One week after their nasty mutual bout with the flu during the chilly weather, Connor decided that Hank was well enough to be left alone for a few hours and now he could go out and pick up a few groceries to replenish the supplies that had been used up over the month during Hank's slow but steady recovery after his emergency surgery. Slipping on his thick leather jacket over a simple black t-shirt and putting on the Detroit Gears cap to conceal his L.E.D. for the sake of avoiding any and all of the anti-android violence that had building up throughout the city, Connor made mental notes of everything needed in the house and set off to run his errands.
With Christmas just around the corner Connor knew to expect crowds and that numerous stores would be operating with unusual hours. He'd need to be quick if he were to get his errands accomplished in a timely manner.
"I should be back within a couple of hours." Connor announced as he grabbed the car keys from the bookshelf in the livingroom and made his way toward the front door. "If you need anything-"
"I'll be fine. Take your time, holiday shoppers are going to be crazy right now. Traffic's going to suck, the stores are going to be crowded, people are going to be nuttier than usual..." The senior detective sounded completely indifferent to the whole idea of celebrating the holidays, if not a little glum. "Makes me kinda' glad I stopped doing holiday crap years go. So yeah, no rush."
"It won't be too long since you're still healing. I will only take as much time as required to-"
"Connor." Hank was sitting in the recliner with his still healing right leg propped up on the edge of the coffee table while trying to relax. Sumo was resting his chin atop the leg cast with his tail wagging slowly as he kept the senior detective company. "I'm okay, son. Why don't you do what you need to do, then just go out and do something for yourself? You've been cooped up in this house with me for over a month between your shifts. You've got to be stir crazy."
Sensing that Hank wanted to be alone for one reason or another Connor took him up on the suggestion. "Very well. I will find something to preoccupy my time before returning home."
"Good. Part of being human is having a social life." Before Connor could reply again Hank held up a hand to silence the deviant. "I'm the exception to the rule."
"Why's that?"
"Because I said so."
"Convenient." Giving the senior detective an odd glance Connor just shook his head a little as he opened the front door to take his leave. "I'll be back in a few hours with the necessary groceries."
"Take your time. I'll manage to live a few hours without your help."
It took Connor only an hour to pick up the necessary items from the grocery store and pack them neatly into the trunk of the car, giving him plenty of free time to do whatever he pleased. With his primary concern now taken care of Connor set about trying to find something else to do before returning home and decided to stroll down the sidewalk and take in the oddly celebratory display of Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa decorations that had quickly adorned every street. The store windows, the light posts, digital billboards and bus stops throughout the city were all a vibrant display of love and celebration that seemed to unite the city toward a single positive outcome.
Having never celebrated a holiday during his short life Connor never understood the purpose of the decorations, but he found the festive displays enjoyable all the same. Brightly lit multicolored lights, shining garland, red bows, gleaming gold and brass menorahs, metal stars and thousands of different scented and different colored candles burned warmly all throughout the block creating an aura of peace and understanding.
The other people in the city seemed to enjoy the displays just as much he did.
Absentmindedly Connor made his way into the largest shopping mall as he followed the crowd, easily blending in now that his L.E.D. was concealed, and began walking the warm corridors casually. Passing by dozens of different stores on the first floor of the building fairly quickly, Connor observed people displaying a mass array of emotions ranging from joy, to disappointment, to frustration and even to depression as they searched through the various stores in search of select items of interest.
"It seems Hank isn't the only person who struggles with his emotions during this time of year."
In the two years since Connor had known Hank and spent time with him, the deviant had never seen Hank celebrate anything for any reason beyond Markus and North's bonding ceremony and the anniversary of the Revolution. His own one-year-sobriety date didn't mean much to Hank, but it meant everything to Connor as it meant his best friend and father was getting better.
If there was any reason to celebrate, having a beloved person on the road to recovery was surely it.
The crowd in the main corridor was beginning to thicken rapidly and Connor found it more difficult to move without bumping into people. Stepping out of the corridor and into a nearby store Connor stood idle and waited for the crowd to thin out again for his own comfort before attempting to walk the rest of the corridor to explore the remainder of the mall.
"Hey, Connor." A familiar feminine voice called to him and an arm hooked around his own arm as the familiar presence began to coax him back out into the busy hallway from the even busier store. "Am I glad to see you!"
"A-Abby?" Connor didn't try to resist as she escorted him out of the store and into the crowd of people in the corridor. It seemed he still had some residual claustrophobia he needed to work through. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, my crazy ex-boyfriend has been stalking me through the mall for over an hour now. Could you stay with me for a while to try to deter him from following me anymore?"
"Yes. Of course." Discreetly Connor turned his attention over his shoulder and observed a man displaying peculiar behavior as he followed the duo out of the store and into the crowd. The way the man was watching Abby and keep a minimal distance away at all times confirmed that he was the man that Abby was trying to avoid. "...I think I see him."
The man was in his late twenties, a little short with unkempt shaggy blond hair and hollow gray eyes. Sporting a thick dark brown winter coat over faded blue jeans and black winter boots, the man skulked through the crowd while keeping his eyes fixated on Abby from the distance.
