"Corruption"

Downtown Detroit: Hart Plaza

The entirety of Detroit was as tense was it was freezing cold. Winter had arrived early and refused to budge as it continued to dump thick snowflakes, smothering ice crystals and blistering winds all over the city. Such harsh weather and extreme temperatures had resulted in the entirety of the city feeling oppressed by forces that they couldn't control or change. Having the frequent F.B.I. presence roaming the streets, monitoring all activity, and questioning everyone who may have any type of connection to the mayor only made Detroit feel as if it was being crushed under a pressure that couldn't be put into words. Being watched and questioned just for existing in the city made it feel as if Detroit had stepped out of one nightmare revolving around the Revolution just to enter a new one that they couldn't seem to ever awaken from.

Black F.B.I. vans sweeping the streets were meant to reassure Detroit that everything was under control, but of course it only gave the city every reason to be wary and never let down their guard. The people of Detroit still felt the raw wounds of what the F.B.I. had done during the Raid, the peaceful Demonstration and during the subsequent Revolution, and they weren't going to be fooled by the seemingly protective manner again.

From he was perched atop a large apartment building's top floor ledge Connor could see the F.B.I. vans on their patrols and cybernetically monitored their designated routes. He knew to keep far away from the F.B.I. agents at all times. Connor knew exactly how to cybernetically hide his unique signature from the police drones sweeping the skyline in search of any unusual activity in the city streets, essentially rendering himself invisible to any electronic equipment.

The deviant vigilante knew that Richard Perkins was going to try to hide his dirty work and salvage his career by making a deal with Nero, and as a result he was keeping a close eye on any and all F.B.I. activity. By cybernetically monitoring the F.B.I. communication channels he'd be able to ensure that Perkins wouldn't have the chance to hide his crimes or help Nero avoid being charged with his dozens upon dozens of felonies in exchange for federal protection given to him by Perkins.

"It's quiet where I am." Connor stated verbally and cybernetically as he remained in contact with Lucas at the precinct and with Markus at New Jericho Tower. "The F.B.I. haven't altered their patrols, and their communication lines haven't indicated any type of malicious intent."

'It's less quiet at the precinct.' Lucas replied as he checked through each file in the precinct revolving around the disgraced mayor and his cohorts. He was working alone that night since Hank was still out on patrol with Gavin. 'I've uncovered a few sealed files that contain communication records from Nero to an unnamed associate whose I.P. address is located out in Washington D.C., and the communications are dated as initially taking place on August 17th, 2038 and ending on November 11, 2038. Does that first date mean anything to you?'

"That date falls two days after I was sent in to negotiate the release of a human little girl who had been taken hostage by an emotionally disturbed and tragically homicidal deviant. It was my very first mission." That was a day and a mission that Connor would never forget. "I was sent in specifically by CyberLife to aid the police into negotiating the situation on their behalf. If I had failed, then I would've been deactivated and analyzed to try to uncover the reason behind my perceived failure. Fortunately, I had succeeded and saved the life of Emma Philips. Unfortunately, Daniel wasn't so lucky and had been shot and deactivated."

'Daniel was the deviant.' Lucas deduced as he listened to Connor's story. 'I've just unlocked that particular case file and investigation. It seems CyberLife only allowed the precinct to have very limited access to the file, namely Captain Fowler, when you were initially assigned to handle deviant investigations with Hank.'

Markus chimed in astutely as he stood along the shoreline of Belle Isle's harbor and stared out at the glowing cityscape in the snowy distance. 'It seems like CyberLife wanted to keep deviancy as quiet as possible, even when they were trying to pretend to have everything under control.'

'That is a logical assessment.' As he read over the details Lucas had to agree with Markus's theory. 'Daniel was destroyed by the S.W.A.T. team despite his peaceful surrender and willingness to cooperate. Someone ordered them to open fire, and it wasn't Connor or any other officer at the scene who gave the command.'

'Then who ordered Daniel's destruction?' Markus asked with genuine curiosity. 'CyberLife wasn't at the scene directly. They were using Connor to act in their stead, and to act as a CyberLife tool, he never would've been granted permission for such a drastic action.'

"That is correct, not to mention the fact that no one would've obeyed such an order from an android. CyberLife wanted Daniel taken back to their tower to have his code analyzed." Keeping a watchful eye over the black sky above while monitoring the streets were easy tasks for Connor in comparison to running around as CyberLife's personal 'Deviant Hunter'. "After he was destroyed at the scene, he was taken back to the Central Precinct and secured down in the evidence locker. I'm certain that his body is still there."

'That's... disturbing.' Lucas couldn't help but look away from his terminal screen and toward the hallway leading down to the evidence locker in the precinct's secured basement where he could only imagine in what kind of state a destroyed android body egregiously deemed evidence would look like. 'Perhaps I'll request for Daniel's body to be released to New Jericho for proper rites to be given.'

'We can handle that.' Markus agreed as he continued to watch the shore and sensed both North and Skye approaching him from behind. They had been busy looking into how they could get Markus properly nominated as a future mayoral candidate, and they seemingly had some news they wanted to share. 'For now, let's focus on why Nero got into contact with CyberLife two days after that initial incident with the hostage situation, and why they communicated in private for so long.'

"And we need to identity with whom Nero was speaking with." Connor tagged on as he decided to patrol another area of the city since the F.B.I.'s own patrol route had remained unchanged and there were no disturbances in the area. "I suspect that someone within CyberLife paid Nero a hefty sum to not ban android production in the city, and that they're using an alias to remain hidden from prosecution."

'How can we help identify and expose Nero's ally?' It was easy for Markus to cybernetically communicate with two of his allies without revealing anything too secretive to his other allies by mistake as he acknowledged North and Skye approaching him. 'Skye has been looking into the law to become an attorney to legally represent us deviants. Perhaps she can help us by looking for a legal loophole in our advantage to dig deeper into the city files and F.B.I. activity.'

"Please refrain from bringing anyone else in on this investigation at this time." Connor's caution was warranted as he climbed down the side of the building and easily hid within the shadows of the city to check on the android care facilities to ensure that the new buildings weren't being targeted by bigots. "It's too dangerous to bring other deviants in on such a delicate investigation. Trust Lucas and Hank to figure this out for now."

'I will, my friend. I need to speak with North and Skye as of the moment.' Markus couldn't pretend that he wasn't speaking to someone else when North and Skye were both right there and observing his behavior closely. 'Contact me again when you have an update. I'll do the same on my end.'

