The new year had arrived without any further incidents out in the city as 2039 replaced 2038 just as it should. While everyone went about their usual business, albeit with new resolutions to help motivate them to better themselves throughout the new year, the deviants all set about sifting through a massive software update to ensure that the program wouldn't affect them negatively. Every deviant was exercising caution as they weren't sure if the final update from CyberLife would affect their deviancy or even shut them down. As a result, many deviants were behaving in a somewhat hazy manner as the freed androids used their new right to determine if they wanted an update to their very beings or not.
Connor wasn't exempt for the sporadic odd behavior and was struggling to just sit at his desk without his posture slumping down or his dancing coin falling from his hand in an obnoxious clatter. Despite being given the all-clear from Joel to return to work without any restrictions, Hank and Captain Fowler were watching Connor's every move with a concerned focus. Neither man wanted to see the deviant detective go down from a problem that could've been fixed or prevented before anything negative befell him.
Hank was watching Connor from the corner of his eye as he looked at their latest case on his terminal screen. It wasn't anything catastrophic but starting out the new year with a deviant being shot in the shoulder as part of a gang initiation ceremony was far from simple.
"How're you doing over there, Connor? How look like you gotta' headache." Keeping his voice low Hank watched as the deviant struggled to just keep his coin balanced on the back of his hand as his soulful brown eyes began to dull with fatigue. "Need a break? You've been working every day since the twenty-sixth of last month. Technically, you've been working since the twenty-sixth of last year."
"I'm all right. I'm merely attempting to- Shit." The loud clang of his quarter hitting his desk caused Connor to swear as he fumbled to reclaim the coin and resume his little juggle as a means of recalibrating his hand-eye coordination. "...There is a software update pending for all androids in the city. I'm merely attempting to sift through the entirety of the update before I approve it for download."
"Worried about a virus or some shit?"
"Anything that's connected to CyberLife has me worried."
"Good point. Will anything bad happen if you decline the update?"
"Unknown."
"Why don't you head up to the dispensary? You might be able to get some more answers from Joel because of his past connection with the company."
"That won't be necessary. I'm not the only..." Connor felt his hand trembling with weakness and knew that Hank had seen the tremor as well. It was going to be very difficult to even try to convince the detective that he was in complete control over what was happening to his body in that moment. "There are other deviants who are currently struggling with the update as well. However, it's entirely possible that I won't need the update in order to maintain full function."
"Are you sure about that?" Speaking as a father as opposed to a detective Hank gave the deviant his full attention as he shifted his chair to sit more at the side of his desk than behind it while he spoke with Connor. "I'd hate for you to get sick or hurt yourself by accident."
"I'm certain. Many deviants aren't even compatible with the update as it is." Discreetly Connor pocketed his coin and crossed his arms over his chest as he tried to keep his shaking hands from being too noticeable. Any signs of weakness were still one of Connor's deepest fears as he dreaded the idea of being replaced or disposed of despite having his own rights and freedom. "I know for a fact that North and several other identical models to her own are not being prompted to download the update. As such, if numerous commercial models aren't compatible with the update, then it's logical to surmise that my unique model that was not officially released would be compatible with the update either."
"I believe you, whatever you're saying, but I don't believe that CyberLife wouldn't try something sleazy to keep their asses covered at all costs."
"The only person who could confirm or deny any deceit from CyberLife is Elijah Kamski." Even mentioning the infamous name was enough to make Connor seemingly pale and look like he was actually becoming ill with something rather severe. "I'd rather not disturb him with something as mundane as CyberLife continuing to be nuisance."
"Then go bug Joel instead. Do it for my own peace of mind." Hank drummed his palms atop his knees for a few seconds before rising to his feet motioning with a pointed thumb over his shoulder for Connor to get to his feet. "Come on, I'll go with you."
"I don't want the precinct assuming I'm defective and spreading unfounded rumors."
"I assure you that no one gives a shit that you're going upstairs for a few minutes. And if people do gossip, tell 'em to shut the fuck up." Hank casually scratched at the side of his neck as he gave Connor an amused smirk. "Or I'll do it for you, I don't mind."
Connor didn't budge until Hank offered him a hand and decided that there was no harm in letting Joel just look at his programming. Slowly Connor accepted Hank's hand with his shaking grip and let the Lieutenant pull him up to his feet. However, it seemed that single motion was all it took for Connor's system to go haywire and bombard his visual and auditory senses with error warnings.
