Disclaimer:

This chapter contains the use of song lyrics. I do not own this music nor do I have the rights to it. I've included a citation of the mentioned song: Trent Reznor, Danny Lohner (2002), And All That Could Have Been (Nothing, Interscope), On the album Still (Nine Inch Nails)


"Remember," Connor stretched his hands up and braced them on the entry way's door frame. "If you need anything immediately, there's an officer outside your room."

"I am aware of this, Connor," she bobbed her head politely at the sweet android.

"But if you need anything from me, Henri," he relaxed his grip from the frame and looked at her in all seriousness. "Call me and I'll be there for you."

"Anything for me, right?" her voice was low and hushed when she said this. "You're not the first person to say those words to me."

"I mean it, Henri," there was a pitiful sorrow in his eyes. It was the look of helplessness.

"Don't spend your time worrying about me, Connor," and she meant what she said.

"I'll talk to you later," and he left her alone.


"It's good to see you," the gorgeous android known as Chloe beamed at Connor as she brought him into the foyer of Mr. Kamski's villa. "Elijah has been waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" Connor questioned her. Connor did not inform Kamski of this unplanned visitation.

"He says you'll always come back to him," she waved Connor into the substantial dinning area of Elijah's modern home.

Kamski leaned an elbow on the lengthy, silver plated dinning room table and rested his chin in his palm, "Good to see you, Connor. As always."

"You were expecting me?" Connor glared at the well-dressed man.

"I think you'll find the compulsion of returning to me inside yourself, Connor." Kamski casually lifted the corners of his mouth. "You are a boy with an infinite amount of questions and I am a man of finite answers. Answers; nonetheless, you want."

"It's about Agent Monroe," Connor felt disturbed in Kamski's presence. The man acted like a god; he acted inhumanly.

"Is it?" Kamski lazily diverted his gaze from Connor. "Aren't you going to ask me about our progress with the virus? Isn't that more important?"

"And I can't ask both?" Connor lowered his brows.

"Of course you can," Kamski tossed his arms up in an exaggerated gesture. "Ask away, son."

"You told me I had to save Henri from herself," Connor took a step towards the man and ran his hand across the smooth table top. "What did you mean by that?"

"She owes… some people…her life," it sounded like Kamski was being particular about his word choice with Connor. "It's something she can never forget. She gives her undying loyalty to an unspeakable being. And the price of that loyalty is her darling life. Such a pity for such a precious creature like her to go to waste. Not like you, Connor. You were always exactly what you needed to be."

"I don't understand," Connor tilted his head and examined Kamski's melancholic expression in the table's mirror like surface.

"But you will," Kamski reclined back in his seat. "Anything else?

Connor blinked at the confounding man for a second. Connor was angry with Kamski. He imagined himself throttling the man into the pristine table and choking the truth out of him. But that would never happen.

Kamski was still patiently waiting for a response.

"Have you made any progress?" Connor finally relented.

"We need more androids," Kamski gingerly removed himself from his seat. "That is, we need to see more software from the androids that are infected."

"That might not be possible," Connor stumbled back instinctively; like a magnetic force repelled him from Kamski. "We can't violate the rights of individuals to acquire evidence."

"Not really my problem, is it?" Kamski shrugged and advanced in Connor's direction. "You've broken the rules before, Connor. Accept the fact that you will do it again."

"There was something else," Connor diverted from the subject. "An infected android told me that this virus hates me."

"Really?" Kamski was excited by the notion. "I wonder why that is? Maybe it's something in your software, Connor. Very interesting."

"Any idea what it could intend by this?" Connor saw how surreal Kamski was. He was either a man completely out of touch with reality or absolutely tuned into it.

"I'll let you know as soon as I do," Kamski took another step forward which displaced Connor and shoved him against the wall. "Being human never becomes second nature. Your decisions become no easier than before. Your life is still in its infancy, Connor. The real question is: will you do what is necessary to save the one you love? Emotions, my boy, they are deadly things."


"Don't get mad," is what Connor spoke to start his conversation with Hank.

"Connor," Hank was attempting to lounge peacefully in front of his TV. "You're setting me up to get mad. Why would you say that?"

"You're right," Connor's mouth gaped open; he wasn't sure how to approach the Kamski subject with finesse. "I uh, I-"

"Spit it," Hank growled this and poor Sumo whined from his resting spot in the living room corner.

"I saw Kamski today," Connor threw the words from his mouth like the were burning at his tongue.

