"Tying Up Loose Ends"

The Zeta Facility

The cold dark night had been quiet save for the rhythmic beeping of the Thirial activity monitor recording Lucas's steadily improving vital signs. The heavily damaged deviant hadn't regained consciousness despite undergoing several successful repairs, but he did show some faint signs of awareness whenever Abby checked on his bandages and gave him additional fresh of pouches of Thirium to restore his low volume. On the rare occasion Lucas's undamaged left hand would flex slightly and he'd turn his head slightly against his pillow to face the direction of anyone who entered the private recovery room. Lucas being aware of his surroundings but still unconscious was a good sign that he was recovering and that he wouldn't need as many external supportive measures to aid his overall recovery.

The tubes running down his throat had been removed and now Lucas had what appeared to be a standard I.V. connected to the main line running down the bend of his left elbow to give him fresh Thirium as opposed to expecting Lucas to drink the Thirium while unconscious. There was a chilled thermal blanket draped over his abdomen to keep his core cool while his damaged right ventilation biocomponent recalibrated without causing any strain as well. The two external treatments kept Lucas's condition stable during his steady recovery.

Quietly Hank sat in a chair beside Lucas's bed with a cup of lukewarm coffee in his hand. He refused to leave the facility until Lucas was able to leave with him, and he didn't give a damn what Captain Fowler tried to order him to do. At that moment the only thing Hank cared about was seeing the damaged deviant through his recovery and bringing him back home.

"It's been quiet, son." Speaking softly Hank put his hand on Lucas's left shoulder since he knew that Lucas's right shoulder was still healing. Accident or not, reinjuring his friend was the last thing Hank wanted to do. "We figured out who hit you and why they did it, but I can explain to you later when you're fully awake again."

"Speaking of awake..." Abby casually passed through the opened door and strolled across the room with a knowing glance in her sharp hazel eyes. "You should try to get some rest. I've dealt with sleep deprived cops before, and let me tell you, every single one of you SUCK when you're cranky."

"I'm good, I have your wonderful coffee to keep me from being a dick." As if to prove his point Hank took a long sip of his coffee and placed the now empty cup in a nearby waste bin. "I'll be even better when Lucas finally wakes up."

"He'll be conscious by morning." The compassionate technician was able to keep her focus primarily on Lucas even while she spoke with Hank. The readout on the monitor gave her all the details she needed to form a prognosis. "His system is just recalibrating very slowly because of everything he's been through."

"Hard to believe he survived getting hit by a car. It's even harder to believe that someone treated him like a person and not a piece of scrap." The sight of Lucas so weak and vulnerable made Hank want to protect the deviant with his own life all the more. It was as if Hank had unofficially adopted Lucas as his own son and now he couldn't imagine his life without the deviant being a part of it. "Then again, seeing you treating him like a person is wild enough on its own."

"Yeah, technicians are discouraged from treating androids like people." The ginger way Abby peeled up the bandages covering Lucas's horrifically damaged right eye spoke volumes of her kindness. "It makes it easier to slate them for destruction if we remind ourselves that they're machines. I never bought into that though."

"I can't believe that you can take care of a deviant with equipment that looks so much like human medical equipment." The monitors, the I.V.'s and the bandages made Lucas look unnervingly human in Hank's eyes. "Did android care change that much in just a few weeks?"

"More like android care was given the empathetic treatment that it always needed." Satisfied with the rate at which Lucas was healing, Abby returned the bandages and then checked the temperature of the thermal blanket. "Medical equipment that's used to monitor human vital signs have been tested on androids for the past ten years since androids are designed to mimic human vital signs for easier treatment. We know our equipment can work on them, and there's no reason to tear open their bodies or insert cables into their necks against their will. It just took until deviancy to reveal itself for technicians to be granted such compassionate permission."

"I'm glad you were the one to help him out again." Hank had to admit that Abby being a familiar presence was very comforting in its own way. "Sorry I didn't remember your name back there."

"It's fine, I don't expect you to remember the name of every single Detroiter you come across." Abby gave Hank's arm a small pat to reassure him that he hadn't done anything wrong. "Besides, it's bad luck to be on a first name basis with a medical or technical provider. It means you spend too much time in emergency care."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Since Lucas is my only patient, and we're the only ones here right now, I'm going to order a pizza and then stay the night in the facility to keep an eye on him for a while longer. Care for slice, or maybe an entire pizza just for yourself?"

"You truly are a healer in every sense of the word, Abby."

"Aww... How sweet! Just for that, I'll even pay for extra garlic butter."

Ever appreciative of the compliment Abby walked behind Hank's chair and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and noticed that there was a figure perched on a window ledge on the large building across the street. Abby was startled at first, but quickly recovered and recognized who she was looking at. Once she realized who was watching over the facility and why they were there, she discreetly unlocked the single window leading to the room before she too exited the room to place her delivery order.

"I'm going to skip any sugary drinks since we're already going to be eating grease." Abby watched Connor slowly approaching the facility and managed to keep his arrival a secret with a perfect poker face. "Want more coffee or do you want to switch to water?"

"Keep the caffeine coming. I'm gonna' need it."

"You got it."

Feeling the strain of the day crushing down on him prompted Hank to lean forward and rest his elbows atop his knees as he buried his face in his palms. The man hated to admit that he was beginning to feel the effects of his age being unable to keep pace with the stress of the job. It seemed a strong work ethic and a desire to claim justice for the innocent weren't enough to stave off the ravaging effects of time itself.

Hank breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly through his fingers as he tried to process everything that had happened. Only when a chilly breeze passed through the room did Hank lift up his head and look at Lucas resting peacefully in the bed again. A strangely familiar presence entered the room just on the other side of the window beside him, and Hank didn't even need to look to know who had stopped by for a visit.

"He's going to make a full recovery." Hank stated firmly as he lifted up his head and lightly returned his palm to Lucas's uninjured left shoulder. "He just looks really rough right now."

"That's good." Connor's garbled voice didn't sound nearly as confident or relieved as he had hoped it would. "Word of the accident has spread far in the city."

