DBH: Accident Prone - Becoming Human

by WayWardWonderer

Connor struggles to comprehend his newly found emotions and learns what it means to be human as Hank guides him along his journey of self-discovery as his deviancy evolves him into something more than a machine. Connor isn't indestructible and his impulsive, selfless nature to accomplish his mission will be the death of him, or even Hank, as he learns what it means to be alive.

186. Politics

It was a bright sunny summer afternoon and a mass of people had gathered at Hart Plaza to witness the scheduled conference announcing the collaboration between City Hall and New Jericho Tower. By combining the resources, the offices and connections throughout the city, the prosperity that had been shown toward deviant androids in the three and half years since the night of the Revolution would return to the city as a whole. With that union all freed deviants would return to work as electricians, on construction crews, waste management and twenty-four hour care providers; but now they would be paid for services rather than used like tools or free labor.

Connor stood inside the main lobby of New Jericho Tower with a steeled facade as he waited for Markus and North to join him. Donning a Kevlar vest under his white dress shirt and holding an additional protective vest for Markus to wear, Connor mentally prepared himself for the massive assignment and responsibility that he had been entrusted.

"Connor." Markus greeted as he and North departed from the elevator side by side, their white plastimetal handles intertwined in a loving grasp at their sides as they walked. "I know you're here to offer some protection, but I doubt this will be necessary."

"I hope you're correct, but I'd prefer it if you didn't take any chances today."

"Do you suspect someone will try something?"

"Yes." The deviant detective confirmed as he held out the Kevlar vest to the two approaching leaders of New Jericho. The fact that he was willingly wearing body armor was a clear sign he was anticipating potential problems. "I don't want to risk your life over misplaced faith in humanity."

The look in Markus's mismatched eyes spoke more volumes than his words ever could. "That was really dark."

"My apologies, I assure I'm not trying to be cynical." Connor felt a twinge of shame as he watched as Markus held up the Kevlar in uncertainty. "But I refuse to allow my friend to be put in harm's way when I have the means of protecting him. Despite all of our efforts in maintaining equality between humans and deviants, there is still bigotry on both sides that can result in a violent confrontation."

North squeezed Markus's hand as she took the offered vest in her right hand and pressed it against Markus's chest. "He's right. If something happens to you then everything we've worked for will collapse. The inhabitants in the tower would want revenge."

Markus still had his doubts about the claims and even challenged North on the comment. "How can you be so sure that revenge would be the immediate reaction?"

"Because I would be the one to lead the charge. You know that."

"North," the look in Markus's eyes intensified as he turned to look at his bondmate. "you'd actually spill blood and risk war over one deviant's death?"

"Only if I had been driven to it. I won't start any fights but I sure as hell won't stand aside and watch as our people struggle to keep everything we've already worked so hard for in our power. I'm just stating facts, not spouting hate."

Connor spoke up in a somber voice as he addressed the deviant leader, his friend, with utmost respect. "Markus, we don't mean to be macabre or cruel with our concerns. We're just being realistic."

"Well, this isn't the kind of reality I want to accept." Reluctantly Markus slipped off his plain black button down dress shirt and placed the Kevlar vest over his bare chest and secured it into place. As he rebuttoned his shirt he gave Connor a stern, if not determined, look. "And I'll do everything I can to change it for the better of our people and for the humans who walk beside us."

Nodding in approval Connor accepted Markus's vow to keep the peace. "I trust you to keep your word."

As much as she hated to see Markus leave North knew that he had to go for the benefit of their people. "I hope you can." North kissed Markus on his lips and stepped back from him reluctantly as she slowly pulled her hands away from both sides of his face. "I'll be here waiting for you, so you better come back to me."

"I will, North." Markus reciprocated her kiss and pressed his forehead against her forehead affectionately. "I promise."

---

The drive to Hart Plaza was uneventful as Connor essentially chaperoned Markus as his lone passenger to the designated area inside the flashy Corvette. A large metal stage had been set up for the press conference in the middle of the plaza and a large ebony tinted podium was place in the center of the stage to allow Markus and the mayor to deliver speeches to the soon-to-be gathered crowd. The stage was set up in such a way that the speakers could face the crowd with their backs to the Detroit River flowing behind them. Several white news vans had already converged on the area and the media was setting up to get a clear view of the stage for when the conference began.

Connor parked the Corvette down the block from the plaza and turned off the engine as he took in the scene around him. Turning to look at the deviant leader sitting beside him in the front seat of the car Connor let out a tired breath but gave Markus a reassuring glance.

"I hope my pessimistic demeanor hasn't affected your decision to go through with this conference." Apologizing for his previously dark comment Connor tried to encourage Markus to continue with the conference. "I'm aware of how important this moment is for our people and for the future of our peoples' relationship with humans."

"It's fine, I get it." There was no offense in Markus's voice as he acknowledged Connor's apology. "You're just looking out for me, for all of us."

"Please refrain from removing the Kevlar vest. I myself am very familiar with how uncomfortable it can be," his hand absentmindedly began pulling against the strong strap of the vest over his shoulder and under his white dress shirt as he spoke. "but it'll make me feel less anxious to know you're adequately protected."

"Where are you going to be during the conference?"

"I will be on the stage near you the entire time. We have numerous patrols and drones in the area, as well as plain-clothed officers placed throughout the area to keep tabs on any and all suspicious behavior. If anything looks questionable I will be immediately informed and I will get you to safety if it becomes necessary."

"And where's this place of safety?"

"There is a hotel across from the plaza." Pointing to the location of interest through the driver's side window Connor made sure the fearless deviant leader knew where he could take shelter if it became necessary. "The second floor has been designated as a temporary shelter for police officers and guests at the conference alike. The only people permitted to have a room on that floor will either be members of the police department or from the conference. And everyone will be requested to remain inside a room on that floor until given the clear in the event of an incident."

"If I hear some gunshots I just need to run to the hotel?"

"Correct." Connor sighed again as he received a cybernetic update from the precinct. The conference was almost ready to begin and all requested officers were being assigned their patrols. "The hotel will go on lockdown and the police will keep the building secured."

"Now I'm kinda' glad that Simon and Josh left the city for a week." Markus admitted in a hushed tone. "The last thing we need is all of New Jericho's leaders getting holed up in a hotel because of a possible incident."

"The conference is scheduled to begin in one hour, four minutes and seventeen seconds. Would you like to go to the plaza now or wait here for a moment longer?"

"I'll go now." Making his decision Markus nodded at Connor confidently. "I won't show any fear or hesitation in this conference. If something does go wrong then I know you'll be there to watch my back and keep me safe."

"Just as you would do for me and anyone else who needed help."

"All right." Opening the door at his side Markus stepped outside the vehicle took in a deep breath. "Then let's go, my friend."

Mirroring Markus's actions Connor opened his door and walked with Markus to the plaza to prepare for the conference. "I'm right beside you."

---

Keeping close to Markus at all times Connor scanned the area holding the press conference and remained as vigilant as possible. Identifying the faces of the officers blending into the growing crowd of people before the stage, Connor noted their locations and determined that the area was properly secured from within the conference area. Glancing up at the windows of the tall buildings overlooking the plaza Connor could see the other officers scanning over the crowd with long range rifles in the event of an absolute emergency but the added security wasn't enough to placate his righteous concerns. The fact that so much security was being added only made him worry even more.

It was a day where Connor had a bad feeling. From his personal experiences he had learn to always trust those feelings, those gut instincts, and not try to ignore them.

"Hank." Connor closed his eyes as he cybernetically called to his superior officer, as well as his father, and continued to stand before the crowd warily. Speaking out loud was a means of feeling grounded despite the connection being cybernetic. "Markus is on the stage and we are waiting for the conference to begin. He's also wearing protective Kevlar vest and has been informed of the security of the hotel."

'Good work, kid.' Hank sounded calm and confident over the line. 'Just hold your ground and don't let Markus out of your sight for any reason. Where are the other leaders of the tower?'

"North has chosen to remain at the tower to lead from within. Simon and Josh are out of the city at the moment."

'That makes things simpler to handle. See anyone in the crowd that raises a red flag?'

"Negative." Connor opened his eyes and ran another scan but found no criminals with a history of violence aimed toward deviants or humans in the crowd. "I don't see anyone of interest at the moment beyond petty drug dealers and the usual pick-pockets."

'All right, good start. Let's hope it all ends peacefully.'

"Where is the mayor?"

'On his way right now. The royal kiss-ass wanted to get some candid shots of himself chatting with us "boys in blue" so the press has something to publish.'

"Who had the misfortune of talking to the mayor?"

'Chris and Jack. I'll give you one guess as to why.'

"The mayor seems fixated on the idea of a deviant and human police officer working together as a team. It's not exactly revolutionary anymore, and now it's a hollowed-out moment in history thanks to him utilizing the event to his personal advantage."

'Yup. Too bad his little charade is so damn transparent, huh?'

"Hank," Connor caught sight of the mayor's escort arriving along the block in a secured vehicle. There were security officers escorting the black limo to the plaza as the mayor prepared to make his 'grand entrance'. "the mayor has just arrived. The conference will begin soon."

'No problem. I'll be watching the news from the precinct. If you suspect anything amiss let me know right away and I'll dispatch another squad to your location. You have the emergency phone with you, right?'

"Yes, it's in my pocket to ensure we can communicate. I will remain in contact. Talk to you soon."

Markus put his hand on Connor's shoulder causing the deviant to look over at him with a calm stare. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I was merely updating Hank on the situation." Replying honestly Connor did his best to give Markus a sense of confidence. "The area is secured and patrol is in place, as is the mayor."

"Then let's get this taken care of as quickly and as peacefully as possible. We need to prove that deviants are worthy of the rights we've fought for and that we're not a threat to anyone."

"I agree entirely."