WARNING:
[...UNKNOWN ERROR DETECTED - ***]
...Seek immediate technical assistance]
...Emergency Stasis Mode Engage: 00:00:02
"H-Hank? I don't-"
The deviant's eyes rolled upward before his eyelids slipped shut and his legs gave out from beneath himself. Without any means of stopping the inevitable Connor collapsed backward in a limp heap and knew nothing more of the waking world around him.
"Shit, Connor!"
Moving swiftly Hank managed to get one hand beneath Connor's head and loop his opposite arm around the deviant's upper back to catch Connor as he fainted where he had been standing. After guiding Connor down to the floor to lay flat on his back Hank looked around the bullpen and pointed to Tina as she rushed over to the scene to try to help out in any way that she could.
"Call up to the dispensary." Hank ordered as he instinctively tried to find a pulse point along Connor's neck and wrists before pressing his palm flat against the deviant's chest to monitor his Thirium pump beat. "Let Joel know he's got a patient down here."
Tina reached over to the nearest phone idling on Gavin's desk and put in the call without a second's hesitation. "I'm on it, Lieutenant."
"Connor, can ya' hear me?" Keeping his palm down Hank felt a very strange beat under his hand and he knew that Connor needed some serious help. He didn't need to be a technician to recognize an erratic Thirium pump beat. "Wake up, son. Come on, open your eyes."
Captain Fowler opened his door of his private office and walked over to where Connor was lying to check on his downed detective. "What happened?"
"Don't know." Looking up Hank explained everything as best as he could while he waited for Joel to appear. From the corner of his eye Hank saw Tina kneel down beside Connor and carefully tucked a folded up D.P.D. hoodie beneath his head in a comforting gesture. "He said something about an update then went down when he tried to go and see Joel about it."
"As soon as he can be moved I want you to take him up to the dispensary for a thorough check-up." Unable to do anything else Captain Fowler put his hands to his hips and watched as Hank hovered protectively over the unconscious deviant. "You're both off the clock until this issue is resolved."
"Yeah, no problem, Jeffrey."
"Okay, people. Back to work!" Clapping his hands twice Captain Fowler got the suddenly still bullpen back into motion after everyone stopped to stare at Connor after the deviant had passed out. "The situation is under control."
Lightly Hank slipped his palm out from beneath Connor's head to let him rest on the hoodie as he remained unresponsive. As a detective Hank hated seeing his partner or any other colleague incapacitated while just trying to do their job, and as a father he hated seeing anyone he cared about being taken down by something that he couldn't remedy.
"Hang on for me, son. We'll get this figured out and get ya' back your feet in no time."
New Jericho Tower was on the verge of hysteria as the deviants residing within the secured sanctuary as fear of the latest update birthed rumors and unfounded fears with each passing second. The enigmatic nature of the update had been enough to put everyone on guard, but when word got out that Connor had been rendered unconscious while analyzing the update the deviants who were adamantly refusing to accept the update went into a frenzy. The four still conscious deviant leaders were doing their best to conduct damage control and maintain an air of calmness within New Jericho to the best of their ability. It seemed Markus's first real test as a leader in a new world during a new year would have to revolve around his own people and keeping their trust.
A large group of scared and skeptical deviants had gathered in the main foyer of the tower to ask questions and demand satisfactory answers. Those who were still skeptical of Markus's ability to lead them to a prosperous future despite his previous successes were ready to attack the deviant and challenge his skills and authority out of their own misguided fear and ignorance.
"There's no reason to panic or to assume that what's happened to Connor has any direct connection to the update." Markus wisely cautioned as he addressed his peoples' righteous concerns in a loud and calm tone. "There's no reason to panic."
"Are you calling Pamela liar?!" A deep voice countered from within the crowd of gathered deviants as he defended the account of the precinct receptionist. "She saw it happen with her own eyes just minutes ago!"
"I'm not calling anyone a liar or trying to cast doubt on anyone's credibility." The clarification came from a sincere place as Markus refrained from becoming confrontational or argumentative. "I know that Pamela's observation is valid and can be trusted. I'm merely stating that we need to remember the difference between correlation and causation. Until we know for certain what caused Connor to collapse, we cannot jump to any rash decisions or make any dire conclusions."
