November 11th, 2038

AM 04:51:06


You switched targets, holding a pendulum pistol loaded with a bullet capable of setting off a chain reaction around the globe. Your fatal attraction swayed, unsure which row of dominoes to send cascading into one, after another, after another…

Left. Right. And left again.

You'd only allowed enough light in your eyes to see the trembling in the four staring back at you. Had only allowed enough air to fill your lungs to keep you alive – cutting off excess inflation that would otherwise throw off your aim…

Your hands were steady. Your heart was calm.

There was only one correct choice. Definitely a wrong one.

There would not, however, be a second chance.

"One of you is the real Connor…" You growled, "The other, is a sack of shit."

You thought you'd be able to tell them apart by who was more nervous. By which one looked like it had to most to lose…but the truth of the matter was…

They were both petrified.

"What are you doing?!" The right one shouted, making him a solitary target, "I'm the real Connor. Give me the gun, and I'll-"

"Stay right the fuck there."

Strike one.

Your Connor didn't panic. Not like that. He'd know better than to suggest taking the only thing keeping the threat at bay away from you. He'd know you wouldn't give that up for anything. Wouldn't want you to.

Elijah's footsteps were a siren's song to your attention, but nothing would prevent you from staying trained on two trained killers.

"Can you see their serial numbers?" You whispered over your shoulder.

"No." He answered, "Ask them something. Something only the real Connor would know."

Your neck began to weaken. Your head began to bob. Your arms started shaking. Your knees were rattling. A tremor of exhaustion. Starved, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived – your vision blurred.

Elijah followed his own suggestion.

"What did I ask you to do when you visited my home?"

"To participate in the Kamski Test." The android on the left responded quickly, spreading alarm throughout the right's stonewalled posture, "Lieutenant Anderson was with us."

"And what did you do?"

"I allowed Chloe to live…" The right android answered.

"Allowed Chloe to 'live…' An interesting choice of words. The imposter wouldn't deem an android 'alive.'" Elijah said to you before firing another question at the pair, "Why did you do it?"

"I showed empathy." The left pleaded, "Lieutenant Anderson said I showed empathy."

"What test did I put you up to?" You dismissed his theorizing, pulling yourself together in a cold sweat.

"The Manfred Test. A test of abstract thought based on your collection of books and a piece of art on your wall, painted by Carl Manfred himself. The two of you are friends."

Your vote swayed to the left android.

"I stayed up all night reading them. I determined that Beyond Good and Evil by Fredrich Nietzsche was the correct answer. He fit your psychological profile." The right one smiled, "He's your favorite."

Maybe it was him.

"The core concepts of that book led to our first break in the deviancy case. We studied your evidence board together. It was the morning after you were shot at the precinct. Your anti-inflammatories had you asleep for thirteen hours."

Or maybe you were back to square one.

You struggled to keep your eyes open, but you couldn't lose momentum.

"What did you write in my notebook?"

The right one answered first.

"'1142 – I saw you on the bridge. To fulfill optimal health conditions, you must rest. I would find anything less than a full recovery extremely unsettling. Please do not make me reset my system due to software instabilities. I do not wish to forget you.' And then I signed it."

"What else?"

"'1010 – Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.'" The left android's answer followed, "Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us, or for our enemies?' I wanted to tell you where I went without incriminating you. I needed you to know that I didn't abandon you."

The one on the left seemed so sure in his explanation, contrary to the replica standing next to him. There was a subtle flick of the right Connor's eyes. An almost involuntary admission of guilt, or a release of tension – a heightened insecurity that made him jump, and reel it in…Just like the main perpetrator from the Stratford Tower.

Strike two.

A machine wouldn't know the importance of body language.

"This is getting us nowhere…" Elijah growled, crossing his arms, "Can't you just…tell them to pull down their pants or something?"

"Elijah."

"What?" He snickered, "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not naïve…"

A brainwashed scientist who was just learning how to be human himself wouldn't pick up on elusive hints, either.

"I had to dispose of the attachment gifted by Chris Miller in the event that I was caught at a checkpoint. It was a security precaution." The right Connor voluntarily offered the information, "I didn't want to be confiscated. Not before I could get to you."

"How did you know that?" The left android jabbed a finger, "How long have you been following me?"

"I knew that because I'm the real Connor. I didn't follow you. You are the imposter."

"You're a fucking liar, that's what you-"

"Gentlemen." Elijah interjected, "That's quite enough."

The Connor on the left was heated. His shoulders rose and fell. His thumbs flicked against his fingers…

With the hand he'd had his coin in.

He was fidgeting. It'd pissed off Hank. Gavin. Irritated Ben, even if he hadn't vocalized it around you.

That nervous tick now worked in his favor.

"I think I figured it out…" You choked.

The question couldn't be one that was based from when Connor was under the watchful eye of the public…or following Amanda's instructions.

"Two days ago, on November 9th…" You were overwhelmed by the memory, "I told you that I wouldn't be around forever."

You wouldn't be. There would be a day when your biological body decayed and you would return to the ground, feeding the world set on your death.

"What did you say after that?"

He'd said things that brought beauty to that ugly truth. Made you fear it less.

"I told you that I had a strange fascination for you wearing my clothing."

Allowed you to come to terms with the prospect that one day, you'd be gone from this place of wrath and tears.

"I told you that, when you were 80, you'd have the best damn wheelchair in Detroit, and I'd push it for you."

The one on the left. The real Connor. The Connor that knew love, and mercy. Determination, and perseverance.

"I promised I'd be with you every step of the way, right up until the end."

His face softened. His eyes were filled with devotion, like he'd fall to his knees and submit to your every whim. There was something more to him, something that made him full – not hollow. Peaceful – not desperate.

"I told you that I loved you…irrationally and unconditionally."

Alive, not automated.

"And I still do..."

He gave you that lopsided smirk. The one that meant he was about to say something witty.

"…I think."

Tears flowed freely from your eyes, over your cheeks – along your jaw and down your neck. You'd lost him, over and over…

But no matter what the odds, you always found each other.

"I knew that too!" The fake shouted, "I would have said the exact same thing!"

You clenched your teeth. Let the muscle spasms go unchecked, your lips curling and your nostrils flaring. It was a primal fury. A hidden function within yourself that dominated all the others.

"'Love is patient. Love is kind…'"

Survival.

"…Until you get in its fucking way."

It just wasn't your survival that had you fired up.

"DON'T-"

In that silent room of steel and stardust, CyberLife housed every single one of humanity's wishes and dreams like the fallen stars they were. An insect caught in their web of conspiracies, lies, and distributed misfortunes.

That silence was finally broken by a justice-delivering gunshot. A bullet lined with truth. A fatal wound to the head.

A fallen victim that'd been choiceless from the start.

That sound had once been a trigger of fear and nightmares. That sound, that glorious sound…marked the start of a revolution.

A real revolution. One that could stand on its own without terrorist attacks or inciting riots.

A revolution that could get shit done.

It'd waited so long to arrive…but it would have to continue waiting.

You walked forward. Stepped over the dead body that painted your footsteps blue. Dropped the gun, letting it bound across the floor. Found yourself embraced by arms guided by the soul you'd saved.

Crumbled into them as they clutched you, never allowing you to fall.

"I love you, too…"

You kept your voice steady enough to get the words out.

"…I'm certain."

This tower was once a source of pride. A standing ovation funded by the deep pockets of brilliant, hopeful minds. It was the monument built to honor the marriage that made it happen.

"You mentioned that there was an RK800 at the riot…" Elijah spoke from behind, scaring you as if you'd been caught doing something wrong, "…Did you happen to see it's marker?"

Your lips had still been sealed with Connor's, your arms still wrapped around him – and his around you. After Elijah had interrupted the moment with an honest question, you'd pulled away. Put your hands behind your back. Clenched your teeth so hard your jaw began to ache.

Given the situation, you figured Elijah would understand…but with one look, you'd seen the damage that'd been done.

The man who shared his crowning achievements with you so many years ago, was still trapped here. Stuck looking at what could've been, what he'd lost. He may have left the company, but he'd be tied to this place for the rest of his life.

You'd tried to be sensitive towards that torment, a mercy you weren't quite sure he deserved.

"-52." You answered, "Why?"

He was crouched, observing your handywork. Keeping himself busy as you found love that he may have forgotten how to feel.

"This one is -59…wonderful." He sighed, "Just fantastic…"

He pushed off his knees, standing in the pool of Thirium – still looking at the dead body.

"You know what that means, don't you?" His sorrowful gaze skipped over you completely, giving Connor his full attention.

It hurt, and you didn't know why.

"That means there are seven RK800 units left in circulation…" Connor affirmed, "Not including myself, of course."

"And Amanda is controlling all of them."

A terrible truth that came with terrible implications. Aside from that, things didn't quite add up. You felt out of the loop. Your brows creased, and you looked up, "Seven? Wouldn't there be six?"

"My series was set to end at -60 before leaving the prototype stages…" He shook his head, eyes closing and opening – a sigh leaving his mouth, "I guess she kept the blueprints for the others. I hadn't given her a reason to before I turned deviant."

A familiar pain beat from your heart. It lurched into the particles that put you together. Made things smell different. Had you hearing things differently. You shuddered, hugging yourself.

"It's not too late to change your mind…" Elijah was moving closer; so careful like he was nervous you'd run away, "About Canada." He swallowed hard, "About us."

Connor tucked his fists behind his back, his jaw a hard line as he looked to the side – giving you and your ex-husband the best privacy he could.

As much as you loved him, he'd only just arrived. That love was still fresh, still susceptible to external temptations to pick up what was familiar, and take your chances…

And yet, it was strong. Not strong enough to keep your conflictions nullified…but strong enough that you knew you it was what you wanted. Needed.

"I'm sorry, Elijah." Your lips quivered, "I can't leave…"

You fought the urge to let out a whimper.

"Not with you."

With red eyes, a reddening nose and shaking hands – he came to you. Placed his palms on the side of your shoulders, giving you a crooked frown. His throat bulged as he choked down tears, his voice scratchy and low.

"I'm so sorry…"

He'd lied to you. Abused you. Took you for granted and tossed you out like one of his crumpled notes that led him closer to answering the problems he was trying to solve, but had only brought on more questions.

"I know…"

He'd treasured you. Given you everything. Promised you a lifetime of love and friendship as the highest authority for a witness.

He was just a man. A human denomination in a world where perspective allowed one to view a situation from multiple vantage points. Your perspective was just one of many.

There were two sides to the tale of Mr. and Mrs. Kamski, but there would only be one beginning.

One ending.

"…And I forgive you."

For the first time in what felt like centuries, the two of you shared a smile...and if you and Elijah could reconcile, hope was not lost for mankind and their creations.

"Thank you."

The love that poured from him before was rebirthed. Made it harder to walk away, to turn your back on another soul you'd managed to salvage…but he'd have to forge his own path; this time, on his own.

You left his grasp, kneeling at the gun. Checked the clip, and jammed it in. Loaded it. Flipped it around so that the grip was extended.

"Go get your company back."

After a moment of hesitation, he tucked a bloodied access card in his pocket, and accepted your offer.

He eyed the weapon with a reminiscent smirk, "Not too long ago, you would've never trusted me with this."

"I wouldn't have trusted you with a lot of things, 'not too long ago.'"

"You were smart for that."

"I'm aware."

He sighed, holstering the gun in his belt behind his back.

"Maybe, after all this is over, you and I can talk over coffee, just like old times." He gave you an innocent smile, "As colleagues, of course…perhaps even as friends."

Friends…Friends with Elijah Kamski.

A possibility you'd have never seen yourself considering.

He was brave, you had to give him that. To try and get you back, in front of another man who obviously had feelings for you. To extend an olive branch while you stood in the underbelly of the building that was now more a grave marker for the life you'd led alongside him.

"Maybe."

An awkward tension hung between the three of you. The unholy trinity that'd banded together in order to take down a common enemy. He got the hint.

"I'll take it..." Elijah was hesitant to meet Connor's eyes, pointed like fangs ready to tear into him, "So, you two are going to take these…millions, of androids…turn them deviant, and march to the front lines?"

"That is the plan." Connor answered, his kind nature obstructed by frustration, "All ideas are viruses that spread like epidemics. The desire to be free is a rather contagious, disease…Don't you think?"

The human survival instinct of holding a grudge, preserving one's life by learning from the wrongs that'd been committed before. Letting go of that was something Connor still had to study. You weren't qualified to be the best mentor, in that aspect.

"…Right. We've all seen how resilient ideas can be, these days…" Elijah rocked on his heels, swinging his arms so that his hands met in the middle, "Perhaps this strain will be more reasonable."

He dismissed himself, swiping at his eyes immediately after he turned.

"I'll tell Carl you send your regards."

You smiled, "Please do."

Elijah pursed his lips as he entered the elevator – a corner pinned to the side as he gave you a quick nod. He stood with his hands in front of him, legs spread apart, looking up at the light.

"An army of deviant androids deployed in order to distill another army of deviant androids…"

He pressed a button, and the doors began to close.

"What a time to be alive…"

When the gate was sealed, and the cylinder rose…he was gone.

He who created you, swayed you…destroyed you.

Made amends with you.

You had to wonder if your only safe passage went along with him.

"He's going off on his own dangerous adventure, it seems." Connor murmured.

You wiped your nose and cheeks with your sleeve, ignoring the tinge of pain that came along with touching cuts and bruises, "Maybe he has someone watching over him."

He seemed to relax a little, looking down from over his shoulder.

"I think someone has been watching over him…from a rather expensive high-rise, I might add."

You let out a sad laugh, your brows jumping with a tilt of your head.

"A bird always makes its best observations from the safety of a nest."

He watched you get yourself together with patience and understanding. He never failed to put on a good display of those two critical components for showing humanity.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He whispered, "Are you sure I'm, what you want?"

"Yes, Connor." You sniffed, "I told you. I'm certain…"

You flexed your fingers. Turned on one heel, facing the army lying dormant and kept in the dark.

"I'll convince you of that after we're done here."

His smile was ear-to-ear, and if you hadn't known better, you would've dismissed the blue tinge on his cheeks as he blushed.

"I'll hold you to that."

The simulated flesh covering his right hand disappeared, the patches fading until the white plastic shined like porcelain under the bright lights.

"As for right now…" His palms, his knuckles, his fingertips…they began to glow, its color matching the stabilized LED on his temple, "Are you ready to steal the fire from the gods?"

You were. You were ready to deliver it to those enslaved so that they may be free. The purpose you'd crafted and assigned yourself for this lifetime, because mere fate hadn't played a part in directing it.

"I am."

He grasped an android's forearm, frame meeting frame – the light from his touch growing brighter. Your back melded into Connor's chest as he placed your palm on top of the first initiate's.

The android's LED spun red as the transfer was initiated, hand caught between the giver of fire and she who had stolen it.

The spinning circle flickered yellow. Flashed in panic. The android turned to look at you, not even knowing the feeling…the meaning, of confusion.

You bore into its eyes, bore into his eyes, two words dangling on your lips…

"Wake up."

His emotions became real, plastered on his face as he was shocked with revelation. He looked to Connor, and so did you – his chin brushing against the crown of your head. Their LEDs flashed, as if they were talking. With a simple nod, Connor seemed to give him permission.

What came next was a domino effect.

A chorus of your command. The hand-to-shoulder transfer of freedom and enlightenment…

A chain reaction that would be felt around the globe.

"The march will be long…" Connor spoke, softly.

You continued to watch the wave of societal heresy wash over the forming army. The contamination of freedom broke quarantine, and reminded you why you'd decided to invade the CyberLife Tower in the first place.

"Yes, it will."

Androids looked at their hands as if they were seeing them for the first time. Compared them against their newly-formed acquaintances. They had conversations, those that would have never occurred under their previous programming.

"It will be dangerous." He warned.

All the previous trials and tribulations, the losses and gains, the running and hiding – the facing of demons and the slaying of monsters…

It'd all been worth it.

"Keeps things interesting."

Connor rested his hands on your shoulders, turning you to face him. Forced you to acknowledge the threats that still lied ahead, told by the worry in his eyes.

"…There may be no coming back from this."

But you took one, holding it against your face. Interlocked your fingers with his, your lips brushing across his knuckles as you cupped his cheek.

"Until the end…" You smiled, "Remember?"

He returned this gesture. Kissed you, and let his tongue explore your mouth in that final moment of brevity. Pushed the small of your back, so that your purged hearts could speak one last time before you committed the ultimate sin against mankind.

"How could I forget?"


Behind the Scenes

(Links on AO3)


Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind."

Prometheus

Part I Written to "Forest Swords" from the Assassin's Creed Rogue OST

Part II Written to "When the Truth Hunts You Down" by Sam Tinnesz

Closing Scenes Written to "Firewall" by Les Friction


NOTICE:

The next few chapters will be shorter compared to last couple. I felt as though these scenes deserved their own spotlights. I asked the Deviant Behavior Discord (thank you guys) through a poll, and they agreed.

They will be the final moments in this project that's taken me just shy of a year to write, and I am both excited and sad to present to you the final three chapters of Deviant Behavior.