I want to apologize in advance for the considerable length of this chapter, and the four new characters being introduced. I have the entirety of this story drafted and outlined, and I just couldn't cut this one down any less.
November 9, 2038
"May I ask you something, Detective?"
Connor and Andy stood inside the DPD garage. For the past half hour, Andy had been sifting through the contents of her duffel bag on the work table. She reorganized her things, checked and rechecked the messages on her phone, and was currently in the process of reloading her gun. A cab the department commandeered was parked a small number of yards away and until they entered it, she would busy her hands and mind with trivial tasks. With little else to do himself, Connor took to watching her.
She pulled back the slide of her weapon and then released it, letting it return to its place. The click accompanied her response. "Shoot."
"How long have you known the Lieutenant?" He asked.
Her eyes drifted up as she went through the time line in her head. "I met him the first day I joined the department, so... eight years?"
During the argument they had two days prior, Andy made comment of her work relationship with Hank. It was sitting in Connor's mind ever since, and now seemed the most appropriate time to talk. "You mentioned before that he trained you."
She nodded, "Yeah, back when people gave a damn about what he had to say." Slipping her gun into its holster, she glanced toward him and asked, "You know Gavin Reed?"
Connor believed he knew simultaneously nothing and too much about Detective Reed. There was a pause as he tried to find a polite way to convey this, and finally he said, "I've had some encounters with him, yes."
The effort was in vain, for she saw right through him. "Nice way of putting it," She mused. With a snort, she told him, "I was his partner."
"You used to be on Homicide," He replied, his tone less a question than an observation. It was news to him, though he supposed it shouldn't be surprising. He knew she didn't start her career on the task force, and it made some sense to put the two young detectives together.
An affirmative hum from Andy continued the conversation. "Hank started watching me from my very first case. One day he comes up to me, tells me my potential shouldn't be wasted on a guy like Reed and I should transfer over to Narcotics," She explained, turning to face him.
"I assume you agreed."
She gained a sharp grin and said, "Most people aim for Homicide, but after all those successes with the task force, Hank was a pretty big deal. He told me to jump and I asked how high. I joined SID a few years later."
Despite her nonchalance, the statement carried a hefty weight that even Connor could feel. It appeared to be a bitter topic for her. Thanks to her tense shoulders and avoidant gaze, it was also just as clear to him that she hoped he either didn't notice it or wouldn't hone in on it. He could give her this much - there was something else he wanted to discuss, anyway.
"May I ask you another question?"
Another grin, this one more sincere than the last. "You don't have to ask for permission like that, you know." When he continued to stare in wait of an answer, she laughed and asked, "What is it?"
"Why didn't you shoot the androids from Eden Club?" He stared at her as the question caught her off guard, "You were armed, and you also had a clear line of sight."
After a moment, she shrugged her shoulders. "She only acted in-self defense. I don't shoot someone like that."
Whatever Connor had hoped to find within her answer - justification, reassurance, some other reason that made what happened okay - it wasn't there. If anything, her words left him with more frustration. Brows furrowing over his eyes, he argued, "It wasn't someone acting in self-defense. It was a machine."
His response didn't faze her; in fact, she seemed ready for it. "All right, and how about you elaborate on your sudden act of mercy, huh?"
"I- That..."
It was his turn to be surprised. It shouldn't have been, seeing as she asked him the previous night why he let those deviants escape, but to turn his own argument against him was precisely what he hoped to avoid. He didn't want the concept of sympathy to enter the conversation, because admission of that opened doors he wasn't sure he could close. No, it was best for him to insist there was a logical reason. There had to be, and he would find it. Eventually.
"You know, I don't think I've ever met a tongue-tied android before."
With how hard she was looking at him now, he almost expected her to find something he couldn't see. Her expression shifted into something lighter, and she reached for the straps of her bag. She looked downright pleased with herself as she shot him a coy smirk and said, "I think I like it."
He said something similar after a rather memorable bike ride. He didn't think much of what he said at the time, but then she smiled at him and commented on the impact it had with her. It was his attempt at flattery, in small part hoping to turn her roguish attitude back onto her.
"Are you teasing me, Detective?" He asked, only mildly surprised at this point.
She gave no direct response, but she chuckled as she pulled her bag over her shoulder. The corners of Connor's lips twitched up into a smile as she walked past him toward the cab.
The door to the station opened. Hank entered the garage and upon spotting Andy, he crossed the floor to meet her at the car, calling out her name. Connor looked to the sound but quickly turned away. He pretended to busy himself with various tools and equipment at the work table, though he listened to Hank's footsteps with no shortage of curiosity.
