*WARNING: Mentions of Attempted Suicide*
If you're not in a mental or emotional state of mind that can read such a dark concept, I strongly encourage you to skip this chapter and read the "TL;DR" down at the very bottom of the chapter to keep up with the story. Please take care of yourself and remember that you're not alone.
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
"Consequences"
Belle Isle: Visionary Lodestar Lighthouse
The sun was just beginning to rise, and Connor found himself unable to properly sleep during the night. The deviant vigilante couldn't stop thinking about the events of that previous cold, bleak night that nearly ended in tragedy. Connor had been going about his usual routine of quietly observing the city while cybernetically listening to police dispatch when the incident took place. When he had heard Hank's voice over the radio, he had felt compelled to go out to the abandoned plant to help bring about a peaceful resolution for what was reportedly a situation between angered deviants and a human who had been targeted for a beatdown. Finding the waning vital signs of a little girl in desperate need of medical attention had caught Connor off guard, and as a result he allowed himself to be prone to damage for a second time.
Only after the dust had settled and Connor returned to the lighthouse did he have the chance to sit down and reflect on everything that had happened. The way Gavin had been so quick to open fire and lead the charge had been unsettling enough, but a deeper, cybernetic dive into the report Hank filed back at the precinct confirming that they had followed a tip reported directly to Gavin led to a single, disturbing conclusion.
Gavin had set up the vigilante by luring him into a situation where he'd be able to shoot and kill the vigilante in cold blood.
"Detective Reed knew that I'd investigate any reports that revolved around deviant matters. He wanted me to be at that plant where there were no witnesses and where there was supposed to be no innocent bystanders to give him the chance to act unhindered."
Closing his eyes Connor bowed his head and missed the sunrise peering through his window in form of warm, bright rays. The sensation of feeling the bullet striking his chest over his heart still lingered even hours later.
"Detective Reed wants to kill me."
The solitude and protection of the lighthouse was momentarily disturbed as Lucy entered the sanctuary and joined Connor without needing an invitation. As she silently sat down beside him in the small study, she put her hand on Connor's hand and waited for him to respond to her kind touch.
"How did you know that I needed some company?" Connor asked as he lifted his head and looked toward Lucy with a gracious gleam in his eyes. "I didn't call out to you this time."
"You didn't need to call me." Lucy clarified in a gentle and warm tone. Even the cold snow outside couldn't withstand Lucy's optimistic, warm light. "I could sense your heart's distress."
"Is that what it's called when you discover that one very bitter and hate-filled detective is actively trying to kill you?"
"I imagine that it is just one of many ways to describe such an unsettling truth." As she spoke Lucy felt Connor trying to keep his emotional barriers down. It was a new experience for Connor to discuss genuine emotions, and Lucy was going to be there for her friend even when he was enduring darker feelings. "You're putting yourself in danger to protect our people with no clear goal in mind. Why is that?"
"I want to assist my people and protect them. My past reputation as the 'Deviant Hunter' makes that incredibly difficult."
"Your past can only define your future negatively if you fail to make amends." Lucy reminded Connor in a soft voice as she studied his heart with a simple touch. She felt another conflict brewing inside of the deviant and she knew he needed to release that conflict before it caused true harm to his heart. "We know of your past and only you can know your future, but what of your present? What is happening to you now?"
Connor just closed his eyes as he gently turned over his hand to allow his palm to connect with Lucy's palm as he retracted his artificial skin. As the two hands were pressed together Connor managed to upload his memory of the previous night to Lucy so that he didn't need to speak of the horrid incident.
"You've seen regret in its purest form," she noted with an opened mind and understanding heart. "and now you're unsure of how to handle such a revelation."
"Regret?" Curious as to what Lucy had stated Connor slowly allowed the skin along his palm to regenerate. "In what way?"
"You saw how Lieutenant Anderson, your former partner, has changed after the events of the Revolution. You saw him take in Lucas and attempt to protect him from the evils of humanity. You saw him cradling an innocent child and protecting her without so much as giving you a second look." Lucy clarified as she helped Connor to reflect on his own emotional reactions. "Seeing someone change due to regret seems as if the change came about as a form of trying to ease one's guilt as opposed to wanting to change and better themself simply because it's the right thing to do by everyone. A positive change for the wrong reason can still be negative."
"Being near Hank and him not being able to recognize me or see me as a threat was... educational." Connor managed to find an appropriate enough word to describe what he was going through in that moment. "Either he truly believes I'm dead and couldn't allow himself to recognize me in any capacity, or he was too focused on the sick little girl to- It doesn't matter. He prioritized the girl and that's what was truly important at the time."
"A part of you is worried that he didn't recognize you because he never saw you as a friend for even one minute during your previous partnership. Is this true?"
"I know that sounds selfish." The sense of misplaced guilt was thick in Connor's words as he looked Lucy in her eyes. She was still wearing the coat that Connor had given to her - the same coat that Hank had given to him the last time they spoke to one another. "But it feels as if my existence truly meant nothing to him, and that he's only fixated on solving my 'murder' to clear away the guilt he feels for pointing his gun at me and threatening me in the past. He doesn't truly care about me; he cares only about his reputation."
"Is there a reason that you believe that Hank is only capable of having one mindset?" Lucy challenged in an inquisitive manner. "Why can't he be focused on repairing his reputation and bringing you justice with the same effort?"
That was a question that Connor admittedly couldn't answer.
"It's all right for you to project your fears onto other people." Compassion was palpable in every sweet word that Lucy spoke. "It's a healthy way to reflect on your own emotions, but only if you recognize such a reflection and work to understand why you're feeling such a strong emotion."
"And if I can't understand it?"
"Then I can help you."
"Thank you for being my friend."
"You're lonely in your efforts to protect this city and protect yourself. It's okay to trust other people beyond just myself, Skye and now Lucas."
A small smirk appeared on Connor's face as he considered Lucy's words and thought about one other person that he did in fact trust. "Don't forget Abby Grayson. She is the technician who helped Skye, helped me, and donated goods to the tower."
