November 8th, 2038
AM 09:40:56
The taxi's engine hummed, splitting through the blizzard outside like a wedge on wheels.
Visibility was shit. The cold was shit. Your mood was shit.
Everything sucked.
You went to take a sip from your thermos, and the car hit a bump. Coffee burned your lips, your chest – you jumped, dropping the stupid thing altogether.
And Connor caught it.
Okay, not everything sucked.
He chuckled as he handed it to you, "Careful."
"Thanks…" You mumbled, "You know, Chris always says: 'It's time to pack it in and call it a day when you start spilling the 'lifeblood.'"
You wiped your mouth with the back of your hand, drinking out of your travel mug with a stronger grip.
"If that were true, you'd be unemployed for quite some time." Connor relaxed in his seat, "You're very clumsy."
"Hah! Shut up."
He grinned wide before returning to his window, the white from the snow washing the color from his face.
You leaned in the corner, balanced your ankle on your knee, and thumbed through your phone; thermos still in a vice.
[3 UNREAD TEXT MESSAGES]
Hank Anderson
Today 09:41
You almost here? I wanna get this over with.
To: Hank Anderson
Yeah, we're on our way. Trust me, so do I.
Message Sent
Chris Miller
Today 09:22
UGHHHH! END ME. :in pain emoji:
To: Chris Miller
What are you whining about?
Message Sent
Chris Miller
Today 09:42
Been stuck working with Detective Douche Rocket since you left…
Chris Miller
Today 09:43
IT'S HORRIBLE.
Chris Miller
Today 09:43
I'VE SEEN SOME SHIT! :eyes emoji:
To: Chris Miller
LOL
Message Sent
Chris Miller
Today 09:44
I'm glad you're enjoying my suffering…DICK.
To: Chris Miller
And your discovery of emojis, yes. Lemme guess, he showed you those?
Message Sent
Chris Miller
Today 09:44
Yeah, made me feel real old. Speaking of which, I gtg. DDR is blasting off again…
To: Chris Miller
Houston, we have lift off! :rocket emoji:
Message Sent
Gavin Reed
Today 08:36
Cleaned ur gun for u. I'll check u in at the range if u feel up to it. :winky face:
To: Gavin Reed
Thanks, DDR. I might take you up on that.
Message Sent
Gavin Reed
Today 09:46
Wat?
To: Gavin Reed
*Detective. Phone is being stupid.
Message Sent
Gavin Reed
Today 09:47
Ur weird.
To: Gavin Reed
I've been told.
Message Sent
You smirked, locking your phone and stowing it in your pocket.
"Is something funny?" Connor was beaming with curiosity.
"Ah, just the guys being…guys."
"Which 'guys' are you referring to?"
"Chris and Gavin, up to their usual shenanigans."
His lips pursed, "Are you and Detective Reed…friends?"
You weren't surprised he asked. It was a question you often asked yourself.
"It's a love-hate kind of friendship. He's a bully that hazes new people – even me, when I started. Like you, now…and I never agreed with that kind of fuckery, but yeah, I guess you could say we're friends."
"You both love and hate him?" His brow formed a tight knot, "…Interesting."
"No-no-no, not like that. I meant…He can piss me off to the point where I want to kill him and then be a total bro by the end of the day."
"Oh." He smiled, "I think I understand."
"…For the record, I'll still deck him in the mouth if he hits you again."
He huffed, "I'd like to see him try."
You rested your head against the seat, holding back a smile. He was no longer just the "android sent by CyberLife." He was Connor, Lieutenant Anderson's partner. The guy who kicked Gavin's ass in pool at Jimmy's Bar. The man Chris hung out with at the station in his downtime.
Connor, the person who made you feel things that you hadn't felt in a very long time.
The brakes grinded underneath you, halting the cab to a stop – your daydreaming along with it.
"And we're here…" You sighed.
The momentary lapse in focus had been refreshing, but now that you'd arrived, you remembered what you were doing here in the first place:
Rendezvousing with Hank before the three of you went to visit Elijah Kamski…
You gripped the door's handle and pushed it open. The warm air of the taxi rushed outside, a frigid gust stinging your eyes. Snow danced in twirling puffs, filling in the trenches between drifts.
Your boots crunched as they sank in the street, and Connor got out on the other side. You flipped the cover on your gloves, the fingerless tips disappearing behind a knitted pattern. You pinned your travel mug to your side with your elbow and blew into your hands, rubbing them together.
The two of you made your way to Hank's front door.