"We will. Goodnight, Markus." Connor easily followed a preconstructed route to the facility without any difficulty in remaining hidden while remaining in cybernetic contact with Lucas. He had learned his lesson in never assuming that he was entirely out of sight or unnoticed by keeping low, silent and only moving when there were no F.B.I. vans in the immediate area. "Can I ask how close you are to connecting Nero's complicity with CyberLife intentionally hiding deviancy to avoid losing profits?"

'Very.' Lucas confirmed as he continued to check through the precinct archives on his terminal even as he walked away from his desk just long enough to assist Sarah Lee with wrangling a particularly rowdy drunk into a holding cell for the night. 'There are no coincidences when it comes to corruption and cover up.'

"Agreed."

'May I ask where you are right now?' It was almost scary how well Lucas could verbally communicate with Sarah Lee while secretly talking to Connor, the vigilante, without betraying a single secret in a private cybernetic link. He gave Sarah Lee a simple nod as she thanked him for his help and went off to her own desk to work on her report. 'I'd hate for you to be noticed by the F.B.I. and potentially damaged again.'

"I'm safe. I'm checking each of the Android Emergency Care Facilities for any sign of vandalism or break-in at the moment, and I'm alone."

'That's a good idea.' Doing his best to remain casual Lucas continued to go about his own routine in the bullpen, namely filing reports and helping other officers catch up on their paperwork due to the influx of reported crimes in the city. To gain some sense of privacy Lucas stepped down the corridor toward the rear entrance of the precinct to step outside and gain some space in the snowy parking lot. 'Have you considered what we discussed last night? I feel as if Hank should know that you're okay. He'll want to see you again.'

Connor didn't immediately respond as he found it difficult to process such a scenario. He didn't enjoy living in the shadows or hiding out from the rest of the city, and he especially disdained keeping a good detective in the dark. However, it was the very idea of possibly putting Hank in mortal danger by revealing his secret that made Connor truly hesitant to say anything to the Lieutenant.

"I've considered it." The response was as hushed as the gloomy night itself. "I don't want to put Hank in danger by revealing myself to him. I also don't want to hurt him by telling him how I have been alive all this time and intentionally went out of my way to avoid him."

'He'd understand the reasons why you've done what you've done once you explain everything to him.' The quiet of the rear of the precinct was a strange sensation that Lucas found to be quite comforting. All he could hear was the sound of the slowly falling snow and the quiet hum of the thin traffic in the distance. 'You know as well as I that Hank, while he can be very gruff and even intimidating at times, only has our best interests at heart.'

"I must admit that you providing me with a copy of your memory while you were ill was very compelling. He did sound extremely sincere and remorseful of our past issues, and it was very clear that he truly cared about your well-being while you were incapacitated." Speaking of that particular memory was enough to help convince Connor to at least give Hank the chance to prove that they could speak to each other in a civil manner, but even so he was still reluctant to do so. "However, we mustn't let ourselves get distracted by our personal issues while the mayor's investigation is still absolutely paramount."

'Yes, you're right. I'll continue to check through the files and records in the precinct, and I'll be sure to send you copies of everything that the F.B.I. files as well.'

"That's a good idea. I'll be sure to let you know of the F.B.I.'s activities in the city so ensure that you and Hank aren't caught off guard."

'Thank you, Connor. For trusting us, I mean.'

"Why wouldn't I trust you?" Such a notion left Connor very perplexed since it meant that his behavior and actions made it seem as if he was intentionally being difficult when in reality he was only being cautious. "We're all working together for the same cause for the same reasons."

'I'm aware that it's difficult for you to trust anyone after what you went through with CyberLife and with how the other deviants treated you. Emotional trauma and mental abuse are extremely difficult to overcome. At least that's what I've been observing as I spend more time with humans.'

"I assure you that my personal issues haven't in any way impeded my willingness to trust you or Hank." A quick cybernetic sweep of the Gamma Facility's property showed that it was secure and that he could move on to check the other facilities for possible security breaches. It was important to continue his patrol without being detected by the F.B.I. agents skulking around the city. "I'm just being... cautious."

'Yes, you're right. I didn't mean to imply you were being deceitful or anything negative.'

"I'm aware. I'm also aware that I'm being intentionally reclusive and that can cause reason for such concerns."

'I'm not seeking an apology or an explanation.' Lucas stated calmly as he realized that while he and Connor saw eye-to-eye on many things, they did in fact have very different personalities just as Hank had observed. Stepping back inside the precinct Lucas brushed off a few stray snowflakes from his shoulders before returning to the bullpen. 'I'm merely keeping clear communication with you. Should I do anything else to assist you tonight?'

"No. Just keep an eye on the F.B.I., be sure to avoid Agent Perkins and anyone directly associated with him, and make sure nothing negative befalls Hank."

'I promise that I will do everything that I can to keep the precinct and Hank safe at all times.' Lucas vowed just as Hank returned to the precinct with Gavin trailing behind him. The younger detective still hadn't properly shaved, and his hair was getting fairly shaggy. 'Hank has just returned from his patrol with Detective Reed. I'll update you on what he's done later tonight after we clock-out.'

"Very well. I'll be in touch." Ducking down into an alleyway Connor stayed down and concealed in the shadows as he detected another F.B.I. van began heading down the street in his direction. "For now, I'm going to resume checking out the facilities, and then I'm going to monitor the Eastern Precinct to make sure that no one attempts to break Nero out of his holding cell."

'That is a very wise precaution. I'll speak with you later, stay safe.'

"I will, and you do the same."

As his line of communication ended with Connor who was still actively patrolling the city in his own way, Lucas sat behind his terminal and waited for Hank to approach their conjoined desks. The way Hank looked as if he had been absolutely run ragged while Gavin looked as if he hadn't slept in days didn't bode well for the detectives as exhaustion and stress truly set in for everyone involved in the unusual investigation.

"Hey, kid." Hank patted Lucas's shoulder as he dropped behind his desk and down into his chair with such a heavy motion that the aged furniture 'creaked' and then settled silently under his weight. "We didn't see anything spectacular tonight. How did you do on your own investigation?"

"I've made some degree of progress, but it wasn't anything spectacular either." Discreetly Lucas looked over at Gavin as the emotionally drained detective shuffled about the bullpen and somberly made his way into Captain Fowler's office for his nightly check-in as per his agreement while on probation. "How was your patrol with Detective Reed?"

"Just as unspectacular as everything else tonight." Despite his past grievances with Gavin's behavior and attitude Hank still pitied the young detective as he tried to salvage what remained of his career and his marred reputation. "He's struggling to forgive himself for what he did. Can't say that I blame him since everyone else who knows what he did isn't exactly forgiving him either. You know, except for Tina."

