Chapter Text
The elevator beeped gently as you waited to reach the seventieth floor. Today marked a significant day for Cyberlife as you stood beside their latest prototype, the HK800. Otherwise known as Hank, it was tasked to be the negotiator for this hostage situation.
For such an advanced prototype, you were assigned to observe it and ensure that it was functioning properly. At least, that’s what it said on paper.
The situation was a deviant that had held a young girl hostage. This was quite an intense case to be Hank’s first one, but you didn’t feel too worried. You were sure that the both of you would succeed today.
You made sure that your bulletproof vest was strapped on properly before the elevator jolted to a stop. The two of you stepped out into a corridor of broken glass and the sound of shuffling. To the side, an armoured soldier placed their hand to their radio.
“Negotiator on site.”
Hank stepped out in front of you. It was aware that it was dangerous and it was best for its analytical capabilities to keep an eye out for any danger. The android gravitated towards the picture frame, analysing the family.
It must be warming up its scanner. Trials had been held to test it before it was deployed but it was still prone to being overheated.
“We should head to Captain Allen,” you said, prompting Hank to return the photo frame. The android nodded and started to move, only to stop itself a few steps in.
“Hank?"
It crouched down to a fish that flopped helplessly on the damp ground. With no beat of hesitation it picked it up and placed it back in the water, staring at it as the fish relaxed and swam through the water.
Interesting. That wasn’t part of its programming. You had a good start on your part of the mission.
“DON’T LET THAT THING NEAR HER!”
A woman in hysterics was being dragged towards the elevator by a soldier. Upon spotting both of them she immediately grabbed Hank by the collar.
“Please! Please you have to help my daughter-” the woman stepped back, looking at Hank’s android jacket. “Y-You’re sending- an android?”
She snapped to you, her face stricken with betrayal and disgust. You reflected her disgust, it wouldn’t be good for Hank to be damaged this early. You stepped in and gently removed her clutch on his jacket, smoothing it out as she screamed at the both of you.
“WHY AREN’T YOU SENDING A REAL PERSON?”
Her protests faded away as the doors to the lift closed.
Both of you walked out to the sound of more shuffling, followed by soldiers moving into position. Hank guided you to his left side just in case a stray bullet were to hit you. Up ahead, Captain Allen was crouched down over a computer speaking to another soldier.
“Captain Allen?” you asked out loud. The man didn’t respond, his focus still on the computer.
“My name is [Y/N], and this is Hank. We were sent by Cyberlife.”
The Captain hesitated, his vision pulling from the computer for a moment. “It’s firing at anything that moves. It’s already shot down two of my men. We could easily get it, but they’re on the edge of the balcony. If it falls-” he looked over his shoulder to meet your eyes, “she falls.”
You looked to Hank with a nod. As much as it was designed to be the negotiator, there wasn’t any harm in spreading the workload. The android walked towards a nearby gun case, kneeling and looking over the evidence.
“Has the deviant… experienced an emotional shock lately?” you asked.
“I haven’t got a clue. Don’t you work for Cyberlife?”
“Working at Cyberlife does not mean I know everything about this deviant,” you stated. A shame. Allen didn’t seem cooperable at the moment.
“Then does it-”
Hank nudged you gently, pulling your attention away from the Captain. It was programmed to stay near you during the assessment process. Hank tilted his head towards a purple glowing room - must be a child’s room.
You complied, leading it towards the dim lit bedroom. Hank walked over to the tablet, playing a video whilst you slipped some rubber gloves on. Your attention was drawn to the sound of muffled music and you knelt down to a pair of headphones on the ground.
“The deviant’s name is Daniel,” said Hank. He placed the tablet down on the drawer.
“And I doubt Emma heard the initial gunshot.” You stood up, placing the headphones back to where they were. The music blasting from it was unreasonably loud. “Daniel must’ve grabbed her right before it was surrounded.”
The two of you exited the room to the sound of a gunshot. Hank immediately pushed you behind its back as a soldier was shot. You watched as they were pulled out of the hot zone, the victim groaning in pain.
Hank released you, giving you the all clear before pointing out a body on the couch.
“That would be safer for you to analyse, Madam,” Hank said. “It’s outside the deviant's firing line.”
“Thank you, Hank.”
He nodded as he approached another body, an officer, in the middle of the living room.
You examined the body, sensing a nearby soldier giving you a confused look. How would someone from Cyberlife know how to examine a crime scene? Of course, you had your history, and as long as you weren’t pressed about your current position there shouldn’t be an issue.
You first checked the direction of the blood splatter. Considering where the deviant had gotten the gun, he would’ve exited the room and shot this man from behind. This man being the father of the hostage, John Phillips. You can get the autopsy specifics from Hank later. As of right now you needed to find something to aid with the negotiation.
Something caught your eye, a bloodied tablet thrown across the floor. When the victim was sitting on the couch, he must’ve been doing something. You went over, carefully picking up the tablet and unlocked the screen.
You winced at the sudden brightness of the screen, words and sound flashing in your face.
“Your order for an AP700 android has been registered.”
Ah, there it was. The emotional shock. You would be too if you learned you were going to be replaced. The betrayal it had felt caused it to crack.
Interesting.
Hank returned to your side, adopting his formal idle stance.