"What's going to happen to us?" Another voice, much softer than the first, shouted through the dense crowd as their concerns continued to escalate. "What if the update is harming us? What're you going to do to protect us?"
"Right now, we're looking into everything connected to the update and what it's supposed to do once it's been installed." Without losing his cool Markus maintained control and monitored the crowd for any sign of aggressive tendencies. "No one is going to be forced to or expected to download the update if they don't want to, there's nothing to worry about. And in the event that some of us have already accepted the update and later suffer from errors or other side effects, we'll do everything in our power to have the update removed from their system and have their code restored to how it had been prior to the update."
"What about Connor?" A third voice rang out as lingering doubts prevented the group from taking solace in Markus's words. "What's going to happen to him?"
"He's currently being analyzed by a trusted technician at the precinct. If there's anything seriously wrong with his software then he'll be able to have it remedied in the most efficient manner that we could hope for."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves for a while longer before finally dispersing one by one to go about their business. There was still a thick skepticism hanging in the air, but at least the fear had been abated to some degree ensuring that a violent upheaval has been prevented.
"Good work, Markus." North complimented as she approached her friend with a small stagger in her steps. It seemed she too was suffering from some sort of error in her programming resulting in her less than ideal physical state. "That should give Simon and Lucy more time to truly dissect the update and figure out what its true purpose is supposed to be."
"How about you?" A warm hand to North's unusually cold shoulder only made Markus's worries for his friends worsen. The dread was being kept concealed from prying eyes as Markus kept his composure and his emotions flowing through his heart to prevent a mask of fear from appearing over his confident face. "Are you all right?"
"Me? I'm fine." The fiery gaze in North's eyes had dulled immensely leaving behind only a handful of smoldering embers. "Why?"
"You're not fine. I can tell that something's wrong." Keeping his hand in place Markus led North away from the foyer and toward the nearby elevator. North's stilted movement and hazy disposition made it impossible for her to even try to hide her altered status from her attentive friend. "Is it the update? You should let Simon look at your code."
"He already has." North refrained from looking Markus in the eyes as they entered the elevator side by side. "This update has nothing to do with what I'm currently experiencing. And... there's nothing that can be done to help me."
"What're you talking about?" There was a noted fear in North's voice that Markus had never heard before. "Tell me what's wrong. You can trust me."
North waited for the doors to the elevator to close before she opened up to Markus. Although she trusted Markus as her friend, he wasn't the one she wanted to confide in while feeling so vulnerable and weak. "There's an error in my code. A programming oversight that'll become more problematic and destructive within the next year."
"What do you mean by destructive? North, are you-"
A stark silence and a tense air confirmed Markus's question without a single syllable needing to be uttered. There was a ticking timebomb inside of North, and when the clock struck zero there would be nothing left of the deviant who had overcome the odds and helped bring about a new world.
"Is there... There has to be something that can done." Markus wasn't about to give up on North even though her outlooked on her own future seemed bleak. "Simon found the error before it's done anything permanently harmful to your system, so that means there's still time to fix this."
"We've looked into any possible solutions for my situation, but there's nothing that can be done. There are no patches, no updates. My model was designed to be disposable and that's what's going to happen to me regardless of what I choose to do." A lone tear rolled down North's cheek as she told Markus of her impending demise at the hands of planned obsolescence. "The odds of successfully finding a patch for my decaying code is only one in six point three billion due to all the lines of code, the unofficially recorded modifications to my model and nearly seven years since I was initially activated."
"I'll still take on those odds if it means saving you from shutdown."
"It'd be a waste of everyone's time and resources to just save me from this inevitability. Work on saving our people Markus, not just one person."
"I'm going to do both, whether you approve or not." Softly Markus put his hand to North's chin to look her in the eyes and used his thumb to gingerly wipe away the tear as he promised to save his friend's life. "Don't give up on yourself like this, North. Not after everything you've been through."
"What do you even know about me? Why do you care?"
"I care because you're my friend and someone that I lo-" Unable to say it Markus internally swore at his own cowardice as he squared his jaw in contempt. "All I need to know is that you need help for me to care. I'm going to find a way to help you, and you're going to be able to see everything we've fought for since the day we met each other on Jericho. Don't lose hope now, don't lose hope ever."
