DETROIT: REVENGE

Chapter 04

"Impostor"

Jeffrey was holding an almost empty cup of coffee at the kitchen. He was staring at the walls, but his mind was only thinking about Connor. The android sent by Cyberlife long ago in order to "solve" the deviant case, mission he didn't accomplish, as he turned himself into one of them and helped them.

He didn't hate Connor, in fact, he was impressed about his capabilities, which he hadn't really seen in any other policeman, human or not, except this new model, Nines; but Connor revealed to be such a great detective and a good officer too, still, it didn't change the fact that he was a machine; and that was why Jeffrey couldn't trust Connor yet. Despite that, he allowed him to keep working inside and he said nothing about Connor being an authorized detective. After all, Hank trusted him, and Jeffrey trusted Hank. That's exactly what Jeffrey couldn't understand: so many months simply shot down, just like that? Was Connor the guilty one? Or, as Hank said, was he being incriminated by someone else?

Jeffrey rubbed his eyes. He was tired, and he couldn't answer any of those questions yet, not until finding one of them. Unless they had already done so. He did not see the body, but he was aware that Gavin and Nines found an exact copy of Connor. They both denied that it was him, though. They had to keep going. He sighed, got rid of his cup and set back to his office. He tried to walk as slow as possible as he didn't want to return to his desk, when he did, he locked the door and sat on his chair willing to relax, but his phone, placed under a lot of papers, started ringing. He wondered who could it be, especially at that time. He almost choked when he saw it was Hank.

"Hello? Hank!" He said just picking up the phone.

"Ugh…" Hank groaned on the other side of the call. "Jeffrey?"

"Hank! Are you alright? Where are you?"

"Ugh, ff…" something was not right, he was struggling to speak. "I'm glad to hear you too."

"Hank, what's happening?"

"Wish I could tell you, but… I don't have much time."

"Alright." He searched for a pen as fast as he could. "Tell me where you are and we'll go get you!"

"I'm, I'm not sure… but from here- UGH!"

"Hank!"

"I'm, I'm fine… for now… Ok., I can see… um, give me a second…"

"Hank, help me. Describe me what you see."

"'Kay… this place… seems long since abandoned. Third floor… from here I see… wait, yes… Jimmy's Bar."

"Got it! I'll send a team to rescue you! Just hold on."

"Thank you, Jeffrey… I knew I'd count on you."

Jeffrey called for him after he ended the call. He then left his office in order to ask officer Chris Miller to get Hank…

Except that Hank wasn't the one who called him…

The RK800 was lying on the table, connectors attached to his temples, chest and his arm. The android was unable to repair, yet, his appearance still resembled a human being, which was why Nines asked for a blanket to cover his naked body. His dirty clothes were over a smaller table, and soon they'd come for it to analyze it too. Nines was arms-crossed, he couldn't help but stay looking at that body, while Gavin was walking from side to side biting his nails. Simon took off a connector from his temple, only to place a smaller one at the same spot.

"How long is this gonna take?" Gavin was getting anxious.

"I'm doing my best," said Simon. "He seems to be barely damaged from outside, only a few hits, and his head. His Led being destroyed, and then burned, makes this even slower, but the inside is something completely different." He stood up, typed on a keyboard so the officers could see in a bigger screen what he was seeing. "His whole neuronal system is ruined. His database is corrupted… and there's not even a data bank. It's like this android was never even activated, yet, the rest of his functions are clear proof that he's been awake up for a very long time. I… I don't understand."

"Can we find out what happened to him?" Asked Nines.

"I'm trying…" Simon sighed. "Markus wants to talk to you."

On November 11, 2038, androids manifested peacefully at Hart Plaza, in a last attempt to show humanity that they were also alive. That same night, androids were officially set free, yet, Markus knew there would be a lot of work to do so it could be a complete and peaceful coexistence between humans and androids. One of those tasks was Cyberlife. After they were set free, Cyberlife had to stop their android production and sell. A bunch of people was degraded or even fired, and the company's destiny seemed to be the total disappearance.

Markus was aware that this might also mean his own species annihilation, as Cyberlife was the provider of Thirium, replacement parts, and maintenance for androids. So, two weeks later, Markus and the rest of the Jericho leaders requested a hearing with president Warren, asking for the rights and power of Cyberlife for themselves. After a whole week of discussions, accepted and rejected suggestions, humans and androids' speeches as well, they were allowed to do so, and Markus became the New Cyberlife's new president.

Since then, he was in charge of reorganizing and modify work areas and the company development. It was a strenuous task, and it might take a lot of time before he could see the results, but it was for his people. Now, there was a Justice department inside the building, one ran by Androids and measured by them as well. Part of the agreement so this could be possible was to also create an investigation area which is directly attached to the Detroit Police Department. Markus didn't truly like that, but he had already one of his men working there, so he accepted.

