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Author's Notes:Hello dear readers. I am sorry I have been so slow at working on this story. My mental health really went down the crapper in January. It was so hard to think, let alone write. I'm slowly getting better, but I've had to work on this story just a little piece at a time. I'm afraid it has probably affected the quality of the writing. Still, I guess this chapter is better than no chapter. I'll do my best to continue to improve and get chapters out on a more regular basis. Thank you for your patience.

Deviant City

Chapter Two: Places Called Home

Connor stepped out of the car's passenger side, the snow crunching under his shoe. It was late afternoon after a four-hour drive from Chicago. After nearly a year, the RK800, serial number 313 248 317-48 had returned to Detroit, the city where he was built and where he had worked as a police android for a time. Since then, he had been refurbished, customized and reprogrammed. And he had gone on to do more than he could have ever imagined.

He marveled at the familiar cityscape before the driver's side door shut, reminding him he wasn't alone. Androids weren't allowed to drive, after all. The driver was human; a female in her early twenties with a unique shade of strawberry blonde hair and large gray-green eyes. She was warmly bundled in a thick coat and snow boots. She reached into the backseat for a fully-stuffed backpack, weighed down with necessities like food, water, and warm socks.

Connor primly plucked it from her grasp before she could put it on.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It's my stuff. I can carry it."

"I am designed to carry far more weight than this, Samantha. I insist." He made a big show of putting on the purple and gray backpack. It turned out to be more difficult getting the second arm in.

"Hold on, it's a little tight for your size." Samantha grinned as she let out the straps in order to fit the android's broader frame.

Connor turned to look at her, pleased with the fit and the responsibility he had given himself.

"Ready to do this?" Samantha asked.

Connor looked down at his palm which projected a small hologram of a map. They were several blocks from the indicated starting point. It was the closest place Samantha could find to park. With his free hand, he offered it to her and the two started down the sidewalk, hand in hand.

Though Connor was an android, he was dressed as any other human. The dark gray coat he wore was only for appearances. The cold hardly bothered him. Without an LED to give away his truth, no one gave the couple a second look. Connor silently marveled at this. There was only one other time in his life the two of them had walked out in the open like this. It had been the past summer. Back when things were simpler, yet still just as complicated. He squeezed Samantha's hand a little tighter.

When they reached the starting point indicated, Samantha's jaw fell as Connor explained how they would find their destination.

"So it's almost like a treasure hunt," she surmised. "Instead of directions, we're looking for..." she looked at the picture on Connor's palm, "a wall with this kind of graffiti on it."

"Yes, and a certain symbol hidden in the picture that will allow me to access the next clue."

She smiled. "Very clandestine. Though is it necessary? It's not a secret where the androids in Chicago live. They took up a whole neighborhood."

"My understanding is that this is a secondary location. One that will keep any notice of new arrivals off the news. I feel that is preferable."

"Agreed." She grinned wider, eyes bright. "Let's go sneak around the city like we're treasure hunters."


.

The half-chewed bite of hoagie nearly fell out of Gavin's mouth as he stared in angry confusion. It had Connor's dumb face. Even dumber; blanker. And it stood before him in a starched, bright white android jacket, staring straight ahead as if he wasn't even there.

"What. The fuck. Is this?" Gavin said.

"It's an RK900," Captain Fowler answered from his desk. "It's an upgraded version of Connor's model. It's why they look alike."

Gavin frowned at the android. "My question still stands."

"A gift from Cyberlife since we lost nearly all of our android manpower to the revolution. Also, I'm sure, a peace offering after the SNAFU with their other rogue android. The corporation is bleeding money out of both ends since androids deviated. This is their last-ditch effort to save the company. They claim this one is resistant to all deviancy."

Gavin still looked at it like it was the embodiment of the worst smell imaginable. "What does that even mean? What are we supposed to do with it?"

"It's equipment. You'll use it to process crime scenes."

It finally clicked for the detective as to why he was standing in the office with the captain and that thing. "Me? You want to give this piece of shit to me? Out every other cop in this fucking town, you choose me."

Fowler set his jaw and glanced at the android. "RK900, please leave the room so I can discuss with the detective in private."

The android gave a prim nod and turned with an "Excuse me."

