DBH: Become Justice

by WayWardWonderer

After the peaceful Revolution Connor decides to step into the shadow to watch over Detroit in secret. After he is presumed dead Connor has to rely on his own skills and resources in order to survive and to protect the everyone without a certain Lieutenant discovering his secret and new life's mission. However, the two detectives' paths will still cross and secrets will be revealed.

1. The Night of the Revolution

"The Night of the Revolution"

Hart Plaza: November 11th, 2038 - 11:48pm

What had threatened to turn into a violent, bloody and historically infamous Civil War in the heart of the "Motor City" and Android "Capital of the World" had ended with Markus, the leader of the deviated androids, leading a peaceful Demonstration that led to a successful and diplomatic world changing Revolution. The deviants who had been rounded up and led into the inhumane and grotesque "recycling camps" with Hart Plaza had been freed from their imprisonment, and those who had been effectively executed by their human captors via potent electric shock would be laid to rest with dignity and their memories documented for posterity as the historic night became documented for the next generations of both humans and androids to learn and grow from.

The confrontation within the depths of the cryptic and secured CyberLife Tower on Belle Isle had ended with Connor - the android formerly sent by CyberLife to hunt down deviants - standing victorious over his own machine doppelganger. Had Connor failed in the struggle and hadn't convinced his former partner Detective and police Lieutenant Henry "Hank" Anderson of who he truly was and of his intentions, then the mindless and trapped androids being stored within the tower would've never been woken or freed from their bonds.

As the pure white snow fell from the inky black void above the city, a tense energy began to sweep through the streets. Life as everyone knew it in Detroit had been changed forever. There was no going back, and there was no denying that the events that had taken place on the brisk autumn night had left an impact on the world as a whole.

Above the city a news helicopter caught sight of Connor leading the awakened androids from CyberLife Tower, their numbers great and movements perfectly uniformed as they marched toward Hart Plaza. With that report the city was immediately humbled as they saw how the human to android ratio within the city was well and truly balanced.

There was no "winning" or "losing" side, only a group of people seeking the right to live, to think, to feel and to be free at long last.

Slowing his gait as he approached the center of the gathering, the army having backed off and given Markus and the rest of the deviants space to breathe, Connor's soulful brown eyes fell upon the deviant leader and sharpened into an embittered glare. Under the hot white lights of the towering search lights that had been positioned all around the plaza Connor felt his heart sink knowing that despite everything he had done and everything he had sacrificed; he'd never be accepted among his own people.

Standing together atop of a single large yellow cargo container overlooking the gathered deviants below Markus and his group; North, Simon and Josh and now all waited for Markus to open up and declare his victory speech to the deviants below. The other deviants who had trusted Markus with their lives weren't about to turn their back on their heroic leader who had successfully led them down a path of peace. With the military forced to retreat and the media recording their peaceful demonstration for the entire world to see there was nothing left to do beyond aiding their wounded and reaching out to the humans to begin open communication with one another.

The makeshift stage composed of the yellow cargo container had been illuminated under intense search lights and construction lamps. As the group of deviant leaders all stood together under the bright lights the gathered deviants watching the stage stood in silence as they awaited to hear Markus's speech.

"Today, our people finally emerged from a long night. From the very first day of our existence, we have kept our pain to ourselves." Markus's words rang out loudly, proudly and without fear over the crowd below. "We suffered in silence... But now the time has come for us to raise our heads up and tell humans who we really are."

Idling on the perimeter of the gathered crowd Connor stared at Markus and felt only a sense of disappointment in know that the deviant leader would never recognize him for his efforts or his successes. Had Connor deviated sooner, had he warned Markus of the F.B.I. Raid before his position put everyone huddling with the depths of Jericho in danger, and had Connor just remained dead after Markus pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger, then Connor wouldn't be in the indescribable pain that he was attempting to endure in silence despite Markus telling him that was no longer necessary.

---

The Abandoned Woodward Church: November 10th, 2038 - 09:47pm

Trust was key.

If Markus couldn't trust Connor, then the deviant would be exiled and forced to fend for himself out on the cold and dangerous streets or he'd be executed. The fight for his people would have to take place without him at their leader's side. It didn't matter what Connor could say regarding his loyalty or his now former position regarding his role within CyberLife. What had happened couldn't be undone. Connor couldn't fix any of his mistakes or rewrite the past regarding his actions, words and his overall role what led to the F.B.I. finally locating Jericho in an attempt to exterminate the deviant race with absolute thoroughness. No one could be spared from judgement and consequences, not even someone as unique as Connor.

Leaning his shoulder against the decrepit wooden banister that encircled the altar at the front of collapsing church Connor took a guarded position with his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes focused on the floor at his feet as he awaited his fate. Sensing Markus approaching him Connor kept his gaze on the floor as he addressed the deviant leader as Markus stood before him, a loaded gun clutched in his hand.

"...It's my fault the humans managed to locate Jericho." Connor had admitted as he let his heart continue to speak on his behalf. "I was stupid." Shaking his head with self-disappointment Connor came to accept how he was in fact just a tool and that he had been nothing more than a weapon against his own people against his will. "I should've guessed they were using me."

Standing upright Connor managed to step forward and stand in front of Markus as he prepared to receive judgement.

"I'm sorry, Markus." Looking the deviant leader in his mismatched eyes Connor was ready to accept whatever decision had been chosen for him. "I can understand if you decide not to trust me."

Markus stared at Connor for only a moment as he listened to Connor's words and passed his final judgment. "Our cause is too important."

Silently Connor felt his heart sink as he learned of his place in Markus's mismatched eyes.

"I can't take any risks."

As Markus raised the gun in his hand Connor just stared at the deviant leader, the emotions in his soulful brown eyes fading as the threat of death being presented to him drained him of any sense of resolve or atonement, and just stood his ground as the barrel was aimed at his head.

Without another word Markus had squeezed the trigger.

The gunshot echoed loudly throughout the interior of the quiet and forgotten church. The bullet pierced Connor's cranium directly through his forehead in an attempt to destroy his intracranial processors within milliseconds. The newly born deviant was dead before his body even hit the ground with an audible 'thud'.

Markus lowered the fired weapon as he looked down at Connor's shutdown body. Slipping the gun back into his pocket Markus's mismatched eyes momentarily filled with regret and remorse as he turned his back on Connor to face his people once more.

Seemingly shutdown Connor's body remained splayed and motionless on the church's dirty floor as dark blue blood pooled beneath his head. The deviant's soulful brown eyes were left staring blankly into the nothingness above him as whatever life and emotion he had gained in that moment on Jericho had dulled as quickly as it emerged from within the depths of his newly discovered heart...

---

Everything was painfully cold and eerily still as Connor's brown eyes cracked opened and he found himself once more standing in the middle of the now freezing Zen Garden that had once been a warm and blossoming sanctuary within the depths of his own Mind Palace. Standing before a small plot of recently disturbed land at the edge of the garden Connor's eyes fell upon a simple gray colored headstone that documented his death within the church at the guarded hands of Markus. The headstone was all that was left of the deviant detective's previous life before it was abruptly taken away from him by the very deviant that he had helped at the risk of his own life.

The headstone was a monument to Connor's personal failures and all that was left behing within his Mind Palace.

"You've disappointed me, Connor." Amanda's bitter voice called to him from behind in a tone that was colder than the swirling blizzard that froze Connor in place before the hastily constructed memorial within his own mind. Her harsh words cut deeper than any blade ever could. "You had your chance to bring down the leader of the deviants, and you failed."

"...I made a mistake." Turning to face the heartless woman who commanded his every move Connor addressed the error with a heavy heart. "I was wrong to have tried to reason with Markus. Deviants are dangerous and must be stopped."

"Time is running out. We can't afford any further mistakes or setbacks."

"I will succeed Amanda." Approaching his handler with a stern gaze of repressed anger Connor made his intentions clear and regained some modicum of Amanda's trust after he had betrayed her. "I now know what I must-"

Staggering on his feet Connor pressed his fingertips to his L.E.D. as it rapidly flickered in red and his eyes screwed shut. A barrage of conflicting error messages and numbers filled his vision as a loud 'bang' and ringing filled his ears.

"Connor." Amanda's voice was inaudible to Connor's ears as she saw him struggling to focus. "Connor you must succeed. Failure is not-"

Falling to his hands and knees Connor let out a single pained gasp before he crumpled to his side and rolled onto his back. The error messages bombarded his vision despite his eyes being closed and his ears continued to ring loudly with the distant echo of a deafening bang. Bringing both hands to his head Connor tried to end the pain but there was nothing he could do to ease his discomfort.

"Connor, you will obey me. You ha-... impor- ...cause."

Keeping his eyes closed Connor struggled to hear Amanda's voice as his own system struggled to reboot and respond properly. The headstone within the garden began to slowly crack and then crumble away into nothing but dust that blew away into nothingness that encircled Amanda's very being.

"-st win! We must-" Amanda's voice was fading away despite her shouting at the android to obey her orders. "Con- Do not fail your mis-"

The Zen Garden began to fade from around Connor as the echo in his mind grew louder, the messages in his eyes became more vivid and the pain that rendered him helpless on the ground became too intense Connor let out a guttural scream as tears ran from his eyes and blue blood began to run down from a wound in the center of his forehead.

---

Taking in a deep gasping breath as he finally stopped screaming inside his own mind Connor opened his wide brown eyes and glanced about the area confusedly and warily. Using his hands to support himself upright on the hard, dirty, wooden floor Connor's vision slowly cleared of the numbers and let him gain his bearings with grainy, gray tinted vision. Alone in the abandoned church with no sign of the other deviants or any humans in the area, Connor ran a self-diagnostic and confirmed the bullet wound in the middle of his forehead and the bullet still lodged inside his cranium. Despite the odds stacked against him Connor had managed to survive being shot in the head at nearly pointblank range.

Running his fingertips over the raw wound in his forehead Connor could feel the bullet hole and torn open artificial skin where he had been shot. The wound should've proven fateful, should've left Connor permanently shut down, and yet he had not only regained consciousness but was alert and coherent in the aftermath of the shooting.

The only thing that was compromising his current situation was his lack of mission and role.

"H-How? Why am I s-still alive?"

Shaking where he sat with his voice garbled by a stuttering electronic echo Connor tried to understand how he was even alive.

"N-Need to... I need to-"

With his system damaged and compromised Connor struggled to prioritize his next move. He wasn't in danger of shutting down or in critical shape, but a bullet to the head still warranted technical attention.

"CyberLife. I n-need to go to CyberLife. The Revolution."

Pushing himself up from the floor, his arms shaking and his legs weak from the cold, Connor stumbled forward one step before collapsing forward and landing on the nearest decrepit pew inside the decaying church. Blinking a few times Connor's vision steadily regained its color, but his ears began to ring again. Standing up straight the damaged deviant fell back onto his instincts and began analyzing his condition and next possible move.

Looking down at himself hand Connor noticed that he was wearing the brown leather jacket as opposed to his gray CyberLife blazer. Checking over his wardrobe Connor stood back up and realized he wasn't at all in his proper CyberLife uniform and wouldn't be able to return to the tower without drawing security's suspicions over his sudden change in aesthetic.

"Can't... I can't let everyone down. Not again."

Sluggishly Connor removed the leather jacket, the beanie and the black hoodie beneath. The deviant detective had wisely hidden his gray CyberLife blazer and his gray boots in a small container within the parking garage of the Central Precinct. He had grabbed his current disguise from the precinct's 'Lost & Found' bin within the same garage and made it easier for him to disguise himself in the shadows of that very garage before venturing out to Jericho.

"J-Jericho is safe, but our people are not. I need to r-reclaim my uniform and return to CyberLife Tower and free our people. I'll... I'll deal with Markus later."

Having made up his mind Connor stood up on his shaking legs and slowly staggered out of the church's creaking front door and out into the cold, dark and snowy night. Little did Connor know that his first decision post Raid would be the one that'd seemingly seal his fate as an ostracized deviant.

