Difficult beginnings

Gavin was not completely surprised when Fowler ordered him into his office for a private meeting. He really wasn't. Since the android revolution, he'd been working his ass off cleaning up after Hank and the recently reinstated Connor, keeping the streets of Detroit as crime-free as can be under the circumstances. He might've been annoyed by the extra work, well…he WAS annoyed by it, but he decided to take it in his stride. The additional load wasn't anything he couldn't handle and if he took it on the chin, Fowler might recognise his efforts. Fowler might give Gavin that promotion.

So he entered the office with the small hope Fowler will finally consider his lieutenant's application. That small bit of hope was dashed when he saw Hank and Connor already inside. The smug fucking smile Connor made as he waved hello was enough to make Gavin sick.

"Gentlemen," Fowler said from behind his desk. "Glad to see we're all here on time." Fowler shot a look at Hank.

Hank pointed his thumb to Connor. "Hard to be late when you've got an alarm clock as a partner, Jeffrey."

"I keep telling you to call me Captain Fowler at work, Lieutenant Anderson."

"Whatever you say, your grace." Hank mockingly bowed.

Gavin rolled his eyes. He wasn't in the mood for the 'Hank and Jeff' show today. "Just tell me right now so we don't waste each other's time. Does this have anything to do with me and the lieutenant's application I handed in?"

Fowler turned to Gavin, huffing slightly under his breath. "I've looked at it, Detective Reed."

"And?"

"And nothing. You're working harder and you got your shit together. Good for you." Fowler rose from his seat, making his way to the door. "Follow me."

Gavin was impatient. "I swear to god if this has nothing to do with me—"

"It's got everything to do with you, detective." Fowler turned to Hank and Connor. "And you two as well."

Hank shrugged and followed Fowler out of the office, Connor shortly behind. Much as Gavin would like to storm out and get back to work, this was the first time he hadn't got a firm hard "no" from Fowler. Maybe this really was about the lieutenant application? He'd do just about anything for that promotion. God knows he wanted it so badly.

Fowler led them out of the office, locking it behind him. He walked past the desks, the break room, and then entered the interrogation room.

At the far end of the interrogation room, an android stood, his curious eyes scanning the new faces. No one seemed surprised about its sudden appearance except for Gavin. There's another Connor? Indeed, in many ways, this android resembled Connor's original appearance. The same face, the same haircut Connor used to have, the only difference was some new CyberLife-issued duds and the blue eyes. Gavin's eyes travelled down the jacket and saw the words RK900 emblazoned over its right breast.

Was Gavin just imagining it or was the android staring at him? He quickly turned his head away from Connor 2.0.

"So," Fowler said in a calm voice. Gavin could already hear the sirens wailing in his head. Fowler never talked like this unless he was especially pissed off. At least it seemed to be directed to Hank and Connor, not him.

"So…?" Hank asked.

"So I heard some interesting rumours about you two. Entering CyberLife premises without a permit, tampering with the security system, STEALING A FUCKING PROTOTYPE?!" Fowler growled.

"Hey, we did NOT tamper with the security system."

"We did do the other stuff though," Connor added.

"Shut your trap, kid."

"That's not the point!" Fowler snarled. "You two dimwits stole not just a CyberLife prototype, you stole the LAST CyberLife prototype." He gestured wildly to the RK900. "The only reason you haven't been sacked from here to eternity is because you two dimwits accidentally uncovered assets that CyberLife hadn't publically announced."

"CyberLife is already suffering from a large number of lawsuits," Connor explained to Hank. "This could, as the metaphor goes, break the straw on the camel's back."

Hank gave a roguish grin. "So that's good, ain't it? We caught CyberLife in their lie. We caught them breaking the law."

"You got caught breaking the law too." Fowler grumbled.

"Eh, semantics." Hank handwaved.

"May I ask what the HELL this has got to do with me?" Gavin all but shouted.

Fowler turned to Gavin, only now just realizing he was still in the room. He let out a long-suffering sigh. "CyberLife is threatening to both sack and sue Hank and Connor. They'll only drop the charges if we allow the RK900 to work in the DPD."

Gavin paled. "You're not fucking saying…"

"Congratulations, Detective Reed. You've got a new partner."

