Wearing his mended gray uniform Connor stood before the mirror in the bathroom and made sure his black tie was straight, his hair was styled appropriately and his attire was clean and neatly pressed. The desire to make a good second impression on Captain Fowler and reassure the seasoned officer that his services as a consultant were going to be worth all the effort he put in toward getting Connor rehired onto the roster, and getting cleared for active duty to assist in the changes to the city in the aftermath of the peaceful Revolution, was currently directing Connor's every decision.

Unsure of how he should be feeling, if anything at all, Connor just stared at his reflection and dragged his right fingertips over his blue glowing L.E.D. still residing in his right temple. The light had been removed by so many deviants already as it was seen as a mark of subservience by humans, but Connor couldn't bring himself to remove the L.E.D. from his person. At least not yet.

For Connor keeping the light was his own mark of rebellion against the deviants who had readily turned their backs on him.

Knocking on the opened bathroom door Hank looked at the deviant and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the doorway. "Ready to go?"

"Yes." Turning away from the mirror Connor locked eyes with Hank and presented himself in full uniform. While he was still wearing the same gray CyberLife suit jacket he had always worn Connor had removed the defunct company's insignia's from the front, back and right sleeve of the garment. He had also removed his serial and model numbers from the lapel and back of the blazer, leaving only the blue lining around his collar and back along the rest of the design. "I'm ready to return to the precinct."

"Then let's head out." Showing Connor the car keys in his right hand Hank motioned toward the front door with a casual point of his left thumb over his left shoulder without looking away. "It'll be the first time in over three years where I clock-in before noon. Wonder if the sight will give Fowler a damn heart attack or something..."

"Such an extreme coronary event would be very unfortunate."

Laughing a little as he turned away from the deviant Hank couldn't tell if Connor was slowly developing a sarcastic sense of humor or if he was still letting his machine-like naivety control his observations on life. "Come on, let's get out to the precinct and see how much bullshit we'll have to shovel through today."

Fresh snow had been left undisturbed until the morning patrol began their rounds, and the pleasant crunching of the icy flakes under the Oldsmobile tires filled the air all around street. Seeing the streets still so relatively vacated and quiet was a rare treat to behold. Rather than hundreds of people crowding the sidewalks, streets and causing commotion everywhere they went the only traffic came from the police force patrolling the streets, and a very small handful of people daring to return to their homes to resume their lives as if everything was still normal.

"Fowler is going to take you aside and give you a quick rundown of your next few tasks." Hank stated in a calm voice as they neared the precinct's parking garage at a steady clip. "Remember, don't let him pigeon-hole you into handling only deviant cases because of who you are. You're more than just a deviant, kid. You're a skilled detective and you need to remind him that you have so much to offer to the city."

"Yes, I'll remember to remind Captain Fowler that I will not be put in the shadows just to make the other humans detectives feel as though my presence isn't a problem."

"Whoa, your presence ISN'T a problem, kid. That's exactly what I'm trying to yell ya'. You're an equal to all humans, the only thing separating one detective from another is rank." Speaking with a renewed passion for the job Hank found the authority in his voice that he had long since slip away due to self negligence. "No one will be divided by species, race, gender, age and or religion. Don't let anyone discriminate against you and try to twist things to make it seem like you're the instigator just for existing."

"Noted."

"Good." Pulling into the parking garage Hank located his assigned space and parked the car just as he had done countless times in the past. Turning off the engine Hank slipped the key into his pocket and gave Connor a stern look. "This is a new day for deviants in general, but it's a new day for you personally. Be yourself and don't be afraid to stand up for yourself, kid."

"I will do so, Hank." Giving the senior detective a firm stare Connor replied with an equally firm tone as his right fingers twitched slightly as if he were nervous or edgy. "I can handle this."

"Alright," unfastening his seatbelt Hank opened up his door and watched as Connor did the same. "then let's go inside and get this day started."

Walking through the garage side by side the two detectives passed through the front doors of the precinct and walked right up to the receptionist desk. There was only one of the previous four android receptionists still working in the precinct, and she had deviated as well. No longer wearing android labeling garments and no longer supporting an L.E.D. the receptionist looked like any other young woman just trying to work her job and make an honest living.

Taking the lead Connor extended his right hand toward the receptionist and nodded as he retracted his artificial skin from his palm. "I'm Connor. I have been approved for consultation work and require my credential clearance."

The receptionist gave Connor an uneasy look as she recognized him as the 'Deviant Hunter', but took his hand in her own as necessary. Cybernetically they connected their minds and she confirmed Connor's identity. "Connor, RK-800; serial number 313 248 317. Clearance approved."

Connor could see and sense her intimidation from his presence and decided to try to ease her mind. "It's okay, Pamela." He spoke her name to acknowledge her as a person, not just a blank face in the crowd. "I'm deviant as well."

"...I know, Connor." Passing him his clearance badge to gain access to secured rooms throughout the precinct Pamela gave Connor a truly timid glance as she took back her hand from his grip. "I was with Markus when you arrived with the other deviants from CyberLife Tower. I was also in the church when Markus..."

"O-Oh. I see." Accepting the badge Connor now understood her discomfort entirely. The brief moment of awkwardness caused his blue L.E.D. to flash to red for a moment. "...It's complicated."

"Yes, I can imagine so."

"...Thank you for your assistance."

Slipping the clearance badge into his jacket pocket Connor walked away from the receptionist desk and made his way toward the bullpen with Hank right at his side. The two detectives glanced about the professional space where a majority of the desks were vacant and the phones were eerily quiet. All of the terminals were turned off save for the single terminal being used by senior detective Ben Collins in the far corner of the bullpen, and it seemed as though Ben was the only detective left in the precinct after the officers either went on morning patrol, or evacuated with their families from the city during the night of the Revolution.

Hank gave Connor's left shoulder at a simple pat as he walked over to his desk to clock-in for the day and sat down heavily behind his terminal screen. Holding up his right hand Hank began counting down from five on his fingers until he was at one, the gesture making Connor's brow furrow and his L.E.D. cycle on yellow, then pointed his one remaining finger at Connor as Captain Fowler's office door opened, then pointed with his thumb toward the office of interest as Captain Fowler called out to Connor in a loud and clear voice.

"Connor." Captain Fowler sounded confident but his body language gave away the frayed nerves he was trying to hide. "My office."

Realizing that Hank knew what was about to happen Connor's expression softened and his yellow L.E.D. returned to blue as he walked across the bullpen and entered the office as requested.

