Aporia

Chapter 7

Simon had no more lingering doubts about Connor or his motivation.

Connor walked woodenly after Lieutenant Anderson, coming to perch silently on the edge of the man's desk as he processed what had just happened.

Simon was processing too, the both of them overwhelmed with the sudden influx of emotion.

Connor had told him that he had hidden him from CyberLife. Buried him under an insane amount of encryptions, if his memory was to be believed.

But it was clear now that even Connor hadn't known how thorough he had been.

It had been such a startling experience to suddenly have his own body again, even a simulated one within the confines of a program. His shock had only gotten worse when Connor realized he was there, his expression so openly terrified it had knocked the breath right out of Simon.

And then that expression had been erased.

In the blink of an eye, Connor's face had become blank and empty as he turned to meet his handler.

Simon had been so sure it was the end for him. Connor wasn't a deviant, no matter how close he was, and Amanda would ask questions that Connor would have to answer. He begged Connor not to, that single word was all he could manage through the lump in his throat. The instant Connor had stepped out from under his hand and walked away without a word, he had been convinced that it was the end.

But it hadn't been.

And during that meeting he realized why.

Whatever Connor had done to him, it had made him invisible to the AI program known as Amanda. But there had been no way to know that going in.

Connor had gambled on the possibility.

Simon was left reeling from the whole situation, and it only got worse when they were released from the garden only to learn that Connor and his human partner were being pulled from the case.

CyberLife had given Connor one last chance to prove his worth, and moments later the Detroit Police Department had taken that chance away.

Simon was drowning in the overflow, struggling under the sheer weight of the fear and despair Connor was internalizing. If he hadn't had three years experience dealing with his own extreme emotions, Simon had no doubt that Connor's would have swallowed him whole. As it was, he did his best to let the foreign emotions run through him, separating them as he went.

But it was hard when all Connor could think of was his impending deactivation, and the realization that in a matter of hours he would be forced to march himself back to CyberLife.

To his own execution.

His stress levels were beginning to skyrocket, and Simon desperately wanted to keep him from spiraling too far.

"I'm so sorry, Connor." The words were so inefficient, but given the circumstances, they were all he could offer Connor.

It was the second time today that Simon had said that.

"It doesn't matter," Connor had replied then.

Because to a machine, it didn't. It shouldn't.

But it did.

Androids were so mistreated on the whole, but Connor had been so wronged and manipulated from the moment of his activation, that it made Simon want to scream. Connor's heart held such compassion, even while pinned under the full weight of his program restrictions, and CyberLife would snuff him out like a burnt out candle. Something to be thrown out once it was deemed useless.

It was wrong.

"I . . . it wasn't supposed to be like this," Connor admitted so quietly it felt more like a confession.

"What were you expecting?" Simon tried to soften the question as much as he could, but he wanted to know. The only scenarios Simon could see ended in heartbreak. For Connor. For Lieutenant Anderson.

For Simon himself.

The question hit Connor hard, and when it washed over him the undertow grabbed Simon and pulled him under.

"What were you expecting?"

He didn't know.

More time, maybe. A chance to actually complete his mission. Something, anything else besides having the rug ripped out from under him like this.

But he didn't say any of that.

Because a machine shouldn't have expectations. A machine only needs to follow orders.

But, what was the point of CyberLife giving him one last chance if he didn't get to utilize it? It was-

Unfair.

That was something they could agree on, Simon thought as he resurfaced.

"So you're going back to CyberLife?"

Lieutenant Anderson's voice was a bit of a grounding force, allowing both of them to focus on the outside world. The man had swiveled his chair to face Connor, arms crossed and face a neutral variation of unreadable.

"I have no choice," Connor admitted. "I'll be deactivated and analyzed to find out why I failed." And then quietly, for Simon, he said. "I failed you too. I prolonged your existence only to lead you to the same fate you were desperate to avoid. I'm sorry."

"Don't say that. This wasn't your fault, and it's not our time just yet."

Anderson's expression was suddenly hard, calculating. He leaned in, voice pitched so it wouldn't carry beyond the three of them. Not that the man knew there was three of them. "What if we're on the wrong side, Connor? What if we're fighting against people who just wanna be free?"

"It's nice to know at least Lieutenant Anderson is listening," Simon said. "That's a start."

"But he's one man. The likelihood of winning over the majority of the country's population is abysmal, especially with CyberLife and the government actively working against your cause."

"But not impossible."

Connor mulled that over. "Statistically speaking, no."

"Then there's still room for hope, isn't there?"

"Only if I can make a breakthrough on this case before the FBI arrive."

