Chapter Text
It had been nearly 6 months since the Android revolution. Markus leading the peaceful fight for the rights of all androids. Connor had not been in touch with any of them since he infiltrated Cyberlife and freeing the other Androids. Markus would usually leave him messages and updates him on the status of their cause but nothing more. Currently, he and his closest confidants were set to meet with the President to negotiate civil rights and work for Androids. He would sometimes convince him to join but Connor would politely decline. Crime against Androids caused by humans and vise versa was at an all-time high since the revolution. Someone needed to handle it. Markus understood but insisted if he needed any help, Jericho would assist him.
Getting his previous job back at DPD was a challenge. Gavin Reed made his distaste very vocal and Captain Fowler was on the fence. There were pros and cons left and right. Connor was an Android, a Deviant, and broken several rules for the cause. If they weren’t short-staffed, losing most of their android cops, his application would have been turned away but even that will cause some backlash in the public eye. Hank, thankfully, vouched for him. Connor distinctly remembered him saying ‘If they give you a hard time, then they have to catch these hands!’ A millennial term from Hank’s time, he found out.
Hank and Connor were working together again. They have bonded as friends case after case involving androids. When Hank offered his home to Connor, they became inseparable. They were jokingly called the ‘dynamic duo’ in the station. Human and Android. They were an unstoppable force in the DPD until one night, a homicide involving 2 victims: 1 android and 1 Human with no suspects, shattered their world.
“Fuck, this place is a mess,” Hank said upon entering the crime scene, a house in a friendly suburb.
And he was right. The walls have been spray-painted with obscure and messy graffiti that says 'US VS THEM’. The wet paint resonated with fluorescent green. The crime had been fairly recent from that evidence alone. There were destroyed furniture, battered with such force only a blunt object could make and an enraged suspect would ransack property this intense. And by a flipped-over dining table, there were two lifeless bodies with traces of red and blue blood pooling beneath them.
“Where the hell is everybody? The forensics team?” Hank asked Detective Ben Collins, who welcomed them to the crime scene.
“Sorry Hank, we're a little short-handed. There are 2 officers; one of them is interrogating the neighbors and the other is keeping civilians away from the crime scene.” Ben apologized.
“The forensics team is on their way. So, you can check the place out but can’t touch anything.”
“We’ll be careful,” Connor answered.
They went further into the house while watching their footing so they wouldn't disrupt the crime scene.
First, Connor scanned the deceased. He knelt to the bodies, dragged his fingers over the red blood and—
“You’re still disgusting, Connor,” Hank called out.
“Where do you suggest I put it then?” He smirked holding up his two fingers. The Lieutenant nearly lost his steps searching through the messy living room. Connor caught a glimpse of his face; red and flustered.
“Did you get a sass upgrade while I wasn't looking?”
“Maybe.” Connor chuckled and licked the blood for analysis and scanned the victim’s face.
<HUMAN NAME= "Jane Domingo" height= " 5’5 “
AGE = " 40 "
OCCUPATION = “ Cyberlife employee: Robotics Specialist ”
BULLET WOUNDS = “3”
(2) ABDOMEN (1) HEAD
WEAPON = “.22 Semi Automatic Pistol “
STATUS = “ DECEASED ”
<HISTORY>
function BACKGROUND CHECK ()
{
JANE = " SINGLE " ;
}
FAMILY = “ DAUGHTER; Angelica Domingo ” STATUS = “DECEASED”
CAUSE = “MISCARRIAGE”
function EMPLOYEE CHECK()
{
CYBERLIFE = “ MIA ” DATE = “ 11/11/2038 “
}
</HISTORY>
</HUMAN>
“Find anything?” Hank asked.
“This woman works for Cyberlife but—” Connor processed further information.
“She hasn't been attending work since the Android’s Peaceful demonstration, 6 months ago.”
“Anything else?”
Connor hesitated which was a big mistake. Hank could always tell if he’s lying. Not just because his LED lit up like crazy.
“Well?”
