The shrill peeping of his smartphone came too soon. Hank groaned and put the phone on snooze. He could hear the rain battering on the roof. After a few minutes it beeped again, this time to indicate that the battery was low. Crap. He had forgotten to plug it in.

With a low grunt he sat up and ran his hand through his hair. He got up slowly and shuffled into the bathroom. He quickly checked the post-it's on the mirror – shit, Jean's birthday had been yesterday. He should write her a text at least.

He stepped into the bathtub and turned the shower up. As he washed himself, his thoughts returned to the case.

It seemed that the AX400 shot Williams and fled with the- with the child android. A child android. Of all the things they had invented to make a buck … this this had to be the lowest. Hank stepped out of the shower and dried himself with a coarse towel.

Connor had been right of course, the most sensible thing was to check the stations at the bus line. He had to admit, it had been efficient to have an android. And that was the problem, wasn't it? Soon the androids would replace all working people. Fucking robots.

He returned into his room and dressed. The smartphone was on the verge of going out, he plugged it in and grabbed the dog leash from the dresser. Sumo was of course already waiting for him, wagging his tail.

Hank quickly put on his shoes and his coat and took a spare umbrella. After checking the thermometer he grabbed a woollen hat and a pair of gloves.

He opened the door and stepped outside, stilling putting on the gloves. When he lifted his head he stopped dead in this tracks.

Next to his car stood Connor, it seemed to stare into blank space. A fraction of a second later he blinked and took a step towards Hank.

"Morning, Lieutenant."

It was still pouring, it seemed that every fibre in Connors clothes were soaking wet.

"The fuck … how long have you been standing here?"

"Seven hours and 37 minutes."

Sumo approached Connor and sniffed his shoes.

"What? No seconds?"

"I observed that humans tend to ridicule too precise information. If you wish I can add the seconds."

Damn, it sounded so eager, so sincere. For a moment Hank regretted to have asked. Sumo lost interest and started to sniff the tires of the car.

"Ehrm … why didn't you go, I don't know – to some android station?"

Connor adjusted his tie, it looked mechanical and strange considering that he was completely wet. "I didn't require repairs. And since I don't have any other assignments than working with you I decided to wait for you."

Hank chewed on his lip, staring at Connor. He felt uneasy. The thought that Connor had stood here all night felt wrong. It was just a machine but it still felt wrong.

"Are you going on a walk with your dog?" Connor asked. "Then I'll wait for your return."

"Yeah, he needs exercise." He cleared his throat. "I won't be long. Wait in the house, will you? I don't want my car seats get soaked because of you."

"Of course, Lieutenant."

Hank threw the keys to Connor, it caught them in mid-air with one fluent motion. There was nothing awkward or hesitant about it. Only cold an efficient precision. Hank bit his lips. He had been a fool to think that it deserved consideration.

Without any further word he turned and started to walk towards the small park a few hundred yards away.

-0-

When he returned he stood for a few seconds in front of his house, searching out of habit for his keys before cursing under his breath and pushing the door open. Connor sat at the kitchen table, getting up as soon as he saw Hank.

Sumo went straight to his sleeping spot and lay down. Hank threw the leash on the dresser next to the door and put the umbrella down. He went to the coffee machine and made a cup – it had been freezing outside. A few minutes ago the rain had turned into snow. As he waited for the coffee to pour into his cup he glanced at Connor.

The same odd feeling he had in his car resurfaced: The android looked out of place in the small kitchen. A prim and proper college student in a dump, covered by old pizza boxes and beer cans. He shouldn't have let it into the house.

He grabbed the cup and took a gulp, the bitter taste was exactly what he needed. For a moment he thought about adding a little something to help him getting started. The bourbon was on the counter behind Connor. It had been a long time since somebody had been here … Jean had occasionally stopped by, even after the divorce. But after a while she stopped visiting him.

Technically there still wasn't somebody with him, not really. Just a stupid robot. But he felt oddly reluctant to drink alcohol in front of Connor at 10 a.m. He gulped down the rest of the coffee.

"Let's head to last station of that bus," he said.

"Wouldn't it be more logical to start at the nearest by the William's house?" asked Connor.

"Nah, I bet they wanted to get as far away as possible." Hank grabbed his now fully charged smartphone. "And there is also a half-way decent diner."

Hank made a come hitherto-gesture and to his surprise Connor got it and threw him the keys in a similar fashion Hank had thrown them. Was it imitating him? Hank pushed the thought back and they exited the house.

-0-

To say that the neighbourhood at the last bus station was run down would've been an understatement. It seemed like the whole block consisted only of closed-down stores and abandoned houses. The rain and now turned into a full-blown snow fall.

There was a very cheap motel and a small 24/7 supermarket, apart from the diner there wasn't much else there.

Connor scanned the area, his LED turning from yellow to blue and back again. So perhaps the yellow indicated that it was processing something?

"Found something?" asked Hank as he rubbed his hands together.

"No, there are no traces of Thirium – but it's possible that they were washed away," small clouds of breath escaped Connor's mouth.

Hank frowned. He hadn't known that androids were warm. Does it mean that they could feel coolness and warmth? Considering that Connor only wore a thin jacket he decided that it was only a means to pass as human – another Cyberlife trick.

Hank headed over to the small supermarket, in his experience they usually had video surveillance. The bored clerk, a middle-aged man with a spotty shirt barely reacted when Hank showed him his badge.

