DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT- INTERROGATION ROOM 1
1, FEBRUARY 2043 - 00:011:29
-WINTER-
INITIATING PRE-CONSTRUCTION RECALL PROGRAM
OUTCOME 1 - COMPLETED | DEVIANT DESTROYED ITSELF
OUTCOME 2 - UNKNOWN | ?
OUTCOME 3 - ACTIVATED
/ NOVEMBER 6th 2038 - 12:56:05 AM
[ EXTRACT CONFESSION - COMPLETED ]
[OBJECTIVE: LEAVE INTERROGATION ROOM]
/ The deviant in the interrogation room has started to smash its head against the metal table in an attempt to destroy itself, the loud horrifying din rings through the concrete room.
RK800 stands by the door, watching the android emotionlessly, knowing that this was the consequence of pushing the androids stress levels to the max. If it couldn't be stopped, the android would have no worth to their investigation.
Connor needed it alive.
Officer Miller, Detective Reed and Lieutenant Anderson all rush into the room, Miller is the only one who actively tries to stop it, struggling to get the handcuffs off the self-destructing android.
"Stop it, goddamnit!" Reed yells.
But he can't.
The HK400 is too strong and continues to smash it's head down, filling the air with specks of thirium.
"I… I- I can't! I can't stop it!".
[O] INTERVENE
[X] GIVE UP
RK800 decides to step in, having the strength and knowledge to prevent the deviant from causing further damage to itself. "That's enough!" it yells, "You need to stop that right now!".
The deviant doesn't listen, of course, RK800 expected no less.
Officer Miller struggles but finally unlocks the HK400 from its restraints, and in a blink of an eye, with the speed that only an android could possess, takes the gun from the officer's holster.
It aims the gun at RK800 and fired.
Rk800 sees it too late, the last thing it sees is the bullet force it's way into its skull.
It feels its programs shutdown into nothingness.
There is nothing left.
Nothing….
Nothing….
Nothingnothingnothingnothingnothingpainnothingnothingnothingnothingpainnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingpainnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingpainnothingnothingnothinpaingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingnothingpainnothingnothingnothingnothingnoth
PRE-CONSTRUCTION RECALL PROGRAM ENDED:
\/
\/
-/SYSTEMS CHECK
/VISION BI-COMPONENTS...ONLINE^
/AUDIO BI-COMPONENTS... ONLINE^
/MOTOR SKILLS BI-COMPONENT… UNRESPONSIVE^
/SPEECH BI-COMPONENT… DAMAGED^ - INITIATING REPAIR 50%
!/STRESS LEVEL: 72%\!
SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE AVERTED
/\
"Oh, pheck! Quick! Put him on his side…".
I can see and hear everything going on around me, but I can't do anything about it. I can't move, I can't speak, I can only watch.
Hank has Nines by the collar of his shirt the second he rushes into the room, the android is stunned and doesn't pay much mind, he's just staring at me with a dazed and frightened expression. His LED is flashing a violent red, grey eyes wide and blank.
"What the fuck is happening to him?! What the fuck did you do to him, you plastic asshole?!".
Gavin gets up immediately and pulls Hank away, ignoring Richard for a moment. He's not angry… concern fills his voice more than anything else. I don't know if he's worried about Nines or me, but I don't really care… everything hurts too much to care.
"Hank now's not the time to get pissed, the kid's having some sort of seizure,".
I doubt this is a seizure… a 'malfunction', misinterpreted code that messed with my systems. But whatever is happening to me, it gets Hanks attention so who am I to judge. He looks over at Richard once more before rushing over to me.
"What do you mean 'seizure'? He's an android, androids can't get seizures".
"Well tough shit, old man. He's having one and we need to help. Nines, call an ambulance…".
But Nines doesn't move, and blue blood begins to foam at the edges of my mouth and nose.
It hurts...
"Oh fuck, he's bleeding. Alex? Alex, can you hear me?".
"Nines! What's taking so long?"
He's frozen… and it's all my fault.
"Your robot boyfriend is broken, dickhole. Call the ambulance your damn self while I watch 'em… or are you going to let Alex die just like you let Connor die?".
It hurts so much…
"Hank, now really isn't the time to get all salty over the past. I tried to make peace, you refused it, I accepted it. You're right being pissed at me, but this time you're putting this kid's life in danger by arguing like this. Just keep him on his side and keep shit out of his mouth, understood?" Reed says, grabbing his phone and begins to dial, leaving Hank to watch over me before he can say anything, "Hello? Yeah… we got a bit of a situation down at the station-".