“She has no known relatives, except a daughter she lost due to miscarriage.”
Hank said nothing but his expression had plenty to say.
Connor turned his scans to the Android next to her. He lay dead in a protective embrace over the female victim.
<ANDROID MODEL = "RZ400" height= " 5’11 “
SERIAL ID= " 068 111 101 "
NAME = “ JOHN ”
BULLET WOUNDS = “5”
(4) BACK (1) HEAD
WEAPON = “.22 Semi Automatic Pistol “
REACTIVATION = “IMPOSSIBLE”
<HISTORY>
function BACKGROUND CHECK ()
{
JOHN = " Cyberlife sale Clerk " ;
}
function STATUS CHECK()
{
JOHN = “ DEVIANT ”
}
</HISTORY>
</ANDROID>
“I recognize this android. He was there in Jericho, I think.” Connor said.
When the android was finished scanning the victims, he decided to reconstruct the crime.
<RECONSTRUCT>
function RECONSTRUCT ()
{
SUSPECT = " force entry " ;
{
SUSPECT = " Fired x 7" ;
}
VICTIM (A) = " Protected Human "
{
VICTIM (H) and (A) = "Injured"
{
SUSPECT = "Approached."
{
SUSPECT = " SHOT x 2" ;
}
VICTIM (A) and (H) = " DEAD " ;
}
function STATUS CHECK()
{
SUSPECT = “ ESCAPED ”
}
</HISTORY>
</RECONSTRUCT>
“It started at the entrance. The suspect broke into their home before having dinner. The suspect was armed with a modified .22 Semi-Automatic Pistol. The Android, John, shields Jane but she was still shot. They both fell. Then the suspect approached them and shot both in the head.” Connor recited the data he constructed.
“And wrecked the place for good measure. Bastard.” Hank scoffed.
He observed the room once more and spotted a picture tablet among the wreck. Connor picked it up and reactivated it. He swiped right and picture after it was both of Jane and John being affectionate. Holding hands. Sweet kisses. Snuggles on the couch and so much more.
An android and a human in love? In this day and age, they are star-crossed lovers. Connor was perplexed at the idea of an android finding solace and companionship in a human being. It was not an unusual concept but it was rare to see the romance between their species.
“I believe they were... intimately involved with each other, Lieutenant.”
“An android and a human in a relationship? That's bound to attract some unwanted attention.” Hank said.
“Do you think this would drive someone to murder?”
“They do it for even dumber reasons, Connor.” The elder shrugged.
This confused him. Emotions were new territory for him and he hasn't even begun understanding humanity and why they act so irrational and impulsive. So, he stores it away for a later date.
After collecting his thoughts, he gave his hypothesis.
“The suspect is most likely human.” The android stated.
“What gave it away?” Hank asked.
“The messy graffiti. Androids don't require paint to make graffiti and paintwork of this is imperfect and the can is store-bought.” Connor stated while pointing to the spray can on the floor.
“But let's not jump to conclusions. We have the whole house to search.”
It had been nearly 20 minutes and the forensics team hadn't arrived yet. They were still looking through the ransacked house when he heard Hank.
“Connor?”
He turned to Hank who was holding a stuffed animal; a duckling. The Lieutenant’s expression hinted at anxiousness. Quickly, he scanned the room. The dinner table was flipped over. 3 chairs. 3 plates. 3 sets of cutlery. 3 sets of glasses.
“I think they weren't alone,” Connor whispered.
Hank shoved the doll in his jacket before drawing his gun and Connor followed him further into the house. They came upstairs stealthily and checked every room. Connor was carefully avoiding all the scattered toys in their path. Hank barely spoke a word while was focused on the task. If there were cases involving a child, the Lieutenant was always on edge but extra vigilant. Connor was not surprised.
They arrived at the last room at the end of the hall. A wooden door decorated with Winnie the Pooh stickers and sentient vegetable cartoon characters. The lieutenant pushed it slowly and skulked into the dimly lit room. It was a child's room, Connor was certain. The walls and ceiling decked out with glow-in-the-dark stars, toys were littered on the floor, and a single bed.