"Spend time with the people you trust. Being surrounded by those that allow you to lower your guard help nurture a growing heart."
"Only you, Abby and Lucas know who I am." Connor admitted in a somewhat shy manner. "Skye doesn't know who I am under the mask."
"Perhaps you should spend more time with Lucas." Lucy suggested as she gauged Connor's behavior with a keen interest. It seemed she could feel a connection forming between the two deviants that neither of the deviant detectives could understand themselves. "You and Lucas are both learning about the world and what it means to be alive. Learning together can make the lessons far easier to bear."
"I'll consider it." Speaking to Lucas seemed to be a logical decision regarding everything that had recently happened at the precinct. "I imagine after everything that occurred last night that he'll be too preoccupied to speak with me any time soon, but I will be sure to reach out to him."
"That's good. You should also rest." Lucy urged as she felt Connor's exhaustion on an emotional and physical level. "If you're going to continue to fight and protect this city, then you'll need to fight and protect yourself. Don't let yourself become consumed by your mission."
"I promise that I'll do my best to not lose sight of my goal, and that I'll take care of myself alongside our people."
As much as Connor wanted to sit in darkness and contemplate the world that he had been thrust into during a single chance encounter on that cold, historic November night, he knew he needed to avoid living in the shadows and embrace the light to avoid becoming lost within himself. Agreeing with Lucy entirely Connor decided to take one night off from his patrol and work on himself and his new personal alliances for a little while.
Detroit Central Precinct
Thoroughly exhausted and nursing a nasty headache, Hank isolated himself at his desk with two large cups of coffee and hoped the aspirin would kick-in before he ripped his own head from his neck to escape the chronic pain. The minute Hank had entered the hospital the previous night to accompany the little girl inside, he had horrid flashbacks to the night he lost Cole after the car accident. Despite his personal trauma telling him to flee the hospital and hide away inside a bottle of whiskey, Hank couldn't bring himself to leave that scared, sick and dying little girl alone. Instead, he acted as her personal guardian and stayed with her all night and morning until her family could finally be found and reunited with her after weeks of being separated.
Hank had become lost within his own personal trauma and didn't react to the world around him until Lucas quietly appeared beside his desk with a bag of take-out food for the man to eat. Lifting his head up from his hand as he shielded his eyes from the overhead light, Hank eyed the bag and then looked up at Lucas with his bloodshot eyes screaming for a decent night's sleep.
"What's this?"
"Breakfast." Lucas replied in a low voice. The deviant allowed his L.E.D. to remain visible and seemed to be more concerned about Hank's health than his own comfort at the moment. "Tina told me that you prefer eating breakfast when it comes from her family's diner."
"Yeah, that's true." Accepting the bag Hank peered inside and felt a wave of comfort hit him as Lucas managed to pick his favorite breakfast item from the menu and made sure it was prepared just as he liked it. "French toast with powdered sugar, chocolate icing, two strawberries and three egg tarts on the side. Why do I get the feeling Tina went with you to make sure everything was just right?"
"Because you're a good detective."
"I'd like to think so. Thanks, son."
"You're welcome." Sitting down at his own desk Lucas kept his voice soft to ensure he didn't aggravate Hank's headache as they communicated. "May I ask what happened to the child you aided last night?"
Hank became quiet for a minute as he focused on pulling his provided breakfast out of the take-out bag one item at a time. It was as if he needed to have a form of momentary distraction before he mentioned that haunting experience.
"I'm sorry." Lucas quickly apologized as his blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow in embarrassment. "It's none of my business."
"No, don't apologize. And it IS your business." Staring at his neatly laid out meal Hank sighed and opened up about the previous night. "Her name is Daniella. She was reported missing by her mom and grandparents two weeks ago."
"Did she runaway?"
"Kidnapped." As he spoke Hank sighed again and rubbed his hand along his aching forehead to try to ease his discomfort. "Daniella's piece of shit father, who has a restraining order against him by her mother, grabbed Daniella while she was walking to her school bus. He hid her with his druggie-buddies and disappeared from the city for a while. Turns out he overdosed on 'red ice' four days after he snatched his kid, and his buddies decided that the best thing they could do was ditch Daniella at the plant to avoid getting in trouble."
"She was taken and then abandoned." Such a concept made Lucas angry in a way he couldn't put into words. "How- Why would someone do such a thing?"
"That asshole and deadbeat was pissed that his ex-wife divorced him and got a restraining order against him. Go figure the judge would side with the battered woman protecting her infant daughter from a raging alcoholic and drug addict who communicated with his fists. The abduction was to spite his ex, and nothing more."
"Is Daniella going to recover?"
"After she spends a week in the hospital on some heavy antibiotics she will." Such good news seemed almost too good to be believed. "Her pneumonia was bad, and she's lucky that she was found when she was."
"She was found by the vigilante, wasn't she?"
Hank's eyes flashed with rage as he thought back to the previous night and of how the vigilante had found Daniella and was carrying her in his arms when Gavin blindly opened fire inside the dark building. The young detective had been immediately suspended without pay, had his firearm claimed by Captain Fowler, and he was going to have a meeting with Internal Affairs at the end of the week to determine if he could resume his work as a detective or if he'd be fired without a chance of working as a detective in any other precinct in the entire country.
"I'm aware of what Detective Reed did last night." Lucas continued on nervously as he watched Hank's reactions closely. The man's stress was evident enough. "I also know that he's been suspected in orchestrating the entire emergency call to lure the vigilante to the plant just to shoot him."
"What?" That was something that hadn't even crossed Hank's mind until Lucas mentioned it. "Where did that come from?"
"The time of the tip that Gavin personally received." It was easier to just list off his evidence than go into depth considering Hank had a serious headache. "The lack of deviant activity reported in the area before, during and after the incident. The isolation of the plant itself. The complete lack of anyone being around the plant to begin with, let alone a witness supposedly seeing non-existent activity to report to the police."
"Holy shit... You think Gavin had someone send him that fake tip so he could lure the vigilante to a place where there would be no witnesses so he could gun them down in cold blood."
