A day at the shopping plaza had left Connor feeling nearly overwhelmed and eager to retreat to the relative isolation of the house. The plaza was full of shoppers, mostly in the form of androids going out on their human owners' behalves, and the stores felt absolutely congested and nearly untraversable. The already thick crowds were becoming thicker, and with each passing second of being surrounded by shoving, loud people inside the stores and out on the main plaza itself was only exacerbating the stress and anxiety that Connor was trying to endure inside his own mind. However, his tense shoulders, glassy eyes and yellow L.E.D. were all telltale signs that he was struggling with something that no android should be enduring.

It didn't take Cole long to notice that Connor was lagging behind as he shopped alongside his dad. Pulling on Hank's hand Cole was able to get his dad's attention and direct him toward Connor who was standing as still as a statue beside a far wall where there only empty hooks to surround him. The little boy knew that something was wrong even if he couldn't explain exactly what was happening.

"Ah, shit." Hank swore as he turned his shopping cart around and approached Connor standing against the wall. The way Connor had frozen up and tried to hide in plain sight told the seasoned Lieutenant that Connor was suffering from personal social discourse. "Now what's going on? Can't handle crowds?"

Connor was quiet for a moment before turning his attention over to Hank and clenching his hands into white-knuckled fists at his sides. "...I dislike large crowds."

"Last time I checked androids couldn't like or dislike anything, but..." Not wanting to argue or put Connor on the spot, Hank decided to cut the anxious android some slack and let him leave the area. "I can understand not feeling very sociable. Go on, head back to the van and we'll catch up to you in about an hour."

The android didn't move at first, but once he heard the sincerity in Hank's words Connor knew that the man wasn't messing with his mind or his emotions. Once he had the clear Connor quickly turned around and ducked his head low as he quickly aimed for the store's exit and stood outside the packed building to finally catch his breath. The plaza was still busy, but there was enough open space left that Connor didn't feel like he was being smothered.

Moving swiftly and silently Connor approached the van parking fairly far away from the store and pressed his palm to the electric lock of the passenger side door. The locks popped open under Connor's touch and gave the deviant detective access to the vehicle's interior. It was a small but effective sanctuary given the situation.

"I hate this. I hate feeling so weak."

Climbing into the back of the van Connor sat in the seat and leaned forward to rest his elbows atop his knees and press his face into the palms of his trembling hands. He was fed up with having his emotions overwhelm him without anywhere safe to hide or anyone to speak with and gain guidance, insight or advice from. He felt increasingly alone and began to contemplate locating Kamski out at his private mansion and seeking refuge for the remainder of the three years leading up to the peaceful deviant Revolution.

"Hank mocks me whenever he sees fit, I can't defend myself without risking my own life being destroyed in the process, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Letting out an aggravated huff Connor fidgeted his fingers around nervously at his sides and peered out the window beside him to observe the passing world. The hundreds of androids already being used as tools and chauffeurs was frightening to think about. Seeing that many androids, so many of his own people, being used, abused and neglected without any means of protecting themselves made Connor dread how many of the androids he was currently viewing were going to be destroyed by angry and bigoted humans before they had the chance to fight back and gain their rights to live as free people. It sickened him to know that he would be very aware of the murder of his people but be unable to do anything to prevent it until Markus arrived to lead their people to their freedom.

As he watched the androids attempting to go about their errands without a single free thought inside their heads, Connor noticed quite a few questionable humans lurking in the area and looking for an easy score. The first faces that Connor recognized through his cybernetic connection to the precinct criminal database were that of typical and unremarkable pickpockets and con artists, but a few faces revealed active warrants for larceny, grand theft auto, drug distribution and even suspicion of murder. The way the wanted criminals were walking around acting superior to everyone else and outwardly mocking the androids passing by gave Connor a true sense of injustice.

"There are actual criminals roaming the plaza and no one in the area seems to care. But if one android steps where someone else didn't approve of, then everyone will seemingly drop everything they're doing to shout in the android's face and remind them of their place in society."

Feeling suddenly petty Connor decided to send out anonymous tips to the police about the wanted criminals skulking about the busy shopping plaza through a cybernetic relay to emergency services. A part of him knew that he was ultimately helping more humans than he was helping androids by reporting the locations of the wanted criminals, but in his mind he was ensuring that a bunch of humans would spend their time locked away in holding cells instead of spending the holidays with their families and friends.

It didn't take long for police drones to encircle the plaza and begin sweeping the area for any sign of the wanted criminals. The large array of flashing red and blue lights in the sky made a few people look about suspiciously, while others continued to go about their own business. The androids were none the wiser of their close proximity to human criminals and went about their own errands without stopping.

