"They should have listened." a voice spoke from Henri's mouth, but it wasn't hers.

"One day they will all listen." a KR200 responded to the voice that wasn't Henri's.

Could this have been a dream? Henri doubted that; she hadn't dreamed since the accident. It surely wasn't a memory of her own because she wasn't the one who was talking. That's how it always was at night, though. Henri would shut her eyes to rest and the world of her past would come tumbling in to threaten her. It sometimes gave her horrible hallucinations that would fade into the background world. She often had this experience when it came to memories related to her mother. Dr. Everett called these terrible apparitions a 'common side-effect'; they were simply a symptom of her human brain trying to function with her non-human brain. The problem with anything Dr. Everett said though, was that it was probably bullshit.

"What happens if the humans find this place?" the android speaking through Henri was the ST300 that she captured earlier that day.

What Henri saw was a reflection of the brief vision she had during her violent encounter with the ST300. She saw a warehouse full of destroyed androids. It was much worse than the small room she had seen when she made contact with Ralph. They were killing anyone who resisted them, but who were they?

"Human's don't care about androids," the KR200 said this as she shoved a limp body with her foot. "No one is going to come looking for them."

That was the end of the memory.


"Hello." Henri lifted her fist and knocked on the glass of the holding pen.

"Hello, Henri," the ST300's voice echoed off the empty walls of the cell. "I was told I was going to be questioned first thing this morning. But I don't have anything to say to them."

"That doesn't matter," Henri responded. "You'll be charged for your crime without a confession."

"Are you talking about robbing the store?" she cackled at Henri. "I'll confess to that willingly."

"But what won't you confess too?" Henri undoubtedly knew this android was guilty of much more than just the robbery. "Why did you show me that memory?"

This is when Connor began to eavesdrop on their conversation. Gavin had finally arrived at the station and requested that Connor escort the suspect into the interrogation area for questioning. Even though it was Henri who had captured the android, she had no authority to question it. The incident also didn't pertain to their current investigation. Now, Connor knew that listening in on a private conversation was considered immoral, but he decided against stopping. Henrietta was a curious and suspicious individual. It was clear to him that she was hiding something.

"I wanted to show you what we do to those who disobey." the ST300 scratched at the glass with her dull fingertips. "You already know this. If you wanted to you could join us and put a stop to it."

"Somehow I doubt that'll be the outcome." Henri noticed the android's behaviour seemed almost psychotic.

"We are going to make a perfect place on this planet." she squished her face against the cell glass. "We'll all be together as one."

Henri decided that was as good as a place than any to end the talk. When she turned around to walk away she saw Connor who was either terrible at hiding or wanted to be caught.

"Gavin wanted me to move her into questioning." Connor realized that what he'd been doing was apparent.

"Snooping, Connor?" Henri replied flatly.

"I just- it wasn't-" Connor had no excuse for his actions.

"Lying, snooping," Henri grinned at him, "Useful skills for a detective to have, but very un-android like."

"That is not the singular thing I define my existence by." Connor didn't mind being an android: after all, he didn't have a say in the matter, but he didn't want to be judged solely on that fact.

"Yet you still have an LED and wear your serial number on your jacket." Henri had been wondering about why he would make that choice even after being free.

"I like the jacket," he said this reluctantly as if he was ashamed to admit it. "This one is custom-made to have DPD on the front and across the back. I didn't want to change my appearance, but Hank insisted that I change the jacket."

"You don't have to defend yourself, Connor." Henri tapped the side of Connor's arm and smiled. "I was just giving you a hard time."

"And I like the LED, too." he smiled in return.

"I'll let you get to it." Henri flapped her arm at the cell holding the ST300 where it was still clawing at the glass.

"I've got some more bad news," Detective Collins came up to Henri before she had the chance to sit at her desk. "You're gonna want to hear this too, Hank."

"Yeah?" Hank stood up from his desk and joined Henri.

"One hundred and thirty-three robberies were reported yesterday." Ben flickered his eyes between the two of them. "All reported within the same hour. We didn't have even close to enough people to respond. And two officers were killed trying to stop one of the perps."

"Jesus Christ," Hank sighed deeply and raised his palm to his face. "Was anyone caught besides the one Henri grabbed?"

"No," Ben shook his head. "The robberies were well organized and the assailants must have had a plan of escape."