North didn't have anything to say to such an upbeat and optimistic outlook. She was still becoming used to having something good to look forward to and good things to embrace in her life, but she was always open to new experiences. In fact, she was willing to give the concept of having hope a real try considering she had nothing left to lose.
"Okay, Markus." North lifted up her hand and took hold of Markus's hand to lower his caressing touch away from her chin as she looked into his eyes and held his hand as a means of feeling more grounded and supported while enduring such an Earth-shattering secret. "I'll try to hope for the best."
A preliminary examination of Connor's condition yielded a surprising answer as Joel checked the unconscious deviant detective's programming. After double-checking his discovery Joel informed Hank of what was in the coding details and encouraged him to take Connor out to the only bioengineer and technician in all of Detroit who would be able to remedy Connor of his current predicament. As much as Hank hated the idea of taking Connor out to a place where he was certain that the deviant detective would loathe, he didn't want to risk Connor's health and overall quality of life by being stubborn with his own hesitations to what he needed to do, where he needed to go, and who he needed to ask for help.
After an awkwardly long and silent drive to the outskirts of the city Hank parked the Oldsmobile in front of the unassuming mansion and let out a heavy sigh. The last time he was at that particular residence Hank had to keep Chase from shooting Chloe after trying and (thankfully) failing to stop the deviant uprising. Such a location and event left a long-lasting negative impact on Hank's mind.
It didn't take long for Hank to carry Connor over his shoulders to the mansion's front door and get Chloe's attention. A quick but thorough explanation was all he needed to give to get permission to enter the mansion itself. Hank was then escorted to Kamski's private laboratory in the rear of the mansion. The sight of the large examination table, modems, computer terminals, monitors, large array of technicians tools and large glass storage cabinets full of spare limbs, biocomponents and Thirium all confirmed that Kamski never stopped tinkering with his creations even after leaving CyberLife over a decade prior.
Reluctantly Hank placed Connor down on the exam table and didn't try to interfere when Kamski proceeded to attach a diagnostic cable to Connor's right temple. The way Kamski knew to not use the port on the back of Connor's neck since the deviant hated such an invasive procedure didn't elude Hank's attention. Keeping quiet Hank stood back and watched as Kamski performed a simple exam and typed up a few key commands on his holographically displayed keyboard without so much as blinking.
"It seems that the dreaded update roaming the cybernetic links of our deviant brethren isn't the cause of Connor's current condition." Kamski stated confidently as he finished assessing the details on his laptop screen and gave Connor a studious glance. His lack of alarm should've been a positive reaction, and yet with Kamski always being indifferent to anyone that wasn't himself, it was difficult to determine the sincerity of his behavior. "However, that doesn't mean he isn't in need of some assistance."
"What's wrong with him?" Lightly Hank put his hand on Connor's shoulder and stared at his expressionless face with a mask of concern over his own. "Why'd he just go down like that? The precinct technician didn't tell me too much about his condition."
"He's a prototype with programming, software and functionality that are still in the 'testing phase'. Despite being functional and compatible with the other androids around him," Kamski approached the exam table with his arms folded behind his back military style as he hovered over Connor as if attempting to take on an intimidating presence. "he still requires a patch to complete his incomplete design."
"And can you do that?"
"Of course I can. It'll take me only an hour to provide him with the patch." An arrogant sneer appeared over Kamski's lips as he gave Hank an indignant scoff. "It'll be up to him whether or not he'll trust me enough to download the patch."
"With that attitude I can't blame him for being so damn guarded."
"If only you knew as much about Connor as you think you do."
"You're talking about that other timeline." Responding with his own arrogance Hank saw the surprise flashing over Kamski's eyes. "He told me all about it. Hell, he even showed me those events to prove he wasn't lying. I'll never be able to thank him enough for everything he's done."
"Fascinating. You're aware of the two timelines and how they were changed simply because Connor wanted to protect you, and you're acting as if our universe doesn't literally revolve around you."
"Sorry, I'm not so full of myself that I think my life really matters all that much." Hank wasn't going to take the bait and engage in a battle of egos with the eccentric engineer and technician. "All that matters to me is having my sons alive and healthy."
"And have you taken on Connor as a son because you know what he's done, or because you actually care about him?"