Turning to look at the office over his right shoulder Hank watched through the transparent wall as Connor sat down in the vacant chair across from Captain Fowler's desk, his posture military perfect and overall demeanor focused, and studied the body language of the two detectives as they spoke with muffled voices from within the privacy of the glass office. Connor was sure of himself and not going to back down, while Captain Fowler was clearly just going through the motions to prevent any negative publicity within the precinct for its perceived continued discrimination against androids.

"Stick to your guns, kid." Hank encouraged as he casually returned his focus to his terminal screen to begin looking over the sparse reports that had filed during the chaos and aftermath of said chaos of the Revolution while trying to not eavesdrop on the conversation taking place behind him. "You'll do just fine."

From the corner of his eye Hank noticed another familiar face returning to the bullpen, although that familiar face was a little bruised and very pissed off.

"Hey, Anderson!" Sergeant Gavin Reed had been one of the detectives to remain in the city during the Revolution, though his time was spent in the E.R. after being knocked out by Connor during their confrontation in the evidence room. Sporting a blackened left eye and a nice bruise along his left jawline Gavin looked worse than anyone else in the precinct. "Where's your plastic-pet? I'm going to drag it out back and stomp into a blue puddle!"

Amused by the black eye Hank leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest and gave Gavin a smug look. "If you're talking about Connor then just take a look at the office." Pointing his thumb back over his shoulder for a moment Hank watched as Gavin's hazel eyes went wide with shock and then narrowed with disgust as he watched Connor speaking with Captain Fowler through the transparent wall. "He's getting his clearance to resume working in the precinct as a full-time consultant until he figures out what he wants to do with his life now that he's free."

"You have got to be fucking with me!"

"Have you even known Fowler to dick around?"

"That piece of trash attacked me, and now he's getting a JOB here?!"

"From what I've been told and from what I've seen YOU went after HIM, and Connor just defended himself. He didn't attack you, you attacked him."

"He had no business being in the evide-"

"He had every right to finish his case before CyberLife killed him you asshole! You had no right to stalk him and then pull a goddamn gun on him, especially since he was unarmed and not a threat."

Scoffing at the response Gavin tried to challenge Hank's claims. "Is that what he told you?"

"It's what he told me AND what he showed me. Androids have an amazing memory, Reed." Pointing his right index finger to his right temple Hank gave the abrasive Sergeant a spiteful glance. "Their eyes are cameras and their ears are microphones. He has evidence of the fight and if he wanted to he could show it to Fowler and the higher-ups at Internal Affairs. Do you really want to push it and let him take away your job?"

Paling as he swallowed nervously Gavin realized that he wasn't going to get away with abusing androids in front of the Lieutenant or his Captain anymore. With deviants now holding equal rights alongside humans Gavin knew he was going to be watched more closely for his behavior and of course he didn't like not having a punching bag anymore.

"Piece of shit... I don't care what the damn law says," Gavin snarled as he glared at Hank bitterly. "those fuckers are NOT alive!"

"Why don't you go get some fresh air and chill the fuck out, Reed? It's too early to deal with your temper tantrums, and I don't get paid enough to babysit your sorry ass."

"Why don't you-"

"Reed!" Captain Fowler's voice cut-in sharply as Connor stepped out of the private office to return to the desk across from Hank. "Get your ass in here!"

Leering at Connor as the deviant held his head high and stood beside the desk Gavin scoffed again and tried to shove past Connor with his left shoulder, but Connor didn't budge and Gavin stumbled back a little as the taller and stronger deviant refused to let himself be pushed around anymore. Regaining his balance Gavin just shook his head while muttering, and moved past Connor and entered Captain Fowler's office as ordered while Connor and Hank's eyes trailed after him.

"Plastic freak..."

"Kid?" Addressing the deviant the moment Gavin entered the office and closed the door behind himself Hank waited for the deviant to update him on what happened during his meeting with Fowler. "How'd it go?"

Sitting down in the chair behind his former desk Connor reached into his jacket pocket and showed Hank the clearance badge he had received from the receptionist desk earlier, and then his new badge that confirmed his authority as a consultant with the precinct. The badge wasn't an official precinct badge identifying him as a detective, but it did confirm he had some degree of authority within the precinct.

"So, you're good to go?"

"Correct." His right fingers twitched again over the two badges before he returned the items to his pocket. "I can continue my work as a consulting detective alongside you for the next six months."

"Six months?"

"Afterward I will either need to renew my contract as a consultant or I will walk away to a new career."

"Well, whatever you want to do then do it. Don't let anyone hold you back."

"Thank you for your support, Hank."

"Sure." Motioning to the turned off terminal screen sitting before Connor the senior detective waited for his reinstated deviant partner to turn it on. "Now, help me get through these cases before a flood of people come back into the city."

Nodding once Connor turned on the terminal, logged-in with his newly activated credentials and looked at the cases that Hank had been reading over while Connor was speaking with Captain Fowler. The primary case they needed to work on was either a double murder, or a murder-suicide. Two humans, a married couple, had been found dead in their apartment with what appeared to be gunshot wounds as their cause of death.

The bodies had been found the morning after the peaceful Revolution by their landlord, and immediately reported to the police.

"The victims were identified as Alicia Whitman, and her husband Nathaniel Whitman." Connor noted as he gave Hank a conflicted stare from around the edge of his terminal screen. With his L.E.D. flashing to a distressed yellow for only a moment Connor gave his partner more details regarding the case at hand. "They were outspoken anti-android protestors."

"Yeah? Think deviants went after them as a form of revenge?"

"Unknown. I need to see the bodies and the crime scene before I can contemplating such a theory."

"The bodies were taken to the city morgue since they were found two days ago." Pulling his car keys from his coat pocket Hank showed them to Connor and gave him an already exhausted look despite their shift just beginning. "Ready for a field trip?"

"I don't think I have much of a choice."

"Smartass. Let's go and figure this out before lunch, not after. I hate looking at bodies after I've eaten."

Cybernetically Markus monitored the news and watched humans returning with his own eyes as he stood at the very top of the newly reformed New Jericho Tower. The sight of the dozens of cars driving back over the border with human families was an odd spectacle, and Markus could only imagine how out of place the humans must feel in their own homes now that the very deviants they bullied and tormented now had equal say in the city's upkeep. In a way he felt vindicated in knowing that now humans were feeling as the deviants had once felt; strangers in their own home.

"It begins. A new world and a new life."

Standing in the breeze as a few stray flakes of fresh snow fell from the sky Markus proudly watched the city changing before his eyes and could see the changes in the air.