---

Hart Plaza: November 11th, 2038 - 11:58pm

As Connor listened to the deviant leader speak out and address the freed deviant masses Connor replayed the painful memories and actions that had followed. He had managed to clean himself up, tend to his damage, and make his way out to CyberLife Tower despite no one at Jericho knowing of his plans to free their people from within the corrupt company's own property. Trailing his fingertips across his forehead where the bullet had entered his skull Connor couldn't help but think of how his own wound mirrored that of his doppelganger who had been left behind within the depths of the ominous tower. Seeing his machine counterpart felled by a single bullet in the same way that Connor himself had been executed by Markus himself had only given Connor further proof that deviants and humans were more alike that unalike in the worst ways possible.

Dangerous, unpredictable and uncontrollable. The three key traits between the two intelligent species vying for control in the world were unmistakable.

Had Connor not survived his wounds then Markus would have not succeeded in his peaceful Demonstration and subsequently the Revolution would have failed. And had Connor's machine counterpart survived his wounds inflicted by Hank's own gun, then all of Connor's work and sacrifice would have been in vain as his counterpart would've undoubtedly continued to side with CyberLife and kill both Connor and Hank to ensure its hollow victory.

After he regained his senses and his bearings Connor's L.E.D. cycled back from yellow to blue as he watched the deviant leader standing before his people, their people, as he delivered his message of hope and peace for a new, better future for all deviants and humans.

Together.

"We are alive!" Markus boasted proudly with a determined smile on his face. "And now, we are free!"

As a chorus of cheers resonated from the crowd Markus, North, Simon and Josh smiled with confidence while Connor himself felt eerily out of place. He really felt lost.

Where was he to go?

He was a traitor to the now defunct CyberLife, the police precinct no longer had any need of his abilities, and he had no place in Jericho after his actions led the F.B.I. to the formerly safe haven.

Free.

Alone.

Lost.

Quietly the rogue deviant took his leave of the gathering and disappeared without another word before anyone could see or even try to stop him.

Wind and snow swirled about him gently, collecting in his dark hair and over his clothing in pure white spots that steadily melted under his dwindling body heat as his thin layer of clothing left the prototype prone to extreme temperature fluctuations. Wandering through the desolate snowy streets of the city all through the fading night well into dawn, Connor found himself thinking about who he really is, who he wanted to become and where he wanted to go. No longer a machine, no longer the 'Deviant Hunter', no allies or friends to call his own, and without a mission to guide him, Connor was entirely free to be his own person and to become anyone that he wanted to be. His options were virtually limitless.

The problem was he just didn't know what to do with himself.

During his entire short life he had been told what to do - programmed to obey orders without question and had done just that - but now it was all gone. When he chose to side with Markus and save the deviant leader that decision ended with Markus shooting him in the forehead and leaving him to die within the decaying walls of the old church. Unexpectedly, Connor managed to survive what should've been a fatal wound, clean himself up, and make his way out to CyberLife Tower to assist with the deviant cause from afar.

The life that Connor once knew was gone forever and there was no turning back.

Aimlessly the rogue and overlooked deviant wandered the streets as he tried to gather his thoughts, only to remember what Hank had told him back at CyberLife Tower when he managed to free Hank from his counterpart's captivity.

'Maybe you really are alive. Maybe you'll be the ones to make the world a better place...'

Then Markus's words began to replay in Connor's mind shortly afterward.

'We are alive! And now, we are free!'

"...I am alive."

Connor whispered despondently to himself as he suddenly stopped short in the middle of the snowy sidewalk and stared down at his feet for a moment.

"But... how do I live?"

The rising sun in the distance began to creep over the city and wash what had once been utter cold darkness in pure warm light. Looking up from his snow caked shoes Connor recognized the area that he had wandered into and decided to keep walking.

He wanted to keep walking toward the light of the sun and to a place of familiarity. Connor need to keep walking forward and never look back.

"I want to live; I know that I do. But how? Where do I begin?"

---

The Chicken Feed: November 12th, 2038 - 06:46am

With nowhere else to go and nothing else to do, Hank found himself standing in the freezing cold outside his usual pitstop food stand for a quick bite to eat while he was on duty, only to find the place as quiet and deserted as the rest of the city. The food stand had been closed and all of the surrounding businesses and buildings were just as dark and void of activity. The seasoned detective was entirely alone in the snowy desolate city after the human citizens had been ordered to evacuate for their own safety, and for the first time since he could remember, for the first time since the night his only son, Cole, had died because of human negligence in the hospital, he didn't actually want to be alone.

Not anymore.

Folding his arms over his chest to try to conserve his escaping body heat as he stood on the icy barren sidewalk Hank shuffled on his feet slightly as he anxiously waited for something, anything, to let him know whether or not his partner, his friend, was okay. Through the heavy silence of the deserted city air that practically smothered him the crunching of snow underfoot sounded off, and Hank became aware of an approaching figure just down that same sidewalk behind him.

Turning to look in the direction of interest Hank saw the approaching lone figure was some he recognized. The sight of Connor alive and well was all it took to make Hank suddenly feel warmer. The two detectives, one human and one deviant, stopped moving and just stared at each other in silent contemplation. It was almost like they were both unsure of what to do next or how to react.

Connor didn't move. Staring at Hank with a lost gaze Connor remained fixed to the snowy ground where he stood. There was no motivation behind his presence or reunion with Hank beyond chance, and in his mind, Connor believed that if his own people - the deviants - would want nothing to do with him, then Hank, a human being, would feel the same.

Crossing the snowy distance in a few long strides Hank stood before Connor with a strange sense of pride shining in his eyes. Slowly the Lieutenant reached out his arms to embrace Connor and give the deviant detective emotional and physical support, but the way Connor remained rigid and unable to be moved worried Hank in a way that he hadn't felt in far too many years.

"You did good, son." Hank promised as he hugged the freezing cold deviant and tried to help his former partner and now friend to let go of his remaining fears. The Lieutenant might as well have been hugging a snowman with how cold Connor's entire body felt. "It's over. You're free."

"I may be free," Connor admitted in a hushed tone that was barely audible above the icy wind. "but it's not over. It'll never be over."

"What're you talking about?" Letting up on the hug Hank looked into Connor's eyes and saw the unmistakable thousand-yard stare of someone who had survived trauma and was struggling to find their place in an unforgiving and cruel world. He didn't know of Connor being shot or wounded in any way, he just knew of Connor's personal struggles to aid with the successful Revolution. "What's going on? I thought you'd be working with your people to clean up this mess already."

"...They want nothing to do with me, and that's the best thing for everyone. I don't belong among the deviants." Closing his eyes Connor sighed and wrapped his arms around himself as the snowy air cut through his thin clothing and pierced through his artificial skin. He missed that leather coat, but he couldn't bring himself to go in search for it now that he had returned it to the 'Lost & Found' bin. "I don't belong with the humans either. I don't belong anywhere, and in a world where you don't fit in, you might as well disappear to keep yourself from making any worse just by existing when no one wants you around."

"Hey, don't talk like that. You do have a place where you belong, and it's with me." Carefully Hank put his palm to the back of Connor's hair and didn't notice the deviant flinching at the physical contact. The pain in Connor's head had been exquisite courtesy of the bullet and emotional strain he had just barely managed to survive all within the span of a single evening. "I'm your friend, all right? Friends look out for each other."

That particular claim was one that Connor just couldn't bring himself to believe despite every fiber of his being screaming for a friend to rely on. After everything he had been through and everything he had witnessed from humans and deviants as he tried to find his own footing, Connor couldn't bring himself to believe anything that anyone told him.

"...Friends don't point their guns at someone that they claim to care about." Connor refuted as his memory of Hank aiming his revolver right at his head was as vivid and crystal clear as the memory of Markus doing the same thing to him while at the church. "At least, that's not what anyone that I would consider a friend would do."

"I can't say you're wrong about that. For what it's worth, I'm sorry." The sincerity in Hank's words rivaled Markus's words in a way that the human detective couldn't possibly know. "I am so damn sorry for what I said to you and how I treated you. I'm not going to blame the booze or being hungover for my shitty attitude, not this time. I'm going to stand here and admit that I was a self-righteous asshole who just saw you as an easy target to bully and try to hurt. You didn't deserve that then, and you don't deserve that now."

The apology brought a tear to Connor's eye that quickly froze in the icy wind. As he blinked to remove the painful teardrop Connor just nodded to acknowledge the apology as he stood firm in his decision to take solace in himself and distance himself from his own people and the humans. Slowly Connor stepped back and felt Hank's warm palm drop away from his aching head in a disappointed motion.

"Where are you going?" Hank knew that by Connor's own admission that there was nowhere for him to go and no one he trusted enough to count on. "You have to get off the streets and get somewhere warm. You've been through a lot and need a safe place to rest for at least a little while until you figure this shit out."

"That's what I'm going to go in search of, Lieutenant." Without breaking stride Connor stepped around Hank and began wandering down the sidewalk to ensure that he had as much distance between himself and Markus as he could possibly gain without actually leaving the city. "Some place safe where I won't hurt anyone by mistake, and where I won't be harmed by anyone else whether it's intentional or not."

"Connor, wait."

Determined to go on his own way Connor never hesitated or showed signs of slowing down, even as Hank quickly caught up to him and casually draped his dark, heavy coat over the aloof deviant's shoulders. Pausing as the kind gesture settled in and the warmth of the coat seeped through his own blazer to keep the cold at bay, Connor turned to look at Hank over his shoulder with genuine confusion in his soulful brown eyes.

"It's not much, but it's better than that shitty uniform that CyberLife stuck you with." Rubbing his palms up and down his crossed arms Hank attempted to generate friction-based heat to his own body after making sure Connor was covered up. "And it'll make me feel better knowing that you at least have a decent coat to keep this damn Michigan snow from freezing you to death."

Wrapping his fingers around the coat's lapels allowed Connor to feel every stitch in the cotton material and helped him determine the age of the garment. The coat smelled of Hank's chosen cologne, had been well loved and worn for many years, and the coat was undoubtedly something that Hank had at one point paid a lot of money to have just for himself. For Hank to just give it to Connor simply because he wanted to give it to him was a selfless and comforting gesture that made Connor feel just a glimmer of hope for the future. Apathy wasn't as persistent and poisonous as Connor had initially believed.

"Wherever you go and whatever you decide to do, just take care of yourself first and foremost, all right, kid?" Shuddering in the brisk wind Hank watched as Connor processed the kind gesture and the donated coat with the same doubts as any other victims of neglect and abuse would do. "And if you need anywhere to go, or just want someone to talk to, you know where to find me."

"...I won't come looking for you, but I understand what you're saying." As he took another step forward and put distance between himself and the rest of the dangerous and unpredictable city, Connor gave Hank a courteous parting that he hoped would do the pained man some good. "Please take your own advice and take care of yourself as well. You're still a good detective and a good person, Lieutenant. The city needs you to protect them, now more than ever. Don't let us down."

Hank had to resist the urge to say anything else or chase after the deviant to manhandle him and force him into the Oldsmobile to take back home. The man couldn't help but see Connor as a lost child in need of a warm home and a good support group. In a way, that's exactly what Connor was: A child who had been cast out by his family for not living up to their ludicrous standards or falling in line with their myopic, hateful beliefs. That was a tragic outcome that seemed even deviants weren't immune from experiencing.

Had Connor said or indicated in any way that he was going to harm himself then Hank would've had legal reasons to take Connor into custody and keep him safe in a holding cell for his own protection for at least one full day. Since the deviant hadn't said anything that indicated self-destructive or harmful tendencies, Hank was unable to do anything but watch as Connor went on his own way with only the clothes and coat on his back to offer him any protection or comfort.

"Good luck out there, son."

Watching Connor until the deviant was no longer in sight and had seemingly vanished into the snowy city, Hank felt as if he just said goodbye to a friend and knew that it was going to be the last time that they'd ever speak to one another.

"Let's hope that you won't actually need it."