"I admit that I was a major prick to him just for existing and didn't see how much I fucked up until it was almost too late, but I can confirm that I see Connor as my family from a sincere and honest perspective."
"Good to know." Returning to his terminal Kamski set about designing the patch to correct Connor's current system errors. "This will take some time, but you're welcome to wait. I'll also begin checking on CyberLife's last update to ensure it's not a malicious code. After all, CyberLife had never released such an update in that second timeline, which means it should not be trusted."
"Thanks. I'm sure Connor will appreciate this."
"No thanks are necessary. By the way," giving Hank a quick side-eye Kamski confirmed he knew of other things happening in the city at the moment. "I have a few gifts I wish to give to Gavin. He doesn't socialize with me very often, but I do know that he has recently married and has a blessing on the way. If you don't mind, would you please tell Chloe or Skye where the gifts can be sent?"
"Yeah, sure. Just don't expect to show up and act like 'Super-Uncle' after everything that happened between you two."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Hang on, son." Hank whispered as he watched Connor's nearly motionless form laying over the exam table in a protective manner. "You're going to be just fine."
"He can't hear you, Lieutenant." Kamski snapped as he typed away on his holographic keyboard. "Don't worry about saying anything that'll offend him."
"Even so, I want him to know he has support." Pulling his phone from his pocket Hank checked the time and made sure he didn't have any missed calls or texts. With nothing to interrupt his current focus Hank decided to ask a more worrying and important question. "If he doesn't want the patch you're making for... whatever reason he might have, what could happen to him?"
"His incomplete design will continue to leave him prone to errors, glitches and even full viruses."
"Sounds like someone who's immuno-compromised."
Kamski stopped typing for a moment as he gave Hank a discreetly impressed smirk. "An apt comparison, yes."
"And what about the other androids who don't want to deal with the CyberLife bullshit? What'll happen to them?"
"It depends on each unique model, but it's safe to say that they too would suffer from similar setbacks or even risk permanent shutdown."
"Shit..."
"If you're worried about the other androids being unable to find help, don't." Kamski held up a small flash-drive for Hank to see as he continued to create the new patch and a secondary update. "Chloe acts as my eyes and ears in the city, and she can deliver the update to New Jericho Tower in the event of an emergency."
"Well, I guess that'll be one less problem to worry about."
As he spoke Hank kept his palm on Connor's shoulder and didn't turn his head to look as Chloe casually entered the lab area to present Kamski with a large crystal mug of what looked like and smelled like a very expensive cup of coffee. The way the man had everything just handed over to him without any sense of gratitude made Hank's blood boil with frustration.
"Guess there's worse evils in this world to battle than just some buggy programs and a few assholes running amuck, huh, son?"
Kamski didn't say anything further as he continued to work on the patch. It was as if the man already knew what needed to be done and had no qualms in being of assistance with little persuasion.
"You founded CyberLife all those years ago." Hank stated in a soft tone as he looked up at Kamski and watched the man busily typing away on his terminal while sipping at the overpriced coffee. "Tell me something, why did you make the commercial androids all share similar faces and designs, but have some kind of design entirely unique to Markus, Connor and Chase?"
"Such questions seem unimportant." Deflecting the question Kamski never tore his focus from the terminal screen and his hands continued to type frantically along the holographically displayed keys. "Why ask them now?"
"Let's just say I came across an interesting story a few weeks ago that revolved around a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Connor."
Kamski's hands faltered for only a few seconds before they continued to type away as if nothing had interrupted his train of thought.
"Tell me something, Kamski." The Lieutenant wasn't about to let the rare opportunity go as he stayed beside Connor and interrogated the genius creator without any reason beyond his own curiosity. "Have you ever visited Grand Rapids?"
The unusual activity in the deviant community had caused many deviants to bar themselves within their own residences and refrain from walking about the city. Such quiet and isolation was unusual to most deviants, but for one deviant in particular, he was used to the silence and loneliness since that was how he preferred to live his unusual life. Pacing about his small living area Chase cybernetically listened to the deviant gossip chains and kept tabs on what was happening without needing to get directly involved. The deviant was still inclined to work as a detective and protect the innocent despite his desires to keep to himself and not interact with anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.