Nines and Gavin were both on the elevator, waiting patiently to reach floor 43. Gavin was arms-crossed and swayed from side to side, then he glanced at Nines.

"Hey, big guy, you're, uh… quite silent."

Nines looked down. "Yes. I don't have anything to say."

'Are you alright?' wanted to ask Gavin, but he thought that was such a stupid question, 'cause the answer was obvious. As if he could read his mind, Nines looked at him.

"My first day hasn't been… what I expected."

Gavin knew he was talking about Connor. "Yeah, well… I warned you it wouldn't be easy."

Nines turned to him. Was that a joke? Or such a dumb attempt to make him feel better? Whatever that was, Nines relaxed a bit and smiled gratefully. Gavin glanced at him a few times.

"Could you please take that grin off your face? It disturbs me."

"It does?" Nines smiled even more, yet he turned back to the door. "Excuse me, detective. It's not my intention to make you feel uncomfortable."

"Yeah, yeah." Said Gavin.

The doors opened and they found a long hallway with a few closed doors at their sides.

"Where are we?" Asked Gavin.

"This is the main office of the leaders of the New Cyberlife. Reunions, control and recording take place in here, and some special discussions as well."

"Like police investigation?"

"For example."

A door opened at the end of the hallway and North greeted them. "Please, come in." Markus was already waiting for them, looking at the outside on the big window, hands in his back. Gavin cleared his throat.

He turned to meet them. "Any good news?" He asked discouraged.

"Actually," Gavin glanced at Nines, who nodded. "No. We just found a dead android… just the same model as Connor. I think you should've told us there were more Connor running around."

Markus narrowed his eyes. "There aren't."

"Well, there's one down here that proves the opposite, if you wanna take a look."

Markus stayed silent for a moment. "His Led was destroyed?"

"Almost entirely," said Nines. "I tried to analyze it so I could find its owner, and it burned. I'm sorry, Markus."

"Still, I have to thank you for bringing it here. We'll see what we can get."

Markus leaned on his desk, and Gavin thought they were done, so he turned to leave, but then he stopped embarrassed because no one else moved. He got back to the same spot and cleared his throat. "Anything else?"

Markus sighed. "Yes, there is. When we were told that Connor was wanted by the police, I thought it could be just a misunderstanding, or simply some easy solving situation… perhaps I was wrong."

Before they could ask, Markus typed something on his keyboard, and a screen appeared showing seven types of androids, on another screen there was a map of the city with eight red spots. "Two months ago, an android was found dead inside his own apartment here at Detroit. When we analyzed him, no damage was found, nor even any sign of aggression, so it was cataloged as some malfunction… yet, something called my attention: his Led was fully burnt. A week later, another android was found in the same conditions. We thought it might've been some error on their biocomponents, at least their Led, so we started running a check on our people. We found nothing, except for a third victim a week after that."

"Victim," said Gavin. "So, you think there's a serial killer?"

"I didn't believe it at first either, detective, still I didn't want there to be a fourth victim… which, as you can see, happened."

Gavin gave a closer look at the map and the androids. "An android per week?"

"Yes. Without exception for the last eight weeks."

"Yeah, but, then… oh, no."

"Victim number eight is the one you guys found, but I must recognize this one is different."

"And that means?"

"The seven previous androids revealed some serious neuronal damage on their last minutes. There was nothing else before that, and, as I've been told, the new victim is way more damaged. There's no memory card, what do you think that means?"

Gavin looked at Nines, who seemed to be as confused as Markus. He then looked back at those androids and the red spots over the map. "I bet he's hiding his tracks." Nines stared at him. "Are you sure these androids had their memories?"

"Yes, but any that might help us with this."

"Yup," Gavin bit his lip. "What about them? Anything that those androids had in common?"

"Apparently not. They're all different models."

Gavin had never understood the meaning of all those letters on their names, but he knew that those were what made every android unique… kind of. Still, he tried to find something about those androids: the ones at the screen were an RT600, an AX400, PL600, JB300, WR400, HK400, and a WR600… now an RK800. "Nines, get your butt in here and show us you're worth it." He didn't answer, but did as Gavin ask. "What do you see here?"

"Different android models, detective."

"Helloo!" He snapped his fingers. "Use the head!"

Nine stared at him frustrated, but he did so. He stared at those models, until he got it. "They're Deviants."

"Exactly. All of them were once reported as missing; they were all cases the DPD had to investigate… cases assigned to Hank."

"This serial killer could also be the Lieutenant's kidnapper. He got access to the DPD archives, and he chose those androids 'cause of their link to the Lieutenant… that's why he chose Connor as well."

"But that doesn't tell us how is there a second Connor." He turned back to Markus. "What d'you got?"

He looked at North. "We found… encrypted information."

"You, what?"

"It's locked. We don't know since when, nor who did it. Simon and Josh are already working with our technicians… I think we're thinking the same."