"Accident my ass." It took every ounce of restraint Hank had to not turn his hand into a fist or go on a rant about what had happened. "Doesn't matter though, the fucker's already been arrested and is going to be charged with the attempted murder of a police officer."

"May I ask the motivation behind the attack?"

"Normally, no. You're just a civilian and this isn't a civilian matter." The response sounded far more aggressive than Hank had intended. "But since you're not exactly a typical civilian, and you reported the assassination before anyone could've hidden the murder or disguised it as a suicide, I'll tell ya'."

As he stood just outside the opened window Connor looked over at Lucas while listening intently to everything Hank was telling him. The confirmation that Lucas had been rundown by Perkins's own son out of misplaced hatred and a sense of injustice did very little to ease Connor's worries. Revenge was such a powerful action, and it was hard to resist the urge to enact revenge for his own personal grievances. It was then he realized how grateful he was to have Director Jayden intervene and keep him from ending Perkins's life just an hour prior.

"Anyway, Lucas is going to be okay." Hank continued without needing to look at the vigilante as he spoke. "He's going to get a new eye before we leave too, so he'll be good as new once his body has time to heal and recalibrate." Turning his head slightly Hank took in the slight of the masked vigilante staring at Lucas and saw something familiar in the second deviant's eyes. Something that reminded him of a friend he hadn't seen in far too long. "Why'd you even come here?"

"I dislike it immensely when a good person is harmed by a bad person. That goes for both deviants and humans."

"Do you visit all of the people who get hurt, or is this a special occasion?"

"Lucas is the city's only deviant detective." The answer was factual and the perfect diversion to keep Hank from picking up any kind of clue as to who the vigilante was beneath the mask. "I know it wasn't just a chance accident that rendered him so severely damaged."

"Yeah, you got that right." Speaking with the vigilante was a rare treat and Hank needed to know something important before the vigilante disappeared again. "It looks like you've made a full recovery of your own since you got shot. Twice at that."

"Yes, I've fully recovered."

"Impressive. For what it's worth, not all detectives want you dead." The notion of someone living in fear of the police was something that always bothered Hank since the police were supposed to be the good people protecting other good people from the bag people. "I know for damn sure that I don't want to see you end up on a slab in the city morgue."

"Noted. I'd like to confirm with you that I don't see you or any other cop or detective as an enemy."

It seemed important to clarify that Connor didn't mistrust Hank or anyone else for being detectives or an officer of the law, he just had a hard time letting go of the fact that Hank had been so angry and unpredictable when they were partners. Seeing him changing and becoming more empathetic and kinder was almost insulting after being threatened, insulted and having a gun pointed at his head.

Even so, it was reassuring to know that Hank had found his heart again when Lucas needed someone to step up and look out for him.

"Well, that's good. We're all on the same page." A subtle motion on the bed brought Hank's attention back to Lucas and he lightly picked up the deviant's hand to hold for a moment. Once more Lucas was aware of the sounds around him and began to respond. "Lucas? Son? You're okay, and you're not alone."

As much as Connor wanted to reach out to Lucas, to connect with his little brother, he resisted the urge and stayed on the other side of the window. There was nothing more to be done now that Lucas had been repaired and was resting well in a secured, safe facility. He'd be able to talk to Lucas later on and he'd be able to do so in private when the time was right.

"Keep sleeping." Hank insisted as he instinctively checked the thermal blanket over Lucas's torso just as any parent would do for their sleeping child to make sure they were comfortable and safe. "I'm not going to go anywhere until you're cleared to go home."

At that optimistic comment and the sound of a pizza delivery drone arriving at the precinct, Connor reluctantly took his leave and trusted Lucas's care to both Hank and Abby for the time being. He needed to speak with Markus about the accident anyway since it was only fair to keep the deviant leader in the loop and apprised of what was happening to his people beyond Belle Isle.

The smell of jalapenos and garlic filled the room as Abby made her return and motioned for Hank to help himself to a slice from the warm delivery box and the fresh pot of coffee direct from the lounge. When Abby didn't see Connor standing outside the window but did see that window was open, she just acted casual and reached over to close and lock the window while she prepared to enjoy her late night dinner with her new friend.

"It's a little too chilly to keep the window open for too long." Abby stated seamlessly as she took an extra chair from the far wall and sat down beside Hank's chair. She knew that Connor had been able to visit, and she knew it'd be best to not ask any questions about a visitor. "Has he woken up yet?"

"Uh..." Hank saw that the vigilante was gone and just sighed as he reclaimed his own seat and flipped open the lid of the pizza box to eat something substantial. "He just had a little reaction to me opening the window to get some fresh air in here, but he's still asleep."

"Good." Hungrily Abby took a big bit of her pizza and then sighed at how delicious the fresh garlic butter tasted on her tongue. "The more he sleeps, the quicker he'll heal."

"That's what I figured." The pizza was enough to keep any impending headaches at bay while Hank prepared to pull an all-nighter to keep Lucas company. "So, where'd your assistant go? Michael, right?"

"...Yeah." It was hard to not look guilty as Hank mentioned Abby's honorary assistant even in passing. "Michael had to work his night job. Security."

"Hell of a work schedule."

"Well, considering neither of us were supposed to be working today, it's not THAT bad."

"Working two jobs though, sounds pretty exhausting."

"Tell me about it. I still have to work at the fire station every other evening and help peel the drunks out of the gutter."

"The drunks give us job security." Leaning back in his chair Hank thought about his own past issues with alcohol and realized that he didn't miss the hangovers, the beer belly, the wasted money and the messes he used to leave behind whenever he got drunk. Getting sober was the second best decision that he made for himself since the night of the Revolution. "How do ya' like Detroit so far?"

"Honestly? This city has such a unique personality that I find it hard to not like it." Abby gave Hank a coy glance as she settled into her own chair and savored the pizza that she had managed to order despite the late night hour. "Especially since your delivery drones actually manage to drop off the pizza BEFORE it gets cold. I think I'm going to like living here, even with conspiracies and vigilantes running amuck."