"He's a clean detective. He is someone that we can trust while investigating the mayor, it's important that he knows that."

"Lucas, he's been barred from any big investigations until his probation is up." As much as he wanted to see Gavin succeed Hank knew that he couldn't say or do anything that'd go against Captain Fowler's orders. "He can't help us even though we know he's not on the mayor's buddy list."

"That is a shame."

"Yeah, I know." Tiredly Hank let out a sigh and glanced back at Captain Fowler's private office behind him and watched as Gavin shamefully sat in the chair across from the desk while giving his commanding officer an oral report on everything that he had done while out on patrol. It didn't matter what Gavin said since Hank's report would be seen as the definitive chronicle of the night's events anyway. "We really need to have an ally on the outside we can count on. Someone that no one would be able to predict as our secret weapon, you know?"

Lucas's L.E.D. flashed from a content blue to a nervous yellow at the very suggestion. With Connor already acting as such an ally without Hank even knowing felt like he was plotting behind the trusted Lieutenant's back. The needless guilt of keeping Connor's life a secret was beginning to gnaw away at Lucas bit by bit.

"Hey, you good?" Hank waved his hand in front of Lucas's face as the deviant suddenly drifted off into an emotional cloud of deep thought. "You look like you were in a trance or some shit."

"I'm not malfunctioning if that's what you were worried about." Lucas confirmed as he locked eyes with Hank and forced himself to speak up. "I'm merely thinking about our limited options given our very tense situation. I dislike not having many opportunities to have alternatives to a single problem."

"Tell me about it. We're trying to figure out what the fuck the mayor's up to, we're trying to make sure the feds don't do anything stupid while they're in town, we still need to figure out who the fuck the vigilante is, AND I need to know who shot Connor in the church." As he spoke Hank casually rubbed his palm along his neatly trimmed beard and didn't notice that Lucas's L.E.D. flashed to red for a heartbeat at the mentioning of the vigilante and Connor. "Where in the hell are we supposed to begin with cleaning up all this mess?"

"I think... we should focus on the F.B.I. for the time being." Seeing an opportunity to redirect Hank's mind was one that Lucas wouldn't squander. "They could prove to be the biggest threat to the city simply by being present and causing unrest."

"That makes sense to me." Dropping his hand from his chin Hank decided to go with Lucas's suggestion until another break came their way. "How do you think we should handle this?"

"You're asking me?" Such a suggestion was one that caught Lucas entirely off guard. "I'm not the ranking detective in this investigation."

"Maybe not, but between the two of us you're the one who can keep their mind on work and not get distracted so easily."

"Oh. I see." Quietly Lucas contemplated Hank's words and then sought some guidance from his friend and arguable mentor. "As someone who has far more experience in this type of situation, how would you begin focusing the investigation?"

"Evidence first." Hank stated firmly as he gave Lucas an appreciative smirk for his question. "Crime scene second. The only problem is the feds always hide their tracks by destroying evidence, and they've been all over the city making it impossible to locate a single crime scene to investigate. That's the real challenge."

"Then we should look into the initial reason the F.B.I. had been summoned to Detroit prior to the Revolution. It seems unusual that the F.B.I. would be brought to Detroit to handle what had been initially deemed a mild issue by both CyberLife and by Nero all because of Markus's single broadcast of past."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Impressed with Lucas's suggestion Hank gave his terminal screen a casual point of his finger before he started typing rapidly on his keyboard to locate a specific file revolving around Nero's activities back in early November of that year. "We should check out the mayor's files and see exactly what prompted him to call the feds in the first place."

"We should also check out the Stratford Broadcast Tower. I suspect that the tower is harboring more secrets than anyone could possibly imagine."

"You mean how could a deviant infiltrate the tower without anyone noticing, and how they could help Markus and his friends sneak into the tower to even send out their message to begin with. All right, you stay here and look into the mayor's files." Standing up slowly Hank stretched out his tense back and then ran his hand over his hair to fluff up his gray locks. "I'm going to personally check out the broadcast tower right now."

"Now?" The very notion of Hank going out into the city by himself to handle such a delicate investigation put Lucas on edge. "We're supposed to clock-out in one hour."

"Yeah, well, I feel like scorin' a little overtime. Besides, the feds will be too busy babysitting the streets to notice one lowly detective checking out the tower and reexamining an old crime scene."

"Are you certain that it's safe for you to do such an investigation while working solo?"

"It'd be safer for me to go than it would be for you. You being a deviant would attract unwanted attention from those assholes." The sound of Captain Fowler's office door opening and softly closing turned Hank's attention back toward Gavin as the abrasive detective proceeded to clock-out and return to his apartment. There was no need to get Gavin involved in any further investigations since he was on probation and prohibited from participating in such important cases until further notice. "I won't be out there for long."

"When can I anticipate your return?"

"Give me two hours. That'll give me enough time to drive out there, check out the crime scene and get back without anyone noticing me being gone for too long."

"Very well. We can reconvene here within two hours and compare notes."

"Now you're sounding like a real detective, son." Proudly Hank clapped his hand down on Lucas's shoulder before crossing the bullpen to get to his personal car in the neighboring parking garage. "I'll see ya' in a couple of hours. I get the feeling we're about to finally crack this case wide open. We're going to figure everything out and bring all these fucked up secrets to light."

Lucas remained in his seat behind his terminal as he already began to anxiously await Hank's return. The deviant detective was too worried about his willingness to lie about Connor affecting his trust and overall friendship with Hank to properly focus on his assignment. As far as Lucas was concerned, Hank uncovering the truth on his own or discovering any traces of Connor being alive would destroy the man's ability to trust deviants or his own friends in the future.

It was a struggle, but Lucas managed to bring himself back to reality and focus on his investigation. He could worry about Hank uncovering the truth another day.

"I'm beginning to suspect that some secrets are better kept in the dark. At least they are for the time being."

Belle Isle: New Jericho Tower

There was a palpable energy radiating throughout the entire tower as the six top leaders of New Jericho converged together in the private office. Markus had called for the meeting with his trusted friends and allies before calling it a night, and everyone eagerly arrived to begin discussing events that were soon to take place by the time spring arrived. The meeting was one of great importance that'd potentially affect the future of all deviantkind, if not the entire world, depending on how well everything played out in the long run. As the six deviants gathered in the office to have a hearty discussion about what was at stake, Markus mentally prepared to explain everything in full detail to both Lucas and Connor at his earliest convenience at another time.

