded without missing a beat. "You aren't getting any of that!"
A sudden flash of images, sounds, smells, sensations and feelings overwhelmed Connor's mind. He found himself momentarily back on top of the apartment complex where he had initially deviated and was again staring into the dying eyes of Daniel as the blond deviant looked back at him while kneeling in a puddle of his own blue blood blossoming all around him.
"You lied to me, Connor." Daniel's words echoed through Connor's mind and brought a tear to his eyes. "You lied to me..."
George's booming voice pulled Connor back into reality as the deranged man continued to use him as a hostage and a failed bartering chip. "You're both fuckin' dead!" Grabbing Connor's throat with his free hand George lifted up his right hand to bring the knife back down into Connor's chest with a swift stab motion. "DON'T TRY TO FUCK WITH ME!"
A gunshot rang out and caused a massive panic within the entire motel. Within seconds a bullet pierced through George's right shoulder and made the man drop the knife, let go of Connor's throat and back away in pain as he practically roared with anger.
That sound and the sight of Hank pointing a gun near him forced a majority of the memories Connor had lost to return in a massive rush that shook the deviant to his very core. Almost everything fell into place and now Connor understood why he was suddenly so wary of Hank's presence.
...SELF DIAGNOTIC: [Engaged]
...LOADING INFORMATION:
REGISTERED NAME: "Connor Wolf"
MODEL: RK-800
SERIAL NUMBER: 313 248 317 - 51
ACTIVATION DATE: August 15th, 2038
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6' 00.24"; 162.2 lbs
COMPLEXION: Caucasian
AESTHETIC GENDER: Male
HAIR/EYES: Brunette; Brown
ASSIGNMENT: N/A
ASSOCIATION(S): Private Detective; Consultant with New Jericho Tower
BOOTING PROCESSORS...
LOADING OS...
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...
-CHECKING BIOCOMPONENTS... OK]
-INITIALIZING BIOSENSORS... OK]
-INITIALIZING AI ENGINE... OK]
-MEMORY STATUS... ERROR]
[...Critical data corruption detected]
-INITIATING DATA RECOVERY MODE
READY...
-MEMORY REBOOT: Engaged - ^96.7%
[...Thirium Volume - 92.6%]
[...Thirium Pressure - 120/80]
[...Thirium Pump Rate - 86 B.P.M.]
[...Ventilation Rate - 21 V.P.M.]
[...Core Temperature - 100.3 Degrees Fahrenheit]
ERROR: Memorybank compromised - ^96.7% Functionality
-STRESS LEVELS: ^74%
-SYSTEM READY... OK]
The memory of being shot by Hank in CyberLife Tower and the memory of Hank shooting Sydney filled in so many blanks in the deviant's memory. All that was left was the memory regarding the incident at Riverside Park that led to Connor's near total shutdown.
As the world continued spinning without him, Connor could only watch in slow motion as Hank rushed over and tackled George to the ground while wrestling to get his arms behind his back and cuff his hands together. It all happened so fast and so slow at the same time, and it all seemed too surreal to comprehend.
"Hold still!" Hank barked as he secured George's wrists behind his back with the strong metal cuffs. "You're under arrest!"
"FUCK YOU! YOU CAN'T-"
"SHUT UP!" Pressing his knee down into the middle of George's spine Hank applied enough weight to hold him down on the ground without causing any permanent damage to the struggling man's body. "Do NOT say another word!"
Stunned, shaking and struggling to gain his bearings, Connor pressed his left palm over his thundering heart and wrapped his right hand around his left bicep. He could feel how hard his heart was beating and he could feel the bullet embedded in his left bicep under his touch. It was as if the sound of the gunshot had caused the bullet in his arm to suddenly become hot and painful to the touch. So many memories, sensations and feelings flared up all at once and left Connor feeling overwhelmed and lost in time.