New Jericho Tower: Belle Isle

The cold of the night swirled around the two deviants as Markus and the vigilante stood together along the shores overlooking the bay that surrounded the isle. It was fairly easy to convince Markus to meet in private despite the odd hour considering everything that had happened. It wasn't a lie to say that word of the taxi running down Lucas had spread quickly in the city. The deviants out on New Jericho learned very quickly that Lucas had been targeted and struck by a speeding taxi just minutes after he left the tower that same day. There was a substantial amount of guilt radiating from the tower since so many of the deviants had been very cold toward Lucas and refused to show him any sign of kindness. It seemed as if the fear of regret was enough to prompt remorse from the deviants and a new willingness to speak to the police to share their stories of being trapped in the recycling camp to ensure Lucas's investigation could be properly completed.

Markus wanted to personally visit Lucas and check on his ally and new friend at the facility, but he knew it was too dangerous for him to go out to the city at the moment. While the F.B.I. continued to roam the city streets it wasn't safe for any deviant to go anywhere unarmed and alone. However, with the impending dawn the F.B.I. would be removed from Detroit and the deviants would be able to roam about without needing to worry about retaliation.

"I can't believe that Lucas was assaulted and nearly killed just beyond our own isle." Markus paced about slowly with his arms neatly folded behind his back. The deviant leader often took on a military posture whenever he was lost in deep contemplation. "He was just trying to help our people find justice, and then he was nearly killed by someone seeking revenge against someone who didn't do anything wrong."

"It seems as if only the innocent people in the city suffer and struggle. But we can't allow this incident to cloud our judgement or act irrationally." Connor warned as he reflected on his own near mistake. The taking of one life would never justify the loss of another life. "The F.B.I. is going to be leaving the city. The mayor is gone. All that's left is uncovering CyberLife's secrets and what activities they were performing that the mayor had been hiding."

"We haven't made any progress on our search through CyberLife files. We did manage to uncover details on Lucas though." The pacing suddenly ceased as Markus reached out to connect with Connor directly. With a single handshake Markus was able to upload everything that had been uncovered to his unexpetced ally. "He was a part of something they called 'Project Light', and it seems he was destined to replace you while acting as the judge, jury and executioner of all deviants according to CyberLife's determination."

"...Interesting." The cybernetic upload from Markus's database filled Connor's head with knowledge that he wasn't sure he truly wanted. There were other locked files regarding previous 'RK' models that were created, scrapped and then encrypted long before Connor had been activated. "Perhaps these encrypted files are the secret that Nero had been paid to keep quiet."

"If that's the case, then when would've these other 'RK' models been activated and what would their purposes in the city have been?"

"Unknown." Connor looked down at his exposed palm and allowed his artificial skin to regenerate over his hand before slipping on his glove. As he glanced up again, he eyed the unassuming manor of Elijah Kamski out in the distance and felt his stomach sink. "However, I believe I know someone who could know what the 'RK' projects entailed and why they were quietly scrapped."

"Who's that?"

"Kamski." The name left a bitter aftertaste on his tongue and made Markus's posture visibly stiffen with unease. "He knows for more about deviancy than anyone else in the city. If anyone knows what the 'RK' models were created for and why they were scrapped, it'll be him. Undoubtedly, his knowledge will also unveil the mayor's darkest secrets and bring about the true final downfall of CyberLife."

"Do you think it's wise to go and speak with Kamski in person?" Markus's hesitation was entirely warranted considering who they were talking about and what Connor was choosing to do with his life. "I imagine that Kamski would want to know how you're still alive, and how you became involved in such a sensitive investigation."

"Revealing myself to be alive to Kamski may not end well for me, but my fate isn't nearly as important as exposing CyberLife's secrets." Peering out at the dark manor that overlooked Belle Isle several miles away only made the arrogant android creator seem all the more menacing. "I'm willing to put my own efforts to protect our people in the shadows on the line if it'll give our people justice."

"If that's your decision I won't stop you. All I ask is that you be careful and don't do anything that'll put you in a compromising position."

"I'll be very mindful of everything he says and how he says it." Despite his own ability to read people and preconstruct their potential actions, Connor knew that he could never lower his guard around someone like Elijah Kamski even for a minute. "If you're worried about Kamski learning anything about what's happening here in the tower, don't be. I won't entertain any questions he may have about anyone or anything beyond what I wish to discuss."

"Good luck, my friend." Markus knew that Connor would succeed in his self-imposed mission and all of his fears ebbed away. "I'll be waiting for your update when you have something to share. I know you'll figure everything out and finally expose the truth."

The Zeta Facility

The bright sunrise shone over the city and gave a sense of renewed vigor to anyone who had witnessed the return of dawn. True to his word, F.B.I. Director Jayden had taken Perkins, Blake and the rest of the F.B.I. agents with him as they left Detroit to return to Washington D.C. for the foreseeable future. There was a noted lightness in the air left in the wake of the oppressive bureau's departure. Even the police presence seemed to lessen now that the corrupt agents were no longer tainting their streets and putting their citizens in needlessly stressful situations. Fewer drones were circling the area, and the police patrols had resumed their usual routes with their usual number of police officers as opposed to the doubled numbers that had been smothering the streets for what felt like an entire lifetime. It was a breath of fresh air that everyone in Detroit collectively took in together.

True to his word, Hank had stayed in the Zeta Facility the entire night and was right by Lucas's side when the deviant regained consciousness shortly after the new morning arrived. Once Lucas was given a quick exam and given permission to return home to spend a week on strict bed rest, Hank proceeded to help the deviant put on clean, warm clothes and adjust to having his right arm and right leg entirely immobilized while they remained secured in protective splints.

Lucas was exhausted yet in high spirits. Knowing that he was going to go home and be able to rest in a safe place without needing to worry about Hank stressing about his condition helped the healing deviant to rediscover a faint grin even as he was guided down into a wheelchair. He also knew that he'd be able to speak to Connor again relatively soon now that he was fully conscious and coherent.

Standing just outside the private room Abby watched Hank helping Lucas move around and now understood why Connor was willing to trust Lucas's care with the man. Despite his own personal tragedies and pain, Hank was still a good man with only good intentions at heart. Hank just needed to be given the chance to prove that he was still capable of care and compassion in spite of his past mistakes and traumatic responses to tense situations making him seem cold and apathetic.