"Unfortunately, yes. I do. And Daniella was just in the right place at the wrong time during the incident."
"Son of a bitch." Such a cold, brutal theory was enough to make Hank forget completely about his headache for a precious minute. "I wouldn't put it past the fucker to do something as manipulative as that to get away with killing a deviant. But the fact he put a little kid in danger, whether he knew it or not... Unforgivable."
"What do you want to do?"
"Nothing." Sinking down in his chair Hank turned to look at Captain Fowler through the transparent wall of the private office with a sense of impatience. "Fowler's going to personally check into the incident and make sure Reed burns for his reckless behavior. It's bad enough that he opened fire on a deviant who wasn't threatening us in any way, but he came within millimeters of hitting Daniella when she was being carried in the vigilante's arms and could've killed her."
"It seems that Detective Reed has finally crossed the line with no chance of returning. Is that a fair assessment?"
"Yeah, you got that right. I knew he was hotheaded back when he started as a rookie, but I honestly thought he got that problem under control." Lamenting the younger detective's future made Hank reflect on his own. "Then again, I thought I had a lot of my own personal shit under control. Guess I can't be too harsh on Reed for having a temper and being impatient, but I can be absolutely PISSED at him for opening fire like that. There's no excuse for that kind of behavior."
"Do you want me to do anything today?" Lucas was still trying to find his footing in the precinct and didn't want to overstep any boundaries. "I'm certain that the lack of deviant-related cases will give us both a relatively quiet shift today."
"Yeah. Could you go back to the house and make sure Sumo gets a nice, long walk today?"
"You... want me to walk the dog?" Such a simple task was almost insulting. The red flash of his L.E.D. didn't help Lucas mask his disappointment. "I assure you that I can handle other assignments here. I talked to you about Martin Jonas as you had asked of me, and-"
"Easy, I'm not benching you or anything. I just want you to slowly ease into the role of a detective." Hank's answer was entirely honest. The man's dormant paternal instincts were coming back in full force, and he didn't want to see Lucas get overwhelmed or burned out. "You're still a rookie, you handled a massacre of your own people during your first week on the clock, and now you're witnessing the precinct at its worst considering a fellow detective is likely getting the axe. I don't want you to get discouraged; you're a great detective, son."
"You think so?" Such praise lifted the humble deviant's mood considerably. "I haven't done anything monumental during my career to have such an optimistic comment in my favor."
"I assure you that you're a natural detective." Finally focusing on his breakfast Hank decided to eat the generously provided meal and hope that the food would ease his skull crushing headache. "I want you to stick around and keep learning. I know you'll be able to do great things in this precinct and really help the city grow and prosper while we're changing with the times."
"Thank you for saying so."
"And I wouldn't be saying all that if it wasn't true. Go on." Hank pulled his car keys from his pocket and handed them over to Lucas to take. "Drive back to the house, spoil Sumo rotten and then come pick me up at the end of my shift this evening. I'm going to introduce you to an old Anderson family tradition of 'bad movie night' tonight, and then we're going to get serious with work starting first thing tomorrow. Got it?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Cool. See you tonight at six, and please try to not worry about shit happening here. I'll fill you in on everything later."
"Do you truly mean you'll inform me of everything? I know some of the details could be very unsettling due to the sensitive nature of the circumstances."
"Like I said before, I don't want there to be secrets between us." Maybe it was due to his headache or maybe it was because Hank didn't want to see it, but he didn't remark on the way Lucas's eyes darted away guiltily at the mention of secrets. "I'll keep you in the loop on everything happening, especially if a deviant gets involved in any way."
Lucas didn't know what else to say as he accepted the car keys and went on his way as he had been requested. The deviant still felt terrible for not telling Hank about discovering the truth regarding Connor, and now he felt even worse considering he implied that Gavin had attempted to murder Connor just the night before. Now it seemed as if telling Hank about the truth now would just cause far more problems and even emotional pain for the senior detective.
Just as Lucas thought he was beginning to understand how to properly interact with Hank without betraying Connor's trust, a new challenge appeared and really pushed his morals to their limits.
The Zeta Facility
True to his word Connor agreed to check out the massive facility and ensure that the deviants who'd venture there in search of care would be safe before it had even opened to the public. Being a detective gave Connor rare and invaluable insight into how the layout of a structure, as well as properly placed security cameras, secured doorways and security personnel, could either spell success or failure. As he toured the facility alongside Abby to ensure they both knew the layout of the emergency care unit Connor made cybernetic notes of where surveillance cameras would need to be installed, as well as other safety protocols in the event of a violent fool trying to stir up trouble and harm innocent deviants and innocent technicians out of bigoted spite.
Seeing how advanced and accommodating the facility was in comparison to CyberLife left Connor nearly speechless. The way the facility was set-up more like a human hospital with private rooms, proper beds as opposed to cold, metal tables, external monitors that didn't require invasive cords being inserted in ports all along an android's body, and direct communication between patient and technician, were prime examples of how much progress was being made in regard to deviant rights.
"What do you think?" Abby asked as she and Connor lapped the facility's ground floor and prepared to go up to the second floor to continue the tour. "Seems pretty advanced to me."
"It is very advanced." Connor admitted as he absentmindedly placed his palm over his chest. Having a bullet land so close to his heart made his truly grateful to have the protective gear to shield him from immediate harm. "Being here is a massive improvement compared to how it felt to be summoned to CyberLife Tower."
"That's good. A lot of people get 'white coat syndrome' and stress themselves out when they're at a hospital, so I can only imagine how high android stress levels could rise if they were in a cold, oppressive environment like CyberLife Tower."
As a heavy silence fell between the two friends Abby noticed Connor holding his hand to his chest and became worried that her deviant protector and vigilante had been injured.
"Are you okay?" The question was simple and innocent as she and Connor approached the elevator together. "You seem upset."
"Last night was... challenging."
Connor admitted as he lowered his hand and brought Abby up to speed. The harrowing encounter with the police and realizing he had been set up was enough to make Abby momentarily lose her cool demeanor. He didn't want to name the detective to avoid any form of rumors from spreading among the first responders of the city, but he did hint that he had encountered that same detective at least one other time before last night.