Running a facial scan Connor identified the man and noted his dangerous criminal record. "His name is Frederick Calvin, correct?"
"Yeah, that's him." Abby confirmed as she tightened her arm around Connor's arm fearfully. "He was arrested six years ago for breaking into my apartment and threatening me with a knife after I broke up with him."
"He was released two years ago after serving his sentence. Were you informed of his release?"
"No... After I moved here from Chicago I never gave a change of address so I could hide a little easier. Guess that wasn't too bright."
"How did he find you?"
"I don't know, I don't think I want to know. I did get a few odd hang-up phone calls, even when I changed new phones, when I first moved into my apartment and I had a weird feeling that someone was rummaging through my things whenever I'd leave the apartment, but I don't think that can prove anything one way or another."
Connor could feel Abby beginning to tremble as they walked through the crowd together back toward the entrance of the mall. Her arm tightened around his own as if needing to feel secured despite already having a detective at her side. "Did you park nearby?"
"I used an autonomous cab today."
"Allow me to drive you to your apartment."
"Thanks, but no thanks!" Turning down the offer out a weird reflex Abby sighed and tried to steady her nerves. "I don't want him following us in case he doesn't already know where I live."
"Then let me take you to the precinct to file a report and gain a restraining order against him."
"No offense, Connor, but a piece of paper isn't going to keep away a guy who is still so obsessed with me that after six years in prison he's gone right back to stalking me. Scissors beats paper and I know he loves knives."
Squaring his jaw determinedly Connor moved his arm from Abby's arm and wrapped it around her shoulders instead to pull her slightly up to his side as if trying to shield her from sight. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"To my car, but we're going to take what Hank would call 'a creative route'." From beneath Connor's hat his blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow as he cybernetically called the police and informed them of Frederick's presence and his resumed stalking of Abby. "We need to keep our distance for only a few more minutes."
"Why? What's happening?"
"I contacted the police. They'll be here to arrest Frederick without you needing to be involved directly."
"I don't know." Still afraid and trembling under the deviant's arm Abby resisted the urge to look back at her crazy ex-boyfriend out of fear of meeting his hollow cold eyes. "As soon as he hears the sirens he's going to freak out and run..."
"As long as he doesn't run in our direction we'll be safe."
Hastening their pace Connor helped Abby to push through the crowd and make their way toward the exit while remaining somewhat subtle, and without drawing any unwanted attention. Sure enough as the duo made their way to the doors the sound of approaching sirens deterred Frederick from following after Abby and he backed off disappearing into the crowd as he tried to hide from the authorities.
"It worked." Connor observed without even needing to turn around to check. Police drones were now in the area and looking for Frederick. "The drones will keep him away from you."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"This way." Leading Abby along the sidewalk away from the mall and toward the car parked three blocks away Connor was able to make her finally feel safe at last. "I'll take you to the Zeta Facility instead." Connor stated as he unlocked the car doors and kept vigil for any sign of Frederick. "That way you don't have to worry about him following you to your apartment."
"Is that a good idea?"
"I cannot say for sure, but this is the only logical idea we have at the moment. Does Frederick know you're no longer working E.M.S. or that you became a technician?"
"I don't know."
"Perhaps he doesn't know about the facility. He won't look for you at an android facility if he believes you still work E.M.S., which will also give you an advantage in avoiding him."
"Yeah, okay." Sitting down in the front passenger seat of the Pace beside her rescuer, Abby sighed and fastened her seatbelt as she gave Connor a nervous glance. "Let's go."
Ever protective of his friends and of innocent people in the city in general, Connor continued to keep his eye out for Frederick as he drove through the city and to the Zeta Facility several blocks away. The traffic was seemingly thin enough that he'd be able to identify any vehicle that was tailing his own, but he didn't want to take the chance and continued to drive about in a snaking, lengthier route to try to elude any possible stalkers. Fortunately his perfect memory of every street in the in the city allowed him to navigate his preconstructed route with great ease and managed to make it to the Zeta Facility without any sign of a stalker in sight.
Until they were safe inside of the building and away from the rest of the city Abby wouldn't feel safe. Even having someone as protective as Connor beside her wasn't enough to ease her righteous worries.
"Thanks for doing this." Abby nervously wrapped her arms around herself as she watched the rearview mirror herself. "Can I ask why you were even at the mall tonight?"
"I was attempting to find something to preoccupy my mind outside of the house. Hank insists that I continue to explore the depths of humanity and emotions by developing a social life."
"Well, if the most anti-social detective in all of Detroit is telling you to get out every once in a while then you must be showing signs of reclusiveness."
Connor gave Abby an amused smirk. "I'm not reclusive, just reserved."
"I can't say I blame you. It's hard to let yourself get close to people."
"It wasn't difficult to achieve a close friendship with Hank... After the Revolution, anyway."
"It took a while for him to let his guard down, huh?"
"Yes. His initial disdain of androids had lessened considerably during our initial partnership while investigating deviants, but it wasn't until after the Revolution itself had succeeded did his anger finally seem to lessen. Now he's a strong advocate for deviant rights and without him I don't know where I'd be at this moment."