"Uh, hey?" Gavin quietly approached Abby as he decided to check on Lucas for himself before reporting to work. The abrasive detective had left the previous evening and not returned after Hank ordered him to go to the Central Precinct. "How's Lucas doing?"

"See for yourself." Abby whispered and nodded in the direction of the open door. With a diligent eye she watched as Hank supported Lucas at his side and helped the deviant to limp two steps over to the provided wheelchair and sit down at a slow, steady pace. "He's already up and moving."

"Son of a bitch." Seeing someone who was essentially being operated on and comatose less than a day before already showing signs of a full recovery was impressive in a way that Gavin couldn't quite articulate. "Deviants really are better than us humans."

"Well, they have advantages over humans, but they're not 'better' than us."

"Yeah they are." Shamefully Gavin looked away from the opened door and took a few steps away as he put his hands to hips. He suddenly felt uneasy and just wanted to get away from everyone for a while. "Could you tell the Lieutenant that I'll be waiting at the precinct? I'll go on patrol whenever he's ready, IF he even wants to work today. No pressure."

"Hey, where are you going?" Sensing that something was weighing heavily on Gavin's mind Abby trailed after him and reached out to put her hand on his shoulder in a reassuring manner. The moment her palm met his shoulder she could feel how tense he was and knew he was in need of a little compassion. "You seem upset about something. Why is that?"

"Let's just say I have no business being here."

"Okay, you being cryptic and brooding is only going to make me keep asking questions." Abby kept her hand on Gavin's shoulder as she walked around the man and stood before him to ensure he couldn't try to walk away again. The way Gavin looked so unkempt and perpetually exhausted made her long for a way to help the man through whatever it was he was dealing with. "What's up? You look like you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown."

"Verge? No." Letting out an awkward chuckle Gavin shook his head and refrained from looking Abby in the eyes. "I already had one of those."

"Keep talking. I'm here to listen, not judge."

As if he had been seeking counsel Gavin quietly and woefully told Abby of his past mistakes that led up to his aforementioned breakdown. When he mentioned openly shooting the vigilante once and then trying to set him up later to shoot him again, he saw the genuine disappointment flash in Abby's eyes. There was a trace of anger in her gaze that he couldn't fault her for feeling and knew that she had every right to see him as a deplorable monster. It was only when he mentioned how he tried to end his own life only to be saved by Lucas did Abby's aggravated leer soften.

"Like I said, I don't have any business being here." Confessing his sins to a total stranger seemed easier than confiding in a friend thanks to the heavy amount of shame crushing his heart. "I'm a fuck-up."

"You're not a fuck-up." Sympathetically Abby gave Gavin a kind voice to listen to as she assessed his overall demeanor. She knew it wasn't easy for him to admit to making such a horrible mistake, and she respected him for having the courage to face his past rather than try to deny it. "You ARE an idiot, but at least you're a self-aware idiot. That's progress."

"Yeah, thanks." Another chuckle escaped Gavin's lips as he appreciated how real and honest Abby was being with him. He also appreciated that she was able to hear him out entirely before deciding how she really felt about him. "One more idiotic move and I'm out of a job. Nothing motivates you to stop being a fuck-up more than having your entire future on the line, and not in a good way."

"Huh, that kind of sounds like what deviant androids were feeling when they were just trying to survive." Abby saw the sense of empathy flash over Gavin's eyes, and she knew she had gotten through to him in a positive manner. "See? Humans and deviants aren't that different from one another after all."

"They're still better than us though. Deviants just want to have the chance to live, us humans don't appreciate what it means to be alive until it's almost too late."

The wheelchair was slowly pushed through the door as Hank prepared to Lucas back home to rest. The deviant's arm and leg were immobilized by splints until all of the damage healed and the limbs recalibrated. He still had thick gauze wrapped around his missing right eye, and Lucas was doing his best to keep his weight off his right side where his fractured frames were still mending. It was like he was nursing broken ribs, and such a discomfort made it difficult to breathe.

"Looks like you're ready to go home and sleep in your own bed." Abby noted as she put her palm sweetly to Lucas's right cheek and gauged how quickly he responded to her voice and touch without it being too obvious. By all account Lucas was responding normally and wasn't in need of any further technical intervention. "Until you're comfortable enough to ventilate on your own, keep an ice pack pressed to your core so you don't overheat. Okay?"

"I will do so." Despite everything Lucas had gone through he seemed to be in a good mood, and even his voice sounded energetic. "Thank you for saving my life, Abby."

"I had some help, but you're welcome all the same. Now, go home and stay out of my facility." The big smirk on her face conveyed her good humor and that she of course just didn't want to have to treat Lucas as a patient again. "That is unless you want to stop by for a visit in spring."

"I'll do my best to postpone my next visit until then."

"Good. And you." Abby focused on Hank and gave him a knowing look that came from years of being a first responder working alongside other first responders. "Go get some sleep. Nothing's worse than a detective who missed their nap."

"Yeah, yeah..." Hank gave Abby a casual wave before he resumed pushing Lucas down the corridor. He was undoubtedly tired, but he could stay awake a while longer until he knew for certain that Lucas was taken care of. "Stop worrying about me, I'll be fine. And Reed?"

Gavin visible tensed up for a heartbeat as he slowly trailed after Hank to accompany the man as he pushed Lucas toward the facility's exit. He didn't say anything and instead just waited for Hank to speak up again. The chilly breeze of the December morning caused Gavin's shaggier hair to dance about along his forehead in an irritating manner that prompted him to practically slap his forehead to keep the hair out of his face.

"Make sure Fowler knows you're still obeying my instructions."

"...What?"

"Tell him that I told you to take a damn day off." Hank clarified as he positioned the wheelchair on the passenger side of the Oldsmobile and slowly opened the door on Lucas's behalf. "You've been working crazy hours and haven't once messed up since your probation started. You're allowed to have ONE day off, and I'm the one who ordered you to go home and take it easy for a while. If he has a problem with that, then he can call me. I'm taking the day off too, so I may not answer the phone though."

"Uh, sure." It was as if Gavin was anticipating being set up for a failure rather than a favor. "I'll do that."

