WARNING:

Chapter contains child loss and personal tragedy. Please skip this chapter if you're currently in a mindset that cannot handle reading such a scenario. Also full of a TON of pseudo-science regarding artificial lifeforms and potential artificial reproduction. If you do choose to read this chapter take everything I'm writing with a massive grain of salt and keep an opened mind!

Unable to sleep and unable to stop thinking about what he had done to the three hunters all those weeks ago Connor stared at Baron swimming in the aquarium beside his bed, and waited for the night to transition to dawn. Rubbing his right palm over the black t-shirt covering his abdomen Connor could feel the gauze bandages protecting his still exposed plastimetal plating until his artificial skin regenerated, and he could feel the scars in the warped plating beneath. Despite Hank's insistence that he didn't do anything that should elicit any form of guilt, Connor couldn't help but feel as though he were in fact a criminal who had gotten away with an irredeemable crime.

The prospect of Karmic backlash was something that androids never feared, but for deviants who were now conscious of how the actions and decisions of one person can affect the lives of everyone around them, Karma felt like something very tangible that needed to be respected at all times. What goes around comes around, at least, that's what Connor believed. Whether or not such a prospect or force truly existed had yet to be proven.

Sitting upright slowly in his bed Connor pushed back his covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed as he decided he needed to begin his day before his own thoughts destroyed his mind. The sun was only just begging to rise but Connor couldn't wait any longer to begin the day.

"I can't undo the past, but I can ensure the future is better for my people."

Opening the drawer of the nightstand Connor put some fresh flakes into Baron's aquarium and then put the food container back inside the drawer. The container again rested next to the beaded friendship bracelet that Connor had only worn once. The very bracelet Connor felt like he didn't deserve to own.

Rising from the bed he walked over to his closet and changed into a clean black t-shirt and put a dark blue button down shirt over top. Leaving the shirt open Connor rolled up the sleeves to his elbows and then grabbed a pair of dark blue jeans to wear along with a pair of black Converse sneakers. Slipping his wallet into his back pocket Connor quietly left his bedroom and proceeded to walk into the kitchen to feed Sumo, then leave a note for Hank to find after he woke up.

Exiting the house as quiet as possible Connor closed the front door behind himself and began walking down the sidewalk to head toward downtown. Ignoring the slowly increasing summer heat the deviant knew it was time to own up to his past decision, and to confess to what he had done to the person who needed to know the truth more than anyone else. It was time to admit his guilt.

It was time he visited a friend and see how she was recovering after surviving her previously traumatic assault.

In the private office of New Jericho Tower the three deviant leaders watched the news report regarding the arrest of Donovan Saxon, and were stunned to learn that a cop had been assaulting random people in the street out of a strange and undiagnosed psychotic break. While it was a relief to know that the person who had attacked deviants wasn't a bigot, it was still unsettling to know that someone like a cop, who was under constant surveillance and observation, could have such a mental breakdown and have it go unnoticed until it was almost too late.

The follow-up report on the three hunters who were branded as rapists and now under investigation made Markus's heart leap into his throat. Having told no one but North about what he had done in the forest with Connor's help, Markus was unsure of how to react when he saw the three faces of the hunters being shown on the television screen. They were wearing bandanas to cover their branding, but Markus knew the ugly words were still there.

Tuning out the reporter's words Markus closed his mismatched eyes and cybernetically connected with North as she remained in isolation back at the mansion. It was easier for her to be away from other people while she recovered, and she was in fact recovering just fine.

'...Did you see the news?' Speaking in a calm tone Markus only wanted confirmation not a discussion. 'The story just broke.'

A heavy pause filled the air between the two deviants that was eventually broken by a timid response. '...Yeah. That's them.'

'They've been arrested for their crimes and you won't have to face them ever again. It's over.'

'...They went to file a report about being assaulted and accidentally confessed to raping me and seven other victims.' North was almost laughing as she spoke about the ridiculous situation. 'That's not how I was expecting to get justice, but I'll take it.'

'Are you going to be okay?'

'Yeah, I'll be okay. Keep doing whatever you need to do at the tower, I'll be fine by myself for a while.'

'Okay. If you want me to come back to the mansion, I will.'

'I know you will.' There was another pause before North tagged on one final thought. '...Markus?'

'Yes?'

'Thank you. For everything.'

'You're welcome. I'll see you later this evening.' Opening his eyes Markus glanced about the office and addressed his two allies in a calm tone. "We should take steps to remind our people that not all of the police officers are corrupt, and that the cop who was just arrested wasn't targeting deviants. He was attacking people at random and his own screwed up sense of convenience."

Josh readily agreed and gave Simon a quick nod of the head to indicate he'd handle the issue. "Damage control before any damage can even occur would be the best way to handle this type of scenario. We don't fear to be spread or lies to be accepted as truth."

Wanting to keep chaos to an absolute minimum Simon decided to assist in his own way. "I'll go and spread word to the other technicians in the city to ensure that any deviants in facilities can hear it coming from a trusted source. Our people are not in danger."

Glad to know that everyone was on the same page Markus rose from the white sofa across from his allies and let out a small breath of relief. "In the meantime I'm going to work on the renovations to the free rooms on the twentieth floor. The more rooms we have for victims of trauma and abuse the easier it'll be to ensure our people feel safe here. It'll also help them to trust us enough to accept our aid when they're ready to face what they've been through, and begin therapy."

"I'll start with a tower-wide update." Josh stated as he began forming his game plan. "When I'm done I'll help Simon with the facilities and then I'll help you with the renovations, Markus."

"Right. We'll meet back here tonight at seven and give a full update on what's happening with our people and the tower."

While his two allies took their leave of the office Markus set about checking in with the tower's reconstruction blueprints on the main terminal in the middle of the nearby desk. The idea to enhance their care options at the tower had been talked about ever since the day Jericho relocated into the tower to create New Jericho, but it was only after the assault in the forest did they really begin taking the plans seriously.

"The best way to bring a broken society together is by giving everyone the chance they need to heal. We'll start here in New Jericho and work our way out..."

Even on foot it didn't take Connor long to reach the local library where Skye had been hiding out from the rest of the world. Having been in hiding ever since the assault Skye was hesitant to talk to anyone, and had only left the library for a few minutes at a time and only when absolutely necessary. Entering the public space Connor felt the deviant librarian glaring at him from behind the desk once again. It was clear the deviant librarian was one who hated Connor for what he had (supposedly) done as the infamous 'Deviant Hunter', but Connor wasn't taking any offense to the cold reaction. Every deviant was free to feel and think how they wish to feel.