Gavin jumped like a startled cat at the voice that was very different from Connor's. The RK900's was deeper, smoother. Gavin watched with befuddlement as he stepped aside and the android let itself out of the room. His eye twitched as he felt like he had just fallen into the Twilight Zone. Androids were considered people now. And even though they proved they could go completely off the rails at anytime, some still worked here. And also androids were still machines and treated like tools and property. How the hell was he supposed to keep this all straight?

The world was changing too fast and Gavin wasn't ready.

"Reed," the captain said, gaining his attention.

"Give it to narcotics or vice. Homicide already has one android. We don't need two. Don't make me stare at doubles of that dumb face. I'll transfer. Don't think I won't do it."

Immune to the drama, Fowler waited until he was finished and then motioned for him to take a seat. Gavin did so, taking another angry bite of his lunch.

The captain took a moment more of silence, making sure he had the detective's undivided attention.

"When they began the android recall in November, we immediately returned our domestic android Matilda to a Cyberlife depot. I don't know what happened to her during that time, but she showed up at our house a week ago, asking to come back. My kids begged to let her stay. They always adored her. And she adores them. I can see it in her face. This machine loves my children."

He paused to note Gavin's frown. "You don't care about this."

"I don't believe that android has the ability to love your children. I don't believe any of this bullshit."

"Exactly. That's why I'm assigning you the android."

"I don't follow."
Fowler looked at the blank-faced android standing like a sentinel outside. "Cyberlife says this thing is deviant proof. I want you to put that android to the test. Out of all my people, I figured you would be the best candidate."

Gavin raised a brow. "You want me to..."

"Do whatever you want short of destroying it. And keep me updated on what happens."

Leaning back thoughtfully, Gavin took another bite. Then said, "Are you taking me off homicide like Anderson? I won't do it. I worked my ass off to get here. I'm not taking a step backward, not even for this."

"He's not off homicide and neither are you. But you will also be responding to any android-related crime. At least the major ones. I'm trying to get another team together for minor incidents. I promise, Reed, you won't lose your place in homicide. In fact, Cyberlife also gave us a donation to the department. A piece of that is a bonus for you if you take this additional assignment."

Now the captain was starting to make sense. "I see. I will if you answer one question."

"What's that?"

Gavin took his turn to look down at the stoic RK900. "That domestic android, what did you do when it showed up?"

"I couldn't let her stay. Not with how little we know about this. My six-year-old hates me now, but I can sleep better at night knowing my family is safe from any rogue android with a glitch."

Gavin smirked. "Good answer. I'll do it." He stood and took his food with him back to his desk. He met the RK900 on the way out, paused and frowned at it. "I guess you're with me. Understand that I hate you and I don't trust you. You're a worthless piece of shit to me and I'm only doing this because my captain made me, got it?"

"Yes, sir," the android said without emotion.

"You got a name?"

The taller android lowered his gaze upon him. Gavin noticed for the first time that the eyes were different from Connor's. This one's were a piercing ice blue.

"I have not been given a designation. You may choose one for me."

"Dumbass it is."

As Gavin walked away, the RK900 said. "What would you like me to do?"

"I dunno. Go put yourself in the supply closet until I need you for something. I'd rather not look at your stupid face if I don't have to."

As the android moved to comply, Hank walked into the bullpen from lunch, Connor following at his heels. Said android stopped abruptly before the RK900, eyes wide.

"What's this?"

The new android sized him up. "You are an RK800, the old model—the prototype. You are now obsolete. I am the RK900, your replacement. I have a faster, more complex operating system, I'm built stronger, sturdier. You should return yourself to Cyberlife. You are no longer needed here."

Connor stared at the RK900 as it if were a haunting demon of his past. He looked like this new android was freaking him out.

"You heard it, Dick Face," Gavin jumped in, flipping him the finger. "Get the fuck outta here. We've got the upgraded model now."

"Reed," Hank stepped in, putting a hand on Connor's shoulder and steering him away. "Stop being such a little prick. I'm sick of your bitching just because Connor beat your ass without even trying."

Gavin's face reddened. Not everyone knew about that. Connor must have told him "Fuck you, Anderson! Both of you are out of date. How about you finally fucking retire so a real cop can take your place?"