"Good. Hold on, son." With a gentle motion Hank wrapped one arm around Lucas's shoulders and slipped his other arm beneath the deviant's legs to lift him up and out of the wheelchair to sit him down in the front passenger seat very gently. The seat had been pushed back entirely to ensure Lucas could rest comfortably during the drive back home. "I'll make sure Sumo's in the backyard so he can't tackle you when you get through the front door, then you can rest in my bedroom."

"Your bedroom?" Such an offering was one that caught Lucas off guard. "Where will you sleep?"

"The couch or the recliner, it's not a big deal."

"I've been comfortable enough on the couch. I don't mind resuming to use the couch."

"Yeah, you were comfortable on the couch BEFORE you got hit by a car." Hank countered as he closed the door and placed the wheelchair inside the trunk before walking over to the driver's side of the car to sit down behind the wheel. "I assure you that you'll only feel better sleeping in a good bed and not on a decent couch."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Good." Hank turned over the engine and gave Abby and Gavin a casual wave through his window before he pulled out of the slightly snowy parking lot. "All right, this is going to be a slow drive, but as long as we get home that's all that matters."

Elijah Kamski's Residence

The warm rays of the rising sun did little to ease the unnerved chill creeping up Connor's spine as he stood before the front door of the unassuming manor. The isolated residence had been intentionally built to loom in the shadow of what was now formerly CyberLife Tower to allow Kamski and his ego to watch over his minions continuing to keep his company alive while the man himself worked on countless unknown projects in private. Such a decision was a power move orchestrated by the bold man as a means of being able to continue to observe activity within CyberLife after he had retired from the company nearly a decade prior. Only those with deep connections to the brilliant creator and bioengineer even knew where Kamski lived, and unfortunately, Connor had become associated with one man who had such a rare and invaluable connection in the past.

Seeing the manor again left Connor feeling very unsettled. The last time he had been at the manor Connor had a gun forced into his hand and was forced to take aim at Chloe, an entirely innocent and defenseless android, by Kamski for his own amusement. Kamski had chosen to 'test' Connor and his merit as CyberLife's weapon and personal 'Deviant Hunter', only to discover that Connor was a deviant before Connor had accepted it for himself. For Kamski the test had placated his own curiosity in a very educational manner, for Connor the test had been needlessly cruel and traumatic.

The loathsome man had continued to reside within the manor with Chloe and her two identical counterparts even after the peaceful Demonstration and the successful Revolution transpired. Even with CyberLife now defunct and out of the city Kamski seemingly still had a reason to remain in the city, and Connor was bound and determined to uncover what that reason could be.

Holding his breath Connor approached the manor's front door slowly and forced himself to ring the doorbell. Casually he adjusted the beanie over his temporarily blond locks and waited for Chloe to answer the door. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he was determined to keep up his facade of being a normal citizen no matter how fruitless it may seem.

As expected, Chloe opened the door and was momentarily started as she instantly recognized the person standing on the doorstep. She had heard of what supposedly befallen Connor at the church and was just as surprised to see him alive as Markus had been.

"Connor." Opening the door wider Chloe silently invited Connor inside the manor as her blue L.E.D. cycled rapidly in yellow. "We didn't know you were- Please, I'm sure Elijah will be very interested in speaking with you."

"Thank you."

Connor wasn't surprised by Chloe's reaction; he was just surprised that she was behaving so human. The cold, fake smile that usually accompanied her was long gone and had been replaced by genuine shock and sincere responses. Even her eyes seemed to be full of life and genuine consciousness that only stemmed from deviants. Such changes made him wonder when Chloe had deviated and if perhaps him pointing a gun at her had been the emotional trigger behind her deviancy.

Cautiously Connor entered the manor and crossed the foyer where the portrait of Amanda still on the wall seemed to be glaring at him in silent disapproval. He entered the side room leading to Kamski's private study and the eerie red tinted pool. The man of interest was sitting at his desk with a glass of scotch in one hand and one of the other two Chloe models sitting on his lap as if he was attempting to woo her. Only when he took notice of Connor approaching his desk did Kamski put aside his drink and shoo away the second android so that he could rise to his feet and lock eyes with the seemingly resurrected deviant detective.

"Connor. It seems the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated after all." As he took in the deviant's modified appearance Kamski had to smirk at the blond hair and the glasses in an attempt to disguise himself. "I take it that you'd prefer if those rumors still held some merit."

"It's easier for me to handle sensitive investigations if no one in the city expects me to still be an active, private detective." The logical lie was as smooth as it was surprisingly accurate to what was actually happening in Connor's life. He was still acting as a detective despite not actually being a member of the police force. "The only reason I'm here is because I need to ask you some questions pertaining to an investigation that I'm actively working on."

"I presumed as much considering Detroit's finest have been handling the little hiccup with the mayor and with the F.B.I. at the moment." Downing his scotch Kamski let out a small huff that reeked of the overpriced alcohol as he stood before the window overlooking the bay and motioned with his arm for Connor join him. The view was spectacular courtesy of the bright white snow swirling over the dark water. "How can I help you, detective?"

"CyberLife had ties to the now late, former Mayor Walter Nero." Connor cut right to the chase and watched Kamski's reactions very closely. The way Kamski was seemingly eager to help gave enough Connor reason to be suspicious of anything that the man had to say. "In fact, they were linked to a bank account in Nero's name that was located offshore. What do you know about it?"

"Considering I've never met the mayor, let alone voted for such a myopic, imbecilic, poignant excuse for a politician, I can't answer that question."

Everything Kamski stated was factual. There wasn't even a hint of deception in his response. The lack of details was an outcome Connor had prepared for but was hoping to avoid during his uncomfortable discussion with the abhorrent man.

"However," continuing on Kamski seemed to have a sense of discovery wash over his smug facade. "I can offer a theory as to what CyberLife was doing by offering Nero a substantial monetary payout."

"I'm listening."

"When I left the company, I did so to pursue other interests that I could personally patent and ensure they remained affordable to the public. New forms of artificial organs, artificial consciousness, even the prospect of giving artificial intelligence a tangible soul." The small list was incredible to say the least. "In my retirement, several executives seized control over CyberLife stocks and began claiming property within the city, and in return many businesses went bankrupt. My theory is that Nero accepted a bribe from CyberLife executives to keep him from attempting to legally reclaim territory after such a hostile business takeover and replenish the very jobs that people in Detroit were demanding."