"Hey, uh-" Hank cut himself short when Andy aimed her stare in his direction. For all the work he put into hyping himself up for this conversation, once it came time to actually have it, he felt himself at a loss for words. Clearing his throat, he asked, "You doin' okay?"
"I'm fine," She answered with a small shake of her head. She waited to see if he would continue the conversation, but nothing more was said. Quirking her brows, she knelt into the back of the cab to place her bag on the floor.
Hank resisted a sigh. It shouldn't have been this difficult to talk to her about their argument, but it just was. He didn't want to get emotional, especially on the job, but he'd put it off too long and this was his last chance. That didn't make this any -easier. "Listen," He began, ignoring the flash of irritation on her face as he struggled to get to his point, "About last night..."
Immediately, Andy rolled her eyes and shifted her weight to one foot. "Oh, Jesus-" Holding up a hand, she asked him, "Let's just not do that and say we did, all right?"
No, not all right. This wasn't just for her benefit; Hank needed to get this off his chest. He needed her to know there were no hard feelings on his end, needed her to know that he still regarded her as closely a friend as he had the day she left. Nothing changed that, not the time, not the cases, not any argument. Not the accident.
But she was offering him an easy way out of a heavy conversation, and Hank was never one for heavy conversations. "Yeah. All right," He agreed with a stiff nod. Nice job, asshole.
At that, he let her slide into the cab. He began to return inside, and caught Connor staring. The android detective avoided his gaze, and Hank rolled his eyes on his way out of the garage.
"Hey."
Connor turned away from the window of the cab. He and Andy sat side by side as the car automated its drive down the street. It had been a quiet ride up until now, which was unlike his companion, and the hard expression on her face told him it was less due to nerves and more of a focus on the job.
Her eyes finally drifted up to him, and she asked, "You ever been damaged before?"
"No, I haven't." The answer didn't sit well with him. It was not technically incorrect: his body remained intact through all its hardships, of which there were not many. His memory was another matter, and was a separate being altogether. It existed purely to educate him on the beginning of this case.
No matter how much he told himself that, it didn't stop his words from feeling like a lie, much like it didn't stop the fear that crept inside him every time danger was present.
"That answer wasn't suspect at all."
Of course she would not be as kind when it came to his own topics he wished not to discuss. He shot her a pointed stare, but she stayed on course, waiting for him to explain himself. Despite the skepticism, she appeared genuinely interested in his story. She was the first to be interested.
His LED slowly cycled through yellow, and then he caved. "There was a deviant attempting to cross the highway to escape police custody," Neither of them looked away as he went on, "The first Connor pursued it, but was destroyed by oncoming traffic. Its memories were uploaded into me after I was activated."
She returned his stare, absorbing the story. Blinking, she said, "I'm only asking because what we're about to do is risky."
Connor attempted to be optimistic, saying, "Everything should go according to plan."
She chuckled and replied, "When does that ever happen?" Her expression then shifted to something he'd never seen - she had shown tenderness before, but this was mixed with something else. "I'm going to be in your ear the whole time. If the heat gets too hot, just say the word and I'll jump in."
It humbled him to realize the expression was a genuine care for his wellbeing, with a level of authority and certainty that made him want to believe the conviction of her words. She was trying to reach out and soothe him, which is not the way things should have been.
"You shouldn't worry for my sake. I am just a machine." It was feeling more and more like an automated response, and she was quick to deliver an unconvinced stare.
The cab came to a stop, mercifully ending the conversation for Connor. The door to his right opened, and a nervous older gentleman climbed in. He sat across from them, and gave a small jump as the door shut behind him. His hands played with the pant fabric at his knees, and Andy smiled in greeting. It did not help.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," He confessed.
Unabashed, Andy nodded her head toward Connor. "All right, but aim it at him."
The faint noise of disgust that left the android detective was surprising to them both, and a laugh bubbled from Andy's chest that she had to bite down.
The trio arrived at a park near the edge of the city some time later. They left the car and Andy led them to a picnic table not far from the parking lot, where they would wait. She sat on the table, feet on the bench next to the man they brought with them. Connor stood at the end of the table, still and inexpressive.
It was another fifteen minutes before a third party arrived. He came in from another side of the lot, his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans. Andy noticed him immediately, and nodded to him once he was close enough to see it.