Admiring Connor's gracious and confident nature Abby began to feel more at ease. "And I take it you're both feeling better. Otherwise I don't think you'd leave him alone."
"I've fully recovered from my illness, as has Hank, but he still has approximately three weeks until he can have his cast removed." Giving the frightened technician a curious glance Connor asked about her own plans for the evening. "May I ask why you were out in the mall tonight?"
"I was trying to get in the holiday spirit, but I don't have any family left and my closest friends are all back in Chicago. It makes it kinda' hard to get in a festive mood these days."
"...I'm your friend."
"Yeah, I know." Blushing a little Abby patted her hand on Connor's arm and continued to watch the rearview mirror warily. "But you should focus on helping Hank enjoy the holidays. He's been through so much."
"Yes, he has. I think that's why we can trust each other. We both know what it's like to feel... alone."
"I'm glad you two are friends." Abby admitted as Connor finally pulled the car up to the facility and parked by the front doors. "You're good for each other."
"I think so, too." Agreeing with the sentiment Connor turned off the engine with the intent of escorting Abby inside the facility to ensure she still felt safe. "Would you like me to wait with you until the autonomous taxi arrives to take you to your apartment?"
"No, it's okay." She politely shrugged off the offer as she and Connor entered the waiting room of the facility together. "I'll be fine."
The facility staff was small that evening as it was still in-between the afternoon and night shifts. Barry, the deviant receptionist that Abby often worked with during emergency repairs, was acting as the lone receptionist while two other deviant technicians were tending to the more severely damaged patients recovering in the depths of the facility. Three other deviants and one human were sitting in the waiting room quietly for what were apparently routine yearly examinations and were as quiet as the freshly falling snow outside.
"It shouldn't take long for- Shit." Abby's face suddenly went pale as she watched Frederick himself walk in through the front doors of the facility with malicious intent in his hollow enraged eyes. He had followed them after all. "Oh, fuck..."
Connor saw Frederick coming and immediately positioned himself between the obsessed man and Abby protectively. Sending a cybernetic update to the police informing them of the dangerous man and their current location, Connor stood his ground ready to stare down the man.
"Hey, Abby." Frederick tried to sound friendly but there was a veiled threat in his voice that made Abby's skin crawl. "You're looking good..."
"What the hell are you dong here, Freddy?" She cowered behind Connor but kept her voice steady. "What do you want?"
"I came to see you. Did ya' miss me?"
"No! GET. OUT." Shouting at him in a serious manner Abby refused to let him anywhere near her and made the other occupants in the waiting room suddenly very nervous. "Leave me alone!"
"Come on, baby..." Freddy stepped closer and reached his hand out toward Abby as she hid behind Connor. "We can work it out."
Connor grabbed onto Freddy's arm with a painful grip and held him back and away from Abby. "She told you to leave. Go now."
"Who the fuck is this prick?" As if offended by Connor stopping him Freddy snarled and he tried, but failed, to pull his hand from Connor's grip. "Your new boyfriend?"
"No." Connor reached into his jean pocket with his free hand and pulled out his wallet to reveal his shield tucked inside. "Detroit Police."
"You son of a-" Freddy jerked his hand back and pulled a gun he had tucked in his coat pocket. Pointing it directly at Connor's chest Freddy threatened to shoot out of enraged spite as the occupants of the waiting room wisely fell silent and kept their distance. "Back off man!"
Staying in place Connor refused to budge and stayed between him and Abby. Sending out a distress call cybernetically to the police to remotely keep them updated on the situation, he also instructed the deviants in the facility to discreetly leave the building, clear the rest of the waiting room and to get to safety. At the very least they could try to hide out of sight of the unstable human until the police arrive.
"Put the gun down, Frederick." Connor ordered as he instinctively relied on his training as a hostage negotiator to handle the situation. "You won't gain anything by harming anyone in this situation."
"FUCK OFF! This is between ME and ABBY."
"I can't do that." Refusing to back down Connor was fearless and focused in his every motion. "Let me help you."
"YOU? A fuckin' COP? I don't need a COP, I need Abby!
"No, you don't. And she doesn't want anything to do with you."
"Fuck off! She can help me!"
"Help you?" Intrigued by the comment Connor tried a new approach to understand Frederick's mindset. "In what way can she help you?"
"I need her help! I need a MEDIC."
"A... medic? You're ill?" Connor asked confusedly as he ran a biometric scan over Freddy's body and noted that his increased heart rate and blood pressure were also accompanied by an increased body temperature that wasn't associated with stress. There was a dangerous degree of damage to Frederick's liver and his kidneys, as well as some degree of damage to his pulmonary tissue resulting in mild wheezing. "If you're ill you should be in a hospital, not a facility."
"F-Facility?!" Completely confused by what was happening thanks to Connor's unexpected presence, Frederick remained unhinged and very dangerous. "What the fuck are you talkin' about?!"
"This is an Android Emergency Care Facility." Clarifying the location Connor did his best to keep things calm. "This is where injured, damaged and ill androids receive treatment. Not humans."
