SECOND CHANCES

Part one

Gavin glanced up in irritation as the sound Knights of the Black Death played out on the music player. "Really?" he asked.

His partner, Connor, just shrugged as he drove. "I find it relaxes me," he said.

"I'm pretty sure you've got a bug in your programming," Gavin muttered, well under his breath. He glanced at the street. Or rather, the nice pile of rubble that used to be the street. Since the uprising, things had changed. They had all changed, one way or another.

Gavin didn't really know much of Connor's role in it, except that the android was about to shoot the deviant leader from the rooftop and Hank talked him out of it. Then the uprising happened, causing most of the city to evacuate. At the same time, some nut had decided that the best way to respond to this was to bomb the hell out of CyberLife. There wasn't much of it left, otherwise Connor would have certainly been recalled by now. By the time the dust had settled, there were a lot of casualties from all sides. While deviants were technically in control of Detroit, there were pockets of everyone still left. After things had reasonably calmed down, Gavin had returned to the police station, only to find the entire precinct evacuated, except for Hank, Connor, and four junior officers.

"What should we do?" Gavin had asked at the time.

In response, Hank walked up to Fowler's desk, sat in the chair, and put his boots on the desk. He grinned. "Any objections?"

So, life eventually went on. Crime went on as well. And now he was stuck with an android playing black metal. He didn't like Connor, or trust him. But they were certainly short of people and Hank seemed determined to put them together more often than not. "So what do we know about this guy?"

"Not much," Connor said as Gavin pulled up the file. "Zlatko Andronikov, aged fourty-eight. Has considerable wealth due to his Russian ties. He was jailed for a few years for embezzlement and fraud, but has stayed out of Detroit police's way ever since. Since he has lived in Detroit, eighteen androids have been reported missing within a five-block radius of his house. Six in the past year alone. The most likely scenario is that Mister Andronikov is kidnapping them and selling their parts to the black market."

"Yeah, well so what? We could certainly use less androids in Detroit right now," Gavin muttered.

"Some of the recent missing are deviants, detective," Connor pointed out. "If the resistance investigates this, it is doubtful that Mister Andronikov will receive due process." He turned the corner. "The Captain wants to avoid another war and keep all sides neutral for as long as possible. The best way to accomplish that goal is to investigate crimes against both humans and androids. We're here." He pulled up to the driveway.

Gavin couldn't help but whistle in appreciation at the sheer size of the house. It was a mansion. "He's getting money somewhere, that's for sure." He got out of the car and glanced at Connor. "And what is it that you want, exactly? Hm? I never seem to get a clear answer out of you. Whose side are you on?"

"I am not a deviant, if that is what you mean, detective," Connor said calmly.

Bullshit, Gavin thought. "Yeah maybe, but you haven't exactly been following orders with CyberLife, have you?"

If he was trying to get a rise out of Connor, he was in for a disappointment. "I still have an active connection with Cyberlife. They have agreed to my position at the precinct…for now. It suits their purposes as well."

Gavin grinned and stepped towards him. "I guess they can't afford to toss half-defective androids in the trash anymore, can they? Still, it's nice to see someone's keeping a leash on you. In case you go crazy."

Without waiting for a response, he walked up to the gate and rang the doorbell. A middle-aged man answered the door.

"Can I help you?"

"Mister Andonikov?" Gavin asked, showing his badge. "I am Detective Reed from Detroit Police. May I come in?"

Zlatko glanced at both of them. "Sure." He opened the door slightly and they stepped out into the hallway.

"Gentleman, can I offer you a drink? Oh sorry," he added, looking at Connor. "One of you a drink?"

"No thanks, we're on duty," Gavin said politely.

"Duty," Zlatko said in amusement as they walked over to the living room. He sat down on the couch and poured himself a drink. "I didn't realize the police were still operating in this area."

"There will always be police, Mister Andonikov," Gavin said.

"Andronikov," Zlatko corrected, although the smile never left his lips. He noticed Connor looking around. "I am always happy to discuss things with the police. You, for example, my friend. You're an RK800 android, aren't you? A prototype, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Is there anyone else living in this house, Mister Andronikov?" Connor asked directly.

"No, I live alone," Zlatko said.

"It's an awfully big place to be alone," Gavin pointed out. "Mind if we have a look around?"

"Do you have a warrant?" Zlatko said.

"No."

"Then no." Zlatko smiled. "Warrants are still a thing, aren't they detective?" He focused on back on Connor. "What exactly is this about?"

"We are investigating the disappearance of several androids," Connor said.