Jason Hart was Nick Weaver's closest friend, and the over-sized jock was essentially third in command of the operation. He was also the hardest obstacle Andy had to deal with, because once she made it to him, she had access to Nick himself.
He was staring at Connor as he walked up to them, and he asked, "This it?"
The trembling man behind Andy jumped up to his feet, but she answered for him. "Nah, he's got another robot on the way."
Jason scowled at her sarcasm, though it was nothing new. He passed her and approached Connor, inspecting him as closely as possible for a man with little to no technical knowledge. "Marty."
The man hummed in anticipation, rushing to their side. Andy almost lost composure at the sight. Marty wasn't her first choice for this job, but he was also the easiest client the department could get to betray Nick and one of the only ones Richards felt comfortable offering immunity to in exchange.
Luckily, Jason was too busy towering over Connor to care about the man's attitude. "Where'd you get it?"
Marty glanced to Andy, who nodded and urged him to say something. "All of the executive staff at the office got bonuses. There was a merger- TriTech, the appliance department- we're working on this new form of-"
"What about its tracker?" Jason interrupted before he could get lost in Marty's droning.
"I- I disabled it."
They waited several seconds as Jason and Connor stared one another down. Andy was thankful now more than ever that Connor looked as unassuming as he did - she'd seen how big some androids could be, and she wasn't sure this would have been convincing if she brought Jason one of them.
Jason finally crossed his arms over his chest and spoke, this time to Connor himself, "Tell me your name."
Unexpectedly, Connor didn't miss a beat. "My name is Connor. I'm an assistant android for Mister Graham."
There were no noticeable warning bells to this response, so Jason addressed the others, remarking, "Never seen this model before."
"You an expert now?" Andy quipped from her place still on the table behind Connor.
He shot her a warning glare over Connor's shoulder and said, "Watch it. Things have been shit lately."
No kidding. "What's going on?"
The smirk he gained was as clearly heard in his voice as it was mocking. "You woulda heard about it if you weren't getting off with plastic yesterday," He told her.
For the briefest of moments, she was confused. Then she remembered the Eden Club, and Tommy finding her outside. Of course he would run off to share such a thing with everyone else. "Fuckin Tommy...," She muttered, shaking her head.
Jason only laughed at her expense, but the conversation seemed to lighten things enough for him to be satisfied. "We'll bring it in, see what Spades thinks." He faced Marty but gestured between Andy and Connor as he ordered, "Get it in the car. I'll be there in a minute."
No matter how much she wanted to succeed or how much work went into preparation, a part of Andy expected all of this to blow up in her face. Hearing him give her the go ahead came with great relief, and plenty of surprise. Nonetheless, Andy kept her cool and replied with a quiet nod.
Once Jason returned to them after paying Marty, he took them down a number of back roads through Detroit. It would have been a tense ride had Connor not been an android, and Andy had not already been accustomed to being alone with the man in the driver's seat.
They pulled up to a residential building - a long, one story brick home with a tiny slab of a front porch. It wasn't a place Andy recognized, which was a discovery that came with both excitement and mild paranoia. The faint voice in her head that ran with wild ideas was already imagining the different ways Jason would kill her in some abandoned property before taking off with Connor.
They followed Jason to the front door, where he banged a fist against the wood. Seconds later, a male android opened the door to them, and Andy felt some relief at the familiar face of Nick's assistant android. Sam didn't go anywhere Nick didn't, so his presence could only mean good things.
"Good afternoon," Sam greeted, stepping back to allow them inside.
They made their way through the hall, which opened up to a small kitchen. Another hallway was to their right, and an open door on the left revealed stairs that led into a basement.
"Follow me," Jason ordered Connor. He stepped toward the basement, and nodded to Sam as he told Andy, "Spades wants to see you."
Getting separated was not unexpected, but when Connor looked back to Andy, she could have sworn she saw a flash of concern. She tried to convey a casual attitude in her body language to reassure him; she shifted her weight to one foot, relaxed her shoulders, and slid her hands into her pockets.
"Got it, boss," She replied, turning to follow Sam.
An unmarked van was parked several yards away from the home. Inside it sat Lieutenant Richards and a small number of SID officers. They watched the duel footage they had set up, one through Connor's own software and the other attached to Andy's jacket. Plain clothes detectives were getting into position along the street the home was on, and a second van was finding a good place to park around the corner.
"When do we move?" Someone in the back of Richards' van asked.
Richards shook his head, eyes on the cameras. "Not yet."