"That's horrible. I can't believe you- Just... Wow!" Abby was nearly at a loss for words. She wanted to personally find the detective responsible for everything and give them a piece of her mind. "And you're sure the bullet didn't hit the little girl or your body when it struck your chest armor."
"Yes, the little girl wasn't struck by the bullet and my protective gear did its job and shielded my chest from immediate damage."
"Good. You know, I'm beginning to think you're safer running around in the streets by yourself than you would be working directly with the police."
"It's just that one particular detective who is seemingly problematic. I can avoid them easily."
"I hope so. Anyway, what do you think of the security for this place?" Strolling onto the second floor where the private recovery rooms were set up, Abby wanted to make sure all of her patients would be safe while they recovered. "What needs to be changed or added?"
"All you need to do is ensure that there are security guards posted at the entrances twenty-four hours per day, and ensure you have security cameras outlining the exterior of the building in all directions."
"I'll make sure it's done. With this place taken care of, would you like to see my new house?" Abby hoped to have additional support from her friend beyond just the facility or her apartment. "I could use your security expertise on the place."
"Of course. When would you like me to stop by?"
"Tomorrow. I'm going to meet with the inspectors to make sure the house is move-in ready and start getting the place cleaned up and renovated before I move in during the spring."
"I can do that."
"Thanks. And please take care of yourself." Lightly Abby put her hand over Connor's chest where he had been shot and gave him an uneasy smile. "You're getting a little too close to serious situations for my own comfort."
"I'm only doing what's right." Deciding it was time to go Connor remembered what he had promised Lucy earlier than morning and knew he needed to keep his word to his friend. "However, I assure you that I'll do everything that I can to remain safe."
"You better. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Very well. I'll meet you at your new house tomorrow at noon."
Casually Connor returned to the elevator and cybernetically reached out to Lucas to ask the deviant detective to meet with him and talk in person. Connor wanted to ask a few questions regarding the previous night's incident, and he wanted to make sure that Lucas was safe while working in such close proximity to a dangerous, bigoted detective.
For whatever reason, Connor felt rather protective toward Lucas, and he was determined to make sure the deviant was safe.
Riverside Park
With Sumo on his leash Lucas casually walked the large, fluffy dog around the neighborhood and soon made his way to the familiar park to try to clear his muddled thoughts. It was hard to properly process everything that had happened, and it was difficult to believe that he was truly doing the right thing by keeping Hank in the dark regarding the identification of the vigilante on top of learning the truth of what had happened to Connor the night of the Revolution at the abandoned church. It was hard to keep a secret for one person while promising another person to never hide anything from them. It was as if Lucas was being tested and the deviant didn't appreciate being emotionally manipulated by an unseen force.
Getting a cybernetic invitation from Connor to meet up and speak in person was enough to put Lucas on edge with that single thread of communication. He wasn't sure what Connor wanted to talk about, but he did have an idea of what could be on Connor's mind. Then again, with Connor working as a vigilante in the dark of the night it was difficult for Lucas to predict what to expect.
"How are you feeling, Sumo?"
Lucas looked down at the Saint Bernard and received a massive tail wag in response. He knew that the dog could never respond to him verbally, but it felt somehow comforting to think out loud and have the lovable dog to give him some company.
"After I meet with a friend we'll return home. I'm sure you're getting hungry."
Sumo let out a soft 'boof' as he looked up at Lucas. Suddenly the dog's ears perked up and he began excitedly pulling at the leash as another person strolled over to Lucas to join him as he and Sumo stood beside a large tree near the heart of the park. Playfully Sumo raised up a paw and circled around once as the new person drew nearer.
"Connor." Lucas acknowledged the newly arrived deviant and saw through his disguise easily. "I appreciate your effort to alter your appearance. However, Sumo and I can still see you for who you are."
"I'm not surprised." Connor extended his hand toward Sumo and accepted the large dog's paw in his palm. "It's nice to see you again, Sumo."
"That explains why he's so happy to see you. You've met before." Rubbing his hand along Sumo's ear Lucas gave Connor his full attention. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Detective Reed's actions last night."
"I should've deduced as much." Lightly Lucas tapped his blue L.E.D. and gave Sumo's leash a gentle tug. "Let's walk and talk to ensure no one notices us and observes that someone who is attempting to appear human bears a striking resemblance to someone who is clearly an android."
"A wise precaution."
Walking together Connor and Lucas discussed their personal views on the incident and of how they perceived Gavin's stability. Connor was able to recount his past negative experiences with the detective, and Lucas was able to do the same despite not knowing Gavin for very long. The two deviant detectives agreed that Gavin needed to be reined in due to his violent temper and manipulative tendencies being exasperated by paranoia. However, they also agreed that despite his flaws that Gavin was a skilled detective who had done good work in the past.
Knowing that Gavin was undoubtedly on the verge of losing everything made the two deviants fear for Gavin's overall mental health. Gavin had endured drastic changes in a very short amount of time as well, but he didn't have someone to talk to or rely on to help him adapt to the changes in the same way that the deviants were able to do with one another and other trusted human allies. Such emotional strain would undeniably lead to ruin if Gavin didn't receive any help or support for his recent mistakes.
"What do you think should be done?" Lucas asked as he walked Sumo down the sidewalk with Connor right beside him. It somehow felt normal to be on a walk with Connor despite having only met him once before. "Captain Fowler is actively assessing Detective Reed's conduct, and he is to speak with Internal Affairs in three days about his actions."
"I think Detective Reed needs to have the chance to understand that deviants are in fact alive, and that we're not a threat to humanity." Discreetly Connor retracted the artificial skin from his palm and wrapped his hand around Lucas's wrist to make direct contact for a minute. "I decided to look into Detective Reed's past during my walk to the park, and I discovered some very unsettling details. I also found an obituary of someone who shares his surname that could help explain his hatred of androids."