The mayor himself, Walter Nero, approached the stage with his personal security following close behind him. Nero was in his mid forties, a little short and slightly overweight. His light brown hair was thinning, his pale blue eyes were shallow and piercing and he had a long rat like nose that sat over his phony bleached smile.

Connor of course stood his ground beside Markus and refused to back away as he eyed the shallow mayor with a stern glare.

"Markus." Nero extended his right hand toward the deviant leader to shake. "I'm sorry we hadn't met sooner."

"Likewise." Returning the handshake Markus was painfully aware of the numerous photographers snapping photo after photo of the seemingly historic handshake. "I appreciate you agreeing to allow us deviants having a say at this press conference."

"Of course. We need to build bridges between our people, not put up fences, right?"

"Right. I couldn't agree more."

"And Connor- I'm sorry, Lieutenant Anderson," Nero turned to look at Connor and gave him the same insincere smile that he always flashed to the press. It was eerily reminiscent of the night that Connor and Hank had been promoted at city hall. "I was relieved to hear that you returned to the force after your brief respite. The city needs you."

"As do my friends." Connor sharply replied as he remained next to Markus. "I trust that this conference will be beneficial to both parties of the city; humans and deviants alike."

"Your trust has not been misplaced, Lieutenant. You have my word."

"...That is good to hear." Internally Connor sent a cybernetic message to Markus in order to keep himself from saying his next comment out loud. 'Unfortunately, his word amounts to nothing.'

'Easy, Connor.' Markus replied cybernetically as he gave Nero a reassuring nod. 'Why do you hate this guy?'

'I don't trust him.' Connor admitted as Nero walked away from Markus and began preening for the cameras before he took he place behind the podium. 'There is something unscrupulous about his demeanor that I cannot put my finger on. It's very shallow and dishonest.'

'Do you think he's a threat?'

'Unknown.'

'Well, I trust you.' Markus reaffirmed with a confident tone. 'So, we better play nice with the mayor to keep our people from feeling like outcasts.'

'Yes, of course. You're right.'

It appeared as though half of the city had shown up to attend the press conference as the mayor and leader of New Jericho prepared to address the crowd with a message of peace and hope for the future. A perfect blend of humans and deviants had intermingled within the mass of the gathered crowd before the stage; many of whom didn't even know they were standing beside their arguable 'opposite' as a majority of the deviants in the crowd had removed their L.E.D's and android unique clothing.

While police officers casually roamed through the crowd looking for any and all signs of potentially hostile behavior or provocation, the media snapped thousands of photos as if waiting for something; anything, to happen.

Connor had tuned out the mayor's monotonous speech as he stood on the stage and overlooked the crowd to ensure Markus's safety. The speech was simple enough to know anything and everything the mayor said was a hollow promise or merely a blatant attempt to gain favor with the voters. What he was saying wasn't important to Connor in any sense.

A thunderous applause drew Connor's attention back to the podium as Nero stepped aside and let Markus step up to begin his own speech regarding the future of deviants. It seemed almost poetic as Markus began to speak. The words of an artificially created being held more sincerity and truth than that of a man who had been born 'naturally'.

It was a strange truth to behold, but one that Connor didn't take lightly.

As Markus spoke Connor examined the crowd carefully and observed the behavior of those who were in attendance. No one seemed to be acting out of place or anxiously which would indicate a planned retaliation, which in itself was a positive sign. And yet Connor couldn't help but notice that Nero kept casually glancing over his right shoulder toward the opened water of the Detroit River behind the stage.

Curious about the behavior Connor sent a cybernetic update to Hank as he discreetly checked the water for himself with a thorough scan.

'Hank, I-'

It was then he saw a large boat on the water and the shining glint of a rifle's scope. It wasn't in the hands of a patrolling officer or private security. A quick facial scan, even from the distance, identified a professional hand for hire taking aim at the stage.

Taking aim at Markus.

"GUN!"

Reacting quickly Connor called out the danger and made a move toward the targeted deviant just as the sound of a gunshot rang out over the water.

The crowd screamed and began to scatter quickly as Connor tackled Markus down and out of the line of fire to surface of the stage. A sharp burning pain in Connor's right middle abdomen stole his breath as a second burning sensation shattered through his left forearm. As Connor panted to quickly to catch his breath he scanned the crowd for other shooters and kept his focus on keeping Markus safe. Partially laying over Markus's back to shield his friend from further harm Connor preconstructed an escape route to safety while he tuned out the chaotic scene taking place all around him.

Making his decision Connor prepared to run for cover and keep Markus alive.

"Markus!" Connor pushed himself up onto his knee long enough to pull his own gun from the holster around his back and under his blazer with his right hand as he used his pained left hand to pull Markus up to his feet by the deviant leader's bicep. "We need to move!"

The sound of gunfire filled the air as the police responded to the assault coming from the water with their own deafening shots. The boat sped off down the river but was quickly pursued by police drones and a helicopter overhead while other panicked people dispersed from the plaza en mass. Police officers issued commands to the fleeing public as they tried to reclaim control over the area and protect the very people who were panicking.

'Hank, shots have been fired.' Connor made a cybernetic call while directing Markus to the hotel to get to shelter. 'I'm taking Markus to safety.'

Using his left hand Connor pushed on Markus's shoulder to force the deviant leader to move to the appointed safe location of the hotel as quickly as possible. Once inside the front lobby of the building Connor directed Markus to a hidden secondary elevator used only for, and by, emergency personnel to reach the second floor where the secured rooms were located.

The elevator doors opened and shut quickly as Connor pushed Markus inside and out of sight.

Everything was happening so quickly and Markus was a little stunned and barely had time to react as Connor engaged the elevator to reach the second floor and to safety. "Connor, what's-"

"Move!"

The doors to the elevator opened back up once they reached the second floor and Connor resumed pushing Markus toward a room at the end of the hallway. Using his exposed palm Connor gained access to the room via electronic panel and forced Markus to step inside the room by pushing on his shoulder again. Slamming the door shut behind him Connor electronically locked the door and pressed his back up against the sealed door to catch his breath.

"Connor." Turning around to face his friend Markus asked for answered. "What just happened out there?"

"...There was a shooter out on the water." The deviant detective wheezed as he locked eyes with Markus, his gun slipping back into the holster beneath his blazer. "H-He was aiming at you."

"What the hell?" The revelation visibly shook Markus to his core. Rubbing his hand along the back of his neck anxiously Markus let out a slow breath and pressed for more answers. "Why? This was a peaceful gathering."

"I don't..." Connor wheezed again as he pressed his right hand against his bloodied right side of his abdomen. "I don't... know."

"Connor!" As soon as Markus saw the blue blood saturated wound he rushed over to his friend's side and pulled back the gray fabric of Connor's blazer to get a better look. Through the hole torn through the fabric of the white dress shirt beneath Markus saw the catastrophically damaged Kevlar vest beneath and his own blood ran cold. "You were wearing a vest, how are you-"

"Ar-Armor piercing rounds." Slowly his legs buckled beneath him and Connor slid down the door leaving a dark blue smear of blood behind him on the surface as he collapsed onto the floor and gasped for breath. "They were... shooting to kill."

"Shit, how do I help you?" Kneeling down in front of Connor the deviant leader pressed his left hand to the source of the bleeding and in turn Connor groaned in pain. "Connor? How do I get you some help?"

"N-Need to contact... Hank. L-Let him know... we're safe."

"How?"

"I can't..." A thin trail of blue blood oozed from the right corner of his mouth and down his jawline toward his neck. "My ability to use... cybernetic communication was... severed beyond my immediate... vicinity. I don't know if he-"

"Okay, I'll find a way to reach Hank. Don't talk for a moment."

Grabbing onto Connor's left bicep, additional blood saturated the forearm from the second bullet wound and quickly soaking into Markus's shirt as Markus pulled the limb around his shoulders, the deviant leader lifted his injured friend up from the floor and carried him over to the nearby bed to rest. Helping Connor to lay flat on the bed on his back with his head against the pillow Markus then lifted up the wounded deviant's legs up and over the edge of the bed to let Connor lay straight, and then pulled open the blood soaked dress shirt over Connor's chest and abdomen.

"I need you to stay conscious, okay?" Markus kept his voice level and firm as he spoke to his wounded friend. "You're losing a lot of blood and I don't have the supplies to take care of you."

"I'll stay... awake."

"Good." Taking hold of the securing straps to the Kevlar vest around Connor's chest Markus held his breath and prepared to tear the vest open. "This might hurt, so bear with me."

"...Al-Already hurts." Connor managed a weak laugh as he swallowed nervously. More blood oozed out of his mouth as he spoke. "Do it."

"Okay. Hold on." Markus removed the securing straps of the vest and the black damaged Kevlar fell away from Connor's chest easily. As the vest released its pressure over the injured deviant's torso a gush of blue blood erupted from the wound and soaked into the gray quilt over the bed that was beneath Connor's weakened body. "Oh, shit..."

Connor breathed slowly and deeply as he fought through the pain. A hole the size of a baseball in his lower right abdomen poured blue blood through torn Thirium lines and his damaged analysis filter. Faint blue sparks illuminated the interior of the wound that passed clean through Connor's abdomen and into his back. The second bullet to Connor's left forearm had shattered his wrist and compromised the forearm in general with a dozen fractures that made his arm to unstable to move.

"...It's bad, isn't it?" Connor needlessly asked as he ran a self diagnostic and was met with over a dozen different errors. "I-I can't... tell."

"I need to contact help." Markus quickly deflected the question to keep Connor somewhat distracted from his wounds. "How do I do that?"

Pressing his right hand down against his right side Connor breathed through his clenched teeth and nodded at the right pocket of his blood soaked gray blazer that was barely keeping him warm. "...Phone. Call Hank."