“I’ve located the deviant,” it said, “It shot the officer while the hostage is in its arms.”
“Take a look at this,” you said, passing Hank the tablet. “It was going to be replaced.”
“This should be useful for my negotiation. Thank you, Madam,” Hank looked towards the balcony, passing the tablet back to you.
“Are you ready, Hank?”
“Yes,” it nodded, “I have a high probability of success. I believe I can save the hostage.”
You smiled, and made your way to safety.
“Good luck.”
You watched as the grey-haired android stepped out into the open, its jacket fluttering in the open air of the high rise building.
--
The reality of deviancy was it was unavoidable. Cases had been appearing at an uncontrollable rate, spreading like a virus. Cyberlife knew that one day all active androids would eventually become deviant.
Hence, your task was one of utmost importance. Something that only you could do shrouded by the highest amount of secrecy.
If there were to be a revolution then Hank was to infiltrate their ranks.
Purposefully inducing deviancy on Cyberlife’s prototype sounded ridiculous at first, but you eventually understood it as a precautionary plan. The deviants will be controlled, one way or another.
Of course, that was one of the many possibilities that could happen over the next few months. The overall goal was to control the deviants, and you were relied on to be flexible with your process.
But onto more pressing matters. You had an investigation to join.
Hank was successful with saving the little girl’s life, but you didn’t agree with Captain Allen’s call to shoot the deviant afterwards. It would’ve been nice to retrieve the android to be analysed, but ultimately it wasn’t too much of a loss.
You had proved to the police and to Cyberlife that Hank was a function android suitable to aid the police in high stress situations. The paperwork was a breeze to complete.
All that was left was to find the detective you were to be partnered up with. It’s understandable that the Detroit Police Department wanted both of you to be monitored.
You and Hank walked through the darkened streets, hopping through different bars to find a certain detective. The android held the umbrella, shielding you from the heavy rain as you approached the next bar. The neon sign glowed through the rain, and you reached forward to enter.
“Madam?”
You turned to a confused Hank, “Yes?”
The android points to a sticker on the door clearly stating ‘NO ANDROIDS ALLOWED’. You never acknowledged them though, your business was more important than the prejudices of some bar.
“It’s alright, Hank,” you said. “With your scans we should be out before they start to complain.”
Hank gave an affirmative smile and closed the umbrella while you entered.
Almost immediately, the customers of the bar turned to look at the unwelcomed duo. You ignored them all, letting the android do its thing. The bar was quite cozy, the warm and low lit interior was much nicer than walking around in the rain all night. You let Hank move past you, analysing each person’s face. Within a minute, Hank gestured towards a man in a dusty brown coat with his head down in his drink.
You approached with the friendliness smile you could muster despite your annoyance. Hr was hard to find. This was the fifth bar, for god’s sake.
“Connor, is it?” you asked. The detective was unresponsive, “My name is [Y/N], and I believe you had a case assigned to you early this evening? A homicide involving a Cyberlife android? We were sent to aid in with this case.”
The brown-haired man nodded their head but ignored you as he went back to taking another sip of his drink. You watched him expectantly as an awkward silence fell between the three of you. It was only then when he glanced up to see you and Hank in your stark Cyberlife uniforms.
The detective snorted, shaking his head as he rested his drink lightly on the counter, his fingers still pressed against the glass.
“Really? Cyberlife sent me two androids for this investigation? Well,” he waved his hand at the both of you rudely, “Go ahead and do my job then. I’ll be right there.”
You frowned, “I’m not an android.”
“Oh really?” Connor said, taking a double take at your uniform, “Because you sure as hell sound like one - talking like you have a stick up your ass.”
He chuckled to himself as you started to feel a bit red in the face. Hank stepped up, obviously taking a share of your offence but you stopped him. You weren’t expecting a detective to be so… rude and, for lack of a better term, looking like shit. His hair was slightly disheveled, the loose strand that dangled over his forehead bothering you, and his clothes smelt of alcohol and dust.
“You should stop drinking and come with us,” Hank said. “You were expected to be at the crime scene an hour ago-”
“No. Nobody’s is expecting anything,” Connor protested, his voice slurring slightly, “Now leave me alone you plastic asshole. And you… just plain asshole.”
Fine. If that’s how you’re going to play it-
“Hank?” you said. He nodded and leaned down. In one smooth motion, Connor was swept off the bar stool and slung over Hank’s shoulder.
Hm. You didn’t expect Hank to actually pick the poor detective up.
“Hey! What the fuc-!”
But you’re not against a method that worked.
“Please understand” Hank said, unphased by the wiggling detective in his possession, “That we have a case to solve.”
“FUCKING LET. ME. DOWN! WHAT THE FUC-”
The customers of the bar stared at the three of you dumbfoundedly as you gave a polite nod.
“Sorry. We’re just leaving,” you said.
“No! We’re not!” shouted Connor, but he was no match for Hank’s grip. “I’ll walk! I’ll wa-!”
You opened the door for Hank as he stepped out, giving a polite smile to you as Connor on the other hand, gave you quite the aggressive glare.
You simply returned his aggravation with a smile. You asked for this.
You closed the door behind you, the sound of old country-rock music now muffled against the sound of rain.
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(credit to https://dbh-edits.tumblr.com/)