Chapter Text

I.

Nighttime had long fallen over the city of Detroit, but the metropolis was still glistening over the river. A mix of lights coming from the various billboards and street lamps, and the metallic shine coming from the most recent high rise buildings — that stood tall, well over the original skyline of the city — making them look like glass shards. The streets in the downtown area ever so lively even though it was well past midnight. Cafes, lounges and nightclubs being the only activities accessible at this time.

Looking from the outside, Detroit was a thriving city that looked towards the future with a positive prospective. With Cyberlife working along the city council, Detroit was most likely going to be one of the leading cities in the development process of the nation. A city of technological wonders and progress. However, even if the surface was a glistening cluster of lights reflecting on the dark waters of the Detroit River, the city, like the river itself, had murky depths. Detroit was a city of lights and shadows, where the two have learned to coexist and sometimes cooperate. The local law enforcement agencies and the city council seemed to have the control over the city but that was just a facade for the prying eyes of the outside world.

The reality of Detroit was very different: those who truly had power over everything, were a small group of families, who created on their own an intricate system of loyalties and rivalries — the Anderson’s, the Manfred's, the Williams’, the Kamski’s and the Andronikov’s. These families had money and sure, power as well, but only one of them really had it all. Money and power make a family strong and their name known, but what truly elevated you to the next level, was respect — and the Anderson’s had the respect of the whole city.

The head of the family, Hank Anderson, was truly a man who knew his worth. He had the right connections and everywhere he went the attention would almost always shift to him. Mr. Anderson was a man who loved his city and a philanthropist; he knew that to help it prosper, he’d have to give back to the city as much as the city let him have it his way. Social events weren’t a foreign concept throughout the metropolis, but the ones hosted by Mr. Anderson were the highlight of the city life because that was where the biggest part of the public funds came from.
Whoever, buying the respect from his fellow citizens was never his cup of tea. To him, respect was something that had to be earned and something that must always be reminded, no matter how. It was a subject that he held very dear and Mr. Anderson had his ways to make it very clear. Those who crossed his path wrong footed, know how dangerous he can be and not many were lucky enough to tell about their encounter.

Mr. Anderson’s looks emphasised his strong aura. Grey hair neatly combed back except for a single rogue strand of hair, hanging loosely on his forehead, his beard trimmed and defined. His eyes an icy shade of blue and his eyebrows slightly furrowed into a permanent frown on his face made him look as intimidating as his vibe gave off. His presence often made people think twice before approaching him — that and the ever looming presence of his three elder sons behind his back, Connor, Axton and Richard.

To say that the three of them were very protective of their father and younger brother, Cole, was an understatement. Wherever they went, the triplets would follow suit.
Hank Anderson never felt the need of flimsy services such as bodyguards or mercenaries when his sons were around. They knew how get things done themselves. Each of the triplets was dangerous in their own way but when they worked together they were a death machine — unlike those who came across their father, their victims didn’t have the luxury to get out of their grasp unchanged.

Deceiving looks ran among the family. The twins, Connor and Axton, looked like anything but dangerous. Warm brown eyes on faces adorned by freckles, their expressions calm and almost friendly. Hank had once fondly told them how they reminded him of poodles while ruffling their curly hair, receiving toothy grins from the two — at that time six years old — boys. Their once unruly deep brown hair now slicked back, leaving just a single strand of shorter hair on the front hang freely. Despite being two faces of the same coin, the twins had opposite personalities. Whereas Connor was more of a thinker, Axton would be the type to act before thinking. Of the pair, he was the explosive one while Connor was more controlled. Connor was a perfectionist while Axton tended to be messier. Despite everything, though, they balanced each other perfectly.
On the other hand — Richard, despite being the third twin, he was somewhat different from his brothers. He was taller and had a stronger build, his eyes being the same icy shade as his father’s and like him, Richard always kept a slight frown, that made him look intimidating and difficult to approach. While his brothers were more extroverted, Richard was more of an introvert, a trait of his that, along with his looks, made it hard for him to socialise.
Richard was particularly attached to his younger brother, Cole. The two had a special relationship that Hank found heartwarming.

Tonight, Hank and his sons, joined Detroit’s nightlife — although their motive was anything but simple leisure. Word had it that Detroit’s newcomer, Mr. Andronikov, had sent one of his lackeys after the Anderson’s and tonight, Hank was determined to find out why.

“A little bird told me you were after my family, Mr. Colbert,” Hank spoke, as he adjusted his left leather glove “I might already know who sent you but… I hoped you could confirm my guessing.”
The apparent flatness in Mr. Anderson’s voice sent a chilling shiver down the other man’s spine. He wasn’t really in the best position.