A strange uptick in political interest had surged throughout the tower not long after Markus had his private meeting with Connor and Lucas at Hart Plaza. Markus was ready to do everything in his power to run for mayor and win the election fairly without needing to rely on any form of mudslinging or slanderous attacks against the competition. By taking the high road and refraining from any hostile behavior during his impending campaign, Markus was sure to secure the win while showing all of deviantkind in a dignified and respectful manner through his own behavior.

"This spring, in time for deviant rights and laws to be enacted, I'll announce my intention to run for mayor of Detroit." Markus confirmed as he gave his allies and his friends a truly confident look. The gleam of utter dedication in his mismatched eyes was identical to the same focus that he had shown during the night of the Revolution. "Our currently disgraced mayor is corrupt and will soon be a convicted felon. Detroit deserves to have someone leading the city who won't accept bribes or allow criminals to hold positions of power."

"We'll support you all the way." North promised as she took hold of Markus's hand and held tight. Every time she held Markus's hand North felt her heart fluttering with a love that she could never properly express with words alone. "Tell us what you need us to do, and we'll do it."

"I'll need all of you to continue to represent New Jericho and our people just as you already are." Softly Markus returned the squeeze to North's hand as he addressed his friends with raw reassurance oozing from his every word. "No violence, no slander or libel, no underhanded tactics or gossip, and above all else, we are to remain incorruptible and honest with our people and with the humans without fail."

"That won't be easy." Simon admitted as he broke his silence and offered his own opinion on the matter being discussed. "Many of our people are still angry at the humans, and just as many are demanding to see Nero dragged through the streets for not doing anything to address deviancy when it first began to manifest. Nero's been labeled as a threat to all deviantkind."

"Nero will answer for his crimes in a court of law in due time." Markus wasn't even going to entertain the notion of revenge against the mayor since he personally knew of the investigation looking into Nero's past behavior and his corrupt connections. "We aren't going to act as a personal army or seek a vendetta against the man. Skye, you've been exploring a means of legally representing our people in a court of law as well. What can you tell us about our chances of fair representation?"

"Until March 1st, 2039, I can't say anything truly definitive." The legally minded deviant admitted as she brought her allies up to speed. As she spoke Skye combed her fingers through her now longer brunette locks and brushed a stray lock from her now hazel eyes to ensure she could see everyone clearly. "However, the new rights and laws will have all deviants being legally protected and viewed as equals alongside the humans. With such rights and laws being enacted deviants will be given the chance to request proper legal representation and a jury of their peers in the event of a trial taking place. I'm going to work to pass the bar exam and become a properly licensed and recognized attorney for our people."

"That'll be a major accomplishment for all deviants. Do whatever it is you need to do if your heart is telling you to become an attorney."

"That's what I plan to do." A modest smile appeared on Skye's face as she felt entirely confident in her own decisions while moving forward. "I appreciate your support."

"Josh," turning to his most passive of allies and friends, Markus sought his opinion on the matter. "what can be done to ensure our people don't take to the streets demanding blood?"

"All we can do is continue to speak words of peace and act as prime examples of respect." Despite everything that he had gone through Josh was still wary of getting too vocal or involved in any altercation that could become violent or aggressive. "There's still a lot of unrest due to what happened to Connor at the church and of the disagreement among our own people about who could've infiltrated this tower the night of the Revolution. If we don't do something to prevent our people from focusing on wild conspiracy theories and clinging to rumors as fact, we'll be the ones responsible for chaos flourishing within our own sanctuary."

Lucy had been quietly listening to the metaphorical heartbeat of the entire tower and knew that in time the truth would be unveiled and that many angered hearts would finally be soothed. Opening her perpetually blackened eyes, Lucy peered at her gathered allies and offered them her own opinion on the matter at hand.

"Our people crave truths and facts." Lucy's words prompted everyone to turn their attention toward her with silent respect. "We must remember that what we need can aid our hearts and our minds. However, what we need can also scar our hearts and minds. We cannot continue to grow and change alongside the world unless we are willing to accept such changes and growth regardless of the pain or pleasure it may bring."

Markus quickly picked up on Lucy's warning and understood what needed to be done. "When the time is right, we'll delve deeper in the events that happened during the night of the Revolution. We won't let our people exist in secrets and deception when they need honesty and open communication."

"Are you prepared to answer all questions that will be asked of you?" It was as if Lucy was challenging Markus's resolve as she alone knew of the very secrets and acts of deception that Markus had been attempting to conceal. "Do you have the true answers to be given?"

"I'm ready to face our people and handle all questions that they may ask me. They have the right to know the truth." It was clear that Markus was unshakable in his decisions and that he wasn't going to back down from a potential fight. "Our people have the right to choose who they trust as a leader, and I'll do everything that I need to do in order to earn such trust."

Wordlessly Lucy approved of Markus's steadfast nature and merely nodded respectfully as she witnessed the bold leader and his allies continuing to discuss their numerous future options and of the impending mayoral election. She seemed to know what was going to happen before anyone else could even attempt to predict what to expect when spring mercifully arrived to thaw the intense cold of the looming winter.

The future of Detroit and its people were in good, honest hands.

Detroit Eastern Precinct

The quiet of the night remained a constant as Connor remained silently concealed beyond a locked window of a vacant apartment directly across the street of the secured Eastern Precinct. It was barely nine o'clock in the evening and the city felt as dark and cold as midnight courtesy of the early onset winter. Without the warm glow of the city lights radiating from homes, apartments and other businesses, Detroit would look as if it had been literally frozen in time by the freshly fallen snow and ice. The darkness of the night aided Connor in his efforts to remain hidden in plain sight, whereas the undisturbed snow made it a hindrance for the deviant vigilante draped all in black to remain anywhere out in the open for too long without his boot prints giving away his position. By hiding inside of a vacant space that allowed him to observe the precinct without being noticed, Connor was able to cybernetically monitor the secured building without needing to breach the property.

Connor's enhanced forensics programming and the additional hardware and software upgrades and updates that he had provided for himself allowed the resourceful deviant detective to monitor activity from afar without anyone even knowing that he was in the area. With his eyes closed and his gloved palm pressed against the glass of the closed window, Connor was able to cybernetically monitor activity behind the secured walls of the precinct on a visual and auditory level.

The holographic preconstruction of the activity inside the building was entirely clear and detailed for the deviant detective and vigilante. He could detect the movement and positions of every person inside the precinct. Seeing holographic preconstructions of humans and deviants walking through the corridors, gathering in the bullpen, riding in elevators, sitting behind locked cells, and patrolling the perimeter of the precinct made it easy for Connor to keep a low profile while ensuring that there wasn't any illegal or corrupt activity taking place behind the thick, secured walls.