Reaching the decorative pillar that concealed the secret spiral staircase leading to the second floor of the building Connor accessed the hidden electronic panel and gained access to the stairway. Walking slowly with his head ducked down slightly Connor closed the door behind him and reached the top of the stairwell where he could peer into the opened loft space where Skye resided.

Skye herself was sitting on the bed pulled out of the sofa with her knees pulled up to her chest, and the thick quilt wrapped around her shoulders. It was clear she had been crying and Connor wanted to do nothing more than run over to her and hold her tight in his arms. Her stress levels were high and her entire body was shaking as if terrified of the world around her.

The loft space was still full of legal textbooks and reference manuals, but now it was littered with odd wrappers and empty containers from various convenience stores and restaurants from all across the city. There was no sign of Thirium pouches or bottles anywhere in the area among the wrappers. Despite the update giving deviants the chance to consume human food in place of Thirium as a form of personal recharge, it was strongly recommended that deviants still consume Thirium on a weekly basis to ensure the biocomponents remained fully functional and their joints lubricated.

"...Skye?" Whispering her name as he stepped out of the stairwell Connor approached the small bed and crouched down so he was physically smaller than Skye in that moment as he spoke. Keeping his voice soft and his movements slow Connor addressed his friend with utmost worry in his words. "Skye, I'm not sure if you heard the news, but... The three hunters who attacked you have all been arrested. They're being charged for multiple accounts of rape and assault, and they will spend at least forty years in prison without the possibility of parole."

Listening to Connor's words Skye blinked once and then began to openly weep. Burying her face atop her knees Skye began to sob heavily and painfully as if she had just been struck right in the heart.

"Please, don't be afraid." Sitting down on the edge of the bed Connor very lightly put his right palm on her left shoulder, and immediately had Skye pressing up against his side seeking comfort. Moving hand to wrap around both of Skye's shoulders Connor held her close and let her cry against him. "It's over. They will never harm you or anyone else for the remainder of their lives. You're safe now."

Sobbing deeply and struggling to breathe Skye was on the verge of a panic attack as her L.E.D. cycled in a vibrant red.

"It'll be okay, it's over."

"...It won't be okay!"

"Why... Why not?" Sensing her elevated vital signs and her stress levels reaching critical numbers Connor did his best to calm her down. "Skye, I'm your friend and I'm going to help you through this. Try to take in a deep breath and let it out slowly so you don't overheat." Taking a page from Hank's playbook Connor exaggerated his own breathing and waited for Skye to mimic his slowed breaths. As she began to finally calm down Connor rubbed her back in a comforting manner and continued to whisper to her. "Take your time and just breathe. Talk to me when you're ready, I won't go anywhere."

Leaning back Skye used the quilt to wipe her tear filled eyes as she took in deep slow breaths to try to calm down.

Waiting for the upset deviant to catch her breath and find her voice Connor stayed beside her and hoped she'd trust him enough to talk to him. "It's hard to believe but you will be okay. What happened is over."

"...Connor, this isn't over." Dropping the quilt from around her shoulders Skye sat beside Connor in just her purple hoodie and black sweatpants on the messy bed. "Not yet."

"What's going on?" The way his friend was stressed out and struggling to stay calm told Connor that she was in need of help. "I'm worried about you."

Closing her eyes for a moment as more tears rolled down her cheeks Skye took in another calming breath as she pressed her left palm over her lower abdomen in a ginger manner. "...The assault." Nearly stammering Skye struggled to tell Connor the truth. "It... I-It left me... Connor, I'm pregnant."

The apartment was a little busier than usual thanks to Gavin needing to work earlier shifts and staying late. As he downed his coffee Gavin watched as Lucas finished feeding the little rejected kitten his morning formula and making sure he was clean and warm. He then quietly walked over to check on Lucky in the laundry basket after she finished nursing the other three kittens. Despite being dead tired from working so late and dealing with the case of the three hunters from the forest, Gavin was still determined to help all of the kittens thrive.

After Lucas finished tending to the rejected kitten and placed the empty bottle of formula down on the coffee table, the deviant gently held the kitten in the towel against his warm chest. Lucas truly did enjoy taking care of something so small and helpless. It made his worries of being CyberLife's weapon completely vanish whenever he gently held the helpless animal in his hands.

"Lucky's fed," Gavin smirked as he rubbed the cat's ears with his bionic left hand. "the kittens are all fed, I'm fed and caffeinated, and Aaron's going to be here soon enough to watch everyone while we head out to work. Anything else we need to deal with?"

"No. I believe we-" The little kitten began loudly squeaking and cut Lucas off mid sentence. "...He just consumed his formula. He can't possibly be hungry again so soon."

"Hey, someone that small is going to be constantly growing and constantly hungry. Give him a little more formula."

"Very well." As he made a grab for the formula bottle on the coffee table Lucas carefully readjusted the kitten against his chest. "I'll be sure to increase his volume for consumption."

Just as Lucas's hand touched the bottle Lucky let out a curious meow and climbed out of the basket and jumped up onto Lucas's lap. She began sniffing the rejected kitten's bright pink nose as it continued to protest, squeak and demand more food. She then began to lick his forehead as if to groom him.

Gavin was genuinely surprised by the action and gave Lucky an odd look. "What the fuck? NOW you want to tend to him?"

Lucas watched Lucky's behavior very closely and made sure she wasn't being aggressive. As Lucky groomed the kitten she began purring loudly and the tiny kitten squeaked louder and tried to squirm closer to his mother. "...Should we let her take him back?"

"I mean... Uh... He is her baby. I think we should let her do her thing, unless, you know... She rejects him again."

"Right." Removing the towel from around the kitten Lucas watched as Lucky gently took hold of his tiny scruff and jumped down to the floor before carrying the kitten back into the basket to be nursed alongside his sisters. "...That's a good sign. Maybe she wasn't expecting him to survive due to his deformed leg, and now that he's stronger she's willing to take care of him."

"Yeah, I think you're right." Watching as Lucky settled back down and continued to groom the kitten Gavin felt a twinge of relief. It seemed the kitten's ability to survive, gain strength and call out for food was all it took to kick Lucky's maternal instincts into overdrive. "Then again, she's a first time mom. Maybe her instincts needed a little more time to grow."

"I'll be sure to keep formula stocked just in case he doesn't take well to being nursed, or Lucky rejects him again."

Peering down at the basket Gavin watched as Lucky laid down on her side and all four of the kittens quickly clambered over her to nurse. The rejected kitten managed to nurse just fine even with only one properly responding front paw to guide him on his way. "Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope Lucky doesn't change her mind. It's best for the little guy if he's with his mother and sisters as he grows."

