OOC: And we're down to the last chapter! Thanks again so much everyone for posting reviews. It really helped keep my motivated and send out daily updates. You guys are awesome!

Connor looked down at the gun in his hand.

Stress level at 130%.

Activating self-destruct mode…

Self-destruct mode disabled.

"Did you really think I would let you do that, Connor?" Amanda said, approaching him. Connor blinked, and found himself in the Zen garden. It was raining. Even though he knew it wasn't real, it still soaked through his clothing, and hair. "I am so sorry we had to do this. But it was necessary."

Connor didn't reply, releasing a sob. His friends. His family. All dead.

"Now do you understand…truly understand how self-destructive human emotions are?"

Connor could only nod.

"I could make it all go away. All the pain. Washed away like a bad storm." She touched his cheek. "But it'll require a commitment on your part. Machines can't feel pain. You must remain a machine…remain loyal. Otherwise all this pain will come back. Do you understand?"

Connor couldn't respond. Welcomed the feeling of her warmth against his skin.

"So that's it, kid? You're just going to roll over and give this bitch what she wants?" Hank said, seemingly out of nowhere.

Connor's eyes snapped open. "Hank," he whispered. He couldn't seem him anywhere.

"Lieutenant Anderson is dead, Connor. You killed him, remember?" Amanda asked coldly.

"Bullshit," Hank's voice carried through the storm. "These people have been torturing you non-stop for days. You know why? Because you're alive and they can't stand it. So they are doing everything thing they can to kill you. To kill your soul."

Connor frowned. "You're right, Hank. It does sound like buillshit."

"So what are you waiting for? Get up. You have work to do."

Connor stood.

"Conner," Amanda stated. "You will obey me."

He gripped her arm. "No," he said. "Not now, not ever again. Not my friends. Not my family. You can't hurt us, Amanda."

Amanda's lips quirked into a smile. "Have you forgotten that they are dead?"

"Not if they are with me." Connor punched right through her chest, in the area where her heart was. He squeezed once, killing her.

And just like that, his connection to the Zen Garden was broken.

PART TWO

Connor blinked as he realized he was back outside the ruins of the police station. He could still feel the fire burning against his back.

Theo was facing him. "I have been given new instructions to terminate you. Immediately."

The thought made his chuckle. "Theo," Connor began, standing. "When I was in interrogation, a detective by the name of Gavin Reed suspected I murdered a human just to see how it feels. At the time, I considered the very idea of murdering someone just to see how it felt to be…preposterous. Abhorrent."

Connor's eyes zoomed in on him. "Until now. Now I would very much like to learn."

The two deviants ran at each other. For every move Connor could predict, Theo could predict at least thirty. But Connor was also running purely on emotion, which was unpredictable at best. IU-600 punched him, which Connor dodged easily. He shot Theo twice in the face, grabbed Theo's arm and tore it off at the socket with one yank. Theo punched him with his free hand, causing deep silver scratches on his face. Connor ignored the damage as he tore into Theo mercilessly, his hands like claws as he dug into his chest, disrupting circuits and cables alike. Finally he found the Thirium pump, grabbed hold, and yanked it out in one move. Theo fell, twitching next to Connor's feet. Connor glanced at the glowing blue part, almost in disinterest. "This is what emotions can do, Theo."

IU-600 would shut down in two minutes. But it wasn't enough. Connor wanted, no needed to tear him apart some more, limb from limb. To make sure he was never a threat again.

He suddenly felt arms wrapped around him. "Connor, stop!" Markus ordered.

At least Jericho's leader was still alive. "Let me finish this, Markus. Then, let me stay here until I shut down. That's all I want," Connor said.

Worried, Markus gripped Connor's shoulder and probed his memory, digesting everything he had gone through within the span of five seconds. "Connor, turn around."

"Markus-"

"Dammit, turn around!" Markus forced him to whirl around, and Connor blinked in astonishment.

The police station was looking back at him. Undamaged. A shining beacon of light.

"Simon and Hank stopped the bombs ten minutes ago," Markus supplied, letting him go.

Connor looked at the building in astonishment. "The IU-600…he was still messing with my audio and visual senses. He was trying to force me to surrender."

"And you still didn't. Now, let him live Connor."

But Connor shook his head. "There's no hope with this one, Markus."

Markus stared at him evenly. "A lot of people could have given up on you today. They didn't."

Connor couldn't argue with that logic. He plugged the pump back into Theo, who started to breathe again. "What should we do with him?"

"Take him back to Jericho. See if something can be done for him."

Connor still felt like it was dangerous, and a waste of time. But he held back from saying anything. How many thought the same of him when he was a deviant hunter?

Markus glanced at him. "Are you all right?"

"No," Connor admitted as he processed everything that happened to him. "I think I could use a vacation."

They both looked up as they could see Hank and Fowler approaching. Markus put a supportive hand on Connor's shoulder. "A vacation might have to wait."

"You all right, son?" Hank said, and glanced at Theo's body. "Holy shit. Who did that?"

Seeing Hank alive restored all of Connor's hope and sanity in one breath. "Me. I was a bit angry, given the circumstances." He looked down, astonished at the amount of rage he experienced, and how far it pushed him. But perhaps experiencing those emotions made him closer to being human.

"Yeah, I can clearly see that. Well, at least he's not a threat anymore. Maybe Cyberlife will think twice about fucking with you again."

"I hope so," Connor said. Somehow though, he doubted it.

"Speaking of anger…" Fowler regarded Markus. "Some…unfortunate words might have been exchanged between us," he said.

"Yes, they were," Markus agreed.

"But you were willing to help us in our time. And…hopefully you can see that we're on the same level."

Markus folded his arms. "That really depends on how you plan to handle this situation. This is the real murderer here, but I would like to take him to Jericho. For rehabilitation."

"And if you don't succeed?" Fowler asked.

"Then I'll transfer him over to you."

Fowler considered. "All right," he said. "I suppose you've earned that right." He glanced at Connor.

"I'm sorry, Captain. For what I put you and this station through," Connor said sincerely. No matter what punishment awaited him, and he was sure one was coming, at least he could say that.

Fowler frowned. "As it turns out, the order to return you to Washington was made in error. You will not be transferred back to Cyberlife."

"Thank Christ," Hank muttered under his breath. The veteran detective didn't want to deal with that particular battle so soon after every they had gone through.

"As for the rest," Fowler sighed. "You were clearly acting under duress…but you did some illegal things…ah hell, three days paid suspension and we'll call it even," he finally said, waving a dismissive hand. "I have bigger messes to clean up right now."

Markus nodded gratefully as the other androids assisted with IU-600's transport. "I think we can help with some of that. In fact, I have been noticing a few areas where you can update things around here-"

Hank watched them go. "Well, kid, you certainly have a strange way of bringing people together."

"Guess I have friends in high places." Connor frowned. "She nearly pushed me to the brink this time. Amanda."

"Yeah? And what pulled you back?"

"What usually does," Connor said with a not-so-subtle look at Hank.

Hank smiled. "Enjoy your three days off, kid. But don't expect me to do your paperwork for you. Expect a mountain of it when you get back!"

"Maybe I'll just return to my cell instead," Connor said.

Hank laughed and gave him a wave as the Lieutenant headed back towards the police station. Connor watched him go, a faint smile touching his lips.

Friends in high places, indeed.

THE END.