Removing the sling from his right arm after two more days of healing Connor dressed himself in his usual white dress shirt and jeans, then made his way out to the kitchen without making a sound. Making Hank his usual light breakfast of two fried eggs and coffee, Connor finished pouring the coffee into a clean mug and closed his eyes as he was met with a notification for a system update regarding his upgrades. Now suddenly wary of keeping such upgrades Connor had to force himself to accept such an update, and stood completely still beside the kitchen counter as he allowed the hefty update to improve the elective upgrades he had added to his system.

WARNING:

Thirium Volume: 85%

[...seek replenishment]

Smelling the coffee Hank awoke before his alarm went off and walked into the kitchen to begin his morning. For the past two nights Sumo had sleeping in his bedroom, and as such Sumo sat down beside the backdoor and waited to be let outside by the senior detective rather than Connor.

"Yeah, yeah... Here ya' go." Opening the door Hank watched as Sumo eagerly went into the backyard to take care of business. Taking a look at Connor as the deviant stood statuesque beside the counter Hank gave Connor's left shoulder a small pat then sat down at the table. "Good morning, kid."

"...Good morning, Hank."

"You sound tired."

"I'm not." Opening his soulful brown eyes Connor's L.E.D. flickered between blue and yellow as the update finished, and was recognized by his processor. "I was merely in the middle of a fourteen terabyte update."

"Shit, sounds huge."

"Not for androids."

"Are you sure you're ready to go back to work?" Using his fork Hank cut through the soft surface of his first perfectly fried egg and then took a bite. "Your arm has just healed and you're still sore. You can't just walk off getting hit by a car."

"I'll be fine. I wish to return to work and preoccupy my thoughts."

"Sure, I get that."

Being greeted by another notification from his processor Connor walked over to the cabinet above the kitchen sink and pulled down a bottle of Thirium to consume before leaving the house. "...We are barred from working on the cases revolving around Perkins and the mayor."

"Yup." Popping the 'p' at the end of the word Hank confirmed that they were going to be working the more vanilla cases for a while. "I guess we're going to be stuck at our desks and handling petty misunderstandings again."

"That's okay with me. Very little room for error."

Biting his tongue Hank resisted the urge to remind the deviant that he wasn't making mistakes left and right, and that no one was perfect. "So, how's your project with that motorcycle going? You haven't touched it in a while."

"It's slow." Drinking the Thirium rather quickly Connor dropped the empty bottle in the recycling bin tucked under the sink. "I know which parts I need to replace and alter, but such parts are quite expensive and take time to locate."

"Patience pays off. Just give me the word and I'll help you out."

"I know. Thank you." Making his way over to the pantry Connor poured the appropriate amount of kibble into Sumo's bowl and opened the backdoor to let the massive Saint Bernard inside the kitchen. Running his hand down Sumo's back as the Saint Bernard walked into the house to investigate his refilled bowl Connor appeared to be acting normally, but he wasn't quite himself just yet. "I'm going to feed Baron now."

"Cool. I'll be ready in a few minutes."

Stepping out of the kitchen Connor walked down the hallway and into his bedroom to tend to the fish while Hank finished his breakfast. Everything was seemingly falling back into a normal routine, but deep down inside Connor felt far from normal and Hank knew it.

Arriving at the Eastern Precinct earlier than usual Lucas went to the dispensary to speak to Dr. Gayle for the first time since she began working in the precinct earlier that year. Taking the time to explain his reason for the visit and of how he wanted her opinion on how to handle Connor during his current depression without accidentally making thing worse, Lucas sought her advice and hoped he wasn't stepping out of line by asking for her help. As the worried deviant told the attentive technician of Connor's symptoms, behaviors and of his recent traumatic events, Lucas managed to hold Dr. Gayle's attention without crossing the line or delving too much personal information about his brother to Dr. Gayle.

Awaiting her answer Lucas watched the blonde technician contemplate his words and compare notes to her previous research into android survivor's guilt. Unsure of what to expect or what else he could say Lucas stood beside Dr. Gayle's desk and held his breath with anticipation.

"By all account your brother is in fact suffering survivor's guilt." Speaking in a matter-of-fact tone that her smoky voice carried perfectly Dr. Gayle looked at Lucas and gave him a less that hopeful answer through her glasses. "But I can't help him."

"...Why not?" The answer was entirely unexpected. As his shoulders slumped and L.E.D. settled on yellow Lucas tried to understand why she wouldn't take Connor on as a patient. "You're seemingly the expert on such a condition."

"I can help a deviant understand their survivor's guilt so they can overcome it, but I can't treat it. From what you've told me your brother is in denial of his true state of mind and of his role in what's happened to him. Even if he were to come to me for advice I can only provide him data on his condition, not a treatment."

"He needs to speak to a psychiatrist?"

"That'd be for the best, yes."

"Do you know of one I could contact?"

"Unfortunately, no." Sound like a teacher Dr. Gayle readjusted the glasses over her eyes as she closed her laptop beside her. "Treating such conditions for deviants is still very new."

"Then what can I do for him?"

"It seems you're already doing everything you can to help him, so I suspect if you keep helping him the way you are, and don't let him push you away, he'll eventually come around and make peace with what he's been through. Time and patience is key for anyone and everyone to heal properly."

"All I have to do is stay by his side and show him patience?"

"That's about all you can do. Remain a positive influence in his life and remind him of all the good things he's done. I can't imagine what it'd be like to be in his shoes as either a survivor of so many atrocious events, or as a deviant. You're his best bet for a full recovery since you're his brother."

"Okay." Straightening his posture into a more disciplined style Lucas accepted the challenge without any hesitation. "I'll do whatever it takes."

"That's what I wanted to hear. It won't be easy, but I know that any broken spirit can be made whole again once they find something worth fighting for."

The bullpen was unsurprisingly hectic as the detectives that were assigned to the cases revolving around Perkins and the mayor hustled about in an attempt to stay on top of potential leaks, and newly acquired evidence. Almost relieved to not have to deal with the mess Hank watched as Ben checked over the evidence his C.S.I. team had gathered at his desk, while Captain Fowler answered phone call after phone call in the seclusion of his private office just a few feet away. Sipping at his warm coffee Hank waited for Connor to finish interviewing the deviant victim of a mugging earlier that morning, and filed his last report that needed his attention.

As he pressed 'save' and then 'send' Hank sank back in his chair and triumphantly kicked his feet up onto his desk and took a long, slow sip of his coffee as he gave Ben a smug grin. Seeing the look on Ben's face was enough to make Hank grin like a damn idiot as his colleague struggled to keep up with all the details coming his way.