"I'll do some research on this particular feline behavior while I'm at the precinct and make sure we don't need to take any precautions."

"Yeah, and I'll make sure Aaron knows to keep a close eye on the whole litter. Just to be safe we shouldn't touch the little guy anymore, we want Lucky to get her scent all over him so she doesn't have second thoughts about him."

"Agreed." Happy to see the sight Lucas sent a quick live feed to Tina and Noreen's phones so they could see the loving family. "Once the kittens are strong enough to be played with we should invite Tina and Noreen over so they can see them in person."

"Hell yeah. If a little kitten can help me feel better then I know a whole litter while help Tina feel invincible!"

Stunned and worried for his friend's health Connor stayed beside Skye as she curled up on her left side with her back presented to him as she cried herself to sleep. Rubbing her back gently Connor ran a scan over Skye's system and confirmed that the added uterine biocomponent that allowed deviants to gestate human fetuses was in fact actively monitoring the growth and development of a single human fetus. It was approximately six weeks in development and very small. Unable to get any form of genetic testing without being too invasive or damaging to either body, Connor could only speculate which of the three hunters had unintentionally fathered a child with one of his victims.

Unsure of what to do, if anything at all, Connor just researched how the added uterine biocomponent functioned, and learned that the deviants who got such an upgrade were given special filters designed to provide nutrients and water to the biocomponent once the mother begins consuming human food. Two additional smaller biocomponents were designed to hold up to two dozen donated unfertilized eggs to be stored until they were ready to be fertilized by the deviant host.

Apparently the system recognizes any form of intercourse as a proper command to release the eggs.

Worried that Skye might be in poor health due to the physically, mental and emotional trauma she suffered Connor kept his left hand on her back and gently placed his right palm against her lower abdomen over top the thick hoodie. As he ran a more direct scan Skye woke up and pushed Connor's hand away in a near panic.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you or invade your personal space." Pulling back both hands Connor rested his palms atop his lap like a scolded child. "I won't do that again."

Skye pressed her own palm to her abdomen as she slowly sat upright on the bed to sit beside Connor. "What were you doing?"

"...I was curious and wanted to make sure you're both healthy."

"Both?"

"I... I presumed since you went through with the update and haven't done... anything..." Dancing around his words very carefully Connor didn't want to dare say anything that might upset Skye on accident. "That you were... you know. You were making your choice."

"...I get it."

"May I ask what you're going to do?"

Skye was silent for a moment as she stared blankly at the stack of books at the foot of her bed with a glassy gaze. "I don't know."

"What have you been thinking about?"

Leaning forward a little Skye shook her head as she spoke. "...How horrible it is that pure, innocent life can be created in such a gruesome and horrifying way."

"It's not your fault that this is happening."

"I know."

"And it's not your fault that you're unsure of what to do."

Dragging her hoodie sleeve over her teary eyes Skye nodded a little and gave Connor a pleading look. "...What would you do?"

"Me?"

"If you were suddenly faced with a life altering decision that was forced on you without your consent, what would you do?"

Contemplating the question carefully Connor looked inside his heart and found the answer surprisingly quickly. "...I'd ask for my best friend to help me through it. I've discovered that sometimes the only way to find the strength to pick yourself back up and move on with your life is by taking the offered hand of a best friend, and letting them help you."

Full of doubt and fear Skye sat beside Connor and didn't move an inch or say a word.

Lightly Connor rested his left hand over the back of Skye's right hand and stayed beside her. "I want to help you."

Tears flowed from Skye's eyes as her fingers turned slightly and curled around Connor's fingers in a light grip. "...I'm not sure if you can."

"Then at least let me try. If you choose to keep... If you choose to go through with this, then I'll help you take care of it."

"What?" Turning to face Connor directly Skye's tear filled hazel eyes searched his face with utter loss and confusion. "How?"

"I... I personally do not have any experience in raising children, and I've only assisted in the singular delivery of a newborn, but I do know that 'life is a series of lessons with the greatest left for the last'. I've learned that from Hank and from reading his favorite books. There is truth to that quote. We never stop learning or growing as individuals. No one just knows how to be a parent, it's something that must be learned through experience."

"...You'd be willing to act as a father to a child that you have no connection with?"

"The child in question is your child, and that's all the connection I'd need to want to be their father." Unsure of where his confidence was coming from or why he was so certain he was doing the right thing, Connor stood by his statement and remained fearless for Skye's sake. "At least I could try to be a father in some capacity."

"...Thank you."

"I know you're uncomfortable with being out of the library as of the moment, but it'd be best if you had an exam to ensure you're both healthy."

The very idea of leaving the library and letting someone touch her was absolutely revolting. "I can't."

"It's difficult. I understand."

"...I want to sleep." Feeling suddenly unwell Skye didn't want to do anything. "I need to sleep."

The reaction made Connor suddenly wary as he ran another scan over Skye's person. There was something off about her system's reading that made Connor very guarded. While he couldn't relate to Skye's predicament, or even her system due to the unique updates she had accepted months prior, he knew something was happening.

As Skye slowly laid back down to get some rest Connor stayed beside her, their hands remaining interlocked together, and made a cybernetic request for an appointment for her at the Zeta Facility. Unsure of what else to do for Skye as she slept Connor cybernetically requested to speak with Abby directly, and to let her know what was going on with the terrified deviant sleeping beside him.

With a proud smirk on his face Lucas left Captain Rourke's office with his head held high after having an impromptu discussion. Having been commended for his efforts in the case regarding the now infamous 'Shadow Blade', the deviant detective rejoined his partner at their desks and was greeted by a smug grin by Noreen herself. The day before Noreen had also been commended for her work by their Captain, and was rewarded with a small raise and a massive boost in her reputation as she deserved. As Lucas sat back down at his desk he confirmed that he too had been given a small raise for his efforts, and was proud to have such a glowing mark in his record while still being a rookie detective.

Noreen couldn't stop herself from chuckling a little at how happy Lucas appeared and she nearly choked on her coffee as a result. Putting the cup aside to keep herself from making a mess Noreen used a tissue to carefully wipe her lips, then leaned back in her chair.

"You're in a very good mood." Lucas observed as he logged into his terminal to resume his report. "May I ask why?"

"It's your proud grin and... your eyes."

"My eyes?"

"Since when have they been blue?"

"O-Oh..." Closing his eyes for a moment Lucas returned his eye color back to its standard gray hue as he blushed a little. Opening his eyes he blinked a few times and revealed the original gray irises he had been activated with. "I have the unique ability to alter my iris pigmentation at will without needing to fully replace my optical units. I can do the same for my hair color and skin pigmentation as well."

