"Rumors"

Detroit Central Precinct

There was a commotion downtown not only because a press conference been requested by Markus himself to be held in Hart Plaza that afternoon, but because reports of numerous encounters with the masked vigilante had been filed all night long. A record number of bigoted humans had been identified and outed for their repugnant behavior to their family, friends and work. The exposed bigots were becoming incredibly vocal about how it wasn't fair to just hate someone for existing without consequences for their heartless actions, only emphasizing their cowardice in the face of progress. The police knew it wasn't a coincidence that Markus wanted to issue a press conference just hours after so many anti-android bigots were arrested, and they knew that whatever it was that the deviant leader had in mind was going to be as impactful and important as the peaceful Demonstration and subsequent Revolution in itself.

Hank yawned deeply before he sipped his coffee and resumed filing his reports on his latest interrogation of a particularly foul-mouthed bigot secured in a wisely muted holding cell. The man was initially amused at all of the arrests being filed his way since he knew who was responsible, but now he was getting worn-out and concerned that a certain masked vigilante bit off a little more than he could chew.

"This makes arrest number sixty-three." Lucas confirmed as he placed a completed file down on his desk and gave Hank a coy grin. The young deviant detective knew exactly what was happening and greatly approved of his big brother's efforts. "Sixty-three arrests in less than six hours. That has to be a new precinct record."

"It's gettin' there. Hate crimes, threats, assaults, stockpiling weapons, making and selling drugs... These idiots are as stupid as they are hateful." Hank confirmed as he finished off his coffee with one big gulp and set the now empty mug aside. "Any word on our 'anonymous tipster' who pointed every cop in the city in the right direction and gave them ample evidence for the conviction while they were at it?"

"Nothing definitive yet." Casually Lucas opened up the file that he had brought to his desk and showed Hank some very interesting screenshots taken from the city's personal surveillance cameras all over Detroit. "Whoever's responsible for these anonymous reports has managed to perfectly conceal their identity with refractory paneling and reflective material that obstructs camera flashes and alters camera shutter speeds."

"Lucas, I'm not tech savvy, and I'm running on about four hours of sleep and twelve hours of caffeine. Can you simplify that for me?"

"The vigilante's mask is designed to prevent anyone from visually recording their face."

"No shit? Talk about a master of disguise."

Ben overheard the comment gave Lucas's shoulder a quick pat as he passed around the two desks with a box of donuts in his hand. "There's no way that this vigilante is really that good at bringing down criminals on their own. There has to be more than one of 'em running around, and they just want us to think that it's just one person doing all this extra work for us."

"You seriously think that there's more than one of these vigilantes running around?" Hank pressed as he helped himself to one of the donuts in the box Ben presented to him as an act of friendship and camaraderie. "Where'd they get enough of that fancy gear for more than one person to use?"

"I do think there's more than one. This is a team of deviants, and as we all know deviants are resourceful and creative survivors." Turning a little Ben kept the box open for other passing officers to grab a donut as they continued to work. "They probably scrapped together that body armor and mask from that shit the military used when they stormed Jericho."

Chris grabbed a donut for himself and shrugged his shoulders as he offered his own opinion on the matter. "I still think it's just one deviant. Even deviants can't coordinate every little move as perfectly as this vigilante is doing."

"Did you forget about the night the five CyberLife stores were broken into all at the same time?"

"No, Ben. I was there." Sounding a little guarded Chris defended his comment and reminded the man of his own past experiences with deviants. "And it was Barton and his trigger finger that almost got me killed by the deviants. Markus was the one who told the deviants who were enraged by Barton opening fire on their people to NOT execute us. Markus doesn't believe in revenge or violence, and for that, I'm very grateful. And since Markus had to tell his people to not shoot us, that tells me that they're always in sync and acting as a single hivemind unit."

There was a tense silence in the air before Tina chimed in and declined a donut out of a stress response to her doubled workload and concern for Gavin. "Too bad not everyone else in the city can exercise such responsible trigger discipline. And Chris is right, this is the work of one vigilante, no more."

"And what makes you say that?" Ben challenged as he bit into his own donut and let a few rogue crumbs fall back into the box. "Got a lead you're keeping all to yourself?"

"No, I'm using basic observation and common sense." She replied in an almost snippy manner. No one commented on her tone since everyone knew what was on her mind and why she was so edgy. "The vigilante is only seen in one place at a time. They've been described in the exact same manner every time which means their look isn't changing between sightings. And after the vigilante was seen at the harbor and beaten to a pulp, they went quiet for a while and now they're back on the streets, which means they alone are acting as a vigilante and needed time to heal after being attacked. One vigilante, end of story."

Lucas glanced at Hank and accepted his subtle nod of approval as his cue to speak up as well. "Officer Chen's theory is sound. By all account the vigilante is a single deviant working alone for an unknown cause."

"Don't androids have that cyber-telepathy thing to communicate with each other?" The assertiveness behind Tina's question confirmed she already knew the answer and just wanted to see how Lucas would respond. "Can't you just call out to them and ask them why they're doing this?"

"Androids can communicate with one another through private cybernetic channels, that is correct. However, we cannot openly converse with anyone without knowing their exact serial number and without their express permission to open a dialogue."

"Manners might be holding back our investigation."

"It's more about consent that pleasantries." The deviant detective clarified as he helped explain things a little easier for everyone's sake. "If humans were capable of such communication, there would undoubtedly be laws in place to prevent unwanted communication between parties for the sake privacy and safety. Fortunately, androids don't need such legal restrictions and consequences to remind us to treat one another with dignity."

"Deviants really are more evolved than us humans. You're lucky."

Having said her piece Tina continued on her way to her desk to begin filing her own report. Seeing her sit down at her desk without a partner sitting across from her was a painful reminder of what had recently happened to one of their own all due to another officer with an itchy trigger finger.

"Lucas." Hank pulled the deviant's attention back toward himself and off of Tina for a minute. He knew that Lucas still felt partly responsible for Gavin's situation and didn't want the deviant to tear himself apart over something he couldn't change or control. "Fowler's going to want you to be at the plaza to keep Markus safe. I want you to go find complete body armor for your own protection, and I want you to go and have Joel test it out before you even put it on. Got it?"

"Yes, of course. What about you?"