"If this is what it feels like to be caught up on paperwork," Hank stated loudly as he put his mug aside and relaxed in his creaking chair. "then I'll gladly keep ahead of the pile."

"You actually finished all your paperwork?" Ben was incredulous and was willing to doubt Hank's claim. "Bullshit."

"Nope. My 'to-do' pile is now a 'it's-done' pile."

"Well, don't go out of your way to help with this damn investigation then."

"Can't." Shrugging his shoulders dramatically Hank's grin never faltered. "Me and Connor are too damn close to both of the assholes you need to put behind bars."

"Who knew making enemies with powerful pricks could have some benefits?"

"Not me. If I did I would've been an asshole on day one."

"You mean you weren't?"

"What're you talking about, Ben? I'm sweet as pie and as fluffy as a puppy."

"In a pig's eye!"

"We're cops, Ben. We're ALL pigs."

"Whatever you say, Hank..."

The door to interview room 'B' slid open as Connor and the deviant victim took their leave of the quiet space. Having taken the victim's statement and able to properly identify the culprit as a known thief who had been arrested multiple times already, Connor reassured the victim that he'd handle the case and bring in the right person to charged with the crime. Showing the victim across the bullpen Connor displayed every mark of professionalism and turned around to head to the breakroom once the victim passed through the front reception area.

Checking through the small storage space dedicated to housing spare Thirium for the deviant personnel Connor grabbed a full pouch of the blue blood and downed the entire contents readily as if he had been a man wandering the desert and coming across an oasis. After tossing the now empty plastic pouch into the recycling bin beside the trach can Connor returned to his desk, and gave Hank an update on the victim's statement.

"We need to issue a warrant for the arrest of Charles 'Spider' Wentworth." Sure of the victim's statement Connor showed Hank the mugshot of the suspect via holographic projection on his right palm. "The victim got a clear look at his attacker's face and identified them from our criminal database."

"That'll be easy. That particular 'spider' has sticky fingers and always seems to get caught in his own web." Issuing the warrant on his terminal Hank waited for patrol to pick him up and then noted the time. "Noon already. Let's go out on break."

"Now?"

"Sure. We can also do a quick pick-up throughout the city, and feed the bullpen since they're all stuck working on the big cases without us."

"...Oh." Sounding a little disappointed Connor agreed to the proposition and decided to clock-out for his hour long lunchbreak. "...I see."

"Hey, no matter what the circumstances we'd be prevented from working on this case anyway. We both have a history with Perkins and you've had a close call in regard to the mayor, and even the mayor's politics when it comes to deviant rights."

"I know."

"Hey, Ben. What do you want for lunch? My treat."

"Careful with that kind of offer, Hank." Holding up a small pad of paper Ben began writing down a lengthy order and tossed it over to Hank to take. "I feed an entire team these days, not just myself."

"This is about... eight different orders. Strange, that seems like your usual appetite."

"Why are you in such a ball-bustin' mood today?"

"Just seems like a good day to bust some balls." Handing over the list for Connor to view and memorize Hank flashed his partner a coy grin. "Right, kid?"

"...I'll take your word for it."

"Damn right. Come on." Standing up from his desk Hank made sure he had his wallet, phone and keys before stepping away. "I'll drive, you place the orders and we'll split the bill. Fair?"

"Yes." Joining Hank as he crossed the bullpen Connor agreed to the terms of their little errand as they stepped around other detectives still busy with their own assignments hurrying about. "That's fair."

The first stop that Hank was going to make was to get his own lunch to ensure everyone else's lunch stayed warm while it was being picked up and delivered. During the drive Connor confirmed that the cybernetic orders were being made and he confirmed the time in which they needed to arrive at each restaurant to pick everything up in a timely manner. Standing in line at the 'Chicken Feed' food stand Hank was preparing himself for a reminder about not eating any grease and to avoid unhealthy food in general, only to be surprised that Connor was silently studying the menu containing the newly developed Thirium-based food instead.

Nudging Connor lightly in his left side with his elbow Hank needed to know what Connor was thinking. "Kid?"

"Yes, Hank?"

"Are you actually hungry?"

Feeling his jaw tic as he turned his head Connor replied in an almost childish manner. "...A little."

"Seriously? You never eat Thirium food."

"I do eat Thirium-based food, but only on a rare occasion."

"Want to eat something now?"

"Yes, I would like to try something new."

"All right. Pick and order, it's on me."

"I can pay for-"

"I know you can, but since you're not giving me shit about getting my usual order from Gary today I'll pay for your meal as thanks."

Not wanting to argue or be rude Connor graciously accepted the offer. "...Very well. Thank you."

"What do you want?"

"What do you have as your 'usual'?"

"A big, juicy cheese burger with all the trimmings, and a giant pineapple passion soda. Always to-go."

Connor studied the Thirium-based menu again and noticed a similar option for androids was available for purchase. "I'd like to try the same. Perhaps I can then understand why you would willingly consume something so rich in cholesterol, grease, sodium and fat on a regular basis."

"Whatever floats your boat... Just don't blame me if you become addicted."

Avoiding people and the park for the time being, Hank drove the car to a nearby parking lot and parked in a shady area to eat his lunch. Finding a good radio station to listen to Hank opened up his small food container and began eating his burger. He quickly noticed that Connor had already finished off his own meal during the drive from the food stand. Smirking at the sight of Connor scarfing down his meal like a teenager enduring a growth spurt Hank offered him a napkin to wipe off his mouth and hands, then watched as Connor readily drank the Thirium-based soda next like he was dying of thirst.

"So..." Almost amused by Connor's sudden appetite Hank picked up his burger and nodded at the item in his hands as he spoke. "Did ya' like it?"

"Not really."

Taking a bite of his own burger Hank flashed Connor a sideways and suspicious glance. "You wolfed it down like it was the first Thirium you've had in months."

"I was apparently more hungry than I had anticipated. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't necessarily like it either."

"Did your update affect your appetite?"

"It's possible that the update required excess power to take effect on my upgraded biocomponents, and as such I have a craving for additional Thirium."

"If you're still hungry let me know." Speaking around his second bite of the burger Hank had no problem with making sure Connor was well fed. "We can grab ya' something else to eat while we're picking up everyone else's lunch."

"I'm sure I'll be fine."

"What kind of update was that anyway?"