A horrid garbled noise escapes my throat as I struggle to say anything through the crackling static of my voice box. I don't even realize it but I'm trying to scream, but all that leaves my mouth is static.
"We're going to get you help… just settle down… shh shh, settle down".
Tear sting my eyes and I grip on tightly to Hank's hand, which he slipped into my smaller hand in an attempt to comfort me as I continue to convulse, the spasms slowly coming to a halt.
"Hey… hey, it's okay. I'm right here, I've got you, kid," Hank continues, his voice mixed with anger, fear and concern as he grips my hand back.
"Okay… the ambulance is on its way," Gavin says, walking back into my line of sight. He kneels down and looks at me, "It looks like it's stopping… Alex? Alex can you hear us?".
But I can't respond… I don't know how to.
The only sound that fills the air is static.
I shut my eyes again, visions of what I can only describe as nightmares dance through my processor. This isn't the first time this has happened, my pre-construction recall program forces a lot of the unmade choices I was faced with during my first week with Hank to play out like they were actually happening.
I can still see his thirium on the table, the HK400's… among others, invisible to everyone but me and Richard.
And it's my fault he's dead…
I did nothing. I stood at the door and I watched the android destroy himself, doing absolutely nothing to stop him. In my mind, I see his face next to Simon's in the evidence room, dead.
I didn't even know his name...
Finally, after what feels like forever when in reality is less than a minute, the shaking stops and all my bi-components return to their online functions.
"It's okay," Hank says, "You're okay".
I continue to sob, my voice box still fluctuating and dipping in and out of static as I curl up into a tight ball, pulling my knees to my chest.
"Okay… he seems to be fine, and the seizure didn't last more than a minute but we should still have the EMTs check him out," Reed says, reaching out and resting a hand on my shoulder, "Come on, we'll all go back out to the office to make more room".
"NO!" I yelp, panic suddenly flooding through my systems the second he touches me. I don't know why though, I know Reed is just trying to help me, he's just as scared as Hank, but I don't want to be touched by him… I just want Hank.
I grab onto the older officer, basically clinging to him as if my life depended on it.
"No no no no, go away! Don't let him take me away, Hank!".
Reed pulls back and nods, "What? I'm not gonna…?-... Pheck. Alright, okay. We'll give you some space until the EMTs get here, right Hank?".
Of course, Hank doesn't move, holding me protectively as I continue to cower, but at the same time, he keeps his distance. "I'll leave when I feel like it, okay? Now piss off and let me handle this".
Gavin simply groans and finally turns his attention to Nines, who's LED has finally relaxed to a pulsing yellow. "You good, Richard?".
The android nods, "I'm functional".
Hank grumbles at that… just like he always did whenever I brought up the fact that, despite being alive, I'm still technically a machine with programs and parts. He hated it when I'd get all analytical and bring up statistics instead of admitting I was feeling an emotion.
Gavin furrows his brows a little, "What the fuck happened when you interfaced? The kid just got all twitchy and started screaming. I've never heard an android scream like that!".
"I'm not sure what happened, we interfaced and… I was forced out of his memories at a certain point," Nines replies, looking over at me with a puzzled expression.
"Okay, what'd ya see?".
"I was able to gain a… certain amount of information," he says, surprisingly keeping it vague, "I can confirm that the two suspects who attempted to abduct Alex are the ones from previous cases, but I was unable to gain any identifying marking of the van or the other androids".
"But you're okay… right?".
Nines nods, "Yes… Alex's memories of the event where just… rather intense, more than anticipated".
Reed sighs again, with something close to relief this time. "Okay… we'll have to work with that. Now come on, Nines, let's get you out of here so the EMTs can have some space to check Alex over. Take care, alright kid… don't let this geezer bug you too much, alright?".
Richard pulls himself up to his feet and follows Gavin closely, giving me one last look before exiting through the door.
Now it's just me and Hank.
My crying has slowed at this point, turning into nothing more than sniffles and whimpers, but Hank is still there, doing his best to comfort me. I can tell that he is out of his comfort zone holding me like this, and I have no doubt it reminds him of holding Cole.
It hurts to know he's hurting still, over Cole's death, over my death… not that I expected him not to. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child… twice.
But it's my fault that I broke him further.
I wince when I remember the last words I heard before… before I became Alex.