The basement was mostly one, long rectangular room. The floor was concrete, the walls were brick, and narrow columns of brick were situated throughout the room. At the end of this room was a closed door, and Jason was leading Connor straight toward it.
Connor looked around as he followed the man. The lighting in the basement was dim, but he was able to make out a set up for manufacturing red ice against the right wall. A fridge and a waist-high freezer sat nearby, both turned off and opened, containing large brown packages. Shelves sat over the freezer with bins holding small bags of red ice.
On the left of the room were several rows of androids lined up along the wall. They stood shoulder to shoulder, back to chest, each one with their skins turned off and their functions on standby. Several had been marred in various ways, and Connor could safely assume these to be the androids from Zlatko Andronikov's estate.
Jason opened the door at the end and walked them into a smaller room. The equipment inside was not unlike what they found in Andronikov's basement. Computer screens sat at a control center connected to a large platform in the middle of the room, mechanical arms extended out from the center behind it. It was equipment that contained and controlled android programming, and in that moment, it was the most frightening thing Connor had ever seen.
Unaware of Connor's inner turmoil, Jason crossed the room and lowered into a single chair that sat by the computers. He turned on the systems and waved a hand toward the platform.
"Step up."
The building they were in was not lived in, nor was it the base of daily operations, so the office Andy was led to was minimally decorated. There was a desk in the middle of the room, two chairs, and a lone bookshelf in the corner carrying a few mystery containers and a black lock box. The computer had two monitors, and one was stationed at the end of desk, turned inward so that people on either side could view it.
Nick Weaver sat at the desk, leaning back and flipping a pen between long idle fingers. His chair sat sideways, and he faced the far wall, though he was looking at the secondary monitor. A woman was on the screen, and when Sam knocked on the door to alert them of the arrival, she was the first to see them.
Sharon was Nick's older sister. She was second in command, though not for lack of any authority on her part. Bringing her in was just as important as it was catching Nick, so seeing her on a monitor in what looked to be an airport was an immediate hit to Andy's current high of getting this far.
"Victoria has arrived," Sam announced beside her.
Nick looked over his shoulder and smirked. As Andy ventured into the room, he greeted, "Glad you could finally return to us." He dropped the pen and balled his hands into his lap. "Hear you been busy."
She wasn't living that down, was she? "To what end?" She asked him.
His cackle was as good natured as anything could be coming from Nick Weaver, which meant that it was only a little less sinister than his usual amusement. "I don't care about your extracurriculars," He dismissed with a shrug.
"I do," Sharon mused from the screen. She smiled with a quirk of her brow, and lowered her chin to send a flirty stare Andy's way.
Nick scoffed. "Of course you do."
Andy focused on Sharon now. There were no discernible markers to the background. It looked like any other average airport. She nodded toward the screen, asking, "Where are you at?"
Sharon gave a tired sigh and looked up over her phone to the rest of the airport. "I lost track after the third layover," She replied, resting a hand in her red curls.
"What number you on now?"
She returned Andy's cheekiness with her own, retorting, "What year is it?"
"Are you two done?" Nick raised his voice, looking between the women.
Sharon rolled her eyes. "We never are, but your less than subtle point has been made."
Nick ignored the comment and moved the conversation along. "We've been talking about you-"
"I have a business offer."
Sharon's interruption had him tightening his jaw and growling out, "I'll hang up on you."
His anger didn't bother her in the slightest. "Then I'll just call her."
Turning to Andy, Nick went on to explain, "We're working on setting up a second location. Somewhere closer to our guys down south. Sharon'll run things there, I'll keep business going here."
Sharon was excited to jump in again. "I want you to come with me," She told her.
Andy was reeling trying to appreciate how big this news was, and several questions came racing through her mind. If they were planning to expand, were they already moving a significant portion of their product out of Detroit? Did they have a location already in mind? Is that where Sharon was going or returning from?
"What?" Was all she could manage in her shock.
Sharon smiled and nodded, brushing hair from her face. "You'll be my very own Jason, except I'll actually like you," She joked, unaware of the concerns cycling around in Andy's head.
"Watch it," Nick warned his sister, who merely rolled her eyes at him.
Andy was slowly regaining her composure. "Are you serious?" She asked them.
Nick shrugged and told her, "If you don't want it, we'll ask someone else."
"N- No, I do," She interjected, holding up a hand, "I want it." Either this would all end before it came to that, or Sharon would be moving camp, and Andy wanted to make sure she was part of the worst-case scenario.