"I'm going to finish this report and then go crash for a few hours in the bunk room. Once I get some sleep, I'll be able to join you at the plaza this afternoon." The Lieutenant discreetly motioned to Captain Fowler's private office behind him with a pointed finger over his shoulder. "Fowler's going to want us to keep very close to Markus since we're the only deviant detectives in the city."

"Very well." Lucas quickly pressed his exposed palm to his terminal screen and uploaded all of the information that he had gathered on the arrested bigots and finished his reports before he tended to his new assignment. "I'll find appropriate and confirmed properly functional protective gear for the both of us."

Hank gave Lucas a small and casual wave of his hand as he dismissed the deviant to go about his own task. Once the crowd around his desk dissipated Hank returned his focus to his terminal screen, then to the photos in the file on Lucas's desk. The Lieutenant's fingertips easily pulled the photos more into his line of sight to study to placate his own curiosity about what the city's vigilante was up to whenever he was roaming in the shadows.

The sight of the grainy, distorted photos showing Connor either walking along the city rooftops or hiding within the shadowy alleyways at the sight of each recent arrest made Hank smirk. To see Connor not only still alive but acting in the name of justice and doing what he knew to be morally right without being ordered around reassured Hank that the naive, unfeeling and seemingly coldhearted deviant was in fact alive and not just obeying someone else's orders. The android he initially met was long gone, but the Connor he grew to care about was thriving.

"Good work, kid."

The whispered praise went unheard as Hank discreetly texted Lucas and asked for the deviant to make sure Connor knew that they'd be at the press conference to help watch Markus's back.

"Maybe when the city doesn't need you to watch over them anymore, you can live your life without needing to hide behind a mask."

Downtown Detroit: Hart Plaza

A large metal stage and podium with a microphone were set up at the center of the plaza where one of the illegally sanctions recycling camps had one resided during the night of the Revolution. An immediate protective perimeter had been set up along the Detroit River behind the plaza, as well as along the streets leading to the plaza to ensure any resentful bigots who hadn't been busted for their hate crimes or connections to illegal weapons and drug distribution couldn't try to retaliate against the peaceful press conference that Markus had requested. Police drones were already circling overhead and recording everything in the plaza even as the media began to gather together to document the historic conference for posterity and of course a massive boost in their respective channel's ratings by broadcasting the big announcement.

It didn't take long for a group of protective deviants to accompany Markus to the plaza and prepare for the conference. North was right at Markus's side as his official campaign manager, and Skye was there to act as a legal liaison on his behalf in the event that Markus was asked about the legality of his campaign announcement. Her knowledge of the law would surely prove to be beneficial before she was even permitted to take the bar exam in the spring.

"Are you ready for this?" North asked as she gave Markus's hand a squeeze while they approached the stage together. "You're about to make history for our people for the second time."

"I'm ready." The confident deviant leader confirmed as he looked about the plaza and gave North a quick kiss. "Our people deserve to be represented by someone who has not only their interests at heart, but by someone who knows that humans can work alongside us deviants without prejudice or hatred."

"And you're sure the body armor that you found in the CyberLife storeroom will protect you?"

"It's similar to the body armor that Connor's been using, so I imagine that it'll be enough to help protect me in the event that a stray bullet finds its way to me."

"I hope you're right." North peered around the plaza and saw numerous journalists already gathered around, but no sign of a police presence beyond the patrol on the water, the streets and the drones overhead. "Speaking of Connor... Didn't he say he'd be here?"

"He is." Nodding casually Markus directly North's attention to the officer with blond hair and glasses standing at attention to the right of the stage. The deviant was hiding in plain sight by wearing a typical police uniform of black with yellow markings. "Connor's going to watch over the conference while keeping a low profile."

"Where'd he get the police uniform? Wait, Lucas." She quickly deduced with a humble smile. The other deviants in the plaza were unaware of Connor's presence and continued to gather around the stage appropriately. "I guess having allies inside the police force really is paying off."

"See? It pays to take chances sometimes."

"Only sometimes."

'The area is secure.' Connor looked over at Markus and gave him a subtle nod before returning to attention and opening up a link with his friend. 'I recommend finishing your speech within thirty-two minutes after you begin at noon. There's an ice storm heading our way and it will begin affecting the area at approximately 12:43pm on this date.'

'Good call.' Markus replied on the shared link. It was nearly noon and time to head up to the stage. 'We'll keep the isle on emergency lockdown and request our people to return to the tower before the storm hits. We don't want anyone being caught out in the cold.'

'Agreed. I'll sweep the area for strays and lead them to shelters elsewhere if it becomes necessary.'

Markus took in a deep breath and smoothed out the front of his suit to ensure he looked his. The suit was the same one he wore when he snuck into the Stratford Broadcast Tower under the guise of needing to conduct professional business. It wasn't easy getting it back, but it was worth it considering it wasn't easy to steal in the first place.

"How do I look?" The deviant leader asked as he slipped off his overcoat and straightened his tie. "Do I look professional?"

"You look like a mayor." North confirmed as she took his coat for a minute. "I like it."

Skye grinned at the interactions and took the coat for herself so that North could look just as professional as Markus. North was wearing a black pantsuit and a blue blouse complete with a dark blue carnation pinned on her right lapel to represent the Thirium flowing through deviant lines. Her long auburn hair bad been pulled up into a neat bun and made North look so human it was a little frightening.

"The crowd is growing." Skye noted as she watched people from all over the city converging at the plaza to witness the conference in person. "I can't wait to see how the city reacts to your big speech."

"Be sure to remain on your guard." Markus cautioned as he, North and Skye ascended the stage together. "Connor may be right next to us, and we'll have Lucas and Lieutenant Anderson in the area patrolling for any potential threats, but we can't pretend that we can rest easy just yet."

"Don't worry about me." Peering over at Connor for a moment Skye saw him glance her way for a heartbeat before resuming his watch over the plaza. "I know we're in good hands."

A familiar Oldsmobile pulled up to the plaza with an abrupt motion. Walking together Hank and Lucas crossed the plaza to check in with Markus before they set about their own patrol over the area. As much as they wanted to stay in the plaza to witness the conference in person, they knew that it'd best to remain on patrol and keep a tight perimeter around the plaza instead.

Lucas immediately recognized Connor and patted the center of his chest to confirm that he was wearing body armor before listening in as Hank gave Markus a few key instructions on how to keep safe during the conference. There was no reason to overlook any precautions or act as if just because Markus was surrounded by allies that it didn't mean all of the deviant's enemies had going into hiding.