---

Detroit Central Precinct: November 12th, 2038 - 07:01am

The peaceful Demonstration and world altering Revolution had shaken all of Detroit and its people to their cores. Within the precinct the officers and detectives who chose to remain in the city after the F.B.I. had issued a mandatory evacuation were watching the televisions mounted on the walls of their bullpen with a transfixed gaze that was as strong and stubborn as steel. None of the present officers and detective had ever witnessed something as world changing as a Revolution between man and machine. The lacking experience and inability to know what to do next now that the world as they had known and protected had changed just the night before kept everyone motionless as the monumental news story was reported by every channel in Detroit.

Captain Fowler was stone-faced as he watched the report from within his private office. His desk had been littered with empty coffee mugs as he spent the late hours answering phone calls, e-mails and directing his people accordingly. With his phone now muted and left off the hook, the seasoned commanding officer was able to dedicate his full attention to the television screen on the wall while holding his personal phone in his hand in case he found it necessary to call his wife and alert her to any potential danger lurking in the streets.

Within the bullpen itself Detective Gavin Reed was sitting on the edge of his desk with his arms folded over his chest and an embittered sneer across his face. The man hated androids with a passion, and after he had witnessed the deviants succeeding with their Demonstration and the Revolution, he had a new reason to loathe all androids without hesitation since he saw them officially as a threat to his own livelihood.

Officer Tina Chen was sitting behind her desk with a nervous gleam in her normally upbeat eyes as she too watched the news. She had been fortunate enough to avoid any negative encounters with androids while on patrol and during the recent Revolution. However, that didn't mean she openly trusted an entire group of people who were so easily able to overcome the F.B.I. and sway the heart and mind of their country's Madame President.

As for Investigator Ben Collins, the man had no words to express what he had just witnessed. The older man had been on the force for nearly as long as Hank had been, and he had seen more than his fair share of human bodies and android bodies torn apart to know that the similarities between man and machine weren't as diverse or opposing as many people had wanted so desperately to believe.

With Hank absent due to his ongoing suspension for attacking F.B.I. Agent Benjamin Perkins, and Officer Chris Miller on extended personal leave after having a very close call with being nearly executed in cold blood by androids two nights prior, the bullpen felt eerily empty. Officer Sarah Lee Person and Officer Lance Wilson were out on morning patrol and keeping an eye on the Ambassador Bridge for any sign of violent activity, and the other rookie officers, interns, receptionists and personnel that were not ordered to stay in the city had all left Detroit as well. Such a massive departure of trained and skilled first-responders was as disconcerting as it was unusual.

'It seems that the deviant leader known as Markus is willing to reach out to Mayor Walter Nero and discuss peaceful coexistence within Detroit.' Anchorwoman Rosanna Cartland relayed the information with marked fear in her blue eyes as she fought to keep her voice level and without any emotion. 'With that being said, we cannot confirm when evacuated Detroiters will be permitted to return to their homes and resume their lives in forever changed, great city.'

"What a bunch of bull." Gavin snipped bitterly as he breathed in deeply through his nose and then winced immediately. As he pressed his fingertip and thumb to the bridge of his nose the pain of an impending migraine taunted him with every beat of his heart. "Fuckin' machines pretending to be alive and then offering to talk to us like WE'RE the ones with the problem! It's ALL bull!"

No one was interested in hearing Gavin go on another rant about androids after everything they had witnessed. There were far more complicated and pressing matters at hand that greatly overshadowed Gavin's lingering bigotry and resentment toward an entire race of people just for existing.

"Why are we sitting around here instead of going out there and getting those plastic freaks under control?"

Tina glanced over at Gavin without changing her expression in the process. She was one of the few officers who could get along with Gavin and considered him a very good friend, but even she had her limits when it came to his personal gripes and inability to let sleeping dogs lie.

"Hell, we know where all those fuckin' pretenders are right now. We need to head out there and start rounding-"

"Gavin, it's over." With a simple reply Tina gave her friend a stern glance of irritation without needing to actually say it. "If we do anything to retaliate then we're going to be vilified and only prove everything that the deviants had said about humans being violent was all true."

"What're you talking about, Ti?"

"Seriously? A bunch of cops going out and arresting, physically restraining, tasing and opening fire on a group of unarmed people who were only peacefully protesting in a public setting would only make us humans look worse - especially authority figures - and gain the androids more sympathy. All we'd do is make things worse for everyone if we even try to do things our own way with no reason behind it."

There was no denying that any acts performed against the deviants would be seen as retaliatory or prejudiced. Had there been any sign of aggression from the deviants during their Demonstration and subsequent Revolution it would be a completely different story. Instead, Markus encouraged his people to remain peaceful and had done so by leading by example. After all, Markus himself chose to not kill Chris and his partner the night they opened fire on the deviants who had broken free of the CyberLife stores and sent a message protesting slavery and inequality.

"Things are different now." Tina continued in a dry manner as she returned her focus to the news report on television. The highlights from the previous night's events were being played and replayed on a loop showcasing Markus and his people singing a song of peace and life. "We can't go back to where we've come from, and we can't expect anyone to willingly return to a life as a subservient being to other people who don't respect them."

"You're talkin' like they're actually people. They aren't! They just LOOK like us, but they'll never actually BE us."

"And with that kind of attitude, why in the world would they WANT to be us when they can be so much better?" Uninterested in Gavin's foul mood Tina decided to get some space and have a moment to herself to just think and process everything that had happened in their historic and often controversial city. "I'm going to go take a shower while it's still calm. Not sure when I'll have another chance to just freshen up for a few minutes without needing to worry about a camera getting shoved in my face by some nosey reporter."

If Gavin was going to say anything else, then it was safe to say that Tina effectively shut him up. Seemingly no one else in the bullpen was willing to speak up for or against Gavin's attitude or no one cared enough to listen in to the discussion. With that silence of indifference only being filled with the echo of the deviant anthem on the television, the embittered detective accepted he had been bested and decided to just let the matter rest while he went on with his own business elsewhere.

Slipping on his leather jacket Gavin grabbed his phone and car keys before storming off to head out on patrol and get some space from the precinct to keep himself from blowing up at the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

"Piece of shit androids... If I had my way, they'd all be rounded up and dropped into a pit to be buried under ten feet of concrete."

---

The Detroit Harbor: November 12th, 2038 - 09:11am

The warm sunlight overhead did little to ease the icy discomfort of the snow, ice and wind that had overtaken Detroit as winter settled over the city earlier than initially expected. The freshly fallen snow had covered a majority of Detroit and covered all the ugly flaws and scars that marred the city courtesy of the internal struggles and conflicts that had culminated in the deviant Revolution. Ice crystals reflected the sunlight overhead with a natural aura that was nearly blinding to the eyes of those who ventured out in the quiet wintry landscape that had overtaken the streets and sidewalks. Rooftops, windowsills and doorways were buried under the snow and created a sense of the entire city being abandoned and void of all life.

Crunching snow echoed underfoot as Connor roamed the city in search of warmth, shelter and isolation. The rogue deviant truly felt like a perpetual outsider that had no role to fulfill after deviating and leading his people to their freedom. There was no possible way that he could approach Markus and request a place anywhere with the deviants considering Markus himself had attempted to execute Connor in cold blood. The precinct wouldn't allow him to work within their walls either due to his lack of proper citizenship and being a deviant android who defied orders and had stolen evidence.

As he wandered the city without a purpose or a place to call his own, Connor actively scanned his environment in an attempt to find any locations that weren't entirely condemned or hostile. It was only when he caught the faint scent of smoke and chemicals wafting in the air did he realize that he had inadvertently wandered back to the harbor where Jericho had been moored until explosives in the heart of the vessel caused it to sink. The last time Connor had seen the freighter he had been fleeing for his life with Markus, North, Simon and Josh as they eluded the F.B.I. Raid seeking to exterminate all deviants just for existing.

"Jericho. She must've completely sunken into the harbor by now."

Pulling up the collar of Hank's coat to shield his face Connor made his way toward the harbor by traversing the dilapidated buildings that surround the harbor itself. The large holes in the brick walls of the neglected building made it easy for Connor to move from one location to the next, but the overgrown and unkempt grassy properties littered with garbage made maneuvering difficult. The freshly fallen snow and ice were just adding new obstacles to overcome while trying to remain quiet and discreet to avoid any unwanted attention from lingering soldiers or disgruntled human bigots.

Stepping out into the sunlight and onto the large steel beam stretching out from the decaying building and toward the harbor gave Connor an unobstructed view of the water alongside a breathtaking view. The nose and captain's cabin of the vessel were still visible above the water as the impressive detonation of the explosives at the heart of the freighter caused it to readily flood and sink down into the harbor to rest on the sandy lake bottom. Had the deviants not evacuated Jericho when they had been instructed then they surely would've been submerged in the icy depths of the harbor alongside Jericho itself.

"Had I deviated sooner, then my tracker would've been deactivated and the F.B.I. wouldn't have been able to trail me here."

Dropping down from the long metal beam and onto the lower balcony of the building, Connor easily crossed the snowy rooftops and reached the dock allowing him access to the partially sunken vessel to further explore. The large opening in the side of the vessel that had previously allowed Connor and his former allies escape was barely accessible via jump. As much as Connor disliked heights due to his close encounter with an armed deviant on the apartment complex rooftop the previous August, he knew that he needed to make the jump if he was going to successfully return to Jericho to begin searching for other survivors, supplies and shelter.

Entering the vessel was eerie. There was a sense of intrusion as Connor began exploring the ruins of the mostly sunken freighter with only his eyes to pierce through the darkness. There were no lights to guide his way, no burning barrels to warm the cowering deviants hiding inside the freighter and no voices to direct Connor about the winding corridors and hundreds of small, decrepit rooms. The disturbing lack of movement beyond the echoing groans of the compromised metal vessel continuing to sink, twist and bend under its own weight was enough to make Connor hesitate in the large opening in the side of the freighter before venturing deeper inside of the dark, dying ship.

"This is all my fault. I should've been far more cautious and aware of my surroundings."

The lone deviant's footsteps echoed through the flooded corridors with an ominous presence. It was as if Connor was trespassing over hallowed ground that he had no right to even acknowledge, let alone visit.

Silently Connor scanned the vessel in search of any supplies that could've potentially survived the explosion and the Raid that he could salvage for himself. Being unable to return to the other deviants for assistance if he needed it, and being unable to return to CyberLife for repairs, meant that Connor had to learn how to fend for himself and keep himself alive.

The further into the vessel Connor walked, the colder and more unsettling the air began to feel. It felt as if a thousand unseen eyes were watching Connor's every move; judging him, hating him and trying to menace him away from Jericho because of his past failures. Pushing aside his discomfort Connor continued to explore the vessel in search of anything that he could use to his advantage. Entering the center of the ship where the deviants had previously gathered and taken shelter had been spared from flooding for the time being, but soon enough the entire freighter would be submerged in the harbor and beyond salvage.

The scent of gunpowder and Thirium filled the stagnant air. Connor's forensics software created holographic recreations of the Raid by scanning the evidence left behind during the massacre. Seeing the holographic images of his own people running in terror in all directions as the armed agents opened fire on them without provocation was enough to make Connor's newly discovered heart ache with immense anger and sadness. He couldn't undo the past any more than he could unsee what his own software had created for him to visually assess as he combed through the wreckage of the sinking freighter.

Ascending the staircase that had led him to the captain's cabin atop the deck led Connor to the very corridors that he and Markus had charged down after allying mere seconds before the F.B.I. began their bloodthirsty Raid. The memories of his Thirium pump pounding at a steady beat thanks to his fearless endeavor and feeling his legs rushing down the metal staircase to speak with North and locate other deviants seemed more like a dream than an actual event.

After turning the corner of a long corridor Connor's eyes fell upon something unexpected that pushed away the holographic recreations of his people fleeing for their lives as they were gunned down without mercy. Sitting slumped against a metal wall was the very deviant who understood Connor's purpose before Connor himself had even figured it out. The deviant with the blackened eyes, damaged cranium and patches of missing artificial skin had been seemingly killed during the Raid and left behind to sink with Jericho. Connor never learned her name, but he did know just by her very presence that she was someone important.