"Really?" The way Lucas spoke so casually about his ability to change his appearance was fascinating. "Why'd you pick blue?"

"I was curious as to how I'd appear with blue eyes instead of gray."

"Don't tell me you're self conscious about your own eye color."

"A little. It's only because someone I find rather... reprehensible," just thinking of Kamksi and his ego made Lucas uneasy. "has the same gray eye color. I don't feel comfortable sharing such a trait with him. Even if it is purely aesthetic."

"What made you pick blue?"

"...During the assault, when I saw my brother laying on the ground, the abundance of blue blood had an unexpected effect of my subconscious. I couldn't stop thinking about the color blue and in turn I reflexively altered my eye color to blue. No one noticed I had changed the color and so I've been experimenting with the color change to see if I liked it."

"Do you?"

"I don't dislike it. After all, Lieutenant Anderson has blue eyes and many other deviants share the same color. I have no reason to dislike."

"Have you tried any other colors?"

"I've considered brown, but chose to not test it since my brother's eyes are already brown. As 'twins' it'd be best to not completely imitate his appearance."

"Let me see your eyes in hazel."

"Hazel?"

"Yeah, the pale brown-green kind. I bet you'd look good."

"...Okay." Closing his eyes again Lucas changed his eye color from gray to hazel and then let Noreen see the result. "Well?"

"Not bad!" Leaning forward a little Noreen stared the color and compared it to his surrounding complexion and hair color. "I think the green is more your color, actually."

"Green?"

"The hazel looks good on you, but the way the green stands out against the brown is very nice to look at. I bet green is your best color."

"Curious." Once again closing his eyes Lucas shifted his eye color from the hazel and into a pure solid green tone. Opening his eyes and blinking twice Lucas glanced about the area and then locked eyes with Noreen so she could see the color change. "How about now?"

Noreen's own eyes lit up with great approval. "Perfect."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You look good with green eyes. It makes you look more... What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Human?"

"Natural." Giving him a coy nod Noreen made it clear that as Lucas found his confidence he became more comfortable in his own skin. The more comfortable he became the more social he became, too. "The greens suits you. And the red shirt you wear really makes the green stand out, nice and bright."

"Then I will keep my eyes green. I prefer giving the impression of contentedness rather than cold indifference."

"Is that why your eyes were originally gray?"

"Yes. CyberLife wanted me to appear as machine as possible while still blending in to a crowd. Humans say the eyes are the window to the soul, and if my eyes are hollow and without any form of personality, then I'd remain machine in appearance while also being able to blend in with a crowd."

"I'm glad those selfish fuckers went bankrupt. Anyone who puts that much detail into hiding someone in plain sight shouldn't be trusted."

"What about the U.S. Marshals?"

"Not everyone who goes into witness protection is always innocent." Raising an interesting point Noreen gave Lucas a knowing smirk. "Sometimes they're the criminals that are the less evil testifying against other criminals, and taking advantage of being able to hide from the world."

"Noted."

"All right... There was a report of a deviant being attacked by a group of teenagers outside the shopping plaza this morning. The victim is sitting in interview room 'B' with Officer Ortega and giving his statement. When he's done we'll head out and find the punks who attacked him."

"Very well. It's nice to work on a simple case such as this, as opposed to a high profile maniac walking the streets."

Worried for Skye and unable to shake the dreadful feeling that something was wrong Connor with her cybernetically hailed an autonomous taxi to wait for Skye and himself out front, and he then waited for Skye to wake up. Just as his sensors picked up something distressing from Skye's vital signs and system Skye herself awoke, and rolled from her side and onto her back as she pressed her palms over her lower abdomen as she let out a small groan of pain. With her glowing L.E.D. flickering in a rapid red in her right temple Skye confirmed that there was something wrong with her system without actually having to say a word about it.

Instinctively Connor sent a cybernetic update to Abby to let her know that Skye was experiencing some type of distress, and that he'd keep her apprised of what was happening until they were both in the facility. "Skye? What's wrong?"

"...M-My system is reporting an unknown error." Her eyes widened with righteous fear as she spoke in a shaking manner. "It can't detect the- I don't feel the... S-Something's happening."

Moving quickly but carefully Connor scooped Skye up into his arms from the bed, and held her against his chest as he carried her toward the stairwell to get to the ground floor. Awkwardly but swiftly Connor managed to carry Skye down the unusual staircase, unlock the door through the hidden electronic panel, and then carried her outside of the library to the street where the taxi was idling.

Laying Skye down over the backseat of the taxi Connor sat down beside her and cybernetically put in the address to the Zeta Facility. Using his exposed right palm Connor managed to override the taxi's safety measures to force the taxi to speed to the facility without going too fast.

"Skye, tell me what you're experiencing. The more information you can give me the better."

"I... I don't know. It's like my stomach... My abdomen hurts." Taking in a deep breath and holding it Skye closed her eyes and waited for the pain to let up before she spoke again. "...Cramp. It feels like a cramp!"

Connor felt his heart sink as he had a grim idea of what she was experiencing and didn't want it to be true. Very lightly he pressed his right palm over her abdomen next to her hands, and ran a direct scan. His system confirmed that the uterine biocomponent was seemingly malfunctioning. His system also failed to detect any sign of life within the biocomponent.

Taking back his palm Connor tightened his hand into a tight fist to keep it from shaking as he spoke. "...When did the pain start?"

"...It started this morning. I thought it was normal since I had been in pain since... Since that night. But now it's unbearable!"

"I-I see."

"...What's wrong with me?"

"I cannot say for certain, I'm sorry. Just please hold on and you'll get some technical attention, soon."

Sensing doom in the air Skye closed her eyes even tighter and tried to not think of the worst case scenario happening to her. "...RA9, please don't let it die."

"We're almost at the facility." Not wanting to say anything that could give Skye false hope Connor rubbed his hand along her shoulder as the taxi pulled into the parking lot of the facility and came to a gentle stop. "We'll figure this out together."

Waking up just before noon Hank yawned, stretched out his shoulders and back, and then sat upright in the bed as he rubbed his right hand over his messy pillow styled hair. Tasting the lingering garlic on tongue mixing with morning breath Hank sighed and promptly went into the bathroom to brush his teeth to rid himself of the foul flavor, and to take care of personal business before doing anything else. Grateful for the quiet morning and subsequent afternoon Hank walked down the hallway and spotted Sumo sitting on the floor next to the backdoor in the kitchen to be let outside.

"Sumo? Where's Connor?"