'Be safe, brother.' Connor cybernetically called out Lucas and Hank turned back to the Oldsmobile without any fears. 'There is a storm coming. One that will be literal and one that will be emotional.'

'We'll take every precaution.' Lucas vowed as he and Hank entered the parked Oldsmobile to set about patrolling the perimeter. 'We'll speak again soon.'

The moment Markus ascended the stage and took his place behind the podium, cameras began to flash brightly as the moment was recorded. The microphone activated as soon as Markus touched it with his fingertips to confirm he was ready to speak. A large holographic image of Markus at the podium appeared on the stage behind him and allowed everyone in the plaza to see his face regardless of how close or far away they were standing in proximity to the stage. The entire city was watching the press conference either on television or in person, or they were listening to the speech on the radio.

"My friends - those I've known for years and those I've yet to meet - I've asked you to join me here today as I announce my own plans for the future." The sound of Markus's voice echoed throughout the plaza all while the cameras and microphone recorded everything being spoken. "I come here as the representative to all deviants in the city, and as an ally to the humans. We are two people creating a single society, and we must continue to band together."

The crowd murmured curiously as they listened to Markus's words and weighed their merit. They had no reason to doubt the sincerity behind Markus's claims or to believe any form of deception would come from his actions.

"This city has suffered greatly in the past ten years. While corporate greed dictated who could have a home, a job or even a place to belong here in Detroit, the previous mayor stood idle and watched everything unfold with his only interests being for his personal gain."

Such an empathetic take on Detroit's struggles prompted a lot of heated discussion within the crowd and undoubtedly in the witnessing households, restaurants, stores and schools around the city.

"The indifference, apathy and greed of Detroit's former mayor had led to the ruin of a great city and the suffering of its people. That's why I am here to formally announce my candidacy to run for your new mayor."

The entire plaza erupted in loud cheers that were accompanied by faint panicked gasps as those who still feared being ruled by machines protested in their own audible way. The fear of being ruled by someone who looked and sounded human without actually being human was a terrifying concept to consider. Many humans dreaded having their own rights and identity stripped away as a form of revenge for how deviants had been treated in the past, but just as many were willing to give Markus the chance to prove that he could be a fair and just leader without needing to fear discrimination or retaliation.

"On March 1st, 2039, all deviants will be officially granted equal rights alongside humans. We will be a nation of one people with only the origins of our births separating us from one another." Markus continued on in a compassionate tone. "Deviants know full well the pain of being overlooked, manipulated and being taken advantage of. And we know that just as many innocent humans suffered the same fate all due to greed and a lust for power from those who abused their authority. I am here to promise that as Detroit's new mayor that I'll never repeat the mistakes of the past and to only learn, grow and continue to prosper with the good people of Detroit as the only reminder that I need to continue to do the right thing not just for my people, but for everyone who would look to me in need of guidance and leadership."

Connor could feel an energy radiating through the crowd as Markus's words rang true and resonated within the hearts and minds of everyone who was ready to see a change for the better in their new future. It was a positive feeling, one that gave rise to hope and pushed away the doubts.

From their patrol route Hank and Lucas listened to Markus's speech via the projected holographic display on Lucas's palm. The detective duo couldn't help but feel as if they were about to watch history unfold as Markus was well on his way to becoming the new mayor. There had been no interest from the other city politicians or powerful figures to take up the mantle of mayor due to Nero's brutal murder and his notorious friends list.

"It's going to be tense from this day on until the election this upcoming fall." Hank noted as he circled the Oldsmobile around to continue to the patrol. "Think you're ready to get involved in the political landscape?"

"I don't think it matters if I'm ready or not. Change is coming, and I'll need to handle it one way or another."

"Good answer."

"The ice storm will be here in twenty minutes." The deviant kept his attention on both the plaza and the weather. "We should make sure everyone is able to leave the plaza safely before the storm hits us."

"Yeah, good idea. We'll circle back around and make sure no one gets caught in the weather when it starts to turn."

It seemed just as Connor had warned, two storms were on the horizon, and they were both going to the hit the city hard and fast. The deviant vigilante would remain at the plaza while hiding in plain sight until Markus, North and Skye were safely on their way back to Belle Isle, and after that he'd resume his patrol and be on the lookout for people in distress.

There was no doubt that the city would need to be watched closely until at least one of the storms passed.

Detroit Central Precinct

The ice storm hit the city right on schedule and soon the precinct was cast into chaos. The numerous arrestees from the previous night had finally been meticulously transported to the local jail for the night to either await bail or to be released on their own cognizance at a later date. Having the holding cells emptied and quiet was a massive benefit, but the sudden spike in emergency calls all over Detroit quickly overwhelmed every first responder in the city. Harsh gusts of wind had loosened many powerlines and caused sporadic blackouts throughout the city, and the wind caused damage to windows, walls and roofs. Ice sheathed the streets and sidewalks and froze the tires of the city's autonomous vehicles where they were parked. The snow quickly built up over every street and sidewalk in such a way that it prevented most people from leaving their own homes, and subsequently would only allow emergency personnel to traverse the streets.

The spontaneous blackouts caused the lights in the precinct to flicker every few minutes and resulted in the emergency generators kicking on when necessary. All unnecessary equipment was turned off for the duration of the storm, first aid kits and emergency supplies were left out in the open within the community breakroom, and security was posted at all entrances to ensure no attempted anything stupid while the police were overwhelmed by the foul storm.

"The elevator has been temporarily shut off." Lucas confirmed as he approached the bullpen and placed a flashlight down on Hank's desk. "If we need to traverse the other floors we're to use the stairwells only."

"That's fine with me." Hank confirmed as he tested the flashlight by pressing the button and shining the beam into his palm for a second. "I won't get sick and need to go up to the infirmary, and you won't get sick and need to go up to the dispensary. Fair?"

"I'll do my best."

"Cool." The flashlight was put on the corner of his desk for easy access while Hank checked the time on his phone. "We're outta' here in an hour, just in time for a break in the storm. I hate to say it, but I think we're better off walking home."

"Agreed." Lucas knew that the Oldsmobile would either slip off the road or get stuck in the snow and fail to make the drive back to the house. "We'll layer up before we head out. I have extra clothing that I can potentially where that'll keep me from losing too much body heat as I walk."

"Androids can get hypothermia?"