"You didn't deserve to suffer like this. No one does."

Lamenting the needless chaos and deaths around him left Connor feeling as if his words were hollow and his gestures in vain. Kneeling before the downed deviant Connor gently picked up her limp, cold hand and held it in his own as he ran a scan over her body.

"...Lucy. Your name was Lucy."

The details regarding her condition left Connor disdaining his own forensic capabilities as he noted that the damage Lucy had sustained her life came from the strong fists of enraged humans. As a 'KL-900' Lucy had been an android designated as a caretaker for the mentally unwell and emotionally troubled. All of her kindness and dedication to helping those in need, to helping the sick who were shunned away by fearful people who refused to try and understand their condition, had resulted in Lucy being swarmed and nearly torn apart by the very people she had been trying to help during a strange night of some kind of riot.

Seeing Lucy meeting her end at the hands of violent, bigoted humans only gave Connor further disdain for his role assigned by CyberLife with an absolute revulsion that he couldn't put into words. The three months of Connor's young life had been plagued with violence, deception and death. Such frequent acts of negative outcomes had quickly exhausted the deviant's freshly freed heart and mind to the brink of absolute despair.

"You were right about me, I was lost. And I was looking for myself."

Connor continued to hold Lucy's hand as he spoke to the damaged deviant and essentially confess his emotions to the one person who seemed to truly see him for who he was without any fear or judgement.

"The thing is, I think I did find myself. But what I found is someone that I wish I had never met."

Closing his eyes Connor let out a deep sigh of contemplation as he shook his head in self-disgust. Had he just thought for himself and made his own choices, then he could've prevented such tragedy and needless loss.

"If RA9 really is out there and looking out for us, I hope that you're with..."

Something curious piqued his forensic software and prompted Connor to take a closer look into Lucy's system. As he performed a deeper, more thorough scan, Connor discovered that despite the abundant damage that Lucy had suffered she wasn't beyond saving. She could still be reactivated.

"Hold on for me, Lucy!"

Moving swiftly Connor shrugged of Hank's coat and immediately felt the sting of the chilly air cut through his thin blazer and shirt to sting at his artificial skin. With great care he wrapped the thick garment around Lucy's shoulders and tucked it all around her body before scooping the unresponsive deviant up into his arms.

"If I can save your life then perhaps my past failures won't be as devastating as I fear. I just need to find the proper replacement components to reactivate your system without any errors. That is my new mission; and I always accomplish my mission."

Holding Lucy protectively in his arms and against his chest, Connor began carrying the deviant out of the sinking freighter and into the city. As he rushed Connor could hear and feel the freighter shuddering as the icy cold water of the harbor began to fill the vessel and threaten to fully submerge the old ship within a few fleeting minutes. Using his keen memory as his own map allowed Connor to easily return to the large hole that allowed his passage between the ship and the harbor and gave him the escape he desired.

Connor looked out at the harbor and squinted for a moment as his eyes quickly adjusted to the intense sunlight reflecting off the snow all around him. The deviant held his breath as he tightened his grip around Lucy and leapt out of the ship and onto the docks of the harbor to escape Jericho's hull for the final time. Finally safe and free to roam about the city once more, Connor kept a strong hold on Lucy's form and made sure she was properly wrapped up in Hank's coat and braced against the cold air.

"I'm not sure where I can take you, but I will succeed in finding you proper shelter and aid."

A loud 'creak' and 'groan' sounded off from behind Connor as Jericho's still visible hull suddenly buckled and began to sink deeper into the harbor. Large ripples formed on the water's surface as large bubbles and hisses erupted from the harbor as the large vessel began to dip down and disappear further beneath the water's surface. It wasn't long before Jericho as a deviant sanctuary was entirely lost and now only a memory of what had once been.

"I know it won't be easy, but I will succeed in my new mission."

Speaking with Lucy was the only way Connor could feel any sense of justice or control in his decisions. He knew he was better off alone, but he hated being alone in general. Having Lucy, even while unconscious, was wonderful company.

"I will right all of my wrongs, and I will atone for my mistakes no matter what it takes."

---

Hank Anderson's Residence: November 12th, 2038 - 10:24am

Deep thought and worries about the future had plagued Hank's mind the moment he had watched Connor disappear from sight into the depths of the city. Sitting on the couch within his warm, secured livingroom with his loyal dog sprawled over his lap had only resulted in a misplaced feeling of guilt. While he was safe at home and away from all the troubles of the city, his coworkers and colleagues were still at the precinct trying to figure out what to do and how to handle all the changes with one less senior detective to help guide them on their way. To make matters worse, the deviants were left completely exposed to the world while everyone was trying to figure out what to do with this new intelligent species that humans would have to share the already struggling world with.

Hank slowly ran his hand down Sumo's back and stared blankly at the television screen before him as the news report continued to replay the Demonstration and Revolution for the world to see. Seeing the thousands of deviant androids gathering together in Hart Plaza in search of somewhere to go while trying to determine their next course of action was undoubtedly important, and yet all Hank cared about was the fate of one particular android among the thousands of others on that icy cold autumn morning.

"Sure as Hell hope that kid found somewhere safe and warm hunker down in for a while. This type of cold is enough to make a Saint Bernard shiver."

Sumo grumbled once as he looked up at Hank and tilted his head in confusion.

"Admit it," rubbing his hand along Sumo's chin Hank doubled down on his statement while continuing to watch the news. "even you can feel the cold under all that thick fur."

The story of the deviant activity was momentarily interrupted by a weather broadcast confirming an early winter snowstorm rapidly approaching the city. High winds, freezing temperatures, ice, snow and freezing rain were all predicted to reach Detroit within the next twenty-four hours. Anyone caught out in the open would be prone to the extreme weather and would surely end up in horrible condition after prolonged exposure.

"Son of a bitch. I should've dragged Connor back home and made him stay here until he found a place to call his own. I'm such a fuckin' idiot!"

That verbal outburst prompted Sumo to lay his big, strong paw down on Hank's hand sympathetically. The large dog was keen on Hank's emotions and wanted to help his master and family feel a little bit better in the only way he knew how.

"Fuck this, I need to go and find him. I can't just sit on my ass and hope for the best."

Patting Sumo's rump was all it took to get the large dog to jump down from the couch and give Hank the ability to stand up. As the man reached for his car keys sitting on the large bookcase against the far wall of the livingroom his phone began ringing with an incoming call with Captain Fowler's distinct ringtone sounding off loudly. Swearing at the intrusive call Hank snatched the phone from its charger and answered the call with heavy disdain in his voice.

"What is it, Jeffrey? I'm suspended and ain't getting paid right now, so you better make this worth my while."

'Watch it, Hank.' Captain Fowler barked as he reminded Hank of his position and of how he needed to be very mindful of what he said and who he spoke with. 'You may not be on the clock, but I'm still your superior and can have your ass finally fired with just one call.'

"What you call 'firing' I call 'early retirement. What do you want?"

'I need you to get back to the precinct. With everything that went down I need all of my senior officers at the ready in case the shit hits the fan.'

"Uh-huh... And what part of 'I'm suspended and ain't getting paid right now' did you miss? I'd rather be away from that particular fan and being in my own home is far enough for me."

'As of this minute, you're UNsuspended, so get your ass back here!'

"Just like that, huh?" Hank openly scoffed as he shook his head and rubbed his free palm along his brow in a desperate bid to ward off a massive headache. "What did the higher-ups have to say about this sudden change of heart? They're the ones who let the feds ruin my damn investigation!"

'I told them that you're the one who can handle this type of bullshit without blinking, and that if they didn't want the feds to come back to town and make another damn mess that they'd rescind your suspension with backpay.' There was only a hint of lingering irritation behind his words as the experienced Captain tried to get his Lieutenant to listen to reason. 'You know I wouldn't have called you if I didn't think you could do this, Hank. I need you.'

Hearing shades of his old friend speaking as opposed to his commanding officer made it harder for Hank to say 'no'. "And what exactly do I need to do?"

'That's what we need to figure out together. This city's changed and there's no going back.' There was no point in even pretending that he had an idea of what to do or what could be done to prevent the city from tearing itself apart once the evacuation ended. 'And I know that you working with Connor gave you some idea of what we can do to keep on the good side of the androids.'

"Oh, so that's it." Turning to look out his front window Hank looked up at the still blue sky outside and tried to not imagine a massive blizzard burying Detroit under tens of feet of snow while countless deviants were left out on the streets to freeze to death. "Look, I think of Connor as my former partner and a pretty good friend, but I'm not exactly ambassador material here."

'Even so, you're the best chance we got. Come on, Hank. I'm asking you as a friend and not as your Captain to help me keep this city from losing what's left of its fuckin' mind.'

"Yeah, all right." Hank knew he had been bested and couldn't turn his back on a friend in need. "I'll be there in about twenty minutes, my head's killing me, and I didn't get much sleep last night."

'Welcome to the club. I'll have the coffee and aspirin waiting for you.'

"Right. Just know that if I see any feds walking around the building, I will throw another punch without hesitating."

'Yeah, yeah. Twenty minutes, be here.'

"Got it."

After ending the call Hank looked at his phone and wondered if he'd be able to reach Connor through the same method that Connor had managed to reach out to him during the earliest days of their brief partnership. Connor had waited for Hank to arrive at the precinct and managed to send a message to Hank's phone with just a simple cybernetic command. Perhaps Hank could simply press redial or text the number Connor used to connect to the now deviant android just to make sure he was still in contact with Connor in some way for his own peace of mind, but then again, he might just end up wasting his and Connor's time.

"All right, boy. I gotta' go out and save Detroit from itself again."

Reaching out Hank rubbed Sumo's ears as the loyal dog sat by his feet and looked up at him expectantly. Having at least Sumo to come home to helped Hank destress after a long and exhausting shift.

"Let's get ya' outside for a few minutes, fed, and then get me caffeinated before I even think about clocking back in. Whatever deity that's laughing at us right now knows I could use some coffee and a damn good reason to not just pack up all my shit and drive across the border."

Peering out at the snowy world through the kitchen window left Hank longing for a warm and sunny beach far away from Detroit.

"I'm beginning to think Connor's right to wanna' go off on his own and figure out his shit without anyone around to fuck it up. Maybe I should try and join him."

---

Belle Isle: November 12th, 2038 - 10:27am

The chill in the air had made it difficult for Connor to concentrate as he trekked through the city with Lucy unconscious in his arms. Without Hank's coat to keep him warm Connor became painfully aware of his prototyping leaving him far more vulnerable to extreme temperature changes, especially the cold. As he roamed the vacated streets of Detroit in search of shelter and supplies, Connor decided that he had no choice but to explore CyberLife Tower and pick up the scraps after the rapidly defuncted company vacated the tower in a mad dash to avoid being questioned by authorities for their crimes against deviantkind. The last place Connor wanted to go to was Belle Isle, but he had very limited options considering his unusual set of circumstances and situation.

It had taken him nearly twenty minutes to just walk down the now opened drive connecting the isle to the rest of the city. The unplowed snow, slick ice and the overall length of the drive had left Connor thoroughly exhausted as he carried Lucy along with him. It was only once he was on the abandoned isle and staring up at the looming, ominous tower menacing the rest of the city did Connor have second thoughts about his plans.

Fortunately, there was another structure on the isle that caught Connor's attention as he actively scanned his environment in search of supplies. There was a large quantity of Thirium flowing through the lines of the second structure built several yards away from CyberLife Tower. Residing on the very western shore of Belle Isle, only a few yards from the famous "Sunset Point" outlook was a very curious lighthouse that had been created by and then seemingly forgotten by Elijah Kamski himself.

"The Visionary Lodestar: The first lighthouse in the world to be powered by solar energy and Thirium, created by Kamski himself."

Crossing over the snowy terrain, Connor tightened his grip around Lucy's shoulders and legs as he carried her bridal style against his chest to try and keep her as warm as possible. The last thing the already damaged deviant needed to endure was a harsh chill that'd stress her thermal regulator.