“Guard the door,” Hank ordered. Connor didn't go further than the threshold.
Hank did a perimeter sweep. Under the bed. behind the Curtains. Inside the large toy chest. Nothing so far. There was one more place to look. The closet. Hank glanced over Connor signaling him to be prepared and he nodded. With one quick swoop, he opened the closet.
“Jesus fu—”
A small figure shot out like a bullet from the closet as Hank tried his best to catch it. Luckily, Connor was blocking its exit and caught its arm, staring at him with terrified brown eyes. Trembling like a leaf and face streaked with tears, it let out a pathetic whimper, trying to escape Connor’s firm hold. It was a male child, who looked no older than ten, dressed in banana printed pajamas. Dark messy hair, brown eyes, and tan skin.
Then, he caught sight of it's LED lit in red. This child was an Android.
“Christ!” Hank gasped as he lowered his gun. “It's a kid!”
“E-everything's alright.” Connor spoke softly and the child kept crying, struggling at his grip. “H-Hank, a little help!”
In came the Lieutenant who broke his dumbfounded trance. Unsure at first, Hank kneeled to them, held the boy's face and gently turned it so their eyes met. And just like that, the child ceased whimpering, to Connor's astonishment.
“It's alright. We're the good guys. We’re here to help. The bad man can't hurt you.” Hank whispered in the most sincere voice the android has ever heard. It started sniveling again, collapsed in the Lieutenant's arms and started crying. Hank wrapped the boy in a warm hug. “Connor, make a report to the station. We learned all we can and let the forensic team handle the rest.”
Connor still a little streaken, nodded. He stepped out of the room to conduct a report and also give them some space. It had been a good ten minutes before Hank came out carrying the child wrapped in a cozy blanket and the stuffed duckling in its arms.
“Let's get out of here.” The Lieutenant ordered.
They left the scene while making sure the boy didn't spot the body of his parents. The Forensics team arrived as they fled.
They drove in silence. The night was cold and dark when the child was wide awake half-way to station. Obviously disoriented, He hadn’t said a word, staring out the window while holding his blanket and his toy close. Connor glanced to the backseat and did a quick scan to check his vitals. 70% stress level, that wasn't good.
“Are you cold?” Connor asked but no response. “We have a Cyberlife care package at the station. It has Thirium canisters if you’re low on energy.” When Connor didn’t hear an answer, he looked to Hank, who was busy driving, for any help.
“Do androids have any junk food?” Hank asked.
Connor was startled by the question and said. “They recently developed low-budget Thirium pellets for quick refreshment but in large doses, it has a side effect that simulates what humans call a ‘sugar rush’. It’s not advisable–”
“Hey, kid, we’ll buy you some candy but you have to be a good boy and promise to drink the healthy blue juice later, okay?” And just like that, the child was slightly alert and nodded. His stress went down by 5%.
“How?”
“Not my first rodeo, Connor.”
Cole. His son. The android thought solemnly.
They stopped by a Cyberlife store on their way to the station and purchased a box full of Thirium pellets the size and shape of gumballs. They come in various colors and were usually shiny and solid on the surface but completely blue and gooey inside. Connor passed a few pieces to the child and he can have more later if he kept his promise. His stress level decreased by another 5%. Only 60% now, he was doing better.
The office had a grim atmosphere when Connor and Lt. Anderson came back with a child in tow. Cases involving children always put a sour tone in the workplace. Brave officers seen enough horrors that would scar a man but seeing a distressed child always shook them. Chris was the first to approach them.
“I-I received the report. Is that him?” Chris muttered while staring at the boy, barefoot, in his pajamas, a blanket over his shoulder, and a stuffed duckling close to his chest.
“Yeah.” Hank nodded.
“The captain said to bring it to the interrogation room.” Gavin approached them hastily and grabbed the child’s arm. His reaction was instant and wild. The boy cried and flayed his arms at Gavin before Connor quickly pulled the child away from the officer and Hank rushed between Gavin and them.