"...Interesting." In milliseconds Lucas learned of Gavin's past regarding an abusive home - his father was a violent alcoholic who committed suicide shortly after Gavin entered the police academy and his mother was a pill fiend who had been hospitalized since he was teenager - Gavin's brutal assault at his father's hands resulting in the scar along his nose, and more disturbingly, Gavin's kid sister Kimberly drowning at a community pool because the android lifeguard stationed at the public pool malfunctioned. "It seems Detective Reed's been living in a guarded mode for a majority of his life."
"Agreed." Despite everything that had happened Connor didn't want to see a non-corrupt detective lose his job because he needs to seek counseling rather than discipline for his past traumatic issues. "As strange as it sounds, I believe that this incident will be beneficial for Gavin and allow him to finally begin healing. He's aware of his mistakes and is very aware of how his actions could've ended in tragedy."
"How so?"
"I remained near the plant after Hank left the scene with the little girl in the back of the ambulance." Connor's stealth was truly a beneficial skill. "I saw Gavin become physically ill and openly lament his horrible actions. He knows he made an atrocious mistake, and I suspect that he'll punish himself far worse than I.A. ever could."
"You believe he needs the chance to prove that he's finally learned how his actions can have dire consequences."
"I do."
"It's unfortunate that you cannot personally vouch for Detective Reed's character." Lucas noted with a keen tone. "I imagine it'd go a very long way in his favor."
"As much as I want to help him, I can't speak up and reveal my existence when I'm already believed to be dead." Connor's inability to openly communicate with anyone in the precinct beyond Lucas himself was proving to be a limitation that Connor couldn't seem to find a means of working around. "And I doubt an anonymous tip would hold any merit considering such a tip couldn't be verified, and the incident revolving around Gavin started with a falsified tip."
"That's true." With that in mind Lucas decided to take the initiative and try to extend an olive branch toward Gavin himself. "Despite Hank wanting me to keep a safe distance from Detective Reed for an indefinite period of time, I feel as if I should go and speak with him. Does that seem foolish?"
"No, not at all." The empathetic response was one that Connor fully understood. "That seems to be a very supportive gesture in Gavin's favor."
"I don't think Hank would approve."
"Maybe he won't, but ultimately you're free to make your own decisions." Connor replied with his own honest opinion on the situation. "Don't be afraid to do what you think is right as long as you're not putting yourself in danger."
"Speaking from personal experience?"
"Something like that." Tilting his head slightly Connor sighed and wondered how his personal decisions were affecting other people in the city at that moment. A lot of people had been affected by his actions on the night of the Revolution, and some people may never get proper closure as a result. "How is New Jericho Tower fairing?"
"I wish I knew. I only know what Lucy tells me."
"Same. I know that Markus has healed from the previous incident and that he's preparing to step deeper into politics this spring."
"Do you think he's in danger by entering a political field?"
"Unknown." Connor didn't want to think about Markus possibly painting yet another bullseye on his back by getting involved in politics. "I just know that until I find a way to bring attention toward the mayor for his misdeeds without risking the case being deemed inadmissible and thrown out of court, I'd prefer it if Markus kept a safe distance between himself and City Hall."
"I suspect your caution is warranted." Lucas heard Sumo let out a small grumble and felt him pulling on the leash in the direction of home. Taking the cue Lucas sighed as well and knew he'd need to head for home and get Sumo fed. "I'll be sure to keep you in the loop as the investigation continues. I'm going to take Sumo back to the house and stop by to visit Gavin at his apartment."
"That's a good plan. I'm going to resume my personal investigation and do what it takes to ensure corruption in this city is finally weeded out entirely."
"When can we speak again?"
"How about tonight?" The suggestion seemed harmless enough as Connor respected Lucas's plans to go about on his own for the evening. "We can either just communicate cybernetically or we can meet up in person again if it's possible."
"All right. If I'm able to leave the house tonight without Hank getting too suspicious, I'll meet you somewhere. Otherwise, we can just speak cybernetically."
"Deal."
With a new plan in motion Connor bid Lucas, his friend and ally, a good afternoon and went on his way downtown. He still had enough time to purchase additional pet food and help get some stray animals get off the streets before it became too dark, and Lucas had plenty of time to get Sumo back home, fed and taken care of for the afternoon just as Hank had asked, while also being able to check in with Gavin.
The two deviants had varying interests and personalities, but they were both naturally protective beings who wanted to save the world from itself. It was interesting to see how the duo could go through very different experiences but still have identical goals, perceptions and sense of justice.
Gavin's Apartment
The large apartment complex wasn't in the most ideal neighborhood in the city, but it'd do for a Detroiter working hard to save up their salary to purchase a nicer home a few years down the line. It was a place that Gavin hastily moved-in to the previous September after he had a nasty break-up with his now ex-girlfriend. The raw wound of discovering that the woman he was about to propose to had been cheating on him had left Gavin very bitter and resentful toward a lot of people. His sense of trust had been shattered and it seemed that the only person he'd willingly associate with was Tina since he had known her for years, and she had been the first one to come running when the break-up went down.
Crossing the snowy parking lot at a casual pace Lucas glanced about and noticed Gavin's car in its assigned parking spot, confirming that the man was home where he was expected to remain until he had his meeting with Internal Affairs. Based on the snow build-up around the tires Lucas could confirm that Gavin hadn't gone anywhere since he returned to the apartment after he was sent home with his suspension late last night.
It didn't take long for Lucas to navigate the apartment complex and locate Gavin's apartment by cybernetically tapping into the man's personnel file at the precinct. It felt like a massive invasion of privacy to use his cybernetic links for such a personal advantage, but Lucas didn't see any other way to speak to Gavin in private without anyone else at the precinct finding out.
Standing outside the locked door Lucas sighed and knocked twice on the door to announce his presence. There was no response prompting Lucas to knock again before verbally calling out to Gavin to try to get him to open the door.
"Detective Reed? I'd like to speak with you please."
The lack of response spoke volumes of immense guilt on Gavin's part. The detective didn't want to speak to anyone or go anywhere regardless of what the people who cared about him wanted to say.