"Detroit Police! You're under arrest!" You pounded it with your fist, almost hitting Hank as he opened it with a glare.
"…Not even a smile?"
He shot you an unimpressed look, "This, is my happy face."
You gave him a cheesy grin, and he stepped aside.
"Connor."
"Lieutenant."
Hank closed the door behind you, sealing off the blizzard. A billowing trash bag framed by tape caught your attention, a draft leaking through the makeshift seal.
"What happened to your window?"
"Why don't you ask this asshole?"
You didn't get the chance. A bear-sized dog came barreling from around the corner, barking and jumping with his tail wagging like a lunatic.
"Sumo!" You knelt, opening your arms, "C'mere, boy!"
He pranced over, his fur sticking to your wet jacket as his head knocked against yours.
"Ah-fuck-"
Before you knew it, you were on your back with a rough tongue lapping at your face and two enormous paws pinned on your shoulders.
"Gah-Sumo-stop-it-ow-"
He gave a low whine as Hank grabbed his collar, wrangling him backwards, "Easy, buddy, easy!"
Sumo fought with him, and Hank looked up, "Connor, a little help here would be nice!"
Connor snapped his fingers at his side, gaining the dog's attention, "Over here, boy! Yes, that's it. See?"
Hank let him go, and he ran right past you.
"Pffft-" You spat a clump of hair from your mouth.
"I don't know what you expected," Hank offered a hand, "Kinda asked for that one."
You grabbed it, and he pulled you to your feet.
"Ugh…" You brushed yourself off, frowning at the stain on the floor, "Sorry…"
Your coffee – a lost cause – was all over the place. It was really time to pack it in and call it a day.
"Like I give a shit…" He used a towel that'd been draped over a chair to cover the mess, stepping on it as if he'd done it a thousand times.
"So…" You picked up your thermos, shaking it hopelessly, "What's the plan?"
"We go to Fuckhead's place, ask him some questions, and then we leave. Only reason I dragged you into this is because I had a feeling he'd turn away a stranger with an android. He's a private man, so I've heard."
You grunted, placing your empty cup on the living room table, "Getting caught up in fame and scandals will do that to a man."
"Spare me the grisly details. I'm on a need to know basis, alright? I already know too much outside my paygrade, and I'm not dealin' with any feds." He waved you off, walking to the kitchen, "I'm hoping he can tell us more about deviancy. Help us move this case along…"
You sighed, "You really think he'll be able to help?"
"When shit breaks down at work, who do you call?"
"Uh…I don't call, anyone. I just fix it."
"Okay, who would you call?"
"Ghostbusters?"
"Jesus fuck…" He opened a cabinet door, letting it slam shut after pulling something out, "No, asshole, you call tech support."
You crossed your arms, "And you think Elijah is 'tech support?'"
"Yep."
"That's…actually pretty ridiculous."
Hank filled a glass of water before tossing it in the microwave, the buttons beeping as he pressed them. He hit start, and the turntable inside started rotating.
"You got a better idea?"
"I just…I don't understand why we need to talk to him." You pulled out a chair from around the kitchen table and took a seat, "We already know what deviancy is."
"Oh yeah? What is it then, wise ass?"
"It's, a…uhh – software problem…that…only occurs under certain conditions?"
He sucked his teeth, "Well, that's just a fancy way of saying you have no fuckin' idea…"
You planted your chin in your palm, eyes dropping to a DPCD-stamped folder laid open on the table.
"Lt. Anderson Expense Report: The Eden Club Investigation."
Your eyes popped open, "Holy shit…Went on a binger, eh?"
"Fuck off. Connor needed to do his weird android probey thing to 'em, and I had to take them out of their little display case."
You whistled, picking up the paper, "That's a lot of numbers."
"You're tellin' me…Goddamn things are expensive." He shook his head, "People are fuckin' insane…They don't want relationships anymore, everybody just buys or rents an android. They cook what you want, they screw when you want, you don't have to worry about how they feel…"
You winced, peaking behind you.
Connor had such a heart-warming look on his face, not paying any mind. He was petting Sumo, the gentle beast laying on the floor with his head between his paws.
"…Next thing you know, we're gonna be extinct, because everybody would rather buy a piece of plastic than love another human being…"
You turned back to Hank, "Humans kind of suck. You really blame them?"
The microwave stopped and began chirping. Hank turned to sprinkle something in the cup, stirring it while he spoke.
"Got a point, there…Shit, the more I learn about people, the more I love my dog."
