November 6th, 2038

AM 09:56:04


DETROIT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE FILE

AGENCY QIR NUMBER
SKE 477891

AGENCY CASE NUMBER
44-70051

DATE OF OFFENSE
11/05/38

REPORT DATE
11/06/38

CASE REFERENCE
AGGRESION

VICTIM
TODD WILLIAMS

REPORTING OFFICER
ID#5649

CASE ASSIGNED TO
LT. ANDERSON

CASE STATUS
OPEN

INVOLVING ANDROID
YES

"The plaintiff claims he was violently attacked by his domestic android, an AX400 model. The android had just returned from being repaired the previous day and had shown signs of aggression in the past."


You looked up from the file. The DCPD was booming – hustling bodies walked every which way, data pads in one hand and coffee in the other. The phones rang off the hook, the chatter was loud…and the first thing you had to deal with after four hours of being in the hospital, and another four hours of sleep, was Todd-fucking-Williams.

Two-hundred pounds of slime ball, sitting on the other side of your desk.

His hair was matted, eyes sunken in their sockets and reddened. His skin was greasy, and he had a disgusting odor to him. The way he twitched was unsettling.

"You gonna keep fuckin' day dreaming or let me finish my statement?"

You ignored the numbed pinch in your stomach, shaking off the side-effects of your prescribed pain medication.

"I think I have all the information I need, sir. DCPD thanks you for your time."

His hands balled into fists, "That's it? You're not gonna do anything?"

"Sir, if we could snap our fingers and make wanted deviants appear, our jobs would be a lot easier." You sipped your coffee, returning the white mug to its coaster, "Have a good day, Mr. Williams."

"Fuck you." He pushed himself up, "Worthless fuckin' cops…"

He stormed off, scratching his ass as he rounded the corner. You imagined a man whose daughter was missing would be a little more concerned.

The door to the officer's entrance clicked shut. You jumped, hearing gunshots instead. Blue blood took the form of spilled coffee, burning your hand and trickling in your lap.

You blinked rapidly, a sharp breath stinging as bruised abdominal muscles contracted.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Chris lowered his jacket, hanging it on the back of his chair. He took a seat next to you, your desks conjoined in the middle of their L-shaped bend.

"Mandatory overtime." You swallowed, "You?"

"Mandatory overtime…" Chris mumbled, planting an elbow on his desk, and resting his chin on a row of knuckles, "Can't stop thinking about last night…This morning…Whenever it was."

You crossed your arms, slowly leaning back, "Shit's getting old, I'll tell you that."

"I bet." His eyes flickered up to yours, "Why'd you do it?"

Your brows creased, "Do what?"

"Risk your life to save an…To save Connor."

You shrugged, "He saved mine. Now the score's even."

"Well, if it's all the same to you…" He twisted in his chair, turning towards his terminal, "I'd prefer if you didn't add any more numbers to the scoreboard."

"Only if you keep your gun away from maniac androids."

"Oh, come on–"

An officer approached his desk, stealing his attention. You were grateful for that. Laughing had never hurt so much. You didn't want to alarm him.

"Hey, you check out those new samples yet?" He passed Chris a data pad, "Looks like they're trying to make some new form of Red Ice."

Chris read the report word for word, his eyes scanning along the screen.

"We really need the forensics." He returned it to the officer.

"Alright…I'll chase it up."

"Thanks."

The two of you watched him leave, and Chris turned his chin.

"Look, I know you've got a lot on your mind, but…I thought you might wanna hear this from me."

"Come on, you can't start a sentence like that."

"No body's dead, relax." A nervous smile graced him before he fell back into an anxious pit, "Just, ah…Well, Carl Manfred's android attacked his son last night. The deviant was shot on site and sent to the scrap-"

"Is Carl okay?"

"…Yeah? He wasn't the one attacked-"

"You know he has heart problems. Where is he?"

"Hey, breathe." Chris eased his hands, "Carl is fine. Leo is, too."

"Fuck Leo. He's been sucking in that shit on his father's dime for how long?"

Chris said your name, pursing his lips with a judging look.

"Okay, okay…"

He ran a hand down his face, "I could put you in contact with Carl, if you want."

You contemplated the idea. You'd been friends, a long time ago. Met him at a few galleries…his galleries, while you were just a trophy wife hanging on an arm.