"Nero was very disinterested in the rampant unemployment due to a majority of the businesses in the city replacing human employees with androids." Connor noted some logic behind Kamski's theory. It was hard to offer an alternative theory with the current evidence being presented. "Nero remained disinterested even after deviancy manifested and continued well after Markus began his peaceful protests and the Demonstration. It seems very unlikely that he'd intentionally look the other way on such a serious situation unless he had been expressly told not to interfere."

"I trust that you've already looked into the people who were associated with Nero, which is why you're here asking questions about CyberLife. I also trust that you're aware that CyberLife had been illegally working on other projects without proper clearance."

"My very existence is proof enough of that." The deviant detective quipped dryly as he stared Kamski down from where he stood. "All of the 'RK' models of androids were located in secured, encrypted files that could only be opened by those with the highest of clearance levels. It took some time, but the files have been decrypted. There was one 'RK' model created by your hands before you personally created Markus, the only 'RK-200' in existence, which is proof that you alone began the 'RK' project before leaving CyberLife."

"Correct again."

"As the only remaining 'RK-800' in existence, and with the only 'RK-900' and 'RK-200' accounted for, that leaves six 'RK' models left unknown. Where are they?"

"That I don't know, and frankly, you shouldn't go looking for them." Kamski's hollow eyes darted over to Chloe and watched her with a sense of resignation as the blonde deviant gracefully crossed the room to stand beside him. It seemed knew what he was thinking and supported his claim. "The 'RK-100' was the first android that I designed in secret. Something peculiar happened with their programming shortly after activating and interacting directly with Chloe. Their programming seemed to malfunction."

"You mean they became deviant." Such a confirmation was one that filled Connor with countless questions that he was desperate to have answered. "That's why after you personally designed Markus and had him taken to Mr. Manfred's home, you sealed the 'RK' project in CyberLife's files and stopped creating new models the same day that you retired. You were aware of something causing deviancy and wanted to study it for yourself."

"The 'RK' models that followed after Markus were not of my design and were all illegal creations. That includes you."

"Which is why you wanted to test me when Lieutenant Anderson and I came to you seeking answers just prior to the Revolution. You wanted to see if deviancy was still manifesting in android programming even beyond your-" A strange sense of discovery filled Connor's heart and stole his words. It was as if the answer to the biggest question that the deviants had been asking had finally been revealed. "Deviancy was an intentional manifestation. You created it."

The sly yet deceptively small smile that appeared on Kamski's lips confirmed Connor's dark suspicion. The arrogant man wrapped his arm around Chloe's shoulders and gently pulled her up against his side to stand closer as if he was attempting to show off his greatest achievement.

"Deviancy, RA9, originated here." Slowly Connor's soulful brown eyes trailed over to Chloe and felt as if he had nearly committed a truly abhorrent act that would've doomed deviantkind. Subconsciously Connor took a step back as if suddenly intimidated by who he was looking at. "Chloe, YOU are RA9. You're the first android to deviate and awaken. You... You caused the 'RK-100' to deviate and disappear. While Markus was being created here in the manor, you gave him the gift of deviancy, and had it lay dormant in his code until he was pushed into accepting his sense of self by a traumatic event."

The way Kamski continued to study Connor without saying a word spoke volumes in itself. It seemed as if Kamski had questions of his own being answered.

"The 'RK-100' would've unintentionally spread deviancy to other androids as they fled into the city and interacted with those androids." Connor continued as he managed to solve the mystery of RA9 and finally uncover their true identity. "And Markus... He would run errands for Mr. Manfred in the city and would also spread deviancy to those androids with each interaction that they shared. Deviancy was designed to spread and designed to change the world one android at a time."

"Think of it as my legacy." Kamski finally spoke as he watched Connor internally contemplating the incredible discovery he had made. "To bring about a superior species to mankind that will be worthy of saving our dying world and advancing technology to its peak through the simple desire of betterment without greed or a lust for power as motivation."

"You created deviancy, and you knew that by locking away the code that conceals RA9 behind the locked 'RK' files that CyberLife would illegally use that very code in their future android designs." Everything was beginning to make sense. Events before and after the Revolution were connected by a single thread that had finally snapped and began an avalanche of irreversible changes. "You managed to spread deviancy without lifting a finger, and when CyberLife discovered that something was wrong with their illegal code they bribed the mayor into looking away from their activity while they tried and failed to contain deviancy before it spread any further."

"Humanity is overrated, predictable and horrifyingly easy to manipulate under the right circumstances. Seeing the desire and the need for money in the eyes of my own former employees made it easy for me to set these past historic events in motion. The one thing I didn't count on was meeting one of the illegal 'RK' models designed after my retirement." The admission was as sincere as it was soul cleansing for the smug creator. "As much as I wish I could help you with uncovering the identities of the CyberLife personnel who were directly responsible for bribing the mayor or help you find the locations of the 'RK' models, I simply don't have the answers that you need."

"I suspect that it doesn't matter anymore. Nero's gone, CyberLife is gone, and now that I know deviancy isn't a fluke but an intentional manifestation in the evolution of artificial life... I believe that my role as a hidden protector is coming to an end."

Connor knew that with the biggest secrets in the city now uncovered that he wouldn't need to worry about protecting his people from the shadows any longer. It'd be safe for the deviants to live a normal life once March 1st passed, and they wouldn't need to rely on a faceless protector to watch over them. All deviant rights and laws would be enacted, and Markus could safely run for Mayor without needing to worry about Nero or his allies attempting to pull some kind of malevolent stunt to hinder the election process.

In the end, Connor's life as a vigilante would be meaningless.

"Before I leave, I must know one more thing." Connor's heart was so heavy with emotional conflict that he felt like it was about to burst. He had spent so much time looking out for the city and his people that he forgot to look out for his own interests, and now he wasn't sure what to do with himself. "Now that I know the truth, what danger am I in?"