"Okay, yeah." Reaching into the pocket Markus retrieved the emergency phone and found Hank's number. As he pressed 'dial' Markus listened to the sound of Connor's labored breathing and pressed his left hand down over the deviant's chest to keep track of his heartbeat. The line only rang once before Hank answered the call. "Hank, it's Markus. I'm with Connor and he's hurt. We're-"

Connor quickly grabbed the phone from Markus's hand with his right blood covered and spoke to Hank directly. "...Hank, the room has been compromised. We're currently taking... shelter," glancing over to the window overlooking a nearby parking garage Connor licked his bloodied lips and spoke again. "at the West end of the parking garage. Section 2-A."

'...All right, kid. Hang tight.' Hank's voice was level but he was shaking inside. 'We'll get to you as soon as possible.'

"I know you will. B-Be careful." Ending the call Connor placed the phone down on the bed beside him and took in a wheezing breath. "...He knows what to do."

"What was that about?" Markus was thoroughly confused by Connor's conversation. "We made it to the hotel, why'd you tell him to go to the parking garage?"

"...I can't use my... cybernetic communications, which means I can't... guarantee a secured line. Y-You were targeted, Markus. There could be... more than one shooter in the area. If they know you're h-here... and I'm injured... I won't be able to protect you."

"Section 2-A?"

"That's our... room number. And we're overlooking the... West end of the garage. Hank knows we're here and... patrol will be circling the block." Connor explained in a logical manner. "If anyone was... listening to the... call they'll be inside the garage... not in the... hotel to look for us."

"And you didn't tell Hank you were hurt because it could've drawn in another attempt at my life."

"Y-Yes." Wincing and sucking in a deep breath Connor tried to focus on anything but the pain in his side as his right hand returned to his devastating wound. "The safest thing f-for you to do is... lay low."

Pressing his own hand down against Connor's abdomen Markus examined the damage more closely with a thick grimace on his face as he lightly pushed Connor's hand away. The damage was substantial and couldn't be repaired without tools and proper replacement parts from a facility. Until Connor could be taken to such a facility the best that Markus could do was pack off the wound to stem the bleeding and stall for time.

"Connor?" Stepping away from his injured friend just long enough to get some clean towels from the bathroom Markus returned to the bed and pressed a white towel down inside the wound and did so as gently as possible. The motion was met with a low groan of pain from Connor as the towel was pressed into the raw, bleeding wound and quickly stained blue. "Can you run a self diagnostic for me?"

Briefly Connor's glassy eyes fluttered shut as he performed the diagnostic and confirmed the damage. "...Biocomponent f8004 d-destroyed. Replacement required." Taking a shallow breath the deviant continued and tried to keep his eyes focused on Markus. "A-And biocomponent v8001 has b-been compromised, biocomponent s8001 is a-also compromised; both require repairs."

"What's your Thirium volume?"

"...D-Down to seventy-four percent."

"Did the precinct place any emergency supplies anywhere on this floor that we can use?"

Connor's eyes began to glaze over further and his eyelids became heavier. "...Ch-Check under the bed."

"Under the bed?" Placing Connor's right hand atop the towel to hold the pressure Markus searched for the supplies. "All right." Kneeling down quickly Markus looked under the bed and found a large plastic android emergency first aid kit as well as a massive human first aid it tucked beneath. Pulling the android kit out and placing it on the edge of the bed next to Connor's legs, Markus threw open the lid and looked inside. "Blue blood, incrassation compound, bandages and one radio. Can we use the radio to call for help?"

"...D-Don't give away our position."

"Okay. We'll just listen to the broadcasts for now." Setting up the radio on the nightstand beside the bed Markus found the appropriate police broadcast and waited for any reports that were relevant to either Connor or to himself. It was a garble of static and voices that both deviants tuned out easily. "How long until we know if it's safe to move?"

The wounded deviant didn't respond as he pressed his hand down as firmly as he could over his abdomen in utter pain.

"Connor?" Lightly Markus pressed his palm against the side of Connor's neck and then up to the side of his face. His artificial skin felt cooler than normal and his teeth were beginning to chatter from the cold overtaking his systems. "Shit, you're shivering. You're going into insipid shock."

"I'll be fine, M-Markus. Just k-keep the wound... c-covered." Breathing deeply and rapidly Connor had to fight to speak as the pain threatened to steal his voice and darkness began encroaching on his vision. "We... won't b-be here for too l-long."

"You need to sit up so I can get off your jacket and your shirt." Checking over the bandages in the first aid kit Markus set about doing whatever he could to save his friend's life. "I'll help you until technicians can get here, okay?"

Allowing Markus to pull him gently up into a sitting position Connor braced himself upright with his right arm and waited for Markus to gently pull down the gray blazer and slip the bloodied dress shirt from his shoulders. Removing the leather holster from Connor's back and shoulder gave Markus access to the weapon in the event of an emergency situation.

An emergency situation he hoped he'd never have to handle.

Blue blood stained Connor's right side entirely and was showing little sign of stopping on its own. As the bullet wound continued to leak blue blood Connor's strength began to ebb away and his body began to tremble from weakness and from cold.

"Try to stay as still as possible, I'll be quick." Tending to the devastating wound with the orange incrassation compound first Markus tried to speak with Connor to help distract the deviant from the severity of the pain that he was surely experiencing as the orange liquid stung his wounds. "Do you know who tried to shoot me?"

"H-He was a notorious-" Hissing as the compound touched the wound Connor sucked in another breath between his clenched teeth and tried to continue his explanation. "...gun for h-hire. The odds of h-him having a personal v-vendetta against you... are l-low. I believe he t-took the shot because... he w-was hired by N-Nero."

"Nero? The mayor?!" Markus's hands froze over the wound for a moment as he listened to what Connor had said. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Unf-fortunately, I do."

"What makes you say that?"

"The c-conference was designated in the p-plaza by... the mayor himself." Closing his eyes Connor focused his thoughts as Markus packed gauze into the wound and began to wrap up the injury as best as he could. "The plaza... would surely p-provoke a violent response b-because of the role it p-played in the Revolution. And w-when you were giving... your speech the m-mayor kept looking over his shoulder to the w-water. H-He knew what w-was going to happen."

"I can't believe that."

"I know... what I s-saw. But I d-do hope I'm wrong."

"Can you drink any Thririum?" Opening up one of the two emergency pouches from the kit Markus tried to offer it to Connor who barely acknowledged it. "Or do I need to open a line in your arm?"

"My artificial s-stomach... is damaged. I can't... drink anything."

"Okay. Line it is." Helping Connor to lay back down on the bed Markus carefully exposed the line in the bend of Connor's undamaged right arm and attached the pouch with a transfusion line that was stored along with the pouches. Once the pouch and secondary line were connected Markus squeezed the pouch twice to cause the blue blood to flow down the line and into Connor's arm. "How's your self healing program functioning?"

"...It's not."

The comment made Markus's mismatched eyes flash with righteous concern. "What?"

"...The damage is too s-severe and I've l-lost too much blood. The p-program cannot... initiate b-because it can't assess a-and prioritize the d-damage." A faint blue blood stained smirk appeared on Connor's face and disappeared quickly. "The p-perks of b-being a prototype, I guess."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Just stay still." Securing the pouch to the nearby lamp to let gravity assist in the blood transfusion Markus turned his attention to Connor's damaged left forearm to be properly cleaned and then wrapped up as well. "I'll wrap up your arm to make sure you're not bleeding anymore. I also want to contact North just to let her know that we're safe."

"Y-Yes." Watching as Markus sat down on the left side of the bed to tend to his wounded arm Connor let his eyes close and he gave way to the relentless fatigue that was overwhelming his mind. "...Of course."

---

Patrol circled around the block where the hotel was located in search of the shooter or any other violent individual in the area while helicopters circled in the sky overhead. Numerous police officers and drones combed through the parking garage and over the plaza in search of any other armed gunmen in the vicinity, and Hank had to force himself to walk past the hotel where he knew Connor and Markus were already secured and waiting for assistance. The dedicated Captain continued to aid in the search in the parking garage for any potential shooters who were combing the plaza, completely unaware that Connor had been injured in the line of duty while protecting Markus.

Gavin took the lead on the search through the garage and had witnessed movement on the second level of the garage where Connor had surely lured other gunmen who were still searching for Markus. Positioning the other officers accordingly to cut-off any possible retreat and evacuate innocent civilians from the immediate area, the experienced Sergeant was preparing for the worst case scenario.

"What've you got, Gavin?" Hank asked as he joined the Sergeant just outside the garage and spoke to him in a low voice. "Anything worth mentioning?"

"Two people up on the second floor. Both are armed with no I.D. to confirm them as cops or the mayor's private security."

"Is there any suspicious activity at the designated shelter?"

"Negative. Chris didn't see anything and he's holding his position across the street in his unmarked car."

"Good. The shooter on the water has been apprehended." Confirming the arrest Hank pulled his phone from his pocket to check for any additional messages from Connor or Markus, but there was nothing on the display. "The dumb-fuck tried to hole himself up at the docks with only one gun and a dozen pissed off cops surrounding him. It didn't take long to bring him down."

"Any name to go with his smug face?"

"Yeah. Roland O'Leary. Former marine, dishonorably discharged and arrested for physically assaulting his C.O. and his ex-wife. After he was discharged and released from prison he became an unlicensed bounty hunter and a wannabe assassin."

An update on their radios informed the two officers outside that the two suspects in the garage had been pinned down and isolated. Back-up was requested to escort them outside without causing any further incident.

Gavin checked his weapon for any sign of possible failure and made his way inside the garage only to look back at Hank over his shoulder right. "You comin' Cap'?"

Unholstering his own gun from his right hip Hank followed right at Gavin's side left side to locate the violent suspects. "Wouldn't miss the chance to bring in a couple of dumb hitmen for the world. Let's go!"