Spotting the note on the kitchen table Hank read it over and was glad that Connor was out and about, but worried that the young deviant was still struggling emotionally and physically after everything he had been through. Letting Sumo into the backyard Hank put the note aside and made his way back down the hallway to get his phone and check for any missed messages.

"Ah, fuck..."

Sure enough there was an unread text message from Captain Fowler reminding Hank that he needed to go to a meeting the following night. Attendance was mandatory and there was a small memo requesting Hank to keep snacks on his person so he didn't get 'hangry' and kill one of the officers holding the meeting.

"I can guaran-damn-tee that this meeting is just so the higher-ups who did jackshit about the 'Shadow Blade' case can pat themselves on their backs while the rest of the officers who actually did the damn work can watch... Fuckin' validation sucking leeches can kiss my tired old ass!"

Deciding to finish off his book before he did anything else that day Hank let Sumo back inside the house through the backdoor, and all but collapsed into his recliner as he picked up the book and resumed reading from where he left off. Kicking his feet up Hank put his phone aside and settled down in the worn-out chair to get as comfortable as possible to enjoy the rest of his story.

"The kid's lucky he doesn't get his ass dragged into pointless meetings whenever the higher-ups want their own asses kissed. Being a higher ranked isn't all that's cracked up to be."

The examination room of the facility was tense as Abby ran an emergency exam over Skye's system and her entire body. After performing a diagnostic and an ultrasound over Skye's abdomen Abby confirmed the tragic news that Skye had suffered an early term miscarriage. There was nothing that could be done and Skye was transferred to a secluded treatment room in the rear of the facility to await a trained doctor who specialized in android surrogacy and gestation to arrive, and provide the necessary treatment. Not wanting her to be alone during such a devastating experience Connor held her hand throughout the entire ordeal, and gave her a shoulder to cry on.

Abby checked over every little thing to try to find the cause of the miscarriage but by all account Skye's system and biocomponents were functioning perfectly. The loss wasn't the result of an error or poor nutrition from Skye's part, yet Skye was still blaming herself and was nearly inconsolable. Once the tragically necessary procedure was over Abby spoke to the doctor who confirmed through her own tests that the fetus perished from a chromosomal anomaly. It was simply nonviable and it would've never made it to term.

"How's she doing?" Speaking in a whisper Dr. Barrett as she stepped out of the room Abby wanted to know how her patient was fairing both physically and mentally before checking on her. "From what I've been told by Connor she's been struggling with what's happened, and seems to be blaming herself."

"That's not uncommon." Dr. Barrett confirmed in a somber tone. Her dark blue eyes were heavy with sympathy as she spoke. "In most cases the mother blames herself for what nature has decided to do. My testing of the tissue has confirmed a chromosomal anomaly from the father's side, which considering she is a deviant, is very unusual."

"What do you mean?"

"The father is the deviant with her, isn't he?"

"Oh, no... He's just a friend who's been helping her through the trauma. She..." The right to privacy and protection of patient details kept Abby for telling the other doctor all the details she wanted. "Let's just say her condition wasn't planned, and forced on her by a selfish human in a very violent way."

Dr. Barrett quickly picked up on what Abby was trying to tell her without actually saying. "I see... Well, if the 'donor' was a human male who hadn't been tested for any potential genetic conditions that makes this entire situation make sense. Two deviants having defective upgrades is astronomically rare."

"That's what I figured. Did she lose the upgrades?"

"No. There was nothing wrong with her body, the filters, or the upgrades in general. In time she will be able to carry again and I know she'll successfully carry to term when she's ready to try again. Until that time comes she'll need counseling and patience. Fortunately, for her it seems her friend is already up to the challenge."

"And what can I do to help? This is the first time I've had a deviant patient endure something so horrible."

"Everything has been taken care of in terms of the miscarriage. It's now up to you to ensure her biocomponents stay functioning and that she gets the help she needs to pull through something so emotionally breaking and psychologically damaging."

"Okay. Thank you for coming out here for such an unusual case."

"I'm glad I could help. Don't be afraid to request an on-call android O.G.Y.N. to be employed right here in the facility. It could be truly beneficial since more and more deviants are able to start families of their own now."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you." While Dr. Barrett took her leave of the facility Abby walked into the treatment room to check on Skye in person. Seeing her curled up on her left side with Connor laying beside her and holding her tight made her own heart break. "I know you don't feel well at all Skye, so I'm going to ask that you stay in the facility overnight for observation. It's just a precaution."

Softly weeping while Connor held her close Skye didn't respond to the suggestion and only buried her face harder into Connor's chest.

"Okay." Trying her hardest to keep the sorrow from her words Abby took her leave of the room just as discreetly as she entered. "I'll come back in an hour and see if you're ready to move to a private room for the night. No rush."

Connor gave Abby a subtle nod as he continued to silently hold Skye in his arms.

Once they were alone in the room again Connor gently moved his right hand toward Skye's shoulders and rubbed her back in a comforting manner. Wrapping his left arm around her side Connor made sure Skye knew she was being supported during her personal tragedy. "What do you need me to do for you?"

"Just hold me!"

"I am holding you, Skye. And I won't let go."

"Why did this happen?!" In near hysterics Skye cried her heart out as she struggled to comprehend what she just went through. "It isn't fair!"

"...I don't know. You didn't deserve this and neither did-" Stopping himself before he started Connor chose his next words very carefully. "This shouldn't have happened at all. I'm so sorry."

"This is my fault!"

"No, it's NOT your fault. Despite everything that led up to your... changes... you still took excellent care of yourself and by extension you take excellent care of it as well. You were more concerned with keeping up with the nutrition it needed you were even willing to overlook your weekly Thirium replenishment."

"Maybe if I did drink the Thi-"

"No, please don't make such an assumption. Your system was functioning appropriately. You didn't do anything wrong."

"...But I did." Lifting up her eyes from Connor's chest Skye gave him a truly heartbreaking stare. "I hated it, Connor! I hated it so much for being forced into my life, forced into my body, and even though I knew it wasn't it's fault I still hated it! Even when I decided to keep it I still hated it! That's why this happened. Because I hated it."

"Skye, you were traumatized and you're still traumatized. It makes sense that you were confused and had your emotions settling in the extreme. Your emotions didn't cause this."

"I lost it because I hated it. And I didn't even know which of the... I never knew who the father was." Burying her face against Connor's chest again Skye began to cry even harder and shake with her sobs. "And that horrible person will never know about the child that he created and lost! What if it was the only one he could've fathered?!"