"Don't... don't fucking do this to me. Die and I'll never fucking forgive you, you plastic asshole!".
I choke on a sob again, gripping Hank's shirt tighter.
You shouldn't cry, the voice in my head says.
It was your own fault that you died.
Hank has every right to hate you.
"I'm sorry," I whine softly without really meaning to, "I'm so sorry, Hank".
Hank chuckles softly and shakes his head, gently prying me away from his body when the EMTs finally arrive on site, "Jesus, kid. No one coulda guessed you'd spaz out like that. This wasn't your fault, alright?".
I shake my head too.
"I'm sorry, Hank".
"Is this the android?" one of the EMTs says, setting her bag down in front of the lieutenant and me.
I assume he nods silently because the next thing I know, I can feel him begin to hand me off.
"Careful… he's sorta jumpy" Hank warns.
And sure enough, I start to struggle in the EMT's arms, trying to escape and go back to Hank.
I may not be Connor anymore, but I still care about Hank… he's still my Dad…
Right?
Bring up his file again.
It never said he was your adoptive father.
Just an adoptive father.
You're not registered under his name.
You're not Hank's son…
You never where.
Without realizing it, I let out a sharp scream, again cursed by my childish feeling, emotions, and intuitions. "STOP!" I screech, "Stop, stop stop! I don't want to think about it, stop making me think about it!".
Of course, everyone is confused by this, not knowing what I'm talking about, or why I'm gripping my head and digging my nails into my skull with violent ferocity.
"Shit! Hey… stop that, Kid. You're gonna hurt yourself!" the other EMT says, reaching over and prying my hands away from me, "Just take it easy".
His hands wrap around my wrists in a similar fashion as to how Rossco and Tony held and tied me up, sending slight panic through my processors once again.
"No! Don't hurt me, don't hurt me! Hank! Help! I don't want to die!".
But Hank doesn't move, and I know it's because he needs to act professionally in a situation like this, and not let his instincts make an irrational or unwise decision.
That…
Or he simply doesn't care and allows the EMTs to try and soothe me, get my stress levels back to a normal level.
!/STRESS LEVEL: 66%\!
"Just relax kid… let them do their job. They aren't gonna hurt you".
I know that, but I don't at the same time.
As an adult… as... Connor, I was never one to trust the technicians sent by Cyberlife, or anyone really. This was the only thing I'd admit that terrified me. I was still technically a rogue android, Cyberlife wanted me dead, they wanted to destroy me, replace me… hurt the people I cared about. That's part of the reason why I avoided New Jericho, I was scared that Amanda would take over again, and I'd end up trying to kill Markus again, or Hank… or… everyone.
"It's alright… we're just going to check you're systems and run a diagnostic… it won't hurt alright?" the female android EMT says, "Can you tell me your name, sweetie?".
I shake my head and sniffle again, admitting defeat as I realize that even if I tell Hank who I am, who's to say he'd still want me. He said he'd never forgive me, and Hank's not the type of guy to make empty promises.
When I don't respond, allowing the male technician to use a stethoscope to listen to the mechanisms in my chest, Hank steps up to the plate.
"We're not exactly sure… we've just been calling him Alex," he says, rubbing at his beard, "Although technically he'd be a John Doe".
She hums a little.
"Make and serial number?".
"Unknown,".
"What? He's not one of those upgraded YK500s?" she asks.
"Nope. One of our… uh, Android officer wasn't able to identify his serial number, it doesn't match any known model,". Hank struggles even mentioning Richard, I can hear the pain and strain in his voice.
"Well, he seems fine. Sweetie, can you run another diagnostic just so we can be sure there's nothing wrong internally?".
She's talking to me again, but I hardly notice until she reaches out her hand in an attempt to interface and get the information herself.
"I wouldn't do that," Hank warns, "That's what triggered the seizure in the first place".
So the lady nods and pulls herself away so Hank can come closer. "Kid… you really need to work with us here," he says, "we're trying to help you and put the bad men who hurt you in jail, okay?".
I nod, blankly and close my eyes, allowing my systems to do a full sweep for anything suspicious. Of course, it comes back with nothing out of the ordinary, aside from a 2% drop of thirium levels and a stress level that could be much lower.
I report this to the technician and look up at Hank expectantly, seeing him give me somewhat of an accomplished smile.
"Good job kid,".
I can't bring myself to respond… or even smile.