Closing his eyes Connor checked his processor and carefully examined all the details regarding the update as a whole. "...It's one that'll allow my body to more easily convert Thirium-based food as traditional liquid Thirium."

"More easily convert it?"

"Yes." Watching as Hank just as quickly ate his own meal Connor confirmed that the update was indeed responsible for his craving for Thirium. "It'll be as equally effective at replenishing my Thirium reserve as pure liquid Thirium. Whenever I consumed Thirium-based food in the past it would essentially hold my Thirium reserve at its current volume and then slowly replenish it over time."

"Like digestion?"

"Correct. Thirium-based food needs to break down and become liquid while in my artificial stomach before my system will recognize it."

"Oh." Finishing off the last bite of his burger Hank was ready to head out and get the other lunches delivered. "Weird."

"Perhaps. But in a way it makes me more human, and thus makes me more... normal."

"Well, whatever." Dropping his empty container down in the take-out bag Hank dusted the crumbs from his hands and put both his and Connor's empty bags in the backseat to be disposed of later. "Let's head back to the precinct and get everyone their lunch."

Laying on his side on the livingroom floor Lucas watched as the four kittens napped peacefully in a pile to keep warm while Lucky went to eat her food in the kitchen. Seeing the four tiny innocent creatures growing, changing and thriving was as fascinating as it was soothing. Letting the sight keep his mind calm and grounded Lucas stayed on the floor as he contemplated the best way to approach Connor without being a smothering younger sibling, or accidentally pushing Connor further into his own darkness.

From the couch Tina stood up slowly and walked over to the basket as well and crouched down to peer at the kittens. She was feeling much better and would be returning to her own apartment the next day as she had healed enough to finish her overall recovery alone. Using her phone to take a photo of the kittens she cooed at the sight and patted Lucas's knee once.

Without lifting up his head or looking at the officer Lucas acknowledged the contact. "Need something, Tina?"

"Just you to talk to me about what's on your mind. You're a quiet person, but never this quiet."

"I'm just worried about Connor."

"Still depressed?"

"Yes. And I'm worried he's going to get worse before he gets better."

"Have you talked to him about what he's going through?"

"I've attempted to do so, but he refuses to hold such a discussion and often deflects."

"Uh-huh... Try getting him to lead the conversation instead."

Using his arm Lucas propped himself upright on the floor and gave Tina a curious glance. "How so?"

"Just start talking about anything BUT his mood, and eventually he'll let his guard down and subconsciously steer the conversation into that direction."

"I'll try that next time I meet with him."

"Good. Wanna' have a rematch at 'Monopoly' tonight?"

"...You just want me to strip for you."

"So?" Smirking devilishly Tina patted his knee again and stood up without any difficulty. Her abdomen and core had healed entirely and she'd just need to take a few weeks to regain strength. "I bet you wear boxers!"

"You do realize that comments such as those are sexual harassment, don't you?"

"Yup. Doesn't stop me from teasing my friends, though."

"Fair enough."

"How about we play 'Jenga' instead? Or better yet... 'Jenga-dare'."

"...Do I want to know what 'Jenga-dare' is?"

"Just say you'll play and I'll tell you all about it!"

"Does it involve stripping?"

"Not necessarily."

Sitting upright entirely on the floor Lucas made sure to not disturb the kittens as he too stood upright, and almost comically towered over Tina as he stood before her. "All right. I'll play."

"You're the best! Gavin won't play 'Jenga' anymore because his hands get too shaky when it counts, so I know this'll be a fun challenge!"

"I imagine it'll be interesting in its own bizarre way. Humans and their competitive nature is quite fascinating to observe."

Since the only two detectives in the Central Precinct's deviant division had no deviant related cases to work on both Hank and Connor were able to clock-out right on time, and head for home. During the drive home Hank made a quick pitstop to grab some Chinese take-out at his favorite place, and picked up a small sample platter of everything Thirium-based for Connor to try as well. Sitting side by side on the couch in the livingroom Hank was impressed but not surprised by how easily Connor adapted to using chopsticks, and was happy to have someone to have dinner with beyond just Sumo slurping from his bowls in the kitchen.

Sumo himself was laying on his pillow in the corner of the livingroom and watching his two masters eating with a ravenous stare. There was a small puddle of drool forming under Sumo's chin as his tail slowly wagged back and forth over the floor like a pendulum.

Finishing off his orange chicken Hank grabbed the container of beef with broccoli and watched as Connor messed with the Thirium-based rice. It was almost as if the deviant was famished, but Hank remembered that Connor had undergone a hefty update that affected his Thirium reserves.

"What do you think of Chinese take-out?" Picking up a piece of tender broccoli from the container Hank popped it into his mouth and watched as the deviant finished off the rice. "Like it more than the burger?"

"Yes, I do. It seems to have more flavor than the burger."

"Flavor? Gary's burgers are the best!"

"It tasted rather bland to me. Perhaps Gary isn't familiar enough with Thirium-based recipes to properly flavor said Thirium yet."

"Maybe." Watching as Connor readily picked up another container of the Thirium-based take-out Hank put his right hand on Connor's left forearm to pull the container down for a moment. "Slow down, you might choke if you eat too damn fast."

"I'm careful when I eat. I'm just attempting to up my Thirium reserves."

"How about you put that down for now and go drink some instead? You might accidentally overeat and upset your stomach."

Not wanting to do anything foolish Connor placed the chopsticks down into the container and placed it on the coffee table before he rose to his feet and retrieved the bottle of Thirium from above the kitchen sink. Noting that he had consumed almost six times as much Thirium as was normal Connor ran a self diagnostic to confirm that his reserve currently low.

WARNING:

Thirium Volume: 82%

[...seek replenishment]

At the moment Connor's volume was strangely lower than it had been earlier that morning despite replenishing his Thirium as necessary.

"Strange..."

"What's strange?" Shouting the question Hank used his chopsticks to toss Sumo a piece of beef as the Saint Bernard watched everyone eat from his pillow in the corner of the livingroom.

"My Thirium reserve has actually become lower throughout the day instead of rising despite my frequent replenishment."

"That is strange." Chuckling a little Hank watched as Connor all but chugged the Thirium and then dropped the empty bottle down in the recycling bin beneath the sink as per usual. "New update, new changes... Sounds like puberty! Ever hear of 'growing pains'?"

"Yes, I'm familiar with the term." Returning to the livingroom Connor noted his reserve had climbed up to eighty-six percent, and sat down on the couch beside Hank once again. "Androids don't physically grow, which means such a term doesn't apply to me."