An unspoken concern told Lucas to check the door. Despite knowing better as a detective, Gavin left his door unlocked. That made Lucas's concern double in a single heartbeat. There was no one else in the hallway, giving the entire experience an eerie feeling.
"Detective Reed?"
Pushing open the door Lucas entered the small apartment and looked around for the detective. There were signs of someone stumbling about the apartment in an uncoordinated manner. The smell of cheap vodka, gin, whiskey and beer was thick in the air. An overturned drinking glass on the coffee table in the livingroom dripped booze into the carpet beneath a sickly brown hue. Furniture was haphazardly pushed around, and several large cardboard boxes were shoved against the walls as if someone was trying to hastily leave the livingroom to get down the hallway.
A small, fluffy kitten was sitting on the kitchen countertop with two very large bowls full of food and two large bowls full of water. It was as if someone wanted to make sure the kitten would be able to survive on its own for a prolonged period time without needing to take her to a shelter.
Trusting his gut Lucas ventured down the hallway as well and picked up on a strange gurgling noise sounding off on the other side of the partially closed bathroom door. Pushing the door open slowly had given Lucas the misfortune of seeing Gavin's mostly limp body dangling down from a strong leather belt wrapped around his neck and the other end of the belt tied to the metal rod at the top of his shower. The man's face was turning from a pale blue to a sickly grey hue just as Lucas entered the bathroom.
"Gavin?! No!"
Rushing forward with what was comparable to adrenaline Lucas wrapped one arm around Gavin's waist and easily lifted the man upward just high enough to take the weight from the strangling belt. With his free hand Lucas managed to stretch and then snap the belt under his impressive strength and free Gavin from his makeshift gallows.
"Gavin? Talk to me."
Lucas urged as he gently laid the man down flat on his back on the cool floor and loosened the belt from around the detective's horribly bruised throat. A quick biometric scan confirmed that Lucas had managed to avoid breaking or dislocating any cervical vertebrae in his neck, but he did sustain serious whiplash as well as damage to his esophagus from the hanging itself. Gavin still had a heartbeat, but it was weak.
"Gavin, I need you to respond."
Lightly Lucas pressed his hands along the sides of Gavin's neck to hold him steady and leaned his ear down to listen for any breathing. The red glow of his L.E.D. illuminated Gavin's face with a ghoulish red hue as the attentive deviant failed to detect any breathing.
Moving quickly Lucas rubbed his knuckles down Gavin's sternum in hope that the painful stimuli would cause Gavin to respond. After that he carefully tilted Gavin's head back and gave him two rescue breaths - the stench of alcohol was thick on Gavin's waning breaths - while monitoring Gavin's vital signs. Seeing Gavin's chest rise and then fall twice was a good sign and gave Lucas hope that the man would respond without needing to wait for paramedics to arrive.
Lucas realized that he hadn't called for paramedic assistance, and he was on the verge of cybernetically placing the call when Gavin coughed harshly and began to wheeze between the coughs. It wasn't long before the man became sick, and Lucas had to quickly but carefully help Gavin roll onto his side to avoid choking on his own vomit as he threw-up.
"I have you." Lucas promised while keeping one hand under Gavin's head and the other hand along the opposite side of Gavin's neck for support. "Try to breathe."
Gavin spat and violently vomited up the alcohol in his system all over the linolem floor. He didn't seem to understand that he wasn't alone at the moment or that someone had just saved his life. The violent bout of sickness was strong enough to bring Gavin out of his drunken and oxygen-deprived stupor.
"Gavin, please look at me."
"...F-Fuck." Gavin's voice was a hoarse, raspy whisper due to the damage to his throat. Luckily Lucas could understand him perfectly well and didn't need to try and shout to be heard. "What... 'appened?"
"You attempted to hang yourself, but I intervened." Getting right to the point Lucas monitored Gavin's vital signs while using a nearby hand towel as a temporary neck brace around Gavin's neck. It was important to keep his neck and head supported after the failed hanging. "Gavin... Why did you do that?"
"K... Kid." The weak and drunk detective managed to eke out in a broken voice. "H-Hurt... the k-kid."
"No, the little girl is all right." Lucas knew that wasn't true and he wanted Gavin to know it for himself. "Her name is Daniella, and she's safe in the hospital and has been reunited with her family."
"H-Hospital. Because... o-of me."
"That's incorrect. She was very ill and needed to go to the hospital to have her illness treated. You didn't harm her, and no one at the precinct would ever accuse you of intentionally doing something so heinous."
"She's... She's okay?"
"Yes, she is all right." The compassionate deviant promised. "You didn't hurt her."
Breaking down into tears Gavin began to cough and choke where he was lying. The guilt of believing he had shot and killed a child had driven Gavin into a drunken and suicidal mindset and indicated that the man felt truly horrendous for what had happened. It seemed any punishment from the precinct would pale in comparison to the way Gavin was trying to punish himself.
"You need to go to the hospital." Lucas stated calmly as he continued to carefully monitor Gavin's vital signs. "You're still intoxicated, and you had your oxygen supply cut-off for a prolonged period of time. It's important to let a doctor examine you."
"N-No." Refusing medical treatment Gavin awkwardly pushed Lucas's hands away and rolled from his side and onto his back before pushing himself backward toward his shower with the heels of his palms. "No... No doctors."
"Gavin, you-"
"I said 'no'!" The failed attempt to yell still hurt his bruised throat and caused Gavin to cradle his neck in his hands and around the towel supporting his neck into proper alignment. "...'M not crazy."
"No one has implied that you are." Casually Lucas sat down on the floor beside Gavin to ensure that he wasn't alone in his dark thoughts and pain. "However, you are physically injured and require a proper medical examination."
"No. D-Doctors... will lock me up." The whimpering detective stated as he spoke from a dark place. "Just like my mom."
"They won't do such a thing to you." Lucas quickly understood Gavin's fears of being institutionalized considering what happened to his parents. Being brought to the hospital drunk and suicidal would make things far worse for the man courtesy of his family history with substance abuse. "I'll make sure of it."