"No regrets and no doubts." The deviant leader reminded himself as he admired the incredible view with his compassionate mismatched eyes. "We will be strong and we will make this world a better place for everyone. A better world for androids and humans alike. No one will be forgotten."

Reaching the city morgue was surprisingly easy as traffic continued to be light and virtually non-existent. While Connor had never personally been to the morgue before Hank had been there dozens of times before. Completely unphased by death and self destruction in general Hank had no problem with standing right beside the exam tables as the coroner pulled back the white sheets over the victims' faces, and gave the two detectives a detail autopsy report to use to their advantage.

Hank read over the report for himself while Connor scanned the two victims and noted the location of the bullet wounds on their persons. Alicia had been shot directly in the heart while Nathaniel had been shot through his right temple. It was clear to Connor's eyes what had happened and everything he saw lined up with the coroner's report, and yet somehow he still felt as though the deaths needed further explanation.

"Well, this sucks." Passing the autopsy report back over to the coroner Hank glanced over at Connor and gave the deviant an odd look at he noticed Connor's yellow glowing L.E.D. flickering away slowly in his right temple as his right hand twitched nervously. "You good?"

"...Yes." Looking over at Hank beside him Connor sighed and gave the two victims a somber shake of his head. "I know what happened."

"Yeah? Let me hear it."

"This was a murder-suicide." Responding in a grim voice Connor pointed to Alicia's chest where there was stippling on her skin from having the barrel of the gun being pressed up directly over her heart, and then motioned to both of her hands. "Nathaniel killed Alicia, the stippling in indicative of close contact when the bullet was fired and she has no sign of gunpowder on her hands from firing the weapon."

"Alright, good. That lines up with the autopsy so far."

"Nathaniel then used the same gun to kill himself by pressing the barrel against his right temple before firing." The same stippling was found against his temple and his right hand had traces of gunpowder around his index finger, thumb and all against his palm. "Nathanial killed his wife before killing himself."

"That's what the report says. Got a motivation?"

"No, not yet." Stepping away from the tables Connor gave Hank a despondent stare. "We need to check out their apartment for additional information."

"Alright, cool. The C.S.I. boys have kept the apartment on lockdown and the landlord is keeping the entire floor blocked off until the police clear it."

"Then we should move quickly."

"Why?"

"With people returning to the city it'll become increasingly difficult for the landlord to keep the floor isolated. Humans are impatient and at times impractical. We might have to deal with angry humans wanting to return to their apartments regardless of police order."

"You gotta' point there, kid. Come on." Nodding at the coroner as they left the morgue to resume their investigation at the scene of the crime. "Do ya' have the address?"

"Yes. I downloaded the appropriate information before leaving the precinct."

"Good work. That makes things a hell of a lot easier."

Rejoining his people in the depths of the tower Markus met with North in the tower's lobby as they watched the deviant refugees and volunteers working together to reform CyberLife Tower into their sanctuary known as New Jericho Tower, and to aid their people in need. Seeing everyone working together and showing no sign of fear or hesitation in their movements Markus reached for North's hand and gave her a gentle squeeze to let her know that he was confident in their ability to establish a strong deviant community with Detroit's city limits.

Watching as more and more of their people come into the tower of the streets Markus felt a sense of peace overcome him. Despite the Raid on Jericho and the "recycling camps" that were being operated by the U.S. military a vast majority of their people survived the genocide and were determined to live.

"How many are in the tower, North?"

"We're up to eighteen-thousand and sixty-two deviants." North replied with a level tone as she gave Markus an approving nod. The steady stream of deviants was being monitored very closely to ensure that no one was overlooked or left behind. "More deviants are coming from the other side of the city, from other hidden refugees scattered throughout the county and a few are even coming back over the border from Canada to reunite with their friends."

"Exactly how it should be. What of our supplies?"

"Josh is taking inventory while Simon is handling our wounded. Everything is be handed out evenly to those who are the most in need."

"And our security?"

"Every floor and corner of the tower has been examined thoroughly and there's no trace of CyberLife left. We've taken control over the security programs and will be able to lock down both the tower and the drive leading to the tower at night after our people have finished arriving."

"Perfect. Everything is falling into place."

"And when you speak to the mayor everything will stay in place."

"Without a doubt." Turning to face North directly Markus put his hands to her hips and leaned down to give her a kiss. "This is the beginning of a new world and we get to see it take shape. We won't lose everything we've fought so hard to have."

The hallway leading to the correct apartment was empty and dirty. It seemed during the order to evacuate many people panicked and stumbled over themselves to get out of the city causing mild destruction to the walls, floors and few furnishings that lined the corridor. Stepping over broken pottery and around damaged photo frames Hank and Connor located the correct apartment that was secured behind police tape projects and an official seal at the crack of the door to ensure no one tampered with the crime scene inside.

Breaking the seal Hank wrote his initials and the day's date on the yellow label and let Connor open the door since android's don't have fingerprints that could possibly affect the investigation. "After you."

Moving swiftly Connor put his right hand on the doorknob and turned it slowly. The apartment was unlocked and Connor was able to easily open the door to lead the way inside. Pausing just inside the doorway Connor extended his right arm as if to bar Hank from following after him for a moment.

"What's up?"

With his L.E.D. flashing red Connor pointed with his left hand to a large cabinet next to the door in the livingroom and honed in on something only he could seem to see. "Don't move."

"Connor?"

"There is a thermal scanner located in that cabinet. It's connected to the trigger of shotgun and rigged to fire if something registering a specific degree walks in front of the barrel."

"Holy shit... Why didn't it go off when the landlord and C.S.I. team stopped by?"

"As I stated it's connected to a thermal scanner. It's setting is designated to distinguish between androids and humans."

"Wait, it's designed to ONLY shoot androids?"

"Correct."

Grabbing onto Connor's right shoulder with his right hand Hank yanked Connor backward and through the door out of harm's way. "Then get your ass back here!"

"It won't fire anymore, Hank." Pushing Hank's hand from his shoulder Connor's red L.E.D. cycled to yellow as he scanned the environment. "I disabled the thermal scanner when I entered the apartment."

"You can do that?"

"Yes. I can detect and disable most secondary electronic devices and override security codes."

"Glad you're on my side."

As he ticked the right corner of his mouth Connor returned to the apartment and moved around the large wooden cabinet to open up the large doors at the front of the furniture and located first the shotgun to remove the rig connected to the trigger, then turn off the thermal scanner for good measure. Taking the shotgun from the cabinet Connor eyed the weapon carefully before he opened its loading chamber and removed the two un-fired rounds from within.