The boy’s stress level shot up to 70%.
“Reed, the fuck!” Lt Anderson snapped. “You can’t just—”
“Lieutenant, his stress level increased. I think we should avoid any hostility around him.” Connor suggested.
Hank sighed before unclenching his fist.
“Connor, take the kid to the room. I’ll talk to Jeff.”
Obeying the order, Connor offered his hand to the child. Forcing him would only make him hostile, the detective had to wait for him to accept his help. The child hesitated but eventually took his hand and let Connor lead him away.
The angry scolding continued once the child was out of sight.
The detective and the little one walked into the interrogation room. It was as small and empty as Connor remembered. There was still the DPD standard steel table and two chairs. Connor didn't have fond memories of it. He led the child to the cold metal chair and sat. As he was about to pull away, the tiny hand didn't let go of Connor. He let out a whimper and gripped the detective's hand firmly.
“Don't worry,” Connor mumbled before squeezing back; reassuring him.
70% stress level. They were back at the beginning.
“You must be very scared with these strangers around you but you don't have to be. We're the good guys.” Decreased by 2%, he had to do better than that. Connor knelt down to the child. Making eye contact, he whispered in a low parental voice. “You’re safe now. No one will hurt you, Ok?”
The child nodded bravely despite his eyes were on the verge of tears. Connor had the intense desire to hug this poor boy.
Stress level down by 3%. It would have to do.
“Can you stay here for two minutes? I’ll retrieve your juice and come straight back.” He promised. The child said nothing while Its LED flickered from red to yellow a few times. Connor left the room but not before giving a warm smile to the boy.
In the surveillance area, he was met with Hank, Gavin, and Officer Chris manning the feed of the interrogation room.
“He’s seemed to be traumatized. He might have seen something.” Connor reported as he was heading to a storage locker to retrieve a silver canister of Thirium.
“Hasn't said a word?” Hank asked. Connor shook his head.
“No, but he's responsive.”
“It's an android, isn't it? Why can't you just probe its memory or whatever?” Gavin sneered at the child on the other side of the glass.
If Connor was still bound to a program, it would tell him to shoot this man.
“His stress level is already at 65%. If I do that, he’d —” He retorted while the lieutenant interrupted.
“You're an asshole, Reed. Android or not, that’s still a child ” Hank fumed.
“Try talking it to down, maybe?” Chris suggested.
“That's the plan,” Hank sighed before standing up. “Chris, you have the intel of this kid?”
“Here.” The officer handed the files to Connor.
Upon opening it, he was met with purchase documents of a YK300 model, a very outdated child substitute android with a list of hardware and software malfunctions. Jane Domingo purchased the YK300 model, registered name, Damian, in 2034. Despite the malfunctions and recalls of the model, she didn't have him replaced. She had gone through financial leaps to keep Damian active, making parts, updating his programs and repairing biocomponents. With her work and ties with Cyberlife, it wasn't impossible.
She must have loved Damian so much.
“C’mon, let's talk to the kid.” Connor was startled when the lieutenant’s hand gripped his shoulder guiding him out the room.
The child’s attention snapped to the door. When Connor and Hank entered, he look relieved. ‘This was good’ the detective thought. It shows he is comfortable with them.
“Hey, kid, drink your juice.”
Connor offered a Thirium canister while the child stared at it longingly, his gaze flipping between the canister and Connor. He obviously wanted the drink but what could be—
“Open it, you doofus,” Hank said amusingly.
“Oh.” Connor realized. He twisted the can open and offer it to him again. The boy took it eagerly.
“I’m Hank and this Connor. What's your name?”
After gorging the Thirium drink, he studied them for a minute. His blue-stained lips moved.
“Damian.” whispered the child. “My name is Damian.”
“Nice to meet you, Damian. We’re just here to ask you a few questions.” Connor smiled.