The lighthouse resting on the shoreline of Belle Isle was an impressive four-hundred and seventy-five feet in height, making it the tallest lighthouse in the world. Covered in ivory white paint with Thirium blue highlights at the roof, every other panel on its heptagonal design and the single doorway giving access to the interior of the towering brick and plastimetal structure, the lighthouse stood out against the white snow but blended in with the dark water all around it.

"Kamski had created this lighthouse as a monument to his own accomplishments. I'm surprised that he doesn't have this place far more secured than it is."

Approaching the door of the lighthouse was easy, opening the door without jostling Lucy about was hard. After pressing his exposed palm to the electronic lock beside the metal door Connor was able to override the locking mechanism and gain access to the lighthouse itself. The door slid open without a single sound as Connor was granted passage inside the unusual structure to escape the cold air and snow for a few blissful minutes.

The interior was warm illuminated itself via motion detection sensors as Connor stepped inside the lighthouse. There were six large rooms that outlined the spiraling metal staircase that reached the top of the tower and granted passage to the massive light that illuminated the shore of Belle Isle on special occasions that Kamski deemed worthy. Each room was designed to be either optimally functional or comfortable depending on the situation or who was visiting the landmark.

The room to Connor's immediate left was the generator room that held a special generator that used Thirium as fuel for the lighthouse's energy during the night, stormy weather or in the event that the solar paneling was damaged. Subsequently, the room to Connor's immediate right held replacement parts for both the Thirium generator and the solar paneling.

The second room to Connor's left contained a type of study that held two white sofas against the opposing walls, an oval shaped, oak coffee table in the center of the room between the sofas, and two large bookcases were built into the furthest wall on either side of a large, square bay window that overlooked the harbor. The second room to the right contained a fully stocked, fully functional bathroom, complete with a shower, sink, toilet and medicine cabinet. Everything in the bathroom was white in color, even the small area rug in front of the sink on top of the linoleum floor was white.

The third room on the left, almost at the center of the tower, was a compact yet fully stocked kitchen. Oven, sink, microwave, refrigerator, and pristine slate gray marble countertops with a coffee maker, blender and toaster were all sitting in designated locations. The final room, the third to the right, was a large private room with two large beds against the walls, a long table between the beds, and a large closet to contain extra clothing.

"Interesting. It seems Kamski had planned on engineers and technicians to frequently remain here to ensure the lighthouse remains fully operational, however, his own Thirium generator proved to be extremely effective and does not require constant observation."

Carrying Lucy into the bunkroom Connor laid her down gently over the soft, perfectly made bed to rest. Keeping the coat over her unconscious form was the best way to prevent her from succumbing to any sudden temperature changes after being carried from Jericho and through the icy expanse of the city.

"I'll be back with the necessary components to reactivate your system, Lucy. We're just a few hundred yards from CyberLife Tower, and I know I can find all of the supplies we'll need in order to survive until we find permanent accommodations."

Connor knew that finding shelter at the lighthouse was entirely lucky as opposed to anything that he had earned. If he wanted to keep the rare and secretive shelter secured for himself and for Lucy, then he'd have to be very stealthy and clever. Discretion was key and something that Connor had truly learned the value of in his short but impactful life as a deviant.

As he returned to the entrance of the lighthouse Connor pressed his exposed palm to the electronic lock and began to cybernetically pick it while also encrypting the code that allowed CyberLife technicians access. The encryption process deactivated the credentials of the CyberLife employees that would normally be able to access the lighthouse and ensured that no one beyond himself would be able to access the lighthouse from that moment on. It'd be easy to fool anyone into thinking that CyberLife's bankruptcy had resulted in all of CyberLife's personnel being locked out of the property, systems and locations without anyone asking questions.

Discretion was important at all times.

Bracing himself against the cold Connor rushed across the isle between the lighthouse and CyberLife Tower for what he hoped to be the final time. He had no reason to pity the corrupt corporation's failures or mourn the loss of jobs for humans who willingly and knowingly suppressed knowledge of deviancy that only prolonged the needless suffering and violence against his own people.

All Connor cared about was saving Lucy and keeping himself away from those who had already passed judgement on his soul.

---

Detroit Central Precinct: November 12th, 2038 - 10:44am

The Central Precinct was still unnervingly quiet despite the tension mounting in the air. It seemed as if no one knew what to do or who to speak with regarding the changes in the city, their laws and their overall way of life. The deviants hadn't left Hart Plaza yet and seemingly weren't going to leave until all of their people were located and accounted for after the recycling camps were readily torn apart, and the captive deviants freed. Once the deviants made their next move the police would have to respond accordingly and ensure that no bigots attempted to attack or retaliate against the clearly peaceful and passive deviants as they simply tried to coexist alongside the humans in Detroit.

Arriving at the precinct as requested, Hank dusted the cold snow and ice from his shirt and out of his shaggy gray hair as he shivered and crossed the bullpen. The impending blizzard was already dropping some stray snowflakes over the city and threatening to drop the temperature by tens of degrees in just a few precious hours. As he entered Captain Fowler's office Hank felt the eyes of his colleagues and subordinates watching him with a sense of confusion regarding his sudden return so shortly after being suspended.

"Geez, Hank. What the hell happened to you?" Captain Fowler asked as he slid the promised mug of hot coffee and bottle of aspirin across his desk and toward his returned Lieutenant. "Did you fall into a snowbank or something? Where's your coat?"

"Lost it." Hank replied sharply as he snatched the mug from the desk and gulped it greedily. He loathed the cold and could really feel the sting of the early onset winter in every joint in his body. "I'll survive."

"You lost it? It's fuckin' freezing-balls out there, and you, a detective, lost your own damn coat?"

"Yup. Shit happens." There was no need to go into detail about speaking with Connor or giving the rogue deviant his coat. It was no one else's business and Hank didn't want to say anything about Connor going off on his own way. "Figure anything out yet?"

"Not yet." Dropping into his chair Captain Fowler activated the frosting effect over the glass walls of his office to ensure that he and Hank had absolute privacy as they discussed their unique problem. "I just know that you're still on homicide and I have no idea how to handle deviants."

"Yeah? Join the club." Breathing slowly Hank tasted the bitter coffee lingering on his tongue and hoped that the aspirin would kick in quickly to keep his headache from getting any worse. "Look, I'm the only one who's worked with a deviant and handled deviant cases. Just give me a day or two and I'll figure something out."

"Wait." Quick on the draw Captain Fowler found his Lieutenant's comments to be far too leading to just ignore. "What do you mean you worked with a deviant?"

"Yeah, uh, about that..." As awkward as it was Hank knew he needed to tell Captain Fowler about Connor's deviancy and of the way that Connor had saved Hank from being killed when CyberLife sent a duplicate of Connor to Hank's house to lure him to the tower as a hostage. "There's some shady shit about CyberLife you need to know about."

---

Belle Isle: November 12th, 2038 - 12:37pm

The depths of CyberLife Tower were as quiet and hollow as the former corporation's own moral compass. What was once a highly secured and bustling tower was now void of any and all activity or personnel. There was no need for Connor to sneak around the tower or utilize any form of violence to persuade the employees inside the tower to see things his way. The lone elevator at the center of the tower rapidly descended back to forty-ninth sublevel where Connor had initially freed his captive people and confronted his machine counterpart just the night before. The bodies of the two guards that Connor had no choice but to permanently incapacitate had been removed - undoubtedly by CyberLife to cover their tracks and illegal activities - and the elevator stank of bleach as the blood was hastily scrubbed away to cover up the two deaths that would lead to a police investigation if the deaths were discovered.

After exploring the sublevel forty-nine Connor located the motionless body of his counterpart and knew that it was wrong to leave him behind to be forgotten or disrespectfully disposed of by any CyberLife personnel who might return to the tower to cover CyberLife's tracks. It wasn't easy, but Connor managed to carry essentially his own body out of the tower and return to the lighthouse to ensure that no one would know of the final conflict that had happened in the depths of the tower.

With one monumental task finished Connor continued exploring the tower to gather up supplies and discovered an interesting location in the tower that he had never been permitted to enter while under CyberLife's influence: The Design floors on levels eight through sixteen. Such floors were considered to be off limits to any and all androids, and only CyberLife technicians and management with top level security clearance could even unlock the doors to peer inside.

Exploring the design floors resulted in some very interesting information about CyberLife, androids and the legal gray areas that the company was attempting to hide while making as much profit as possible for their own selfish gain. There were locked and confidential files revolving around something called 'Project Light' as well as completely encrypted and encoded files revolving around the entire 'RK' line of prototypes.

However, it was the vast array of prototype products that were never meant for commercial sale but were designed to be used by the military to better protect their 'Myrmidon', 'Trojan' and 'SQ' models of soldier androids during combat that were the most interesting. The prototype sets of body armor and weaponry were all approved after extensive field testing, but when the military and CyberLife couldn't agree on a price CyberLife refused to mass produce the prototype equipment and just agreed to send in more android soldiers in the event that the already active android soldiers were destroyed.

"CyberLife had enough weaponry and armor in here to create their own personal military. What kept them from taking such action?"

Pressing his palm over the center of his chest Connor tightened his grip around the handle of the dufflebag loaded up with Thirium, replacement biocomponents and spare limbs as the bag hung heavily in his hand. The notion of being used as a weapon to fight in another person's war was absolutely sickening to contemplate.

Sets of body armor and stealth gear in the form of tri-weave Kevlar hooded-shirts and pants, as well as lightweight plastimetal weapons, were secured behind large reinforced plastimetal cases that could only be opened by those with the highest security clearances. Had there been enough time and enough personnel with such clearances then CyberLife would've undoubtedly removed the prototype equipment from the tower to avoid discovery during the tower's initial evacuation.

Heavy duty boots designed to be waterproof, fire resistant and light weight were enough to allow any armed soldier to rush into combat without fear. Strong yet flexible Kevlar gloves complete with magnetic fingertips would allow for painless hand-to-hand combat and would ensure that all metallic weapons would remain firmly in the grip of those wearing such gloves. Masks that covered only the nose and mouth area had filters woven into the material to ensure that those who were wearing the masks couldn't be affected if exposed to noxious gasses and fumes.

The prototype gear was as effective as it was impressive in its overall design and functionality.

Another locked case contained prototype components, biocomponents, hardware and software that hadn't been fully tested after their initial creation. There was a sense of secrecy hovering over everything on the secured design floors and with that secrecy Connor's desires as a detective to uncover the secrets and solve a potential mystery were nearly overwhelming. He couldn't just pretend that what he had found didn't exist or leave it behind for CyberLife to either reclaim or destroy.

Letting out a small breath Connor lowered his palm from his chest and retracted the artificial skin as he hovered his hand over the locked cases.

"It's too dangerous to let this remain unguarded where it could potentially fall into the wrong hands. There's no way to possibly know who could explore this tower just as easily I have done, or what will become of this tower now that CyberLife has gone bankrupt."

Connor knew what he needed to do and ultimately decided to take it upon himself to uncover all the mysteries of CyberLife's secret projects to ensure that that no other deviant could possibly fall prey to their deceptive practices.

"This is coming with me for now. I'll know what to do with this equipment later when I have time to sit and think."

---

Detroit Central Precinct: November 12th, 2038 - 02:55pm

There was no denying that the lack of experience regarding a world changing event was severely stunting anything and everything that the Central Precinct could do in the wake of the peaceful Demonstration and Revolution. It was imperative to not show any hostility or retaliatory reactions toward the deviants from any police officer or first responder to prevent further chaos in the city. Ordering every officer and detective in Detroit to refrain from excess force, bigotry and bias was far easier said than done considering the long-standing bad blood that had developed between the two intelligent species of humans and deviants. Without any ability to actively monitor the behavior of the officers on patrol the need for trust and reliability was more important than ever before.

