MagicalWitch92: Thanks so much for liking my other story! Gavin, well, he's going to be having a lot of fun in this chapter LOL
Retr1bution: Thanks again! I'm sure Hank would throw away his career to break Connor out. But we'll see what happens 😊
Long chapter this time to make up for the short one yesterday!
Connor and Gavin slowly circled each other, each evaluating the other opponent. Connor could also detect three other police officers behind him. One of them was Chris. He ran a quick simulation.
Chances of winning this fight…fifty-eight percent.
Connor focused on Gavin.
Chances of you winning this fight if you permit serious human injury or fatalities….eighty-eight percent, Connor, the voice pointed out.
No, Connor said, quietly but firmly.
Then you better think about an exit plan.
Gavin, meanwhile, was grinning. He had known that Connor needed Thirium, which was in short-supply around the city. Fortunately, Gavin had an extensive criminal network. It wasn't too much of a stretch to promise a significant amount of cash for anyone who happened to see an android out looking for some. He had set the lures, and Connor had fallen for it.
Gavin pointed his gun at Connor. "Throw away the pistol."
Connor obliged, tossing it far away from him.
He wouldn't need it.
"Connor, model RK800, you are under arrest for the murder of Giles Lamdart. Get down on your knees," Gavin said officially.
Connor looked around, almost dismissively. "Captain Fowler made a mistake. I might have surrendered to Hank if he was in charge of this investigation. Instead he sent you."
"Yeah? Well I'm sorry your boyfriend isn't here to see this either. Now get down on your knees. Hands behind your head!"
"Hank wouldn't have needed three officers to arrest me. He could have done it all by himself."
"Listen, you asshole-" Gavin reached forwards.
Which was a big mistake. Connor hit him once across the neck, enough to make him stumble. He grabbed Gavin's handgun and tossed it right at Chris's head, making him wince and step back. He ran to the next police officer, who was aiming an assault rifle. With one move he ripped it away and whacked the final police officer across the face with it, then followed up with a kick to the second. Within the span of three seconds all his opponents were on the ground.
Gavin was stumbling forwards, reaching for his handgun near Chris. Connor grabbed it first and emptied the clip in front of the detective's face.
You need to get out of there, Connor, the voice encouraged.
Sound advice. Connor walked towards the entrance.
Suddenly, he felt a sudden sting, followed by a bolt of electricity.
Warning. Systems overloading. Warning….
Gavin had fired a taser at him!
Connor couldn't move as the electricity danced up and down his body.
"Fucking piece of shit!" Gavin hissed as he hit Connor across the face. Again. And again. As Connor fell Gavin kicked him in the leg, then hard against the side. Connor could feel something crack. As Connor tried to sit up Gavin punched him in the face.
Warning. Multiple injuries detected.
"Gavin!" Chris shouted. "Enough!"
Gavin gave a lazy shrug. "What? You can never be too sure which androids. You can never tell what they're capable of!" He emphasized that with another kick to Connor's injured shoulder. He grabbed his gun from the ground and reassembled it. "Okay, I'm done."
"Fuck you, Gavin." The voice was low and came from the base of Connor's soul.
Gavin suddenly whirled around, his gun aimed right at Connor's head.
Connor met it fearlessly. "You think you're better than me? Smarter than me? Not now, and not ever on my worst day. And that's what is eating away at you, isn't it? You are inferior to me in every single way. So go ahead. Pull the trigger. I bet you don't even have the guts to do that."
Connor studied him. There was a strong possibility the hot-headed detective would actually do it. Connor wasn't suicidal. He didn't want to die at all. And if he did have to choose his death, being shot by Gavin was pretty low on the list. But he knew what awaited for him if he was arrested. And in some way, he could gain some private satisfaction for Gavin being incarcerated for his murder.
But most of all, he knew that people would die if he returned back to the police station. Plain and simple.
"Gavin…" Chris said, a low warning.