"I like dogs." Connor butted in the conversation.
You bit back a laugh at the awkward comment, cute as it was. He was standing now, with his hands behind his back – still watching Sumo as he panted, tail wagging at his android friend.
"Hey, Connor – you see those slips on the table? The lottery tickets I bought while we were out?"
"Yes?"
"Scratch those off for me, would ya?"
His face fell flat, "I'm a bit overqualified for that task, Lieutenant."
"You think?" Hank turned around, placing a mug on the table and sitting across from you, "You're always playing with that fucking quarter. Thought you'd bite at a chance to put it to good use."
Connor scoffed, and snatched up the tickets.
You twisted in your seat, and Hank slid the mug towards you.
"Instant coffee. Probably tastes like shit, but we've got a long morning ahead of us."
You blinked in surprise, "O-oh. Thanks, I, uh…I appreciate it."
"You eat anything this morning?"
"No…" You took the mug in both hands, blowing across the top, "I'm not really hungry."
A collar jingled behind you. You looked over your shoulder, and found Connor patting the cushion next to him on the couch.
"Sumo – UP!"
He jumped, the foam pads sinking under his weight. He plopped his head in Connor's lap, laying on his side. Connor scratched behind his ears as he carried out his petty orders.
You lowered your voice, meeting Hank's distant stare, "How are things between the two of you?"
Hank grunted, rolling his eyes, "Remember when you started this job and I hated you? Now I hate you less?"
You squinted, "Ye-up."
"It's kind of like that."
"Ah, I see…Glad I'm not just a scapegoat."
"You know what they say about assumptions."
"Hmph…"
The two of you ran out of things to talk about, and there was nothing but silence…that, and the scratching of a coin, Connor blowing away the dust, rinse and repeat.
You looked at the coffee wobbling at your shaky touch. You didn't want to do this. Not with them, not with anyone. Not at all.
"You okay?"
You didn't look at him, "He…I think he texted me, the other day…"
"What?" Hank leaned an elbow on the edge of the table, "What do you mean, you 'think?'"
"I got a message from an unknown sender…" You whispered, "It said, 'Did you know WITSEC's servers are maintained by CyberLife androids?"
Hank's grey, sunken eyes turned feral, "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that was an underhanded threat."
"Please don't." Connor stood from the couch, the slips in-hand and Sumo patrolling at his feet, "The last time you 'went out on a limb,' I had to pull you to safety before you fell to your death."
"Your mouth is gonna get your ass beat, one of these days. And not just by Reed." Hank's nose crinkled.
Connor fanned the exposed lottery tickets on the table with a flick of his wrist, "Congratulations, Lieutenant. You've won $20."
"Well, whoop-de-fuckin'-doo…" He yawned, "Luck's on our side, today."
Connor straightened his tie, standing between you and Hank.
"Where'd you get that?" Hank glared at him.
"Where'd I get what?"
"The new tie?"
He gulped, eyes darting between you and the floor, "It…it was-"
"I got it for him. A debt repaid, all that crap."
"Uh-huh…" He studied you in doubt, "Yeah, I'm sure that's all it was about."
"I'd like to discuss this potential 'threat' from Mr. Kamski." Connor changed the subject, his voice taking on a dark tone, "I want you to know, I happened to be very efficient with sniper rifles and other firearms. I was tested quite rigorously."
"Connor…" Hank groaned.
"Or, we could take a subtler approach, like poisoning his food supply with a neurotoxin."
"CONNOR…"
"Perhaps planting an explosive on his place of residency would-"
"Jesus Christ, Connor, you can't just go blowing up houses, alright?!" Hank ran a hand down his face, smoothing over his anger, "…Now, let's talk about your other suggestions."
You planted your forehead on the table, your hands dangling at your sides. You closed your eyes, only to open them as small licks wetted your fingers. You rolled your face, your cheek hitting the wood. You ran your hand along Sumo's head, petting him underneath the table.
You wished Connor would just put a bullet between Elijah's eyes…you wouldn't have to see him ever again, or his house full of your doppelgangers.
You couldn't waitto have that conversation.
As Hank rose to his feet and flipped his jacket on, you imagined you wouldn't have to "wait" much longer. Break time was over…
Let the hunt begin.
A/N: ***T-Minus 1 Chapter till Kamski Event***
Guest Review Responses:
MysticalSquirrel: Words were indeed said! :P Hahaha, it's totally possible about the BSoD. Glad you liked that line, and thank you : ) You too!
Miki: DEAR LORT! :D