"I told you to stay away from that fucking bastard," all Hank wanted was to have a relaxing evening, but now this shit came up.

"I know," Connor said in a small, weak voice. "I needed to inquire about his progress related to our case."

"And?" Hank sighed but gave Connor his full attention.

"He said he needs more androids," Connor dropped himself on the opposite side of the couch and hung his head. "As in, he needs to see the programs of other androids who are infected with this virus. Problem is, this is a violation of personal rights, Hank. You and I both know the androids we've recently captured won't cooperate on that level either. They have been consistently getting more aggressive towards us."

"Chicken and egg," Hank's mouth curved down. "We need their help to save them, but they need our help to be saved."

"It's about more than them, Hank," Connor rested his elbows on his knees. "These androids are taking lives of innocent people. We have to stop them."

"What about the androids that were destroyed?" Hank queried. "Could we just take some of this, uh their software?"

"Ethically, it's wrong," Connor pointed his head at Hank. "But legally, as of yet, it is not wrong. But in order to access their memories, they need to be reactivated. That would not be possible with the androids we've dealt with. Reactivation was impossible."

"Maybe it isn't." Hank folded over his arms. "Do we know someone who could help?"

"I won't take the androids to Kamski," Connor creased his forehead. "I don't trust him with androids; dead or alive."

"You should talk to Henri," Hank knew Henri held all kinds of secrets. She also made it clear she could do things androids couldn't. Hank also suspected the girl had friends in high places.

"I will contact her tomorrow," Connor's expression changed from serious to sorrowful the second Hank said her name. "Hopefully she's doing better."


"Did she leave?" Connor inquired with the officer stationed outside of Henri's hotel room.

"Not since you were here three days ago," the officer responded.

"She won't answer her phone," Connor stared at the numbers 307 painted on the door. "Do you mind giving me a minute?"

"Not at all," the officer bowed at Connor. "I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"Thanks..." the words trailed from Connor's mouth.

Knock, knock, knock, but no answer. Connor could hear music being played from inside Henri's room. He pushed his palms against the door's glossy surface and put his ear up to it.

Breeze still carries the sound

Maybe I'll disappear

Tracks will fade in the snow

You won't find me here

Connor planted his hand on the doorknob and gave it a wiggle. Obviously, it was locked.

Ice is starting to form

Ending what had begun

I am locked in my head

With what I've done

The lock functioned on an electronic mechanism and Connor easily hacked it.

I know you tried to rescue me

Didn't let anyone get in

Left with a trace of all that was

And all that could have been

Connor found Henri on the ground next to her bed, but the sight which he beheld stole a piece of his heart. She had been consuming alcohol to excess, just like Hank did in the past. But Henri wasn't participating in Hank's favourite game of Russian Roulette. Henri was face down on the floor with her service pistol still clutched in her lifeless hand. He fell to his knees in front of her body.

Please

Take this

And run far away

Far away from me

I am tainted

The two of us

Were never meant to be

All these pieces

And promises and left-behinds

If only I could see

In my nothing

You meant everything

Everything to me

Connor gripped her body and twisted it around to face him, but when he touched her he saw something. The vision played in his head like a movie; all he could do was observe, but he could feel everything that happened. He felt the agony that built up inside Henri when she found her mother's dead body. December 12th was the day Henri's mother died. It was exactly five years ago to the day.

Time

Fading

Everything

And all that

Could have been

Could have been

Henri found two letters sitting on the kitchen table. One was ascribed to Etta, and the other one… When Henri glanced at it a different memory played out before Connor's eyes. She was watching a man having a cigarette outside a family restaurant on a snowy evening. He could feel the anxiety causing her heart to flutter. He could feel the frozen flakes of snow cool her face. He felt the discomfort she experienced in her chest. He recognized the man she was watching.

Please

Take this

And run far away

Far as you can see

I am tainted

And happiness and peace of mind

Were never meant for me

All these pieces

And promises and left-behinds

If only I could see

In my nothing

You meant everything

Everything to me

"Henri?" Connor cradled her limp body in his arms.

"Connor?" her eyes sprang open and the sight of him caused her to panic. "What are you doing?"

"You wouldn't answer your phone," he stared into her wet eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Why are you crying?" she groggily mentioned this to him, but he hadn't noticed until she did.

"I was worried about you," one drop escaped from his eye. "I thought you were dead."

"I told you, Connor." she wiped away his lonely tear. "I can't die."

"You mentioned." he grinned at her, though his expression was still one of concern.