"Who knows? Maybe that new update will let ya' grow in height or even physical mass, like muscle!"

"Very unlikely. Such changes would require a physical alteration to our plastimetal frame."

"With those fancy new upgrades how can you be so sure?"

"...I suppose I can't."

"Still hungry?"

"Yes." Picking up his container again Connor resumed eating, but much slower, and decided he preferred the spicy chicken over the sweet and sour pork. "I won't eat too fast."

"Cool. Want to watch the Gears and make a wager?"

"No. I believe I want to finish my meal and go to sleep."

"I don't care what you say, it sounds like you're going through puberty." Pointing his chopsticks at the young deviant's face Hank smirked again and kicked his feet up on the coffee table to get more comfortable. "If you start breaking out into blue tinted acne or suffering voice cracks then I'll know for sure."

After winning the game of 'Jenga-dare', only because Gavin returned to the apartment and yelled at Tina to put her pants back on and stop drinking his good vodka, Lucas retired for the night and made a mental note to never agree to play any future games with Tina that involved a twist. Laying on his bed Lucas closed his eyes and proceeded to enter rest mode, and dismissed the prompt for an update for biocomponents he didn't have. Doing some research into the update and the upgrades in general Lucas determined he didn't want such upgrades any time soon, and also noted an odd string of deviants who did receive both the upgrades and the updates were experiencing a strange side effect.

The error was kin to a known virus that gave androids flu-like symptoms, but the symptoms weren't nearly as abundant. The trade-off for fewer symptoms were more severe versions of the symptoms that had already been confirmed; one of which was unfortunately shutdown. Only six deviants in the entire city were making such complaints at the moment and none of the technicians were panicking. The low numbers and calm demeanor were all positive signs.

"Being the most advanced android ever created definitely has its perks."

Folding his hands neatly atop his chest Lucas contemplated speaking with Connor to ask how he was feeling, but he decided to heed Tina's advice and let Connor bring up his mood on his own. As much as he wanted to speak to his brother Lucas wanted to be respectful and keep his distance unless it became crucial for him to become more directly involved.

"I'll visit Connor tomorrow evening. A friendly visit with my brother isn't strange in any way."

Waking up the following morning earlier than usual Hank sat in the middle of the couch with a mug of coffee clutched in his right hand, and watched the news with a thick grimace plastered on his face. The news report of disgraced former F.B.I. agent Richard Perkins was just the beginning of the latest drama in the city. While Perkins was going to be charged for his attempted murder of Connor, the deviant's name being kept anonymous for the sake of his privacy, Perkins's previous acts against the deviants during the night of the Raid and following Revolution were being reexamined. Perkins alone made the decision to Raid the freighter known as Jericho, and he had approved of the use of the recycling camps to execute captured deviants. The idea of charging a disgraced authority figure for his acts of genocide was tantalizing and controversial.

Sipping his coffee Hank glared at the mugshot of Perkins on display and wanted to spit the coffee back out over the television's screen.

"Fuckin' cocksucker needs to be dragged through the streets and whipped. He can't pull the 'just following orders' bullshit when he's the one who gave the orders."

The next news story regarded the mayor and suddenly Hank felt more alert.

"All right, what's the high and mighty asshole's excuse for letting three dangerous pricks run loose in the city?"

Through the screen the blonde, female news anchor delivered the report in a dull and monotone voice that made Hank want to close his eyes and fall back asleep. 'With the investigation into the personal connections of Mayor Walter Nero now under close investigation disturbing details about the mayor's influence and connections have come to light.'

"Disturbing. That's one way to put it..."

'The arrests of Irwin Syracuse, Chase Froth and Dugal Karrar for multiple accounts of assault, sexual assault, battery, blackmail and verbal assault had unexpectedly led to more victims coming forward with their own stories. As additional assaults were reported, some of which were performed against minors, the three men gave statements regarding their activities taking place in the mayor's own home in exchange for lighter sentences.'

"Son of a fucking bitch!" Being kept in the dark on the investigation had a major downside. Hank wasn't expecting such a horrible revelation to be made and it caught him off guard. "That fucker kept their sorry asses out of jail because they were blackmailing him, too!"

'Due to the heinous nature of the acts and consistency in the details from the three men, as well as their victims, the mayor himself will be tried for multiple accounts of assault, sexual assault, battery, blackmail, verbal assault, illegal prostitution, drug abuse and potentially even pedophilia depending on the confirmed ages of the younger victims at the time of the assault.'

"Pedophilia? If I get a clean shot at that sick-fuck I'm taking it!"

'In other news, a strange new virus is affecting dev-'

"Fuck this!" Turning off the television Hank leaned back against the couch and rubbed his left palm over his face. "If I listen to anymore details I'm going to puke up last night's orange chicken all over the floor."

Sumo let out a small grumble as he rolled from his side and onto his belly, then let out a big yawn. Rising to his paws he stretched out his back and then his legs before he walked over to Hank to get some morning pets.

"Sorry for waking ya' up, Sumo."

Rubbing the Saint Bernard's ears Hank sighed and gave Sumo his full attention.

"It's the bullshit. Sometimes it just gets to me."

Standing up from the couch Hank walked into the kitchen to pour Sumo some kibble and then opened the backdoor to let Sumo outside when he was ready. Tilting his head to the side Hank cracked his stiff neck, put his empty coffee mug in the kitchen sink and proceeded to let out a yawn of his own as he walked down the hallway to quietly open up Connor's bedroom door to check in on the sleeping deviant.

Connor was in a deep sleep on his back in the large bed and seemed to be sleeping normally. The glow of the L.E.D. cycling between yellow and red rather than blue was the only thing that was amiss, and didn't go unnoticed by Hank.

"Kid?" Entering the bedroom with light and silent steps Hank stood beside the bed and very carefully put his right palm over Connor's forehead. The intense heat radiating from Connor's body made Hank's posture tense up as he swore at the raging fever. "Shit, you're sick again."

Taking his leave of the bedroom as quietly as he had entered Hank entered the bathroom and placed a clean washcloth under the cool tap in the sink. Wringing out the excess cool water Hank promptly returned to Connor's bedroom and smoothed the cold compress over the feverish deviant's forehead.

Connor let out a small breath as his eyelids fluttered open slowly in surprise. Glancing up at the senior detective Connor was aware that he was overheating but was unsure as to why it was happening, but knew it was being taken care of. "...Hank?"