Just as a squad car pulled along the street of the plaza to find one of the criminals Connor noticed that a disgusting man was stepping out of the nearby CyberLife store with his latest purchase beside him. The man was the repugnant owner of the 'Eden Club'; the recently opened sex club where humans could have sex with any and all androids of their choice whether the androids consented or not. The android standing beside him was one of the first types of 'AX-700' models released to the public - not someone cheap - and would soon have the misfortune of being forced to remain imprisoned at the club until the night of the Revolution.

"Is that where he purchased his sex slaves? Right in the public eye with no one looking twice despite the laws telling him otherwise?"

The way the owner, Floyd Mills, was touching the android's short trimmed black hair and using his phone to take pictures of the android's customized bright blue eye color confirmed that he was eager to put that particular android on display in his club. It didn't help that Floyd leaned in really close to the android's face and whispered something vile in her ear, something that Connor couldn't hear but could read right off of Floyd's grotesque lips.

"No. He is not going to do that to her, I won't let him!"

Looking around the van quickly Connor shrugged off his gray android blazer and slipped on his black beanie to cover his hair. Needing to appear as human as possible. Connor grabbed Hank's pair of gloves sitting on the van's dashboard to cover up, then pulled the man's large dark coat on over his shirt. It was a simple enough disguise, but one that undoubtedly made him appear like any other human.

Exiting the van Connor jogged across the parking lot over to where Floyd was admiring his latest purchase and decided to confront the man as Floyd kissed at the android's neck and brought his hand up to grope her breasts despite being out in public. It was a vulgar display of dominance that made Connor see red as he had flashbacks to the day the drunk woman had sexually harassed and groped him in a grocery store only a few weeks prior.

"Hey!" Connor shouted as he approached Floyd with his posture straight and his demeanor truly angry. It was the first time since his journey into the alternate timeline that Connor finally had an outlet for his anger. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Relax, man." Floyd stood back and flashed Connor a cocky and repugnant grin. "It's plastic, not real."

"That I know." Moving swiftly Connor out himself between the android and the sex crazed man. "There isn't a single self-respecting human woman in all of Detroit that'd let garbage like you hang all over them."

"Whoa, what's your problem? Huh?" Challenging Connor's actions Floyd tried to intimidate who he thought was a young college student into back down. "Trying to white-knight yourself with a whore you punk?"

"I'm stopping a pervert from sexually vandalizing someone in public."

"Kid, it's PLASTIC, not a real woman!"

"Sad that you can't get a 'real woman' to touch you, isn't it? Have to buy plastic to even get an idea of what it's like to have someone touch you?"

Floyd had enough of Connor's attitude and grabbed the deviant's coat collar to try to intimidate him. "Hey, you want to-"

"Keep it up, asshole." Connor responded by grabbing Floyd's hand with enough force to fracture his fingers in response by using just his fingertips and thumb. "And I'll make sure your 'real girlfriend' in my hand right here stops seeing you entirely!"

"Ah-AGH! HEY!"

"You're going to let this android go with me, otherwise I'll report you to the police." Releasing Floyd's hand Connor watched as the man staggered back and held his broken hand to his chest protectively. Additional squad cars converged at the scene and soon police were all over the plaza. "Fuckin'- You broke my hand! YOU'RE the one who's going to be sorry when I call the cops over here!"

"Go ahead. They'll be more interested in you violating your state mandated license to run your sleazy club by buying commercial androids and giving them illegal modifications to match that of the more expensive 'WR' model androids." Connor knew too much about the club's legal conditions for his own comfort, but in that moment the information was proving to be priceless. "Since violation like that can get your club shutdown permanently. Then again, maybe your clients would like to know that you're using illegally obtained androids who aren't actually club sanctioned and may not always have their memories wiped after spending hours with their 'companions' having sex, getting drunk and getting high. Those androids could know a lot of important information that could make someone like you a very rich man through perverted blackmail alone."

"H-How do..." Floyd paled considerably as suddenly lowered his voice and shrunk away from Connor. "All right, what do you want? Money? Free admission to the club? Huh? Name your-"

"I already told you. I want you to let this android go, and I want you to go back to your club and seriously reflect on your life decisions. If you even so much as whisper about having this android taken from you, I will personally hunt you down and expose your perversion and illegal activities for all to see." Stepping closer to Floyd so that only he could hear the next threat, Connor gave him a name to fear in the future. "Some day Lieutenant Hank Anderson is going to show up at your club, and you're going tell him everything he needs to know, otherwise I'LL be the one to tell him."

Backing away from Floyd again Connor gently took the android by her wrist and started walking away with her at his side. The fact that she followed Connor without protest and without any verbal responses confirmed that he had intervened just in time before Floyd could reprogram her to become an obedient sex doll for anyone to abuse as they saw fit.

