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"It's official, today in the White House, the legal status of androids as living beings has just been signed into law."
Connor smiled and let Hank pull him in a bone crushing hug. Markus did it, they all did it. They were free.
Hank pulled away with a big grin and ruffled Connor's hair. "So kid, do we remove that LED of yours ?"
He brushed again the blue circle on his temple. "… No. I like it."
"At least we're getting you out of that uniform."
Connor smiled and acquiesced. He didn't like much the flashy blue signs screaming he was still Cyberlife's property, it weighted heavy on his shoulders. He could feel the armband burning his skin sometimes, even if he knew logically that nothing was happening.
He was free now. It didn't matter.
"Hank ?"
The lieutenant looked up from his computer screen. "… Sorry. I, um…"
The android glanced over his shoulder. "ICE is now authorized to detain androids posing a security threat." Hank sighed.
"I'm worried about that. About you."
"I'm not threatening."
"For now."
Connor's LED turned yellow for a few seconds before coming back to blue. "They wouldn't."
"Oh yes they would."
Connor turned to the door as harsh knocks echoed against the wood. Hank was away from a late-night mission, and they weren't expecting anyone. Maybe it was him coming home early, but he would've warned. He know Connor didn't like anything unexpected.
The android got up and checked through the living room's window. A black car was parked in front of the house, and three masked men were waiting at the room. One of them knocked again, harder.
Connor's LED blinked red quickly. What should he do ? Procedure ordered him to open and ask what was the issue, but deep in his gut there was that feeling of wrong. Something was very wrong. What were they doing here ?
One of the man noticed him at the window and gestured him to open. Connor shook his head and took a step back. How he could still move was a mystery, he felt like he should be petrified.
"Police, open up."
No uniforms, no badges, unmarked car. They weren't police. Connor walked to the door and talked through it.
"You're not Detroit police officers, are you ? I don't recognize your uniforms."
"We're investigating rogue android cases in the area. Open up."
Open up, Connor. Why are you hesitating. They're humans, they know what's best for you. After all, what could happen. You're not a threat. You'll be helping them. Don't worry. Just obey the orders.
Connor stumbled back and curled up behind the couch. What was happening ? Why did he have this urge to stop everything to obey those people ? He clutched his ears, systems hyperventilating.
Stress level : 74%.
He needed to calm down. He needed to breathe, to organize his thoughts, to send away the men before whatever Cyberlife left in his programming made him do things he didn't mean to. He just needed a moment, just a moment to calm down.
Hank frowned at the car pulled over in front of his house. He parked his own and got out, glaring at the three men.
"Can I help ? That's my place."
One of the men walked up to him.
"Sir, we need to confirm the presence of rogue androids in the area."
"Rogue androids ? No such things here." Were they here specifically for Connor ?
The man clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Sir, if you can just let us enter—"
"You've got a warrant for that, boy ?"
"… We'll come back with one, sir."
"Lieutenant for you."
Hank watched as the men got back in their car and drove away. Only then, he unlocked his door and entered. He immediately focussed on the curled up android on the floor, hyperventilating and panicking. Hank rushed to him.
"Hey kid. Hey. They're gone, I won't let them hurt you."
Connor collapsed in Hank's arms and clung to him as if his life depended on it. They stayed there for a while, Hank just holding his android, his son, in his arms, gently rubbing his back and stroking his hair.
"It's alright, Connor. It's alright."
When the car pulled up next to him in broad daylight, in the middle of the city, Connor ran. He didn't know what else to do, pull out a weapon ? Resist ? Talk his way out of this ? To be shot down on the spot ? No, he needed to get back to Hank, or find shelter somewhere else. Then he'd be safe.
The crowd parted as he ran through it. Behind him, he could hear them. But maybe he was hallucinating. After all, there was a lot of people, and they may have lost his track. They may not intend to hurt him at all, he just needed to surrender and stop running. Let your guard down Connor.
Why was this happening ? He hid in an alleyway, holding his head. He kept having those intrusive thoughts, this urge to obey blindly to those humans. He would've thrown up if he could, he felt sick. Hank, he needed to get to Hank.
"Connor ?" He flinched and looked up at Markus. The android leader rested a hand on his shoulder, looking visibly concerned.
"What's happening ?"
"I… Markus, they…"
Markus turned to face where Connor was facing.
"… Oh. You need to get to Jericho."
Connor's LED blinked yellow as Markus transferred him the path.
"What about you… ?"
"I'll be fine. My situation is stable, I'm not targeted by them yet."
My situation is stable too. But they'd let Markus safe and hunt him down instead for no identifiable reason, apparently.
The leader pushed him in the right direction just as the agents appeared at the mouth of the alley. Connor hesitated a split second before running again.
"May I help you, sirs ?" Markus' voice echoed against the walls. Connor didn't turn back then, or when the sounds of a fight started. Or when a gunshot echoed. His vision was blurry, his stress levels dangerously high. He needed to get to Jericho.
Another gunshot. The bullet went through his leg, making him stumble and fall.
"Fucking machine." Connor grabbed onto the pavement in a tentative to crawl away. A heavy boot crushed his fingers and the familiar click of a gun was heard above his head.
The shot went clean through his head, and darkness.
"Two rogue androids, the former deviant leader and a police prototype, were shot this morning in the streets of Detroit by specialized ICE officers. Multiples witness affirm that the prototype ran away from the agent, and the former leader tried to blocked the agents when they tried to do their job. A fight followed, and the androids were terminated in self-defence, say the officers."
Hank rolled Connor's coin between his fingers. His eyes were dry, heart numb. He lost his son once more.