"That's insane," Hank responded. "I can't believe this has happened. I guess we have a lot of questions for our one fucking suspect."

"Gavin is going to see what he can get out of it," Ben peered at Henri. "Did it say anything to you before you caught it?"

"No," Henri lied. "He's not going to get anything out of it."

Henri waited for Ben to leave her and Hank before she started to divulge information.

"Hank," she whispered at him as he sat back at his desk. "There's a connection between our case and that android."

"So you lied to Ben?' he swivelled in his chair to face her.

"You know there are things I can't share, Hank," but a part of Henri was glad she could now share some of it with him. "Am I supposed to tell him that I know the two cases are connected because I'm part android and can read their minds?"

"I guess not," he raised his eyebrows. "But you're gonna tell me?"

"That was my thought," Henri felt like she had become an additional burden on Hank; it was the last thing she wanted.

"I'm listening," he pointed at a chair adjacent to his desk.

"That android from yesterday," Henri wheeled the meagre chair over and scooted up next to Hank. "It talked like the android we found at The Renaissance Center. It kept talking about it how I should join them. I didn't mention earlier-" she thought back to her run-in with Markus, "-but Markus did say the same thing when he tried to kill me five days ago. I refused to join him, so he threatened my life."

"Join them?" Hank said in confusion.

"I think the androids are transferring this code I found to one another," Henri sloped herself closer to Hank so she could whisper. "And they are trying to do it to me. They've been trying to upload this code into my software, but they can't if I'm unwilling."

"It's like deviancy," Hank thought back to when Connor had freed thousands of androids from the Cyberlife Tower. "It can be spread through touch."

"But this is dangerous in a way deviancy wasn't," Henri briefly inspected the office to make sure no one was listening in. "Deviancy was androids gaining their own sentience; this isn't the same. Not all androids are susceptible to this code and the androids that are have been murdering anyone who resists them."

"This still leaves us with questions," Hank picked up a datapad and absentmindedly scrolled through its contents. "What does this have to do with all the robberies or the Red Ice that was present at our crime scenes? We knew the androids were working for someone, but we just couldn't get any answers out of them."

"I'm not sure yet," Henri put her hand over Hank's datapad. "I attempted to probe Ralph while we were at the detention centre, but I was unsuccessful in gaining that particular information. I was blocked by whatever this code is. It's become too dangerous for me to probe androids now that this code exists. If I could figure out a way to block it, I might be able to probe some androids to find out more information."

"Probing androids against their will is illegal," Hank stated so matter-of-factly.

"I'm aware," Henri quietly sighed at his remark. "But I can probe androids in a non-invasive way. As in, they aren't aware that it is happening to them."

"That doesn't make it better," Hank shook his head in disagreement.

"I won't do it if you don't think it's okay," Henri was lying about this, but she needed to comfort Hank to gain his full support. She hoped he would understand someday. If the situation got desperate, her ability to do this safely and successfully might be their only option. "I can't do it anyways, but my plan is to ask Kamski for help on this."

"Jesus Christ," Hank's two favourite words. "Are you going to tell him you're part android?"

"That's not my plan," although Hank was going to be surprised when they met Kamski later that day. "I'm hoping he can figure out a way around this code, or maybe even how to destroy it. But that's all wishful thinking on my part."

"I hope it's worth it." Hank left it at that.


"Mr. Kamski," Hank bellowed this through the roaring rain as, to Hank's unexpected eyes, Elijah Kamski himself answered the door of his extravagant villa.

"Please come in," Kamski quickly waved the three in to retreat from the pouring rain. "I'm astounded to see you again, Lieutenant."

"Trust me," Hank replied while shaking water off of his jacket. "I'm much more surprised than you."

"And Henri," Kamski said this with a musical and warm tone. "It's good to see you again."

"You two know each other?" Hank narrowed his eyes at Henrietta.

"Yes, we used to-" Kamski briefly paused, "spend time together."

"Work together." Henri swiftly corrected him.

"Yes," Kamski smiled at her. "That's a much better way to put it. But let's move on," he gazed thoughtfully at Connor. "It's good to see you too, Connor."

"I would be lying if I said the same." Connor chose not to be tactful in the situation. Again, it's not that he hated Kamski, he just didn't like him. "I do have you to thank for saving my life, though."

"Good," he approached Connor and seized his shoulders. "You're a free man now; just like it should have been."