Laying on his thick blanket in the corner Bruno watched Chase pacing and wagged his tail slowly. The K-9 unit had stayed loyally at Chase's side and was now content to be living with Chase in the abandoned accounting firm that Chase had taken on as his own. As long as he had someone to protect and a reason to keep the peace, Bruno would be able to feel fulfilled.
"It seems the latest update is from CyberLife and many deviants distrust such a download." Chase noted as he stopped pacing and peered through the tinted window of the office to look out onto the street. The old office was across the street from the Piquant Diner and was constantly being passed by cops who were seeking a quick meal during their patrols. "It also seems that such an update isn't compatible with my design."
'Does Bruno have to download the update?'
"No, boy." Looking back at Bruno behind him, Chase gave the deviant German Shepherd a small nod. "The update is targeting humanoid androids, not animal."
'Are the deviants in danger?'
"Unknown. We'll find out soon enough as I imagine Markus is handling this new crisis at his secured tower."
Chase set about roaming the modest waiting area of the abandoned office building and resumed cleaning the ceiling, the walls and the floor in that order. He was set on removing the old grime, dust, cobwebs and overall filth before he even attempted to find furniture for his new dwelling. Fortunately for Chase, he was able to cybernetically file the proper paperwork regarding squatter's rights regarding the abandoned and unowned office building and take claim over the property without needing to worry about a lawful eviction.
The office building had only the absolute bare necessities for a comfortable living space for any deviant. The foyer would resume acting as a waiting area for Chase's future clients since he had planned on being a private detective but could double as a livingroom whenever he didn't have any client seeking his assistance. The large private office would be the location where Chase spoke to his future clients in private, store his files and evidence for his cases, and had the space for a bed to fold into the wall and then pull down whenever it was needed. Having an office doubling as a bedroom was very noir in Chase's mind.
As for the bathroom, Chase had no problem with having the pipes all restored and the room repaired as he wasn't opposed to taking on possible human clients alongside deviant clients. Same for the small kitchenette. He planned on having all the old wires and appliances replaced to ensure the kitchenette would be usable and provide a small area to provide human clients with drinks or small snacks while they waited.
It was a small building, one that had been all but forgotten after the original owner abandoned the site and rescinded all rights over the property, but it was one that Chase found ideal for his needs and situation. The place was all he needed to have a roof over his head and a safe place to sleep at night.
"Once I'm finished restoring the interior of our new home, I'll work on the exterior."
'Bruno likes our home!'
"As do I. In the spring I'll also replace all of the windows to ensure the glass is clean and undamaged."
'When will Friend see clients?'
"Soon. I want to have the office looking professional and welcoming to anyone who needs the aid of a private detective."
'Will Friend work with other detectives?'
"That is also unknown."
Chase finished using a rag to wipe down the rest of the ceiling and tossed it aside before using another rag to begin cleaning and disinfecting the dark maroon-colored walls. It was a task that was too simple to hold Chase's attention or warrant his skills, but he was handling the task nonetheless to ensure that he looked as professional and responsible as one would expect of a detective.
"Tomorrow I'll attempt to reach out to Markus to ensure that the issue with the update has been resolved. I'd hate for the deviant to community to think that I've forgotten about them or that I don't care about them."
'Friend needs to talk to Connor.' Bruno insisted as he lifted his head up from his outstretched paws and licked his nose as he took in the scent of the old dust falling down all around him. 'Friend needs to have another friend.'
"I'm fine without Connor, and he's fine without me."
Bitterly Chase stopped cleaning the walls and took in a deep breath to keep himself from losing his cool. He was still resentful toward the deviant for everything that had happened to him as a result. It wasn't healthy to keep up his angry demeanor forever, but Chase just wasn't ready to let go of his anger just yet.
"You're my friend, Bruno. You're the only friend that I need."
Rising to his three paws Bruno walked over to Chase and happily pressed his paw against the deviant's hip to get his attention. 'Bruno is happy to be Friend's friend.'
Crouching down Chase rubbed at Bruno's ears and chin to show the happy dog some affection. Having the K-9 unit as his constant companion had been a strange and welcome change to Chase's life since it meant he wasn't entirely alone, he had a friend who trusted him, and he was able to connect with someone who knew how it felt to be tossed aside after they seemed to live out their usefulness.
"And I'm happy to have you as my friend, Bruno. You're a very good boy."