"I bet we do," said Gavin. "It seems that your suspect and ours are the same individual."

"And I'm sure he's the one who locked the data." Said Nines. "He made sure not to be discovered."

"Why didn't you show us this before?" Asked Gavin, North gave a step.

"We didn't know we were looking for the same person, neither that Connor would get involved."

"It makes no sense." Said Nines and everyone looked at him. "The DPD thinks that Connor is guilty of murder and kidnapping the Lieutenant. They could even believe that he is also the murder of these androids… but, what could make Connor suddenly attack Deviants, two civilians and the police lieutenant?"

As Nines was looking at him, Gavin tried to find an answer. "Is he… out of his mind?"

"You could say that… but I don't believe it. A damaged android could not think about striking so precisely and constant, and even if he did, he had already done it without no one noticing, how could he make such a mistake, by letting a little girl see him?"

"Unless… he wanted her to do so."

"A witness."

"Why would he sabotage himself?"

"Unless he didn't."

Gavin thought about it. "An impostor?"

"Someone that looked just like Connor, or close enough so that an eye witness, and security cameras, could identify him."

"Some very convenient security cameras. He was aware."

"Yes… still, there's something out of place in here."

Gavin looked around him thinking about the answer. "Hank?"

"No, detective. The other Connor. Think about it, Gavin; there was someone already pretending to be him, another RK800 model, who might be the one who attacked those androids, I bet he was the one who deceived Hank and kidnapped him too, but then, why would he self-destruct? Finding the body is enough to prove Connor is innocent, and even if that was his intention, we know someone else moved the body and buried it in that alley."

"Okay, let me get this straight. You're telling me that the android we found might be our suspect, but as he's dead, and his memory is lost… there's a second person involved."

"You said it, Gavin. Someone might've reprogrammed this RK800. Someone with access to the DPD archives, and Cyberlife's as well."

"So, there's an impostor who's also a traitor."

Despite this being so bad news, they both smiled because of their capability to solve part of that mystery. Gavin hit softly Nines's arm. "I knew we'd make a good team!" He meant it. Nines raised an eyebrow and were about to say something when Gavin's stomach grumbled.

Nines smiled. "It's late for your lunch time."

"Oh, shut it!" He turned to Markus. "Thank you so much for your help, but I think there's something really important I must do now… We need those data."

"For sure." Said Markus.

"Right, we should go." To eat something, thought Gavin.

It was getting dark. The tallest buildings were the ones still touched by the sunlight, but the streets were already at night. Two vehicles suddenly stopped, filled with police officers. Lieutenant Anderson's status was unknown, that's why they were ready to fight if necessary. Hank didn't specify anything, but knowing that he was on a third floor was a good start.

They got inside the first building, they got with caution to the third floor, and started looking for Hank. There was no sign of him in there, so they got to the second building. They did the same with the second floor, and the fourth one as well, but he wasn't found yet. They did the same on the next building.

They were about to enter the third building when Chris saw movement on a broken window on his right. "There," He said, so the officers headed there.

They got to the third floor of the worn building, and found it was completely in dark, so they moved slowly. They started looking room by room until they heard a loud hit at the last room.

"Lieutenant? Is that you?" Chris stepped forward and got close to the door. "Lieutenant! We're here to rescue you! Are you in there?"

He got no response. After trying to open the locked door without success, he moved so his partners could do it. There was no light inside at all, they could barely see themselves… suddenly, a blue light appeared from the shadows, pointed a gun at them and started shooting. Three officers got hurt, while the rest got covered.

"Hostile contact!" Said one of them. The shooting stopped, so the officer peered towards the room, only to get hit so hard on his face. Two more officers got inside, and the subject shot at them again. He was using the lack of light to hide in the shadows and attack the officers. They tried to block him but he was smarter and stronger than them. He shot them down and was about to shoot them when Chris shoot him in his shoulder instead.

"Aah!" Shout a voice that Chris recognized. The attacker hid in the shadows. Chris tried to follow him but he missed, then he got hit in his back, when he tried to fight back, he got hit several times on his face; the hit on his stomach made him fall to the floor. The attacker kicked Chris's leg so hard that he cried in pain.

The attacker took Chris's gun from the floor and pointed at him. Chris thought this would be the end, yet, he didn't shoot. He just stared at the gun, then looked at Chris. There was a light on his temple, a Led turning from blue to red, then blue again. It was an android. A bright light suddenly blinded the android, and he shot in that direction, he then flew through the hallway. A bunch of officers ran behind him, while few others stayed with the ones who got hurt.

Chris was in shock, not because of his leg, he'd walk again for sure, but because of that android. When the light appeared, he saw that his face was covered in blue blood, parts of his skin was still human, but also some spots were artificial. When somebody shook his head to know what happened, Chris could only say one word.

"Connor…"