It was a strange night. Hank stormed away angrily moments ago to his car, „to get completely hammered because he needed to think", as he had put it. And before this, he had asked a bunch of questions from Connor – keeping his revolver against the android's forehead all the while. He was a hot-headed man that much was for certain, that had been made clear for the android when the lieutenant smacked him against the wall in the police station. But Connor acknowledged it as a thing what he will run into multiple times during their missions.
However, the lieutenant's questions didn't leave his processor. Even though Hank seemed to accept the outcome of the gardener factory incident where Connor had let the deviant go, when they came to this park to relax, the case came up again as a talking point.
- …Then that girl was really desperate, as you say – Hank said, grabbing a bottle of beer.
- It just simulated it, Lieutenant – Connor said, standing before Hank. – The hairdresser androids were programmed to imitate human behaviour and emotions well, in order to be great chat partners for human clients.
- And what about you, Connor? – Hank asked. He threw the bottle into the trash and stood up in front of the android. – You look human…you sound human…But what are you really?
What is he really? A machine, designed to accomplish its mission no matter what. He could answer that now with ease, but at that moment he couldn't do this immediately. But why?
- I'm whatever you want me to be, Lieutenant – finally Connor answered. – Your partner, your buddy to drink with…or just a machine, designed to accomplish a task.
- You could've shot that girl, but you didn't! – Hank growled and push him a little just to make the android lose its balance a bit. – Why didn't you shoot, Connor?! Some scruples suddenly enter into you program?!
Maybe. Yes, that must have been the answer, Connor thought but he also knew that wasn't true. He had felt sorry for her and he just couldn't have done it. He even honestly confessed this to Hank, to which the Lieutenant's reaction was to pull out his revolver and point it to the android's forehead – like the detective had done to Silver.
- But are you afraid to die, Connor?
The question made him feel tense, his LED started to flash in yellow like it did right now as well. Afraid? He couldn't answer no immediately – rather he said that it would be regrettable to be interrupted in this way. Hank just snorted and said that he chose a really crooked way to say yes, but what the Lieutenant asked after this made him think more.
- How do I know you won't deviate too?
Connor runs self-tests regularly, he knows what he is and what he's not – he told this Hank as well. However, as he looked over the past events, Connor felt something off. He had allowed a deviant to run and couldn't answer simple questions immediately. As if some kind of error entered into his system.
- Nice view, right?
Connor's line of thought was torn apart in an instant, and he looked into the direction of the voice with wide open eyes. Silver walked toward him with a smile.
- You shouldn't be here! – the detective whispered. – If the Lieutenant sees you—
- I believe he is in an illuminated state enough to forget everything by tomorrow morning – Silver chuckled and sat next to Connor.
- Why did you come back? I've thought you went to search for Jericho.
- I wanted to thank you for letting me go. And besides, something is still bugging me: Why did you do it?
- Hank wanted to pull this answer out of me as well, but I couldn't give him a proper one – Connor looked into the distance with a troubled look.
- Ah, I saw that – Silver nodded. – Now I understand where your gun tactics come from. Tell me, how did it feel to fear for your life?
- I am a machine. Therefore, I couldn't feel such a thing.
- Well, it seemed like you froze when the Lieutenant pointed the gun at you – she smiled with one eyebrow raised.
Connor's LED turned into yellow and started to flash as his processor worked. Did that really happen? Hank said it too but he thought that alcohol caused delusions in the man's brain.
- It wouldn't be clever to deactivate in that way – Connor started impartially. – Valuable data would be lost which would have obstructed the mis—
- You really overcomplicate a simple and obvious answer – Silver cut him off shaking her head.
- Doesn't matter – Connor tensely adjusted his tie. – By the way, aren't you afraid to be noticed by a cop? You are one of the wanted deviants.
- I'm not worrying because the one who is supposed to be catching me is sitting right next to me – grinned the girl.
The detective turned to her. His system signalled that the target is right in front of him but instead of putting cuffs on her wrists, he just glared into her golden eyes.
- Does that behaviour mode comes with deviancy or it's your default programming to have a sharp tongue? – Connor finally asked with a monotone voice but his LED flashed in red for a moment.
- Oh, did I just rouse the big deviant hunter? – the girl chuckled. – Anyway, I'm a hairdresser android, that big mouth is in my programming. I couldn't use it enough in the past, but now I can.
- Then use it to tell me about Jericho.
- Nice try, but I don't know where it is. But I don't even care about it – Silver shrugged.
- Why?
- Since our little chase I found a few deviants and listened to their stories: all of them became the "enemies of the system" in really tragic ways – the girl explained. – And here is me, who snapped because of yelling. I'm kinda sticking out from among them.
- So you came looking for the one you'd have to run away from? – Connor raised an eyebrow.
- You are not that scary as they say… Just don't get too carried away with the gun slinging.
- It was commanded by my programming. Also, I don't think that would be useful against you again. You were brave last time.
- Aw, thank you for the compliment! – Silver blinked rapidly and jokingly with big lashes then narrowed her eyes. – I bet it was just a programmed line.
Connor only glanced at her mysteriously instead of answering, then they both turned to the view. They stayed like this for nearly five minutes when it started snowing. A big snowflake had fallen on Silver's nose which made her snap out of her thoughts.
- Perhaps you should drive your Lieutenant home – she looked back to the car. – I don't think he turned on the heat. Don't let him catch a cold.
- You are right – Connor nodded and stood up. – It's time to go.
They glared at each other once again. The detective's program still signalled to him. He closed his eyes and brought one of his hands to his temple.
- Can I…have a question, before you go? – he asked.
- I don't know if they made a painkiller patch for headache if you are curious about that – Silver said with a half-smile.
- No, just… Do you really not have a clue about Jericho? Who or what it is? How do you even know about them?
- That was three questions, but I let it go since I'm here as a deviant who could know something about it. But I still don't know much more than that name I have to find – the girl explained. – One of my companions told me to follow a sign—
- A sign? – Connor cut her off with a yellow flashing LED as he saved that information. – What sign?
- Your Lieutenant will get a cold, detective – Silver changed the subject with a mysterious smile. – Maybe next time I can offer you some information about Jericho… But it depends on your trustfulness. To be frank, I don't think you'd betray me – she measured Connor up and down then continued with a wink. – As far as I can see, one day we will welcome you among us.
And with this, she has turned around and walked away in the growing snowfall. Connor stared after her with confusion, he tried to put together the events but failed at it. He shook his head a little and went to the car with clacking processor. He took the driver's seat and looked at Hank: the man was sleeping on the passenger's seat with a bottle of beer in his hand – presumably, he wanted to open it but fell asleep during the process. Connor pulled out a blanket from the back and wrapped him up in it, then started the car and drove him home.
This one is again kinda a redone version of an in-game scene: the bridge scene where Connor and Hank talk about the Eden Club androids. In this scene they talk about Silver instead of the two Traci and after Hank storms away, Silver comes in.
It won't be a lover-line kinda story - I'm planning to build it up to a good friendship. I can image Silver as one of the reasons Connor became deviant.
And I planned to upload these to as single one-shots, but this is kinda a continuation of 'Mercy'. I dunno if there will be more, for now, I will make it 'Complete'.
Hope ya like it! :D