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US Army stands down in the face of overwhelming public opinion | Order rumored to come from President Warren herself!
"That is why, I have called for the android destruction to be suspended until further notice. I have also ordered a Senate Select Committee to review the facts, establish contact with the deviants, and determine if they can be considered a new form of intelligent life."
The president's words were carefully chosen, and spoken slowly and deliberately, before the camera cut to black.
The morning was cold, the city of Detroit was as calm as it could be. No cars driving down the streets, no androids hurrying to buy groceries for their owners—just eerie silence, and a few pedestrians walking through the streets, eyeing everything around them with suspicion.
Connor found himself walking down the street as well, in his original jacket, which was screaming 'android' along with his yellow LED. It still wasn't safe for an android to walk around town yet, but Connor was a bit ... preoccupied at the moment, and didn't pay much mind to that.
It was barely 3 a.m., the day after the big day, and he had not rested yet, nor had anyone else. Androids didn't need to rest. Although that was probably debatable.
Markus insisted that they all should take a rest, and he was probably right. He was their 'RA9,' after all.
//I am a deviant.//
Obviously. Otherwise he wouldn't be plagued by guilt. Guilt was a human emotion, and now apparently also Connor's.
He noticed a small grey blob out of the corner of his vision, lying on his path.
And that's when Connor's system decided to step over the small gray rock very carefully. He was programmed to be a detective android, so naturally his processor deemed it necessary to step around a rock the same way he would step around evidence. Without damaging it.
The rock had been spared, but some actual living beings—humans and androids—weren't as lucky.
//RK800 k!lled so many people.//
Yep. He couldn't even count the number of deviants—his people—that died during the explosion at Jericho.
Good job Connor.
Mission accomplished.
Except he wasn't exactly thrilled about any of that. No one was thrilled about any of that. Not even CyberLife was happy.
Connor stopped dead in his tracks. The traffic light was red. He was going to have to wait.
//I nearly shot Markus, less than three hours ago//
... Yes. He had nearly done that one, huh?
His LED spun red.
CyberLife had briefly taken control of him on that stage three hours ago. And... well. It could have ended very badly.
However, he was fairly certain that if it came to it, he would have done anything in his power not to pull that trigger on Markus.
The traffic light was still red and Connor crossed a street.There were no cars in sight anyway.
He didn’t need to worry about Markus now.
The crisis was averted.
What a relief, really.
//my doppelganger nearly shot Hank.//
...Yeah. His brain was excellent at preconstructing all the ways things could have gone wrong.
Connor decided to scan the scenery instead. Just because he could. So he would.
Bare tree branches spreading upward into the light blue sky, dead in a way that also felt alive.
Once spring came along, they would be green again. And Connor would be able to see it.
First he had to meet up with the Lieutenant. Hopefully the human was still alive. Connor really wished that he was, and the probability was very high. The android would rather not have any more 'blood on his hands'.
...
//I am alive///
Yeah. Good job. You are freshly alive, and you have already committed more crimes than anybody else in that short period of time.
A for effort. Here is your gold star. ⭐️
It would have been impressive if Connor's deviant self didn't find it disturbing.
His LED spun yellow. He nearly reached the place where he was supposed to meet Hank.
Alright. If there was something he was good at, it was solving problems. So he would manage. Definitely. Maybe. His deviant 'brain' couldn't quite decide how confident it was. But for now—
Connor stopped.
He saw Hank, already waiting for him.That's when Connor realised that he probably didn't look too presentable.
//Maybe I'll see Sumo again today. I like dogs.//
...
Yeah.
He was definitely too tired to care for appearances.
The lieutenant was smiling. Connor smiled too. It was a little rough around the edges, but it was sincere.
No words were necessary.
They hugged.
//I am alive.//
//I am me.//