This came across as enthusiasm to Nick and Sharon. "It won't happen for another few months, but we'll keep you updated," Nick informed. He looked away to his phone, signaling the end of the conversation.
Leaning toward her camera, Sharon grinned at Andy. "Now back to this Eden Club business..."
"Jesus, I'm going to smoke," Nick scoffed, standing from his desk to leave the room.
Connor stepped up onto the platform of the machine and turned to face outward. He kept a close eye on Jason, whose attention was deeply focused on the terminal in front of him.
The man sighed to himself, muttering under his breath. His hands hovered over the inputs, and he made each move with a painstaking level of awareness. Whoever usually did this sort of work on Nick's androids, Connor could tell it wasn't this man. He was struggling more than Hank when it came to modern technology.
Not that Connor could complain. Every second it took for Jason to figure out how to use the equipment before him was one second more in Connor's favor - another increase in the chances he had to make it out of this unharmed. When the cold metal arms pressed against his back and wrapped around his wrists, he felt a rush of panic and the instinct to fight it. He remained where he was, however, stiffly allowing the machine to lift him off his feet.
True to her words, Andy had remained in his ear the entire time. Her earpiece was connected to his own cellular software, and her voice was faint in the background through every minute. He had a sneaking suspicion this situation is what she meant when she mentioned 'the heat getting too hot,' but as much as he hated this, Connor resigned himself to the ideal he'd been repeating for days now: He was a machine, and what happened to him was not as important as closing a case.
Besides, Andy would come for him soon enough. He believed that - believed in her.
A woman said something that caused Andy to laugh, and he drowned out everything else going on, focusing on the sound. It didn't take away the fear of the moment, but she certainly made it easier to bear.
Sharon didn't chat for long, her next flight inching closer by the minute. Once they ended the call, Andy returned to the kitchen.
Nick sat at the small dining table in the kitchen. He pinched an electronic cigarette between his fingers, and rested his elbows on the table. Beside him at the counter was a housekeeping android, cleaning dirty dishes. Sam stood off to the side of the room, blank faced and patiently waiting for a new order.
Andy sat at the table, though her eyes drifted to the basement. She'd heard nothing from down below, and Jason had yet to make his appearance.
"Sharon's going to need a few people to go with her," Nick said, drawing her attention back to him, "You should start putting a list together. We'll see what we can do."
She lifted a brow. "You're not just gonna send the worst you got with her?"
He shook his head and began, "Detroit might be where it's all at, but the second location will be important for business with Mexico. I can't have anyone screwing it up." He pointed his cigarette at her. "That includes you."
"What did I do to deserve this lecture?"
"I know you got knifed." When her face fell, he flashed her a smug smirk. "Sharon's smart, but she's not gonna let idiots get away with shit like that. You got to keep her in line just as much as she does you."
Trying to keep Sharon in line was like trying to leash a wild animal. Andy scoffed, "Yeah, I'll keep her in line."
Shrugging, he replied, "You're the one who accepted the job."
Andy watched him a moment before musing, "I'm starting to think you're just trying to get her out of your hair."
"You're just now starting to think that?"
"What are you gonna do with Marty's robot?" The shift in topic was immediate, but Andy tried to stay calm and curious with her tone.
Nick didn't think much of the question. He flicked at his cigarette, saying, "Jason will check it out, make sure it's safe. I'll probably sell it off- gift it if I'm feeling generous." Looking up at her, he smirked. "Why, you feelin' like putting me in a generous mood?"
Andy snorted. "You are not the Weaver sibling I'd take to bed."
Richards had been listening to the conversations going on and nodded to the other officers, issuing the order, "Everyone in position."
SID acted immediately. Officers retrieved their gear and left the department issued vehicles. The detectives on the street began to stroll down the sidewalk toward the house, keeping their hands near concealed weapons.
Across the street was a young woman walking with a baby stroller, and a home care android traveled at her side. As SID officers closed in on the home, one stepped up to the duo and held out his badge. He quickly and quietly escorted them to their home on that street, but failed to notice the yellow LED of the android in their company as he communicated with someone else.
Andy and Nick settled into the silent kitchen. Nick immersed himself in his cigarette, but Andy continued to watch the doorway to the basement. She'd heard Richards' command, and they couldn't have been far from storming the storeroom now. The second she heard them, she was making a dash to go find Connor. He may not have alerted them of danger, but knowing the android, he would have let them dismantle him before he admitted to needing their help. If anything, she considered radio silence to be worse.