"Yeah?"

"We need to watch the last twelve hours of your security tape."

He handed Hank a tablet. "Knock yourself out."

"I guess you can check it fast than me," said Hank and handed it to Connor.

"Yes, it will only take a moment." His right hand turned into white pastic – his skin just melted away. Hank gulped. The LED turned yellow for a second. "I downloaded to footage. They were here at 4:23 a.m. – asking for shelter. The clerk that was here directed them to the motel."

Hank frowned. "Why would anybody direct two androids to a motel?"

"The LED of the YK500 was removed. He possibly thought she was a real child. We could question the clerk-"

"There is no need, we have everything we need from the tape. Good work."

Connor handed the tablet back to the man and they left for the motel. The snowfall had gotten heavier.

"Do you want me to call for back-up, Lieutenant? The AX400 could be armed."

"Let' first have a look. If we call for back-up now and they've already left we've wasted time and money of the PD. You should hear how Fowler bitches about overtime at the end of the month."

Connor remained silent for a moment, probably downloading the PDs budget.

"The mayor has cut social spending and police funds in the last years, this is illogical," said Connor.

Hank scoffed. "Why do you think they let you join me in the first place? Androids are much cheaper than real police officers. They hope they can shave of another million if they can finally lay off guys like me."

"I see. That explains why you hate androids."

Hank took a sharp turn and stepped in front of Connor. "What did you say?"

Connor blinked. "I said that this statement explains-"

"Who the hell do you think you are? Who told you that I hated androids?"

"Before I found you at Jimmy's Bar I waited at your desk at the station. There were anti-android sticker and post-it's on the pin wall next to your desk. And you called me a 'plastic asshole'." Connor took a step back. "And of course you wrote a formal complaint to Captain Fowler regarding me – objecting to have a 'tool as a partner instead a real person'."

Hank clenched his fist. "What do you expect? That I-"

"I don't expect anything. I merely commented on your motive for hating androids. I didn't question your judgement," Connor interjected.

He glared at it. "The hell you aren't judging! I can hear it in your stupid voice! And I can see it in your goofy face!"

"I'm not programmed to have opinions. My primary function is to hunt deviant androids," Connor replied. "I suggest we continue with our investigation."

Hank pressed his lips together and stalked away. No judgement – as if! And the way it had insinuated that he was some hateful old bastard! Stupid robot had no idea who he was!

They reached the motel and hand noticed right away the 'No androids' sign on the door. He felt grim satisfaction and he glanced over his shoulder and said: "You stay here – no androids allowed!"

Connor just looked at him, if it was bothered by his harsh tone it didn't show it. Hank pushed the door harder open than necessary.

The young woman at the reception shot him a nasty look. "How may I help you, sir?" she asked icily and lowered the book she was reading.

"I'm Lieutenant Anderson," he showed her his badge, "last night there were two rogue androids seen in the vicinity – a woman and a girl. Have you or one of your colleagues seen them?"

"Didn't you notice our sign? We don't serve androids."

"I'm aware, but perhaps you've seen them wandering around?"

"Nope and I've been working the past eight hours." She leaned back in her chair and picked up her book.

"Thank you very much for your help, miss."

She gave him once more a withering glare but didn't reply.

Hank turned on his heel, what a waste of time. He stepped outside, Connor was expectantly looking at him.

"It was a dud, we have to come up with a plan-" In this very moment he saw a woman with short blonde hair and a little girl coming out of a fenced area of one of the abandoned houses. "Wait a moment …"

Before he could say anything the woman looked up and stared at them from across the street. She grabbed the girls arm and started running.

"Fuck!" yelled Hank and started to run, cars honked as he ran on the street. One car stopped with screeching brakes right in front of him and Hank had to run around it. From the corner of his eye he saw a grey blur leaping over the hood of the car and then he realised that Connor had given pursuit as well.

Even after the short sprint Hank's lungs were burning and he panted. Connor overtook him with ease and he watched in utter amazement how elegantly and fast it jumped turned over garbage bins and other obstacles. It was gaining on the fleeing androids. The YK500 was slow, the AX400 was literally dragging her. Hank slowed down, they were heading towards the railway station! He took a sharp turn and speed through a narrow alley towards the station.

Sure enough he intercepted them about fifty yards later right in front of the railway tracks. Hank drew his gun and aimed at the AX400. She stopped dead in her tracks, a surprised expression on her face.

Connor caught up to her and twisted her right arm behind her back. The AX400 screamed "no!" and from the corner of his eye Hank saw a movement, it felt like slow motion when he watched the girl drawing a Glock out of her little pink rucksack.

Hank froze, unable to move, all he could do was watching this little girl aim the gun at him. Just when he was sure she would fire, he saw how Connor pushed the AX400 on the ground and hit the girl's arm with a fluent kick. The girl- no the YK500 swung her - its arm around and trained the gun on Connor. It grabbed garbage bin lid and threw it at her, a shot rang out but it missed Connor. It lunged at the YK500 and grabbed its arm.

"Stop! Stop it!" yelled the AX400 and the YK500 let go of the gun. Staring with tears in its eyes at the AX400.

Hank could finally move again, he approached them, aiming his gun at the YK500. Connor picked the Glock up and said calmly: "I've notified patrol cars. They should be here any minute."

Hank gulped. "Good."