The memory of the revenge in the forest made Connor's stomach twist. Part of the punishment he and Markus inflicted on those three hunters included chemical castration. If they hadn't had children before that night then they never would. Through his own deeds Connor could have stopped life from ever coming into the world. He could've denied good women their chance to being a loving mother.

That simple action created so much irreversible chaos.

"...Try not to think about them." Guilt was creeping into his voice as he spoke. "Please focus on yourself. You need to get better..."

"I want to face them!"

"Y-You what?"

"Those men were all arrested and being charged for what they did. I want to look them in the eyes and let them know what I went through! I want them to see how much I've suffered!"

"...What good would that do?"

"It'll give me closure. If they know how much I suffered and how my loss is proof of their crimes, then I'll feel justified."

"Skye," wanting to protect Skye as much as he could Connor closed his eyes and tried to talk her out of such a confrontation. "you shouldn't do that."

"Why not? I need this! I need them to be punished!"

"...Because the three hunters have already been punished."

"How?" Lifting her eyes again Skye gave Connor a truly hurt stare that made his own heart ache with every beat. "How is being arrested enough punishment?"

Taking in a deep breath Connor steeled himself mentally to tell her the truth. "...The night after I left the library and left you alone, I was approached and given a proposition to get revenge."

Keeping Markus's name out of discussion Connor told Skye about how he was met outside the precinct and how he readily agreed to track the men down outside the city, and of how he had sedated the men, bound them, toyed with them mentally, branded them with the knife ,and then chemically castrated them with their own illegal hunting gear. Avoiding the threats and more grisly details Connor told Skye how the men begged for mercy for their own lives, but they didn't beg for forgiveness. They blamed one another, cowered and refused to admit that what they did was wrong.

"They've been punished personally," Connor stated in a firm voice as he watched Skye's reactions carefully. "and now they'll be punished legally."

Skye was stunned into silence and her L.E.D. cycled in a slower red color. As she registered what Connor had just told her and realized that he had taken the law into his own hands Skye put her shaking hands on Connor's shoulders and tried to push him away. "...G-Get away from me."

Sliding off the table Connor took a step back and gave her space as requested. "I only did wh-"

"You hunted them down and attacked them?!"

"I... I wanted to protect you and the other victims."

"You went out of your way to hunt them all down and you hurt them! You swore that you weren't the 'Deviant Hunter' anymore, then you admit to me that you sadistically tracked down three humans in the woods and tortured them in the name of justice?!"

Having no words to say to even try to defend himself Connor just stood beside the bed and nodded slowly.

"You're horrible! You never should've done that, Connor! There's no excuse for what you did!"

"...I know. I've come to understand that. I was wrong and there's nothing I-"

"Get away from me! Go! I never want to see you again!" Pointing to the door to the exam room Skye screamed at him to leave her alone as her eyes filled with tears again. "You lied to me! How could I have ever cared about someone like you? You're a monster..."

In that moment Connor swore he felt and heard his heart shatter.

Ashamed of himself, ashamed of the way he handled the situation and ashamed that he didn't think of the consequences, Connor backed away from Skye and turned toward the door to leave as he had been ordered. As the door slid open Connor stopped for a moment when he heard Skye breakdown and start sobbing again behind him. Fighting the urge to turn back around to comfort her Connor clenched his hands into white knuckled fists at his sides and took a step forward to leave the room.

Walking slowly down the corridor Connor saw Abby standing outside of another treatment room with an electronic chart in her hands, and he spoke to her in a whisper. "...Skye doesn't want me around, but she shouldn't be alone right now."

Hearing the pain in Connor's words Abby tried to get him to stop walking but the deviant was eager to leave the facility. "What happened?"

"...She needs to be with a friend," he stated in a broken hushed tone as he walked away. "not a monster."

"Connor, what's going on right now?"

Holding his silence Connor left the corridor and took his leave of the facility through the front door.

"What in the hell just happened?" Making her way toward the treatment room door Abby cautiously slid the door open and immediately rushed over to Skye the moment she heard the deviant's heartwrenching sobs. Giving her a hug Abby just stayed beside her as she wept. "Oh, Skye... It'll be okay. Let it out and talk to me when you're ready."

Catching up on his paperwork at the bullpen and working with Chris to catch up on their other cases, Gavin showed the young officer the photos he had taken of the kittens as a means of trying to entice him into adopting one of them so Damian could have a pet to bond with. Despite his best attempts Gavin was unable to get Chris to accept the temptation of an adorable kitten, his will was too strong. Admitting defeat Gavin slipped the phone back into his pocket while he and Chris poured over the details of their petty case of a crotchety old man complaining about the deviants who came into his store to shop. According to the old man the deviants were shoplifting beer and snack food, it was not the teenagers who were constantly loitering outside the store who were the real thieves in the bigoted old man's aged eyes. It was a waste of time, but at least it wouldn't take too long to clear up.

Just as Gavin brought up the security footage of the convenience store at the reported time of the thefts on his terminal screen, he caught sight of Connor walking through the bullpen and heading directly toward Captain Fowler's office. Having no idea why Connor was suddenly there Gavin pointed at the private space as he gave Chris an odd look.

"Why's Connor here?"

"Huh?" Turning to look at the office just as Captain Fowler engaged the opaque frost over the glass walls for additional privacy, Chris had no idea why the wounded detective was there, either. "I don't know. He's not supposed to be back for another two days."

"Weird... Guess he really is a workaholic."

Within the office Connor had requested the discreet meeting with his commanding officer and sat down heavily in the chair across from the police Captain. The heavy posture, blue bloodshot eyes, red L.E.D. and nervous fidgeting of Connor's hands were all telltale signs of guilt. If Connor was able to pale like a human could he'd be as white as snow.

"All right, I'm listening." Speaking calmly as he stared at the deviant sitting across from him Captain Fowler waited for his detective to begin speaking. "What's so important?"

Letting out a small sigh Connor was unable to look Captain Fowler in the eyes as he confessed to his secret crime from over a month prior. Refraining from mentioning Markus's role in the assault as he knew the repercussions against the deviant community would be disastrous, Connor told his Captain every grisly detail of his act of revenge on the three hunters in the forest. Confessing to the assaults, the drugging, the castration, the branding, and of being shot in the back, Connor was struggling to not breakdown and throw himself at the mercy of his commanding officer.

Telling Captain Fowler where to find the tranquilizer darts in the stream, and also willing to find the buckshot that had been pulled out of his back to hand over as evidence, Connor was ready to accept whatever punishment was coming his way. He was ready to throw away his entire career, his future and his life as a means of clearing his foggy conscience.