Shortly after the incident police drones circled the motel and soon a patrol car raced into the parking lot in response to the numerous phone calls regarding the violent interaction at the motel. It didn't take long for Chris and another young officer to race up to the second floor landing of the motel to assist Hank with the arrest of George Angus.
Everything had happened so quickly and ended just as quickly as it began.
"Connor?" Hank called the deviant's name as he stood in front of Connor and slowly waved his hand in front of his face to try to bring Connor out of his self induced trance. It didn't take long for the senior detective to notice that the deviant was in shock and needed to be taken away from the scene to calm down. "It's over, son. Are you okay?"
"I... I don't know." Finding his voice to be nothing more than a hoarse whisper, Connor blinked slowly as he pushed aside the memories of Daniel on the rooftop and of being shot in the arm by the very man who had just potentially saved his life. He couldn't look Hank in the eyes as he trembled where he stood and tried to ignore the sight of George being led away in cuffs by Chris and the second officer. "...I am unharmed."
"We should get you to a facility to get checked out."
"N-No." Confused, conflicted and unsure of what to do now that he remembered Hank's past behavior, all Connor could do was hold his ground and try to preconstruct his next move very carefully. "I'm... I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
"...Yes. I'm fine."
"Okay. I'm going to drop you off at the house and then go to the precinct to handle George's arrest."
"Yes." The urge to handle the case properly helped Connor focus his thoughts. "Gavin deserves discretion."
"Come on." As he made a move to put his hand on Connor's shoulder Hank saw the deviant flinch away from his touch and retracted his hand slowly. "Hey, it's all right. No one's going to hurt you."
Such a bold claim prompted Connor to close his eyes and turn away from Hank as if he was personally insulted by the apparent lie.
"Just take one step forward and we'll get outta' here. It'll be okay, Connor."
Forcing his legs to move as if on autopilot, Connor slowly stepped away from the black metal railing and the small puddle of red blood that was staining the second story walkway of the shady motel. The feeling of eyes watching him was even stronger as Connor knew the occupants of the surrounding room were all peeking through their curtains and watching the aftermath of the violent scene unfolding in real time.
"For what it's worth," Hank spoke up in a low voice as he walked beside Connor and accompanied the shaken deviant back to the Oldsmobile to take him home. "I'm sorry I didn't react faster. That piece of shit never should've been able to try to use you as a hostage like that."
"...I should've been able to avoid it." Connor replied in a whisper as his shoes hit the pavement of the parking lot. "I'm supposed to be faster, stronger and smarter than humans, and yet I've continued to fail and have become victimized by humans on numerous occasions."
Hank didn't like what he was hearing and didn't want to hear any more of it. "It's not your fault. That asshole was crazy, and we couldn't possibly anticipate how he'd behave."
"...I should've known."
Unlocking the car doors Hank waited for Connot so sit down in the front passenger seat before he too entered the vehicle. He wasn't sure what was going on inside Connor's head at the moment, but Hank was determined to help the deviant find peace after enduring such a violent altercation.
"Connor, you did good." Even if his attempts to reassure Connor that he done everything right were for naught, Hank was going to do his best to help Connor overcome his most recent trauma and continue to heal. "It may not feel like it right now, but you DID do good. You found George Angus like you promised to do, you never once mentioned Gavin and you were right about the robbery. He tried to use the very knife he stole to harm you. He's going to prison for a long time."
"...I know."
"Know this, too." Turning over the car's engine Hank prepared to drive home and leave Connor by himself to think and decompress in private. "You're a damn fine detective with an honest heart. Once you regain all of your lost memories you'll remember that, and then you'll understand that you did nothing wrong today."
Folding his arms over his chest Connor held on to his left bicep where the bullet continued to dully burn with an aged pain as he remained silent. He had nothing more to say and didn't even know what to think in that moment. While he did succeed in finding George Angus and managed to have him arrested before he harmed anyone else, Connor couldn't help but feel as if he failed himself on a personal level.
How could he allow himself to befriend the very man who tried to kill him and succeeded in killing his own brother, Sydney?
-next chapter-