"Good thing it's our day off. You're running a little warm this morning." Crossing his arms over his chest Hank gave Connor an inquisitive stare and took in Connor's exhausted appearance. "What's up?"

"...I'll run a self diagnostic."

WARNING:

Thirium Volume: 41%

[...seek replenishment]

Core Temperature Elevated: 102.2 Degrees Fahrenheit

[...begin emergency external cooling measures]

"...Thirium is too low." The program functioned quickly and gave Connor the answer he needed. "...Thermal regulator is struggling to recalibrate."

"What? How can your Thirium be too low?"

"...Unknown."

"I'll go get you a couple of bottle of Thirium, and put a couple more in the fridge to chill for a while."

"...Thank you."

A strange cramp hit Connor's artificial stomach causing the deviant slowly roll from his back and onto his left side to curl around himself. Squinting at the aquarium beside his bed as Baron continued to swim about aimlessly, Connor made a feeble reach for the drawer of the nightstand to get out the small container of fish flakes only to be interrupted.

"Hey, you sleep." Hank all but ordered as he returned to the bedroom and forced a bottle of Thirium into Connor's hand and pushed his hand away from the drawer. "I can feed your fish for you."

"...Thanks."

"Think your fever is being caused by those updates?"

"...Unknown."

"Your tongue isn't blue, so I know you don't got that 'Cerulean Fever' shit again. Do androids get the flu?"

"...Androids can develop what's called 'Groupware Blight v1.0', which has been dubbed the 'android-flu'."

"Did you catch it?"

"...My symptoms don't quite fit, but it is entirely possible." Opening the provided bottle of Thirium Connor slowly sipped at it as he didn't want the added blue blood to make his already upset stomach feel worse. "...Being a prototype might produce different symptoms compared to completed models."

"Well, if you do have the flu then the best thing to do is lay in bed, rest and keep drinking that blue stuff. Then again, thanks to the advances in Thirium options I could go out and buy you some Thirium ice cream. That's always good for an upset stomach."

"...I don't need any special treatment."

"You're sick, you get special treatment. End of discussion."

Assisting Tina with packing up her items to return to her own apartment, Lucas carried her suitcase and walked with her to the apartment complex's small parking garage to show her to the red pick-up truck he had finally purchased for his own use. After securing the suitcase into the truck's bed Lucas drove Tina back to her apartment a few blocks away and escorted her back to her apartment to ensure she didn't need any further assistance. Watching as Tina happily collapsed over her couch and relished in being back in the comforting feeling of her own apartment Lucas placed her suitcase down on the floor beside the coffee table, and glanced about the modest dwelling.

The small apartment was full of energy and personality that reflected Tina's rather zen mentality perfectly. In the corner of the livingroom a large table holding a bonsai garden and electronic mini waterfall beside it gave the area a sense of life. The surrounding walls had beautifully intricate water color paintings of the sea and mountains mounted on canvas scrolls. The words 'Tranquility' and 'Strength' were boldly printed in black text in Mandarin over the respective images.

The furniture were all unique pieces that didn't seem to match one another. The couch was four cushions long and covered in dark green fabric. In favor of recliners or chairs Tina had two large purple and blue beanbag chairs to offer her guests. The central coffee table was a glass triangle shape with dozens of different board and card games tucked beneath, and had a few decorative drink coasters on top. Against the far wall a large television was mounted up high and an impressive collection of old movies lined the case beneath it.

In the single window of the livingroom sat a massive and thriving bamboo plant residing in a long black rectangular porcelain planter. Based on Lucas's scan he could confirm that the plant was an impressive fourteen years old and was tended to regularly.

The kitchen, though small, held a oval wooden dining table and an impressive array of copper bottomed cookware lining one wall, while the glass door cupboards held large dining plates, bowls, saucers, teacups and mugs. Everything about the kitchen seemed to be begging for guests to stay and chat for hours on end while enjoying a nice home cooked meal.

"Thanks for the ride, Lucas." Stretching out over her couch Tina smiled at the kind deviant then sat upright again. "Feel free to stop by at any time."

"I will remember to do so. Your apartment is quite interesting."

"Yeah, well, my mom wanted me and my sister to know all about our culture and family history, so my tastes in decorating have been permanently affected."

"I like it. It's very... welcoming."

"That was the goal. I've never seen the village where my ancestors came from so I do what I can with what I know."

"Your mother and father are immigrants?"

"Actually, my maternal grandparents are immigrants, my parents are not. Back in the day, during a different era, there was a 'one child per household' law in China and my grandparents didn't want to deal with that. My zǔmǔ, grandmother, discovered she was pregnant with twin girls, and he didn't want to risk losing one daughter over the other, so my zǔfù, grandfather, worked his butt off to get approved for immigration to America to avoid that risk."

"Your mother and your aunt were born here."

"Yup! Born and raised here in America, and they both honored my grandparents for taking that risk to keep the family together by upholding as many traditions and customs as possible. I do what I can to honor them through upholding a few traditions of my own, and making sure I can speak their language."

"You're fluent in Mandarin?"

"*Nǐ gǎn dǎdǔ wǒ shì tiánměi de pìgu."

Programmed to understand and respond in every language known to man Lucas replied in turn. "*Nín bù yìng yǐwéi biérén tīng bù dǒng nín zài shuō shénme."

Blushing a bright pink Tina began to laugh and approved of his response. "Fair enough!"

"Before I leave do you require anything?"

"Nah! If I do need something I'll just blow up Gavin's phone with pity texts until he clocks out."

"That seems unnecessary."

"Unnecessary, but fun!"

"...I'll take your word for it." Heading toward the apartment's door again Lucas glanced about and realized that Tina lived alone save for the two plants. "Are you allowed to have pets in this apartment?"

"Yeah, I just never had the time to go to the humane society and try to pick out just one adorable fluff bundle from the rest. I'm going to make sure Honeycomb has plenty of toys when I can take her, so don't worry about her being bored."

"You already named her?"

"Absolutely!" The golden kitten had smitten Tina with her unfailing charm and sweetness. "Therefore she's mine and I will take your ass to court and fight for custody if I have to."

"That won't be necessary."

"Good. I'd hate to let something as adorable as a kitten to come between friends."

Feeling truly like a child staying home from school for getting sick Connor laid on his left side on his bed, and struggled to keep consuming the chilled Thirium to keep his reserve up. Despite not suffering any type of damage that would cause bleeding, and his emergency expulsion program never activating, Connor was somehow losing Thirium at an alarming rate. Drinking the Thirium as quickly as he dared to avoid making himself feel worse than he already did Connor closed his eyes and ran another self diagnostic to check on his dwindling reserve yet again.