---

Cybernetically Markus finished speaking with North to let her know that he was unharmed and safe, and was now standing near the hotel window keeping out of the line of sight of potential passersby as he watched over the parking garage. From the distance he noted that he could see Hank walking into the garage with his gun drawn before him confirming that someone of interest was inside the structure. Stepping back from the window he casually drew the curtains to cover up the glass and keep anyone from looking into the second floor room strictly as a precaution. It was his current priority to keep a low profile and keep Connor alive.

The deviant detective was still bleeding despite the towel packing off his abdominal wound. Doing his best to preserve his energy Connor refrained from cybernetically monitoring police broadcasts, but his instincts were compelling him to remain on alert.

"Looks like the garage is being searched. I guess that-" Turning to look at Connor over his shoulder Markus saw that the stubborn deviant was somehow standing up on his shaking legs and walking over to the locked door of the room. The pouch of blue blood was still attached to his right arm and gripped in his right hand. "Connor! You can't be moving around with that kind of an injury." Walking up to his friend Markus put his hand to Connor's shoulder and could feel the wounded deviant trembling where he stood. "Lay back down."

"...I can hear s-someone walking around outside the d-door." Pressing his free palm against the bloodied door Connor peered through the peephole and looked at the hallway on the other side. "...It's not housekeeping o-or another occupant of the f-floor. W-W should be the only o-ones here."

"Lay down." Lightly pulling on Connor's shoulder Markus guided Connor away from the door and supported most of the injured deviant's weight as he escorted him back to the bed. "You've lost too much Thirium to be moving around. Rest."

"I have t-to protect you."

"You did." Helping Connor to lay back down on the bed Markus positioned a pillow against the deviant's lower back to apply gentle pressure to the bandages around his torso to help stem the residual bleeding beneath. Taking the half empty pouch of blue blood from Connor's hand Markus placed it up against the lamp again to ensure gravity was working in Connor's favor. "I'm safe. Now it's my turn to protect you."

"I'm o-okay."

"You're still shivering."

"You're s-still a target."

"Not in here I'm not." Moving his fingertips over to the side of Connor's neck again Markus could feel that the deviant was still very cold and could feel his unique pulse point thundering under his touch. "I'll get you a blanket from the closet."

"W-What I said earlier," Connor watched as Markus pulled open the large closet on the wall next to the bathroom and found a spare chocolate brown blanket neatly folded up inside. Fumbling with his right hand Connor managed to locate his coin in his jean pocket and held it in a shaking, bloodied fist. "about a m-misguided faith in h-humanity, I wasn't t-trying to be morbid. I was-"

"I know. If you actually mistrusted all humans you wouldn't be friends with Hank or working with them at the precinct." Carefully Markus draped the blanket over Connor and sat down on the edge of the bed beside him to keep track of his vitals. "You were just focused on your assignment."

"...No. I was l-looking out for my friend."

"Thank you." Feeling on edge and needing more answers as to why someone opened fire on the peaceful press conference, Markus dared to ask a very important and controversial question. "Do you really think that Nero tried to have me killed?"

Closing his tired eyes Connor let out a weary sigh and subtly nodded his head. "That's the only th-theory that makes s-sense." Clumsily Connor tried to roll his coin over his right knuckles, but his shaking hand made the usually seamless effort a clumsy endeavor. "...At least it d-does for now."

The radio crackled to life on the nightstand as another update on the situation was broadcasted to those listening in. Two armed men were located in the parking garage across the street and were now in custody. Markus nodded at the radio and addressed Connor. "Sounds like the cops found more shooters."

"...Markus. The door."

"What about it?"

"I can still hear s-someone walking down the h-hallway." Opening his glassy eyes Connor weakly pointed to the front door with his right index finger as he slipped the coin into his palm to be clutched tightly by his other fingers. "...No one sh-should be on this floor besides us."

"I'll look through the peephole to check, but I won't step outside the door."

Nodding weakly Connor opened his eyes and watched as Markus crept silently toward the door and used the peephole to his advantage.

Peering through the small peephole with his green eye Markus took in the sight of the person shuffling about outside the door. A lone figure dressed in all black skulked up and down the long corridor as if looking for something or someone. The figure had a masculine build, a heavy black coat that covered up his black shirt and dark blue jeans and he had the collar of the coat pulled up high enough to partially cover his face while keeping his eyes unobstructed. The figure was also wearing black leather gloves and black hat to try to keep his hands and his overall identity protected as much as possible.

Door by door the figure would knock softly as if trying to locate someone without drawing any unwanted attention. But the glint of the handgun holstered at his right hip was enough to tell Markus to not open the door under any circumstance, regardless of who the man was or what he might want.

Thinking quickly Markus crept away from the door quietly and grabbed onto the police radio sitting on the nightstand. Turning it off to keep any and all possible sound to a minimum he spoke to Connor cybernetically rather than verbally. 'Connor, can you hear my voice?'

'...Barely.' Connor's voice wasn't hindered by the shivering when speaking cybernetically, yet he sounded just as weak. 'Even with our close proximity it's a strain on my processor.'

'I'm sorry, but this is the safest way to communicate.' Markus watched Connor's fatigued demeanor carefully as the pouch of Thirium drained quickly down the line and into Connor's arm. 'You were right. There is someone stalking the halls and he is armed.'

'Shit. I cannot send Hank a message with my power level so low. You'll have to do it.'

'Okay. What do I say to him?'

'Tell him there is an unknown armed male trespassing in the hotel on the second floor. He'll find us.'

'Stay awake for me and I'll send the message.'

Nodding again Connor took in a very slow but deep breath as he transfixed his blurry gaze up at the blank ceiling above him.

Markus turned his back to Connor and peeled back the dark gray curtain over the window just enough to view the parking garage across the street. The deviant leader wasn't a technician but he had aided so many damaged androids in the past that he knew when an android was in dire need of emergency repairs. The extreme Thirium loss, total destruction of one biocomponent and two other biocomponents being compromised had left Connor too weak and too vulnerable to heal by himself, let alone defend himself.

The two deviants were stranded and vulnerable with a hostile man stalking the halls just feet away from where they were holed up.

'I'll get Hank here as quickly as possible.' The deviant leader promised as he remained vigilant for other possible hostile activity. 'Just hang on for me.'

---

Remaining in control of the bizarre situation at hand through his rank and experience, Hank led the way out of the garage. He and Gavin escorted one of the arrested would-be shooters out of the parking garage, while Chris and Tina escorted the second shooter out just behind them. Four patrol cars and six police drones had converged on the parking garage and were now sweeping the area for any other potential threats skulking about while the confirmed suspects were taken into custody. No one else was around during the chaos and it seemed in that moment there were officially more cops than there were everyday citizens in all of Detroit.

As the four detectives escorted the two arrested shooters to the nearby squad cars for transport Markus was watching from the hotel room from above as he sent a message to Hank's phone informing him of the remaining danger just a few yards away. It was the only way to communicate without giving away his and Connor's current position.

"You two dumb-fucks have the right to remain silent." Hank stated bitterly as he watched Gavin push the shooter into the opened back door to the squad car's backseats. "I suggest you exercise that right and save us all a nasty headache and a bunch of paperwork later on."

As his phone 'buzzed' in his pocket Hank grabbed on to it and stepped away from the car to check the message. Reading the warning and the request for assistance from Markus made Hank stop dead in his tracks as a pit of dread formed in his stomach. "...Shit."

Resisting the urge to look up at the hotel behind him Hank sent a reply asking Markus to remain as quiet as possible in the room and to not open that door until Hank had given him the word.

"Sergeant Reed." Hank didn't look back as he called over the detective to join him a few feet from the squad car. "We have another situation."

"What now?" Complaining as he walked rapidly Gavin stood beside Hank on the sidewalk after he pushed the first arrested shooter into the backseat of the squad car. "Did 'Mayor-Dumbass' call a damn press conference in front of his safehouse or some shit?"

"Gavin, there's another shooter in the area." Pocketing his phone Hank gave the Sergeant a very stern stare that spoke volumes of the severity of the situation. "This isn't over yet. Stay alert and listen to me very carefully."

---

Damaged, weak and still bleeding despite the treatment to his wound, Connor wheezed hoarsely as he fought to breathe with his only one fully functioning ventilation biocomponent. Markus turned away from the window and pressed his fingertips against Connor's right temple to try and connect with his system on a cybernetic level to check on his overall stability and to allow Connor to preserve his waning energy. The bleeding had nearly stopped entirely, but Connor's Thirium volume was still dangerously low due to the leaking lines despite the replenishment. Hovering at roughly fifty-two percent Connor was in desperate need of an additional transfusion.

Markus eyed the remaining supplies with a keen eye as he tried to find the best way to conserve the technical items for as long as possible. They only had one of each first aid kit and no way to replenish what they used.

'I'm going to go ahead and give you the second unit of Thirium.' Remaining quiet with a cybernetic conversation Markus carefully switched the now empty Thirium pouch with the second full pouch from the first aid kit. 'Can you tell me how you're feeling?'

'...My head is hurting.' The damaged deviant confessed as he watched Markus moving about around him to take care of his wounds. As Markus switched out the two units of blue blood Connor's exhausted soulful brown eyes shut tightly and he gritted his teeth and sucked in a quiet, pained breath. '...I believe the low Thirium volume is responsible for my discomfort. What of the man outside?'

'I told Hank what's happening. He's going to initiate a discreet response to keep the violence to a minimum.'

'That won't be easy to accomplish.' Slowly Connor danced his coin over his right hand as Markus finished changing the Thirium pouches. 'Regardless of what happens today please promise me that you'll remain a peaceful, unbiased leader. Do not let this day end in blood and infamy against our people.'

'Don't talk like that.' Putting his hand down on Connor's shoulder Markus's mismatched eyes studied his wounded friend as if seeking a clue to a great mystery. 'It sounds like you're saying 'goodbye'.'