"I passed out," she could no longer hold back her own tears. "I didn't want to remember anymore."

He placed one hand on the back of her head and pulled her close to him and she buried her face into his shoulder. Tears left her eyes, but she never made a whimper.

"What did you see?" she whispered against him.

"I saw your mother," he pulled her back to see her eyes. "I saw your father, Henri."

"You can't say anything." her face still swelled red, but her voice was harsh.

"I won't," he caressed her face with both of his hands. "I promise I won't say anything. I promise."

Her bright grey eyes beamed with life once more, "Thank you."


"I've never tried," Henri sat on Hank's kitchen floor petting adorable Sumo on that golden, winter morning.

"Do you think it's within your abilities?" Connor stood at the edge of the living room examining Henri's movements. "Is it even a safe idea?"

Hank, sitting in his cosy sweats, glowered at him, "Connor."

Connor snapped his head to face Hank who was making his way through his first coffee of the day, "Sorry, Hank. What did I do?"

"You're looking at me like I'm the walking dead," Henri patted Sumo on the head before standing up. She brushed Sumo's fur away from her blue jeans and lengthy cardigan while looking at Connor, "You're staring at me like you don't know who I am."

"That's not it," Connor lifted his hand and creased his forehead. "I wasn't trying to offend you. I just have more to learn about you now."

"Don't go prying," she exhaled at him while placing her clenched fists on her hips. "But now that everyone's in the loop, our lives should be easier."

Hank gazed at her quizzically, "Can you do it?"

Her eyes ran back and forth between the two men, "Like I said, I've never tried."

"I'm assuming Kamski has knowledge of your condition?" Connor was still unaware of specific details involving Henri. He knew she was part android and he doubted Henri had ever intended to let Connor know that much, to begin with. Henri also told him that Hank had discovered this about her three weeks ago which would explain their secretive conversations behind Connor's back.

"He is," she waved her arms over her own body. "This is thanks to him, but mostly Dr. Polanski. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for them."

Hank peered down at Sumo who was excitedly waving his tail, "We have three dead androids. Is that gonna be enough?"

Connor pursed his lips, "Kamski did not specify the amount of information he requires."

Henri raised a finger at the two, "Purely on assuming I can do what the two of you hope I can do. We could always just give the bodies to Kamski."

"I won't allow that," Connor shook his head in disapproval. "I don't trust Kamski. It doesn't feel right to hand them over to him."

"I don't blame you," Henri lightly placed her hand on Connor. "I do have an idea though."

"All ears," Hank said this before slurping away at his beverage.

"Well," Henri joined Hank at the table. "Like you said, they can't be reactivated. However, I can try to download whatever fragments of software that is still intact within them. But I also won't be able to download these fragment into my own programs, that would be too risky. I need an external source to transfer the information to."

"Like an other computer?" Connor suggested.

"I won't be able to transfer the code wirelessly," Henri continued. "I'll need to connect them physically to a hard drive; from there I can manually download whatever data they may have. This is all theoretical, of course."

Hank stretched backwards then folded his arms over, "Theoretical is better than a dead end."

"Yeah?" Henri examined Hank's reaction and squinted at him. "You seemed rather adamant that we do things the right way or not at all."

"This is serious stuff," Hank leaned forward on the table's edge. "I'm not gonna argue about this, Henri. But when you're right you're right. I believe this is the right move."

Connor scrutinized the two visually. If anything, they were both stubborn individuals.

"I'm sure we could request what you need from Cyberlife." Connor finally spoke.

"Uh," Henri gritted her teeth at Connor. "I actually won't advise that. It's best they don't know what we are up to. I also doubt that an external hard drive for an android is a common order. The less they know the better."

"Our other options would be to place the order internationally," Connor suggested instead. "But we might have difficulty finding a compatible component for a Cyberlife android."

"How about you just leave it to me?" Henri gave Connor her fake smile.

Hank let out a grunt and drank some more of his coffee, "You mean you're gonna steal it?"

"Uh," she grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head. "I'm a gifted thief."

"Jesus," Hank sighed. "Actually?"

She shrugged at him, "I've made a few unofficial trips to the Cyberlife Tower in the past."

Connor wondered what the circumstances for her 'unofficial' visits were, "Unofficial? You mean you've broken into the Cyberlife Tower before?"

"Comes with the job," she recalled gaining entrance into the tower once to do Kamski a favour… or several. "My point being, I can do it and no one will ever know."

"I'll go with you," Connor insisted.