Quiet for a contemplative moment Captain Fowler let out a deep and slow sigh through his nose as he leaned back in his chair, and pressed his right palm over his tense brow. "I have to ask, who else knows about this?"

"...H-Hank knows what I did." Steadying his voice Connor remained entirely honest as he spoke. "He knows all the details. As does the friend I wanted to avenge."

"What about the technician who removed the buckshot from your back?"

"No. Sh-She doesn't know how I was shot or why. She just removed the buckshot and cleaned my wounds."

"And your accomplice? What about them?"

"...I can't tell you their name, and I don't know who they may have told. I accept full responsibility for this egregious act." Shaking with fear and remorse Connor was ready to endure whatever punishment that his Captain determined appropriate. "I alone confess to the three counts of assault."

"I refuse to accept your confession."

"Wh-What?" Looking up at his Captain at long last Connor's soulful brown eyes narrowed as stressful tears rolled down his cheeks. "But I-"

"Connor, listen to me." Folding his arms together Captain Fowler leaned atop his desk and gave the deviant a stern tone as a firm gaze. "There's no denying that what you did was wrong, illegal and maybe even immoral. I'm not condoning what you did, I understand that type of rage and urge to protect someone you care about, and I can only imagine as a deviant who's still understanding emotions that the temptation to go after those sick assholes would be too much to resist."

Still shaking and full of confusion, anger, sadness, regret and heartache Connor just stared at his commanding officer as he passed his judgment over the very odd situation at hand.

"But I'm not going to condemn a good officer and excellent detective because of a single lapse in their own personal judgment. We all make mistakes, some worse than others, and we all have to own up to those mistakes."

"...What's going to happen to me?"

"You're going to keep your mouth shut and never speak of this again."

"S-Sir, what I-"

"Be quiet. Look, as your Captain, and as a cop in general, I shouldn't be doing this, but I am. You're NOT going to take the fall over this and sacrifice your entire life over three dangerous humans who never should've been walking the streets to begin with. The mayor swore to protect the city just as any other first responder would do, and he's failed us many times before he even let his three buddies off the hook."

"I atta-"

"YOU were defending victims of rape and assault. THE MAYOR is the one who let those men walk free. And THOSE MEN are the real criminals who need to be held accountable for the laws they had broken. You just marked them as the criminals that they are, and they foolishly confessed to their own crimes because they thought the mayor would be able to bail them out again when they thought it was safe to open their mouths."

"...Please." The lack of consequences was pushing Connor's mind to its absolute breaking point. "I need to be held accountable for my actions."

"You confessed to me and you're obviously kicking yourself for your actions already. I doubt there's anything I could do, or any sentence I could hand down, that would be any worse than what you're inflicting on yourself right now."

"I told you of the crime I had committed and you're just going to look the other way?"

"No. I am very disappointed in knowing that one of my most promising detectives did something like that." As he spoke Captain Fowler could see and even feel the guilt radiating from Connor's person. "I won't mark this in your record and this discussion will never leave this office, but I am going to withhold any type of promotion, raise or any other progress in your career for quite some time. I need to know that you can control your emotions, control your impulses and that you can make decisions without them getting personal."

"...I'm being put on probation?"

"Discreetly, yes. No one else needs to know that you're on my shit-list now, but don't expect to be handed any high profile cases with deviants for the next six months, minimum."

"I can't work on deviant cases anymore?"

"You can, just not the high profile ones. Until I've had enough time to watch you and I know I can trust you to not lose control of your emotions and let impulses sway your decisions, you're going to work at your desk unless it's absolutely necessary for you to go out into the field. One more slip up, one more act of violence or revenge for any reason, and I won't be able to look away. I will have to launch a full investigation into your life and I will have to report this conversation to Internal Affairs. If that means I get reprimanded for keeping this a secret, then that's fine. I'd rather retire early with a clean conscience than keep working while knowing I let a corrupt cop work in my bullpen. Do I make myself clear, Sergeant?"

Bowing his head in shame Connor acknowledged his deserved discipline. "...Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, don't come back for two days and never breathe a word of this incident to anyone ever again. Even Hank."

Nodding a little Connor closed his eyes and let more tears roll down his face. "...Okay."

"Off the record," taking the bass out of his voice Captain Fowler gave the obviously shaken and guilt riddled deviant a surprisingly kind voice to listen to. "I think you did the right thing. At least from a moral standpoint."

Looking at his commanding officer again Connor arched his brow with understandable puzzlement. "...Sir?"

"I have a wife and daughter. If anyone ever laid a finger on them with that type of intention in mind then I'm sure I would've done what you had done, too. Like I said, I can't condone your actions but I won't condemn them, either. You acted on your rage because it came from a place of love, not greed or bloodlust. Just don't do it ever again and keep away from the case with the hunters, and the impending investigation into the mayor's activities."

"Mayor Nero is going to be investigated, too?"

"Yeah. That corrupt son of a bitch has been creepin' around the city for too long. We were already wary of his behavior, but now that his buddies fessed up and admitted that Nero got them off the hook in the past for other crimes we finally have the clout we need to put him under the microscope. Let us handle the mayor, you just keep your head down and your nose clean."

"...Yes, sir."

"Take a minute to compose yourself then head home. If anyone asks you came in here to file out some details regarding the injury you sustained in the interview room and nothing more."

Nodding again Connor dragged his left thumb under his eyes to remove his tears as he contemplated the incredible second chance he had been given by his commanding officer. Despite confessing to his crime and coming clean Connor still felt guilty, and he felt like he deserved to be punished. The pain he was feeling in his heart felt as physical and real as the knife that had stabbed into his stomach barely three days prior.

The only difference was the stab wounds in his stomach would heal, but a broken heart filled with guilt and regret never would.

Having just finished his book for the hundredth time Hank rose from the recliner, put the book back on the shelf where it belonged and then set about taking care of his other priorities throughout the house. It had been a while since Hank had properly cleaned up the Oldsmobile rather than just worked on the engine, and with the warm weather reaching its end Hank decided to take advantage of the nice day while he could. Not to mention the fact that he promised Connor that he'd keep the car from getting dirty all the time.

Just as he picked up the car keys from the bookshelf Hank heard his phone buzz near the center at the livingroom and swore internally at the intrusive sound.

"Now what?"

Grabbing the phone from the coffee table where he had placed it Hank read over the new text messages from Captain Fowler and felt his blood run cold.

'I know what Connor did. I won't say anything beyond this message, but you have to do something to keep him in line otherwise I won't allow him to stay in my precinct. Do whatever you think is best for him. I'll be watching.'

"Shit... Connor, what did you say?"