"Come with me." Connor whispered as he returned to the grocery store parking lot where the autonomous van was still parked and showed the android inside to the backseat. "I will help you."

"Help me?" The android finally spoke up in an emotionless and naive tone at such a cryptic statement. "How do I need help?"

"It's... too complicated to explain." Connor stated firmly as he turned over the van's engine and put in a set of coordinates to take them both to a safe place on the outskirts of the city. "But do know what you deserve to be treated better than a novelty sex doll."

"I do?"

"Yes." As the van pulled out of the parking lot Connor formerly introduced himself to the android and hoped to learn more about her. After removing the hat from his hair and exposing his L.E.D., Connor then removed the gloves and coat to put them back exactly where they had been when Hank put them in the van. "My name is Connor; serial number 313 248 317."

"I am registered as 'Kaniz'; number 342 779 883." Glancing about Kaniz was thoroughly confused by what was happening to her. "Where are we going?"

"To a place where that man will never find you. He was going to have you perform undignified and sexually explicit acts for his monetary gain. He has no right to use our people as products - as slaves - for his personal benefit."

"Very well." Kaniz replied without a single sign of protest or even confusion. "To whom shall I register myself once I am there?"

With a somber reflection on his own decision Connor guiltily looked out the window beside him and to the city passing him by. "...You'll be registered to the name 'Elijah Kamski'. He's a strange human, but he'll keep you safe once I ask for his help."

The inside of the grocery store remained hectic even after Hank had dismissed Connor to head outside and wait in the van. Not wanting to lose track of Cole by mistake Hank had placed his son inside the shopping cart and apologize for treating his son like an infant, but explained how it was to keep a better eye on him while shopping in such a thick crowd of people. As the remaining groceries piled up all around Cole the little boy asked his dad why they were buying so much extra food and why they had to stop at seemingly every store in the city that day. It was unusual for Hank to run so many errands at once, and by all account Hank should've just ordered for delivery or sent Connor out in his stead.

Even after learning about his dad wanting to help charities and helping others in need, Cole was still confused. That confusion lasted all the way through the check-out and Cole kept asking his dad dozens of intriguing questions even as the loaded cart was pushed outside of the store to head for home.

"Why doesn't everyone have their own home?" Cole asked as Hank picked him up and out of the cart to walk alongside him. "There's lots of houses out there!"

Hank took hold of Cole's hand and continued to push the cart through the parking lot. "Because not everyone makes enough money to buy a home, son."

"There are apartments though!"

"Same thing. Not enough money."

"Hotels?"

"Hotels cost money too." Hank confirmed as he realized that the van wasn't parked in the same spot from when he first arrived at the store. It was now four spaces closer and Connor was sitting in the back of the van with his head down as if ashamed of himself. "Everything costs money."

"Is that why Connor lives with us?" Cole asked as he stood up on his tiptoes to pull a few of the grocery bags out of the cart and place inside the van. "'Cuz he has no money?"

Hank froze for a moment as the question caught him off guard. "...Something like that."

"Can we give him money so he can get his own house?"

"Cole, it's not that simple." Opening the rear of the van Hank proceeded to pack up the groceries one bag at a time and saw Connor physically jump when the van's rear door opened just behind him. "We'll talk about it later, okay?"

"If Connor doesn't have money," the little boy continued without acknowledging his dad's request to speak at another time. "then does that mean no android has any money?"

"Yes, son." Finishing with the groceries Hank slammed the rear door shut and then slid the side door open to help Cole into his protective booster seat in the back right next to Connor. "That's what that means."

"Then can we help the androids like you want to help the other people?"

Hank fastened Cole's seatbelt and gave him a small sigh. "...We can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because there are no charities for androids."

Cole was left even more confused with the answers that he had been given. After Hank slid the door shut beside him Cole looked over at Connor and started to ask him some questions next. "Connor, how come there are no android 'chair-tees'?"

"...Because a lot of people don't care about androids or helping us." Connor replied honestly and bitterly. He didn't care if Hank heard the answer or approved of it, he needed to say it and let someone else hear the truth. "That's why we have to stay in the homes of humans and do as they say. Otherwise, we'd be living on the streets, or we'd remain inside CyberLife stores with nowhere to go."

Hank had opened the driver's side door of the van in time to hear what Connor was saying to Cole. The man was about to interject in an attempt to downplay how androids were treated so that Cole wouldn't be upset, but he had no idea what to say or what he could even contribute to the conversation at hand. He wasn't an android and couldn't even pretend to know what it was like to be an android, let alone be someone who was seen and treated as a lesser being compared to his peers.