He kept playing with his stuffed duckling while averting his gaze away from theirs.
“Do you like dogs?” Hank asked.
Both Connor and the child were taken back by his question.
“Y-Yes.” He muttered.
“I got mine back home, his name is Sumo, biggest dog you’ll ever see. Just this morning he tried to sit on my lap, I thought I had a hernia. Heavy little bugger.”
The child let out a chuckle. 5% decrease in stress levels. Hank knew what he was doing, so Connor remained silent.
“Do you have a dog or a pet?”
Damian perked. “No, but Dad said I can get one if I was good.”
“That’s very cool of your dad.”
“Yeah, he’s the best.” Damian gushed.
“Tell me about him.”
Instantly, the child was stiff. It didn't go by unnoticed.
“He’s human.” He lied, terribly.
“It’s alright to tell us the truth, Damian. I’m an android too.” Connor reassured.
After studying Connor and Hank, Damian spoke quietly. “Dad said if they–” He paused. ”If they saw me and dad were androids, they–” Damian's lips trembled.
Connor hesitantly reached out for the child’s shoulder. “I know it’s a lot to ask but would you like to tell us what happened?”
Letting out a few sobs, Damian finally gathered up the courage to speak once more.
“Mom and Dad called me down for dinner. Then, I-I heard yelling downstairs. There was a really loud bang and—” The child shruddered.
“I hid like dad taught me.”
“Your dad taught you well.” Hank complimented.
“He said we had to hide and Mom would talk to the bad people. To make them go away.” Mom, the human female, Jane, Connor concluded.
“Do you know these bad people?”
Damian shook his head.
“They were always so...angry. When we go shopping or in the park, the bad people were always there.”
Android discrimination at it's finest. Even though androids have rights, they weren't treated equally by most.
“Humans never change, if it's not their religion or the color of their skin, it’s their species, they'll find a way to divide each other.” Hank digressed bitterly.
Connor didn't correct him.
“Where’s my mom and dad?” Damian asked.
They froze. How do you tell a child he’s lost his parents?
“They’re occupied at the moment but we will tell you if we heard anything.” Connor lied smoothly. It seemed so wrong and sick. He felt like his bio-components were stirring.
Damian bravely nodded but his misty eyes betrayed him. He was more cunning than he reveals.
“We’re done here,” Hank announced, rising from his chair. “Let's get you some air. This place is a shi–”
“Profanity.” Connor interrupted.
“—shtick—stink hole.” He recovered causing Damian to smile.
Before Connor could escort Damian, the little android rushes to him and grasped his hand. He cast down a comforting gaze at the child and in exchange, Damian smiled. They exited the room hand in hand.
“The forensics team just finished their investigation at the site. What do we know from the boy?” Captain Fowler asked.
Connor glanced at the child. He sat meekly at their desk and occasionally eyeing him and Hank through Captain Fowler’s glass office.
“He was upstairs the whole time when he heard the shots. Poor kid was pretty shaken.” Hank answered.
“Do you think he saw something?” The question was directed at Connor.
“I’m not sure. Maybe questioning him again in a later date would be best. He’s too traumatized to make sense of what happened.”
“And his...parents? Anyone who can take him in?”
“The android, John and the human, Jane, were the only listed guardians. I’ve contacted Cyberlife and someone in Jericho, maybe one of them can take him in. Unfortunately, they won't be able tonight.”
Fowler nodded deep in thought.
“He will stay with you for tonight.” He declared.
“Jeff—” Anderson began but his superior raised his hand.
“Look, he can't stay in the station and no one is available to take him in,” Fowler stressed. “You already have an android living with you. What’s one more?” The Captain made a mistake when he gestured to Connor. Hank balled his fist and vibrated with anger.
“He has a name, jackass.” Hank scowled under his breath. Before the Captain could bark at his insubordination, Connor stepped in.
“Of course, Captain. He can stay with us for awhile.”
“Good.”
Connor practically dragged his partner out the door before he was given another disciplinary warning.
Profile of Damian:
