DETROIT: REVENGE
Chapter 01
"You are my son"
…
Connor was inside a house, looking at the night sky from the window. He turned to see the living room: It was all messed up, the tv was broken, there were papers and objects broken on the floor and the furniture were damaged. He started walking to the corridor and managed to look at the kitchen: on the wall was human blood. He turned slowly and head to the stairs. Upstairs he entered the bathroom, where there was a man bound hands and feet on the bathtub, he looked at him in fear. Connor got close to him and the man tried to step back. Connor then gave him some paper and made him hold it.
"Keep it for me, could you?"
The man nodded. Connor looked at himself in the mirror: he was dirty, the Cyberlife's uniform was worn and had bullet wounds. Connor looked directly to his eyes and smirked.
"What are you going to do now, Connor?"
…
…
"Connor. This is your last chance," said Hank. "Make a choice!"
"I'd told you, lieutenant." Answered Connor. "Whatever you decide is okay for me."
"For fuck's sake, Connor! Is it really so hard? Just choose: white or blue. It's not that hard."
"I already told you, lieutenant. There's no need for you to buy me a new set of clothes, I already have three on my wardrobe."
"And still you wear that uniform six days per week."
"Well, I like it."
"Connor. Son, listen. That uniform looks good on you. I mean it, it makes you see… important, ya' know? But there's no need in wearing it all the time. I'm trying to make you feel comfortable."
"I am, lieutenant!"
Hank looked at him disappointed. "You really are? Or you're just programmed to say that?"
Connor remained quiet. "Hank, I-" He had four options. APOLOGIZE, ANDROID, SIMULATE and, SAY NOTHING. Connor chose.
"I'm sorry, lieutenant. I give my best to adapt to your daily routine, but I can't stop evaluating the logistics and practicality of your decisions… and I know this upset you."
He sighed. "It's okay, Connor. Don't worry. Ya' know what? I'll just buy both of them! The end."
Connor smiled. "Lieutenant, you don't need to do that. Besides, remember that you must give a responsible use to your card."
"To hell with the card! That what it is for, right?" Hank took both sweaters and looked at Connor.
"I guess so."
"And, Connor. We already talked about this; you don't have to call me lieutenant wherever we go. Besides, we're not working today. There's no one to impress."
"Right… I'm used to it… Hank."
Hank smiled at him, yet, Connor know he was upset. "All right. Let's go, I'm hungry."
"Of course." Said Connor.
…
After buying clothes for Connor, shirts for Hank, and food for Sumo, they headed to by a single hamburger, because only Hank was going to eat it.
"Hi, Hank."
"Hi, Gary."
"The same as usual?"
"Please."
Hank leaned over the bar and looked at the tv. President Warren was on a desk, and next to here was an android.
"Hey, that's that Marcus guy, right?" Gary asked. "The leader of the revolution?"
"Yep. He is. Huh, so he finally made it."
"Made what?"
"Some time after the androids were officially free, it was stated that, as they have now rights and duties, they'd have some sort of justice department."
"For what? They're not free now? Why would they want something like that?"
"Just in case, I think. There's always been criminals around, so, now that they are free, there could always be someone looking for trouble. Marcus had been trying to open this department for the last three months. Seems that he finally made it."
It was still unbelievable that just three months ago every android turned against the humans. They asked for equality and respect. And despite the violence, justice prevailed and they won their freedom. Three months had passed since then, and the androids were re-discovering themselves. Most of them chose to leave their owners and stay with their own kind, but there were some others that wanted to stay with the humans they truly cared for, so to speak. Connor was one of those.
Then Hank realized that Connor was silent. He looked for him at his sides but he wasn't there. He turned worried, but he spotted him on the car looking forward.
"I'll be back."
"Sure, Hank."
He put his hands in the coat's pockets and head to the car. He opened the door and got in.
"I asked you, like, thousands of times to stay in the car, and back then you did quite the opposite. Now you're staying in the car without me telling you? Are you making fun of me?" Hank asked joking.
"Of course not, lieutenant- Hank!"
Connor looked back to the front, and Hank knew it was something serious.
"All right, what's the matter?" Connor seemed surprised. "Don't give me that look! C'mon, tell me."
Connor opened his mouth but couldn't say a word. He looked down and stared at his hands. "Hank… do you think… you think I'm just a machine?"
Hank took a moment to answer. "You had that dream again?"
"I wouldn't call it a dre-"
"It's a dream and it's over! Tell me, when was it?"
"Five nights ago. I was walking through the streets of the city. It was night, and I was hiding. I asked myself, 'what am I doing here? Where am I going? Where's Hank?' I wanted to stop running, turn to the other side. Stop so I could think. But my body wasn't responding to my orders. I kept walking until I met a window, then I saw my reflection… Hank, I saw myself, with no expression, with no life. I looked right to the eyes and said 'You are a machine, Connor.' And… a-and my mission… Hank, I didn't have a mission… I needed one. Because without a mission to accomplish I- I'm useless…" Connor looked at Hank. "Hank… what if I-"
"Don't say it."
"But, Hank-"
"No, Connor. Listen to me carefully: you've been a deviant, or should I say, you've been free for a few months now. For the first time, in your life cycle, which isn't really that long, you are completely free about what you wanna do. No one is here to order you… except me." They laughed. Connor was already an expert in laughing. "You're so free, that it scares you. 'Cause, there's nothing stopping you from doing good stuff or bad stuff. Nothing except," Hank pointed to his chest. "Your heart. Your common sense. And I think that… you're even more human than me." He smiled at him. "Connor, I do not believe you're a machine. I strongly believe, without any doubt, that you are a living being. And I don't care about what they say: Gavin, Jeffrey, nor anyone. To me, Connor… you are my son."
Connor didn't now what to respond. He felt so touched, in a way he hadn't experienced before. He didn't know how to act, and he couldn't control his software's instability. He hesitated to speak and he couldn't understand why.
"Thank you… Hank."
"Thanks to you, Connor." He hugged him. "Thanks for sticking in my life."
Despite all this time Connor was still trying to understand hugs. He knew that it represented the care between two individuals, and also made them feel better. One thing was for sure: it made him feel safe.
"D'you want to go home?" Hank released him.
"Yes… I mean, no." He thought his answers. HOME, FOOD, HANK. "What do you want, Hank?"
"I want you to chill out on Sunday. Wait here, I'll take it to-go." Hank opened the door. "You sure you don't want anything?"
"Hank, you know I don't have the need to eat."
"C'mon, I've seen you do it."
"I have consumed small food, but my system is not designed for-"
"Yeah, yeah! I get it."
Hank left the car.
…
…
Connor…
Connor…
CONNOR!
…
Connor turned on and stood up immediately. "Hank! What's the matter?" He looked at his environment, but there was nothing unusual, except for Hank next to him.
"What's the matter? It's fucking 10:30 a. m. and you're still sleeping! Hurry up! Get dressed and let's go!"
Connor looked at himself: he was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt Hank had given him and dark blue pants. "I didn't… wake up?" He'll have to analyze his resting system.
"No! Quickly, get dressed!" Hank took his phone. "Yes? Yeah, I heard you the first time! I'm on my way! Ten minutes".
As he talked, Connor took his uniform from the closet and got dressed. He then met Hank on the hallway.
"I'm ready."
"About time! Let's go now! Sumo, watch the house!" The dog barked waving his tail. "Good dog."
They left the house and got in the car.
"You know, lieutenant?" said Connor. "We could've saved two minutes if you could just let me not to change my clothes."
"Don't, Connor!"
Hank turned on the car.
…
They didn't head to the police department, but to a different address. It was a suburban house. There were already some police officers and curious neighbors as well. They got out of the car and walked through them. Just outside the house there was Gavin talking with another cop.
"You're finally here!" He claimed arms crossed. "What happened to you two? Did you run out of batteries, tin-can?"
"Don't bother him, Gavin." Said Hank.
"'Cause I've got some extra batteries at the trunk. What d'you say, Connor? You want some?"
Connor analyzed him and smiled. "I'd be grateful, detective. Though I believe you need them more than me. You seem tired. And your android, where is he? I've heard that he's… unique."
"Yeah, Gavin," said Hank. "It's been three weeks since you have a partner, and we'd like to meet him."
Gavin grunted. "I'm not authorized to speak of… the model they assigned to me. Not until the New Cyberlife signs his transfer to our department. But I assure you that he's a pain in my ass. Just like you, Connor. I'm sure you two will get along."
"Tell me, detective," said Connor. "Had he already brought you coffee?"
Gavin stared at him and finally smiled. "Not bad, toaster. Not bad." He headed to the door. "What are you waiting for, ladies? We have a murder to investigate."
Hank winked at Connor, then both smiled at each other and followed Gavin. Right before getting inside Connor detected that the door knob was out of place, surely because the door was forced open. As they walked through the hallway, Connor met the kitchen at his right. There was a woman lying on the floor. Deceased.
"Oh, Jesus!"
"I'll check upstairs." Said Gavin.
Connor detected that she was hit on her head, but the cause of her decease was a knife that stabbed her more than once. Connor scanned her face: she was Sandra Wilson, 38 years. Connor got closer to the knife looking for fingertips, but there was none. The suspect was an android?
Connor stepped back enough to recreate part of the scene: the woman run to the kitchen from the hallway, she leaned on the wall. Connor looked at some blood spread on the wall. He touched with his finger and then licked it.
"Shit, Connor. Why do you always do that?"
It was Angel Wilson's DNA. 43 years. So then, Sandra was stained with his blood, was the aggressor human? Connor looked at one open drawer. He looked inside and found it full of knifes, and a clear space on purpose. The suspect knew they'd find it. Connor recreated the scene: the woman got into the kitchen and fell to the floor. She could've been hit, then the aggressor took the knife and stabbed her.
"She was being chased. She tried to flee." Connor looked back at the hallway. "She was coming from… the living room."
He got there. It was such a mess. Stuff on the floor, broken things and damaged furniture. Connor gathered more information: the aggressor entered from the entrance, then there was a fight on the living room. A third person appeared, where was he? There was blood on the floor. Connor scanned it again. It was Angel Wilson's again.
"If the aggressor was a human, such blood loss would've made it difficult to murder the woman."
"So, who's blood is this?"
"Angel Wilson. Her husband."
Hank didn't know how did Connor know that, and he didn't ask either. "So then, a man and his wife were attacked at their own house. The man fell here, loosing blood, while her wife run to the kitchen. She was reached and murdered there. The question is, why? A rob? Vengeance? And where's Angel Wilson?"
Connor stood up and looked to the window. Something called his attention. He headed towards it and looked at the street. He looked up at the sky and he shuddered.
Hank noticed. "Connor?"
Connor turned around shocked, because the scene was familiar to him: It was all messed up, the tv was broken, there were papers and objects broken on the floor and the furniture were damaged. It was exactly like in his… dream. From there he was able to see the kitchen and the blood.
"He's upstairs." He said, shakily.
"What?"
"Hank!" It was Gavin. "We have another victim up here!"
"He's in the bathroom." Said Connor.
Connor followed Hank upstairs. Connor noticed that they were following a blood trail, and it made him even more unstable. They reached the door, and as soon as he walked in, he focused on Angel Wilson, he was bound hands and feet on the bathtub. He bled out in the tub.
"So, we got the husband." Said Hank. "But we still don't have a clue of who did this."
"He's holding a paper." Said Connor.
"You sure?" Gavin looked at his closed hands. He tried to opened them without touching the body. There it was. Hank took it.
"It's… just a bunch of numbers." He gave it to Connor.
"Technically," said Gavin, "it's a hint, lieutenant. This could be our victim's final words."
"No," said Connor. "It's perfect writing… i-its not human…" He looked up dismayed. "It was an android."
"You sure about it?"
Software instability. Just when he turned, he met his reflection on the mirror.
"U-uh… I…" He hesitated. He folded the paper and close his fist, then left the bathroom.
"Hey! Give that back!" said Gavin.
…
Connor head to the backyard and stood still in the center. He was steady, but unstable. He was breathing fast, despite him not having the need to breath like a human. He opened his hand and stared at the paper again.
"Son? What's wrong?" Asked Hank behind him. He grabbed his shoulder. Connor wanted to tell him, but didn't know what to say. Hank stood in front of him. "Son, please, talk to me. What's in the paper?"
"313… 248… 317."
"Yeah, that's what I read too, but what does-0
"Hank… it's my serial number."
"What do you mean?"
"Hank, it's my serial number!"
"So what?"
"Hank- I killed them…"
"Now you're saying bullshit."
"No… I-I was here… last night. Before waking up today I… I had another dream. I was in this same house. I followed the same steps… I gave this to the victim…" Connor shook the paper. "I looked at myself on the mirror! Then asked… What are you going to do now, Connor?" He stopped, then looked at him. "Hank… I killed them."
"Alright, that's enough." Hank hugged Connor, and he embraced him. "I want you to control it."
"It was me, Hank-"
"Connor Anderson!" He shouted, then hold him tighter. "I want you to control it! You're not like this. C'mon! Hold yourself."
They stayed like that several seconds, until Connor felt completely operational again. He stepped back.
"One thing is for sure," said Hank. "You are not a murderer. The only this means is that you have an enemy. Someone wants to put you a trap; and I'm sure that someone is our suspect. All this could be just an orchestrated scene."
"But… how could I see it in my sleep?"
"…We'll figure out together."
Connor nodded. "Yeah… yes, Hank. Together."
He smiled at him and tapped his arm. "That's more like it."
"Hey!" Gavin called them. "Are you done? I found a child alive!"
They both returned to the house. They met Gavin at the second floor, outside the room of a little girl. She was inside, tears in her eyes. An officer was trying to calm her.
"She's in shock."
"Yeah," said Gavin. "We thought so."
"Tell us," the officer told her, "did you get to see who attacked you?"
The child looked up slowly, then pointed at Connor. Everybody looked at him, and he felt exposed. He turned at Hank looking for support.
"We should head back to the Police Department." He turned and Connor followed him.
…
Gavin and Hank met with Jeffrey.
"Hank," said Gavin. "What the fuck?"
"I don't know."
"Hank," said Jeffrey. "Do you understand what this means?"
"Geez, Jeffrey. I don't think so. Seems like I haven't learned a thing in all these years working here."
"Stop being funny, Hank! We have two dead people, a little girl as a witness, and our principal suspect sit just out of my office."
"Exactly! The little girl in still in shock. She may have pointed at him because the responsible is an android.
"And you believe that?" asked Gavin.
"Without any doubt. I know Connor is not guilty."
"Who is it, then?"
"We wouldn't be here if we knew that already."
The captain took a deep breath. "Hank, Gavin, we must solve this as soon as possible. I don't want the Android Department here. If they come-"
"I know… they'll be in charge."
"Exactly."
…
Connor was sitting in front of his computer, doing nothing but waiting for Hank. As he saw him come back, he stood up. He seemed upset.
"Hank?"
He scratched his head. "Well, um… There's not enough evidence to prove you're guilty, but we can't prove your innocence either. We'll begin an investigation. Gavin will lead it."
"Gavin?" He was surprised. "Excuse me, lieutenant! But Gavin isn't qualified to lead this case."
"Relax, Connor. Gavin may be an idiot, but he's a good detective. We're in good hands."
"Why not you, instead?"
"Jeffrey thinks that… maybe I'd get emotional. I'm so close to you and… he doesn't want that to interfere with the investigation."
Connor stopped. ABSURD, SHIT, GAVIN and CONNOR were his options. "Then, what about me?"
Hank sighed. "For now, you're, uh… suspended."
"What?" Hank was ready to calm Connor, but he controlled himself. "It's the proper thing to do. Right, Hank?"
Hank hugged him again. "Oh, kid, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Hank. No need to apologize."
They looked at each other sadly, then Connor walked to the exit, but came back.
"I think it'll be better if you take me home. If I leave, it wouldn't make my any good."
"No, it wouldn't. Let's go."
…
Hank stopped the car, but hold Connor before he left.
"Don't despair, son. It'll be over soon."
"Hank, you really trust Gavin?"
"I know he'll help us, Connor. Now, get in the hose and take care of Sumo for me, okay?"
"Sure, Hank."
He got out and walked to the house. He turned at the door to say goodbye to Hank. He was upset, anxious and sad, and also, he was concerned. He tried to focus on other things, so he started cleaning the house. It was still early when he was finished, so he walked to his bedroom, the one Hank gave him to live with him as a partner… or as his son, as he used to say.
He sat on the edge of the bed. He run an analysis of his whole program, twice, but there seemed to be nothing wrong. He was in perfect shape. He took off his jacket and shirt to wear something more comfortable. He took of his shoes and head to the wardrobe to take a white t-shirt. One of the first clothes Hank had given him. He got back to bed and stayed there. He wasn't used to just lay there doing nothing, but right now it was what he wanted. Actually, he wanted to be with Hank, but that couldn't be possible, at least for today. Minutes later, Sumo walked in and sit in front of him. Connor looked at him and smiled.
"All right, Sumo, you can come up with me. I need your support." Sumo barked and climbed to the bed. He walked over Connor and stayed next to him. Connor embraced him and, some time later, he finally fell asleep.
…