"You're LYING to me!"
"No, I'm not." Connor insisted honestly as he watched the occupants of the waiting room file out slowly and discreetly with Barry and the other deviants leading the group to safety without Frederick noticing. "If you don't believe me just look at the building's address on your phone."
"My... phone?"
"That's how you found Abby, yes? You used your phone to track her down." The deviant detective had easily deduced how Frederick located Abby through her phone based on her previous comment about the odd hang-up phone calls she had received. Despite the police officers and drones arriving at the mall and Connor's stealthy route, Frederick still managed to find her which meant he had some type of tracking device at his disposal. "You used an illegal tracking function in your phone's G.P.S. to locate Abby by using her own personal phone number. Check your phone to confirm the address of this building."
Keeping his gun aimed at Connor with one hand Frederick reached into his back pocket with his free shaking hand and fished out his phone. He used the G.P.S. to confirm everything Connor had told him and that only made Freddy angrier. The way his gray eyes flashed with rage was proof enough he knew that Connor wasn't trying to lie to him.
"As you can see I am in fact telling the truth."
"What the FUCK, Abby?! You betrayed your own kind?!" Pointing the gun at Connor's head Frederick's finger hovered over the trigger dangerously as his eyes became wild and full of fire. "And now you're dating one of the assholes you locked me up and took me away from you?!"
"No, Freddy." From behind Connor the frightened technician tried to her best to sound unafraid and defiant as she refused to let Frederick bully her into submission. "I DUMPED you and moved on with my life! What I choose to do with it, and who I choose to help, is none of your damn business!"
"It is when you're a race traitor!"
"It's that exact kind of hated filled ignorance that made it SO easy for me to dump your sorry, pathetic ass!"
Frederick took a step to the side and pointed his gun directly at Abby as she stood behind Connor's back. "What did you just say, bitch?"
"You heard me!" Standing her ground Abby snapped back at Frederick as boldly as she could. "It takes a real coward to hide behind a gun or a knife when people don't do what they want!"
"Fuckin' whore! I bet you slept with every-"
"ENOUGH." Connor resumed command of the situation; grateful for the hat that was keeping his red flashing L.E.D. hidden from the armed anti-android bigot standing before him. "Frederick, you need to leave now. The police are already-"
"FUCK the police!" Crazed and angry Frederick made it clear he wasn't going to give up so easily. "I'm NOT leaving until that smart-mouth bitch figures out what the fuck is wrong with me!"
Abby spoke up again as she hoped that Connor could talk Frederick down. "Aside from all the hatred in your heart?"
"SHUT UP!"
Police sirens filled the air once more as two responding squad cars converged around the facility with a bright display of red and blue flashing lights. Four drones circled the facility and began monitoring all of the exits for any sign of Frederick trying to retreat.
"SHIT..." Freddy retrained his gun from Abby and back onto Connor and pulled back the hammer. "You two, MOVE. Or I'll fuckin' shoot!"
"Okay, we'll cooperate." Connor kept his voice as calm and level as possible as he remained between Abby and Frederick. "Where do you want us to go?"
"To the back! An exam room!" Wiping his sweaty brow off on his sleeve Frederick marched after Connor and Abby as the deviant slowly walked backward to ensure that Freddy couldn't make any attempts to harm Abby. "Figure out why I'm sick and I'll let you go!"
Connor only nodded as Abby located the nearest vacant exam room and opened the door by pressing her clearance code card into the electronic key pad. As she stepped inside the opened doorway Connor followed her and jumped back as Frederick charged at him with the gun. Slamming the door shut with his hands Freddy locked it and motioned for Connor and Abby to stand with their backs against the far wall.
"Abby... You're the only one who'll give me an honest answer." Frederick stated desperately as he locked the sliding door behind him and continued to show signs of distress and ill health. "The fuckin' prison doctors wouldn't tell me shit and no other doctor in this damned country will help me because I'm an ex-con."
"Are you sure it isn't because you threaten people with a gun?"
"Shut up!"
Police stormed through the building and pounded on the closed exam room door as they attempted to take down the gunman. "DETROIT POLICE. OPEN UP!"
"BACK OFF!" Frederick shouted in response as he kept his gun on the two unwilling occupants of the room. "I HAVE HOSTAGES! BACK OFF OR I'LL SHOOT!"
Silently the police cleared away from the door and informed their superior officer of the potential hostage situation at the facility via radio contact. Temporarily obeying Frederick's demands the police backed away for the time being, but they wouldn't be too far away.
Connor resumed being the attempted voice of reason in the situation and tried to keep control. "Frederick, listen to me. Even if Abby is able to properly identify your current illness there is no way this scenario ends with you walking away a free man."
"I don't care! I'm already dead... I just want answers." Desperate and with nothing left to lose Frederick was a very real threat. "I want to know what's killing me. I have the right to know!"
Abby took a deep breath and let it out slowly to settle her frayed nerves as she peered at Frederick from around Connor as he stayed in front of her. "This isn't a human medical clinic, this is an android facility. The tests that I can perform on you are going to be very limited."