"It's clear." Placing the shotgun down on the floor in front of the cabinet Connor opened up the top drawer of the cabinet beneath the large swinging doors and put the shotgun shells inside out of sight. "We'll need another team to sweep the apartment and remove any and all weapons still on the premises."

"I'll give 'em a head's up." Hank pulled his phone from his coat pocket and sent a text message to Ben back at the precinct to let him know what Connor had found within the apartment. "Just curious, did you know that thing was rigged to fire when you entered the apartment?"

"My scanners located it before I entered the apartment and I had it deactivated before I opened the door. I was never in any danger."

"Good." Walking into the apartment to join Connor for their investigation Hank was relieved that the deviant hadn't put himself in danger. "I don't ever want you to put yourself in the line of fire all because of an investigation."

"Noted."

"Now," pointing to the yellow numbered plastic markers on the floor outlining the evidence collected earlier by the C.S.I. crew, and to the blood stains, Hank decided to focus on their case instead of Connor almost getting shot. "let's confirm your theory and the coroner's report so we can get the hell out of here."

"Agreed." Focusing on the blood stains on the floor Connor knelt down beside the dried puddle on the floor and pressed his right fingertips down against the surface with enough pressure to get a sample on his fingers for testing. Pressing the sample to his tongue, much to Hank's disgust, Connor confirmed that the blood belonged to Nathaniel. The age of the blood matched the estimated time of death as well. "Nathaniel Whitman's body was here."

"Ben's report says Nathaniel's body was found right where you're standing." Pointing at the nearby couch also covered in dried blood Hank identified the location where Alicia's body had been found. "And Mrs. Whitman was over there."

Standing back up Connor's yellow L.E.D. cycled a little faster as he approached the couch slowly. Repeating his actions Connor took a sample of the blood from the furniture and confirmed Alicia's identity. "Alicia Whitman's blood confirmed."

Eyeing the bullet hole in the couch that went clean through the furniture and into the floor beneath it Connor preconstructed the scene of the crime and calculated the angle of the bullet and location of Alicia's wound lined up with Nathaniel leaning over Alicia and pressed the barrel of the gun directly against her check before pulling the trigger as she laid over the furniture.

The lack of a struggle in the area indicated that Alicia didn't put up a fight. Her bloodwork was clean confirming that she wasn't drugged or drunk and therefore concluded that she was asleep when Nathaniel shot her. The blood splatter confirmed that the bullet struck Alicia directly in the heart killing her within seconds, and the secondary blood on the floor and the nearby wall where Nathaniel's body had been found confirmed that he had died just as quickly when he turned the gun on himself.

"We can confirm that the cause of death was a murder-suicide with a .38 special as the weapon of use." Connor noted as his preconstruction lined up perfectly with the evidence and autopsy report. The cause of death had been confirmed but not the motivation. "As to why Nathaniel murdered his wife then committed suicide I cannot say for certain."

"Take a look around. We might figure out what led to this outcome."

"Have you worked murder-suicides before?"

"Yeah, too many."

"Is there a common factor?"

"Not so much a common factor as there is just a case of 'A', 'B' or 'C'."

The comment made Connor's brow arch in confusion. "I don't understand."

"From my experience the causes of murder-suicides from one of three options: An affair that destroyed the marriage and the one who was betrayed went insane, or extreme financial problems made the killer feel so desperate that death was the only way out, or they were already on death's door and going out on their own time was their last way to control their fading lives. Since these two were in good health beyond the bullet wounds," Hank crossed his arms over his chest as he turned to examine the kitchen for any sign of medication or other clues. "I'd say we can rule out option 'C'."

"...I see."

"I'll see if I can find any sign of secret love notes from a mistress or mister on the side. You can check their bank accounts to see if they had any financial problems that led to this violent ending."

"Very well." Connor scanned the immediate area of the apartment and tracked down the phones on the end table, the tablet on the desk in the corner of the livingroom, and the laptop in the bedroom. Cybernetically Connor tapped into each device powering them on and unlocking their passwords. "The laptop down the hallway. I'll be able to check the bank documents from there."

"Right."

Walking down the short corridor where the bathroom and two bedrooms were located Connor entered the bathroom first and made sure no room went unchecked during their investigation. Opening the medicine cabinet Connor located generic and common medications that could be purchased simply over the counter; aspirin, ibuprofen, stomach medication and sleeping pills. There were two toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste, razor and shaving cream inside the cabinet as well.

"Everything appears normal in the bathroom!"

"Same with the kitchen!" Hank shouted back as he picked up the phones and began checking through the text messages still saved on the personal electronic devices. "I'm going to check their phones and then go for the tablet."

"I'm going to check the master bedroom."

Returning to the hallway Connor located the correct bedroom at the very end of the corridor and pushed open the door. The bed was perfectly made and two large suitcases were sitting on the bed as if the couple were about to head out on vacation. Opening the suitcases Connor saw an impressive selection of clothes, passports, jewelry, photographs and two guns.

Handling the guns carefully Connor checked them over, both loaded, and removed the clips before checking for a round in the barrel. With the two additional guns now properly secured Connor then picked up the passports and checked over the details. The two pieces of identification belonged to the deceased couple but they were both expired.

"Expired passports. They couldn't leave the country." Checking over the documents more closely Connor noted that they had tried to renew their passports within the past seventy-hours but had been declined due to the threat of androids sneaking across the border to Canada. "They had to stay in the city during the Revolution and evacuation."

Leaving the master bedroom Connor checked the second bedroom next door and was greeted by a very unsettling and eye-opening piece of information. Standing in the middle of the room the deviant's L.E.D. settled on a cautious red color and began to cycle rapidly as noted the two very large gun cabinets sitting on either side of a wooden desk where the laptop was located. The laptop was left open and the image on the screen was a web page for anti-android humans to chat and leave anonymous threats to androids throughout the world. The walls of the room were all covered in anti-android posters and other hate filled images of violent and the wanted destruction of androids in general.

Connor read over every hate filled poster supporting anti-android bigotry and encouraging violence against any and all androids just for existing.

The image of humans smashing computers with sledgehammers made Connor grimace, and the message printed in black bold text above the image didn't help his reaction. 'BONES ARE STRONGER THAN PLASTIC!'

Humans standing above a smashed android body was enough to make Connor's artificial stomach tighten. 'OUR BLOOD ISN'T THE SAME COLOR!'

The final poster showed a human holding onto a bloody Thirium pump torn from an android's body. 'LIVING CREATURES HAVE HEARTS NOT PUMPS!'