"I don't think that would be appropriate. Carl was his friend…We haven't spoken in years…"

"I…Alright. I understand."

You rubbed the back of your neck, "Thanks, though. I appreciate it."

"No problem…" He gave you an overly-enthusiastic thumbs up, "…Partner."

"Ugh…" You looked down at the coffee on your uniform.

"I should probably clean this up."

You were hunched over the sink, holding your stomach. You'd been through this before, back in a minor fender-bender. The way every stiff muscle protested against moving with fervor. Popping pills to keep yourself at work. People had warned you that you were pushing yourself too far, working yourself too hard, blah blah blah.

You lifted your chin, listening in to the TV that blasted a CTN report through its speakers.

"Several sources report that CyberLife has provided Detroit Police with a prototype detective android. Although police-assistant androids have existed for several years now, this would be the first case of an android being authorized to play an active role in criminal investigations. We contacted CyberLife for comment, but no one was available to answer our questions."

A small smile crept up, your brows perking and your fingers crinkling a damp paper towel as someone flushed in a stall behind you.

You straightened your back, rolling your shoulders. You couldn't let anyone know how much pain you were in. Fortunately, you'd had some practice hiding it.

You tossed the coffee-soaked paper in the trashcan, bracing yourself for the hurt that came with opening the door. Your cheeks puffed, and a gust slipped from your mouth as you pushed. You stuffed your hands in your pocket, keeping your gaze averted.

Everyone was talking about you.

The idiot who'd fucked up and got shot on a roof. The freak who almost died protecting an android.

If you thought you had a tough time getting along with people before, it'd be damn near impossible, now.

"You still here? I thought your assignment was over." You overheard Chris from around the corner as you continued towards your desk, anxious to refill your coffee mug.

"It's just been extended."

You stopped dead in their tracks. A tremor rattled your body, and all of a sudden you felt rather cold.

"Hank's gonna be overjoyed to hear that…"

"I was wondering…Is there any reason in particular he despises me?"

"Don't let it get to you, Connor." Chris offered, "He'll come around. And…Hey, I hope there's no hard feelings about what happened. I know you were just doing your job, and I…I should've listened to you."

You curled your fingers around the corner's edge, peaking from the wall.

Connor gave him a smile, extending a hand over Chris's desk while holding his tie in place. Chris accepted the gesture.

"No hard feelings, Officer Miller. We were both following orders, even if from different individuals."

"Who exactly do you work for, Connor?"

"I've been sent by CyberLife to assist in the investigation into what's causing the rise in deviant activity."

"Well…CyberLife gave you some pretty big balls, standing up to Gavin like that."

Connor cocked his chin, his brows pinching, "I was not assembled with any…'balls.'"

You bit your lip, holding back a laugh.

"Ah, right…" Chris pretended he was rubbing his mouth, obviously doing the same, "Anyway, if it's Hank you're after, his desk is over there." He nodded to the desk one space over from yours, "Depends on where he was the night before, but if we're lucky, we'll see him before noon."

Connor deflated, "Thanks…"

He didn't seem to appreciate Hank's "work ethic."

"So, we scrape your ass off the concrete and you show up like nothing happened?" Gavin blocked your view, his arm pinned against the wall above your head, "That's not much of a 'thank you.'"

Your face collapsed in a scowl, "All you did was put Chris in danger. If he didn't push so hard, maybe the deviant wouldn't have tried to kill me."

"To be fair, the deviant wasn't trying to shoot you. He was aiming at RoboCop." He sucked his teeth, his eyes running along the length of your body, "Ain't that some shit…Get your partner killed when an android takes a shot at you, and you take a shot for an android…I think you've got your priorities out of order."

"That's not…That's not fair."

You shook your head, tears threatening to spill over.

"Yeah, well it's the truth. Here's another one for you: Life ain't fair." His eyes narrowed, "What are you gonna do, stab me twenty-eight times in the chest?"

"Twenty-nine, if you keep running your mouth."

"Tough talk for a girl who can't cover her own ass. Who knows what else'll sneak up on you?"

Your hands clenched at your sides, "I'm not scared of you, Gavin."

"…You should be."