"I don't CARE. J-Just help me!"
"Okay, okay..." Abby slipped off her winter coat and dropped it on the floor behind her as she finally agreed to help Frederick. "Then I'll need a blood sample."
"Fine." Frederick extended his left arm out toward her while also keeping his gun aimed at Connor with his right hand. Letting his own coat drop from his arms and onto the floor Frederick maintained his savage demeanor. "But if you try anything then I'm going to put a bullet in your boyfriend's brain. You got that?"
"Yeah, I hear you."
Connor remained statuesque with his eyes honed in on Frederick's every movement while Abby opened up the glass doors of the storage cabinets against the wall opposite side from the doorway, near where they had already been ordered to stand. Inside was a microscope, several small syringes and glass vials for containing Thirium samples; but could also be used to properly store human blood.
Abby apprehensively carried the syringe and attached glass vial over to Frederick for the quick test. Locating the Cephalic vein in Frederick's exposed arm she pierced his skin with the needle and took a sample of his blood to be tested.
"No alcohol wipe down?" Frederick whined like a spoiled child as Abby set to work. "Seems cruel."
"...I told you." She reminded Frederick firmly as she drew the blood and had enough for a test. "This is a facility for ANDROIDS. Not humans." Abby finished taking the sample and stepped back readily to check the blood under the microscope, not caring the least that she left Frederick's arm to bleed and was uncovered. "I'll only need a minute."
Frederick stared at Connor venomously as the fearless detective refused to give Frederick even the smallest window of opportunity to harm Abby. "What the fuck are you looking at?"
"Apparently a very desperate man."
"Say that again!" Frederick threatened as his hollow eyes narrowed and aimed the barrel of his gun at the center of Connor's chest. "I dare you..."
"No need." Showing no sign of intimidation Connor didn't need to repeat himself. "I've already said everything I need to say."
Abby set the microscope on the desk and placed a smear of the sampled blood onto a thin glass plate before sliding it under the microscope for examination. As she peered through the lens and focused on the sample her shoulders visibly tensed with fear and then relaxed with sorrow.
"Well?" Frederick asked impatiently as he kept his gun trained on Connor. "Do you know what's wrong with me?"
"...Maybe." She wrote down her potential diagnosis on a piece of paper and folded it up neatly. Placing the paper down beside the microscope she prepared herself for what was going to happen next. "If I can I get a second test to confirm my suspicions, then I can-"
"FINE." Frederick blurted angrily as he suddenly wrapped his left arm protectively around his abdomen as if in horrible pain. "...Do what you have to do! I just want ANSWERS."
Connor's brow furrowed as he noticed that Frederick pressed his hand to stomach as if experiencing tremendous discomfort. In addition to the pain Connor observed that without the heavy coat obstructing his body Frederick's abdomen appeared swollen and disproportionately large for his overall build. A build that somehow appeared frail from improper diet or prolonged fasting.
Daring to speak up Connor again, asked Frederick a simple question. "Are you in pain?"
"What do you care?!"
"It could be a symptom of your illness. Can you-"
"SHUT UP." Truly disgusted by Connor's presence Frederick took out his frustration on the helpful deviant without any clue that he was a deviant and not actually Abby's boyfriend. "You're NOT a doctor!"
"No, but I can potentially help you."
"Fuck off! Just give me something to stop the pain if you want to help!"
Abby had enough of listening to Frederick shouting and barking orders. Pulling her keyring from her jean pocket she isolated a small metal key from the dozen others and used it to unlock the top right drawer of the desk beneath the microscope. Inside the drawer was a small collection of prescription pain killers kept in storage only for emergency purposes in the event of a citywide catastrophe resulting in human casualties.
"I'll give you a small dose of morphine to take the edge off the pain." Abby stated as she filled a sterilized syringe with the liquid painkiller and measured out the proper dose. "Let me see you arm."
"NO WAY."
"Freddy, I'm trying to help you!" Losing her cool Abby tried to get the deranged man to cooperate. "You want to the pain to stop don't you?"
"No, not until HE takes it first!"
"Wait, what?!"
"I don't trust you!" Paranoid and enraged Frederick refused to let Abby dose him with anything he couldn't identify. "How do I know that's not some kind of knock-out drug or poison?!"
"...Poison? Are you fucking serious?"
"DO IT." Frederick waved the gun about wildly before aiming at Connor's chest again. "Give it to him FIRST or I'll shoot him and give you a damn good reason to dose him!"
Connor swallowed nervously as he gave Abby an uncertain glance. As an android Connor couldn't accept any human medication without it having an unknown and potentially adverse affect on his systems. But Frederick didn't know Connor was an android. By all account Connor looked and sounded fully human and could accept any offered drug as he easily he could do himself.
"I can't do that." Abby stated quickly to try to protect Connor without revealing him as an android. Lying with a sharp retort she locked eyes with Freddy and tried to reason with him. "He's allergic to morphine, it'll make him sick and it could kill him."
"Bullshit! That's WAY too convenient..." Frederick's fingers tightened around the trigger threatening to squeeze at any minute. "You give him the shot or I'll give him the bullet!"
"Freddy, listen to me-"
Connor interjected with a firm voice to keep things from escalating any further. "Abby, it's okay. Maybe the reaction won't be so bad."
"It's too dangerous!" Protesting out of a righteous worry Abby tried to argue against the notion. "I won't risk your life just because-"
"Abby, go ahead and do it." Connor insisted while keeping completely calm. "...I trust you."
Letting out a defeated sigh she finally agreed to administer the drug. "...Remove your coat. I need to get to your arm."
Connor kept his movements slow and purposeful as he removed the leather jacket from his arms and dropped it on the floor next to Abby's coat. Holding out his left arm toward Abby she rolled up the short sleeve of his t-shirt over his left bicep to ensure she had a clear view of the line the bend of his arm and pierced his artificial skin with the needle.
Flinching from the sharp pain Connor's arm tensed up and he let out a low groan of pain.
Abby was trying to avoid making contact with any of the thin Thirium lines that automatically connect the white plastimetal frame to the artificial skin once the skin generated over top, but just like human skin over muscle, there were far too many lines to avoid. Working the needle into the opening of the connected joint under the skin she hoped she missed all of his lines in the process and prepared to inject the medication into the hollow void of the plastimetal frame that created Connor's arm.
"I'm sorry." Abby whispered as she pressed the plunger of the syringe and injected the morphine into Connor's arm beneath his skin. Retracting the needle she pressed her thumb over Connor's skin where a single bead of blue Thirium was beginning to leak out to hide it from Frederick. Afterward she quickly pulled the sleeve back down over Connor's bicep and moved his arm so it was pressed against his chest and bent to apply pressure to the injection sight. Turning to glare at Frederick she held out the now empty syringe for him to see. "Happy?"
Frederick stared at Connor for a moment before he nodded. "...All right, fine. Give me the shot."
Abby disposed of the used syringe instinctively and grabbed a fresh one from the still opened drawer. Using the same vial as before she loaded up the new syringe and made her way over to Frederick who was holding out his arm eagerly. Injecting the morphine into Frederick's arm Abby stepped away from her gun-toting stalker anxiously and back toward the deviant trying to protect her.
"...Thanks." Muttering a little Frederick's glare softened as the narcotic steadily set in and took the edge off his pain. "...Better. Much better."
"Now let me run my next test."
From behind Abby as she stood in place, Connor's body began to sway and his eyes were closing against his will as his strength began to drain away from his body. Only able to fight back against the strange feeling for so long, a red warning flashed in his visual processors as his system detected the foreign substance now cycling in his Thirium as some of the drug did in fact enter a line.
"I need to confirm my diagnosis before-" A heavy 'thud' behind Abby drew her attention away from Frederick and back to Connor. The deviant was now laying on the floor on his back and barely moving. "Connor?!"
Completely unconscious Connor had collapsed as a result of the incompatible human medication entering his system. The reaction had been severe enough it affected the power supply to his artificial skin causing him to become paler than normal and by all accounts he looked very sick. Motionless, save for his slow shallow breaths, Connor was completely helpless and looked dead.
Abby knelt down beside the downed deviant and pressed her hand over the center of his chest to feel for movement. "Shit! He's barely breathing." Pressing her ear down against the center of Connor's chest she listened his heart beating dangerously slow, threatening to stop at any moment. "...He's bradycardic." He could slip into Thiri-" Catching herself quickly Abby used the human term to explain Connor's condition. "cardiac arrest, at any moment."
Frederick's hand began to shake nervously as he realized he may have actually killed a cop. "...Well, give him something! Wake him up!"
"I CAN'T." Abby snapped angrily as she turned around to glare at Frederick, her left fingertips pressing gently against the side of Connor's neck to track his sluggish pulse. "I don't have the proper equipment in here! It's an EXAM ROOM, not a TREATMENT ROOM."
"Well... do SOMETHING! I'm not going back to prison for killin' a cop!"
Abby leaned over Connor again and pressed her right palm to the side of his face, careful not to move his hat still covering up his L.E.D., and called his name to try to get a response. "Connor? I need you to get up!" Putting her left arm under his shoulders Abby pushed the deviant's deadweight upward until he was sitting on the floor next to her and still looked near death. "Come on! Stand up! It'll make your heart beat faster if you're standing."
Slowly Connor's brown irises reappeared through the partially opened slits of his eyelids as his heavy feeling legs tried to support his weight and stand up.
"Lean on me." Abby moved her arm down from his shoulders to his waist. Pulling his limp heavy right arm around her own shoulders, Abby struggled to support Connor's taller and heavier frame against her side. "You can do it, come on... Get up!"
It took all of Connor's waning strength but he was finally able to stand upright thanks to Abby helping him. "I'm... I'm okay."
"No, you're not. I never should've given you that shot."
"...You had to." Connor put his left hand against the top of the nearby desk to support himself so he wasn't pressing down too much against Abby. Walking over to the blood sample under the microscope Connor discreetly pressed a few drops of the blood against his own fingertips to run an analysis with his advanced software. "...Now you need to run the next test."