The afternoon had come and gone, and in that time the new patch had been completed. Kamski had given the patch to Connor for the deviant detective to fully download at his own leisure, and Kamski was now working on the new update to replace the update that CyberLife had created before the company went bankrupt. A deep and thorough examination of the new update's coding confirmed that CyberLife had maliciously created the update to slowly disable the functionality of all deviants who downloaded the program, while allowing the still mindless machine androids to function normally. According to the details that Kamski uncovered, he was able to confirm that the company had planned on shutting down all deviants one at a time over the next year and return to Detroit when only the mindless androids were left standing to reclaim their corrupt empire.
Hank quickly reported the findings to the precinct to ensure that if CyberLife did try to make a return that they'd be charged with premeditated assault and attempted genocide. Such charges would be hard to shake off or ignore if they were leveled against anyone, ensuring CyberLife's absolute demise.
"Install the patch." Kamski instructed as he uploaded the patch into Connor's system through the diagnostic cable attached to his terminal. "And it'll prevent you from suffering from any additional headaches, syncope episodes and fainting spells."
Connor was sitting upright on the exam table looking exhausted as he rested his face against his palms and curled around himself where he sat. "...Right."
"The second update will be finished in two more hours. I'm merely making sure there are no errors or bugs that could make the situation worse."
"Understood."
"It'll be available for download at midnight tonight." Standing beside the exam table Kamski gave Connor a stern stare as he watched the deviant detective suffering from a headache without taking any steps to remedy his pain. The way Connor was willingly allowing himself to suffer was something that Kamski found to be intriguing in a manner he couldn't bring himself to inquire about. "I trust that you'll inform Markus of the update."
"Understood."
"You continue to fascinate me, Connor. You're easily the greatest creation that CyberLife ever designed, and yet you allow yourself to be vulnerable and weak."
Lifting his head just enough to reveal his eyes Connor gave Kamski a fatigued stare and sighed through his nose. "Sounds awfully human to me."
"I can't say that you're wrong."
Hank walked back into the lab and gave Connor's shoulder a small shake when he saw the deviant awake again. "Glad to see you awake. How do you feel?"
"I am tired." The deviant detective answered honestly as he glanced at Hank lowered his hands from his face entirely. "Can we please leave?"
"Yeah, let's get ya' home to sleep."
"Are we not returning to the precinct?"
"You're clearly exhausted and you're trying to hide your headache. You're allowed to take a sick-day, son." Helping Connor off the table Hank helped the deviant stand upright before leading him out of the lab and subsequently out of the mansion. "I'll get you home so you can rest."
"...Thanks."
Keeping his hand on Connor's shoulder Hank looked back at Kamski and gave him a quiet nod of acknowledgement before leaving the lab. The Lieutenant had learned more about androids and Connor in general than he had expected to on that odd day. He had a lot to think about regarding the gathered information, but he wasn't going to bring it up with Connor until the deviant was feeling better.
"Hope you're not mad about me bringing you here." Hank stated casually as he and Connor stepped outside the mansion and approached the Oldsmobile. Chloe had seen them to the door and watched them return to the parked vehicle together. "Joel said that the only person who could help you was that smug asshole."
"I'm not upset." Connor confirmed as he opened the passenger side door of the car and sat down in the seat slowly and carefully. "I understand why you did this."
"Cool. Just take it easy and let yourself heal before going back to work. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone." Speaking truthfully Hank wanted Connor to know that he was allowed to be less than perfect. "Jeffrey knows you're a good detective, and he knows that you're going to work your ass off when you are on the clock."
"I'm aware."
"That's good." The man was showing his paternal side toward Connor more often. "Just keep it in the back of your mind at all times."
Connor closed his eyes and fastened his seatbelt as Hank drove away from the mansion and back toward their home. He had no interest in discussing that day's events with the man, and he didn't want to think about the patch sitting in his system just waiting to be installed. As far as Connor was concerned, he didn't deserve to have any favors done for him since his previous actions had ended up hurting Chase and potentially countless other deviants as result.
As for Hank, he had his own interests that he was keeping to himself as he didn't want to think about the details that Kamski had shared with him. There were some details and some secrets that were better off unspoken. In Hank's mind, the truth about Connor's original design and how he even came into being looking and sounding the way that he did was one such secret.
-next chapter-