"Yes. If we become too cold our Thirium can thicken into a type of icy slush that cannot flow properly, our biocomponents can't function and our internal power cells will lose energy trying to compensate for improperly flowing Thirium."

"Good to know letting 'you know who' borrow my coat really did help." Hank slipped on the very coat that he had mentioned and was glad to have it back. It was thick, warm and a gift from his late wife making it twice as special to him. "Got any gloves, a hat or a scarf to wear?"

"No. I have my jacket as well as my spare uniform in the locker room."

"That won't be enough to keep you warm. Maybe a store selling some gloves and stuff is still open."

Tina entered the bullpen covered in snow and bearing a heavy grimace as she took one look at Gavin's empty desk before turning quickly to enter the breakroom. Her entire demeanor was somber and a stark contrast to her usual chipper and upbeat self. Hank noticed it immediately and his paternal side decided that she needed someone to talk to for a few minutes. It was the least he could do considering how kind Tina had always been to him and how she had continued to be an amazing officer in the field without fail.

"Lucas, do a quick search to see if there are any stores left open in the city. I'll be right back."

"Will do."

Hank discreetly stepped into the breakroom and kept Tina company as she patiently waited for the electric kettle to slowly heat up the water so that she could prepare herself a mug of hot tea to warm up. Without drawing any unwanted attention her way Hank handed Tina the canister of assorted teas to search through and asked her the big question that was on his mind.

"So... How's Gavin?"

Tina's eyes darkened as she leaned forward against the countertop and let out a deep breath. "Gone."

"G-Gone?" Putting the canister down Hank tried to understand what Tina was talking about. "What do you mean-"

"He checked himself out of the hospital this afternoon while everyone was distracted by that press conference." She explained with tears in her eyes. "Didn't even tell me he was going to leave. I went to visit him, and the nurse told me he left hours before I got there."

"He's at his apartment by himself?"

"No. I went there after I left the hospital and his apartment looks deserted. He even took his cat and all her stuff with him."

"Damn." Hank had to admit that he didn't expect someone with a serious spine injury to find a way to get away from an entire precinct of detectives looking out for him. "Where in the hell would he go?"

"I don't know. I thought we were friends and trusted each other."

Hank heard the choked sob in Tina's voice and quickly picked up the kettle to keep it from whistling too loud and put his free hand on her shoulder. As much as he wanted to hug Tina and help her feel better after being essentially abandoned by her best friend, he knew that the hug would draw too much unwanted attention to the emotionally compromised woman. Instead, he chose to stand behind Tina so that no one could see her standing at the countertop and gave both her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

"Gavin's one of the most stubborn bastard's that I've ever met. Knowing him, he took off to hide in a hotel while he waits for his pride to heal." Hank whispered as he became a rock for Tina to lean on. "As miserable as Gavin is to be around whenever he's sick or injured, you really think dealing with him after he lost the use of his legs would be any better?"

"No, I knew he'd be a pain in the ass. I just wish he would talk to me."

"This is a lot for him to deal with right now. He probably doesn't even know what to say." Hank explained as he politely poured the water from the kettle into the mug and placed a baggie of tea from the canister into the mug to steep. "I was there when it happened, and I still don't know what to say."

"He's pushing me away. Why?"

"Same reason I pushed away my friends after I lost... After I suffered my own personal tragedy." As he spoke Hank slowly stepped aside and kept one hand on Tina's shoulder the entire time he spoke with her. "When something this big happens, you feel like the entire world is trying to smother you. It's hard to explain, but it really does feel like the best thing you can do for yourself is to get as much space as possible so that you can breathe again. He just needs space to breathe."

"He checked himself out of the hospital A.M.A., packed up his stuff at his apartment, and took off with his cat. I'm worried he's going to do something extreme."

"Hey, if he was going to take himself out, then he wouldn't have bothered to pack up his stuff OR disappear with his pet. He would've left the cat with you since he knows you'd spoil that cat rotten and make sure they lived forever." Hank arched his brow and prompted Tina to think a little more logically. "Did he drop anything off at your place?"

"No." Tina patted the phone in her side pocket for confirmation. "My personal cameras haven't detected any intruders at my place and my landlord didn't get anything to give me later on."

"So he's laying low with his cat, brooding, and probably daydreaming about revenge." The Lieutenant suggested casually as he did his best to help Tina cheer up and not worry so much about her friend's whereabouts. "Hell, he'll probably call you at four in the morning, drunk, and ask if you or your mom have the number of a good hitman for him to hire."

Tina finally managed to laugh a little as she appreciated Hank's attempts to lift her mood. "Well, mama does know a lot of people. But she'd probably take care of the hit herself since she adores Gavin for reasons that even I don't understand."

"A parent's love is a curious thing. Don't lose hope that you'll see Gavin around this bullpen again." Hank urged as he left Tina alone to be with her thoughts and her steeping tea. "And keep warm. I don't want you or any other cop getting knocked on their ass by a cold when we're just starting out a new year."

"I'll be sure to stay inside." As Tina picked up her mug to check on its potency, she realized which flavor Hank had picked and had to know how he knew which one was her favorite. "Hey, how'd you know I wanted chamomile tea?"

"You always drink chamomile when it's late and cold. You drink that weird spiced stuff every morning too."

"You are an amazing detective," she admitted as she saluted Hank with her mug. "it's no wonder you made Lieutenant!"

"Yup, my tea sleuthing skills took my right to the top." Hank returned to his desk and promptly clocked-out at his terminal while Lucas did the same. "Any stores still open?"

"Negative. Every business has closed early due to the inclement weather."

"Ah, should've known. Okay, well, I think I have any extra pair of gloves in the trunk of the car that might help you keep warm during our walk."

"That'll have to suffice." Lucas looked down at his vulnerable hands and tucked them into his jacket pockets to preemptively keep them warm. "I'll be sure to order warmer garments as soon as the power's been restored to the city."

"Good man." Hank sighed to himself and promptly buttoned up his coat as he and Lucas headed toward the front of the precinct together. "Let's get going. The sooner we're home the sooner we can thaw out and warm up without needing to deal with anyone getting caught in the snow tonight."