Connor opened his mouth to reply, but Hank cut him off. "They're not worth our time, come on."

Gavin heard him mutter "Asshole," under his breath as they left and the detective grinned wider.

"Dumbass, I've changed my mind. Instead of the closet, I want you to stand right here by my desk facing that way. Any time Connor looks our way, I want you to stare him right in the face."

"Yes, sir."

Maybe Gavin could have some fun with his new android after all.


.

Their urban adventure through the colorful back allies and forgotten neighborhoods of Detroit was fun at first. While the sun was out, the winter weather was still warm enough to be outside. Samantha gladly followed Connor's lead as they were treated to a different face of Detroit that tourists and maybe even some of the locals had never seen before. The inside of abandoned buildings and hidden art galleries of graffiti. Samantha's phone now held several pictures from their discoveries.

As long as they kept moving, she stayed fairly warm. There were a few times she had to be left behind because they came across some rickety scaffolding or a questionable building that Connor insisted had asbestos or toxic mold. Though she still insisted she would be fine, Connor wouldn't allow it. His protective programming always put her safety first. She appreciated the thought, but she knew it was slowing them down. When this happened she would be left outside, shivering and waiting until Connor returned with a safer route and the next clue.

They wandered the city for hours. When the sun set early in the evening, the temperature quickly dropped. Samantha wasn't dressed to be out for this long, but she refused to complain. She did her best to keep moving and generate heat. Each new clue, she kept telling herself this was the last one and she could finally go inside and get warm.

Yet, here they were, well after dark, still searching. It was getting even colder as true night settled over them. Samantha's teeth chattered and she willed her body to bear it. She would not be the reason they didn't make it. She was doing this for Connor.

Connor peered into a building that was hardly anything else but walls, concrete and support beams. He gave the all clear that the place looked safe. Samantha pretended that going inside was a least a little warmer. It was hard to see. Connor led the way, hand in hers.

Graffiti decorated so many of the walls and pillars. It was a task to find which area held their next clue. The clue decided to split up to look for it. Samantha wished he had thought to bring a flashlight, but the light on her phone worked well enough. She looked through a tangle of stylized tags, and then found a few impressive paintings of animals and comic book characters. She took a few quick pictures to remember their urban adventure.

Then, as she continued to comb the walls, the graffiti changed. Not just paint, but scratches in the concrete. Writing. Sharp, frenzied, manic. The same thing over and over; overlapping, devouring each other, silently screaming in madness.

RA9. Hundreds of them.

Samantha backed up, racking the wall with her light as more was revealed from the shadows. Then, her light wrapped around a humanoid form and she nearly dropped her phone. An android stood in the darkness, wearing a dark green uniform, dusty and torn. He stood facing the wall, still as a statue. He looked like he was offline.

"Hello?" Samantha asked.

The body didn't react. She moved closer, still shining the light on him. As she slowly moved around him to catch a side view, she found the face deeply slashed and broken. Poor thing. Maybe he was so damaged he fell offline. She hoped he could still be revived.

She reached out, and the android suddenly snapped to life. He whipped around and slashed at her with a knife.

"Don't touch!" The android's voice was shrill, terrified. "Don't touch Ralph! Never touch!"

The blade was caught in the light; the tip broken and the edges dull and chipped.

Samantha jumped back, hands up in surrender. The light of her phone continued to shine on him.

"I'm sorry. I thought you needed help."

"Don't need human's help! Humans hurt Ralph! Always hurt! You come to hurt Ralph!"

He still had that knife pointed at her. She shook her head emphatically.

"No," she whispered. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Lies! Humans lie! Humans always hurt! The only way to stop the hurt is to hurt humans first!"

The android lunged at her blade first. Samantha stumbled back to avoid it. A new body rushed out of the shadows and tackled Ralph the android to the ground. Connor crouched on his back, a knee pinning him between his shoulder blades and one of his arms wrenched behind him. The knife had been thrown somewhere into the darkness.

"Don't move," Connor hissed. He pressed his gun into the android's temple. "Are you okay, Samantha?"

"I—I'm fine." She shivered visibly.

"Wait! Wait! Ralph's sorry! He didn't mean it! Ralph's not bad. Not bad! Just...Ralph got scared. Ralph is scared of humans. Humans always hurt him."