Despite being subjected to such bigotry and hated in the past Connor found that he was still affected by such negative connotations. It didn't help that Hank himself had such hate filled images on his desk at the precinct. In spite of Hank's turnaround regarding his feelings toward androids the fact that Hank had at one point felt such hatred to such an extreme measure was disconcerting.

Were all humans this emotional and stubborn?

From just outside the doorway Hank's voice called out to Connor as he located his deviant partner. "Nothing would suggest an affair, what about finan- Fuck." Joining Connor inside the second bedroom that had apparently become a haven for hatred Hank looked over the walls, the two gun cabinets and the laptop left on the anti-android homepage. "They set up a trap in case an android entered their apartment, and they have a room dedicated to android violence."

Lowering his voice Connor continued to stare at the poster detailing android blood color and asked Hank a cold question. "Look familiar?"

"Hey, you know I changed my mind on androids." There was no reason for Hank to try to deny that at one point in his life he had shared the same sentiment as the previous tenants of the bloody apartment. "I just didn't have the time to tear apart that stupid shit on my desk yet."

Checking through the laptop cybernetically Connor confirmed the Whitman's were not in serious debt. "...The victims were financially stable. I guess that means their motivation falls under option 'D'."

"Option 'D'?"

"They let their hatred destroy them. They chose to die rather than change their lives."

"Yeah." Seeing the weapons and walls of hatred Hank couldn't argue with Connor's assessment. "I guess you're right about that."

Without another word Connor turned around and left the bedroom to leave the atrocious living space behind him as his right hand twitched at his side.

"Fuck..." Seeing the hurt in Connor's eyes when the deviant passed him by just reminded Hank that Connor was in fact alive and deserved better treatment than what he had previously received. "I'm sorry, kid. I'll make this right."

Remaining silent and painfully still as he sat in the front passenger seat of the car with his arms crossed over his chest Connor cybernetically filed his report on the case and confirmed that it was in fact a murder-suicide that had been committed by the husband against his wife. The motivation behind the deaths was hate filled fear for the future where a peaceful coexistence between humans and androids would no longer tolerate violence, bigotry and genocide against the androids community without suffering any serious legal repercussions.

Hatred had been the actual death of the bigoted humans, and despite their violent and selfish nature Connor still pitied them from an unknown depth within his still developing heart.

As the car returned to the precinct's parking garage Hank spoke to the deviant in a calm and understanding voice. "You okay?"

"...I'm fine."

"No, you're not fine." Parking in his assigned space Hank turned off the engine and pocketed the key. "You're pissed."

"I'm not angry."

"Then why is your light red and why are you staring straight through the windshield like you're trying to light the wall on fire with your mind?"

Tightening his hands over top of his biceps, his right hand clutching tighter against his left bicep, Connor visibly became all the more tense. "I'm thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

Giving Hank an emotionless glance Connor answered in an equally emotionless tone. "The fickleness of human nature." Unfastening his seatbelt Connor opened up his door and stepped out of the car to get some space between himself and Hank for while.

"Connor, hold up!" Removing his own seatbelt Hank followed after Connor and tried to get the deviant to open up about his current feelings on the situation. He had every right to be upset and angry at the world, and he needed to know it was okay. "Connor. Talk to me."

"What about, Lieutenant?"

Something about being called 'Lieutenant' and not his name made Hank flinch for a moment. "You were just handled the deaths of two violent and bigoted humans who'd rather die than let their hatred go." Putting his right hand lightly on Connor's left shoulder Hank was able to get the deviant to stop walking just as they reached the front entrance of the precinct. "That has to be fucking with your head."

"It doesn't matter. They're gone and I'm still here."

"That's cold, Connor."

"So is the rest of the city. If androids and humans are now viewed as equals why should I be any different?"

"Because you're better than that."

"How would you know?" Connor challenged bitterly as his L.E.D. remained on a deep red color. "We've know each other for barely ten days at this point."

"I don't need to spend a lifetime with a person to know if they're a good person or a heartless shell. You're not heartless."

"That has yet to be seen."

"Seen by me? Or yourself?"

With no reply that comment Connor just looked away from Hank and made his way toward the front doors. "I'm expected in the dispensary. Excuse me."

"Shit." Putting his right hand to the back of his neck Hank knew that between Connor's deviancy and his P.T.S.D. the kid needed a lot of patience to handle him properly and keep Connor from returned to his previous obedient machine state of mind. "That kid's still got a long way to go before he finds himself."

Doing his best to remain on everyone's good side and to not do anything to make Captain Fowler change his mind about allowing him to return to the precinct Connor reported to the dispensary on the second floor, and met with the precinct's personally assigned technician. The technician himself had been in the precinct for two years and had been kept on payroll to tend to glitching android security and patrolling android officers to help save on costly repairs at a CyberLife store. The technician himself, Dr. Joel Forest, was a kind human and actually seemed to be enthusiastic about the success of the peaceful Revolution bringing about equality between humans and androids.

Standing before Connor as the deviant sat on the exam table Joel made Connor a personnel file on his tablet, and wrote down as much personal information on the deviant as Connor could provide. With his pale blue eyes searching over Connor's person very carefully Joel began the mandatory examination.

"Okay, Connor." Running his left hand through his short cut and light brown hair Joel casually went through all the steps required in the exam. "Do you have a surname you'd like to add to your file?"

"No. I have no last name."

"Alright, then I'll have to put in your first name twice to fill in the blank."

"I'll be registered as 'Connor Connor'?"

"Not if you don't want it to. Your file can have any name you want."

"...Interesting."

"We can leave this part blank for the moment. I'll just need your model number and your serial number, and we can continue."

"RK-800; 313 248 317 52."

"Okay... Fifty-two?"

The confirmation on his number was bittersweet. "...Long story."

"Trust me, I know about CyberLife and their prototypes. I get it."

"You know that I'm a prototype?"

Pointing to himself with his tablet's stylus Joel gave Connor a kind smile. "Technician."

"How do you know of CyberLife's practices?"

The smile faded slightly as Joel remained honest. "Once upon a time I worked at CyberLife. I left two years ago when I got a promotion and a good look at the way they tested their prototypes for faults, glitches and imperfections. It was sickening. I took a serous hit in my pay but at least I can work with a clear conscience and help androids instead of harming them."

Unsure of how to feel or react Connor fell silent again.

"Remove your tie, your blazer and remove your shirt, please."

"I have to undress?"