WARNING:

Thirium Volume: 29%

[...seek replenishment]

Core Temperature Elevated: 102.4 Degrees Fahrenheit

[...begin emergency external cooling measures]

Power Level - CRITICAL: 22%

[...immediate rest recommended]

"...This isn't working."

Sitting upright in his bed Connor's vision became dotted with darkness and his head swam as the simple motion drained him of his remaining energy quickly. Barely able to support himself upright with both of his arms Connor took in a slow breath and tried to think of a solution to his problem. A painful cramp in his artificial stomach made Connor grit his teeth as he breathed through the discomfort to the best of his ability without breaking down and letting out a frustrated yell.

"...H-Hank?"

"Right here, kid." Already on his way to check on the ill deviant Hank was standing just outside the doorway when Connor called his name. "What do you need?"

"...I think I need to go see a technician."

"Shit. What's going on?"

"...I think there's a malfunction with my artificial stomach, but my self diagnostic program isn't giving me any definitive answer."

"All right." Grabbing onto Connor's left arm Hank hefted the deviant up from the bed and made sure he was leaning most of his dead weight against his side to ensure Connor didn't collapse as they walked. "I'll take ya' to see Abby."

"I don't know what's happening to me." Holding his right hand over his aching artificial stomach Connor fought to walk a straight line even as Hank helped him along the way. "I've never experienced anything like this before."

"You were acting weird all day yesterday." The senior detective noted both bluntly and keenly as he opened the front door and escorted the ailing deviant over to the car parked in the side driveway. "You didn't hurt yourself and try to ignore it, did you?"

"No, Hank."

"Sorry, I had to ask." Opening up the front passenger door Hank helped Connor to sit down then slammed the door shut before walking around the front of the car to get to the driver's side. Sitting down behind the steering wheel Hank turned over the engine and backed the car down the driveway, and pressed his right palm over Connor's forehead for another fever check. "You're still running warm, too."

Connor closed his eyes and ran another self diagnostic on his unusual system readings.

WARNING:

Thirium Volume: 26%

[...seek replenishment]

Core Temperature Elevated: 102.5 Degrees Fahrenheit

[...begin emergency external cooling measures]

Power Level - CRITICAL: 19%

[...immediate rest recommended]

"...My Thirium is still dropping."

"What the fuck is happening to you? Are you bleeding internally?"

"...No. My system detects no internal or external damage."

"Shit. All right, just try to relax and keep a close eye on your Thirium for me."

Leaning back in the seat Connor pressed his left hand over his face as he ran one self diagnostic after another to try to find the cause of his strange and rapid Thirium loss. While his system couldn't trace the loss to any damaged biocomponents, leaking Thirium lines or a failure of the Thirium filter to properly distribute the Thirium accordingly, Connor knew that the painful cramp in his artificial stomach wasn't normal.

"...I don't think I have the android-flu. I'm overheating and my artificial stomach hurts."

"A high fever, stomach pain and what is essentially anemia makes me think you got some form of food poisoning, or even a parasite."

"...Food poisoning? No. My strange Thirium issue took place shortly after I accepted the update yesterday morning, not after I began consuming Thirium-based food. As for parasites, androids don't have anything organic that such an infection would sustain."

"Keep in mind that you have brand new biocomponents and a new update, all on top of everything about you that makes you stand out from other androids. You might be susceptible errors and glitches that no other androids can get."

"I'm quite aware of that fact." Another sharp pain in his artificial stomach made Connor wince and press his right palm firmly against his torso. "...I want this pain to stop."

"What about android appendicitis?" Heading toward the Zeta Facility at a steady pace Hank anxiously drummed his fingers along the steering wheel as the car idled at the red light. "That might explain the stomach pain."

"...The only biocomponent that would have a similar effect of appendicitis would theoretically be from my analysis filter failing."

"Is it?"

"No."

"Well, then..." Pulling through the now green light Hank drove the final block to the get to the Zeta Facility and then pulled into the parking lot of the facility to get some help. "We've eliminated what could be affecting you, so now let's have a real technician take a look at you."

The moment Connor set foot inside the waiting room with Hank holding him upright Barry brought over a wheelchair, and promptly wheeled Connor into an emergency examination room to be seen by Abby as soon as possible. Laying on his back on the cool exam table Connor felt his head still swimming and had to dismiss the red warnings regarding his Thirium reserve, core temperature and power levels over and over again. Losing consciousness Connor's ears began to ring loudly and his vision steadily tunneled until everything went dark. Entering emergency stasis mode due to his low power level, low Thirium volume and his high core temperature, Connor's entire body went lax over the table.

Hank placed his right hand down on Connor's left shoulder to try to shake him awake, but the deviant was completely out of it. Moving his palm to rest over Connor's forehead instead the senior detective swore internally at the persistent fever clinging to the ill deviant's body.

"Man. Just when I was beginning to think you'd finally catch a break, something like this has to happen..."

The door to the exam room slid open and Abby hurried into the room. Standing beside Hank the skilled technician began to give Connor a quick exam of his vital signs, and asked Hank for Connor's symptoms. Worried about the low Thirium volume Abby promptly set up an external line in the bend of Connor's right arm to try to bring his volume back up as quickly as possible.

"The good news is, I think I know what's wrong with him." Abby stated as she pulled up Connor's black t-shirt to expose his scarred abdomen. "The bad news is, the treatment is gross."

Recognizing a warning when he heard it Hank knew what was about to happen wasn't going to be pleasant. "Do I want to know what's wrong with him?"

"Only if you want a damn good way to keep yourself from eating for the next two days."

"I'm a cop." Putting his hands to his hips Hank stood his ground and all but dared her to tell him. "I can handle it."

"Okay..." Manually deactivating the artificial skin over Connor's torso Abby slid open the scarred panels of the plastimetal frame beneath to expose the deviant's artificial stomach to be examined. The elastic and vital biocomponent was a sickly purple hue instead of its healthier blue coloration, and it seemed to be slightly swollen as if internally aggravated. "There's been an unfortunate outbreak of a new type of infection in androids kin to tapeworms in humans."

"...Tapeworm?" That little revelation made Hank's blue eyes widen and his shoulders drop. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"I am not. These tapeworms are more resistant to the usual methods of killing them off inside the human body, but they can still be extracted all the same."