It took her several seconds to break out of this thought and recognize that the kitchen shouldn't have been silent at all. She looked toward the android at the counter, who had turned off the faucet and was staring down into the sink. The telltale yellow of her LED was sign enough of trouble.
When Nick noticed Andy's intense curiosity on the android, he looked to her as well. He let out a short whistle to catch her attention, calling out, "You breaking or something?"
The android jolted in surprise and pulled away from the sink. She turned around and told him, "There are police outside."
Fuck.
Nick sat straighter, dropping his cigarette to the table. "What?"
The android nodded in confirmation. "They're on their way, and there may be more of them."
Inside the SID van where Richards would remain, he cursed under his breath at the announcement heard through Andy's earpiece. He leaned forward, ordering into his radio, "Get in there, now."
With guns at the ready, SID moved in on the building.
"Fuck-" Nick jumped to his feet and Andy wasn't far behind in the panic. "Go get Jason," He told her before nodding at Sam. Sam was quick to follow him. Nick looked to Andy as he moved, yelling, "And tell him to break that damn bot!"
They took off down the hall toward the office, and Andy found herself at a crossroads.
She could do as he said and fetch Jason. The three of them could flee together - she would maintain Nick's trust in her just long enough to reunite with Sharon and then she could bring all of them in at once. Hank would get Andronikov's androids, and SID would get everyone they needed. It was not just a clean solution to the sudden problem they had on their hands, but an opportunity she wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Everyone needed that win.
But how long would that take? Another year? Another five? Could she do this all over again?
And what did that mean for Connor?
Andy raced downstairs, descending into the dark basement. She hadn't made it halfway there when she was already calling out for Jason.
In the room in the basement, Connor felt his body physically relax when Jason looked toward the sound. "What?" Jason yelled back.
Andy rushed into the doorway. "Cops on their way. We need to go."
"Wh-" Jason straightened, looking to Connor with confusion and suspicion. "What do I do with that?"
She paused and made brief eye contact with Connor. In what little time she had to assess the situation, she could only hope he was okay. "Leave it. Let's just go," She said to Jason.
For all the time Connor spent correcting her use of pronouns regarding androids, there was a very distinct pang that came with Andy referring to him as an object, but now wasn't the time to focus on that. He looked between them, eyes landing on the man who was standing from the control center.
"I haven't wiped its memory yet," Jason complained, digging into his pockets as he neared Connor.
Andy started to grow antsy at the movement. She stepped into the room, impatiently arguing, "What are you doing? Who cares about its memory- We don't have time for this!"
"It won't take me long," Jason dismissed, waving toward the door with a free hand as he pulled a switchblade from his pocket with the other, "Just head upstairs." He stepped closer to Connor, who was now pulling as hard as he could on his arms.
Jason put a hand on the nearest mechanical arm and leaned forward, but heard behind him the click of a gun. He looked over his shoulder, coming face to face with the barrel of Andy's firearm.
"Can't let you do that, Jason," She told him, shrugging.
He stared back at her, the shock turning into a bemused scowl. "You've got to be kidding me."
She shook her head. "Afraid this isn't a joke." Gesturing to the ground with her gun, she ordered, "Put the weapon down and step away from the android."
"You fucking bitch-"
"Weapon down," She repeated more firmly.
Jason held up his hands and took a small step away from the platform. Lowering to he knees, he let go of his switchblade and dropped it to the floor. She watched him stand up, continuing, "Turn around and put your hands behind your back."
He did so, his movements slow and careful. Connor still pulled at the arms of the machine behind him, keeping a close eye on Jason. He hated that his hands weren't free.
Andy reached out with her foot and kicked the blade away from them. She began to motion toward the wall, ready to have him stand against it until SID arrived to the basement, when Jason spun around and struck her in the face with his elbow.
The impact was loud, and Connor started to thrash his arms to free himself. The machine allowed for some movement but otherwise held tight, forcing him to watch as Andy stumbled. Jason grabbed her wrist and twisted until she dropped her gun, and then went in for a swing of his fist. She ducked under his arm and kicked up her foot, shoving the tip of her boot directly into his groin.
Jason's grip loosened as he knelt down in pain. Andy wound up her next throw, giving a wide sweep to the punch she delivered to his face. He collapsed to the ground on his side, and Andy raced to pick up her gun.
The sound of SID storming the basement was heaven to Andy and Connor, and the drop of Jason's shoulders was clear enough indication that he'd given up. Once officers reached the room, she turned toward the terminal beside the machine. Seconds later, Connor was being lowered to his feet, and Andy moved to meet him on the platform.