Sliding the phone into his pocket Hank put his hands to his hips and started to cross the livingroom toward the kitchen when he heard the front door open up behind him. Turning back around the senior detective saw the horribly despondent gleam in Connor's soulful brown eyes and his every paternal fiber screamed at him to go over to the deviant and give him a hug.

"Connor." That's all it took to get the deviant to break down and begin crying again. He was holding on by a very thin thread. "Ah, kid. What's going on with you?"

"...I'm not a kid." Dragging his right hand over his eyes Connor wiped away his tears and staggered toward the couch as if to sit down. "...I'm a monster."

"No, you're not." Guiding Connor over to the furniture to sit down and breathe for a moment Hank sat down beside the emotionally destroyed deviant in a sympathetic manner. Lowering his voice to a gentle tone Hank watched the heavy tears streaming down Connor's face as the very life seemed to fade away from the deviant's eyes. "Tell me what's going on. I got a text from Fowler telling me that he knows what you did, but he didn't go any further than that. I need to know where your head's at right now."

Burying his face into the palms of his hands Connor leaned heavily atop his knees as his shoulders shook with his painful sobs. Through the shallow breaths he managed to take in between sobs, the heartbroken and soul crushed deviant told Hank about everything he had just gone through. Speaking to Captain Fowler and confessing to his crime paled in comparison to what he had through with Skye, and of how she reacted upon learning about the assaults. Being called a monster and her telling him to go away was one of the most emotionally devastating moments of the deviant's short life.

There were no words to be said that could possibly bring Connor any form of comfort. The only thing that Hank could think to do was wrap his arm around Connor's shoulders and pull the deviant in for a half hug while Connor continued to cry his broken heart out.

"I want to help people, but all I do is fuck everything up!" Trembling with his raw emotions Connor was nearly choking as he spoke through his sobs. "Amanda was right! I'm just a disappointment!"

"Son, NO." Moving his hand to the back of Connor's hair Hank pulled the deviant away from his own tear stained hands and up against his shoulder. "You made a mistake, and that's okay. You KNOW you made a mistake and you want to atone for it. Everyone fucks up every know and then, as sure as Hell did. I was fucking up every damn day since I lost Cole, and I only stopped when you showed up in my life and put my sorry ass back on the right track."

"But you're not a monster! You didn't-"

"I can assure right here and right now that you are not, and never have been, a monster."

Too broken down and hurt to believe what Hank was saying Connor continued to cry. "H-How can you be so sure?"

"Because monsters don't have hearts. You do. You were just lashed out at because Skye went through something terrible, and is in pain. When it hurts bad enough it's only natural to want to spread that pain to other people. It's a shitty way to handle things, but it's in human nature. Misery loves company..."

"I've hurt people, Hank. I've even killed people! I am a monster!"

"No. You're many things, but you're not a monster." Feeling his own sympathetic and empathetic tears welling up in his eyes Hank sighed as he just held the deviant up against his side. "You're a good person, son. You're a dedicated detective. You're a promising cook and a mechanic. You're a gifted musician. You're my best friend. You're a big brother. You were even willing to step up and become a father to someone else's child." Listing off the deviant's positive traits Hank did his best to lift the deviant's broken spirits. "You've done so many new things and you'll continue to do many new things; sometimes they'll be good and sometimes they'll be bad, but no matter what you do or where you go, you'll never be a monster."

"...You can't possibly know that."

"Maybe not, but I can made deductions based on the evidence presented to me. And from what I've seen you're not monstrous in any way."

"I feel horrible! I've done so many horrible things and now other people are suffering..." Trying to pull away from Hank's arm Connor continued to weep and display an ugly red L.E.D. flickering rapidly in his right temple. "I'm enduring the Karmic backlash for my mistakes, and other people are getting hurt, too I deserve to be punished, the people around me don't."

"Connor, you're not being punished by Karma." Giving the deviant a kind voice to listen to as he began rubbing his thumb through Connor's hair Hank gave the pained deviant a small dose of healthy reality. "You're being punished by your own conscience, that's why it hurts so much."

Giving Hank a lost stare Connor blinked once before he wiped away his tears again. "...I'm punishing myself?"

"Yes. You're so preoccupied with the consequences of your actions that you're tearing yourself apart from the inside out. You think that because you went after those hunters with a knife, and you were then stabbed by another cop, you believe you deserved it. But because Tina got hurt too you think that you're somehow responsible for her being attacked because of what you previously did."

"...She didn't deserve to be attacked."

"And neither did you. Now you think that because Skye miscarried after she was impregnated by one of the hunters who raped her, you think your revenge against those three assholes is somehow connected to what happened to her. It's NOT. It's tragic but common for women to suffer such a condition, and no one is to blame when it happens."

"Skye didn't deserve anything she suffered."

"That's right, she didn't. That includes being assaulted to begin with, the very thing that prompted your act of revenge. So how in the hell can you be punished by Karma over something that happened before you even got involved? Why would she be punished for something that she never had a hand in?"

"...I don't know."

"See? Shit's going to happen regardless of your role in life. You can't protect every innocent person in the world at every possible second of the day. People will experience pain and heartache, and people will move on. You're not responsible for anything that happened to Skye, and in time her anger will fade and she'll find a way to move on, too. It won't be easy but she will heal."

"...I still hurt and killed people. I can't undo that."

"And now you're hurting yourself. If you're not careful you might even..." No stranger to suicidal tendencies himself Hank understood all too well what Connor was going through. "Please just believe me. You're not being punished by Karma, and the people in your life aren't being punished by something you did."

"I wish I could accept that."

"In time you will. You're just suffering from heartbreak all over again, and it's happening on top of your guilty conscience. Trust me on this, there's no legal repercussions that could be used against you that would even compare to the punishment you're inflicting on yourself right now."

"...What can I do to make up for what I did?"

"Just keep being someone who fights for justice. You now know what happens when you let your anger control you, so never let your temper get the better of you ever again. That's all you need to do."

"It can't be that simple."

"Sure it can. But since it's going to be rather time consuming, you know, your whole life is going to be a long one, it'll get easier over time."

Nodding a little Connor just continued to cry as his broken heart ached with every beat.

"Come here." Wrapping both arms around the deviant Hank just held Connor in a supportive hug against his shoulder while Connor continued to cry. "It's hard to believe right now, but you will be okay. Give your mind a break and stop thinking so much. It'll help your conscience clear over time, too."

Leaning into the hug warm Connor closed his eyes and let out a shuddering breath as his mentor and best friend held him in a reassuring embrace.

"You're going to be all right, son. I promise."

-next chapter-