"The way I examine androids is far more humane than CyberLife. I don't plug a diagnostic cable into the back of your neck and force my way into your processors. I just need to run a scan over your programs and your overall biocomponent by attaching a diagnostic cable to your L.E.D., and I can check your vitals with an external Thirial activity monitor. Nothing invasive unless absolutely necessary."

"Good to know." Loosening the knot on his black tie Connor slipped the garment from around his collar, shrugged off his jacket and unbuttoned the dress shirt beneath as he had been instructed.

"Your L.E.D. has been red ever since you arrived." Joel noted as he attached the diagnostic cable over the crimson light in Connor's right temple. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm merely thinking." With his right hand again twitching Connor tried to explain his current state of mind. "It appears to cause my L.E.D. to change colors."

"Strange." Placing a wireless lead to the center of Connor's bare chest Joel synced the lead to the nearby Thirial activity monitor, the android equivalent to a human's cardiac monitor, and turned it on. "Usually the L.E.D. only changes in deviants when they're having emotionally stressful moments."

The observation made Connor tense up where he sat, but he didn't say anything.

"Alright, let's take a look." Checking the monitor Joel noted that all of Connor's vital signs were optimal. His Thirium pump was beating at a proper rate and rhythm, ventilation biocomponents were functioning at full capacity and his core temperature was normal. "Everything looks ideal." Wrapping a Thirium pressure cuff around Connor's left bicep Joel made notes in the chart and kept them accurate. "Thirium pressure is ideal, too."

"This is all that's necessary to run an external diagnostic? Painless sensors and gauges."

"Yeah, that's all it takes." Noting that Connor's inquiry had been about pain Joel immediately sensed that Connor had been injured recently. The bullet wounds in Connor's shoulder, arm and chest had all healed but that didn't mean the memory of the pain had faded away. "Were you at all damaged during the Revolution or working your recent case?"

"My damage has mended."

"So that's a 'yes'. What happened?"

Sighing a little Connor brought his left hand up to clutch at his right arm where he had been shot, then dragged his left palm over his shoulder and chest. "I had been shot."

"Damn. Is it safe to assume the bullet missed everything vital?"

"Three of the bullets missed vital biocomponents, the fourth damaged my pump but I was able to redirect power to my self healing program and mend the damage before it proved fatal."

"...You were shot four times?"

"Correct." Ignoring the technical fifth and true first shot from Markus that killed his previous model Connor confirmed his recent wounds. "Once in the right upper arm, once in the right shoulder and twice near the center of my chest."

"Wow." Pulling an audioscope, the android equivalent to a stethoscope, from his pocket Joel put the ears buds of the device in place, and then pressed the cool bell against Connor's chest to listen to his biocomponents directly. "It's incredible you recovered without technical intervention."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"Take in a deep breath and hold it for a moment."

Doing as he was instructed Connor patiently waited for Joel to finish listening to his chest while also using his hands to check his fully healed chest where the two bullet wounds had once been.

"Everything sounds good." Draping the audioscope around his neck Joel used his hands and checked over the previously affected areas to ensure that the plastimetal framing had reshaped itself properly after healing from the bullet wounds themselves. Joel's skilled hands moved about swiftly and complimented his slim build as he performed the exam properly and professionally. "Any pain when I press against your shoulder or your chest?"

"No."

"Okay." Checking on Connor's upper right arm Joel resumed the exam. "And here?"

"No. I'm not in any pain."

"Perfect." Removing the wrap and sensors from Connor's chest and temple Joel walked over to his laptop to check on the diagnostic reading to ensure Connor was completely healthy. The readings showed no errors, glitches or bugs. "Okay, Connor. You can redress yourself."

"Am I cleared to resume my shift?" Rebuttoning his shirt Connor watched Connor from the corner of his eye curiously. "I'd prefer to continue working rather than be dismissed."

"Thank you, Dr. Forest."

"Just call me Joel. You're good to go as soon as we put down a surname for your chart."

Deep in thought as he pulled up his shirt collar and wrapped his tie back around his neck Connor contemplated the notion but was unsure of how to reply.

"You could always go with 'Doe' as a temporary surname."

"No, I don't want to be labelled as someone unknown."

"What about 'Smith'?" Joel was genuinely trying to help the deviant with a passable albeit temporary name. "There's a lot of 'Smiths' in the world. Same with the names 'Jones' and 'Johnson'."

"No. Those names aren't... me."

"Well, where did the name 'Connor' come from?"

Sliding off the exam table Connor tucked his shirt back into his jeans, straightened his tie and then slipped his blazer back on to recomplete his uniform. "It was assigned to me by CyberLife. I had no say in the matter."

"Weird."

"Why is that weird?"

"When I was working under CyberLife they never gave their prototypes real names. They were always addressed by their models or serial numbers."

"Oh."

"Makes me wonder if CyberLife had other prototypes or special android models locked up and labeled under a name instead of a model."

Cybernetically Connor tapped into the name 'Connor' and found that the name had an Irish origin with numerous meanings: One who is strong willed, one who admires wolves and hounds, one of high desire and one who is wise. All positive traits and all of which reflect CyberLife's lofty goals they had regarding his existence.

"Perhaps my last name should reflect my first name." Connor noted as his red L.E.D. cycled to yellow and resided in the new color instead. "How about the name 'Connor Wolf'?"

"Wolf?" Jotting down the surname on the chart Joel went ahead and filled in the initial for the middle as 'J' for filler so Connor didn't have to worry about that unimportant detail for the moment. "Alright. Connor Wolf. Works for me."

"May I return to the bullpen?"

"You're good to go, Connor." Joel finished his report and sent a memo down to Captain Fowler to let him know that Connor, and the rest of the remaining androids on the precinct's roster in general, were all cleared for duty. "You can finish your shift."

"Thank you... Joel."

Taking his leave of the dispensary Connor returned to the elevator at the end of the corridor and stepped inside the vacant space to descend back to the ground floor where the bullpen was located. Pressing his right fingertips over his yellow L.E.D. Connor contemplated how Joel's examination of his person wasn't invasive, it wasn't cold and most importantly, it wasn't painful.

How could one technician be so kind and warm while an entire team of technicians could be so indifferent and cold?

The elevator reached its destination and the metallic doors parted automatically. Stepping out of the elevator Connor began walking through the bullpen to return to his desk just as Hank swept his right arm over the surface of his own desk and brushed a massive pile of papers, old containers, empty plastic cups, the dead bonsai tree and a few stray sticky-notes into the garbage can that was clutched in his left hand.