"Okay… he's fine now, there was no damage sustained… but I recommend keeping his stress levels lowered, if he has another episode, call us right way. And this is just an observation, I'd try and figure out what model he is, you might have a chop-shop of Frankenstein wannabe in the works,".
Hank nods, "I'll forward the message to Jericho. And yeah… I was thinking someone was trying to play god with this one, but he looks pretty genuine".
The other android shrugs, and after packing up, he leaves. And now it's just Hank and me in the interrogation room, just like old times.
He sighs, heavily and pained, before looking down at me on the floor, in his oversized hoodie, arm limp and out of its cast, and blue blood staining my lips and nose. I must look pathetic in his eyes… small, helpless and pathetic.
A waste of space...
Just a piece of plastic with legs and a brain.
"Get up," Hank says, soft but… also callous at the same time, like when he starts to lose his temper, "I gotta go fill out a form now".
I bit my lip and nod, holding back an "I'm sorry" knowing that that will only piss Hank off even more. So instead I just pick myself up off the ground and cradle my arm with my uninjured one and silently allow Hank to lead me out of the room and back out into the bullpen.
Of course, because I screamed and caused such a big disturbance with an EMT team rushing through, everyone is looking at me. Despite Hank's best efforts to shield me from their stares, I can feel my stress level begin to rack up again, my LED remaining a dull red. "Just relax, okay Alex? We're going to get outta here soon,".
A flash of yellow sparks through my LED.
"Are we going to go back home?" I ask meekly, flinching when I realize what I said, and praying to ra9 that Hank doesn't get too suspicious, "I mean… to your home. I want… I want to play with Sumo again,".
Hank ignores me until we reach his desk, in which he picks me up and sets me down on the top. "I dunno, kid," he says blandly, "I dunno".
A small whine unintentionally escapes my throat which causes Hank to groan and roll his eyes, "Just stay put alright? I'll figure something out once I'm done with this report".
But… shouldn't Richard be doing the report? Unless the system has changed, the person who does the interrogation usually does the reports that follows… unless Hank is talking about the whole passing out and having a seizure thing he has to make a report on. My confused look prompts Hank to grumble louder as he flops down on his chair and activates his monitor, "What is it now, kid. I know that look,".
I stay quiet, not really sure if I should say what's on my mind as I look over at Nines and Gavin sit at their own desks, Gavin seemingly trying to talk to the android who's LED is still flashing red.
"Go on… spit it out,".
"I… did," I begin, "Did I hurt Richard? I- I didn't mean to".
I really don't expect him to care, and I'm not surprised when he just sighs.
"Go ask him yourself if that makes ya happy," he says, typing away at the digital keys.
I nod a little and look over at him again, squinting my eyes ever so slightly.
[ ██300 REQUESTING TELEKINETIC COMMUNICATION CONNECTION WITH RK900 #313 248 317 - 87…]
From here I can see Richard stiffen up slightly and look around, his grey eyes meeting with my one.
[TELEKINETIC COMMUNICATION CONNECTION WITH RK900 #313 248 317 - 87 VERIFIED]
[RK900 & ██300 CONNECTED VIA PRIVATE SERVER 03110921]
Nobody talks at first…
It's just dead air, both of us just staring at each other is an almost stunned silence.
I can't be sure of what he saw in my memories, but by the cold, distant look on Nine's face… I can tell it wasn't something good, and considering all the horrible things I've seen on the job. Or rather, what Connor saw on the job, could make it anything.
/Hello, Richard finally says.
/Hi, I respond, Are… you okay?
More silence.
I am. Are you? He asks, LED flashing yellow for a moment.
/Yes, I believe so. I have reason to believe that the malfunction I experienced had something to do with an increased stress level during the interface.
I see Richard shrug, /Perhaps… but, I must ask you a question regarding the contents of out interface this morning...
My LED flashes red, catching Hank's attention, but he doesn't say anything other than an annoyed grunt.
/What… what is it?
Richard looks down at his hands, the skin peeling back slightly, a common occurrence when androids get anxious and scared, most of our energy going straight to our thirium pump regulators.
/You're really him… aren't you? He says /You're Connor.
!/STRESS LEVEL: 73%\!
No.
Not Connor.
You're Alex.
Connor is dead.
/What? I- I don't… I'm not him… I tell him, trying not to let panic fill my words too much, /I'm Alex… n- not Connor.