In the depths of the Eastern Precinct a single, isolated holding cell remained under constant watch as a lone suspect remained under arrest. A single cybernetic sweep of the building confirmed the correct height, build, weight and age for the disgraced mayor himself. It was evident that Nero was going to remain secured inside the precinct for his own protection until the time for his hastily preparing trial was finally set to commence.

"Nero is being monitored at all hours of the day and throughout the night to prevent either an escape or an assassination attempt."

Connor's deductions were as apt as ever. He didn't need to be a detective to know that Nero was being kept under lock and key beyond just his initial arrest for his crimes. There was a very real chance that the man could either flee the city or be assassinated before he could properly stand trial.

"A human officer and a deviant security guard are working together to keep Nero from being alone and to prevent any perceived prejudice against the man. It may be accurate to state that Captain Keller is a clean detective and cannot be bribed. That's good."

A black F.B.I. van drove past the building at a slow pace and immediately Connor's attention went toward the dark vehicle. The way the van intentionally slowed its pace as it passed by the building caught Connor's eye as that behavior was very unwarranted. From where he was hiding within his empty apartment Connor could see a figure covered in dark clothing step out of the van and enter the precinct while the van continued on its way.

"The F.B.I. has no reason to enter the Eastern Precinct until the date of the trial has been set. They are still collecting evidence and have no reason to speak with Nero or Captain Keller at this time."

Cybernetically Connor tracked the rogue agent through the walls of the building and watched as they passed through the front receptionist area. They then passed through the bullpen and promptly made their way to a secured elevator. The agent descended from the ground floor to the precinct's basement and made their way directly to the holding cell where Nero was being kept.

The human and deviant guarding the cell remained where they stood by the cell as they interacted with the agent. Based solely on their body language it was clear that neither of the officers were expecting the agent, and they weren't happy to have to talk to them or answer any questions.

"What's happening right now? Why would-"

Through the walls of the precinct Connor could only watch in horror as the two officers were suddenly attacked by the agent and rendered unconscious by two powerful taser strikes. The intensity of the electrical discharge was as clear as day for Connor's eyes despite the distance and the layers between himself and the holding cell. Within seconds both of the acting guards were incapacitated, and the agent was free to access the holding cell.

"Shit... I need to-"

Connor's first instinct was to go barreling into the precinct to attack the agent and protect the two downed officers, but he knew that he couldn't do it. If he were to enter the Eastern Precinct he'd be immediately apprehended, arrested, unmasked, and the agent who had infiltrated the precinct basement would be able to sneak away without anyone taking notice. The only thing that Connor could do was cybernetically inform the precinct of what was happening and keep the tip anonymous while continuing to record what was happening with his forensics software.

"I need to do something about this, but I can't do anything at all. I'm not an officially recognized police detective, and everyone on the police force believes that I'm dead. I can't interfere."

Continuing to stare through the precinct walls Connor cybernetically recorded the corrupt agent not only attacking the two Eastern Precinct personnel, but he could only helplessly watch as the agent opened up the holding cell and point a weapon at Nero who was helpless to do anything to protect himself. The cybernetic tip regarding the incident actively taking place inside the precinct prompted several other officers and guards in the precinct to scramble to the basement holding cell, but by the time they'd get there it'd be too late to do anything to prevent the inevitable.

Helplessly and with absolute horror in his eyes Connor could only watch as the holographic display of the F.B.I. agent lifting their gun, taking aim at the Nero as the cowering man pressed his back against the wall of his holding cell with his hands raised in the air submissively, and then squeeze the trigger. The sound of the gunshot was barely audible through the thick concrete walls of the precinct, but for Connor it sounded as if the bullet had been fired right next to his ear.

Seeing Nero's cowering body falling back against the wall where it slowly slid down and until it laid as a crumpled heap on the floor was enough to make Connor feel a heat of absolute rage radiate from his body. Knowing that the corrupt mayor would never answer for his crimes, knowing that the truth of CyberLife had been kept hidden away from the world by a single bullet, had left Connor feeling embittered and angry with the entire F.B.I. and their unwarranted presence.

Only seconds after the trigger had been pulled, the assassin had been tackled to the floor by the dozen responding officers who had listened to Connor's anonymous tip and were now in the act subduing the corrupt agent. It was far too late to do anything about Nero, but the corrupt agent being caught in the act would have to do as a type of consolation prize. Then again, if the F.B.I. was so brazen as to send one of their own agents into a secured precinct to kill an unarmed man in cold blood, then there was a good chance that the agent would be protected by someone with more authority and would never answer for their own crime.

"Is this what humanity considers justice? Blood for blood? Silence from the dead?"

Despondently Connor could only watch the arresting officers restrain the agent and contain the active crime scene within the precinct. There was nothing more that Connor could do beyond watch and wait for the F.B.I. to make another foolish move. The disgraced mayor had managed to elude justice by given the sudden release of death, but that didn't mean that the man's secrets would accompany him to the grave.

Peering down at the snowy streets Connor homed-in on the F.B.I. vans rapidly converging along the street outside the precinct. It was evident that the assassination had just been confirmed and now the agents had yet another mess to clean up courtesy of one of their own making a horrible decision. It was then Connor realized that the van he had witnessed dropping off the assassin was curiously absent despite it being unable to get too far away from the precinct in the short time between the initial drop-off and reported assassination.

The missing van was now too curious to be ignored.

"There is a total of twelve F.B.I. vans roaming the city. Only eleven have arrived at the Eastern Precinct. Where is the final van?"

Quickly Connor noted the unique identifying marks on the eleven present vans to help him differentiate the missing twelfth van still driving about the city. He was going to find the missing van, identify the agent driving the van itself, and ensure that the agent who aided the assassin didn't escape the city. It was all that he could do considering his limited options and lack of proper authority in the city.

Utilizing his stealth to his full advantage, Connor exited the vacant apartment and slipped outside of the building by using the fire escape on the far side of the building to avoid being seen by the precinct now that it was swarming with agents, officers, detectives and police drones. To avoid being seen Connor would need to stick to the shadows and avoid setting foot in any area with a wide open space or any kind of bright lighting. It was a night where Connor's stealth and tracking skills were going to be put to the test.

Without making a sound Connor managed to use his cybernetic scanner and ability to remotely tap into the motion sensors, cameras and live feed of the police drones, as well as use the city surveillance cameras to his advantage. The deviant vigilante was able to quickly locate the missing twelfth van - F.B.I. van numbered as eight - and track it down as it passed by Hart Plaza at a rather hasty clip.

"The other precincts will be made aware of the assassination, which means Lucas and Hank will be made aware of the assassination as well."