The dock was deserted for the night, illuminated by lampposts every 50 metres or so. Despite the fact that they were in the middle of Summer, Colbert was trembling like a leaf. He got cornered, there was no way he could get out of this unscathed. With the twins by his sides, Richard behind him and Hank a couple of metres in front of him, he was trapped.

This wasn’t supposed to happen, he always made sure no one knew his real intentions nor ever spoke to anyone about whom the work came from. He kept rethinking, second guessing. What did he do this time that led him to the utter failure of his mission? “Think, Alan. Think!” He kept telling himself, unfazed by the request of the man in from of him.

“What’s your decision, Mr. Colbert,” Hank’s voice interrupted his train of thoughts, his body froze after realising the man had moved closer “this encounter could be very quick and civilised, nobody gets hurt and everybody moves on… or this could be really unpleasant. But that’s completely up to whether you’re willing to cooperate or not.”

“Why do you need me if you already know who I’m working for?” Colbert snorted, a sudden wave of arrogance rushing through him. Quite out of place and risky considering the situation he was in.

Hank remained unfazed, an eyebrow raised as he gave the man a stare that would’ve made any other person cower. He nodded, pursing his lips. It seemed, Mr. Colbert wasn’t going to cooperate any sooner.
“I see you’ve made your choice.” He then looked at Connor and nodded, giving him a silent authorisation.

Connor nodded back and glanced over his two brothers before the three closed the distance that separated them from Colbert.
Richard quickly restrained the man’s arms behind his back, his grasp on Colbert’s forearms remained firm as the latter began squirming.

“Let me go, I ain’t telling you shit-“ Colbert spat out, but was soon cutoff, air forcefully pushed out of his lungs as Connor’s fist connected with the centre of his abdomen. The man’s head fell forward, had it not been for Richard’s grasp, he would’ve already fallen onto his knees, whimpering in pain.

“Not so tough now, eh?” Axton scoffed, crouching down to look at the man’s face. “What happened, cat got your tongue?” He added, a smug grin painted on his face as he cracked his knuckles.

“It would be in your best interest to talk, Mr. Colbert,” Connor warned him, his voice low and threatening “I really don’t want to use my full force on you.”

After regaining his breath, Alan straightened back up, wincing in pain but not losing an ounce of arrogance whatsoever.
“Oh, you even held back for me, pretty boy? What, scared to mess up your-“
Another blow. Although this time, it was a courtesy from Axton. Colbert’s whole body jerked to the side from the hit he just received in his face, a couple of bloody teeth flying out of his mouth.

Hank kept his distance, watching the twins have their way with the man. After a while, he signalled them to stop and Richard loosened his grip, letting go of Colbert. His body hit the ground like a dead weight but the man was still alive, despite being now a groaning, bloody mess.
Hank walked closer to him, before kneeling down and lifting Alan’s head, yanking him by his hair.

“Mr. Colbert, what’s the motive of the interest of your employer towards my family?” He asked but the man said nothing. Instead, he smirked before spitting out blood on Hank’s face.
“Fuck you, Anderson.” Colbert jeered as Hank let go of his hair, after briefly staring at him.
Hank concluded that Colbert wasn’t going to talk even if he were held at gunpoint and was therefore, either a fool with masochist tendencies or just blindly loyal to his employer, careful not to ever mention them, even if it meant losing their own life.

He stood back up, taking out a handkerchief and cleaning the mix of spit and blood off his face.
“Wrong choice, Colbert.” He sentenced and turned around, making his way back to his black sedan. The triplets took this as a request to clean up the mess and call it a night. As Hank yanked open one of the passenger doors, he threw a quick glance at his boys.
Colbert was being, once again, held up on his feet, this time by Connor, while Richard and Axton used him as a punching bag. He hoped that Mr. Andronikov wouldn’t mind a sudden staff reduction.

Tonight was quite an unfruitful night for Hank. Leaning back into his seat, he massaged his temples in a circular motion.
Having Zlatko Andronikov on his family for whatever the reason might be, was just added tension into his life. Not to mention the fact that new mayor of Detroit, Amanda Stern, had started enquiring around about him. Apparently she opposed the current management of the city.

After a while, the trunk of the sedan opened and closed after something had been deposited inside with a muffled thud. Hank was then joined by his sons. Richard sat at the wheel and Axton in the passenger seat next to him, and Connor took his place next to their father.
“Relentless and arrogant until the end” Connor commented and without another word being said, the car engine roared to life before speeding through downtown, towards the outskirts of the city.