'...As I stated before, I am being merely being realistic. The damage to my systems has been catastrophic. I cannot heal and my processor is... overwhelmed.'

'You'll be okay. Help is coming.'

'In the event that I-'

'Connor. You're NOT going to shutdown. Stop talking like that.'

'If something does happens and I cannot recover,' Connor paused as he struggled to put his thoughts together and his soulful brown eyes returned. 'I need you to promise that you will check in on Hank from time to time. He's a good person and needs to know it's okay to be happy. And look after Aria - Abby's daughter, she is my goddaughter, and I want her to grow up knowing that she is safe and protected.'

'Connor, stop. You're-'

'...And there is something you need to know about CyberLife. Something I discovered while in Miami. Something-'

'Please! Please stop talking like this...' Shaking Connor's shoulder lightly with his hand Markus stared at Connor's unusually dim eyes. The bright alertness that shone through his soulful brown irises had been replaced by weakness and pain, something so foreign to Connor's personality it seemed like something impossible had just happened. 'I won't let you shutdown, all right? And after you're all patched up you can tell me about what you saw in Miami. I want to know, but I won't let it be the last thing you say to me.'

'You're a good friend, Markus. I'm glad you and I had the chance to meet. Even if our introduction was set in motion by rather grim events.'

'Please, I'm not going to-' A loud knocking at the hotel room door made Markus whip his head around to look at the sound and he immediately froze. There wasn't any further update from Hank and he knew to not open the door until the detective gave him the clear. 'Shit.'

Connor's dull eyes shifted toward the closed door and remained transfixed as he waited for whatever was going to happen next.

A second knock followed by an unfamiliar masculine voice called out through the closed door to the silent occupants within the room. "Hello? I'm looking for Markus Manfred. My name is Arnold Cross, I work for the F.B.I. and I'm here to help you."

'How does he know we're in this room?'

'...My blood.' The deviant sighed weakly as if ashamed of himself while his eyes trailed to the blue stain on the carpet in front of the door. 'It pooled under the door. I'm sorry.'

'It's not your fault. I just need to know if he's legit or if it's a trick.' Markus didn't need to look back to Connor to know that the deviant detective was already cybernetically attempting to identify the man's name and credentials. 'Anything pop up on this guy?'

'There is... I don't recognize the name. I worked with an F.B.I. agent recently but that wasn't his name.'

'It's okay. I'll send another message to Hank to let him know what's happening.'

'Keep away from-' Another wave of pain through his head and his abdomen stole Connor's voice as became too distracted to communicate. Sucking in a pained breath between his teeth Connor resisted the urge to gasp in pain. '...the door.'

'Hold on. Hank's on his way.'

'Markus... I...'

'Hold on for me, we'll get out of here soon.'

The knocking on the door became louder, more aggressive, as the unknown man became more insistent. "I won't ask again, open up."

Reacting to the danger as anyone would Markus grabbed Connor's gun that had been left on the bed next to the damaged deviant and checked the clip. It was full, the gun was loaded and ready for use. 'I don't want to hurt anyone.'

'...Then don't.'

'Connor?' Turning to look at his wounded friend laying on the bed Markus felt his heart skip a beat as Connor's eyes fell shut and his right hand struggling to dance his coin suddenly fell limp. As the coin fell to the carpeted floor on its side it rolled a few inches before it slowly fell and came to a rest tails up at Markus's feet. 'Shit... Connor.'

The knob on the door began to rattle as the man outside tried to force the door open. The electronic panel had secured the room against any form of intrusion, but if the man was persistent enough he'd be able to break the door down.

With his right hand Markus held the gun in a tight grip, the barrel lowered toward the floor unless he needed to aim at the door. Using his left hand he pressed his fingertips to the side of Connor's neck and registered a weak pulse and a nearly absent ventilation rate.

Sending another message to Hank through silent cybernetic communication he informed the senior detective of the gravity of the situation. Between the unknown man's attempts to break in to the room and Connor's failing strength, time was of the crucial essence. Kneeling down on the floor beside the bed Markus picked up Connor's coin with his left hand and took aim at the door.

A strong kick against the door just below the knob nearly broke the lock from the door's frame, when suddenly a familiar and loud gruff voice shouted from the middle of the corridor toward the source of the commotion stopped the near break-in before a second kick could be landed.

"DROP THE GUN." Hank had arrived just in time and had located the man attempting to break in to the hotel room. "DETROIT POLICE. PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD, NOW."

"...Hear that?"

Markus asked with a heavy sigh as he dropped the gun on the floor, relief washing over his person as he realized he wouldn't need to use the weapon.

"Hank is here. It's almost over."

The sound of a failed flee attempt echoed loudly through the hallway and took place right outside the partially broken down door. While awaiting Hank's word Markus stood up and pulled back the blanket from Connor's form to check his friend's wound again. The bleeding had stopped entirely and the second replacement pouch of Thirium had been finished off thanks to Connor's volume being so critically low.

As the kind deviant leader removed the transfusion line from Connor's right arm and closed the panel Markus heard a small electronic sound escape Connor's lips despite being unconscious.

"Connor?"

Moving his right hand up to press against the left side of Connor's neck Markus nearly jumped through the roof when Connor's body suddenly went rigid and he became lost in the throes of a seizure.

"C-CONNOR?!"

Remembering the proper protocol for assisting anyone suffering from convulsions through the emergency training he had downloaded when he began his life as Carl's personal caretaker and adopted son, Markus pinned Connor's shoulders down against the bed to hold him as still as possible without injuring the deviant's neck in the process.

"Connor?" Holding down the seizing deviant as best as he could Markus remained calm and spoke to his friend in a level voice. "I know you can hear me. You're going to be okay. This is just a little setback, you'll be just fine."

"Get his ass outta' here!" Hank's voice boomed through the door just a few seconds before he used an electronic keycard to gain access to the room. As the damaged door creaked opened he was greeted by the sight of Connor convulsing on the bed with Markus hovering over him. "Oh, shit! Connor?"

"He just began seizing twelve seconds ago." Markus stated as Hank rushed into the room. "He didn't suffer a head injury, so I think the seizure is being caused by-"

"I don't care why he's seizing!" Joining Markus at the bed Hank grabbed onto the deviant's legs to help hold him as steady as possible on the bed. "How do we make it stop?"

"I don't know. I can't connect to his processor to discover the source of the malfunction."

"Fuck!" Pulling the radio from his belt Hank barked another order to the other officers in the lobby of the hotel. "We need a technician in room 2-A right now. Officer down, I repeat; officer down!"

Connor suddenly stopped seizing and his body became eerily still. Markus let go of the deviant's shoulders long enough to check his pulse and his breathing, both were present but weak, rapid and shallow.

"He's still online." Markus stated as he carefully straightened Connor's neck and lowered his jaw to make sure there wasn't any bloody froth collecting in his mouth or the back of his throat. "No ventilation distress."

Hank was staring at the thick white bandages wrapped around Connor's abdomen and shook his head. "Fuck, how bad is the damage?"

"His analysis filter was completely destroyed, his right ventilation biocomponent was damaged and so was his artificial stomach."

"Son of a... He just had that damn filter replaced!" Grabbing onto Connor's wrapped left arm for himself Hank checked the deviant's radial pulse and was alarmed at the rapid threadiness beneath his fingertips. "There's an ambulance out front already. Where do we take Connor for treatment?"

"To the nearest facility. He can't waste any time or be picky right now."

"Good thing he's already unconscious..." Pulling Connor's left arm a little harder Hank managed to pull Connor into an upright sitting position just long enough for Markus to slip his arms beneath Connor's shoulders and around his upper back. Scooping the deviant up from the bed Markus held his friend tightly in his grip while Hank continued to maintain control over the situation. "Otherwise he'd be fighting you every step of the way."

Picking up Connor's service weapon from the floor beside the bed Hank eyed the blue blood staining the grip and winced as he slipped the gun into his own coat pocket for safekeeping. It hadn't been fired. Connor had been shot and never got the chance to get a shot off to protect himself in the process.

"Let's go." Motioning to the opened door of the hotel room Hank walked ahead of Markus as the deviant leader carried Connor in his arms to ensure both deviants were still safe. Gavin had the fake agent pinned against the wall and was reading him his rights as the three occupants of the room took their leave to get Connor some help. "The sooner you two are moved from the area the better."

---

The android unique ambulance was escorted to the closest Android Emergency Care Facility by two patrol cars, one in the front and the second in the back of the emergency vehicle, as Connor was sped off to receive emergency repairs. Connor had been loaded into the back of the vehicle and his condition was being assessed by two Emergency Field Technicians who had treated Connor before, while Markus rode in back alongside him and Hank rode in the front cab of the ambulance. Without ever regaining consciousness Connor was completely unaware of his current location or what was happening all around him as his condition continued to deteriorate.

The sound of the screeching sirens and the flashing emergency lights conveyed the seriousness of the situation. With the streets cleared the ambulance was free to drive as quickly as deemed necessary.

"His volume is too low." The female technician, Dixie, checked Connor's Thirium pressure with a cuff wrapped around his right bicep and gave her male partner, Johnny, a wary glance. "But his pressure is through the roof. One-hundred and fifty over one-hundred. His core temperature is rising due to his weak ventilation rate. He's going to need Thirium and cooling measures if we're going to keep his processor from burning out."

"I'm having difficulty getting a consistent cybernetic connection." Removing the connected cable from Connor's right temple Johnny focused primarily on the Thirial activity monitor displaying Connor's Thirium pump rate, Thirium volume, Thirium pressure and core temperature. "Pump rate is holding at one-hundred and eight, his temperature is up to one-hundred and seven point three degrees; and still rising."

Markus just ran his hand over his face as he watched his friend laying so still, so weak, on the gurney next to him. "Connor, please hold on. If you're right about this whole mess, if you're right about the attack, I want you to be the one to arrest that sneaky bastard. You saved my life and you have so many more lives that still need your protection. Remember Aria? She still needs you, too!"