Grinning, Gavin pretended to fire. "Bang. You're dead." He moved his gun away. "Nah, that's way too easy. And I've got plans, believe me." The detective smirked. "You and me Connor, we have a big day ahead." He gestured once.
The two police officers nearby grabbed his arms and slapped handcuffs on him.
It was over.
The police officers led Connor out of the warehouse. As they did so a blue-haired Tracy moved out of the shadows. She had recorded the entire exchange with her eyes. She immediately sent footage of Gavin beating an unarmed Connor to Markus.
Markus, understandably, was not pleased.
PART TWO
"Come on…" Hank said as he searched through the security footage in the mansion. "There has to be something here."
But the footage was nothing but static. Scrubbed clean. By either Connor or whoever his new 'friend' was. Who knows?
He released a groan of frustration. He had searched through the mansion, looking for the existence of another android. Instead he found…zilch. No evidence of another android. The older detective knew that he only had a theory, with some very flimsy evidence. And until he had something actually concrete, Connor wasn't going to be freed anytime soon.
The only thing he had found was Giles private stash of weapons in a locked closet, including four rifles. One of them could be the murder weapon. He didn't dare touch them in case there was some forensics left behind. Maybe he could call a team in-
Hank's cell phone rang. He answered it. "Fowler, I might be on to something. But I need more time-"
"Hank," Fowler said simply. "They got him."
PART THREE
Sitting in the back of the police cruiser Connor could only watch as they drove right back to the police station. The closer they got, the more his anxiety grew.
Gavin turned around in the passenger seat and grinned at him as they stopped. "Home sweet home. Eh, Connor?"
Connor didn't respond as they opened the door and dragged him out. With an air of defeat Connor scanned the police station, confirming what he already knew. He lowered his head and released a sigh.
Remember our deal, Connor, the voice said.
Gavin triumphantly grabbed his arm and led him to the station.
"Not through the back, detective?" Connor asked.
"Oh no. You're getting the five-star treatment, Connor. I want everyone to take a good look at what you really are."
"Dick," Chris muttered, so low under his breath that only Connor's advanced hearing could detect it. He flashed Chris a grateful look.
It didn't make what happened next any easier, however.
It was so quiet in the bullpen you could hear a pin drop as Gavin escorted Connor through the front. Every detective dropped what they were doing and watched the fugitive deviant being turned in. Despite himself Connor glanced to his left. Hank was there, at his desk.
The older detective studied Connor's bruises, then look up at Gavin. "Son of a-" he stepped forwards, but was stopped by a well-meaning police officer. Connor looked away and tried to muster as much dignity as he possible could.
Gavin, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear. He led Connor to one of the three cells. "Get comfortable," he said. "We'll speak in more detail soon."
PART FOUR
An hour later Connor sat in an interrogation room. His wrists were shackled to the table. With some disinterest he scanned them. Too tough for him to break. He glanced at the two-way mirror, wondering who was watching. Captain Fowler? Hank? The thought gave him an unexpected pain in his heart.
The door opened and Gavin stepped inside. He made a grand show of putting papers on the desk and slowly sitting down. "Let's see…" he said, writing with a pen. "Connor, RK800 series. Last name?" He looked up. "Oh that's right. You don't have a last name, do you? You're not human."
Connor didn't bother to dignify that with a response.
Gavin crossed his arms and smirked. "So here we are. Gotta say, I never thought I'd see this day. Being incarcerated…now that's a good look for you."
"Your smugness is wearing thin, detective," Connor said.
Gavin leaned forwards. "So tell me. Why'd you do it? I mean, why did you off the guy? Did you know him?"
Connor didn't respond. He just looked down.
"Holy shit. You didn't, did you?"
"No," Connor admitted.
"So you just wanted to see how murder tastes? Is this a new lesson in your deviancy?" Gavin pressed. "How did it feel, Connor?"
"I refuse to answer anymore of your questions, Gavin," Connor stated. "You're just wasting your time."