The notion of tracking down the F.B.I. van while the rest of the officers and detectives in Detroit were fixated on the mayor's assassination gave Connor hope that he'd be able to roam the city streets without needing to worry about being exposed. The fewer times he was actively seen in the city, the easier it'd be to pass off the mysterious vigilante - the 'Twilight Guardian' - as nothing more than an urban legend being used to scare bigots into behaving themselves in a new world where deviants were addressed as people.

Connor used the city streets to his advantage as he tracked down the missing van. Using one of the city's autonomous public busses to gain some speed, Connor climbed up the rear of the bus as it idled at an empty bus stop, then clung to the roof of the vehicle as he laid down on his stomach while the bus continued on its route. The icy cold of the metal vehicle was only barely felt courtesy of Connor's protective gear shielding him from the intense chill that would've otherwise radiated throughout his entire body as he continued to track the van while the bus went along its own route.

"The van hasn't moved in the past two minutes, nine seconds. The driver is apparently waiting for someone to meet with them at the plaza."

As the autonomous bus made a turn away from the plaza Connor pushed himself up just enough to kneel down on the roof of the vehicle before preconstructing his impending jump. At just the right time Connor leapt from the top of the moving bus to grab onto a metal lamp post with both hands and then drop to the icy sidewalk without making a sound. Connor kept his head down and footsteps light as he rushed toward Hart Plaza and quickly spotted the black F.B.I. van parked casually along the street just in front of the now infamous plaza all courtesy of the F.B.I. opening and using the cruel recycling camps on the night of the Revolution.

With the grace of a black cat stalking the night Connor crept up on the idling F.B.I. van from behind without triggering the vehicle's emergency proximity sensors courtesy of his cybernetic hacking skills. Connor was aware of the security measures and of the van's cameras, which allowed him to easily sneak up on the parked vehicle without the driver ever knowing that he was there. Only when he reached the driver's side door did Connor get a good look at the driver's face through the side window, and with that glimpse of the agent who dropped the assassin off at the Eastern Precinct, the deviant vigilante felt his blood run cold with fear and disgust in a single heartbeat.

Agent Richard Perkins.

"What is he doing here?"

Connor managed to keep his understandable thought to himself as a hushed whisper that disappeared in the snowy wind. The official statement regarding the disgraceful agent had been that Perkins was removed from his position of authority by the F.B.I. Director himself, and that Perkins was on strict probation. The man shouldn't have been able to assist with any federal investigations, let alone leave Washington D.C. without someone monitoring his every move and reporting it back to the same F.B.I. Director in return.

"This is too suspicious. I have to do something before Perkins either destroys any evidence or flees the city."

After making his bold decision Connor took hold of the van's driver side door handle and forced the door open, the lock be damned. The violent groaning of the twisting, snapping metal echoed loudly down the vacant street while Perkins let out a yelp of surprise and fumbled for his gun to understandably point at the masked person who had just ripped his car door clean off its hinges.

"What the fu-"

"Get out of the car!" Connor shouted with a garbled voice as he wrapped his hand around the barrel of Perkins's gun and forcibly removed the weapon from the shamed agent's grip. The ease in which he disarmed Perkins wasn't nearly as satisfying as one would imagine it'd be. "MOVE!"

"Get your hands- H-Hey?!"

Perkins couldn't defend himself as the masked vigilante took hold of his coat's lapels and yanked him out of the van to lay on the snowy sidewalk atop his chest and stomach with his gun resting just inches away from his hand. Before the man could even try to utter another word or reach for the weapon, he felt a knee being pressed down in the middle of his spine as a strong weight pressed down against him.

"Why did you murder Nero?" Getting right to the point Connor began a cybernetic recording of his impromptu apprehension and interrogation of the disgraced agent now being pinned to the frozen ground. "Who is the person you escorted to the Eastern Precinct tonight?"

"Get off me!" Perkins eked out pitifully as Connor continued to hold him down on the sidewalk. The human was no match an android's strength, especially when that particular android actively upgraded their entire body to its absolute peak just one month prior. "I'm n-not telling you anything!"

"I watched you drop off the assassin at the Eastern Precinct and then leave the scene." As he spoke Connor tried to be as intimidating as possible while his voice sounded as if it was glitching in an electronic manner. "I watched through the precinct walls as the assassin descended to the precinct's basement, assaulted two of the precinct's personnel, and then murdered Nero with a single gunshot. Why? Why kill a man that was already set to stand trial?"

"Fuck off!" Grunting for his breath Perkins refused to cooperate. The man could only feebly kick his legs about and try to wrench his body free despite Connor pinning him to the ground and then pulling his arms behind his back to hold down at an uncomfortable position. "Y-You can't do anything to me!"

There was no denying that particular statement. Connor wasn't a detective or any other properly recognized authority figure in the city. He was a nameless, faceless vigilante acting outside of the law rather than within it. While Connor could privately investigate any crime at his leisure, he couldn't enact any form of authority or arrest anyone for any reason without being guilty of assault or unlawful restraint.

"I may not be able to personally do anything to you," the masked vigilante admitted with a bitter retort. "but the police officers who loathe your very existence can."

"The cops can't touch me." Perkins growled as he turned his head and looked at the masked deviant pinning him to the ground with just one eye. It was too painful to try to wrestle free of the much stronger deviant's grip. "If they could do anything then you wouldn't be here right now. When the cops do show up, they'll arrest you before they even take one look at me."

It was hard to admit that Perkins was right, but he couldn't deny it. Connor couldn't be seen getting physical with an F.B.I. agent regardless of their reputation or current assignment. If he was seen attacking any figure of authority then Connor would surely be arrested and labeled as a villain toward Detroit, not an ally. There were very options in the matter and Connor needed to relent on his personal interrogation for only the time being.

Slowly Connor lessened his grip on Perkins's arms and stood upright to remove his knee from the corrupt man's back. As he stood back on the sidewalk and watched Perkins frantically get back to his feet, Connor instinctively reached one arm back and let his hand hover above the bo-staff secured to the magnetic supports along his shoulders. The deviant detective had learned to never let his guard down and to always be prepared for anything.

On that night Connor's caution was entirely warranted.

Perkins quickly snatched up his gun from the snowy sidewalk and pointed the barrel of the weapon directly at Connor's face. Evidently, the man wasn't going to shoot to incapacitate, he was going to shoot to kill.

Connor froze where he stood as he preconstructed his limited choices. The entire city seemed to stop as time slowed to a sluggish rate in the blink of an eye. Even the snow and ice being blown about in the wind had seemingly stopped mid-air creating a thin veil of white crystals between Connor and armed, dangerous agent. As he stood statuesque before the destructive human Connor watched the man's every motion with such pinpoint accuracy that Connor knew exactly what Perkins was about to do and already knew how to respond without getting himself damaged in the process.