The ambulance came to a gentle stop outside the front entrance to the Zeta Facility and the rear doors were pulled open by the attending technical staff awaiting their arrival. Three officers escorted the lowered gurney inside the facility while keeping tabs on Markus out of still present safety concerns. As far as anyone knew Markus was still being targeted and was still in mortal danger.

Connor was wheeled into the facility and promptly taken to the back to undergo his life saving emergency repairs in the facility's emergency repair bay. The damage was extensive and would take time to repair, but as long as long as the technicians were quick Connor would pull through.

Hank followed behind Markus and promptly grabbed on to the deviant leader's shoulder as they entered the waiting room to talk to him with a controlled anger in his voice. "Markus, what the fuck happened?"

"There was a shooter on the water. Connor saw them and pushed me out of the way. He ended up taking the bullet..." Markus pressed his blue blood covered hand over his chest to feel the Kevlar vest he was still wearing, and felt the full gravity of the situation. If it wasn't for Connor's quick reaction he very well could've died even with the bulletproof vest. "It was an armor piercing round."

"That much I know. But how in the hell did that guy know where you were hiding?"

"The man started checking out the floor and all of the doors. When he saw Connor's blood under the door he found us."

"But how did he know to go to the second floor of the hotel?"

"...I don't know. I didn't see him at the press conference and Connor didn't recognize him either."

"Fuck. All right, stay here and keep your vest on. I know it may not do much to protect you, but it'll give me some peace of mind."

The order made Markus's mismatched eyes looked to Hank as if needing to clarify what he just heard. "You're not staying?"

"...I can't." Hank openly lamented as he looked at the double sliding doors where Connor had been wheeled away. "I have to get back to the precinct and figure this shit out. You stay right here and keep me up to date on Connor's condition."

"I won't go anywhere." Determined to stay at his friend's side Markus swore he'd stay with Connor until the deviant was awake and the shooter's motivation was finally uncovered. His hand tightened around the quarter still in his possession as if that'd somehow be enough to keep his friend from shutting down. "Not until we know what's happening."

---

As Connor was prepped for emergency repairs in the well stocked bay, the bandages wrapped over his abdomen were cut away by careful hands to expose the severity of the damage beneath. With the removed bandages the full severity of the situation was undeniable to those who were preparing to save the wounded deviant's life. The hands that were now checking over every little bit of damage to Connor's body belonged to that of Abby, the skilled technician who had saved Connor's life multiple times in the past and had befriended the kind deviant after meeting him so many times and sharing some unexpectedly bonding moments together.

Having returned to work full-time as a technician after her five month maternity leave Abby was anxious to resume treating deviants. But the last thing she wanted to do upon her return was fight to keep someone who had become a very good friend and godfather to her daughter from succumbing to his injuries.

"Damn it. You wore a vest and you still took a bullet."

Abby whispered as she fussed over the unconscious deviant. As she worked Barry assisted her every step of the way and did everything in his power to keep Connor stable.

"Check for another analysis filter and any spare parts to replace his other biocomponents. The filter is not vital, so don't prioritize it over his ventilation biocomponent or his artificial stomach."

"Of course. I will also retrieve four pints of Thirium to replace what he's lost."

"Good work, Barry."

Alone with Connor as she prepared to begin the grueling task of repairing the damage he had sustained Abby ran her right hand through his hair and spoke to him in a soft whisper.

"Come on, Connor. Don't let your processor go offline, hang on for me."

Attaching the leads to her stationary Thirial activity monitor to Connor's bloodied chest Abby noted Connor's incredibly weak vital signs and felt a cold dread creep up her spine. All of Connor's vitals were displayed in red and all at critical levels.

"Please. Hang on for Hank, your father still needs you!"

---

Refusing to leave the Zeta Facility Markus paced about the waiting room for nearly four hours as he waited for an update on Connor's condition or to get word from Hank regarding the strange shooting that nearly took his own life; and now threatened to take Connor's life. As he paused long enough to press his back up against the cool wall of the waiting room Markus pulled Connor's coin from his pocket and proceeded to nervously dance the blood stained quarter over his right knuckles in the same manner that Connor himself used to steady his thoughts. The exact same mannerism that had been inherited by Lucas and had subsequently been passed over to Markus when he had been given Lucas's heart after suffering his own life threatening injury.

The tic was a shared behavior between the three deviants and one that Markus had no intention of stopping. It made him feel closer to his friend and was a reminder of the gift he had been given through Lucas.

"Markus?" Hank had found his way back to the facility and spotted Markus leaning against the wall. Grabbing onto the coin over the deviant leader's hand Hank gave Markus a stern look and lowered Markus's hand to his side. "Have you heard anything?"

"No. Nothing yet."

"Fuck."

"What about the shooter?"

"The asshole isn't giving up his employer." Hank admitted as he slipped the coin into his own pocket, somehow knowing that it was Connor's coin and not the one that belonged to Markus. "We'll figure it out soon enough."

"Employer." Markus's mismatched eyes dulled with understandable disappointment as he realized Connor's theory could be correct. "So it was an attempted hit and not a personal vendetta."

"Looks that way."

"Hank," Markus was unsure if he should tell the senior detective about Connor's theory, but he also knew he didn't have the right to not say anything about it simply because he happened to disagree. "before he lost consciousness, Con-"

The double doors dividing the waiting room from the main corridor slid open as Abby appeared to update the duo on Connor's condition. Her dark red scrubs were stained with dark blue blood and she had unshed tears in her eyes. Tears of sorrow, not relief.

"Abby?" Hank approached the technician as a heavy weight settled in his already tight stomach. Years of experience told him to except the worst in this moment. "...Where's Connor?"

"...Just come with me." Abby motioned for Hank and Markus to follow her back into the recovery wing of the facility as she trailed off sadly. "Please."

Without a word the two worried occupants followed Abby down the corridor and into the private room where Connor had been taken post emergency repairs. The fact that Abby didn't want to tell either of them anything in the waiting room made the two men tense up with righteous concern.

Inside the room within the recovery wing Connor was laying on his back with a Thirial activity monitor still attached to his chest and heavy white bandages wrapped around his structurally repaired abdomen to keep the area sterilized until his artificial skin regenerated. His left wrist and forearm were secured in a single plastimetal support cast to keep the damaged limb stable. An oxygen mask was over his nose and mouth to give his core cool air and a black cable was connected to right temple to monitor the functions of his intracranial processor on the nearby diagnostic modem.

Motionless, unconscious and unresponsive Connor mirrored that of a corpse.

"He's not..." Hank put his right hand on Connor's forehead and rested it there as he looked down at the deviant with utter fear in his blue eyes. He had to pause for a moment to keep his voice from breaking under the strain of his pent up emotions as he realized why Abby was so upset. "Connor isn't going to wake up, is he?"

"No." Abby crossed her arms over her chest as she stood on the opposite side of the bed next to Markus. Her hand was resting gently on Connor's repaired forearm secured in the cast as she lightly caressed the damaged limb affectionately with her thumb. "The dangerously high pressure of his Thirium in his intracranial processor caused the hardware to overheat for too long."

"...That's what caused the seizure, isn't it?"

"Yes. The intense pressure and increasing heat caused his programs to initiate at full power and it burned out the circuitry that composes everything that makes his processor, his brain, a functioning unit. I've rebooted his system, I've rebooted his processor, I've removed and reinstalled every piece of his hardware and his software but... he's not responding. The only way he'd regain consciousness is if I had the very original program that was used upon his initial activation."

Hank stayed quiet as he lightly messed with Connor's dark locks of hair with his fingers.

Markus just shook his head and fought back the urge to shout in righteous anger. "This isn't right! He's hurt because he protected me." Looking up toward Hank with a fiery glare in his shining dual toned irises Markus finally told Hank the theory Connor had developed. "Where's the mayor?"

"...Safe house." Hank replied mournfully. "He's surrounded by personal security."

"Did you question him?"

"Why would-"

The doors to the recovery wing slid open and the mayor himself walked over to the bed and stared at Connor's blank face with a strange confusion in his hollow eyes. "So, it's true. Lieutenant Anderson has been-"

Markus turned his glare over to Nero and didn't even try to hide his disdain. "Where was your private security when all of this went down?"

"They were in front of the stage." Nero replied as if confused by the question. "I'm just glad I-"

"Why'd you pick the plaza for this press conference?" Markus impatiently began grilling the mayor for answers as if he were a detective as well. "When I agreed to speak to you I do so as a sign of goodwill toward everyone in the city and wanted to prove that androids had moved on from their lingering hatred since the Revolution. Why would you pick a place that is now notorious from that controversial night?"

Laughing a little as if he were genuinely amused by Markus's reaction Nero answered with an infuriatingly calm demeanor. "I just wanted to-"

"And let me ask you this: How did you know Connor was here or that one of us had been injured during the shooting?"

"In the same way anyone else learns about this city," the cold arrogant smile on Nero's face made Markus want to throw a punch. "the media. I'm just glad you and Connor made it to the hotel in time and kept away from that other assassin. Now," straightening his red tie Nero stepped away from the bed to take his leave. "the media is waiting for my statement. Captain Anderson, I'm sorry for what happened to Connor."

As those words left the mayor's mouth Markus realized that Connor had been right all along. The mayor was responsible. Markus tried to follow after Nero but a firm hand on his bicep stopped him short and held him back. The sleazy mayor disappeared through the doorway leaving the grieving friends to remain vigil at Connor's side.

"Markus," Hank addressed the heated deviant leader in a low voice. "let him go. Kicking his ass won't help Connor."

"Hank," locking eyes with the senior detective Markus laid out a harsh truth. "that bastard is responsible for the shooting!"