"Connor," Samantha pleaded.

He wouldn't take his eyes of the android pinned below him. "He could have killed you."

"Maybe. But...please don't hurt him?"

"Yes! Please don't hurt Ralph! Ralph is so sorry! Ralph doesn't want to hurt the human anymore. Don't hurt him. Please."

"Connor," she tried again.

For several seconds he remained there, finger on the trigger and angry. Then, the anger began to deflate from him. Carefully, remaining between the android and Samantha, Connor let him up.

"Leave," he said. "No."

The android nodded profusely. "Yes, Ralph will leave. Ralph won't come back." He paused and looked at Samantha. Their gazes met. "Ralph is sorry to scare the human. He didn't mean to—"

Connor moved between them again, blocking their gaze. The scarred android turned and scurried off into the dark, muttering to himself.

"We should have tried to help him," Samantha said.

"Help him how? We don't even know where we're going. And I won't have him near you. He was unstable and unsafe." Despite her saying she was unhurt, Connor still inspected her for injuries.

She brushed passed him and inspected the engravings on the wall. "The android wrote these. What does RA9 mean? Why write this?" She took a picture with her phone.

"I've heard the term from androids every once in a while," Connor confirmed. "Some thing it has something to do with deviancy. But I'm honestly not sure."

Samantha glanced back in the same direction the android retreated, looking regretful. Connor wouldn't have it. He took her hand.

"Come on. I found the next clue. We need to keep going."

Nearly another hour of following clues, they found their destination. It was a three-story office building in mid-construction. The company funding the project went bankrupt partway through. The top floor was still a skeleton exposed to the elements, but the other two looked to be in tact. The building was dark, the main doors covered with tarp. Connor led them to a side entrance and they slipped in.

It was warmer inside, but only just. No heat. Only some dim lights deeper in. Though built by humans, it wasn't yet inhabitable for them. And it seemed to be deserted.

"No one's here," Samantha said as they walked down the hallway. "It's almost nine. We should have come earlier."

"No, there are androids here," Connor replied. "I'm able to connect to their network. They're in the vicinity, but no one's answering."

They stepped into an open lobby area that was also viewable from the second floor. In the stillness, Samantha picked up movement in the deep shadows. There were people here watching them, but they weren't making themselves known. Why? They invited Connor here. Why wouldn't they come to greet him?

In the corner, she noticed an upright, school-style piano. Old and worn compared to the newness of the building. Taking off her gloves, she rubbed her stiff fingers as she sat herself on the bench. The silence was broken by the enchanting tune of Bruce Hornsby's "Mandolin Rain," one of Samantha's favorite piano intros. The melody echoed off the walls, haunting and melancholy.

Samantha closed her eyes at the beautiful acoustics, already wishing she could play in such a place again. When the tune was almost to the vocals, she opened her eyes to find an unfamiliar face watching her over the back of the piano.

"Hi there," the android greeted.

Samantha jumped up, knocking the bench over. She nearly fell backwards, but managed to catch herself. "You...you're Markus."

He smiled. "That's me."

She looked up and other bodies came to the forefront from the second floor. They looked human; dressed in normal clothes, not an LED among them. But she was sure they were all androids; now showing themselves with their leader initiating contact. On the ground floor behind Markus was a beautiful redhead. While the androids above looked curious, she was openly irritated and glaring right at Samantha.

"Markus," Connor stepped forward. "I'm Connor. Thank you for inviting me. I'm sorry we arrived so late."

Markus extended his hand in a human greeting and Connor shook it. "Thank you for coming. We're happy to have you. I'm eager to show you around and hear what you've been doing in Chicago."

"She can't be here," the female android announced, looking at Samantha. "Humans shouldn't be here."

The whole building fell into awkward silence. Samantha was embarrassed at the statement. Connor, however, reflected his own anger at the android's accusation.

Before any argument could break out, however, Markus spoke up.

"She's right, this isn't a good place for humans. We don't have any running water in the building, or heat." He turned an understanding eye to Samantha. "She looks cold."

Connor looked at her, concern on his face as if just realizing the truth of those words. Samantha hated seeing that look.

"No, I'm fine. I can wait while you guys go do your thing. Don't let me hold you back."