A breakthrough meant Connor finding other deviants. It meant Connor finding Jericho. And both of them knew everything he needed was sitting right there in Simon's data files. Everything to keep Amanda happy was right there hidden on Connor's hard drive.

But, Connor didn't so much as mention it.

Simon didn't know if that made it better or worse. Would it even occur to Connor to ask Simon for help? Perhaps he thought Simon would refuse even if he did.

If he had asked just this morning, then he would have been right. Simon would have resisted with every fiber of his being.

But now?

Now . . . Simon wasn't so sure.

"When the deviants rise up, there will be chaos." Connor met Hank's stare, and Simon just knew Amanda's words were haunting his thoughts with the way he was echoing them. "Even if you're right, it's too late. And even if it wasn't, I wouldn't be able to assist. My orders from CyberLife still stand."

"I've seen you bend rules before."

"I was prioritizing between conflicting orders. That's different."

"I don't think it is." Hank straightened, eyes brightening. Thinking. "When you refused to kill that android at Kamski's place . . . You put yourself in her shoes." His head tilts to the side just a bit. "You showed empathy, Connor. Empathy is a human emotion."

"I don't know why I did it," Connor claimed, fear coiling within him, winding him tight.

That was a blatant lie, but Simon didn't call him on it. Especially not when Simon suddenly found himself contemplating the unthinkable.

Meanwhile, Connor was trying to say his farewells.

"I'm not programmed to say things like this, but I really appreciated working with you. With a little more time, who knows . . ." His head tilted, a mirror to Anderson's gesture earlier, and gave a small bitter smile. "We might've even become friends."

Connor's regret cut through Simon like a knife.

If that hadn't already swayed Simon, what happened next would have.

Anderson's eyes narrowed as his gaze drifted over Connor's shoulder, lip curling unpleasantly. "Well, well, here comes Perkins, that motherfucker . . . Sure don't waste any time at the FBI."

Connor twisted around, and sure enough, the FBI agent was walking down the hall, his eyes glued to the screen of his phone.

If the FBI found Jericho first it would end bloody. No question.

The words left him without his permission.

"I can help."

Connor was so startled that Simon just knew his LED was cycling yellow. "What?"

"I can take you to Jericho."

Connor was clearly thrown. "Why would you do that?"

"If Jericho was found, I'd rather it be you." That was , no, when Jericho was found he would prefer Connor to be the one to find it. At his core, Connor was a good person brought into the world in an impossible situation. But Connor was so close to that edge. If Simon could get him away from the humans long enough, he could show him that it was okay for him to take that final step into deviancy. He could show him that he didn't have to be afraid, that there were allies waiting. Simon knew Markus would give him a chance if the circumstances were right.

But if the humans found it first, Simon knew there would be no chance for negotiation.

It had to be Connor.

"If I wasn't here, how would you go about finding the deviants on your own?"

Connor's fear faded as his impressive analysis programs worked on it. The more Connor focused on the problem the calmer he became, the lines between the two of them once more becoming sharp and distinct. "The evidence we've collected should be sufficient to find a location."

"Okay," Simon said. "Keep them from finding Jericho, then. Or at least slow them down. If you do that, then I'll show you the way."

"And how do you expect me to do that?"

"You're the advanced prototype," Simon couldn't help but tease. "Figure it out."

Connor turned back to Lieutenant Anderson, hope and determination surging through him. It was enough to make Simon dizzy with it.

"We can't give up. I know the answer is in the evidence we collected." Connor leans in and points towards the hall to emphasize his point. "If Perkins takes it, it's all over."

"There's no choice," Anderson admitted, voice bitter. "You heard Fowler, we're off the case."

Connor scrambled off the desk, pleading. "You've got to help me, Lieutenant. I need more time so I can find a lead in the evidence we collected." He taps a finger into the palm of his other hand. "I know the solution is in there!"

Hank tries to stop him with a raised palm. "Listen, Connor-"

Connor held both hands out, halting him as he urgently continued his plea. "If I don't solve this case, Cyberlife will destroy me." He dropped one hand and spread the fingers of the other. "Five minutes. That's all I ask."

Lieutenant Anderson stared at Connor, eyes searching. He tilted his head back to look beyond Connor, towards Fowler's office, then back again. He pressed his lips together and let loose a long sigh through his nose.

Finally. He nods as he heaved himself out of his chair. Once he was shoulder to shoulder to Connor he said quietly, "Key to the basement is on my desk."

Anderson took two steps before he realized that Connor was still rooted to the spot.

"Get a move on!" He growled. "I can't distract him forever!

Author's Note: Trick or Treat! You guys get an early chapter! Happy Halloween!