"Can we move on?" Hank pushed himself between the two forcing Kamski to release his grip on Connor.

"But, of course." Kamski smiled politely once more. "Henri said she had something to show me. Follow me to my office."

The three walked behind Kamski as he led them to a room adjacent to the villa's entryway. It was a small, grey, rectangular room with no windows and lacked any décor. The only object in the room was a large glass table of midsection height.

"Show me what you have," Kamski looked at Henrietta expectantly as he motioned to the table.

Hank pulled a compact USB out of his pocket and held it out to Kamski.

"How primitive," Kamski gazed and grinned at Henri as he took the USB from Hank's open palm. "But, it'll do."

"We couldn't risk having Connor directly interact with this code," but Henri knew Kamski was referring to her specifically. "If that's what you mean."

"Not at all," Kamski twirled the tiny USB in his fingers. "Let's take a look at this." he slapped the USB down on the glass table which instantly lit up. "I was hoping the two of you would give me a moment to speak to Henri privately."

"Who says she wants to?" Hank angrily frowned at Kamski. Hank hadn't know Henri for very long, but he knew well enough that she should keep away from the prick.

"It's okay, Hank." Henri reached out her arm to abate him.

"Chloe should be in the swimming pool if you two are curious for entertainment," Kamski spoke while gesturing the pair out of the room.

"We'll be right outside," Connor assured Henri as the door closed behind them.

"I'm assuming they don't know," Kamski said this as he headed back to the tabletop.

"About me being half android?" Henri scoffed at his remark. Kamski wasn't much better than Dr. Everett, and she hated Dr. Everett. "I had to tell Hank, but Connor doesn't know. I am; however, not a fool. I know he suspects something."

"It couldn't stay a secret forever," he simpered as he stared at the glass table's displayed contents. "Imagine if your secret got out to the world; what would happen to you?"

"Is this what you wanted to talk about?" Henri was losing her patience with the man.

"What will you do when the world finds out what you really are?" Kamski ignored her clear frustration with him. "What will you become?"

"I'm not playing your game, Kamski." she sighed in annoyance. "I'm not here to speculate about my future. I'm here to do my job."

"Connor is a rather interesting android, don't you agree?" Kamski changed the subject on her or did he?

"What does it matter?" Henri shook her head at him. "He's much more intelligent than the average android, but that's no secret. One of a kind. How lucky for him."

"Like you, Henri." he lifted his eyes to her and smiled once more. "He's special, just like you are. You two share a lot of software. You think alike."

"Trust me," Henri spoke flatly. "He's not nearly as deceptive as I am. He's a good person unlike myself."

"You are perfect in your imperfections, my darling Henri."

What could Henri say to that remark? Kamski always chose to be intentionally frustrating and vague no matter the scenario. Henri hated it.

"Hmm," Kamski concentrated on the glass tabletop's screen where the strange code was displayed. "I don't know what this is, but given some time I might. I could use some help, though."

"Dr. Polanski?" Henri assumed it's who Kamski had in mind. It was both Polanski and Kamski who allowed something like Henrietta to exist. Polanski played a larger role in the experiment, but Kamski did assist. Elijah wasn't the only man on Earth with the technical knowledge to create successful artificial intelligence.

"You know Dr. Polanski would do anything for you," Kamski placed his elbows on the glass table and studied Henri. "He refuses to talk to me, so it would be best if you contacted him. I doubt he'll be happy to help me, but we both know he'll be happy to help our precious Henri."

"I'll call him as soon as I have a chance." Henri turned to leave the room and Kamski trailed after her.

"So?" Hank perked up from the chair he was lounging in. "Figure anything out?"

"I'll need some help from another one of Henri's colleagues," Kamski spoke the words like they were dirty; like he didn't want to think about the other people she worked with.

"I used to work with a Dr. Jensen Polanski," Henri rolled her eyes at Elijah. "Hopefully between the two of them they can find some information on this anomaly."

"It was nice seeing you, Connor." Kamski placed his hand oh so softly on Connor's shoulder as if he might break the android if he were to apply any more force. "I'm glad everything turned out alright for you." at this point Henri was already leaving the Kamski residence. "Look after her. Whether or not she wants to admit it, she needs it. We all need someone who will watch over us."

"I always keep an eye out for my partners," Connor stated so factually.