Pausing a few feet away from the desks Connor watched Hank peeling the hateful and bigoted propaganda posters, bumper stickers and magnets from the surface of the small cork-board on his desk to clear away the spiteful images at long last. One by one each bit of hate filled imagery was thrown into the trash can right where it belonged.

Feeling someone watching his every move Hank looked up and saw Connor watching him as he stood as silent and still as a statue. "I told you I don't think or feel this way anymore, kid. I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass."

"Removing hate filled imagery is symbolic but it doesn't guarantee anything."

"I know. And I also know that trust is like respect; it's earned, NOT given." Carrying the trash can as he approached Connor to stand before him Hank spoke honestly and did so without any hesitation. "Just as I hope to earn your respect I'm going to do whatever it takes to earn your trust."

Remaining silent Connor just stared blankly at Hank with a skeptical glance.

"Want to join me out back?"

"...Out back?"

Reaching in his right coat pocket Hank presented Connor with a red lighter stamped with 'Knights of the Black Death' in black lettering on the sides. "I'm going to burn this shit into ash outside. Want to watch?"

"I doubt witnessing an act of controlled arson will do anything beneficial."

"Only way to find out." Motioning toward the corridor behind Connor where the elevator was located Hank urged the young deviant to join him outside in the rear of the precinct to take part in the unorthodox bonfire. "Humor me."

Scanning the contents of the garbage can Connor's mouth ticked again as he made his decision. "On one condition."

"What's that?"

Fishing the dead plant from the garbage can Connor placed the small tree down on his down desk then returned his focus on Hank. "I want to try to salvage the plant before you burn it."

Smiling at the gesture Hank agreed to the term. "Deal."

The sight of the small plastic garbage can burning in bright orange flames in the rear of the precinct was a constrastingly warm sight in comparison to the ice and snow all around the city. The nearby snow, ice and the entire trash can were all beginning to melt from the intense heat but Hank didn't care. The trash can could easily be replaced and the melted blob of plastic left in its wake could be scraped off the pavement after it cooled down.

As the noxious stench of melted plastic, burning paper and scorched adhesive filled the air Hank gazed into the orange flames with a palpable distance shining in his blue irises. The story of the phoenix rising from the ashes of ruin to bring about an era of creation came to mind, and yet Hank himself was still the same despite his many personal changes.

"So..." Breaking the thick silence between himself and Connor standing just to his right Hank sounded as if he was trying to walk on egg shells. "How'd your meeting in the dispensary go?"

"It went well."

"Did you need to fill out paperwork or some shit?"

"It was the equivalent to a routine physical for human officers. I had a simple exam."

"Oh. You're healthy, right?"

"Correct." The question sounded sincere but Connor couldn't help but feel it was merely a professional formality. "I'm fine."

"Cool." Kicking a small pile of slush from the pavement onto the slowly dwindling fire Hank watched the steam and smoke rise into the cool air with an audible hiss. "I'm glad you're healthy."

"...Yes. Healthy."

"Want to head back inside and check out another case, or do you want to go out on your lunchbreak?"

"I don't require a lunchbreak."

"Maybe not, but you still have the right to an hour long break to yourself. You're being treated as an equal."

The notion of having the same rights and privileges as the other officers seemed to be a foreign concept and yet Connor knew Hank was speaking the truth. He had the right to a work break and no one could tell him to skip it and keep working. "...Very well. I will take my break now."

"Good answer. I'll deal with the fire." Reaching into his jean pocket Hank retrieved and then tossed his car keys over to Connor, and watched as the deviant gracefully caught the keys in his right hand without fail. "You can go and pull the car around out front. You drive now."

Silently Connor slipped the car keys into his jacket's pocket as he turned around to head through the backdoor of the precinct to cross through the bullpen and clock-out for the afternoon. As his right hand hovered over his terminal screen Connor could feel someone staring at his back with an intense gaze that made him uncomfortable.

"I don't want to argue." Connor stated firmly as he retracted the artificial skin over his right palm and pressed it down against the terminal screen. Clocking out for the next hour Connor turned to face Gavin as the shorter man approached him with an intense sneer on his face. "Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone."

"I'm sorry, I don't speak 'plastic'. What was that?"

Tired of being referred to as 'plastic' Connor felt his anger bubble up and his artificial skin grow hot. Everything Hank had told him about not letting other people push him around or make him feel inferior gave Connor a newfound sense of resolve and desire to fight back. Locking eyes with Gavin the stubborn deviant decided it was time to put Gavin in his place. "Then try reading my lips, asshole!" The outburst was surprisingly human. "I'll use small words and make it easier for you."

"Don't get smart with me you-"

"Let me stop you right there, Sergeant." Putting authority into his voice Connor remembered Hank's advice and stood his ground. "You're the instigator in every single one of our interactions. I've done absolutely nothing to you, and yet you feel compelled to try to make my existence miserable. Back off, NOW."

"Hey! I outrank you! You're a piece of worthless plastic!" Squaring up against Connor the shorter detective tried and failed to intimidate the deviant fearlessly standing before him. "Don't talk back to a superior officer!"

"You may outrank me, Sergeant Reed, but you're FAR from superior."

The comment was unexpected and made Gavin's blood boil with rage. "What did you just say?"

"I'm sorry, let me repeat myself in smaller words as I promised." Channeling his anger that he had tried to deny Connor refused to let Gavin try to push him around. "You are not worth my time."

"Keep running your mouth you plastic freak, and I'll-"

"You'll do what?" Raising his voice even louder Connor knew that Ben, Captain Fowler and the other few officers who were roaming the bullpen were now paying full attention to the confrontation. "Pull your gun on me again? Humans say the third time is the charm, why don't you see if it's true? Maybe you'll have the balls to pull the trigger this time."

Muttering filled the air as Captain Fowler rose from his desk and opened up his office door. Hearing that Gavin had repeatedly pulled his gun on Connor, an unarmed civilian and precinct consultant, was a serious matter to handle.

Gavin paled and visibly shrunk down as he realized what Connor was doing. It was a clever ploy to call out Gavin's unprofessional and dangerous behavior with numerous witnesses to support the claim, and proving that Gavin was provoking him.

"You're nothing more than a bully, Gavin. You think carrying around a badge and gun makes you better than who you really are. You're not. I'm not going to be your punching bag and you're NOT going to ever lay your hands on me again. Now," stepping back from Gavin to take his leave Connor watched as the Sergeant's hazel eyes began to narrow and dart around nervously. "stand down. I'm going on break and I want nothing more to do with you."