"Wh-What the... fuck... c-can you do about it?"
"I can escort you to the hospital where you can voluntarily commit yourself for temporary admission." Lucas was on the brink of calling 911 and having Gavin taken to the hospital, but he quickly thought of an alternative solution and hoped that Gavin would agree. "You'll be able to leave whenever you wish to leave, and no one can stop you."
"People will talk."
"Let them talk. Gavin, you're enduring a lot of stress and need some professional help." Speaking calmly Lucas waited for Gavin to agree to go to the hospital and be monitored and assessed for proper diagnosis and treatment. "Let people help you. You're a good detective who made a bad choice. That doesn't mean you're beyond redemption or forgiveness."
At those kind words Gavin closed his eyes and began to break down crying again. Being shown such compassion and understanding was something that he hadn't anticipated, especially from an android that he had threatened just days prior. Androids in general were still machines to Gavin, but something about Lucas made it easier for Gavin to see him as a person.
"Wh-Why do you care?" The sobbing detective asked. Tears, vomit and spit were staining his face in a very unpleasant manner all along his cheek and his chin. "You're juz'... plaztic!"
"I care because you need help, and I can help you."
"M-Must... make you feel s-so... perfect!" Gavin snarled bitterly as he tried to take out his anger on the helpful deviant. "T-Taking pity on the p-pathetic haz-been!"
"I'm NOT taking pity on you, and you're not a 'has-been'."
"Then wh-why are... you helping me? What... What's in it... for you?"
"I'm helping you because it's the right thing to do. I don't need any motivation to do the right thing beyond simply wanting to do it."
Such a kind and supportive response from what was supposed to be an apathetic being completely broke Gavin's remaining emotional resolve. The man was suddenly bawling like a child as he sat on the dirty bathroom floor with Lucas at his side. It was the first time in years that Gavin allowed himself to cry, and now that he started, he felt like he would never be able to stop.
"When you're ready I'll take you to the hospital." Lucas promised in a low tone as he watched the little kitten peer inside the bathroom to peer at her owner weeping on the floor with the new stranger sitting beside him. It was clear the kitten had been drawn to the commotion in the bathroom and wanted to see what was happening with her owner. "Tell me everything you want to happen, and I'll make sure it happens. I won't tell anyone about this."
Gavin could only nod as sobbed into his palm and tried to catch his breath. His head was throbbing, his stomach ached, his neck was burning, and he felt like an absolute monster for his past behavior. In Gavin's opinion he didn't deserve a fraction of the kindness that Lucas was giving to him.
"Fuck, man." Speaking with a raspy, pained voice only made Gavin look all the more pitiful. "My head's... killing me. So's my neck."
"Considering you attempted to end your own life, such discomfort seems oddly appropriate."
That dark joke was enough to shift Gavin from crying to laughing in a weak, hoarse manner as he remained on the floor. He didn't have the strength or the desire to even try to get up and go anywhere. As he sat on the cool floor Gavin suddenly saw through his tears that his kitten had found her way into the bathroom and was now pawing at his leg. She didn't see Gavin as anyone to be pitied or feared, she saw him as the nice man who adopted her, fed her and kept her safe and warm.
"Hey, Lucky." Gavin tried to clear his throat, but the effort was in vain. "M-Make sure... Tina takes care of Lucky. She l-loves animals."
"I will do so." The sight of the kitten down standing on Gavin's foot was a good sign that Gavin was still a good person. "Do you want me to tell her about this incident?"
"N-No. She'll..." Quietly Gavin contemplated what he had attempted and sighed a pained huff. "She'll be f-freak out that I- No. She won't b-be happy."
"I imagine so. What would you like me to say to Captain Fowler?"
"He's gonna' f-find out anyway." Admitting that he couldn't keep his behavior a secret was somehow healing. Bearing the emotional burden alone was no longer an option for him, and it was surprisingly freeing. "He'll handle everything."
"Yes, of course."
"But t-tell the Lieutenant... Hank..." Correcting himself showed that Gavin's mind was clearing, and he seemed to be able to focus his thoughts properly. "Tell him that I... I get it now. Wh-Why he drank so much. And that I'm s-sorry for giving h-him so much shit for it."
"I will tell him for you, but I imagine he'd appreciate hearing such words directly from you."
"H-He doesn't w-want anything... to do with me." It was becoming harder to speak. The damage to his neck and throat, combined with his violent vomiting spell and constant talking were straining his vocal cords quickly. "C-Can't say... I blame 'im."
"Give it time, he'll listen." Lucas promised as he shifted his weight to stand up and grab an old washcloth draped along the top of the shower door. "I'll help you clean up your apartment before we leave for the hospital. I'll drop Lucky off at Officer Chen's apartment afterward and tell her that you're taking a vacation due to the situation at the precinct, and that you'll reach out to her when you're ready to talk things out."
"Sh-She'll drive you... crazy with questions." Gavin warned as he watched Lucas soak the washcloth in the tap in the sink and then hand it over. "Thanks."
"I won't mind the questions."
"Y-You say that now."
"I can survive Officer Chen attempts at interrogation. I've survived worse."
Gavin could only wipe off his face on the washcloth as he watched Lucas unflinchingly clean up the bathroom floor while keep Lucky from walking through the gross mess by mistake. The way Lucas has showed up at the apartment to check on him, only to end up saving his life and then cleaning up his messes had left Gavin in silent awe of how empathetic deviants could be. Never before would he imagine a day where he'd have an android in his apartment without trying to physically tear them apart, let alone be grateful that an android had saved him from an irreversible mistake without judging him or shaming him. Lucas was helping him just because he needed to be helped, nothing more and nothing less.
All Gavin could do was wait for Lucas to finish helping out in the apartment and then hope that by the time he was admitted and checked out of the hospital that he'd still have some form of career left intact.