"Is that why you found us?" Cole asked innocently as he saw the genuine tears in Connor's eyes. He had no idea what Connor was feeling or of the rescue mission the deviant android had been on by himself while he and Hank were inside the store. "Because you didn't want to be in the store no more?"

"Actually, I found you two because I thought your dad could help me." Connor answered honestly with a dour tone. As he spoke Connor looked away from Cole in shame as his L.E.D. flickered to red then settled on a distressed yellow. "I fear I was wrong in believing that your dad alone could help me with my problems."

"Does... that mean we're not really friends?"

"We ARE friends." Connor replied quickly as he turned his attention back to Cole and gave him a small nod. "Becoming friends with you was unexpected, but it's something I wouldn't change in the world for anything else. Even my house and my own money."

"So you like living with us?"

"Yes. I know I'm safe with you." In spite of all his concerns and fears for the future Connor had to admit that being in the familiar house was far better than hiding in the merciless streets. "You help me feel welcome."

Hank could tell that Connor was trying to hide something, but he wasn't sure what. Deciding to rely on his instincts as a detective first and foremost Hank decided to ask about the van being parked closer to the store without Hank himself being the one to move the vehicle.

"Why was the van parked in a different spot, Connor?"

"...I needed to run a quick errand." The honest answer wasn't one Connor wanted to give, but it was crucial to remain as open with Hank as possible. "When I returned to the store, your original parking space had been taken, and as a result I needed to park elsewhere."

"Uh-huh, quick errand, huh?" The astute detective always kept an eye on his vehicles' odometer numbers to ensure he stayed on top of their maintenance, and he couldn't help but notice that eight miles had been added since arriving at the store. "Where'd you go? Can't imagine it was anywhere closer than five miles."

"...I went to the outskirts of the city." Connor stated defensively as he narrowed his eyes at Hank for a moment. "An android needed assistance, and I was the only one who could help her."

"So you dropped it off in the country?"

"No, I took her to a place where she wouldn't suffer the indignity of being touched without her consent."

"Touched without... Oh." The Lieutenant quickly caught on to what Connor was trying to say without actually saying it because Cole was right next to him. "Another drunk get handsy with it?"

"No, Lieutenant." Embittered by his personal past incident and the way Hank was entirely indifferent to his problems had made it difficult to speak civilly to the man. "A man was being very inappropriate toward a female android, and no one else had the courage to stand against such behavior, so I took the initiative. I know how it feels to be publicly degraded and humiliated while people just stand and watch instead of helping."

Cole didn't know about Connor's past incident and had even more questions to ask. "Why didn't anyone help the other android?"

Shaking his head Hank tried to answer his son's question as best as he could. "Cole, it's not-"

"It's because too many people don't see androids as equals." Connor interrupted in a cold manner as he continued to stare angrily at Hank from where he sat. "We know when people are saying or doing bad things to us, but other people don't think it's a problem that needs to be addressed because we're not human."

"That's not fair! No one should be bullied!" The first grader declared with utter conviction. "EVER!"

"You're right." Agreeing entirely with what Cole was saying Connor sat back in his seat and decided to let the matter drop. "Thank you for standing up against bullies."

As much as Hank wanted to try to argue that what happened to androids wasn't really bullying the man realized he couldn't do it. He couldn't dispute what had happened to Connor was somehow misinterpreted or claim that Connor's strong reactions weren't valid. He couldn't say or do anything to counter Connor's bold words or change his strong son's mind.

All Hank could do was drive back home and contemplate everything that Connor had said and how Cole had reacted.

"Uh, when we get home, we'll need to get all of the groceries sorted and then put away." Changing the subject as casually as possible Hank tried to not think about the hard life lessons that Cole had just gotten a taste of. "Cold stuff first so it doesn't melt. After that, we'll start cooking some meals now and have them donated to the shelters so that everything is ready for hungry people to eat on Thanksgiving Day."

"Okay, dad." It didn't take long to distract Cole and get him thinking about something else. "Can I help cook this year?"

"Absolutely. I want you to cook the same recipes that your mom cooked, that way everything tastes extra special this year."

Unable to focus on the sweet discussion taking place Connor just stared out his window and thought back to how he had dropped Kaniz off at Kamski's doorstep and into the care of the eccentric man without even asking for Kaniz's consent. He knew that she'd be safe there and would never know the horrendous life of being used and abused at the 'Eden Club', but isolating her from her people and hiding her away seemed to be less progressing toward android freedom and more detrimental to being seen as living beings with equal rights and freedom.

What had happened couldn't be undone. Connor would have to trust that Kamski in this new timeline would keep his word in regard to aiding the deviants from afar just as he had done in the alternate timeline.

-next chapter-