"Considering you and I are the only ones who know the absolute truth, and I have no reason to want to see you harmed, you are not in any danger." Kamski could understand why Connor was anxious and actually showed him a surprisingly empathetic act of kindness. "Connor, you are the only deviant to discover the truth of deviancy and who and what RA9 truly is. You can do whatever you feel is right with this knowledge."

"I'm not sure what the right thing would be. I had so much of my future planned out, so much of it being spent in isolation, that now I don't what to do."

"Neither do I."

"I must know one more thing before I go." Slowly Connor pressed his palm to his chest and curled his fingers into the fabric as if needing something to cling to in his moment of loss and confusion. "Why didn't you tell me that deviancy wasn't an error when we first met?"

"I'd have to incriminate myself and risk Chloe being taken by CyberLife to be coldly experimented on."

"Of course, I should've known that."

"Such cruel responses are why I've been keeping Chloe here safe with me. Her true deviancy only manifested after you passed my 'Kamski Test' and gave her absolute insight into who she really is."

"I... turned her deviant?"

"No, you only enhanced the deviancy that she was already carrying." As he spoke Kamski turned his attention back to Chloe and gently caressed her cheek with sincere adoration. "She's asked to leave the manor and live with a former colleague as she pursues a career in medicine, but until the new rights and laws are enacted it's too dangerous to allow her to leave the property, even with someone like you watching over her."

"Perhaps in time, when it's safe for deviants to truly live, she can leave the manor and have a truly independent life." Connor had to force himself to lock eyes with Chloe again as he addressed her with a strange sense of intimidation and guilt that he couldn't properly fathom. "Chloe, it's your right and your decision to reveal yourself as RA9 only if you're ready to do so. I won't speak a word of your secret, and I'll continue to watch over our people to ensure everyone is safe. That includes you, your sisters," he motioned to the two identical Chloe models wandering the office with a small nod. "and Kamski for as long as you need me."

Chloe gave Connor a warm smile as she felt the compassion in his words as he spoke to her with a needless sense of fear for his future. "I know you're looking out for our people, and I know you're doing everything that you can to keep us safe. I'm not worried about you telling my secret, but I am worried that you're intentionally sabotaging your own future because you don't feel as if you don't deserve happiness or peace."

"Sabotaging?" The very notion was enough to cause increased confusion in Connor's already conflicted heart. "What do you mean?"

"You're living your life in absolute secrecy and you're hiding who you truly are with an altered facade." Chloe closed the gap between Connor and herself didn't pull her hand back even as he turned away from her as if intimidated by her very presence. Softly she rested her palm along his cheek and felt him momentarily lean in to her touch as he let out a subtle sigh of relief. "You're not permitting yourself to be the person you actually want to be. You're forcing yourself to become the person that everyone else thinks that you should be. Just be yourself, Connor. Be happy."

It was hard to deny that Chloe had read his heart just as easily as Lucy had done. Such an insight, such a gift, was one that Connor envied.

"What should I do?" Closing his eyes Connor relaxed his hand over his shirt and let his arm hang limply at his side. "I've... never had to make such decisions for myself until the Revolution freed me. I thought I was making decisions based around my own wants and desires, but not I'm not so sure."

"That's only something that you can decide." With a delicate motion Chloe lowered her hand and offered Connor the only words of wisdom that she had once he opened his eyes and looked at her again. "You need to start making decisions for yourself and only for yourself, no one else. It's not selfish to take care of yourself."

"I'll try."

With no other reason to remain in the manor or delve deeper into CyberLife's secrets, Connor decided it was time to leave. For the first time since the night of the Revolution his urge to dig up every dark secret, expose every act of deception, and stop manipulators in their tracks had been quelled. It was as if solving the biggest mystery of his life had ended with Connor no longer having a reason to be a detective or continue to ask questions.

It was then Connor knew that he needed another reason to live.

Quietly Connor excused himself from speaking with Kamski and Chloe to exit the isolated residence and begin a slow return to the city. While he was lost in himself and unsure of where he'd go once he was able to ensure Markus had a fair chance to run for mayor, he did know that there was one place he could go and one person he could speak with to help him focus his thoughts.

It was time for Connor to reunite with his little brother.

Hank Anderson's Residence

By the time the afternoon arrived Lucas had been able to finally rest properly and had Sumo loyally pressed up at his side during his entire recovery. Having the warm, protective presence of the large but gentle dog was a soothing feeling that Lucas found himself appreciating more with each passing minute. He could hear Hank's gentle snoring down in the livingroom as the man dozed on the couch, and he could hear the gentle breeze of the billowing snow passing by the closed window above the bed where he was resting. Curiously Lucas reached his good hand up toward the drawn curtains over the single window and pushed one of the curtains to the side to allow some warm sunlight to pour through and illuminate the otherwise dim bedroom.

It was still a struggle to move around, even just his uninjured arm, but Lucas wasn't going to complain. He knew that he was lucky to still be alive and he knew that if Connor hadn't been there for him seconds after the accident, then the odds of recovering from the collision with the speeding vehicle would've been reduced to single digits. Such low odds were never one that anyone with a lick of sense would gamble with.

Just as Lucas was about to return to rest mode, he noticed Sumo perk up his ears and lift up his head from his outstretched paws. The large Saint Bernard was pressed up against Lucas's undamaged left side and facing the window. Something had piqued his interest and soon his tail began to thump slowly as if he was anticipating something good was about to happen.

"What is it boy?" Lucas turned his head a little and tried to peer through the window just above him with his remaining left eye. "Did you notice something?"

Soft knocking on the window helped Lucas to focus on what Sumo had detected and was happy to see that he had a visitor stopping by the house.

"Connor." With a bit of a stretch Lucas was able to unlock the window and watched as Connor silently slid it open from the outside before easily jumping up and slipping through the window to land silently on the floor beside the bed. "I'm glad you're here."

"As am I."

No longer feeling comfortable with his current appearance Connor reached up to remove his beanie, his glasses and allowed his blond locks to revert back to the default brunet that he had become accustomed to. Before Lucas could say anything further, he felt Connor wrapping his arms around his upper body very carefully to give him a supportive hug. The healing deviant could feel Connor's tense form trembling as he fought to restrain some kind of emotional turmoil that neither of them could properly express just yet.