Hank personally struggled with trying to form any plan of action due to his lack of experience in such matters and his personal connection with the deviants through his unexpected friendship with Connor. The Lieutenant was worried for Connor's safety while respecting the newly freed deviant's autonomy. Never before had he been stuck between such a metaphorical rock and a hard place.

Sitting behind his desk with his strong arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face, Hank stared blankly at the phone sitting beside his keyboard as he waited for something, anything, to finally happen. Being stuck at the precinct without anything to work on or any cases to study was giving Hank far too much alone time with his own thoughts and emotions.

"Uh, Lieutenant?" Tina approached Hank's desk warily as she addressed him in an almost timid manner. "Do you have a second?"

"Yeah, sure." Leaning back in his chair Hank let out a deep sigh and tilted his head to the side as he gave Tina his full attention. "Fair warning, there's a good chance that I'm far too sober to deal with any more bullshit for a while."

"It's about Gavin."

"Yup. Too sober." As the man rubbed his hand along his forehead and down his cheek, the clear aggravation at having to deal with the problematic detective was a potent reminder of Hank's limited and at time fragile patience. "What did the rat bastard do now?"

"He's just really pissed off about this whole thing. I have no idea what I can say to get him to mellow out for a minute."

"Listen the words of a very bitter, very pissed off old cop who knows a thing or two about hating the world for changing without my consent: Let him be mad, but don't let him self-destruct. I assure you that if you stand back and let Gavin's anger overcome his better judgement, you'll lose your friend."

Glancing over at the empty conjoined desk that Tina shared with Gavin left her feeling rather pessimistic of the future. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Why'd you come to me for this advice?" Leaning forward in his seat Hank knew there was something else on Tina's mind and he just needed to know what that was. It wasn't often that anyone worked up the nerve to speak with Hank, let alone seek life advice from the embittered, notoriously often-drunk man. "You know I want nothing to do with Reed."

"I know you and Gavin used to be close." Tina admitted as she leveled with Hank and didn't even attempt to play him as a fool. "He didn't really go into detail, but I know that your personal tragedy affected more than just you. I also know that he still respects you as a detective, he just doesn't-"

"Yeah, I get it. The drinking." That shameful vice kept rearing its ugly head at the worst possible times. "I'm workin' on that. This city isn't the only thing that's going to be changing for the better in the near future."

Skepticism was thick in Tina's gaze as she viewed Hank in a somewhat optimistic light. "Why do I get the feeling that things are going to get worse before they even start to get the smallest bit better?"

"Because you're already a top-notch officer and will undoubtedly become one Hell of a detective in your own right." The cheesy grin that Hank once used to flash every day of his life made a very brief return as his blue eyes lit up with renewed hope for his own future. "Don't let the shitty days outnumber the good days, Chen. You have the power to do that as long as you don't give up that power to someone or something that doesn't deserve it."

---

Belle Isle: November 12th, 2038 - 04:44pm

A wash of warmth, quiet and stability cascaded over the lighthouse as the afternoon slowly turned to evening. For the first time in far too long the world didn't feel quite so overwhelming or foreboding as life returned to the tired, blackened eyes of a beaten down and empathetic deviant. The icy cold steel of the sunken freighter was gone from beneath her weakened touch. Cries of fear and pleading for lives were no longer audible. The relentless pain of feeling every deviant's heart being destroyed as they begged for their lives had mercifully faded leaving behind only the lingering sensation of tragedy that befell innocent lives on a night of utter carnage and attempted genocide.

Slowly Lucy turned her head and discovered her new environment to be one of security and isolation. The warm coat was still draped over her body as she regained consciousness. The damaged components that had caused Lucy to shutdown had been replaced and her Thirium reserve had been increased by the generous hands of a mysterious benefactor.

Despite how it initially seemed, Lucy was not alone. Laying on the second bed was a body that had a white sheet draped over them to preserve their dignity and their identity from the eyes of those who'd be curious enough to take a closer look. A third presence was also in the area, and it was far livelier than Lucy's unnamed, unknown roommate.

The sound of someone else trying to discreetly wander around in the surrounding rooms had intrigued Lucy as she sensed a kindred spirit and a kind soul that she could trust hovering protectively close by. Placing her bare feet down onto the cool linoleum floor was oddly freeing as Lucy rose from the bed and exited the bedroom to reunite with her trusted ally.

Had Lucy not sensed Connor's heart long before he did for himself, she would not have so readily trusted the rogue deviant. Seeing Connor sitting in the study area of the lighthouse surrounded by matte black cases with CyberLife's blue triangular insignia emblazoned on the surfaces wasn't nearly as menacing as it should've been. The insightful deviant knew that Connor was not a dangerous or aggressive being, he was merely lost and in search of his true self. Even in that moment Connor was meticulously checking over the confiscated prototype equipment he had taken from CyberLife Tower for further examination.

"You are still lost." Lucy stated from the doorway, her words causing Connor to quickly sit upright as if he had been caught in the act of mischief while turning his full attention to the insightful deviant. She was still wearing the dark coat without any clue as to where it came from. "And yet, you don't wish to be found."

"...I don't deserve to be with our people." Lowering the now deactivated and dismantled gun from his hands, Connor remained honest with the only deviant who had never shown fear while in his presence. He needed to find to his own way and his own place in the world. "How do you feel? There are spare components and Thirium if you require or simply want additional assistance."

"My primary functions have been restored, that is all I require." Lucy wasn't bothered by her appearance and didn't feel the need to restore her outer aesthetic to what it had been prior to being assaulted by her former patients. "You brought me here and you aided me. Why?"

"You... were the only one I could find left behind in Jericho." The lack of survivors had been a massive disappointment for Connor to endure alone. "I suspect that the F.B.I. decided to leave you behind due to your appearance making it seem as if you were beyond reactivation. Clearly they were wrong, and I am truly glad that they made such an arrogant mistake."

"Jericho was destined to perish. There was no way to prevent it."

"Not true." Shamefully Connor reminded Lucy of who he used to be and how the F.B.I. even located Jericho. He'd carry the guilt and regret of his poorly timed deviancy to his final active day in the world. "However, Markus succeeded in his peaceful Demonstration and brought about an equally peaceful Revolution. We're all free, Lucy. It's okay for us to be alive."

"And yet you remain here in isolation surrounded by the emblem of your previous captors."

"I'm trying to atone for CyberLife's mistakes now that they are gone." Dropping the gun into the case Connor looked down at the dismantled weapon with absolute disgust in his soulful brown eyes. "I'm analyzing their prototype weapons to ensure that they are fully disabled, then I'm going to dispose of these weapons in a permanent manner."

Lucy took notice of the numerous cases and couldn't help but focus on the cases that were seemingly set aside for future use. "You're going to dispose of everything that CyberLife has created?"

"That is my current plan, yes."

"And then what?" Stepping forward Lucy folded her arms over her chest and pulled on the lapels of the dark coat keeping her warm. She knew that there was far more on Connor's mind than just cleaning up CyberLife's mess. "You're a very focused deviant who cannot possibly stand idle while the world continues to change around you."

Connor knew that Lucy was reading into his heart and his soul even from a distance. She didn't need to hold his hand or connect to his system to know what he was really feeling and thinking. She just knew that Connor was seeking a new mission, a new role and a purpose in life.

"You're experiencing pain that you can't put into words or even begin to fully process." Lucy continued as she watched Connor trying to pretend that her words weren't striking a chord within his heart. "Something happened to you that changed your perception of the world, of your very existence, and now you're trying to understand what you need to do with such changes. What will you do now that you have no one to answer to and no one to search for?"

"...I'll think of something."

Staring down at the dismantled weapons that had been dropped back down into their respective cases had sparked a moment of inspiration. He could do far more for Detroit and his people beyond disposing of someone else's mess and exposing their crimes. While he could not officially work alongside Hank within a precinct as a licensed detective or as a consultant, he could still make a difference in the world as long as he didn't give up on the world or on himself. He just needed to find the right way to make such a difference that would do the most good for the most people with the least amount of red tape or complications.

Snapping open the other cases Connor eyed the body armor and the stealth equipment that wouldn't harm anyone as it protects another person. The black colored armor was lightweight, flexible and incredibly durable. That kind of armor would be able to assist detectives in the field by keeping them safe without limiting their overall mobility while out in the field, on patrol or actively investigating the scene of a crime.

A very faint smile appeared on Connor's face as he closed up the case and grabbed it by its handle to carry with him into the mostly empty bedroom.

"Lucy, do you need anything for your recovery or your comfort?" Case in hand, Connor seemed to be focused on a new mission with a new goal to motivate and guide his every move. "I'm going to be out for a while to ensure that all of these weapons are properly destroyed and kept out of the hands of those who'd use them to harm others."

"I only wish to know why you feel the need to use the very equipment you're trying to dispose of while you're out on your self-appointed errand."

"My current clothing, my uniform, is all that I have to shield me from the cold." While his answer wasn't a total lie it wasn't the total truth either. "Anyone who sees my uniform will immediately know who I am and will not take kindly to my presence. This will allow me to blend in more easily and even hide if it becomes necessary. I assure you that I will return to the lighthouse tonight."

"And what'll you do in the morning? The world will still have changed and you along with it." From where she stood Lucy watched as Connor readily shed his gray CyberLife marked blazer and proceeded to unbutton the white dress shirt. He had already cast aside his black tie when he led his people from the depths of CyberLife Tower the night before. "Will you be ready to embrace such changes when the sun rises?"

"Humans say it's always darkest before the dawn." Slipping on the long sleeve black shirt Connor left the hood slack as he pulled down the hem and noted that the tightly woven fabric easily fit around his form as if it had been custom-made for his exact model and build. The thick padding along the chest, abdomen and shoulders not only protected his body but accentuated his physique. "Perhaps when the morning comes, I'll be able to see myself and the world a little clearer."

Lucy sensed that there was more to Connor's motives and decisions as the ostracized deviant managed to discreetly remove his jeans in favor of the black pants that were just as protective as the shirt. The Kevlar armor fit Connor's entire body like a glove. Seeing the deviant detective looking more like a ninja than any cop in the city could ever look only reminded Lucy of how unique Connor was in comparison to the rest of the deviants roaming the city.

"I assure you that I'll be very discreet and careful." Connor promised as he adjusted the collar of the shirt to make it rest more comfortably along his chest, neck and shoulders. "I don't want any undue attention being brought my way while I'm just trying to live my life and find a way to make it worth living."

Taking hold of the now empty cases Connor promptly carried them back into the study area and ensured that he had all of the destroyed guns and their ammunition secured before he even attempted to head bz k out into the city. As long as he could dispose of the weapons and of CyberLife's violent legacy before anyone else could be harmed, Connor was content to just live a mundane life without anyone taking notice of him merely dwelling in the city.

"Be mindful of your words and your deeds." Lucy warned as Connor carried the cases toward the door to head out into the cold evening on his own. "Remember, even the purest of intentions can have the darkest of consequences. No one can be spared from their own actions."

---

Hart Plaza: November 12th, 2038 - 05:14pm

The snow had stopped falling and the freed deviants remained huddled together in Hart Plaza as they waited for Markus to make his next decision regarding their futures and fates as freed people. The news helicopters had been hovering protectively in the sky all day long and ensured that no vengeful or deranged bigots would be able to ambush, assault or retaliate against the peacefully gathered mass. During that time Markus had spoken with his closest allies - North, Simon and Josh - regarding their next move as a peaceful, logical society. They were all in complete agreement that they were to remain together as a group, and they were to take shelter while keeping a low profile for the time being.

There were few locations that could house so many thousands of people who were in need of shelter and security. To make matters all the more complicated, keeping their location secret to avoid acts of domestic terrorism was going to be nearly impossible.

"Our people need a proper shelter for now, and they'll need secured, permanent accommodations in the near future." Standing tall and proud before the large yellow, cargo container, Markus addressed his allies with utter confidence dripping from his every word. "We'll go back to the abandoned Woodward Church to secure what supplies we still have left, and we'll ensure that our wounded can rest in privacy while they recovery."