Deep breaths, Gavin told himself. Deep. FUCKING breaths. But it didn't work. One look at the plastic asshole that was to be his new partner and he felt like he was going to lose it. His breaths came out like angry snarls, animalistic, dangerous.

Gavin turned to Fowler, barely able to contain his rage. His voice was as calm as he could will it—that is, not that calm at all. "Why the fuck are you doing this to me?"

Fowler looked at Hank. "Do I really have to go through this conversation again?" Hank shrugged.

Gavin ignored what Fowler said. "I hate the fuckers, you know that. I can barely stand having to deal with androids as it is, and you expect me to take this thing?"

"Detective Reed," Fowler warned.

"Give me one good fucking reason why I should do this."

"If you can prove you're capable of a leadership role and don't cause another publicity stunt, I'll approve your lieutenant's application and send it to the higher-ups."

That was enough to keep Gavin quiet. In a different setting, he might have screamed and hooted in joy. Right here and now, however, he pretended to look dispassionate.

"You've been working hard, Gavin." Fowler said in his rare, kind voice. It always sounded weird from him but it didn't make it any less genuine. "You do this for the DPD, I will personall put in a good word for you too. You can do this."

Gavin rarely received praise ever. It felt strange. It felt...nice.

He glanced around the room to everyone's expectant faces and let out a sigh. "Fine," Gavin muttered, hoping he came out indifferent and collected rather than happy with glee. "I'll take care of the plastic trash can."

Connor looked at Gavin with a raised eyebrow. Hank snorted.

"As for you two," Fowler snapped at Hank and Connor. The duo straightened immediately. "Until I say so, android crimes is now a substituent of homicide."

Hank's eyes widened. "You're not saying…"

"You and Connor are now working under Detective Reed and RK900. And I expect you both to behave yourselves." Fowler scanned the four with his signature stink eye. "Any of you create another media scandal, it's more than just your necks on the line."

With that, Fowler stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him shut. As soon as he's gone, all eyes are on Gavin.

He can't help the devious smirk that popped up on his face.

"Well, well, well." Gavin leaned against the wall. "So I'm up dog now."

Connor glanced at Hank. "Doesn't he mean top dog?"

Hank quickly shushed Connor.

"And as the up dog," Gavin continued, "you guys are under my supervision." He smiled. "You heard the captain. You guys gotta listen to me."

"Yeah, yeah," Hank crossed his arms. "Just because you're my boss now doesn't mean I'm gonna let you do whatever. I've still got every right to report you if you abuse your privileges."

"You'll be fine, I ain't gonna hurt your brittle bones, old man." Gavin walked up and condescendingly patted Hank on the back. The old man rolled his eyes, unamused. "As for the android," Gavin spun on his heel to face the RK900, "it's a little bit different for you. All you gotta know is that I'm your master and you listen to my orders and do whatever the fuck I tell you to do from now on. Got it?"

The RK900's head turned slowly to Gavin. Its expression was weirdly neutral and robotic, even for an android. It slowly dawned on Gavin how much taller the android really was compared to him.

The RK900's voice was unamused. "OK."

Gavin smirked. "Good. Tell me what you can do."

"Compared to my RK800 predecessor, I am stronger, smarter, and faster. My durability is twice that of a standard android and my processing units are top of the range. I share the same functionality and abilities as my RK800 predecessor but with some unique features. For example, I have unlimited access to whatever information systems I am able to penetrate as well as additional appearance modules designed to mimic a variety of different faces and bodies." The RK900 blinked, realising the humans didn't understand what he said. "In other words, I am an extremely efficient hacker and I can shapeshift."

"Oh, is that what you are?" Gavin laughed maliciously. The android had no idea what's coming to it. "Then give me a demonstration then." He raised his arms up tauntingly. "Show me what you can do, you plastic prick."

The RK900's LED blinked yellow for a few seconds before returning to a blue colour. "Very well."

The android's skin shifted, showing briefly the plastic white underneath its paper-thin humanity before transforming into a voluptuous pale woman with high cheekbones and plump, kissable lips. Its hair lengthened and extended just past the shoulders, the colour changing to a fairer, copper colour.

Gavin's jaw must have dropped to the floor. The android could transform into something so gorgeous? Was it just him or was the RK900 smiling?

"Like what you see?" The RK900 said in a teasing but very feminine voice. Gavin flushed brightly. He had a childhood crush on a girl who looked very similar to the RK900 currently.