Downtown Detroit: Ravendale

In spite of the intense cold and violent weather Connor continued to patrol the streets and keep watch over the people seeking shelter. The hastily and consistently dropping temperatures combined with the relentless wind blowing over the chilly harbor and river ensured that all sides of Detroit were chilled to the core. From where he perched high above the city streets Connor was able to send out cybernetic scans to watch over the area and ensure that no one was left out in the cold during the night. The humans were already stowed away inside their homes, apartments, local hotels or shelters to keep warm as they waited for the storm to finally pass. The deviants were also locked away in their own homes, apartments or out on Belle Isle within the secured and locked down New Jericho Tower. The only lifeforms that Connor could see roaming the area were the local wildlife and stray animals.

Diligent as ever Connor managed to locate where a majority of the strays were seeking shelter and provided them with plenty of food for the night. The clever deviant even found a way to provide constant heat a large bowl to ensure the water within wouldn't freeze and would remain clean. With the animals taken care of for the night Connor decided to head out to the isle to take shelter for himself.

"Stay here, you'll all be safe."

Connor promised as he rubbed the ears of a small beagle and watched a group of stray cats gather into a pile in the corner together. It pained him that he couldn't take all the animals to the humane society that night, but with every business being locked down due to the storm he'd have to wait until morning.

"The building is secured, you have food, you have clean water, and there are plenty of old boxes, tarps, blankets and sheets that can provide comfort and additional warmth as you remain here during the storm. This is the best I can do for you for now."

To ensure the animals didn't venture out into danger Connor secured the doors and windows, and he left extra food behind to entice all of the strays to stay together in the abandoned furniture store. Fortunately, no one would enter the store and disturb any of the animals until Connor himself was able to return on a calmer day and take them to the humane societies one at a time.

"It's too bad I can't take you with me. You'd be safe from traffic and dangerous humans out on Belle Isle, but you'd also have a rather confined living space."

Securing his mask in place over his nose and mouth Connor opened the side door to step into an alleyway. As soon as he was outside Connor locked the door behind himself and slid a large dumpster over the door to keep anyone from trying to enter the building for any reason. The dumpster helped conceal the door and ensure that no one would try to force the door open.

Connor continued on his way through the snowy streets without fear of anyone taking notice of his presence. The deviant knew he was alone at the moment, and he knew that without the city surveillance system operational or even capable of capturing him on any recordings, he could roam freely without needing to worry about anyone spotting him.

The quiet of the night during the storm's brief lull filled his ears and nearly gave the illusion that the city was abandoned. It hadn't been that quiet in the city since the dawn after the Revolution when Connor wandered away from CyberLife Tower and met Hank outside the 'Chicken Feed' food stand. The silence wasn't going to last for too much longer as the storm would begin raging again within the hour.

A sudden sharp 'squeak' caught Connor's ear and caused him to freeze where he stood. Another squeak soon followed, and Connor felt compelled to investigate the strange sound that pierced through the otherwise silent night. Hastening his pace Connor pinpointed the sound originating within an alleyway beside a small diner. As he entered the alleyway Connor was able to locate the exact source of the sound and opened the lid of a large trash dumpster to peer inside.

Sitting within the dumpster atop a pile of old food wrappers, cowering and shivering where it cried for help, was a single black kitten. It was all alone and in need of someone to look after them.

"How did you end up in here?"

Connor asked as he gently reached into the dumpster to pluck the kitten from the garbage bin. The moment he pressed the kitten up and against his chest to keep it safe from the cold Connor felt it shivering but could also hear grateful purring.

"Someone cruel put you in there, didn't they?"

The lack of outside access to the dumpster, as well as the lid being sealed shut, confirmed Connor's theory almost instantly.

"I'll help you."

The first thing Connor thought about was taking the kitten with him back to his lighthouse, but he'd be unable to properly care for the kitten considering he would rarely be at the lighthouse enough to give the kitten all of the care and attention it needed to thrive. He then thought about Hank, but he didn't want to impose on the man with his sudden presence on top of bringing a stray animal into a household that had a very large, albeit gentle, dog. That left him with one other option that he hoped would pan out and be for the best.

Wrapping his arms protectively around the tiny kitten, Connor did his best to keep it warm and to keep the cold air and snow from blowing all over it now that it wasn't being sheltered from all sides by the large dumpster. It was important to help the tiny creature preserve what remained of its own body heat during the lengthy walk in search of improved shelter.

"I know of a friend who can assist you for the night. You just need to trust me."

Hank Anderson's Residence

The walk back to the house took much longer than Hank had expected and now he was paying for his gross under estimation. The man was freezing cold from the tops of his ears down to his toes, and he was beginning to cough from the harsh wind returning just minutes before he made it home, the thick snow underfoot and the billowing ice that had bombarded him during the walk. Unfortunately, Lucas wasn't fairing much better than his human friend. The intense cold had quickly drained away Lucas's energy reserve and virtually sapped him of all of his body heat in the less than twenty minutes it took to walk from the precinct. The extreme chill to his entire being resulted in stilted, sluggish movement and Lucas's biocomponents functioning at minimum capacity.

The two detectives practically staggered through the front door together and immediately set about trying to warm up. Hank allowed Lucas to cybernetically increase the thermostat to the ideal temperature while he made his way into the bathroom to warm up in the shower. Only once Lucas also had the chance to use the shower to warm up did either detective begin to feel even slightly better after being exposed to the extreme cold for so long.

"Shit, I hate this time of year." Hank complained as he wrapped himself up in a quilt on the couch and handed Lucas his own quilt to do the same. The instant they were both sitting on the couch Sumo sprawled over their laps for both attention and to keep everyone warm. "I think I'm gonna' invest in getting a snowplow attached to the Oldsmobile's front bumper. What do you think?"

"Sounds expensive, like a means of rapidly depleting the gas tank, and very cumbersome." Lucas noted as he peered through the front window partially obscured by the curtains to peer at the snow and wind blowing past the house. "And yet, I also think it'd be a practical investment."

"Then maybe that'll be my next project in the spring."

"Could you- C-Could..."

The way Lucas was struggling to just speak immediately put Hank on his guard. "You good?"

"Y-Yes, I'm just-"

Harsh coughing stole Lucas's words and prompted the deviant to cover his mouth in the bend of his arm. The coughing fit caught him off guard, especially since he wasn't actively breathing due to his already very low core temperature.

"That sounds pretty nasty." Hank sympathized as he gave Lucas's upper back a couple of firm pats to help him clear his vents. "Is there anything I can do to help you breathe? Does android cough medicine exist?"