Abby stared at Connor's face curiously as she tried to follow his reasoning. "The next test? Which one?"
Motioning with his eyes to the blood sample he managed to silently communicate his plan to her. "...Check his vision."
Frederick was beginning to shake nervously all over, the gun still clutched in his hand looked like it might go off at any moment, as he overheard the comment. "V-Vision test?"
"Yeah, I need to check your eyes." Abby ripped open the center drawer of the desk and pulled out a penlight as she picked up on Connor's hint. "Pupils. Hold still, this won't hurt."
While Abby stood before Frederick and shined the bright light into the madman's eyes to keep him distracted and half-blinded Connor pressed the blood sample to his tongue and ran an analysis of his own. A list of potential medical diagnoses appeared in his visual processors but when he added the symptom of pain and the unusual abdominal distension the list narrowed down to single very rare illness.
Despondently Connor looked down at the diagnosis that Abby had written down and tucked under the microscope without drawing any suspicion from Frederick; it was a match.
And terminal.
Connor walked away from the desk and kept his hand atop of it to keep his balance while he waited for Abby back away from Frederick. As she turned around to face Connor he nodded subtly to confirm her initial diagnosis, meanwhile he cybernetically informed the police officers still outside the door of what was happening in real time.
"I'm sorry, Freddy." She stated with genuine sadness as she addressed her crazed ex boyfriend. "But I know what's going on, and it's not good."
"Wh-What is it?"
"You have cancer. And it's advanced."
Such a response made Frederick stutter with fear and shock. "C-Cancer?!"
"It's rare and aggressive." Abby explained calmly while giving him the dignity of an honest answer. "Desmoplastic small-round-cell cancer. It's exceptionally rare in adults, but... you have it. I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do to stop it or reverse what it's doing to you."
"I... I knew it." Frederick fell to his knees on the floor, the gun dropping from his hand in the process. "I knew I was already dead."
Connor motioned for Abby to step away from the sliding door just as the responding police officers forcibly entered the exam room and tackled Frederick to the floor. It was a blur of motion and shouting as Frederick was cuffed and escorted by the police outside of the facility to the squad cars outside.
As soon as the area was cleared one of the responding officers, Chris himself, stepped in to check on the two former hostages. "Hey! You two all right?"
"I'm fine." Abby replied honestly as she grabbed onto Connor's left arm again. "But I need to get him into a treatment room. He's going to get sick if I can't clear a drug from his system."
"Lead the way." Chris got on the other side of Connor and helped Abby carry him out of the exam room and into a treatment room just a few yards down the hallway. "How bad is it? What happened?"
Connor's speech was delayed but honest. "...Not as bad as it ...seems. I just need to have the drug... filtered from my Thirium lines."
"Good thing you're already in a facility, huh?"
Unable to argue but unwilling to disagree, Connor took the middle route to remain neutral. "I guess you could... say that."
Resting comfortably and quietly after surviving the hectic ordeal, Connor was laying on a treatment table propped upright slightly with a Thirium line attached to his left arm to help cycle his contaminated Thirium through a type of dialysis machine to filter the poisonous morphine from his blood. As a precaution Abby had attached two wireless sensor leads over the center of Connor's chest - under his shirt, and was watching his heart rate; his Thirium pump's activity, on the Thirial activity monitor to ensure his heartbeat was still stable as he slowly regained his strength and this Thirium was cleansed of the offensive and toxic substance.
Even though Connor was stable and Frederick was again behind bars, Abby was still shaking from adrenaline and fear. The last encounter with her disturbed ex-boyfriend had been far too close for comfort.
"How do you feel?" Abby asked worriedly as she looked over her ill friend's rapid recovery. "You look better."
"I feel less tired and far more alert."
"You're lucky." She stated kindly as she pulled up a chair beside the exam table. "If the morphine had been registered as something toxic by your system you could've expelled the tainted Thirium and Freddy would've shot you dead for being an android."
The fact that Abby kept calling the suspect 'Freddy' as opposed to 'Frederick' told Connor that a part of Abby still cared about him. "...You and Frederick used to be close, weren't you?"
"That was a whole other lifetime ago. The memories will always remain," she admitted with deep sorrow to her words. "but, it's over now."
"If it's any consolation Frederick will be taken to a prison where his cancer will be treated effectively and his pain will be managed until he... succumbs."
Abby's face carried a heavy frown as she turned off the Thirium dialysis machine and removed the line from Connor's arm. "Your vital signs are all stable. You can leave in twenty minutes. If you feel sick or weak after you return home let me know immediately."
Connor watched as Abby got up and walked out of the exam room with her head bowed down in shame. "Abby? Please don't feel bad for what happened to me. It wasn't your fault."
"...It's hard to not feel bad. You're my friend and you were put in danger because I couldn't be bothered to let the courts in Chicago know I moved out of the city."
"I'm a detective and a deviant." Connor shrugged off the claim dismissively as he sat more upright on the exam table. "Dangerous situations are normal for me to experience."