"What? No. The mayor was a target. That doesn't mean-"

"No, Hank. He was NEVER targeted. It was a set-up!" Turning his head away from Hank with a sense of shame in his eyes Markus looked at Connor's blank face and bowed his head with pained grief. "Just like Connor said."

"Connor..." the revelation gave Hank pause but his hand never left Connor's hair as he acknowledged it. "he suspected the mayor?"

"Yeah, and that arrogant bastard just admitted it."

"And how exactly did he do that?"

"How did he know that Connor and I were in the hotel and being stalked by another shooter? He was supposed to be at his safe house and no one but you and your precinct knew of the second assassin stalking us. How could the mayor know about the assassin if no one beyond that small circle never said a word to him or to the media?"

"That fucking..." Hank's hand subconsciously tightened around Markus's bicep as a flash of hot rage washed over his person. The senior detective had been so preoccupied with Connor that he hadn't caught the mayor's slip-up. "...That fucking coward. I'm going to kill him!"

"Let me do this." Markus nearly begged as he finally managed to wrest his arm free of Hank's grip. "You can't do anything to ruin-"

"My career?" Hank nearly snapped as the prospect of revenge was proving itself too tempting to resist. "I don't give a shit about my career, Markus. I care about my family." Turning his head to glare at the closed doors from whence Nero exited Hank breathed deeply, heavily to steady his hands. "And that fucker just took the last of my family away from me..."

"And Connor was my friend. He asked me to make sure you didn't do anything you'd regret. You killing that sleazebag won't do any favors to the precinct or to Connor's memory."

"But you, the leader of the deviants, if you killed him that wouldn't possibly end in war, right? All your work for your people can survive the scrutiny, right?"

"Hank, I-"

"No! When I lost my wife I couldn't do anything because I still had Cole to take care of. When I lost Cole I couldn't hold a gun steady enough to take the shot against that murdering doctor because of all the damn booze. When I lost Lucas I couldn't do anything because I had Connor to look after. But now," pulling his hand back from Connor's hair he wrapped his fingers around the handle of the gun in the holster on his right hip. With a firm gaze Hank checked the clip and straightened his back as he counted his shots. "I have nothing left to lose."

"I won't let you do this!" Putting his hands on Hank's shoulders Markus planted himself between Hank and the doors. "Connor asked me to keep you safe and I won't break that promise."

"I know he did, but trust me, this is the best thing for everyone."

"You can't just decide that. You're sounding like those demented scientists at CyberLife!"

"Don't you DARE compare me to those demented fucks!" Hank growled in response as he stared down Markus. "I saw the horrible things they did to Connor, to ALL the Connor models. I'm pissed off, they were sick."

"...All of the-" Markus wasn't sure of what Hank was talking about. "What do you mean 'all the Connor models'?"

"The fuckin' data he brought back from Miami. Connor found the-"

"Wait, wait... Connor brought back data from Miami?"

"A damn microprocessor. What does it-"

"Hank!" Markus's grip onto the senior detective's shoulders tightened as if he were ready for Hank to fight back against him. Connor was trying to tell him something important back at the hotel and now Markus knew what it was. "That damn microprocessor can SAVE Connor."

"...Wh-What?"

"Where is it?!"

"Back at the house."

"Come on. We're going to get it! You're going to give me the microprocessor and then you're going to go arrest the sad, sorry son of a bitch we called a mayor." Turning to look at the technician still standing behind him Markus tried to give her a reassuring nod. "Abby, do what you have to in order to preserve Connor's functions. And I need you to do me a favor: I need you to let this slip to the media. Tell them that Connor has died."

"What?!" Abby was stunned by the request and nearly shouted the question as she pressed her hand down against the side of Connor's neck. "Why would I-"

"Do it." Hank reaffirmed as he caught onto Markus's logic. "That's how the mayor gets his information in the city. Let him think that Connor is dead. We'll know exactly where to find his sorry ass when I get the warrant for his arrest."

---

The plaza had been secured and now everyone was seeking answers for that day's horrifying event. Standing before the podium and atop the stage at Hart Plaza, standing where the shooting had taken place just two hours beforehand knowing full well that he wasn't in any danger, Mayor Walter Nero spoke to the press with the same insincere smile on his face that he always wore when he was lying. And since the mayor was always smiling it was safe to say he was always lying. In a way that made Walter Nero the perfect politician, and it was any wonder that a legitimate assassination attempts weren't plotted against him in the past.

He had received an interesting update regarding the shooting and he was eager to eat up the press and earn brownie points with all of the city.

"As we all know we tragically lost a member of the police force today when he took a bullet while protecting another life."

Dozens of flashbulbs from dozens of cameras shined over Nero's smug face as he seemingly confirmed the report.

"Lieutenant Connor Anderson was the first android to be employed in the city as a detective and had assisted in aiding his people the night of the Revolution. He was an android who was dedicated to preserving life and protecting the innocent; Connor was proof that androids are in fact alive and deserve to be treated as equals. Further more-"

"I knew you'd be here, Nero." Flashing his badge Hank stepped on to the stage and approached the podium. A cascade of flashbulbs illuminated the stage as Hank marched toward the shifty man with purpose in his steps. "I hate to cut this short, but you're under arrest."

The dozens of camera flashes soon became hundreds as a collective muttering fell over the crowd witnessing the arrest.

Nero was stunned, almost dumbfounded by the comment. "I'm... what?!"

"You're under arrest for the attempted murder of Markus Manfred, assault against Lt. Connor Anderson," pinning Nero's arms behind his back Hank cuffed him with an audible 'click' that was a very satisfying sound. "hiring three contract killers, delivering illegal arms under the table, conspiracy and fraud. Want to admit to anything else and make things a little easier?"

"You can't-" Nero stammered nervously as his face simultaneously paled from fear and went red with rage. "But I- You can't arrest ME!"

"I can and I did." Pushing the now arrested mayor away from the podium, off of the stage and over to the parked squad car, Hank grumbled at the man now in his custody. "Now, I strongly urge you to exercise your right to remain silent. This has been a shitty day and I will admit the idea of putting a bullet between your eyes is very, VERY tempting."

As he was pushed into the backseat of the car Nero began snarling at the police Captain and tried to turn away from the reporters hungrily snapping his photo through the windows of the vehicle. "You can't prove anything!"

"I can and I already have, dip-shit." Discreetly Hank turned on the microphone of the dash-cam to readily capture every repugnant word that the disgraced mayor spewed forth. "That's my JOB. The thing is, I never would've thought to look into your finances until after you paid a visit to the facility. It's kinda' weird how you knew that Connor was there. And it's even stranger that you knew about him and Markus hiding in the hotel as another shooter tried to get to them. It's almost like," turning to look at the mayor over his shoulder Hank stared at him with undeniable venom in his eyes. "you already knew that there was another shooter in the area. Now how could you know that unless you're the one who hired the shooter?"

"I... I heard it on-"

"You can't blame the media for this one, ass-wipe." Pulling the car along the street Hank drove off to the precinct to have the mayor taken into custody and prosecuted. "The only people who knew of the hotel being a safe zone were the police, Markus and YOU. I sure as fuck know Markus didn't hire someone to kill himself; he's too dedicated to his cause to just up and die like that. But you, an outspoken advocate for android rights being so close to the deviant leader who brought about the world changing Revolution on the day he was assassinated, that would've been great publicity. Fuck, that kind of notoriety would've guaranteed you votes at every office you attempted to hold. Maybe even gotten you elected as president. Too bad you fucked up and tripped at the finish line."

Scoffing at Hank's comments Nero remained as arrogant as he was cold. "You won't be able to make the charges stick."

"Oh, I think I can. You're too much of a prick to not have any enemies who'd happily use their resources to see your ass thrown behind bars. You know, it was as ballsy as it was dumb to show up at the facility like you did."

"Look, it's not what you think. Let's level and speak to each other, human-to-human. Keep the plastic out of this, huh?"

"So the truth comes you." Hank's hands tightened around the steering wheel so much his knuckles turned white. "You do think of deviants as second-class citizens."

"Of course they are! Just because they look human doesn't mean they are human. I mean, come on! You know as much as I do that plastic can't live. That's like expecting some skirt to be able to hold any form of power without getting emotional. It's impossible, and no matter what anyone tries to say this is still a man's world. A HUMAN man's world."

"I knew you were full of shit, Nero. I just wish I had thought to look into your shady past as soon as I became Captain."

"Which you wouldn't be without my help!" The corrupt mayor spat angrily from the backseat. "No one would've promoted you; an old drunk with a piece of plastic for a partner! It was a favor and this is how you repay me?"

"I didn't ask for any favors you dumb-fuck. And yeah, I am an old drunk, but I still have morals and a soul unlike you, a scum sucking piece of shit." Glaring at Nero in the rearview mirror Hank made his final point. "And Connor's plastic heart is more real than any heart you think you have. So, shut the fuck up."

"Come off it, Anderson. You can't-"

Hank tapped onto the dash-cam recording every word of their conversation. "Wanna' bet? You're going to prison for the rest of your life, which, based on your shady little scheme won't last too much longer once word gets out that you're now locked up with the other people you've sold out over the years just to improve your own career."

"No! You can't do this!" Paling considerably as he realized that his every word can and will in fact be used against him Nero began to panic. "I won't survive in prison!"

"Not my problem. I've sworn to protect and serve; I'm protecting the city by taking you down and I'm serving my people by keeping you locked up. I've done my job, too bad you can't say the same for yourself."

---

Patient and diligent Markus sat beside the bed in the facility as he waited for any sign of life to return to his downed friend. The microprocessor that Hank had given to him, the very microprocessor that Connor had taken from the illegal CyberLife warehouse in Miami, contained everything that allowed Connor to be Connor through programming, software and hardware alone. And now with that microprocessor he had a chance of rebooting despite suffering what equated to brain death in humans. The delicate microprocessor had been activated again with Abby's skill hands and slowly the data began to repair the damage that Abby herself couldn't undo with her hands alone.