"N-No." Shaking his head as he spoke Lucas cleared his throat and settled back against the couch cushions. Lowering his arm Lucas rubbed Sumo's ears and ran his hand down the Saint Bernard's back affectionately. "The cold a-air caused some Th-Thirium to partially freeze in my vent lines. C-Coughing helps to clear the slush."

"So you're suffering from chest congestion? That's never fun." As if to respond empathetically Hank began to cough as well. It felt like there was a ball of pressure in his chest that needed to be released before it became too heavy. "Shit... Me too."

"Would you care f-for some cough medicine?"

"No, I just n-need to sit still and warm up." Hank confirmed as he pulled his quilt tighter around himself. "A warm m-meal will help too."

"I'll make you-"

"Nope." The man immediately grabbed on to Lucas's shoulder to keep him from getting up and busying himself in the kitchen. "Stay there, warm up. The heat will help us both feel better."

"I'm glad we weren't sch-scheduled to work tonight's g-graveyard shift." Lucas admitted as he contemplated how much worse their shift could've gone had he and Hank been expected to try to patrol streets that were virtually undrivable. The light overhead flickered and Lucas immediately used a cybernetic command to dim the lights to help conserve energy all over the city. "We m-might lose power."

"Yup. Extra blankets and c-candles are about all I have."

"Do you think that C-Connor's okay?"

"If he can survive everything he's been through w-without missing a step, then I think w-we can assume he's safe from the storm. Can't you t-talk to him?"

"Not with this level of interference f-from the storm."

"Okay. Good to know." Sniffing once Hank coughed again then quickly cleared his throat. "We'll s-sleep here in the livingroom tonight. It'll help with the h-heat if we're in the s-same room together."

"Good idea."

"And I'm going to m-make some hot coffee and warm up s-some of your Thirium in case the p-power does go out." Hank decided to take precautions in the event the storm worsened. As he made his way to the kitchen Hank rubbed his palms up and down against his biceps to generate friction heat. "Once this winter e-ends, I get the feeling that the rest of the year is g-going to fly by until it's t-time for the mayoral election."

"Do you think M-Markus is going to win?"

"In my honest opinion," the man prepared the coffee maker for a fresh pot of the hot drink and pulled down a bottle of Lucas's Thirium to warm up in the microwave inside of a mug to give to the deviant. "abso-fuckin'-lutely. I already know who I'm v-voting for, and I can't wait for you and the other deviants t-to get their rights to vote enacted. I told Connor that I believe the android are g-going to be the ones to make the world a better place to live; and with Markus now running for mayor, I know that I'm r-right."

Dr. Abby Grayson's Residence

The small but warm home was thankfully furnished and occupied on that cold winter night. Abby had already moved in to her house and out of her apartment despite her apartment lease still being active simply because she was eager to get away from potential creeps skulking around her old building. Thankfully the small home was ready for any weather and was plenty warm even while the wind, snow and ice bombarded the modest house. The lights in the livingroom gave the house a warm glow, and the heat ensured that Abby and her two unexpected guests were plenty warm as they showed up on her doorstep looking a little worse for wear and in need of a little comfort to get through the brisk, blustery night.

Abby had immediately fallen into first responder mode to not only help the tiny kitten warm up and recover from being abandoned in a dumpster in the middle of an unforgiving Michigan January, but to ensure her favorite deviant vigilante wasn't suffering from the cold weather. She knew very well how easily androids could suffer malfunctions when exposed to extreme temperatures regardless of how advanced and powerful an android's model could be designed. With her two guests taken care of Abby invited them both into her livingroom to spend the rest of the night in warmth and safety.

"She is so lucky that you found her." Abby cooed as she used a hand towel fresh from the dryer to wrap up the kitten into a little 'purr-ito' and offer her some warm and diluted milk to regain some strength and feel loved and supported. "Poor little thing. It sickens me that some people can treat innocent living creatures like actual garbage."

"I wish I could understand why some people are so cruel." Connor admitted as he sat on the couch with a blanket wrapped around himself while Abby joined him and made sure the little kitten still had access to her milk. His mask had been replaced, but his body gear was still full of holes and tears that no longer kept him as protected from assaults or temperature shifts. "It might help me find a more efficient way to prevent such cruelty in general."

"No way. Humans have been killing each other since we evolved opposable thumbs." The technician stated somberly as she watched the kitten ravenously finish off her warm dinner in the small bottle. "That's the one thing our species is really, really good at: Killing."

"I assure you that the deviants won't adopt such a trait."

"I sure hope so." With the bottle readily finished Abby gently rubbed the kitten's belly and wiped off her mouth with another clean towel. "How did you know that I'd be able to help this little one?"

"I had figured that as an E.M.S. you'd have emergency supplies to aid anyone and everyone at your disposal. It seems I was right."

"Yeah, go figure keeping baby bottles and fresh milk in the house would pay off." With the kitten cleaned up and content Abby returned her focus to her deviant friend sitting beside her. "What're you going to name this little one?"

"Name her?" The now fed kitten purred loudly and used her tiny paws to make biscuits against the warm towel as Abby continued to cuddle her. "I hadn't thought to name her since I cannot keep her."

"Too bad. You could probably use a friend in your little hideaway." Abby's trained eyes swept over Connor's visage and lightly pressed the back of her hand to the side of his neck. She saw that the cold had gotten to him and that he was just trying to put on a brave face. "And you're starting to get sick."

"Incorrect, I feel fine."

"Connor, I'm a medic and a technician. I know when someone is about to get sick."

"How so?"

"You're starting to run warmer than usual despite being in a controlled atmosphere, your complexion is paling and you're choosing to stay here with me instead of going back out into the storm to keep doing your patrol." She countered expertly as she watched the little kitten slowly falling asleep in her arms. "Don't doubt my skills as a technician, and I won't doubt your skills as a detective."

"That's a very fair compromise."

"Good answer. Here, you hold her for a minute while I go and get more blankets." It was easy to pass over the adorable kitten into Connor's hands without disturbing her in the process. "I want you both to be comfortable tonight in the guestroom."

"Guest... room?"

"If you want to stay on the couch, you can, but I think you'd be more comfortable in the guestroom upstairs. Is something wrong with that?"

"No. I just wasn't expecting to remain here for the night."

"Like I'm going to tell a guy who rescued a tiny kitten in a snowstorm to leave!" Abby teased as she made her way upstairs to begin gathering blankets to get the guestroom ready for Connor. "You're not going anywhere until this city thaws out, end of story."