"How in the fuck did he get a tapeworm?!"

"The Thirium-based food being sold at restaurants that were once entirely based around human food seem to be getting undercooked. The chefs need more training in properly preparing the Thirium without worrying about burning it." Slipping on a pair of purple latex gloves, a paper mask and a plastic shield over her eyes Abby made sure Connor was fully in stasis mode, and then removed the artificial stomach from the metal coupling inside of Connor's torso. "And since the Thirium-based food is combined with organic food to ensure easier breakdown over time, it's actually possible for parasitic tapeworm eggs to thrive inside improperly prepared food."

Suddenly feeling guilty for Connor being sick Hank crossed his arms over his chest and shifted his weight about on his feet. "...Yesterday he tried a burger for the first time."

"He's not the only one."

"Ah, shit... Great." Dragging his left hand over his bearded chin Hank began to regret letting Gary get away with his less than ideal food preparation standards over the years. "I gotta' be the asshole and tell Gary he's making his deviant customers sick."

"Better sick than dead!"

"...Have deviants died?"

"No, but they've come close." Using a pair of metal forceps and a bright flashlight Abby managed to locate a single small but very offensive tapeworm hiding out in the base of Connor's artificial stomach. "These tapeworms actually developed a taste for cobalt based Thirium instead of iron enriched blood, and absolutely love the stuff. These guys grow fast, too."

"Uh, do I want to look away?"

"Do you want to eat ever again?"

"That's a 'yes'." Turning around Hank closed his eyes and tried to not imagine the sight of Abby pulling a long and pale blue tapeworm out of the stomach, then promptly sealed it in a glass jar to be examined later. The sound of the metal forceps 'clinking' against the glass container told Hank that the offensive parasite had been removed from Connor's stomach with needing to watch. "...Is it over?"

"Yeah, the worm is gone. I just need to check and make sure it was just the one worm."

"Do I want to know how they reproduce?"

"Through eggs and larva. Nothing new."

"Gross..."

"This is a very new and fascinating species of worm and the first organic infection confirmed inside inorganic lifeforms. The worst of the infected... Hold up." Locating another worm that was smaller than the first Abby removed it just as easily as the first, and sealed it away. She then made sure to flush out the entire stomach to ensure there were no larvae or eggs left behind. "As I was saying, the worst of the infected had to have their artificial stomach's entirely replaced, and needed to be admitted for overnight transfusions. Connor just needs to have his stomach cleaned and sterilized, and a smaller replenishment of Thirium to recover."

"Wait, the worst cases resulted in an entire stomach replacement?"

"Yeah. These tapeworms LOVE Thirium and will embed themselves inside the artificial stomach, then burrow through to attach directly to Thirium lines to keep feeding and growing."

"I didn't even see the worms and I still want to throw-up."

"I don't blame you. The sight of parasites being removed from any living body still gets to me." Using orange incrassation compound to flush out the affected artificial stomach, then using decontaminating chrism to ensure that any small holes in the stomach would heal without complication, Abby drained out the stomach and returned it to Connor's abdomen with no problem. "There. Once his Thirium is back up you can take him home to rest."

"And his fever?"

"Once his Thirium begins to rise his core temperature will drop."

"Good." Turning back around Hank looked at the purple stomach slowly turning blue as the damage was mended and the lost Thirium flow began to return to the affected biocomponent without being siphoned off by the invasive parasites. "And those worms?"

"They will be examined and dissected so we can figure out how they've adapted to Thirium, can survive on such a strong chemical and how we can prevent them from infecting other deviants in the future."

"And all of the sick deviants got sick from the same place?"

"Yeah. The one thing that connects everyone together is that one particular meal at the single food stand."

"Shit." Thinking about the previous day's events something unusual stuck out in Hank's mind. "But, Connor was feeling weird before he had his lunch."

Closing up Connor's abdomen Abby glanced at Hank over her left shoulder as she spoke. "Downing Thirium really fast and feeling uncommonly hungry?"

"Yeah, you got it."

"Side effect of the last update for those who got the new upgrades." Reactivating the artificial skin over Connor's abdomen Abby pulled his t-shirt back down, then pressed her palm over his forehead to monitor his temperature. "A massive update needs a massive amount of power, and thus, a massive amount of Thirium in return."

"Two different problems and two different causes. What a weird-ass day..."

"I'll give him three pints of Thirium to get his reserve up to a far more stable number, then he can drink the rest of what he needs later on. His stomach is going to be sore for a while, so chilled Thirium will be best."

"Right. Just, uh, could you not tell Connor that it was the food stand that got him sick? He already gives me shit about from eating there, and I don't want him to have any more ammunition to use against me."

"No promises." Grinning warmly Abby checked the line in Connor's arm and prepared to hang another pouch to help his reserve increase. "If he asks about what happened I have to tell him the truth."

Already looking defeat Hank sighed and leaned back against the wall. "Figures..."

Taking advantage of his time off Lucas drove out to the house in his new truck in hope of having Hank's assistance in working on the vehicle, and so he could see his brother in a discreet manner. Seeing the Oldsmobile in the driveway was a relief as it meant everyone had the day off, and the house was occupied. Parking alongside the car Lucas turned off the engine and walked up to the front door of the house to knock before entering. Hearing Hank's voice responding through the door telling him to enter was all Lucas needed before he turned the doorknob slowly and pushed the door open.

Getting met by Sumo right at the front door Lucas rubbed the Saint Bernard's ears and stepped into the livingroom to visit his family.

"Hello, Sumo." Glancing at the couch Lucas saw Connor laying over the length of the furniture with an ice pack pressed over his stomach, and Hank leaning over the back of the furniture watching over the sick deviant carefully. "...Is something wrong?"

"Connor got sick with a friggin' creepy tapeworm thingy." Hank stated o' so eloquently as he watched Connor's L.E.D. cycling in a slow blue color. "He's already been treated and will make a full recovery, but his stomach's still hurting."

"Curious. I knew androids were being stricken with an unusual malady of late, but I didn't know it involved... a parasite."

"Neither did we. Abby filled us in and cleaned up his stomach."

"Can I help?"

"Yeah, actually." Standing up straight Hank gave Lucas a thoughtful glance. "Stay here with him so I can run out to the store and pick up a few items. I don't like ordering shit and having drones drop it off all the time. Feels weird..."

"I can do that. I was hoping you'd be able to take a look at my new truck, but I don't mind staying here with Connor instead."