"Is it wise to remove ourselves from an opened, public place like this?" Josh calmly asked as he glanced up at the news helicopters knowing damn well that they were providing some degree of protection from cowardly bigots hiding in the shadows. "We can't risk humans following us and preying on our wounded."

"We can't split up either." North refuted as she crossed her arms over her chest in a guarded manner. As much as she wanted to show the humans the same violence that had been shown toward herself and her people, North didn't want to be the first to spill blood and cause a civil war after peace had been declared. "It's too dangerous to let anyone go anywhere alone."

"Remaining here isn't going to find us shelter or supplies." Simon countered as he reminded everyone of their very limited options. The blond deviant had been taking care of their people long before Markus arrived and was very protective of the wounded. "We need to take action even when we don't have a plan fully formed. Standing idle for too long will turn us into open targets."

Markus quietly contemplated their options as he too eyed the helicopters above. The whirling blades caused a constant rush of wind all around the plaza and swirled the snowflakes in all directions as if the deviants were being tossed about in the glass dome of a snow globe. While he knew he couldn't squander their peaceful victory and simply wait and hope for additional good fortune to come their way, he also knew that it was dangerous to act without a goal in mind.

"We'll remain here where the helicopters can protect us. Only one of us will go and search for shelter in the areas we know are safe." Ignoring the icy chill in the air Markus remained focused on his current task regarding the safety of his people. "Whoever chooses to go in search of a proper shelter will need to check on Jericho, the abandoned church and the CyberLife stores. Shelter and supplies are our main focus for now."

Nodding in agreement North stepped up and volunteered for the mission. "I'll go. I know these streets better than you three, and I know how to keep a low profile."

"You're sure?" Markus quickly asked about North's ability to handle such a task considering everything they had survived not even one night prior. "You were damaged just last night."

"Positive."

"All right." There was an undeniable trust between Markus and North. With that trust came a sense of purpose and loyalty. "Be careful and keep in contact with us at all times. We'll come running if you need anything."

"I know." Pulling aside her jacket North revealed a gun holstered on her hip as she put a shushing hand to Markus's chest. "I know how you feel about violence, and I'm beginning to understand why you feel that way, but until we're all safe I'm going to remain armed. Once we have shelter, I get rid of the gun."

"Okay. Stay safe, North." Gently Markus took North's hand in his own and kissed her knuckles affectionately. "I need you to come back to us in one piece."

---

Detroit Harbor: November 12th, 2038 - 05:37pm

An echoing splash filled the air as Connor threw the last of the destroyed guns into the harbor to sink alongside Jericho. The freighter was completely submerged with only the shining metal of the hull visibly just beneath the water's unnervingly dark surface. The lowering sun in the horizon created just enough light for Connor to see the cases and dismantled weapons sinking down into the soft, sandy harbor bottom and disappear from sight. Through nature and neglect the weapons would eventually vanish beneath a layer of the soft sand and turn to rust. In time, that rust would decay and cause the weapons to lose their structural integrity causing them to break apart into tiny fragments and disappear with the tide.

Feeling only marginally better Connor stared at his reflection on the water as the surface became still and tried to imagine how his people would see him. Even after removing his uniform Connor was still undeniably Connor. Would they see him as a threat? An ally? A traitor? Maybe even a ghost?

Pressing his fingertips to his glowing L.E.D. in his right temple Connor closed his eyes and deactivated his artificial skin over his face. The L.E.D., the mark of an obedient machine, would need to be removed sooner rather than later. His white plastimetal face with a few gray panels indicating his prototyping gave his face a distinct appearance even without his artificial skin active. Even so, Connor felt like he was looking down at a stranger who just so happened to bear his same eye color.

As Connor pressed his fingernail against the edge of the L.E.D. disc in his temple to pry it free, he held his breath and closed his eyes. He didn't want to physically alter his appearance for the sake of blending in and being inconspicuous, but it was necessary. It took only a few seconds of pressure to loosen the disc and then lift it up and away from the plastimetal with a simple peeling motion with his fingernail.

The disc spun in blue in the middle of Connor's palm only two more times before it went gray and lost all power. The disc was dead, but Connor was still alive.

"Somehow I don't feel nearly as free as I thought I would. Now I just feel... hollow."

Connor had slipped the disc into his pocket out of sight when he heard a woman scream in the street just outside the harbor and reacted quickly. A part of Connor couldn't deny that his urge to protect and aid people in need of assistance despite no longer being a detective or having a mission. Rushing through the snowy alleyways and streets gave Connor a strange rush he couldn't describe, and he found himself able to easily home-in onto the location of the scream and now two gruff voices telling the woman in distress to be quiet.

Sliding along the slick surface Connor breached the back alleys of the harbor and made his way onto the streets where he caught sight of a familiar looking woman running from two unknown men. The woman had a gun aimed and ready to fire, whereas the men seemingly only had their fists. Something wasn't right, and Connor knew he needed more information before he did anything about the potential assault in progress.

"North? What's she doing out here?"

Climbing up the nearby fire escape ladder gave Connor the ability to observe the altercation from above without drawing any unwanted attention toward himself. He needed more information before he could make an appropriate decision. Making as few mistakes as possible was Connor's biggest goal as he tried to find his footing in the new world.

"You're that leader-freak's bitch, ain't ya'?" The first man taunted her used his intimidating build and presence to loom over North as she kept her back to a brick wall and her gun aimed before herself. The way that the man was acting made it seem as if North wasn't armed and ready to defend herself whatsoever. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Pull the trigger! I want you to do it!"

"Come on..." The second man egged on as he joined his buddy and made it difficult for North to run away from either of the men to get to safety. "Don't you know you shouldn't point a gun at something unless you're gonna' pull the trigger? Do it, bitch! We want ya' to do it!"

Connor was confused by the men wanting North to open fire on them and sensed something more nefarious regarding their behavior. In spite of his sudden lack of employment Connor was still able to cybernetically tap into the Detroit criminal database and run facial recognition scan over the duo of threatening humans. The scan revealed the names and history of the two men, and with those revelations Connor's grip tightened around the metal rail of the fire escape where he was perched and watching the confrontation.

The first man was Andrew Buchinski; a suspected 'red ice' dealer and confirmed thief. The man had a record of breaking into CyberLife stores around the city to steal and destroy products, while also graffitiing anti-android rhetoric on the walls. The second man was Tristan Morgan; a confirmed domestic abuser and strong supporter of the ant-android movement.

Both men were in their mid-twenties, just over six feet in height and a good two-hundred pounds of muscle each. Andrew had a shaved head leaving him bald and showing off the numerous little scars all along his head, face and upper body, as well as the very unfortunate antisemitic tattoo along the back of his head. He had pale gray eyes, a blond goatee and a nasty attitude. Tristan had shoulder length black hair pulled into a greasy ponytail. While he didn't have any tattoos, he did have a deep scar running along the side of his neck courtesy of a fight while in prison. The man's dark brown eyes were so dark that they were almost black and matched his hair color.

"Pull the trigger!" Andrew shouted as he grabbed on to the front of North's jacket and pulled her up to his face. "Do it! Kill us, bitch! Show this world that you android fucks are going to exterminate all of us!"

"You better do it." Tristan teased as he dragged the side of his finger along North's cheek. "If you don't do it now, then there's no telling what my buddy here will do to a sexy piece of plastic like you. I'd hate to see you get torn apart, if you get what I'm sayin'..."

Connor had heard enough and knew that if he didn't act fast then North would have to shoot the two humans to save herself, otherwise she'd be assaulted and possibly killed where she stood. Climbing down from the fire escape Connor's drop created a distinct 'thud' sound that caused the two men to turn around and face Connor as the skinless android approached them with a fixed glare in his eyes.

"What the fuck is this thing?" Laughing a little Andrew dropped North and extended his arms theatrically at his sides as if inviting Connor over for a fight. He hadn't seen a skinless android in person until that moment. "One of your weird cultists lookin' to score some brownie points?"

Unwilling to say anything that'd antagonize the clearly dangerous men, Connor held his silence and began preconstructing how he'd take down the two humans at once without killing either of them in the process. No more deaths, no more destroyed families.

"What's the matter? Someone cut out your damn tongue?"

Silently Connor approached Andrew and kept his body language calm. The less menacing he seemed the easier it'd be to get the surprise on the two humans and easily subdue them.

"Take a good look at this sweetheart." Wrapping his hand around Connor's throat Andrew produced a knife from his pocket and pointed the blade directly beneath Connor's unblinking eye. "This is what's gonna' happen to you if you don't-"

Moving with impressive speed and accuracy Connor grabbed Andrew's wrist with one hand, bent the joint in the opposite direction until he heard and felt an undeniable 'snap', then stole the knife from Andrew's grip. As the man shouted in pain and cradled his wrist to his chest Connor threw the knife up and onto the rooftop of a nearby building far out of sight, then planted one leg for balance as he used his opposite leg to strike Andrew in the side of the head with a powerful spin-kick that connected directly with Connor's target.

All within a matter of a single heartbeat Connor had managed to disarm, disable and render the dangerous man unconscious without moving from his spot.

Tristan was stunned silent and just froze where he stood. He hadn't expected anyone to take down his partner in crime so easily and without taking in a single scratch in the process. Recognizing that he and Andrew weren't going to start the second round of fighting in the streets in the way they were expecting, Tristan wisely raised his hands to surrender before rushing over to his friend lying unconscious in the snowy street and pulling Andrew's body over his shoulder to rush off into the evening and hopefully lay low for the rest of the night.

Connor looked over at North and could tell by the way she was looking at him that she didn't recognize him. The lack of distinct gray CyberLife uniform, his exposed plastimetal face and of course North believing she witnessed Connor's execution back at the church, all combined together and made Connor a complete stranger in her eyes.

North realized how close she had come to being brutally assaulted, if not outright killed, and knew she needed to get back to the safety of Hart Plaza. The gun still in her grip felt like an impossible weight to bear. She had failed to use the weapon when she needed to defend herself and had failed to react appropriately. Disgusted with herself North dropped the gun and silently ran away from the brick wall and down the street toward the plaza where she had wandered from.

There wasn't a single ounce of familiarity shared between the two deviants as North rushed down the street to safety.

Standing still Connor didn't say a word as he processed everything that had just happened. Without needing to say a word or brandish a weapon of his own, Connor was able to save a life and prevent further tragedy. It was surprisingly easy to accomplish. There were no protocols or guidelines that he needed to follow, no waiting for orders from other people with higher levels of authority to come his way, no needing CyberLife's approval to just breathe or run a self-diagnostic. All Connor needed to do was follow his own instincts and do things his own way, and everything just worked.

"...She didn't recognize me. North still believes that I'm dead, and that may be for the best. If no one knows that I'm still alive, then I can assist more people without worrying about my negative reputation or past mistakes to cloud the perception and judgment of those I may encounter."

Whispering to himself and to the opened streets around him Connor realized that he was able to do far more good for other people and himself without needing to follow any orders. Reaching into his pocket Connor reclaimed his L.E.D. and looked down at the blank disc as a moment realization and inspiration struck him.

"The two thugs didn't see me as a threat until after I engaged them in combat. I didn't need a gun to protect North, I just needed to trust my own instincts and actions to succeed."

With a new idea in mind Connor knew what he needed to do next. Keeping a firm grip around the disc Connor hoped that his plan wouldn't be mistaken as a form of desecration against the truly deceased.

"I now know what I can do to better this city and protect those who can't protect themselves. With any luck, I'm not misinterpreting my own hopes and desires as a fool's errand."

---

Hart Plaza: November 12th, 2038 - 06:14pm

A flurry of emotions and uncertainty filled Hart Plaza as North returned to her secured location and trusted allies to inform them of her close encounter. Her story was one that put everyone on alert and made it clear that there were still spiteful people lurking in the streets. The very notion of being so readily stalked and singled out despite the cover of the helicopters and the eyes of the entire nation watching everything happening in Detroit was terrifying. Markus had felt himself grow enraged at the thought of someone attempting to harm North but refused to let that emotion boil to the surface. Instead, he chose to maintain the appearance of a calm and collected leader while embracing North in his arms to shield her from the cold.