/You don't have to lie, Richard says, /I saw… what happened that day. I- I felt…
He pauses and takes a visible breath, and I can see from here that his LED isn't liking the change in stress levels.
/I felt you die.
Without really thinking about it, the first thing that comes to mind is an apology. Never in my short, sorry life would I ever wish the pain that I experience on that roof on anyone, even someone who is… or at one point would have been my replacement. I don't want anyone else hurting because of my mistakes…
/I'm sorry! I exclaimed, taking in a sharp breath to prevent myself from actually yelling that out. I can feel my stress begin to built, not enough to be dangerous thankfully. /I didn't mean to hurt you… I didn't know that's that's what you'd see!
"Alex!" Hank snaps, so sudden that I almost fall off the desk, "Fucking calm down, your LED is a going crazy. You're gonna make your head explode or something".
"I- I'm sorry," I mutter, using my good hand to cover my LED.
He sighs and shakes his head, looking over at Richard who immediately looks away. "You talking to him or something? Doing that weird ass telepathy bullshit?".
I nod, "It's actually called a telekinetic communication connection, but yes… I am talking to Richard. Is… that okay?".
"Do whatever the hell you want, kid. I don't care… just make it fast, I'm almost done here, there we'll leave alright?".
"Okay," I say despite having no clue here Hank is going to take me now unless he plans to just take me to New Jericho like he's been saying. Now I have no hope of ever going back home… or, to Hank's home. It hurts knowing that, I might never get to see Sumo ever again, or Hank, for that matter. New Jericho is going to be my new home, and while Markus and the others did give me a spare room there if ever I needed one, it… never felt like home, it never was. Hank was always my home, he… he's the one who taught me how to live, how to become human, and now… he sees me as nothing more than another traumatized victim.
Not a son.
I turn back to Richard, only to find he's moved from Reed's desk. I sit up slightly and look around not seeing him in the immediate area.
"Breakroom, kid. You zoned out pretty hard".
I open my mouth but immediately shut it when Hank raises his hand, already annoyed with my constant. "Stop apologizing, I swear you're doing it just to piss me off".
A small giggle escapes my chest as I mutter another sorry.
He chuckles and rolls his eyes, pointing at the break room, "Go on and finish talking to talk to him, we have a long drive ahead of us".
I tilt my head to the side, "Where… where are you taking me?".
"To get some answers. That's all you need to know for now, alright?".
I swallow the non-existent saliva in my throat and hop off the desk with a nod, "Alright, Hank. I'll be ready".
"Good. Now get…".
So I trot off and find Nines in the break room, his LED flashing a light yellow as he pours himself a cup of what I now see is warm thirium, just like Hank gave me this morning. I… I don't know if I can trust him. Even if I manage to convince him that I'm not Connor, it would be useless… he saw my memories, he saw how I died, and I'm pretty that; since technically Richard is my better counterpart and was meant to replace me, he'd have access and knowledge of how Connor died. I'm going to have to trust him regardless of what I do or say… but… who's to say anyone would believe him? Or me for that matter.
"Alex?" Richard says suddenly, making me realize He's now standing in front of me, offering me the cup of thirium, "Are you sure you're alright?".
"Y- yeah," I say, timidly as I take the cup and sit at one of the tables again. "This is still a lot to take in".
"I… can't even imagine what it's been like for you," he says, quiet so that no one else can hear us, "losing so much like that, and so sudden. I couldn't-".
"Can we not talk about it anymore?" I ask, my grip tightening around the paper cup.
"Oh… of course," he says, snapping his mouth shut for a moment, before continuing on with our telekinetic connection. /May I ask you another question, Connor?
I sigh, /I'm… I'm not Connor. Not anymore. Now, I'm just Alex.
/Okay… Alex, He replies with a cautious smile, /I was just curious… why don't you want anyone to know you've returned? I'm positive it would benefit Hank very much to know that his son is okay…
I shake my head, my lip quivering at the thought, /I'm not his son anymore, Connor is dead.
"But you're still here," he retorts.
"I can't… I just can't do that, Nines".
"Why?".
The air is silent as I refuse to answer.
/Alex? Please answer me… I'm sorry if I said something that upset you.
"I- I just, can't hurt him again, not like that...".
!/STRESS LEVEL: 87%\!
You can't hurt him, Alex.
If you tell Hank who you are...
He won't love you anymore.
After all…
Why would he want an android back,
When he can't get his real son back.
You're just a replacement.