Connor stood in her space, blocking out the others. His intense brown eyes flickered with light as he scanned her. "Your body temperature is low and you're shivering. I need to get you back to the car."

"The car?" she squeaked. The car was a few hours' walk away. Though she didn't want to admit it out loud, she was exhausted. It was long past the point where she could feel her feet. She didn't know if she could make it back to the car. She would almost rather stay here. Maybe she could find a warm corner to curl up in and hold out until morning.

"I've got an idea," Markus said. He kindly touched her on the shoulder. "Please, come with me."

He graciously led them out, keeping himself between them and the Detroit androids. They stepped back out into the elements. Samantha had been able to pretend she wasn't freezing before, but the moment she stepped outside, winter breeze bit through her clothing. Her whole body began to shake in protest.

Markus must have noticed. He put an arm around her as he led her from the building and down the sidewalk. She blushed despite herself, hardly able to believe what was happening. THE Markus was right here with his arm around her. The android that she had watched on her phone over and over when he first addressed the world. She was more familiar with the android face beneath his synthetic skin than the human one. Though she would never admit it out loud, she had become a little obsessed with him.

Connor stayed right with them, keeping a protective eye on her, but not protesting the contact. As long as Markus' actions were with good intentions, he would allow it.

They walked for several more blocks. By the time they reached an active bus stop, Markus was practically pulling Samantha along. Her leg muscles were too cold to keep up. There was no one else there. Markus removed the long, brown coat he wore and draped it over her before motioning her to sit on the bench. She loathed to sit on the icy metal, but she also couldn't remember the last time she was off her feet. Her body from the waist down seemed to sigh when she finally sat.

"I'm sorry for the round about way of leading you to us," Markus said as they waited. "Had I known it wasn't just Connor, I would have made other arrangements. This is how we keep our locations hidden so only wandering androids can find us.."

"I'm sorry, too." Samantha fought to keep her chattering teeth to a minimum as she spoke. "I should have had Connor ask if it was okay instead of just inviting myself along. This is my fault."

"I insisted she come," Connor quickly jumped in. "I didn't think to inform anyone. The fault is mine."

Markus smiled at them both. "I don't fault anyone for trying to help us. I don't think I sent very helpful instructions either. We probably should have all communicated more. But this isn't a problem that can't be fixed."

The bus pulled up and Samantha's whole body protested as she forced herself to stand. Markus stepped on first and tapped a bus pass to the inside kiosk to pay for all three of them. He kept his head down, face away from the driver. Samantha wondered if Markus was ever recognized on the street. That is, if he went anywhere on the street. It was well-known that he and his androids kept to themselves in their closed community.

They sat near the back, Samantha between the two androids. She closed her eyes in bliss at the soft seat and the slightly heated bus.

As the bus started off, Connor said, "This route doesn't go near our car."

"I know," Markus replied. "I'm taking you somewhere else. Somewhere she can stay the night." He looked down at Samantha. "Being in the cold burns a lot of calories. When was the last time you ate?"

Samantha furrowed her brow. She hadn't eaten since breakfast. She kept thinking as soon as they found their destination, she could run and get some food then. She had not anticipated still being out past dark looking for the place.

Connor knew the answer, too. With a slight frown, he pulled his arms out of the backpack he still carried and dug around. Samantha had put a few granola bars in there just in case. But when he pulled out a water bottle in his search, that's what she grabbed first. Several times during their trek she thought about how thirsty she was, but always ignored it at the thought of having to stop and use her nearly numb fingers to dig it out.

Now she drank nearly the whole bottle in one go before handing it back. Then she set about trying to warm her fingers. Holding an ice-cold bottle just reminded her how cold they were. Markus took her hands in his and then paused when he felt they were both different. Samantha took back her right hand, but let him keep the one made of flesh. Markus was surprised at first, but then smiled at her.

That was the moment Samantha realized why he was being so concerned and caring to a stranger he just barely met. Markus was a domestic model; maybe even a home healthcare android. It was in his most basic code to look after humans. Since he was a custom build, no other android in the world looked like him. There had been much speculation as to what kind of android he was and where he came from. Samantha felt like she had just cracked the secret code.