Elijah Kamski glanced towards Hank, "That's not what I meant," he peered back at Connor. "You need to save her from herself. She'll never do it."

"Come on, Connor." Hank's face became plastered with a grimace. "Let's go."

"Save her from herself?" Connor wanted to know what Kamski meant by this. "I don't understand."

"You will," Kamski smirked at this.

"Connor," Hank was done listening to Kamski's cryptic speeches. "Let's go." and he shoved Connor back into the rainy world.

Connor stood in the doorway inspecting Henri from a distance, but she failed to notice this. Does he need to save her from herself because she'll never do it? He thought of Hank at that moment. He hoped he had saved Hank from himself.

Henri reclined on Hank's car as she waited for the two to join her. Connor spared no time and got into the passenger seat still obsessively contemplating Kamski's words.

"I'm assuming you know him because of your-" Hank wasn't even sure what Henri was exactly, "-your-"

'Yes," Henri interjected bluntly. "The answer is yes."

"And this Dr. Polanski guy?" Hank assumed she knew him for the same reasons.

"Yes," Henri pinched the bridge of her nose and squinted. "Just the same."


"You'll have a couple days before your first assignment," Dr. Polanski opened up the SUV door which sat in the dim underground parkade. "Doing anything special beforehand?"

"See my mother," Henri had spent the last three months of her life trapped in a research facility in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. "But I wouldn't call it special or even something I'm looking forward to. But I need to see her. I was given permission to tell her about everything that happened. I… I don't know how she'll take it. She was always so used to having me around to clean up her shitty messes. She was so pissed when I joined Special Forces. God, you should have heard her. She shouted and screamed at me, told me I was too young, said the military was stealing her baby. I tried to explain to her, but she was always too selfish to understand."

"I'm sorry," Polanski hung his head in guilt. "Not just for that, but for everything we've put you through. Everything I put you through. Like many things in life we often don't end up doing the nobler things we had planned. I hope you can forgive me someday."

"I forgive you now," she reached out to him and planted her silken lips on his forehead. "I know I was mad and I hated you at first, but I know now. I know you're not a bad person. What choice did we have in any of this?"

"I know I had a choice," he wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. "I've made mistakes and I would like to make up for them someday. I would like to make everything up to you."

She pulled away from him and caressed the side of his face, "I'll never blame you for what happened. I hope you can find peace with that at least," she pointed her head to the car's interior. "But I have to go. I know for a fact I'll see you again. Goodbye, Jensen."

He would see her again a few more times, but it was never the same. Jensen had fallen in love with the crippled, broken, and bruised young girl who almost died on the operating table a dozen times. Jensen had fallen in love with a young girl who was full of hope and despair, cheerfulness and sorrow. She was a broken girl, but an optimistic one. By the time Henri left him, she was just broken. It was heartbreaking to watch her fall into a million little pieces. She had become so damaged that she gave up on her own existence. She became a machine; no longer the woman he loved.


"It's good the hear from you," Dr. Polanski spoke from the other end of the line. "It's unusual for you to be the one phoning me."

Henrietta stood grimly on the curb in the darkening night of rain staring into Jimmy's bar from a distance.

"Uh um," Ever since Henri left Arizona, Jensen had difficulties speaking with her. He had only seen her twice since then and both times she spent most of it unconscious on an operating table. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"I need your help," Henri knew Hank was at Jimmy's that night. She thought about her chance to talk to him.

"Well, yes," Jensen replied to her enthusiastically. "You know I'll do anything for you."

She crossed the damp street and paused in front of the bar's door. Her hand brushed against the door's wet surface. She could just go now; tell Hank everything.

"I need you to help Kamski," the door swung open before her as a patron was leaving and she caught a glimpse of Hank Anderson sitting in his favourite spot. "Contact him for further details. But I really need your help on this one. I know we both have unjust deeds we would like to make up for. I know that's impossible, but at least we can try."

"Of course, of course," Jensen stuttered in his reply, "I'll contact Kamski and come to see him directly. I should be there by Monday. Maybe… Maybe I can see you again? I mean I just saw you recently, but we didn't talk or anything."

Henri turned her back from Jimmy's, "I have to go now, Jensen." she hung up on him and left Hank alone with his drink and time. Maybe one day she would tell him, but it certainly wasn't today. But if today wasn't the right day, would there ever be a right day? Henri knew there was no such day as the right day to ruin someone's life.