Hours Before The Incident...
Connor sat quietly in Hank's swivel chair at his desk. He had knees propped up while his arms rested on them. Like usual, he tossed the coin back and forth in a swift motion.
It was November 10th and the news was on the T.V. as Connor passively watched. The reporter was explaining how today was the anniversary of the Androids' freedom. The Androids had dubbed this day as their independence day and they would celebrate it accordingly. Connor vaguely notices his best friend Markus on the newsfeed as they played a video with Markus' explanation of the independence day.
Connor smiles softly to himself. He missed Markus, but they both have been busily working to keep Androids under control. Markus was leading them by being a king and Connor was apprehending the criminal androids with Hank. Both jobs kept them very busy.
Still, he wanted to find time to visit Markus.
"You should go celebrate, too." A voice said, pulling Connor back to reality. He looked up at Hank.
"Celebrate?"
"Yeah, with the other Androids. You are one of them, you should get to celebrate, too." Hank dropped a heavy hand on Connor's shoulder. "Besides, you never get to be with your people unless you'reapprehending them. I think it'd be good for you." He gently patted his shoulder and sat on the desk as he begins going through some case files.
Connor gave this some thought. He was just thinking about how he missed Markus. Maybe a break would do him some good. He smiled.
"I think I will, Lieutenant." Hank looked over at him and smirked.
"Atta boy, Connor. Now get going, I hear the parade starts tonight and I think I wanna see a bunch of plastics parading around their freedom." Hank ruffles Connor's hair and winks at him.
Connor smiles as he gets up to leave. As he walked away, his smile faded. He turned back to face Hank.
"Will you be okay on your own?" Hank glared at him then wave a hand at him.
"Do I look like I need a babysitter?"
No reply.
"Get outta here, Connor!" Hank yelled in mock anger. Connor laughed and jogged out the precinct.
Connor walked through the city with his head held high. He felt so giddy, he could whistle! He didn't though because Hank always told him to be considerate of those around him and sometimes people don't want you to whistle. No matter how happy you are.
So.
He settled for his coin instead. He tossed in the air and it spun around like fairy. It glimmered in the warm sunlight. He looked to his side and saw a glass building reflecting his beloved trinket. Connor smiled and boarded the bus. As soon as he got on, he felt out of place. He knew this bus was meant for humans, but Androids have since been allowed to ride on them if they so please.
Connor sat down next to a very foul smelling man. Not that he was left with much choice, the bus was very crowded at the moment. Connor gave the man a small smile while subtle glancing at him. The man stared intently at Connor. It made Connor feel uneasy. That feeling only made the man's smell seem worse with every passing minute. Even though it less though it was less than two it seemed so much longer.
"You're an Android, aren't you?" the man inquired. Connor's stomach did somersaults.
"I am." Connor replied a bit more shakily than he would have like. "I hope I am not bothering you with my presence. I can move if you desire it." He thought he was sincere enough yet the man made a sour face.
"You Androids are even taking our buses with us? I mean, what? You think you're huuman now?" The man turned to face Connor then roughly pushed Connor's cheek. "Look at me when I am speaking to you!" Connor turned to face the man, vaguely aware of the other passengers watching and whispering about the scene.
"I apologize sincerely, I will move--"
"Don't you Androids ever listen?!" The man yelled cutting him off. Connor snapped his gaze elsewhere only for the man to grab his face and squeeze. "Listen to me--"
Suddenly, another hand slaps away the foul man's hand.
"Get your hands off him!" roared the familiar voice.
Hank.
Hank's voice sounding through the air felt like a drink of cold water on a hot summer day to Connor. A fire in the pitch black. Connor nearly sighed in relief.
"I-I..." the foul man sputtered and dropped his hand. Hank grabbed Connor and pull him off the bus.
"Come on, Connor," Hank mumbled. "I'll take you." Connor felt relieved at the same time as feeling frustrated. He couldn't tell which feeling was stronger.
"Lieutenant," Connor stumbled. "I was perfectly capable of handling the situation. I didn't need--" Hank lifted his hand and cut Connor off.
"No, your version of handling it would've been to take the abuse." Hank dropped his hand at his side and turned to face Connor. "You don't know how to handle these type of situations." He paused for a moment.
"Yet." Hank continued. Connor tilted his head in curiosity.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Connor responded. Hank sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Well, you will one day. For now, I'll take you to Markus." Hank insisted. "Get in the car." He pulled the keys out and unlocked Connor's door.
Connor plops into his seat and strapped. He started replaying the events of a few moments ago and realized he never asked about the elephant in the room.
"Hank," Connor started turning toward his lieutenant. "why did you come for me?" Hank looked at him and scoffed.
"You're never gonna believe it." Hank mumbled. He reached into his coat pocket and wrapped a soft, warm piece of cloth around Connor's neck. "You forgot your scarf." Connor stared in bewilderment at the scarf. Hank wouldn't normally bring the scarf to him, instead he would simply scold him for forgetting it later.