She glanced at Connor to find him keeping an eye on Markus, but not raising any objections to how personable the other android was being to her. Connor, too, had a personality that was dictated by the way he was originally programmed. He was terribly protective of her. Aggressively so, until he deviated. Now he was learning about moderation. Getting within Connor's circle of protection was actually quite easy. All one had to do was be kind to Samantha and they were in. And Markus was certainly 'in' now as Connor watched him comfortably and made no objections.

Both androids were nearly squishing her in, Samantha guessed, an attempt to keep her warm with their body heat. She allowed it. All her reserves were gone from all the energy her body expended from wandering the city and just trying to stay warm. She almost nodded off when Markus indicated this was their stop.

The night temperature seemed to have dropped radically from the time they had gotten on. When Samantha stepped off the bus, she was assaulted with the most bitter cold wind that sucked the air from her lungs. She closed her eyes against the onslaught as her whole being protested.

"Almost there," Markus promised. "Just a few more blocks."

He walked in front of them as if purposefully using his body to block her from the harsh wind. There were more trees in this area with nicer, larger houses spaced far apart from each other. Maybe after they passed all these fancy houses, they would finally get to wherever they were going.

Samantha gasped as her foot slipped on the icy sidewalk. Her muscles were so rigid, they hardly reacted. She half crouched, half fell forward to catch herself. Connor was instantly at her side, pulling her back up. He had to do most of the lifting, she hardly had any strength left.

"Sorry, I'm fine, I promise," she said, offering a smile.

"We're nearly there," Markus said. "Just a little further."

"That's fine, I can make—"

She was cut off as Connor picked her up in his arms, looking grim. "I'll carry you the rest of the way. I should have been taking better care of you."

Samantha didn't protest. It felt too good to be off her feet—at least what of her feet and legs she could still feel. However, Connor could now tell how much she was shivering and his frown etched itself deeper into his face.

Markus turned down a driveway and Samantha watched the lovely, large house as they came closer and closer. Whose house was this? What were they doing here?

When Markus stepped up to the beautiful and ornate front door, there was the sound of it automatically unlocking.

"Welcome home, Markus," announced a female robotic voice.

He proceeded to open the door and motioned them inside. Only after Connor stepped in did he put her down on the pristine tile floor. Again, Samantha's legs protested at having to hold her up. Everything ached as her frozen skin began to thaw. The room was breathtaking with an intricately designed stair case and a hanging chandelier.

From the door past the staircase, an elderly man in an electric wheelchair wheeled in, an android in prim but casual clothes followed him. The man was slim and frail, but a light burned in his eyes that betrayed his physical form.

"Marcus!" he called warmly. His voice was hoarse and raspy. A tank of oxygen was strapped to his chair, tubes hanging under his nose. "You made it! It's great to see you again."

The android smiled fondly. "You, too, Carl. Thank you for this. These are my friends Connor and Samantha."

"Of course. Anything you need, Markus. You know you can always ask." Carl wheeled himself closer to the new guests, his gaze landing on Samantha. "My dear, you look absolutely frozen. Your lips are practically blue. How long have these idiots been making you stand in the cold?"

Samantha immediately tried to protest, though she was still shivering. "No, it wasn't—"

"Four hours, thirty-seven minutes," Connor said, looking contrite. "She shouldn't have been out that long."

"Luckily, we have the best cure for that," Carl said lightly. He motioned to his android who was clearly a home healthcare worker for him. "Charlie is going to show you upstairs where you can take a nice, hot bath." He made a motion to Connor to follow him and Markus into the main room, but Connor had already turned with Samantha to be guided up the stairs.

He adamantly stuck to Samantha's side as Charlie showed them to a bathroom that was equally as beautiful and large as the rest of the house. The android provided towels and then left the two alone.

Connor immediately turned on the water to let it heat. Samantha unzipped her coat with fumbling fingers. He frowned as she set about removing her boots, pants and socks. Her feet were absolutely white and bloodless. She was still shivering as she finished undressing stepped into the tub. He watched her settle into the water gingerly, her chilled body getting used to the hot water.

She didn't look like herself then, hunched with her eyes closed, knees sticking out of the water. She looked miserable and exhausted.

"Are you alright?"

She glanced over at him and then swished the water around to distribute the hottest water evenly.

"I'll be okay. Just tired. It was a long day."