"Did it feel a little too good for you to admit? Well, you know what's not going to feel good, right? After I'm through with you, they'll tear you apart. Limb from limb. Circuit by circuit." Gavin played with his pen. "Sounds painful."
"Stop," Connor said, but Gavin wouldn't relent.
"Why did you kill him, Connor? Why did-"
The door suddenly opened. "All right. Enough of this shit!" Hank said, entering the room.
Connor could hear a small Hank! from the other room. Fowler.
Gavin jumped up, equally startled. He raised his finger. "This is my investigation, Lieutenant. And my suspect-"
"Get that finger out of my face before I break it." As Gavin backed down Hank focused on his friend. "Connor. I know you didn't do it. I know there was another shooter. Why are you protecting him? Or her? The bastard shot you, Connor!"
Emotion flashed across his face-guilt, sadness, pain-before it became a mask. "You have the details wrong, Hank," Connor said coldly. "Stay out of this."
"Best advice I heard from this fucker's mouth all day," Gavin muttered.
Hank leaned forwards and pressed his hands against the table. "Connor, the longer you stay silent, the more I can't help you."
Connor stared at him, his brown eyes brimming with pain. "Hank, I can't-" He suddenly closed his eyes, and his head dipped down a little.
Thirium levels at fifty-two percent.
Hank whirled on Gavin. "Has he been to the technician yet?"
Gavin shrugged. "Getting around to it."
"He was shot last night, Gavin! Jesus Christ, I out to flatten you right now-"
"Yeah? I'd like to see you try-"
"I do not consent to seeing a technician," Connor suddenly said, looking up at them.
For a moment, both Gavin and Hank could only stare at Connor in shock, as though Connor had suddenly proclaimed he was in charge of the entire frog population of Detroit.
Then Gavin laughed. A big, long laugh. "You don't consent..?"
"In fact, I think it's time for me to consult with a lawyer," Connor said coldly.
"Just listen to this guy. He thinks human laws apply to androids. They don't." He gripped Connor's shoulder. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say our boy was hiding something."
Hank picked up on that as well, not that he would give Gavin the satisfaction. But he kept his tone sympathetic. "Connor, even if the laws did apply to you…which is murky at best…you're injured and in our custody. That trumps any law we have in the books. We need to have you checked out."
He expected Connor to argue. Instead his face became cold again, and his eyes were one of betrayal. "Very well, Lieutenant," he said angrily.
Hank felt a stab through his heart, as though he had kicked Connor while he was down. Why can't you tell me what's going on, Connor? He thought to himself.
PART FIVE
Due to lack of personnel, the mortician also doubled as the station's technician. Gavin waited as Hutch preformed a careful diagnostic on Connor, his face empty of expression. The android's Thirium had also been replaced and his shoulder examined, which was healing at a staggeringly fast past…well, Gavin supposed a usual pace for androids.
"Well? Is he crazy or what?" Gavin said.
Hutch finally looked away from the screen. "Physically, and program-wise, Connor is in good health. Despite his recent injuries," he added with a glare at Gavin. "There are no signs of any defects or virus in his software. Connor, your Thirium is back at peak efficiency."
"Ha!" Gavin said to Connor. 'You actually had me worried there for a moment, tin man. And here I thought you were going to say a virus made you do it. But you know what this means?" The young detective leered closer. "It means you get to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Connor tried his best to ignore Gavin, as usual. "This examination is concluded," he said. "I would like to return back to my cell."
"Sure thing, Connor," Gavin said. "Sure thing."
Hutch watched them leave, worry in his eyes. He immediately grabbed the phone and called Hank's desk.
It was answered immediately. "Please tell me you have something," Hank said. The talk with his Captain had not gone well. Hank's theory was lacking a lot of evidence, and after what happened in the interrogation room it was a small miracle he wasn't suspended. "We're running out of options here."