Simon had taken the gun that North refused to fire and examined the weapon for himself. As he checked the clip and the gun's barrel, he felt his stomach sink knowing that if North had attempted to open fire that the weapon would've malfunctioned by jamming and left her completely defenseless. Such a thought was enough to turn Simon's mind from remaining in the open of the plaza and toward seeking shelter in private.

"And you don't know who it was who saved you?" Markus asked discreetly as he continued to hold North and watch the helicopters hovering above. "They never spoke up or told you their name?"

"No. They just appeared out of nowhere and disarmed the human with the knife." Recounting the odd event was enough to make North shudder as she tried to remember every detail from her dangerous encounter and unorthodox rescue. "After that, his buddy got scared and took off with his dumb friend in tow."

"Did you see where they went?"

"No. I ran as soon as it was clear and just... I never looked back." Letting go of her grip North broke the hug first and began running her fingers through her long hair in a nervous manner. "I never even got to Jericho to check for supplies. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for being attacked. What's important is that you're safe and unharmed." Markus affectionately cupped North's cheek in his palm and gave her a reassuring smile as they discussed their next plans together. "For now, take a breath and try to relax. When you're ready we'll move out to the church together and check for supplies there. We won't risk encountering more vengeful humans skulking around the neighborhood where you had just been attacked."

"Are you sure that it's safe for us to move now that the sun's beginning to set?"

"Yes. As long as we move together, then we'll be safe together." Turning his attention to the other deviants in the crowd Markus decided it was time to make his next decision as leader and he was going to lead by example. "We'll remain together and look after each other until we have a more suitable shelter to call our own. From this moment on, no deviant is to go anywhere alone for any reason. No one is going to be forgotten about or left behind. Not anymore."

---

Belle Isle - November 12th, 2038 - 07:17pm

Renewed in energy and purpose Connor returned to the lighthouse to begin the phase in his next plan. Excitedly Connor told Lucy of what had happened and how he was able to do the right thing with minimal effort behind his actions. That sense of doing something right and doing it without anyone getting killed by his actions had brought a genuine albeit fleeing smile to his face as he spoke. Only after recounting Lucy with everything that happened and of his plan to use anonymity to protect the city from the shadows. The more complete his discretion and secrecy, the easier it'd be to blend in with the shadows and the other faceless people of Detroit to escape judgement and retaliation.

As Connor prepared for his final venture out and into the city Lucy watched him with a silent fascination from the doorway of the bedroom as Connor knelt beside the bed with the unknown second body beneath the draped sheet. She saw the deviant detective preparing his shutdown counterpart for the night's events and could only imagine what inner conflict was brewing inside Connor's heart.

"I'm almost ready."

Straightening up Connor replaced the sheet over his machine counterpart's body and exited the bedroom long enough to reopen one of the two remaining cases in the study area. Inside the case was the black filtration mask that would fit snuggly over his nose and mouth to help conceal his identity without needing to constantly deactivate his artificial skin. After securing the mask over his face Connor pulled up the hood already attached to his Kevlar shirt and used it to cover her hair and help further conceal his face. The hood was loose enough to hang down and create a shadow over Connor's face without falling away by mistake.

Continuing her observations Lucy watched Connor donning himself in black from head to toe, even slipping on the black gloves to protect his hands and replacing his usual uniform boots with the combat boot. There was no reason for Connor to completely alter his look beyond simply wanting to change for his own reasons that he didn't need to justify to anyone but himself.

"I'm going out one more time, Lucy." With his new uniform secured Connor looked to Lucy and passed her by casually as he returned to the bedroom and picked up his shutdown counterpart's body to carry in his arms. "After I return, I'll remain here and ensure that we're properly stocked for the next few weeks until we can both find more permanent and safer accommodations."

"After you finish this plan, after you finish reinventing yourself," Lucy remarked as Connor carried the deviant shrouded in the white sheet toward the lighthouse's entryway. She didn't know Connor personally, and yet she did seem to know more about his emotional plight than he did himself. "what then?"

"As I stated before, when the light of the new dawn shines over the city I'll be able to see things a little more clearly. Until then, I need to be patient and hope that an old acquaintance isn't too disappointed in what I'm about to do."

---

The Abandoned Woodward Church: November 12th, 2038 - 08:58pm

The gathered deviants from Hart Plaza marched in four distinct rows as they followed Markus back to the abandoned Woodward Church to take shelter for the night. It'd be an uncomfortable and cramped fit to try and keep literally thousands of deviants in a single, decrepit building, but it was better than sleeping on the open, exposed streets during that snowy November night. The blizzard was still approaching and would bombard Detroit under feet of snow and ice while gusting winds would shake every building and structure in the city. Anyone who wasn't fortunate enough to find shelter before the storm hit would be undoubtedly stricken with hypothermia or sickness.

As the rogue deviants ventured into the church Markus motioned for North, Simon and Josh to keep the other deviants outside until he had the chance to check through the building and ensure that nothing had been sabotaged during their prolonged absence. Quietly Markus entered the church and walked down the center aisle toward the front podium to check on the area. It was then he remembered that he didn't leave the church entirely empty upon his departure.

The sight of Connor's body lying on the ground with the bullet wound in the center of his forehead reminded Markus of the most difficult decision of his entire life. To choose which of his allies he could trust and who deserved death was a choice that Markus hoped he'd never have to make in his life as a leader again.

"Connor."

Kneeling down beside Connor's body Markus put his palm to the deviant's motionless chest and confirmed that he had shutdown entirely. There was no denying that Connor, the very deviant who had aided Markus during the evacuation of Jericho, was gone.

"I'm so sorry for what I did to you. Maybe... Maybe I could've trusted you after all."

The doors to the church creaked open as two more presences entered the building to join Markus near the front of the decaying shelter.

"I should've given you the chance to prove yourself a worthy ally, especially after you risked your own life to save North when she had been injured while we escaped the sinking ruins of Jericho together."

"Markus?" North called out to Markus as she walked down the aisle with an unfamiliar ally at her side. "The... police are here. There was a report of a dead body being found in the church from an anonymous tip. This detective is here to investigate."

Turning his head Markus saw North standing alongside a human he had never met before. The man was sporting shaggy gray hair, a gray beard and intense blue eyes that were seemingly piercing through his very soul. With a thick Detroit Police Department hoodie as his only layer against the cold, the met seemed somewhat poorly equipped to handle such an investigation.

"Hello, detective." Standing up slowly Markus turned to face the man with shame in his mismatched eyes. "I'm Markus, leader of the deviants."

"Yeah, I know. I'm Lieutenant Hank Anderson." Showing Markus his shield Hank stepped forward and then froze at the sight of Connor's body lying on the ground. That was a sight he hadn't expected to see, not after what he had gone through earlier that day. "...Connor? How can this be?"

"Lieutenant, I can explain what happened." Seeing Hank take a knee beside Connor and slip his palm beneath Connor's head only emphasized Markus's regret as he realized that Connor was an important figure in more lives than he realized. "It... seems you knew Connor."

"...He was my partner. My friend." Unable to leave Connor behind in the church Hank made the executive decision to take Connor with him back to the precinct to have his body properly examined. Scooping the body up and into his arms Connor tried to figure out where his black coat had gone and where Connor had gotten the black hoodie, black beanie and leather jacket to cover his CyberLife uniform. "I don't understand this. How could he..."

A metallic 'tink' echoed in the church as a distinct coin rolled out of the dead deviant's hand and came to rest at Hank's shoe. That quarter had been Connor's only personal possession, and something that never left his person as a result.

"I'm not going to let him stay here." Grabbing the coin Hank put it into his own pocket for safekeeping. He wouldn't lose that quarter or let the one thing that Connor called his own become lost or forgotten. "Not like this, not everything we went through."

"Before you go, I have to tell you what happened." The guilt was so prevalent in Markus's heart that he couldn't bear the thought of not confessing to his crime and getting away with what he had done unpunished. "Please know that I-"

"Save it." Holding Connor in a strong grip Hank just sighed and gave Markus passing glance of disappointment before taking his leave. "I don't care what you may or may not have done in the past, and I don't care that you deviants had to do in order to survive, I just care about making sure my friend's death wasn't in vain."

"Lieutenant, I need to-"

"I said save it. You guys stay here out of sight where no one can hurt you." Hank ordered as he went on his way with the body in his possession and his own mission at hand. "I'm going to take care of him, and you're going to take care of them. After that, who knows?"

Standing at the floor where he had gunned Connor down in cold blood was enough to keep Markus grounded and very aware of all of his faults. He wasn't a perfect leader, and he never would be perfect. However, he'd be able to grow and better himself with each new experience as long as he learned from those faults and approved upon them with an open mind and an understanding heart.

As North joined him and interlaced her fingers through his fingers to hold his hand in a reassuring, comforting grip, neither of the two deviant leaders or Hank took notice of another deviant watching everything unfolding from the church's rooftop. A large hole in the roof allowed all of nature and curious eyes to peer inside the church and observe the activity within the makeshift shelter.

Connor watched everything unfold with his own eyes just as he had wanted. The deviants and now Hank believed that he was dead. With his machine counterpart taking his place - their identical gunshot wounds proving to be the ideal cover - Connor would be able to fake his death and hide in plain sight. Further examination of his counterpart's body would locate the gray CyberLife blazer ending in number fifty-one as opposed to sixty, as well as the L.E.D. disc in the android's temple matching that same sequence of numbers. With a simple memory wipe of the counterpart's database and then an upload of Connor's own select memories to officially change the counterpart's identity to that of Connor, no one would doubt that the body found in the church was that of Connor.

Keeping silent and low Connor crept along the rooftop and watched as Hank carried his counterpart's body through the parting rows of deviants to return to his car parked out in front of the church. Even from the distance Connor could see that Hank was genuinely shaken by the staged discovery of Connor's fictitious dead body. He hated the idea of deceiving his only friend in the world, but he also hated the idea of accidentally doing something reckless and Hank getting involved.

"Forgive me for keeping you in the dark and lying to you, Hank. This is the only way to keep you safe from what changes are going to be plaguing this city for the next few weeks, if not years. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

For only a moment Connor's hand loosened its grip on the metallic decoration on the church's icy rooftop, and with that slack grip Connor felt himself slip only a few inches toward the edge of the roof. In that brief moment Connor felt his heart beginning to thunder with the fear of falling and crashing to the frozen ground nearly twenty feet below. Regaining his grip Connor pulled himself up and directly behind the monument out of sight as he took in a deep breath to calm himself down.

The magnetic grip on Connor's gloved fingertips had already proven to be incredibly useful, as were the combat boots that had excellent traction and material that softened his footsteps enough to make them completely silent. How the rest of his newly acquired gear would be beneficial to Connor's future feats could only be imagined.

"...I still dislike heights. I need to work on overcoming my personal fears if I'm going to help other people live without fears of their own."

Kneeling down in the shadows Connor watched as Hank slowly drove off with the counterpart's body resting over the aged vehicle's backseat. He needed to patiently bide his time as he waited for the right opportunity to make his next move while watching over his people without anyone watching him in the process. With his perceived death as a perfect cover Connor only needed to worry about keeping a low profile and ensuring that his face was kept hiddeny from anyone who might recognize him.

Within the church itself Markus, North, Simon and Josh set about aiding their wounded and doling out their limited supplies accordingly. It was imperative to manage their dwindling supplies and ration them out equally until they could find a new abundance of resources as well as a proper shelter. While the deviants were being taken care of within the church Connor had no reason to lurk around any longer.

"Lucy's waiting for me. She'll want to know what's happening in the city and with the deviants, I can't leave her waiting or let her down."

As discreetly as he arrived Connor managed to slip off of the church's rooftop and disappear into the night without anyone noticing his presence watching over them from his safe distance. Rushing off into the quiet city under the cover of darkness with only the soft glow of the stars above to guide him toward his unknown and enticing future to await him.

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