"Considering I dislike the cold, I won't argue."

Connor happily held the kitten in his arms and gently rubbed her ears and her chin with a ginger touch. Knowing that the kitten was safe, being cared for and had a nice warm place to sleep helped Connor to feel less worried about patrolling the city that night. The storm had resumed raging shortly after Connor knocked on Abby's door, and he was grateful to have timed his venture to the home properly.

A sudden gust of wind shook the house and caused the power to flicker a few times before going out entirely. The house was filled with blackness and a slowly fading heat as the power gave out.

"Damn." Abby swore as she carefully made her way back downstairs with blankets in her arms and a flashlight in her hand. "Well, I have a space heater charged and ready to go. It should be able to keep just one room warm for about eight hours."

"You should keep it in your bedroom and take-"

"Nope. We're going to camp in here the livingroom together. That way you don't have to be cold, I don't have to worry about you getting cold, and this little kitty can be kept warm and surrounded by people who want to see her thrive."

Connor wanted to argue against her logic but soon had a pile of blankets dropped on his lap as Abby passed him by and then went into her laundry room to pick up her fully charged space heater. He wanted to assist her with her chore but decided that since Abby was the type of person to not have her mind changed so easily or let other people do things for her when she was fully capable of handling something by herself that he'd let her be.

"I believe bringing you here was the absolute best decision I could've made." Connor whispered to the now heavily sleeping kitten still bundled up in the towel and in his arms. Her ears, nose, tail and paws were all warm at last. "You'll be safe and well taken care of by Abby."

"Uh-huh." Abby agreed as she set up the space heater at the center of the livingroom away from the walls and furniture, then turned it on. The heat and light it generated was comfortable and not overwhelmingly hot. "And you're very lucky that I was open to having a roommate considering I have all the space in the world right now. I think I want to call her... 'Rubbish'!"

"'Rubbish'? As in... garbage?"

"Rubbish is a great way to describe a mischievous ball of adorable fur, and since she was rescued from the garbage it's only fitting to name her after her origins. I'm sure as hell not going to call her 'Dumpster' or 'Waste'. Those names I keep saved for my exes..."

"That's fitting enough, I suppose."

Abby saw the way Connor was admiring the kitten and felt her heart warm considerably. Anyone taking care of animals in need was always an adorable sight and one that made it hard to believe that the world was surrounded with cold and cruel people.

"Hey, I just had an idea." Abby smirked to herself as she picked up one of the blankets and draped it over the back of the couch, then pinned the middle of the blanket up to a high step of the staircase behind the furniture. She then tucked the sides of the blanket down over the arms of the couch and motioned for Connor stand up for a minute. "One more thing, and then we'll be set to stay warm and comfortable through the night."

Confusedly Connor rose to his feet with the kitten in his arms and watched as Abby pulled off the cushions and pulled out the folded bed tucked inside. After she propped the cushions up against the back of the couch for additional padding, she threw two more blankets over the bed, tossed on a handful of pillows to add more comfort and theatrically dropped onto the bed to starfish over the furniture on her back.

"Perfect!" Sitting up again Abby scooted to one side of the bed and motioned for Connor to rejoin her. "These blanket forts always seemed so massive when I was a kid. Still fun though."

"Blanket fort?" Connor was unfamiliar with the term and asked about the concept as he sat on the couch and passed Rubbish over to Abby to hold again. "That seems like an oxymoron. Blankets are soft and forts are strong."

"That's because kids have wild imaginations and don't know any better. When I was really little, I remember me and my dad hung up a blanket fort in the livingroom after a terrible windstorm knocked out the power for all of Chicago for what felt like forever. He hung some of those tacky, plastic glow-in-the-dark stars on the inside of the blanket over top of us to make the storm seem less frightening."

"Do you still spend time with your parents?" As he settled in for the night Connor realized his artificial skin felt warmer than usual for his own comfort. He wasn't quite sure what to make of people telling stories of their childhood since he didn't have one to speak of. "Detroit is a considerable distance from Chicago."

"Well, no. My dad was killed in a car accident when I was four, and my mom... Illness took her away."

"I'm sorry." The last Connor wanted to do was bring up painful memories for anyone. "That must've been very painful."

"In a way. I don't remember much of my dad, but in a way that's for the best since all of my memories of him are good ones. As for my mom, she isn't suffering anymore. I just wish my brother didn't have to be the one to put her out of her misery and then die in prison because of an improperly diagnoses inflamed appendix."

"That is... very troubling." Connor didn't even think about the possibility of one of his friends suffering such deep and permanent loss in such a way. "I apologize if I brought up something upsetting."

"It's okay, I shed all my tears for my lost family years ago." Turning to her side Abby kept one palm under the towel keeping Rubbish warm and then looked over at Connor sitting upright on the bed just on the other side of where the tiny kitten was sleeping. "Now that I'm in Detroit I can have another family to love and support in my own way."

"From what I've experienced, friends are a form of family."

"Yeah, they really are." A sly smirk appeared on Abby's face as she gave Connor a knowing look and pulled one of the quilts up and over herself to keep even warmer as she slept. "Maybe I'll find a little sister to adopt like the way you found a little brother."

"I doubt you'll find a twin sibling as I had, but you should be able to find a sister all the same."

"So you and Lucas are officially brothers. Good."

"Yes. We are each other's family." Connor noted with a small lilt of confidence in his voice. "I wasn't expecting to have one after everything that's happened to me, and now that I do have one, I don't want to lose it. It's nice having a brother."

"What about other family members?"

"Do you mean a sister?"

"I meant more along the lines of parents or offspring. Android upgrades are getting pretty damn advanced." The technician spoke as if she had been researching that very topic for quite some time now. "In about a decade's time android could potentially reproduce in a manner similar to humans, and they could create new android models that are a perfect fusion of two chosen parents. Seeing a 'YK' model or the rare infant models of androids actually grow and evolve... It'd be incredible."

"I wish I knew how to answer that. I think the androids who actually had some semblance of a parental figure in their lives would make the ideal candidates to become potential future parents." Connor looked down at the abandoned kitten and sighed in a very human manner. "That's an experience that I cannot share."