Quiet and motionless, Connor was still laying flat on his back but his head was turned to the left and a large black cable was attached to an exposed access port at the base of Connor's skull in the middle of his neck. Through this cable the microprocessor's data was being uploaded into Connor's system and with that data his system was rebooting itself at a painfully slow rate.

"Come on, Connor." Encouraging his friend to wake up Markus anxiously waited for Connor's eyes to open. "I know you can do it. Wake up."

Abby paced about at the side of the bed opposite from Markus as she constantly checked Connor's vitals for any sign of improvement. It had been six hours and the deviant wasn't showing any sign of life beyond from the faint breaths he took and his Thirium pump thrumming slowly in his chest.

"He has a strong heartbeat." Abby stated as she ran the bell of the audioscope over the deviant's bare chest for a direct listen. "And he's still breathing on his own. This is a very good sign."

"This is something that never should've happened. Connor shouldn't-"

"Markus, don't blame yourself." Abby interrupted the deviant leader sharply. "He wouldn't want you to be kicking yourself around because of what someone else did."

The display of the large diagnostic modem responsible for Connor's reboot finally hit one-hundred percent completion. With a gentle touch Abby detached the cable from the back of Connor's neck, closed the panel and manually regenerated his artificial skin before turning Connor's head so his neck was straightened out again.

"He'll need a little more time," Abby stated somberly as she lifted up Connor's eyelids and checked his pupils with a penlight. "but he should wake up."

"...'Should'?"

"I wish I could say something more definitive. I really do."

Nodding sadly Markus turned his full attention to his comatose friend. "Connor, you were right. The mayor did this. He was trying to kill me." Standing up from the chair Markus wrapped his hands against the back of his head as he began pacing about nervously. "Hank went out to arrest him and right now the city is dealing with the knowledge that our mayor who claimed to have been an ally to deviants and the police department has been revealed to be nothing more than a cold snake. We need you to wake up and come back to us, I need you to wake up and help me stay surrounded by the people I can really trust."

Somberly Hank returned to the recovery wing of the facility with a sluggish gait and stared at Connor with heavy sad eyes. "...Any change?"

Abby stopped checking Connor's vitals and let out a weary sigh. "His processor and the microprocessor were perfectly compatible. If the microprocessor was still fully functional then it should be able to reboot his system."

"How will we know?"

"I have no clue. This is the first time I've ever attempted this kind of a procedure."

"Right." Nodding with understanding Hank walked over to the bed and took the coin he snatched from Markus's hand and placed it in Connor's right hand to hold. As he forced the deviant's fingers to close around the coin he just shook his head at the sad sight. "Markus, thank you for keeping me from taking out that bastard myself. You were right. Killing him would've helped no one and just hurt Connor's memory."

"I just wish I had believed Connor when he told me that he didn't trust the mayor before the conference even began."

"Well, in your defense NO politician is worth trusting, and the fact that you were willing to give that bastard the benefit of the doubt he never deserved says a whole lot about you and your character. You're a good leader, Markus. Don't let mistrust taint your judgment because of one coldhearted bastard."

Rubbing his left hand over his chin Markus gave Hank a lost gaze as he thought about the future of the city. "Who's going to take over for the mayor?"

"Well, since this was a failed assassination plot all of City Hall is being blacklisted. The feds' are going to come in and handle things for a while."

"Oh, good." Markus replied sarcastically at the comment. "The F.B.I. doesn't have any grudges against deviants."

Smirking a little Hank rested his hand on the back of Connor's uninjured right arm and held it there for a moment. As he stared down at the deviant's face Hank felt the limb under his palm twitch a little as if acknowledging Hank's presence. Pressing his hand down a little firmer Hank was certain he could feel Connor's arm beginning to move on its own, like he was waking up.

"Son?"

Steadily Connor's right hand tightened around the coin in his fist under his own power for just a moment, before the coin was slipped from his palm and over the back his knuckles to begin a graceful dance.

"Connor." Hank smiled a little more at the coin as it moved around with the same accuracy and grace that only Connor could produce. "You know I hate that damn coin."

"...Sorry." A hoarse reply came from Connor's lips as his soulful brown eyes opened slowly. Focusing on Hank's face Connor gave the senior detective a faint smile as he stopped fidgeting with the quarter in order to keep the peace. "So... How did the press conference go?"

"Fuckin' smartass." Laughing at the question he patted Connor's arm and let out a sigh of relief. "Forget the Kevlar, I'm going to get you a fuckin' tank to patrol the city in!"

With his brow furrowed Connor noted Hank's distress vitals. "...It was that bad?"

"Connor, you were dead for almost ten hours." Feeling Connor's arm tense up at the revelation Hank responded by wrapping his hand around Connor's arm to try to comfort him. "Luckily, Markus and Abby knew how to save you. You're going to be just fine."

"Markus? He wasn't injured?"

"I'm fine." Doing his best to keep his all too human emotions from coming to the surface Markus just placed his right hand on Connor's left shoulder. "You saved my life. I owe you big time."

"No, I was doing my job and I was looking out for my friend." Sounding confident and sincere the deviant was entirely lucid as his system rebooted fully and he looked up at Markus with a much stronger voice and focused stare. "You owe me nothing."

"If I had listened to you earlier-"

"You still would've been shot at." Connor finished the sentence and gave Markus a stern glance. "Do you believe my mistrust of the mayor would've have stopped the shooting?"

"Maybe not. But, from now on I will always listen to you when you have a bad feeling about anyone. Human or deviant."

"Don't you feel bad about this." Trying and failing to sit upright on the bed Connor just stared up at his friend and gave him a reassuring nod. "Learning is a part of living. I've experienced my own mistakes and hardships, but I'm still okay. You have no reason to feel guilty for what someone else did."

Moving his hand over to Connor's injured left hand Markus squeezed once and gave the deviant an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Connor."

"Go back to New Jericho. Be with North."

"Good idea. Tomorrow we're going to have a long discussion about deviants and politics. Please, get some rest."

"I will, and I will be okay, I swear."

With one final firm, but gentle, handshake Markus took his leave of the recovery wing as he used his thumb to wipe away a rogue tear from his blue eye before it had the chance to fall. "Take care, my friend. I'll see you when you're well."

Abby lightly put her hand on Connor's damaged hand before she performed another exam on his vitals. He was stable with a strong heartbeat, normal ventilation, his Thirium volume was holding at ninety-eight percent and his core temperature was back down to normal.

"Hey, Connor." She smiled as she gave her friend a light pat on his hand. "Welcome back."

"...Abby. The same can be said about you."

"Thanks for pulling through. This would've been a really shitty way to come back to work; emergency natural disasters and part time shifts not withstanding."

Testing his damaged hand under Abby's palm Connor winced and found that the entire lower limb needed more time to heal before he could use it again. "I don't appear to be healing as rapidly as I should."

"And you won't for about a week. Your system needs to do a full reboot and recalibration of ALL your functions."

Before Connor had the chance to ask Hank spoke up on his behalf. "When can I take him home to rest?"

"Give me one hour to run all the tests I need, then you take him home. And Hank," giving the senior detective a firm stare she instructed him on Connor's impending care. "you need to make sure he's actually resting. I'm talking bedrest, like a human. For an entire week."

"Uh..."

"Hank, his body is going to be as weak and vulnerable as a human who sustained massive internal injuries. The gunshot to his abdomen would've shattered the entire right side of a human's ribcage and hip, and his right artificial lung had been damaged. The same happened with his artificial stomach. He can't move around too much until his self healing program can keep the flexible biocomponent from tearing itself open." As if to emphasize her statement Abby picked up Connor's left arm and examined his damaged forearm, wrist and hand. "His left hand will be completely useless during that time, too."

"I take it he can't even sit at a desk at the precinct all day."

"No!" Abby confirmed with a strong tone of voice. "He needs to be laying down and not doing anything until his body heals. That also means his bandages will need to be changed every six hours to keep any foreign matter from getting into his exposed plastimetal frame or any small opened Thirium lines until his artificial skin regenerates. Any exertion could cause him to accidentally hemorrhage internally."

"Connor?" Hank used the 'dad voice' as he spoke to his adopted son in a patient manner. "Are you sure you'd rather go home and deal with all that shit without a technician's help?"

"...Yes." Weakly Connor's good hand grabbed onto Hank's bicep and held his grip there for a moment. "I trust you more than I trust a facility. I trust you more than anyone else in this world."

"All right then." Giving the stubborn deviant a hesitant glance Hank patted Connor's shoulder and sighed with faux defeat. "But you heard Abby, son. It's either rest, actually rest, at home or you'll stay in the facility. No excuses."

"I want to go home. I promise I won't do anything to physically strain myself or aggravate my injuries."

Smiling warmly Abby just shook her head and put her hand to the side of Connor's face for a moment. "I'm sure you won't. Lay back, rest and I'll begin checking in on you and performing tests in about an hour."

"Thank you."

Hank sat down in the now vacated chair beside the table and kept his left hand on Connor's right arm. "Man, I never thought I'd be so happy to know you stole private property after breaching a secured compound."

"...The microprocessor?"

"Yup." The senior detective confirmed with an amused smirk breaking through his stressed face. "That damn piece of junk saved your brain."

"Interesting. I suppose CyberLife was good for something after all."

"Well, that, and building androids like you and Markus." Keeping the subject light Hank took his phone from his pocket and texted Gavin back at the precinct to let everyone know that Connor was going to be okay and to keep him actively up to date on the mayor's arrest. "That was pretty good."

"...Androids like me?"

"Yeah. You're pretty good company for being such a bullheaded, stubborn kid."

"Thanks, dad." Taking in a cleansing breath Connor offered Hank a kind smile as he relaxed against the bed and tried to get some more rest. "I appreciate that."

-next chapter-