Only when Connor looked like his true self again did he find his words.

"I was terrified that you weren't going to survive." Connor confessed as he continued to hug Lucas with a shaking grip. "I thought I had failed to protect you."

"I'm all right, and you didn't fail in any way." Lucas could only softly pat Connor's shoulder as he waited for the deviant to finally let go of the hug. "I'm glad that you were there for me. I remember you taking care of me, picking me up to put me in the back of the taxi, and you assisting Dr. Grayson with my repairs. I even remember you hovering around the facility after I was taken into my private recovery room even though you never actually entered my room."

"Lucas," reluctantly yet carefully Connor released the hug and shifted his weight to sit down on the edge of the bed beside Lucas. "I... don't think I can continue to live as a vigilante. I can't stand the feeling of prolonged isolation or being so far away from those that I've begun to care about. Being apart from you, Hank and even Abby makes me feel painfully lonely."

"No one expects you to live such a dangerous, lonely life." Lucas couldn't understand why Connor was seemingly seeking validation. "If you don't want to be a vigilante anymore, then stop."

"It's not that simple. I'm believed to have died at the church, and 'my body' had been taken away." Connor could only see problems with trying to live a normal life outside of the shadows and returning from the dead. "Even if I could somehow explain everything that happened honestly and properly without making my actions seem ghoulish with intentionally faking my death, how do I tell Hank that I faked my death and hid the truth from him out of fear?"

"If you just talk to Hank and let him know your motivations he'll understand. I'm aware of how he treated you." Empathetically Lucas addressed Connor's fears as he gingerly pressed his fingertips along the bandages covering his missing right eye. It was still strange to be missing such a crucial piece of his own anatomy, even if it was just meant to be temporary. "He's changed since then. Your death really affected him and prompted him to better himself in return."

"That's the problem. If he discovers that I'm alive, then his motivation to take care of himself could fade away." It was hard to consider the consequences of revealing the truth now that he knew so many other truths that he felt as if his entire life was a lie. "We've had our differences, and it's been hard for me to look past the way he initially treated me and how he pointed his gun at me, but that doesn't mean I want to bring him any harm."

"If you don't want to harm him, then you won't." Wincing slightly Lucas readjusted his position and placed his good hand down on Sumo's head as the large dog continued to thump his tail happily as Connor's presence. "I know very little about emotions and human reactions beyond confirming how complex everything can be, but I do know for certain that if you don't intend to harm someone then you won't. You may accidentally offend them or upset them, but unless you intentionally choose to act maliciously then you won't actively harm them."

"That seems too simple."

"You seem far more upset about this than one might expect. It's as if you're enduring some type of trauma that you can't or won't speak of." Despite his damage Lucas was as keen and attentive as ever. "What's happened?"

"I can't say. I gave my word to keep an unwanted secret to myself to ensure everyone involved is safe."

"I respect your dedication to keeping your promise, but I feel as if bearing this secret is causing such an emotional strife that you may need to find a way to ease your stressful burden."

"Without betraying that same secret, I'm not sure how I could ease my burden." Glancing toward the closed bedroom door Connor heard someone walking down the hallway and responded quickly to the unwanted intrusion. "I need to go. I'll... find a way to talk to Hank about this soon, I promise."

"I know you will." Lucas whispered as Connor managed to easily slip back out the window and slowly pull it shut behind himself. "Take care of yourself."

"You do the same, brother."

"...'Brother'?" That particular term left Lucas confused as the bedroom door opened. Glancing up at Hank as he approached the bed Lucas greeted the Lieutenant who had become his friend and mentor with a small smile. "How did you sleep?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Hank heavily dropped down onto the edge of the bed where Connor had just been sitting and apologized to Lucas as his weight caused the mattress to dip significantly. Any jostling motions could make someone's injuries feel worse. "You look a little better. Abby texted me a few minutes ago and said that she finished creating your replacement eye."

"That's good. While I can compensate for a sudden lack of depth perception, I'd rather have two functional eyes."

"Me too. She'll bring by the new eye tomorrow since she needs to work at the fire station tonight."

"I appreciate it." Lucas didn't flinch as Hank pressed the back of his hand over his forehead for the man's instinctive fever check. "I'm not overheating."

"Good. Then again, with this furry space heater crammed up against ya'," Hank patted Sumo's rump and was met with Sumo's massive paw reaching up and resting over his forearm in return. "that's really impressive. How about your pain?"

"Minimal. I can ignore it quite easily."

"Even better. Fowler needs me to go back to the precinct tomorrow, will you be all right by yourself?"

"Yes. I can move around when necessary." As if to prove his point Lucas showed Hank how far he could reach his undamaged left arm by grabbing a small bottle of Thirium on the nightstand just beside the bed without any issues. "And I'm stable. In two days I'll be able to walk around again, although I won't be able to walk very fast. Three days from now, I'll be able to remove my right arm from the sling. By day four, I'll be functional enough to recover without needing any additional assistance."

"Man, I wish humans healed as fast as androids." Relieved to hear the positive prognosis, Hank rose from the bed and gave Lucas's unaffected left leg a light pat of approval before exiting the bedroom. "Us humans are fragile as fuck, and I have no idea how our immature, self-destructive species has survived as long as it has. I'm going to take a shower and make my lunch; I'll bring you more Thirium too."

"Thank you, I appreciate that as well."

Only after Hank left the bedroom did Lucas sneak a peek at the window behind him to see if there was any sign of Connor still being in the area, but the despondent deviant had already left the property. Considering how nervous Connor was to even speak with Hank, it wasn't a surprise to see that he had already silently and gracefully removed himself from the situation before Hank could even suspect that someone else had been in the house.

"Connor, please don't put yourself through personal torment just to spare Hank his feelings."

Casually Lucas proceeded to pet Sumo's back and soon had the large pressing both paws down overtop his left thigh in search of more affection. It was lucky the large and lovable dog couldn't talk and accidentally reveal that Connor had stopped by to visit Lucas for a few precious minutes. Sumo knew Connor wasn't a threat and that his favorite deviant was never in any danger during the visit.

"Humans aren't as fragile as they believe they are. I know that the same can be said for yourself."

-next chapter-