He gave you a hard wink, his cheek pulling at an eye. He made a clicking sound with his mouth, taking a step backwards.

"Hello Detective Reed."

The two of them collided – Gavin walking straight into him.

"Fucking…Oh, speak of the Devil. Our plastic friend is back in town!" He gave you a devious look from over his shoulder, slow-clapping and facing Connor, "Congratulations on last night, very impressive…Right up until you got someone shot."

Connor swallowed, his gaze darting to you.

"Never seen an android like you before…" Gavin leaned forward to study him, "What model are you?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not authorized to answer you." Connor squinted, "If you have any questions, please contact your superior."

His brows raised and he almost…grinned. Was he fucking with Gavin?

Gavin turned to you, pointing to Connor, "Tch…This guy..." His chin snapped forward, "Answer the fucking question."

"Gavin-"

He held up a finger, not looking away. It would've been funny watching Gavin look up to Connor due to the difference in height…IF he wasn't being a colossal dickhead.

"I'm sorry," Connor's eyelids fluttered, "But I only take orders from Lieutenant, Anderson."

"Oh, oh…" Gavin's head bobbed, a huff slipping past the smirk on his face.

His arm pulled back, charging a fist.

"Gavin!" You reached out, trying to stop him.

His elbow clipped your stomach, and you fell against the wall; a searing pain crippling you.

A soft "thump" followed a punch to Connor's gut, a grunt being forced from his chest. He swayed in place, his hand gripping his stomach, his LED flashing red – and a face that looked like he was hurt.

The fall was slow at first, but then he came down like a bag of bricks. He caught himself with his hand, fingers splayed on the floor. He was stuck in that crouching position, clutching the impact area. And you weren't able to help him…

"You said it yourself," He ignored you, yelling at Connor, "You're a machine designed to listen and obey…so obey!"

He leaned forward, planting his hands on his knees. Connor's head turned towards him, looking a lot like he had when he was coercing a confession from the deviant:

Pissed off.

Gavin bit his lip, letting it slip from his bite, "That was for the bullet that should've it you, instead of her…"

He made a gun with his fingers, pulling his thumb as a trigger on Connor's LED, shoving his face back to the floor, "…Bang!"

Your back rolled along the wall. You closed your eyes, both hands folded over your stomach.

"Breathe. You've got to breathe."

It just hurt so fucking bad, but watching Connor get humiliated hurt worse.

He stood straight, shuffling his jacket into place over his shoulders before sliding his hands up his tie. He wiggled it in place.

"I wanted to speak with you about something."

You were stunned. He started the conversation, even after just being assaulted.

A door out of sight cracked open.

"Hank!" Captain Fowler shouted, "In my office!"

You and Connor looked back out into the room full of desks.

"Uh, Jesus…" Hank rolled his eyes, turning the corner towards Fowler's quarters.

Your attention returned to him. He looked so…downtrodden, trained on the floor – his jaw twitching; his fingers flexing and relaxing.

"What's on your mind, Connor?"

His gaze jumped up to yours, the gentleness in his features returning. That was something you welcomed.

"Perhaps we can discuss this later. My orders were to find Lieutenant Anderson, and he's just arrived."

He gave you a nod goodbye, and you grabbed him instinctively. You shouldn't have. You covered up your pain in a silent whimper and a slight bite to your cheek.

"Connor, Gavin's a jerk. Don't pay any attention to that whole 'listen and obey' bullshit…You hear me?"

That stupid yellow light started blinking again…

"But Detective Reed was correct. That's precisely what I was programmed to do. Failure to comply would…It would mimic…"

The yellow light that signaled he was about to say what he should, instead of what he wanted.

"…Deviant behavior."


A/N: Credit to MjrGenMatt for the "twenty-nine times," line. Pure spark of inspiration from him, that one.

Just thought I'd drop a note real quick to say that I've updated my profile to tell you guys a little bit about myself. I've never had any amount of feedback in this volume, and you've all made this experience a tremendously enjoyable one; especially since this is my first time doing a Reader Insert. It's nothing long, or special, but I thought maybe it would be a nice gesture. I don't know. I'm weird.

Anyway, this week is gonna be a long one for me - lots of stuff going on at work. I'm going to try my hardest to get another chapter soon, I promise!

:3 Take care!