"Maybe. Sorry Hank, it's not a virus, but there is something small…something that would likely be missed in a normal scan. But Connor's actions haven't exactly been normal…" He mused. "His visual and audio sensors have been altered."
"Altered? What the fuck does that mean?"
Hutch examined the code in more detail. "Well, I have a theory, and if I'm right it explains why Connor doesn't feel like taking. Connor's senses have been hacked to allow a carrier signal. That signal is piggybacking at this very moment. It means that someone else is watching Connor's every move. And listening to everything that is being said."
"Christ…" Hank cursed. "Does Connor know?"
"Not sure. I thought it was prudent not to reveal my little discovery in front of him or Gavin. In case our 'new friend' is spying on me."
Hank considered his options. "All right. Here's what we're going to do. And unfortunately for us, we're going to need some help."
PART SIX
Back in his cell, Connor leaned the back of his head against the cold tile wall. A few well-meaning police officers came by, including Chris. Offering sympathy. Demanding answers. Answers that Connor simply couldn't give.
He closed his eyes. How much longer? He asked his contact.
Soon, Connor. A matter of hours. I promise, he said. I saw the way they treated you. Holy shit, Connor. That was barbaric.
Connor didn't respond. He hated this.
You shouldn't value their lives. Look where it got me.
The cell door opened, and Connor released a tired sigh. He was hoping for some kind of reprieve, but ten minutes later he was right back in the interrogation room. Gavin was leaning against the wall, his arms folded as they shackled him again. He nodded, and the officers left.
"You know, Connor. I am trying to be real patient here," Gavin said angrily. "And I'll admit this has been pretty fun. But Fowler's busting my balls. He wants a full confession. Christ, can you believe it? You already confessed to the murder, but he seems to want every detail."
Connor didn't respond. Gavin whirled the chair around and sat in it.
"Which means you're going to tell me why you did it."
"I have nothing to say," Connor said.
He was completely unprepared as Gavin grabbed the back of his head and slammed it against the metal of the table.
Scanning….internal systems stable.
"Yes, you are," Gavin said. "Or we're going to keep doing this all day."
"Gavin, what you are doing violates eight procedural rules-"
THUNK. Blue blood squirted from his head and landed on the table.
Scanning…exterior frame damage detected. Frame integrity holding.
"Why did you do it, Connor?"
Connor didn't respond. His eyes glanced at the mirror.
"No one's here but us, asshole," Gavin said. "Why did you do it, Connor?"
Connor's eyes shifted back to Gavin and became determined. He wouldn't say a word.
Whack! This time Gavin punched him right in the face. "How many times can I hit you before I start doing some real damage?" He grabbed Connor's head and whacked it again against the table.
Warning. Integrity compromised.
I'm sorry, Hank…
THUNK.
Emergency shut-down mode active.
Connor slipped into nothingness.
PART SEVEN
Connor was…floating. He had once heard that some of the androids in Jericho could dream, but it was something he had yet to experience. He hoped he could dream, one day. Another world to take him away from this hell.
He heard voices…talking? No, shouting. At the edge of his hearing.
Hank's voice. Connor latched onto it, to climb out of unconsciousness.
"I said, 'knock him out and make it look convincing!'" Hank shouted at Gavin. "That didn't mean 'try to crack his head open like an egg'!"
"Did you want convincing, or what?" Gavin snapped. "The only reason I agreed to this-"
"H-Hank?" Connor called out and winced. He brought a hand up to his forehead. That hurt. A lot. Gradually his blurry vision went away. He was back at the technician's lab? He was laying on a gurney. One of his hands was cuffed to it. What the hell was going on?
"Easy kid," Hank said, gripping his shoulder. His face was gentle. "It's going to be all right. As far as your new friend is concerned, you're still unconscious. Hutch has deactivated the signal, so now it's just us."
Gavin and Hank, two detectives who couldn't be more opposite, studied the android with new curiosity.
Hank's grip tightened. "I think it's time you start being honest, Connor, and tell us what's going on."
TBC