Richard places his hand on my back in an attempt to comfort me, but I shoulder him away. "It's okay, Alex. You're going to be okay".
But I know I won't.
And I'm not.
Things are far from okay.
"I need to go," I state, pushing the chair back from the small table.
"Alex, please. I'm just trying to understand-".
But I ignore him and just leave the break room, pushing past Reed as he passes by.
"Christ, who pissed you off?" he asks with a well-meant chuckle, but once again I just ignore him until I reach Hank again.
"Can we go?" I ask.
"Yeah, I just finished- woah… you been cryin' again?" the older cop asks, pointing to my cheeks, "No offense again, but you look like hell".
I just shake my head and avoid his previous statement, "Can we please just go? I don't… I don't wanna be here anymore".'
Hank looks past me back at the break room I just emerged from. "Did that bolts-for-brains asshole say something to you? Did he hurt you?".
"No!" I say, more tears filling my eyes no matter how hard I force them to stop, "Just… I want to leave, Hank".
But Hank isn't buying it.
"We'll leave once I find out what that bastard said to you. Like hell am I gonna just let that thing get away with this".
Before he can even get past me, I grab his hand and squeeze.
"Please, Hank. I don't want to stay here anymore".
I'm whining now, a very childish thing to do. But it feels natural and I can't help but to cry and carry on the persona of Alex, trying not to let myself grow too close, or become too emotional around Hank. he'd get suspicious that way.
And I hate myself for doing this, but acting like a scared, helpless child seems to get through to him. That is, in making him want to get rid of me quicker… I don't blame, I wouldn't want to be around someone who was roughly the same age and had the same temperament as a deceased child either.
He freezes and takes a deep breath, roughly pulling his hand away from mine. "Okay, fine, we'll leave… but if he did do anything to you… I will find out". He doesn't have to worry about finding anything out, I brought this pain upon myself. Richard was just trying to help… and so was Gavin to a lesser extent.
So, while he reports something to Fowler, Hank leave me sitting by the door near the front of the building to wait for him. While there, my communication line opens up again and in comes Richard's voice.
/I want you to know that we're all here to help you, Alex. I'm here… if you need someone to talk to or someone to listen, this line will be open. Anything we discuss will be completely confidential, I assure you. Just please… take care of yourself.
I don't respond, not yet anyway… not now.
In all honesty, I don't think I deserve to be taken care off, I shouldn't exist. I should have died that day, and I don't understand how or why I'm still here. What more could I offer this world as a child? All I'm going to end up doing is hurting Hank more… maybe if I-
I'm broken from my thoughts when Hank finally returns with his coat, seeming annoyed and angry at something. Hopefully, he didn't do anything to Gavin or Nines while I was away, they didn't do anything wrong. I did.
But we leave the station and step out into the cold world, only Hank's breath making clouds in the air. The sky is still grey from the snow last night, and I can tell that there is more on the way… hopefully, Hank will be okay. I hate to think of him all alone during a snowstorm like this, I understand his distaste for them, but facing that alone just seems cruel.
At least he has Sumo.
He leads me to his car and ushers me inside before taking over the front seat. He types in the destination and buckles in for the 'long drive' to the place I still don't know. This time, Hank doesn't refrain from using the radio, and heavy metal begins to blast through the speakers as we cruise out of the parking lot and onto the snowy streets.
"Listen, kid," he says suddenly, after a while on the road, the car heading right out of the city, "The guy we're gonna go see is a total creep and a bit of a nutjob, so just… stick with me until we can get some answers, alright?".
I nod, "Answers to what?".
"Where you came from, what model you are… shit like that,".
I furrow my eyebrows.
"We think you might have come from a chop-shop. People putting parts of different androids together to make an entirely new one… though… most are easy to distinguish and… a good deal of them aren't deviants".
"Do… do you think I'm a deviant?" I can't help but ask.
"I'm not sure," he replies, "Kid androids are always the hardest to figure out… don't think too much into it, alright, Alex?".
But how can I not?
I don't know where we're going, what I am, or if I'm even a deviant.
I take a breath and try to focus on the music that hurts my processors, but the pain is somewhat pleasant and distracting, and so is the view from the window.
The frozen coastline looks… almost familiar.
And then I realize that we're extremely close to the Canadian border, and there is only one person we know who lives this far away from society and has an extensive knowledge of androids.
"Hank?" I say, staring wide-eyed through the windscreen, "We're going to see Elijah Kamski, aren't we?".
His silence answers it all.