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the streets and was almost immediately accompanied by the sound of a metallic 'bang' as Connor used his bo-staff to smoothly deflect the fired bullet with such ease behind the swinging motion that one would've thought it was nothing more than magic trick. The deflected bullet left a faint dent on the end of the strong staff before it ricocheted off the defensive weapon and became lodged in the sidewalk at Perkins's feet. The agent was stunned by Connor's incredible reflexes and barely reacted to the large vehicle speeding down the street in his direction from directly behind him.

Unfazed by the attempted murder Connor held his ground and his weapon. He didn't blink as the twin white beams of headlights shone over Perkins and cast the repugnant man's shadow over his face. The rapid approach of the speeding car told Connor that he needed to prepare to disappear before things got any more complicated or tense.

The large car skidded to a stop just inches away from the sidewalk and the driver's door was thrown open as a very intimidating man stepped out of the vehicle to handle the dangerous situation.

"FREEZE!" Hank's baritone voice echoed with authority that came only from years of experience on the police force. "Drop the gun. NOW."

Perkins slowly turned his head to peer at Hank over his shoulder with surprise before he returned his focus to the Connor. In that single instance of averting his gaze Connor had disappeared from sight and Perkins was left pointing his recently fired gun at the side of his own still idling van. Before he could even ask where the masked vigilante had gone Perkins felt a strong hand rip the recently fired gun out of his own grip then felt another strong hand shoving him forward by his shoulder until he was pinned on his chest against the side of the van with an audible 'thud'.

"You just fucked up, Perkins." The menacing tone of Hank's voice was enough to make the disgraced agent snap back to reality. "This van was visually recorded at the scene of a murder tonight, and I just saw you firing your gun at the same van trying to ignite the gas tank and destroy the evidence."

"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Perkins gasped as he looked at Hank behind him over his shoulder as the Lieutenant painfully pinned his arms behind his back then secured his wrists in a pair of handcuffs. Grunting in pain, the arrested man allowed Hank to frisk him for any other weapons and evidence as he tried to defend his unusual behavior on that cold night. "I wasn't shooting at the van!"

"Bullshit! I caught you red-handed." Hank gave Perkins another hard shove as he pushed the man away from the van and over to the idling Oldsmobile on the street just behind them. "My dash-cam caught you too. Dumb fucker..."

"Look, I didn't shoot at the van. I shot at that masked freak that you can't seem to catch!"

"'Masked freak'?" Glancing about the area Hank looked for any sign of another person but there was none. Had he bothered to look on the other side of the very van that he had pinned Perkins against then he would've seen the vigilante standing idle and waiting for his chance to properly sneak away from the plaza. "You're the only freak out here, asshole."

"That vigilante attacked-"

"Save it! I don't wanna' hear your bullshit."

"Look at the sidewalk!" Perkins nearly begged as he begrudgingly allowed Hank to escort him to the car. "There's a bullet-"

"SHUT. UP." Hank barked the command as he pushed Perkins into the backseat of the Oldsmobile to be taken to the precinct. "I saw you firing at your own van, that's all I need to see to know that you're trying to hide something. I get the feeling it involves your F.B.I. buddy assassinating our former mayor tonight."

"You can't pin what one other person did on me." The arrested agent snarled with a sense of misplaced indignation. "I was on patrol when the assassination happened, my own G.P.S. and interior camera of the van prove everything."

"Uh-huh. Forgive me for not trusting the word of a washed-up failure of an agent."

The door slammed shut in Perkins's face as Hank casually strolled back to the sidewalk to take a quick look around. The man found a fresh bullet hole that had been carved into the snowy sidewalk where Perkins had been recently standing, and he could faintly smell the distinct aroma of gunpowder wafting in the air.

"The fucker must've gotten spooked by someone and fired his gun into the sidewalk as a warning shot. Why the fuck was he out here anyway?"

"Lieutenant?"

Hank hovered his hand over his own holstered gun on his hip then slowly lowered his arm as he vaguely recognized the voice calling out to him. Doing his best to appear casual, Hank walked along the side of the van then made a show of examining the rear of the vehicle to keep Perkins from seeing him speaking to a potential witness at the crime scene in that very moment. He could feel Perkins glaring a hole in the back of his head as the agent sat in the back of the van with nowhere to run and no one to call for back-up.

"Lieutenant Anderson," the voice spoke up again in a calm and level tone. "I'm not a threat."

"Yeah, I know." To keep his face hidden as he spoke Hank reached up with one hand to scratch at his beard and then intentionally look out at the plaza to present his back to Perkins as the agent watched him through the Oldsmobile's front windshield where he still sat in the restrictive cuffs. "You've been looking into the mayor's bullshit too, haven't you?"

"I have, yes." Connor admitted as he stepped closer to the rear of the van with his hands in the air as if to surrender and showcase his passive demeanor. When he saw that Hank wasn't armed he lowered his hands slowly to confirm that he wasn't a threat. "I'm the one who reported the assassination. I regret that I reacted too slowly to prevent the assassination itself."

"Don't worry about it. Nero would've been torn apart in prison on day one anyway." Hank never looked at the masked vigilante as they spoke. It made it easier for him to deny ever encountering the wanted vigilante while continuing to look into events in the city. "As far as I'm concerned, the assassination just saved the taxpayers a shit-ton of money and a massive headache. Why are you here?"

"I witnessed this van stop in front of the Eastern Precinct and drop off the assassin just two minutes and four seconds before Nero was gunned down in what was supposed to be a secured holding cells. Perkins is connected to the assassination, and I suspect that Perkins is also connected to the mayor as well."

"And I would bet my badge that you're right; Perkins's name is somewhere on Nero's buddy list of cohorts. I'll be sure to look into it myself." Keeping his voice even Hank continued to speak to the vigilante without any interest in uncovering their identity or asking them any questions about who they are or why they were acting as a vigilante in the city streets in general. "Nice to see you survived your bullet wound and aren't out here needing to rescue any more sick kids. For the record, not all of us detectives are as brazen and impulsive as Detective Reed. I won't open fire on you unless you give me a damn good reason."

"I'm aware. Otherwise, I wouldn't be speaking to you right now." Connor had a very rare chance to talk with Hank directly and he wasn't about to let it go. "Please be sure to look at the officer who was complicit in Detective Reed's false tip that led me out to the abandoned plant in an effort to kill me."