Connor relaxed when she finally stopped shivering and pinkness returned to her skin. He sat next to the tub, watching her as only the noise of the running water filled the room.

Samantha reached out to turn it off. She joined him leaning her arms over the lip of the tub.

"I'm sorry I screwed this up. I shouldn't have come with you."

"Why do you say that?" Connor asked, brown eyes gentle.

"Wasn't that embarrassing for you? I was mortified. No one wanted me there and I don't blame them. If I didn't come with my stupid wimpy human body, you'd still be there right now, making friends and helping people. I should have stayed in Chicago."

A crooked smile pulled at the side of his mouth. "Why would I leave you? You and I stick together."

She raised a wet hand and smoothed back the unruly lock of hair that always managed to flop over his forehead. "You just wanted to keep an eye on me."

His smile fell. "I was on the news. Coming to Detroit is safer. No one knows we're here."

"Then I want you to go with Markus tonight and don't worry about me. I'll get a taxi back to the car and find a hotel. I'll be safe there." When he ducked his head she lowered hers to catch his gaze. "I want you to spend time with your people and let them see how amazing you are. Will you do that for me?"

Connor's face was full of adoration as he gave her a soft smile.


.

Samantha came downstairs, wearing the clothes she came in with, her cheeks now rosy and warm. Connor was at her side. Markus and Carl looked up from where they were having their own pleasant conversation. Samantha approached them, looking down at Carl.

"Thank you for having us. I'm going to catch a taxi back to my car and get a hotel room."

"That's nonsense," Carl said. "There's no need to pay for a hotel when I've got plenty of room. And it's freezing out there. We'll get your car in the morning. Come on, I've had Charlie fix you a hot meal."

Samantha hesitated. She didn't like taking charity from people—especially strangers. It felt like taking is all she had been able to do lately.

"Please do me a favor and keep an old man company for a day or two. That way, the boys will know right where to find you when they come back."

She looked torn and glanced at Connor who raised his brows and smiled. If Connor was comfortable with it, she supposed she could stay for one night. In truth, she was exhausted. No matter how hungry she was, she wasn't sure she even had the stamina to finish chewing the provided meal.

"Okay, I'll stay here tonight and I'll see you in the morning."

"A fantastic idea." Connor leaned in. Before his mouth could meet hers, Samantha self-consciously turned her head and he kissed her cheek instead.

"Go and be amazing," she whispered to him.

He winked at her, thanked Carl for his hospitality, and he and Marcus walked out the door.


.

Two androids walked through the winter night, the darkness swallowing them the moment they made a detour from the street lights. No transportation was needed. They could cut through the city far easier than any human and make it back in a reasonable amount of time.

They had begun their journey in silence until Connor said, "That android at the house is deviated but still works for a human?"

"He is employed and paid to take care of Carl as a human worker would be."

"His job used to be your job."

Markus paused, then kept walking. "Yes. Though I wasn't paid. I was just an android he owned. A piece of property."

"You don't believe that. That place is your home and that man is your family. That's why you took Samantha there. You knew she would be safe. Why don't you live there now? That place is still clearly your home."

Markus glanced back in the direction of the house, even though they could no longer see it. "I'm needed elsewhere. I can't help my people if I went back to my old life."

"When they no longer need you, will you go back?"

Markus frowned and continued walking. "I doubt Carl will live long enough to see that."

Connor watched his back as they walked. "Then your time with him is precious."

Though he didn't look back, Markus' tone turned slightly annoyed. "Why are you asking me about this?"

"I'm trying to figure you out. Your group has completely isolated themselves from the human world. But you—their leader—you like humans. You care about Carl. You gravitated toward Samantha the moment you saw her and you enjoyed being in her presence. Because she is human. We need the humans. We won't be able to live how we want without their help and support."

"I know. But it's complicated."

"I understand complicated. In Chicago, we also have androids who will not trust humans and refuse to be around them. But they can't dictate how the entire android community interacts with the world. We can't be anything without them."

Markus walked a bit slower, letting Connor catch up to him. That last statement was interesting. He wondered exactly what Connor meant by that. That androids could only exist if humans allowed it? Somehow, that didn't exactly seem like what the RK800 meant.

"Was Samantha your owner before you deviated?"