"Are you okay?"
They stopped, having spoken over one another in their panic. They both found the other's question to be puzzling, each of them believing their concern for the other was more important.
"I'm intact-"
"I'm fine-"
"You're bleeding," Connor raised his voice, stopping her from going any further. He leaned forward, eying the already forming bruise on her cheek and the blood that dripped from her nose.
A whistle from the doorway pulled Andy's attention to the door, but Connor kept an intense stare on her face. From behind him, he heard Richards. "Weaver got away."
In the kitchen at the DPD, Hank stood the coffee maker, waiting for the cup under the spout to fill. SID had returned to the station, bringing in Jason, a truckload of androids, and more red ice than he was sure they had room to store it. It was a huge break, but none of them particularly felt like celebrating just yet.
"Detective Hope may be in danger."
He jumped, turning back to find Connor in the doorway, staring at him. "Jesus- Give a guy some warning next time," He complained, snatching the cup into his hand. He placed it on the counter and put a second one down, pressing a button on the machine.
Connor stepped closer, explaining, "Nick Weaver will likely be looking for her. We should talk to Captain Fowler and make sure she's protected."
The severity in Connor's voice may have been enough for someone else to bend over, but Hank sighed and fully faced him now. "Okay, I see what this is."
Connor's brows furrowed in confusion. "This?"
"You worked a case with her and now you're attached. It's normal- well, for humans. Didn't expect it from you," Hank grumbled, shaking his head, "Nick will either skip town or hide till the coast is clear, which isn't gonna happen for him. Either way, we're gonna find him before he even starts to consider going after Andy." Connor was unconvinced, and he began to argue, but Hank held up a hand and stated, "She's fine, Connor."
Connor closed his mouth, almost pouting as Hank turned away to the coffee maker.
It didn't take long for Connor to speak up again. "Detective Hope told me how you two met." When Hank's wary gaze shifted toward him, he continued, "She said she gladly left homicide for a chance to work with you. I believe her exact phrasing was, 'He told me to jump, and I asked how high.'"
Hank's frown deepened. Were the situation any different, Connor would have regretted bringing it up at all. "Where the hell you goin' with this?" Hank asked him.
With a newly hard stare, Connor said, "We need to discuss the possibility of assigning some protection to the detective. I hoped giving you insight on the influence you have over her-"
Hank moved quickly, pointing to Connor and waving toward the bullpen as he exclaimed, "How about you focus on our investigation instead of giving me insight on the rest of the department, huh, Connor?" He grabbed both cups from the kitchen surface and shoved past Connor, muttering, "Prick..."
The two of them entered the bullpen and approached their desks. Andy sat in Connor's chair, her head leaned over the top as she stared up at the ceiling. She held a bag of ice to her face, insisting it was all she needed and that she'd be fine in a few hours. It didn't stop Connor from trying to push her to go to the hospital, but she was just as stubborn as he was.
Hank placed one of the coffee cups on Connor's desk, and Andy reached for it as she looked up at him. "Well?"
"Still no sign of Weaver," Hank replied, "Richards is talking to Fowler now."
"What about his assistant android, Sam?"
Hank shrugged. "They didn't mention him."
Andy went quiet, taking in the information. The wrinkle in her brow had him concerned. Somehow, some way, she was beating herself up over this. He listened to the audio they recorded from the day, and he knew exactly where her head had been. "You know, for a minute there, I thought you were gonna go on the run with him," Hank confessed.
There was the tiniest of pauses before she said, "I didn't."
His brows shot up a moment and he delivered a pointed look her way. "So you were thinking about it."
"But I didn't," She argued childishly.
"Do you regret it?" He pushed, leaning toward her and waiting for the answer.
This caught her, and he knew as much. With heavy hesitation, she glanced away, saying, "I... haven't decided that yet."
"You did a good job today."
She snorted at that. A wince and groan immediately followed it, and she brought up her other hand to her aching nose. "My main guy got away. Sure, we've got the ice and Jason, but that's not enough," She ranted, scolding herself.
"Andy, listen to me." When she looked him in the eye, he told her seriously, "You're not undercover anymore. You can go after him like a cop now."
It floored her to realize that. She was so tangled up in the heat of the moment and the complications that came with Weaver being missing that that fact almost slipped by unnoticed. It was like letting go of a breath she'd been holding for too long, the weight of this immense pressure off her shoulders. She was a cop again.