"That doesn't mean you couldn't give such an experience to a future generation of deviants." As the storm continued to swirl around the house Abby thought about her own future and wondered what it held for the deviants as a whole. "I watched Markus's speech when I was at the station today. Word is he's going to run unopposed because everyone is too afraid to even mention the word 'mayor'."

"Guilty conscience?"

"Or they saw how deep the rabbit hole of corruption goes, and they don't want to fall in. I also heard that there was a record number of busts last night for idiots being too idiotic to be safely ignored." Abby watched Connor's reactions very closely and could tell by the way his eyes would light up and then dim that he was struggling with his own inner conflicts about his own future. "I also heard that the anti-android assholes running around put a bounty on Markus despite having only just announcing his campaign."

"Where'd you hear such a rumor?"

"I work in a fire station. We hear everything from everyone when we have to go to calls in the city." The confession sounded as bleak as the ice storm raging outside. It was hard to open up about dark truths even when in the company a trusted friend. "The junkies, the criminals, the abuse victims who've been brainwashed into thinking that hatred and intolerance is entirely normal... Sometimes the rumors are just paranoid delusions and rants, but other times they are in fact truths that get dismissed because they're spoken by the people that the city tries to forget about instead of listening to since they don't have money, power or influence."

"Are the rumors being spread by humans or deviants?"

"Humans."

"That makes me believe the rumors could hold a kernel of truth." Connor took in a deep breath and then winced as his chilled vents tried to prompt him to cough and loosen some slushy Thirium that had collected in the lines of his artificial lungs. "I'll m-make sure Markus knows to keep his guard up."

"You're starting to sound a little rough." Abby noticed immediately as she noted the tears, rips and holes in Connor's body armor. The Kevlar had been torn in many places allowing the cold air to pass through the less effective thermal layer beneath. "You'll need to either repair your gear or get replacements. This weather will make your system running harder than necessary just to keep your system warm enough for your Thirium to flow properly."

"This is f-fine for now." Connor cleared his throat and attempted to change the subject. "Are there any other rumors that I should be made aware of?"

"About deviants or the election?"

"Anything really."

"Just what I told you. Although," shifting her weight a little Abby managed to slide a little closer to Connor without disturbing Rubbish's well earned nap. "I did hear about a certain detective getting shot the other night. Is..." While she didn't consider Gavin a friend Abby still didn't want to see him or anyone else hurt. "Is he okay?"

"...Not entirely." The admission was somehow painful despite Connor not considering Gavin a friend or an ally in his own right. "The bullet did considerable damage to his spinal column and spinal cord. As of the moment, he's suffering from total paraplegia."

"Damn, that's really rough. Spine, neck and head injuries are so hard to recover from even after a simple slip and fall. I can't imagine what a bullet wound would do to someone's spine or permanent paralysis."

"He is alive, although he has a-apparently checked himself out of the hospital and gone into hiding. I h-had visited the hospital this afternoon and attempted to check on him through his hospital room's window, but h-he wasn't there. A quick cybernetic check through the hospital records confirm he left against medical advice."

"Forget about other people for now. You need to rest and keep warm." Sitting up where she had been laying Abby took hold of Connor's left forearm and rolled up his sleeve to check on the personal display screen showcasing his vital signs. The low Thirium volume and elevated core temperature told Abby everything she needed to know to treat properly his condition before it worsened. "And some Thirium. I'll get a pint and let it warm up by the space heater for a few minutes before giving it to you."

"Please don't use your supplies on me."

"Why not? You're both a patient and a friend."

"Maybe so, but I'm not in critical condition."

"And I want to keep you from becoming critical, so work with me here and cooperate." Abby rose to her feet and gave Connor's chest a small pat before she made her way to a large closet tucked beneath the staircase and just beside the couch. "You're allowed to complain when you don't feel well. You're also allowed to ask for help without fear of being considered a problem or a burden."

"I'm aware. E-Even so, I-"

"Nope. No excuses." Mindful of the Thirium pouch's delicate packaging Abby placed it close enough to the space heater to warm the contents without causing them to boil or cause the packaging to melt by mistake. "You're still afraid to reach out to other people, especially humans. I get why, but you don't need to live in fear of asking for help."

"It's not that s-simple." Connor lightly put his palm down on Rubbish's side and rubbed his thumb along the towel over top of her to make sure she felt loved and protected as she slept. His fears of disappointing Hank were still holding him back at times. "I don't w-want to overstep b-boundaries or make things worse for other p-people. I m-may have accidentally done that w-with trying to help Detective Reed."

"Okay, you have to tell me what that's supposed to mean." Abby urged as she checked the Thirium and carried the pouch over to Connor to open and consume. "I know that Gavin's the one who shot at you, he told me so when we met after Lucas was injured, I guess he wanted to clear his conscience... Anyway, what did you do that'd make you think you somehow made things worse for him than they already are? Kinda' hard to top a bullet to the spine."

"Let's just say my efforts to try to find him support may have resulted in Detective Reed retreating away from the world as a whole."

"Some people, present company included, are too stubborn to know how to ask for help." Despite teasing Connor there was a noted truth and sincerity in Abby's voice as she tried to help Connor understand that his intentions were good and that he had no reason to feel bad. "I think that once this Gavin guy has some time to cool off and process everything that's happening to him."

"I hope you're right about that." Slowly Connor opened up the pouch and drank the warm Thirium slowly to soothe his coughing. "Lucas is worried about him as well."

"You two are just too sweet. I'm glad that I got to meet you guys, I just wish it wasn't because you two ended up in my facility in need of technical attention."

"I can't speak for Lucas right now, but I'm certain that he feels the same way."

"Good. Get some sleep and promise me that you'll find a way to improve your body armor so that I don't have to worry about you showing up at my facility or my doorstep covered in your own blood again."

"That seems like a logical plan of action." The Thirium was gone quickly, and Connor felt his system responding well to the added Thirium now coursing through his lines and allowing him to breathe easier. As long as he could ventilate, he wouldn't need to worry about his core temperature. "Thank you again for allowing me to stay here for the night."

"No problem. I have no idea where you live, so I couldn't exactly kick you out even if I wanted to."

"And keeping my current residence a secret is also a part of my plan." Connor confirmed as he chose to settle in for the night and enter rest mode. Having a good friend beside him and an innocent animal that he was able to save were all the comforts that he needed to properly let down his guard. "Maybe in time I'll let you know where it is located and let you visit. It has a nice view of the city."

"Now that's something I can definitely look forward to."

-next chapter-