Hank and Connor were chuckling in the distance. A quick shake of Gavin's head was enough to remove the blush off his face. "What the hell're you doing?" He snapped at the RK900.

The android didn't say anything as it shapeshifted into another form. Now it was male but with the appearance of a sexy latino. A strong chin sprinkled with salt and pepper stubble lied neatly on a bed of mocha coloured skin. The hair retreated to the length it was before but now it was jet black, the threads framing the face were slightly longer. The RK900 swept his fingers through his new bangs, smirking devilishly.

Gavin's hot flush appeared again. It's as if the RK900 was purposely transforming itself into his biggest fantasies. Did the android know he still fantasised about that childhood crush sometimes? Did the android know Gavin had dreamt about being with a hot latino man like this?

As if reading his thoughts, the RK900 spoke in a new voice that held a faint twinge of a Spanish accent. "It was very easy to access your internet history from this location. You chose a very cheap and ineffective firewall program to protect your computer. I've gone ahead and looked at the pornography you watch and out of the 122 visits this year—"

"Shut up!"

"—you tend to watch pornography starring Latino men and Caucasian woman of fair skin. Out of the different pornography categories, you prefer—"

Gavin grabbed the android and slammed him into the wall roughly, trying to ignore the laughing behind him. His face was red with anger, or shame. Something. Probably both, it didn't matter. All that mattered was his hands on the android, tight and wound and shaking from raw strength of emotion.

"Do you want to fucking die?!"

The android seemed unamused. "You don't threaten me, Detective Reed."

"And why not?!"

The RK900 merely blinked as he reverted back into its original, Connor-like appearance. "I've seen your internet history," the RK900 lowered its voice, just loud enough for Gavin to hear. "You have peculiar tastes. Tastes that might make others think less of you if they know."

Gavin's eyes widened as he took in the expression the RK900 was giving him. This was a threat. This was blackmail. Do anything to me and I'll fish out all the uncomfortable stuff you don't want anybody to know about, the RK900's eyes told him.

"…Fuck." Gavin angrily hissed as he let go of the android. The RK900 merely adjusted its tie, as if it hadn't had its life threatened just now.

Connor turned to the RK900. "You will be OK, right?" He asked, concerned.

The RK900 shot a look at Gavin that made the detective uncomfortable before turning to Connor. "I think we'll get along swimmingly, as the British say."

"Yeah, fuck you too," Gavin muttered, sticking up his middle finger at the android.

There was a flash of anger as the RK900 glared at Gavin and he felt it only right if he glared back. A litany of insults came into mind and he was ready to unleash them one by one but then the PA system crackled on, distracting him. The saxophone intro for 'Careless Whispers' starts playing.

Hank doubled over in laughter. "F-fucking hell, Connor, you didn't."

"I couldn't resist," Connor said between chuckles.

Gavin stared wide-eyed, first at the pair laughing their asses off before turning back to the android. At least the android was surprised too, mouth agape and eyes raised and his expression one of absolute horror.

Their gazes met and suddenly Gavin felt uncomfortable. Looking into anyone's eyes while 'Careless Whispers' was playing was a recipe for disaster. Gavin turned away, which only made Hank and Connor laugh harder. When he worked up the nerve, Gavin turned on his heel and made his way out of the room.

What was supposed to be his opportunity to humiliate Hank ended up with his own humiliation. At the very least they were now under his command. He might not be lieutenant but Fowler allowed him the opportunity to act like one and already his mind was buzzing, imagining all the different, degrading tasks he could make his unwitting victims do. There were a few tasks he thought up for Hank, and a few for Connor, but the majority of tasks on his mind were for the RK900, his new android 'partner'. Make the android go on coffee runs and keep making him go back and change it, make the android shapeshift into something horrendously awful. Oooh, maybe Gavin can convince the android certain extreme behaviours were normal. Oh yes, that was a good one.

As Gavin took a few deep breaths outside, he let all the embarrassment and anger wash away until he was left with a strange giddiness. There was no need for petty revenge, he decided. He was better than that. He won't sink to their level, he'll show them, he'll show them all that he could be the lieutenant he knew he was.

After all, he became a cop so he could do the job right. He wasn't a cop because he wanted to make friends. Especially not android pieces of shits that could shapeshift into porno stars.