Downtown Detroit: City Hall
The cold and dark night made it easy for Connor to navigate the city undetected. The determination to uncover the corruption and eliminate the greed had driven Connor to return to the secured building to locate additional documents against the mayor to be used as evidence. While clever and resourceful Connor had to admit to himself that he wasn't sure how to bring the police's attention toward Mayor Walter Nero without Nero either finding a way to destroy the evidence against him or Nero bribing one of his corrupt cop buddies to interfere with the investigation. The last thing Connor wanted to do was accidentally put the good and honest detectives at the Central Precinct in harm's way by bringing them in on his personal investigation against the mayor.
Using his previously successful method to sneak back inside the locked building was easy enough. Getting to the mayor's personal office just down the hallway was just as easy as well. However, finding a way to expose the mayor without good people getting caught in the crossfire was going to be exceedingly difficult. Too many people were too close to the corrupt officials without even knowing that they were in danger.
"Nero has other politicians, cops, firefighters, doctors, nurses, engineers, architects, business moguls and even citywide maintenance crews under his belt."
Connor realized as he cybernetically checked through the documents he had already collected while looking for new documents to add to the damning pile of evidence against the loathsome man.
"Each person that he's paid to look the other way can cause serious harm to the city as a whole, if not help Nero cover up his own crimes, as a form of retaliation if they're exposed."
Carefully the deviant checked through each paper file concealed in the hidden safe to ensure he didn't overlook a single detail. Having the documents being physically available and covered in Nero's fingerprints would help convict the man, but only if Connor could find a way to ensure that the charges being leveled against Nero would stick and not be dismissed.
"Hank, a good detective who helped protect this city from a massive 'red ice' epidemic, was unable to bring his late wife, another good detective, justice due to a corrupt judge on the docket. Another detective had been murdered in cold blood by a known criminal, and the corruption allowed the criminal to roam free because of the corrupt judge had been paid off."
Recounting just one of the hundreds of thousands of wrongfully dismissed cases in the city was all the motivation Connor needed to continue on his mission to expose and eliminate Detroit's internal corruption.
"Nero's connections to CyberLife must be exposed, but only in a truly damning manner. If he can bribe the correct judge, then every crime he's committed can vanish without repercussion."
All of the documents containing details of Nero's activities and of his connections running rampant throughout the city would seemingly be enough for any court to pass proper judgement and punishment on the man. The potential problems entailed whether or not Nero would be able to hire a reputable but corrupt lawyer and get a corrupt judge to handle his case or bribe a jury, then he'd be able to elude charges and wouldn't be able to be tried again if double-jeopardy was granted on the case.
"The citywide corruption runs too deep to truly know where it stops. How can I ensure that the truth will be revealed without someone else covering it up?"
The sound of approaching footsteps prompted Connor to freeze for a moment and cybernetically scan the area. He wasn't alone and whoever else was inside City Hall that night was heading directly for Nero's office. Moving swiftly and silently Connor repacked the documents into the safe in the exact manner in which they had been stored to hide his tracks, then sealed the safe and returned its concealing painting over the front of the safe just as he had found it.
With the documents and safe returned to their original places Connor gracefully and quietly crept toward the office door to press his back up against the wall just to the side of the door itself. Cybernetically he scanned the door and listened to the electronic locks being disabled before the door was pushed open. The door swinging open created a barrier obstructing Connor from the view of Mayor Nero himself as he entered the private office to go about very late night undoubtedly shady business under the cover of darkness.
Once the door was open Connor took hold of the handle to keep the door from swinging shut, then crept around the door as Nero crossed the office floor. Using his stealth Connor silently slipped back through the door and prepared to let the door naturally fall shut behind himself when he noticed Nero pulling a phone from his pocket to begin talking to someone over the line.
"I'm still here. I know, I'll handle it."
Such a comment caught Connor's ear and prompted him to observe Nero and record his actions and words to be used as additional evidence. The corrupt mayor had opened up his safe without ever knowing that someone had been lurking about and rummaging through the records just seconds beforehand. Casually he pulled out the hefty documentation revolving around CyberLife and tucked it under his arm as he repacked and sealed the safe.
"CyberLife's check just came through, and I cashed it in. Yeah, I'm going to file a rush order to get the plastic freaks out of the tower."
A plan was in motion against the deviants and Connor wasn't going to leave until he knew of the details.
"No, it'll still take a couple years to get them out of the tower, but that's fine. We don't want them rebelling against us again because I kicked them off of Belle Isle so soon after the shit that just went down. They won't be a problem when I'm done with them; I know CyberLife's secrets now."
It seemed CyberLife wasn't done affecting the lives and freedom of deviants just yet.
"No, now that CyberLife finally paid up I'll get rid of all traces of our connections. One less loose end needing to be tied up."
Nero then pulled a small lighter from his pocket and ended his call without so much as a 'goodbye'. The man was about to burn the files and destroy all proof of his connection to the defunct company known as CyberLife, and no one could stop him.
Realizing what was at stake Connor recorded Nero placing the documents down on his desk by peering through a small opening between the door and the door frame to ensure the proof of destruction of evidence was also used against the man. As soon as Nero light the manilla file full of the incriminating evidence ablaze Connor cybernetically sent the active broadcast to every news channel in Detroit and gave them the raw, live footage to be viewed by every Detroiter in the city.
Though Connor's actions were meant to be positive, that didn't mean negative repercussions would follow. The moment the broadcasts reached the news stations the footage was being played out live on every new channel in the city, and with that shared broadcast one of Nero's contacts informed Nero that he had been busted and called the mayor immediately. Holding his ground Connor watched as the mayor answered his phone, paled to a sickly hue that was just barely visible in the orange glow of the flaming documents atop his desk, and looked toward his door where he saw the masked vigilante looking back and watching his every move.
In that single moment of sinister eye contact Connor just became a pricey bounty that anyone in Detroit would be proud to cash in.
-next chapter-
TL;DR: Connor decides to spend more time with Lucas and Abby since they are his friends and allies, becomes worried that Markus will become entangled in a political mess in the near-future and resumes snooping into the mayor's activities, and decides to leak the details to the media to make it harder for the mayor to deny any corruption. Lucas manages to save Gavin when he attempts to hang himself, and then gets him admitted into a psychiatric hospital to recover from his past trauma and depression.