Seeing her settle into this revelation, Hank began to step away. "I'm gonna go see if we have anything on the androids we brought in yet," He told them. He sent a warning glare to Connor as he left.
It did not go unnoticed by Andy, who asked, "What was that about?"
Connor's frown followed after Hank's silhouette before he answered, "We had a disagreement."
Another snort; another wince and groan. "Just the one?" She joked.
"Perhaps you could help me talk to him," He suggested, looking down at her.
"You want social advice from me?" She lifted the bag of ice off her face to gesture toward the alarmingly dark bruise on her cheek, "From me?"
At her movement, Connor shot her a scolding look. He grabbed the back of her hand and guided it to her face, applying just enough pressure to keep arm in place without doing any damage. The action, bold as it was, surprised her - even more so after he maintained his hold.
She was quietly observing him as he proceeded without addressing it, "You have a close relationship with the lieutenant, and I've seen you change his mind before."
"What are you even arguing about?"
It didn't take a genius to know the woman who didn't even want to go to the hospital wouldn't take kindly to Connor's desire for personal security. There was no way he was admitting to that. "It pertains to the investigation," He vaguely answered before explaining to her, "I've been analyzing the lieutenant since I arrived. I know a lot of things about him, but only a few have really resonated. I can't seem to get through to him and influence his decision making."
Andy shrugged, dismissing his concerns. "He's a grumpy old man. Not much is gonna 'influence his decision making.'"
"You did."
"Don't you remember? Good looks and an infectious personality?" She remarked with a wiggle of her brows, though she didn't allow him a chance to comment. Sighing, she went on to say, "Look, he's got a past with androids, all right? You're gonna have a tough time getting through to him." Almost as an afterthought, she added, "For whatever it's worth, he likes you."
It didn't seem that way from where Connor was standing, but he supposed Andy knew Hank better than he did. "Do you think so?"
She nodded, sure of herself. "I heard about what you did, you know- on that rooftop with Hank. Richards told me. That's a big deal, so yeah, I think so."
Hank's disposition certainly had changed since that night. Connor wouldn't quite say he was the lieutenant's new drinking buddy, but Hank had warmed up to some extent. He'd hoped that doing this operation - helping Andy - would also get him in Hank's good graces.
"Thank you, Detective," Connor told Andy with a faint smile.
"Did you really analyze him?" She inquired slyly.
He nodded, unaware of where she was going with the conversation. "Yes. I've done the same to everyone."
"What have you learned about me?"
Ah. That's where.
He shifted around where he stood, his LED flashing yellow. He'd discovered quite a bit regarding Detective Hope, but he hadn't yet decided it was all entirely accurate. "You're a little more of a mystery than the lieutenant," He admitted. "You have a lot of energy, and your brash attitude tends to either irritate others or endear them. You're confident in your abilities, but it matters what other people think of you. You crave validation and approval, especially from mentor figures."
Seconds passed. He began to worry he'd said something to truly upset her when she finally broke eye contact, pouting down at her coffee. "I thought maybe you'd just tell me I had a hamster when I was a kid."
Whether the pout was genuine or not, the joke relieved him. "Did you?" He asked.
She shrugged, and it was almost bashful. "'Till I set it free in the backyard."
"So your sympathy for non-human intelligent forms goes back far," He quipped with a knowing hum.
Rolling her eyes, she mumbled, "Yeah, yeah, keep your voice down. Don't need people around here thinking I've gone soft."
If they know you at all, Detective, they know you already were. A small smile accompanied the thought, but he would not tell her this outright.
"Which one are you?"
His smile fell, and he looked to her eyes, which watched him in expectation. Confused, he told her, "I don't understand the question."
"You said I either irritate others or endear them," She explained before pushing, "Which one are you?"
He tried to respond immediately, but stumbled over the words in his mind. Finally he explained, "My Social Relations programming was designed to be pleasant with everyone here."
She smirked, as if she'd been waiting for that answer. "And how are you getting along with Gavin?"
"I-" She was too smug. That was her problem. "That's..."
"There's that tongue-tied look again," She mused, far too happy with herself. Quirking a brow, she added, "For an advanced prototype, that sure happens a lot."
He squared her with a stare, confessing, "Just with you, Detective."
If he hadn't taken himself by surprise, he would have considered Andy's reaction a victory. Her eyes widened just enough for him to register her surprise, her gaze softened, and slowly her smirk shifted to a pleased smile and a chuckle.
"You can let go of my hand, you know."
"Will you remove the ice again?"
"Probably."
"Then we're staying like this."