"They shouldn't be."
"You're right, they shouldn't. And in time they'll stop entirely."
"I really hope so." Abby smiled warmly at Connor as she stepped out of the room. "I'll bring you your jacket. Go home to Hank and stay safe."
"I will do so. After I see you to your taxi."
"Even after all of this you'd still wait for me to get into a cab?"
"Of course I would." Standing beside the table Connor removed the leads from his chest and gave Abby a confident nod. "You're my friend and I want you to be safe."
"Thanks." Blushing again she gave the deviant an appreciative smile and took her leave of the room. "You're a real good guy."
As casually as he could Connor returned home after his close encounter with the deranged kind with the half a dozen bags of groceries in his arms and the car keys gripped firmly in his hand. As he nonchalantly walked through the front door and strolled through the livingroom he was immediately trailed by Sumo who excitedly watched as Connor placed the bags down on the countertops in the kitchen and began checking through the items to be put away properly. The cold groceries were a must when it came to being sorted properly and put away, while a few other items like laundry detergent and the dog biscuits could still wait to be put away.
By all account nothing unusual had happened and Connor's evening had been entirely normal. At least it was normal for someone like Connor.
"You were gone for almost five hours." Hank called into the kitchen from his recliner in the livingroom. His leg was still propped up on the coffee table before himself as he rested and healed. "Anything interesting happen?"
Connor paused for a moment as he began unpacking the groceries but answered soon enough. "I bumped into Abby."
"Uh-huh... And you just hung out with her for five hours or something?"
"Four, actually." Naturally being more precise Connor put the groceries away and upheld the conversation at the same time. "She was having a problem with her ex-boyfriend stalking her while she was trying to navigate the mall."
"Good thing you were there to keep her safe."
"Yes." Connor agreed as he pulled the box of dog treats from one of the bags and tossed one of the bone shaped biscuits into the air for Sumo to catch. The Saint Bernard snapped up the treat and wagged his tail happily as he sat loyally at Connor's feet. "It was a fortunate circumstance that could've possibly ended very poorly."
Walking back into the livingroom Connor dropped the car keys down on the bookshelf as he shrugged off his jacket and hung it up on the hook by the front door alongside his hat exposing his blue tinted L.E.D. once more. "I believe it'd be more beneficial and less cumbersome to shop when the holidays are over."
"Yeah, speaking of shopping..." Hank reached down to a small box wrapped up in emerald green paper sitting on the floor beside the chair and tossed it to the deviant. As Connor caught the small box in his graceful right hand Hank gave him a coy smirk. "I got you something through a delivery drone while you were out."
"...A gift?"
"Yeah. I've never been big on the holidays and I got even less-so after Barbara and then Cole died. But I figured I'd try to give some effort into being less of a killjoy during this time of year. Don't worry about getting me anything, I don't-"
"Too late." Connor pulled a perfectly hidden gift wrapped up in red paper from the top of the bookshelf and handed it to Hank to take. It was a fairly large perfect square and was very flat and thin. "I picked that up a few months ago. I'm surprised you didn't notice it earlier."
"Smartass." With a grin on his face Hank accepted the gift and watched as Connor sat on the couch still holding the small box in his hands confusedly. "Go ahead and open it up, son. I think you'll like it. Well, I hope you like it."
"Aren't we supposed to wait until Christmas Day?" Staring at the offered gift in his palm Connor gave it a thoughtful but hesitant glance. "It's only December sixteenth."
"Why wait? Go ahead."
Connor nodded and began to unwrap the small square box while Hank did the same to his own gift. With a careful touch Connor removed the paper to expose the box beneath and opened up the lid and peered inside to find a brand new solid black guitar pick with Connor's initials engraved in silver over top of the small item it: C.H.A. - Connor Henry Anderson.
It was simple, perfect and it was something that Connor could actually use and something he would want.
"This is wonderful and perfect." Having a brand new pick that was truly his own; something personalized just for his own use, gave him a warm feeling of trust and belonging. It even had his initials on it making it truly his guitar pick. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, kid, and just for future reference," Hank held up his own gift with utter amazement: a mint-condition vinyl record of the very first album by 'The Knights of the Black Death'. "never spend anything over fifty bucks on me, and NEVER pay for anything over a couple thousand! This is... incredible."
The positive respond made Connor's soulful brown eyes light up as he watched Hank have a burst of energy and enthusiasm. "You like it?"
"Like it? Connor, this is one of the most valuable records in heavy metal history!" The appreciation was heavy and enthusiastic in Hank's words as he admired the old record. "I don't even want to know how you found it, let alone paid for it... Thanks."
"I'm truly glad you like it." Connor held tightly onto the new pick in his hand and smiled warmly at the simple yet perfect gift. It was exactly what he needed to inspire him to continue to play his guitar and create new music. His original pick was gone, his replacement picks never felt right to use, but this new pick in his hand made Connor feel like he found a piece of himself that had been lost. "...Merry Christmas, Hank."
"Yeah." Appreciating the emotional sentiment Hank reached out to his adopted son. "Merry Christmas, son."
-next chapter-