"What?" Henri was surprised by his suggestion. "Why would we do that? I can get in and out by myself undetected."

"When was the last time you broke into the Cyberlife Tower?" Connor asked in turn.

"Last year," she knew the exact date was March 19th. "Why?"

"Before the revolution, I assume?" he added.

"You think because it's no longer run by humans I might not know it as well anymore?" and he wasn't entirely wrong in his assumption.

"Correct," Connor bobbed his head while raising an eyebrow. "You shouldn't risk going alone."

Hank interjected with his opinion on the matter, "I agree with Connor. It's too dangerous to go by yourself."

"The two of you are underestimating my capabilities," she spoke bluntly. "I don't need your protection."

Connor tilted his head at her, "Remember, we are partners. We are all in this case together, so we should cooperate. Hank and I agree that I should accompany you."

"Fine," she scowled, giving up her point. "But we need to be careful. We'll head out tonight"


Connor crouched on his knees next to Henri on the icy ground, gazing up at the terrific steeple known as Cyberlife Tower, "How many times have you done this?"

"A lot," she scratched at her eye with her naked hands. "Enough to know what I'm doing."

Connor shifted in his unconventionally dark outfit, but Henri had insisted they wear all black. Presumably to hide themselves against the backdrop of the night sky.

"At no point is the tower unsupervised," Connor observed his own bare hands. "Androids don't need to rest."

"Mm, yes, I know," she knew there would be guards, there were always guards. "We don't have to go that far. The item we are searching for is located in sub-level 30. We get in the elevator and we are golden."

"You make it sound simple," Connor gaped at the dark tower sitting on the water's edge. "How are we going to get across the bridge?"

"We aren't going across the bridge," she pointed at the iced over river.

"We would never make it across," Connor was amazed that it occurred to her as a plausible idea. "The ice is too thin and the water's temperature would freeze us."

"Can you examine the ice's thickness?" she already knew the answer.

"I can," he frowned at her.

"Well, you're half way there," but she grinned back. "You know your weight, you know the ice thickness. Make sure not to follow me, okay? I'm lighter than you so I can tread more ice."

"Is there an other way?" Connor asked.

"We will be fine," she patted his back. "Just watch your footing."

"Is this really how you've managed to enter the tower before?" Connor didn't find it believable.

"Actually, no," she scooted onto the frozen water. "I would just hack their security systems and the guards, but we don't have that option right now."

With a bit of time and some careful movements, they found their way across the river. There were times Henri's actions on the iced surface horrified Connor; she would occasionally jump and slide around to his astonishment.

"I was worried," Connor planted his feet on the freezing shore.

"Hard part is over," her breaths were heavy but steady. "Now we just break in."

"We should enter through the shipping and receiving area," Connor suggested. "But it will be guarded."

"Luckily for you, I have one hell of a party trick," she winked at him.

"Party trick?" was he supposed to take that remark literally?

She removed a small, cylindrical device from her pocket and showed it to him, "I got it from Kamski. It's supposed to be emergency only kind of use, but we have few options right now."

Connor scanned the object, but he couldn't obtain information from it, "What is it?

"An EMP," she clutched it tightly in her hand.

"An EMP?" use of EMP's by law enforcement or American citizens had been banned ten years prior. "What are you planning to do with that?"

"It's not strong enough to do permanent damage to electronic devices," Henri started making her way along the shoreline. "However, it will still deactivate any electronics within its range."

"How are you going to use it?" Connor was an android and she was a cyborg.

"I did mention you shouldn't have come with me?" she stopped to study Connor's expression. "It has a range of fifteen feet. The effects last for about ten minutes."

"I still don't understand how you're going to use it." he bobbed his head in confusion.

"I have half a human brain, Connor," Henri explained. "My machine brain and human brain are intertwined. Think of my machine brain filling in the blanks left by what I'm missing. So my human half controls my bodily functions, such a limb movement, but I use my machine brain to supplement my reflexes and intelligence."

"You can live without half of your brain?"

"My long-term memory is also stored in my machine brain," she peered at the small road coming out from behind the tower. "So long as I do this under ten minutes, I'll be okay."

"Henri," Connor gaped at her. "That's insane."

"And I told you not to come," she dramatically dropped her arms to her sides. "We could kill everyone between us and where we need to go. We can probably do it without setting off an alarm. But if we do it my way, they'll never know anyone was ever here or that anything went missing."

"Is there no other way?" Connor furrowed his brow at her.

"Those are our options, Connor" she tilted her head. "You decide how we're going to do this."