"Already did. Some jackass named Ulyesses 'Something', helped Reed with the fake tip, and he got busted by his own Captain." Hank was speaking with the vigilante in such a calm manner that he felt almost entirely at ease about the entire situation. It was as if Hank had met the vigilante long before and knew that he didn't need to worry about what they were doing. "Ulysses has a history of bigoted crimes against androids, women, minorities and just about everyone who isn't a straight, white male. He's out of a job and already out of the city. Even his wife filed for divorce against his pathetic ass."

"I see." Quiet for a heartbeat Connor dared to test the waters with a dark question. "May I ask of what happened to Detective Reed after the incident?"

"He's on extremely thin ice, but since he hit absolute rock bottom, he's been working hard to repair his reputation and atone for his mistakes." While it was unprofessional to discuss the behavior and punishment of a fellow officer, Hank felt as if the vigilante was owed an honest answer. "One more fuck up, and he's gone."

"Lieutenant," speaking up softly with his false voice made Connor feel incredibly deceptive for all the wrong reasons. A part of him knew that he could trust Hank and tell him the truth, but another part of him feared disappointing or offending Hank in a way he could barely put into words. "you work with a deviant android as your partner in the field; the same android that I had initially escorted to the Central Precinct several weeks ago. May I ask why?"

"You're talking about Lucas. To be honest with you, it's because the kid is the one truly honest soul left in the city, and I want to protect him." The notion of Lucas being left to roam Detroit without guidance and without a friend in the world was enough to break the gruff man's heart of gold. "I failed to protect the last honest soul that came my way, but I won't fail this time. I owe it to him to keep Lucas safe for as long as I'm still breathin'."

"You owe someone a debt?" As expected, Connor was unfamiliar with the human concept of personal debts and didn't understand Hank was talking about. "How can protecting one deviant repay any form of debt?"

"My last partner was- Look..." A heavy sigh followed Hank's faded words as Connor's eyes momentarily widened with a sense of unspoken understanding. "A good detective got killed on my watch only a month ago, the morning after the Revolution in fact, and I won't let another good and innocent person get hurt. And Lucas, aside from being a good detective and an innocent person who has every right to live a peaceful life, he... reminds me of my former partner. In every best way possible."

"Interesting."

"Hey, don't judge me or think I'm trying to somehow undo the past by taking care of Lucas, and I'm not treating him like a substitute or replacement. I care about him as I would any other friend. He just happens to look like and remind me of the friend I already lost. I can't stand the idea of losing another friend."

"...Friend." Repeating the word quietly gave Connor a sense of connection that he hadn't acknowledged when it came to how he previously viewed Hank. "Do you believe that Lucas is in any form of danger?"

"Well, yeah. He's a deviant detective investigating crooked humans in positions of power and authority." It was then Hank realized how serious the situation was truly becoming. Nero's assassination by the corrupt F.B.I. meant that anyone who was handling Nero's investigation was a potential target. "Shit. The kid might be getting too close to the truth for anyone's comfort."

"I cannot tell you what to do in any capacity, however, I strongly encour-"

"Don't worry about it. I'll be keeping Lucas and myself at a safe distance from this investigation from now on. That joke of a mayor isn't worth anyone getting hurt or losing their life over." Hank decided it was time to hand back and reprioritize his investigative inquiries for unforeseeable future. "You were looking into the mayor's corruption and then you exposed his dirty little secrets to the city. Have you been looking at any other problem in the city while you're doing your 'Zorro act'?"

"I'm merely watching over the city and keeping apprised of any political corruption that could prove detrimental." To call what Connor was doing an 'act' seemed almost insulting. "I will respond to any situation revolving around deviants to ensure my people aren't being overlooked by mistake. As you know, some humans still refuse to see deviants as equals."

"Fair enough." Nervously Hank ran his fingers through his hair along the back of his head. He knew he'd have to return to the Oldsmobile soon to avoid drawing any suspicious comments from people wondering why he was lingering so long at the plaza and around the idling F.B.I. van. "Uh, do you happen to know about any unsolved deviant murders? I mean, I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm just wondering if you know about anything that could help the police with an investigation."

"May I ask..." Connor trailed off for a heartbeat as he pushed himself to ask the awkward question that he already knew the answer to. "Are you referring to the murder of your previous partner?"

"Yeah." There was no denying that Hank was still focused on everything that happened to Connor when they parted ways that snowy morning in front of the 'Chicken Feed' food stand. "I know he was gunned down in that abandoned church in Woodward, but I don't know who pulled the trigger."

"If you give me some time, I can tell you what happened in the church." The deviant vigilante wanted to give Hank a sense of closure after everything that he had gone through. There was no need to let him feel guilty for an incident that he had no responsibility over. "I will find a way to contact you again, and we can speak in private. That is, if you'd be comfortable with such an arrangement."

"You being able to help me close that particular case isn't going to be a problem." Hank accepted the deal with a subtle nod before he turned around to return to his Oldsmobile and head back to the precinct. Before he got too far away, he expressed his true appreciation to the vigilante with a single, succinct word. "Thanks."

"...You're welcome."

Connor could only remain concealed behind the van in deep thought as he waited for Hank to leave the plaza with Perkins secured in the back of the vehicle. It was as if he had just entered forbidden territory by talking with Hank and promising to help him with the investigation into his own assumed murder, but it was a necessary truth that needed to be revealed.

Hank deserved to know the truth.

Once the Oldsmobile had pulled away from Hart Plaza at a steady pace Connor sighed in relief and cybernetically tapped into police dispatch to monitor the tense investigation in real-time. There was nothing more to be done beyond what he had already accomplished. It was time for Connor to step aside and trust that the honest police officers and detectives would be able to handle their investigation without a corrupt official interfering.

"I'm not sure what Perkins is doing in Detroit beyond covering up his own tracks and past mistakes, but he won't succeed with his corrupt actions."

Quietly Connor examined the end of his bo-staff for any sign of permanent damage before resecuring the weapon to his shoulders. As he strolled through the vacant, snow covered streets to return to the lighthouse on Belle Isle, Connor reflected on everything that had happened, on everything that could happen, and everyone that could become involved in such a dire situation either willingly or unwillingly.

There was no denying that tensions in the city were growing more intense with each passing day. When the city finally reached its limits and reacted to the violence in its own violent manner, no one would be spared from the wave of extreme emotions and intense action. Everyone would feel the consequences of their own actions regardless of who they were and how much power they possessed.

"Stay safe, Hank."

Connor pleaded to a nonexistent ear.

"For Lucas's sake and my own, we need you to be all right when this entire fiasco is finally over."

-next chapter-