With the confrontation over Connor took his leave of the precinct with his head held high and Gavin remained where he stood with a look of distress and fear on his paled face. Never before had anyone stood up to Gavin in such a bold manner, let alone a previously subservient android. It was as humbling as it was impressive to witness.

Before Gavin even had the chance to try to save face or come up with one final insult Connor was gone and Captain Fowler was staring at him from his opened office door just waiting for something to happen. "...Fuckin' plastic bastard."

Having won his recent and unprovoked confrontation with Gavin in the precinct Connor silently drove the aged Oldsmobile toward the 'Chicken Feed' food stand as Hank had requested, his right hand tensing and relaxing around the steering wheel as he drove. The senior detective knew something had happened between him tossing the car keys to Connor and actually meeting Connor out front to go about their break. The air in the bullpen was tense, Captain Fowler was staring intently as his terminal screen in his office, Ben was trying not to smirk at Gavin, and Gavin himself was sitting behind his desk doing a marvelous impression of a turtle trying to shrink into its shell.

After Connor brought to car to a gentle stop in front of the food stand Hank decided it was time to ask about the odd moment as the deviant accompanied him across the street to get something to eat. "So... What happened in the bullpen?"

"Pardon?" Trying to feign innocence Connor walked at Hank's side and ignored that fact that his yellow L.E.D. shifted to red against his will and gave away his true disposition.

"I know something happened." Standing before the stand Hank nodded at Gary behind the grill and let him know he was there. "Ben sucks at keep secrets and Gavin looked like someone took a shit on his lap. What happened?"

"I merely stood up to Gavin and refused to let him push me around."

"You put Gavin in his place and I missed it? Ah, man..." Receiving his meal Hank decided to actually pay for it considering Gary was still in the city and working while a majority of customers had fled for the hills. "I would've loved to have seen that."

"Really?"

"Hell yeah." Walking back to the car with Connor still at his side Hank gave the deviant a coy grin. "I love it when anyone knocks Gavin flat on his arrogant ass, and I want you to stand up for yourself. I want to see you showing the world who you really are."

The comment had a heavy presence in Connor's mind and heart as he opened up the driver's side door of the Oldsmobile while Hank did the same to the passenger side door. As the two detectives returned to the vehicle Connor remained quiet and stared straight ahead through the windshield at the empty and snowy street stretched out before him.

From the corner of his eye Hank watched Connor sitting still and quiet in the seat beside him and could sense the tension radiating off his person. "What did you say to Gavin?"

Turning to face Hank directly Connor hesitated for a moment before he replied honestly. "...I told him that despite his higher rank he wasn't superior, told him I'd talk to him only in small words, challenged him to threaten me with a gun again, and I called him an 'asshole'."

Laughing to himself Hank approved of Connor's response. "That's awesome."

"It's not. It was unprofessional."

"Did you start it?"

"Start what?"

"The confrontation. Did you go after him, or did he go after you?"

"He approached me with anger and insults."

"Then you defended yourself. Gavin was the one being unprofessional, not you."

Turning away from Hank the deviant detective resumed staring through the windshield before him blankly. His right hand was still fidgeting a little as if he was nervous. "I still feel as though I behaved inappropriately."

Watching as Connor's hand flexed and twitched at his side Hank remembered how Connor had previously toyed with his coin in his hands, and how he had snatched the coin away when they went to investigate Markus's peaceful hijacking of the Stratford Broadcast Tower. Reaching into his coat's left pocket as he kept his burger in his right hand Hank fished out a new quarter and held it up for Connor to see.

Noticing the coin from the corner of his eye Connor looked over at the quarter being held between Hank's left index fingertip and thumb with a coveted stare.

"Take it." Hank insisted as he watched Connor's soulful brown eyes staring at the coin. "It's yours."

Gently Connor used his left fingers to take the coin from Hank's grip and began to slowly dance the quarter over the back of his left knuckles. "...Thank you."

"Today is half over." Hank remarked as he took another bite of his burger. "Think the day will end as 'fun' as it began?"

"Unlikely."

"Goods news is I know you scared the piss and vinegar out of Gavin so he'll leave you alone for a while. The bad news is we'll have to deal with more cases when we get back to the precinct."

"Once the other officers and detectives return to the precinct our workload will lessen considerably."

"Yeah, by this time tomorrow Tina will be back and dealing with Gavin's shitty attitude on everyone's behalf, Chris will be back and patrolling the streets with the rookies, and a bunch of other officers will be back and keeping the streets nice and quiet. With fewer assholes running around we won't have as much work to handle, and you can adjust to your new life easier."

"Adjust? Don't you mean 'adapt'?"

"Sure, if you want to get technical. But after everything you've been through you're going to need some time relax, find a new routine and your own pace when it comes to living your life as you see fit."

"My life." Gracefully tossing the coin to his right hand Connor resumed the dance over his right knuckles as his L.E.D. returned to yellow and finally began cycling in a calm and content blue. "...My terms."

"Damn right."

"I can do what I want and be who I want to be."

"Yup. No one can make you do or be anything, or anyone, you don't want to be."

"...What if I want to remain as a detective?"

"Then you do that."

Keeping the coin dancing over his knuckles Connor stared at the quarter and tried to weigh the pros and cons of his potential options and the reaction of the precinct around him. "Other people might see me as obeying my original programming as opposed to thinking for myself."

"Fuck 'em! Don't worry about what other people think, kid. You wanting to be a detective is awesome."

"Due to my efficiency at crime scenes?"

"It's because you care about getting the answers and you don't let anything sway your opinions that's awesome. Having an unbiased detective at the scene who actually looks for the answers instead of making half-ass assumptions to finish their paperwork quickly is exactly what we need at the precinct."

"If I were to request the chance to take the proper courses and receive certification to become a detective after taking the precinct's mandatory test would you support me?"

"Hell yeah. If Fowler tries to give you any shit I'll give him even more shit until he comes to his senses."

"...Thank you, Hank."

Hearing his name as opposed to 'Lieutenant' made Hank visibly relax where he sat. "You're welcome." Turning on the radio Hank located a music station to his liking and turned up the volume to a comfortable level. "Now, let's enjoy the rest of our break before we need to go back to the precinct. With any luck everything will stay quiet and we can finish off our first day back on the clock with our sanity intact."

"Here's to hoping..."

Letting out an amused chuckle Hank finished off his burger and gave the deviant a slight shake of his head. "Smartass."

"...Sorry?"

"Don't be. I appreciate a sarcastic sense of humor."

Noting Hank's sincere disposition Connor also relaxed a little. "I'll keep that in mind."

-next chapter-