"Cool. We'll work on your truck later after Connor's on the mend." Passing by Lucas to get out through the front door Hank patted Lucas's shoulder, then held out his hand in a 'gimme' motion. "Let me drive your truck to the store so I can get a feel for it, and I'll top off your gas for you."

"That's acceptable." Handing over the truck keys Lucas waited for Hank leave the house before he sat down on the coffee table beside the couch to watch over his big ill brother. "Do you need anything?"

"...No." Connor still sounded so exhausted. "Just stay close by, I don't want to be alone."

"I won't go far. How do you feel?"

"Embarrassed."

"You're not the only one to get sick from a parasite, brother. There's no reason to be embarrassed."

"My scanner should've been able to detect any and all foreign contamination within anything Thirium-based, and yet it didn't. You and I should never be affected by such an infection."

"As the most advanced android ever created I can also state that I should've seen the car coming before you were struck, and that I should've been aware of the assaults taking place in the precinct and stopped them, or noticed that Saxon was mentally unsound. We're advanced but we're not perfect."

"...Maybe."

"In two weeks Tina will be returning to your precinct. She's made a full recovery and she's in good spirits."

"Good." Readjusting the ice pack over his stomach Connor gave Lucas a somber stare. "She didn't deserve to endure that."

"Neither did you." Biting his tongue Lucas didn't push the conversation and instead let Connor take the lead.

"...I need to be punished for my crime."

"I believe it's safe to say your own guilt is punishing you far worse than any law ever could."

Sighing Connor blinked slowly and watched as Sumo came over to the coffee table to sit down beside Lucas. Lightly petting Sumo's ears Connor thought about what Lucas said and compared it to what Hank had told him the other night. "...Hank thinks the same thing. He asked when my punishment would be enough."

"What did you say?"

"I didn't know. And I still don't."

"You've been through enough. You don't need to be punished for anything. Those three men were truly diabolical, and even though you crossed a personal line in order to make the world aware of it, they ended up revealing their true colors out of cowardice. Your actions also led to the investigation of the mayor who was just as corrupt and dangerous."

"The ends don't justify the means. It never will."

"You're right. And since you're aware of your actions having consequences means you're a good person down inside, and you just did one bad thing. Please don't believe your one misdeed is the definition of who you are, and what you believe in."

"I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it."

"Connor, are you familiar with survivor's guilt?"

"Yes, I'm aware of it. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm worried you're suffering from that very condition." Putting his right hand on Connor's left shoulder Lucas explained his reasoning in calm and understanding tone. "You survived the Raid on Jericho, were reactivated after being shot dead by Markus, and you escaped CyberLife Tower after having to face off with your final counterpart all in one night. You've been shot, stabbed, hit by a car, threatened and... You've been through so much in such a small amount of time."

A single tear rolled down Connor's cheek and disappeared into the couch cushion beneath his head.

"It's okay to live your life. You don't have to feel guilty because you can live while others died."

"...Lucas, the other night Hank offered to adopt me as his son and I... I turned the offer down."

"You... But, why? You and Hank are very good friends and you-"

"Because I shouldn't be his only surviving son! I shouldn't... Why do I get to survive so much and live on, while Cole; an innocent child who didn't even have the chance to live, has to die? He was killed because of another driver losing control of his car, because of a doctor choosing to get high and couldn't perform the lifesaving operation, and because an android who wasn't programmed to handle any patients with that level of internal trauma all failed him. It's not fair!"

Lucas's heart sank like a stone as he realized that the depth of Connor's pain went to an entirely new level. Neither deviant had ever met Cole but they knew how much he was loved and how much his death had affected Hank. The insecurity Connor felt when it came to how he could possibly be seen as a replacement suddenly made everything else make sense.

Connor's original model was destroyed and the current Connor simply replaced the original. During the mission to the CyberLife Tower Connor alone had to face off with the final replacement that had been activated by CyberLife in a last ditch attempt to stop the Revolution, and in the end Connor had to kill him. Soon after Connor discovered Lucas, yet another replacement android, and found a way to let Lucas be his own person rather than just a carbon copy of who Connor already was. Being taken in by Hank as a son after Hank already lost his firstborn son must've triggered a new sense of guilt.

"...I can't imagine how you feel at the moment, but I can offer you this as consideration."

Glancing up at Lucas silently Connor waited to hear his advice."

"Families can have more than one child. Families can have children that are many years apart in age. Families can have children that a blend of step siblings. Families can have children that are biological, fostered and adopted." Speaking softly Lucas explained everything perfectly. "You shouldn't feel guilty over something that happened before you even existed."

"It's not right... Cole was a little boy and died in his father's arms because other people made mistakes. Skye lost a child before it was even born because it was unhealthy and there's was nothing- It's not fair that so many innocent people suffer while the guilty can walk the streets without consequences."

"And that's why Hank, you and I are detectives. We're protecting the innocent from the guilty because no one else can."

"It won't revive the dead."

"No, it won't. But it'll help make life more bearable for those who are still with us. You must see that the reason Hank is still a detective is because he wants to keep doing the right thing and protect innocent people from the same pain he has already survived. That's why you chose to resume your own career as a detective, too. I can feel it."

"...What if I was wrong? What if I-"

"Stop doubting yourself, please. I trust you with my life, as does Hank. The way you showed only concern for Tina after you were both stabbed, and risked your own future to protect Skye is proof that you're a dedicated protector. We can trust you, and you need to learn how to trust yourself."

"How?"

"That's... I believe that's something only you can find out for yourself. You being in pain won't stop others from feeling it, too. Just don't give up on yourself, and stop trying to punish yourself."

Relaxing into the couch cushions Connor nodded his head a little and closed his eyes. "...I'll try."

"Thank you, brother." Patting the couch cushions beside Connor in an inviting manner Lucas made sure Sumo cuddled up with Connor so his brother wasn't ever going to be alone. "Lay still and rest. I'm going to check over your Thirium in the kitchen and then I'm going to make dinner for everyone. Aaron swore me to secrecy, but he taught me a few cooking techniques I believe will be beneficial to everyone."

Falling silent on the couch Connor wrapped his arms around Sumo's neck and pulled in the massive dog for a supportive hug. "...I need to find a way to make peace with what I've done. I'm not sure how but I have to find a way for my family's sake."

-next chapter-

Author's Note: *"You bet your sweet ass I am." & "You shouldn't assume someone can't understand what you're saying." - used Google translate, so yeah, grain of salt with the accuracy of these translations!