"Lieutenant, is there another reason?" Connor suspected. Hank scoffed again and smiled at Connor.
"As soon as you left, I thought about how people were probably being even more hostile towards Androids today." Hank ran a hand through his hair. "I got worried and came for you." Connor felt a strange warm feeling inside him when Hank spoke. This feeling is one he is very familiar with.
Ever since he became a deviant, the time he spends with Hank makes him feel this way. He still doesn't know how to describe it, but he enjoys it. He's learned how to cherish the feeling by keeping the memories in the forefront of his mind and remembering them often. He had no idea how to explain this process. How does one explain the process of cherishing memories?
"I...appreciate your concern, Lieutenant." Connor stumbled a bit over his words. He only seems to have trouble finding his words when it comes to Hank. It's been that way since they first met. "I hadn't consider how humans see our independence day. I suppose it make sense for them to be angry."
"Yeah, but don't get it too twist," Hank requested, driving through the city. "some humans are happy to see Androids being free."
"Like you?"
"Yeah, but there are others, too." Hank chuckled lowly. "But for now on, I want you to be more careful around humans. Maybe not tell them you're an Android." Connor looked confused.
"You want me to lie about who I am?"
"Heavens no! I just mean that they don't need to know the moment you first meet them." Hank explains. "There's a saying about it, it goes 'if they don't ask, don't tell'." Connor looked thoughtfully out the window. The snow seem to start falling in that moment.
"So if they don't ask if I'm an Android, then I don't have tell them I'm an Android?"
"Exactly!" Hank exclaimed cheerfully, tapping his hand on the steering wheel. "You can be yourself without them ever knowing that you're an Android."
"But that man somehow knew I was an Android. That's why he asked." Connor inquired.
"And you're gonna get that sometimes, you'll know how to handle that situation soon. I'll teach you, but the most important thing to know is that you need to avoid violence as much as possible." Hank shifted in his seat with one hand on the steering wheel and the other gesturing his point. "Now if someone pulls a gun out on you, don't hesitate to defend yourself. But if they just say a bunch of crock, ignore them and walk away. " Hank waved his hand dismissively.
"I...think I understand, Lieutenant." Connor replied still a bit confused. Hank smiled and ruffled Connor's hair affectionately.
"That's good, son." Hank sighed calmly. "And besides, you're becoming more and more humanlike everyday."
Markus was making his way to his new residence. He and North had decided to live together after the events a year ago. They moved in about 2 months ago and have still been unpacking. The two have only gotten closer since it all went down last year. They knew each other almost perfectly. Almost.
North still harbored a hatred toward humans, while Markus loved them. This fact put a bit of a gap between them. Though the gap only seems to appear when days like the Androids' Independence Day were here. North couldn't seem to agree with Markus about anything today. All of the Androids had agreed to have a parade for their independence about two months in advance, but North doesn't seem to being sticking with her opinions anymore. First, she thought it stupid to have a parade to celebrate or to celebrate at all. After that, only one mere hour later, she changed her mind once again saying that she wanted the parade and that it had to be perfect and safe for their people.
Needless to say, Markus was at a loss of what to do.
About everything.
North wasn't the only one who was indecisive about today. It seems like all of the other Androids wanted something different. They all pretended as though Markus had full control and that they were simply offering their opinions, but Markus wasn't fooled. He could tell that they hid their intentions behind their soft compromises and ideas.
"You're home." A sweet voice rang softly. Markus hadn't realized he was home, let alone made it up to the door without thinking. Nevertheless, he gave North a warm smile and leaned in to give her a small peck on the cheek.
"And how glad I am to be here." Markus remarked wistfully. "There's no better place than wherever you are." North rolled her eyes.
"How romantic." North drawled and giggled lightly. She tapped on his chest a bit before making her way back to the kitchen. Markus followed her in.
"How's unpacking?" Markus asked.
"Unfruitful and slow without you helping me." North whined. "You could be helping."
"You know I have--"
"The people to deal with. I know." She interrupted. "I just wish you took some time off to help out with OUR home." There she goes again! Her mood changes so fast Markus can't keep up. This morning, she was telling him to prepare for the big parade this evening and now she wants him at home unpacking.
What was it she really wanted?
Markus' frown increased. North must have noticed the silence, because she looked over at him and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Markus...I'm just a bit stressed out by all of this." North acknowledged. Markus nodded but said nothing in hopes of pushing her to say more. "I mean, the humans still hate us and some Androids are becoming criminals because of our pacifist resolve."
"North, we don't know why some of the Androids are becoming Insurgents." Markus added. "You'll remember what we found in the last one."
"You mean the errors?" North asked squinting slightly. "That could just be self-harm or...something."
"It seems like more than that, but it's going to take more investigating." Markus responded. "Until then, we should be relaxing and celebrating our freedom." He walked around the counter until his arms found her and wrapped around her waist. As he sighed, he put his head in the crook of her neck.
"Okay..." North responded.