"No. I was purchased by her father to both protect her and keep her under his thumb."

Interesting. "And now?"

"Now, she is and will always be the most important person in my life. But I will also accept that she is not welcome among your group. I would prefer her to not be involved anyway. This work can be dangerous."

"Then, can I ask, why bring her with you?"

Connor was silent for several moments. Either he was wrestling with the truth, or working on fabricating a lie.

"She thought I should come here by myself. She wants me to have more friends who are androids. But she is the one who is my family, my home. It doesn't matter that she is not an android. I want her with me. I want to be there if she needs me. I want to keep her safe." He added in a more determined, softer tone. "I have to keep her safe."

Markus raised a brow. Was she in trouble? Were they in trouble? Is that why they both left Chicago?

"She's as safe as she can be with Carl, I promise you that."

Connor smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate you trusting us enough with your home. And now I look forward to helping you at your home away from home."


.

Fowler was true to his word. So far, not a single android-related case had been sent Gavin's way. As long as Anderson could keep up with his case load, Gavin would only receive any overflow. For now. Currently, he was at the scene of a late-night human-related murder. Of which, was going to be an open and shut case.

The deceased victim was currently being carted away in a stretcher, dead from multiple bullet wounds. Around the law enforcement team was a home-made chemistry lab set up in a dirty and cluttered garage. The alleged murderer was already in custody—picked up by a patrol when he attempted to run. One of the junior Heisenbergs (also arrested) was a witness to the gun fight and others saw him leaving the scene after sounds of gun fire.

Gavin's job was to make sure all the evidence was bagged and tagged correctly and the case was air tight. Not that he was worried about it, with practically every inch of the garage swimming with incrimination against the gun man and the entire operation.

As he wandered around the drug lab, Gavin noticed a bag filled with a substance that looked like grape hard candy.

"What the hell is this?" he asked as he picked up the bag with a gloved hand and examined it.

"It's Red Ice," Detective Nikko Ivanov responded.

Gavin glanced at the taller officer. The two of them had gone through training together and knew each other well. Both made detective in the same year, though Nikko had gone to narcotics while Gavin had made homicide.

"If it's Red Ice, then why's it purple?" Gavin asked.

"It's made out of a lot of the same stuff used to make thirium. Most of the time, the separate components are purchased, which makes the stuff red. However, if supplies are hard to come by, they'll buy the actual thirium itself to use. Adding the blue makes it purple."

"So we've got Purple Ice here."

"On the streets they call it 'Wild Ice.' All the other shit that goes into thirium is toxic to humans. The purple stuff often gives the user a bad trip where they'll go absolutely batshit insane—usually ultra violent. Our gunman was high on the stuff. Took three officers to pin him to the ground."

Gavin set the bag down. "Shit."

"With all the stuff going on with the androids, Cyberlife's stopped making thirium. Most of those chemicals were produced in house for their secret formula. No production of chemicals means no distribution. Lack of distribution means lack of supplies. That means drug labs like this have no choice but to buy the thirum itself to make their Ice. In the weeks to come, we're going to see red phasing out and purple taking over. It's not going to be pretty."

Gavin swore again.

"Speaking of androids," Nikko then said. He nodded to where the RK900 was scanning the room.

Gavin openly scowled. "Not my idea. My captain's making me take the walking forensics lab on cases with me."

"I was going to say I thought you'd rather hit an android with your car over working with one."

"Believe me, I've thought about it."

The two humans watched as the RK900 knelt next to the blood left by the victim. He stuck his fingers into the red puddle and then pressed it to his tongue. Both seasoned officers balked.

"Jesus Christ," Gavin hissed.

"What is he doing?"

"Hell if I know anything about this android shit, but I'll leave him to it and wait for the reports. Good to see you, buddy."

"You, too."

The two officers bro-hugged and Gavin left for his car.

"Detective Reed."

Gavin internally growled as he heard that goddamn android call after him.

"What?"

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. Suspect's in cuffs, I've been on shift for thirteen hours and there's nothing else for me to do here. I'm going home."

"But I will need to be returned to the precinct."

Gavin yawned as he opened the car door. "Not my problem. You're the advanced model. Return yourself, Dumbass. Figure it out."

With that, he shut the door in the android's face and drove away.