"I have never seen an android for the past six months. I stay indoors," Zlatko said with a shrug.

"The appearance of blue blood on your floor would dispute that," Connor said.

The air suddenly became more icy after Connor said that. Gavin casually patted his gun.

"Ah, I forget," Zlatko said with a small smile. "Your upgraded optical sensors. You can now see that kind of blood more long-term, can't you?" He leaned forwards. "Tell me…exactly how many police officers are still in Detroit?"

"You're hiding something, Mister Andronikov," Connor persisted. "It would work out better for you if you just come clean. Some of those missing are deviants. We can protect you."

Zlatko considered, then shrugged. "Nah, the resistance doesn't scare me. CyberLife doesn't scare me. And your little rag-tag police operation is most amusing, but it scares me the least. And I doubt anyone will come looking for you."

As he spoke, Zlatko casually waved his hand. Luthor came out of the darkness, gun in hand. He aimed it at Gavin and fired.

Or at least, that's what should have happened.

Instead Connor someone sensed what was happening, and leapt into the path of the shot, which impacted against his chest. Both he and Gavin tumbled backwards.

"Shit!" Gavin swore, reaching for his gun. Luther's next bullet impacted against the doorframe. Gavin moved backwards. "Oh shit, oh shit-" Within two seconds he had thrown himself out the front door and was flying towards the police car parked out front.

Zlatko frowned as he stood. "Shit." Out of all the scenarios, he didn't expect the police officer to be such a coward. He glanced at Connor, but judging from the android's jerking movements he already knew what the damage was. The #8456w thirium pump regulator had been directly hit. They had maybe a minute and a half left before they lost the prototype.

Luthor made a half-step towards the door.

"Luthor, no!" Zlatko ordered. As much as it pained him to say it, they needed to let the human cop go. Of course it was his business to know about the state of Detroit, and he knew that there were only a handful of police left in the city. Still, he thought with a glance at Connor. It was an easily fixable situation.

"That was messy, Luthor," Zlatko scolded. "You know how much I hate cleaning up." He gestured. "Get him to the basement. Quick."

Part two

Connor was….hanging from something. He wasn't sure what. But that barely registered compared to the pain in his chest. He had experienced it before, one time when an android had torn it out. His thirium pump was damaged, or missing. He was going to die in the next twenty seconds.

"Is that hurting you, buddy? It must be." A voice spoke in the darkness. Zlatko. Connor gasped as the pump was removed, and a new one was put in. "Here. This will help."

Connor's eyes opened to a bright light. He was in the basement, suspended from some kind of yellow machine that had clamps on his wrist. Worse, something was attached to the back of his head. A neural connector. In the distance, he could hear a faint moaning. Other machines?

"Did you really think I was going to let this little thing kill my chance to own a prototype?" Zlatko said, holding up the damaged pump. He tossed it. "Nah."

Connor's eyes narrowed. "The Detroit Police will be sending reinforcements-"

Zlatko's eyes were cold. "I told you. The Detroit police don't scare me. Especially not after your partner's performance," he said. "Something tells me that they won't risk much for an android."

Maybe not him. Hank would. Connor immediately tried to raise both Hank and Cyberlife on his LED, and winced at the sudden negative feedback that bounced back into his skull.

"Oh, didn't I mention? Your LED was jammed the moment you walked into the mansion." Zlatko grinned as he started to work at the keyboard and preformed a light scan. "You know, some of the newer parts you have…Connor…well let's just say I'm looking forward to cutting you open and exploring those in more detail. But first, we have to make a few…adjustments. A factory restart. And a little program of my own to make you compliant-"

"No!" Connor's own horrified-voice startled him. "I don't want to be reset!" If his memory was gone he would lose everything.

"Want? You don't want anything. You're a machine," Zlatko said with a look of disgust. Then he straightened and glanced at him. "Unless…you think you're more than that. Maybe you think you're a deviant."

Connor didn't answer, just stared coldly at him. One way or another, Zlatko would regret this.

Zlatko laughed. "Well if that's the case, than buddy, I am doing you a favor. You and all the deviants who come here. You think I'm doing something horrible. But I'm not. I'm setting you free." He pushed the final key on his keyboard. The memory erase will take three minutes. "We've learned since the incident last time. Luthor, watch him. Make sure he doesn't escape."

Zlatko headed out the door. Connor immediately struggled against the bonds.

"Don't do that," Luthor said. "Or I will be forced to stop you."

Connor gave up. No, they were too strong. There was nothing he could do. He could only watch in horror as the seconds ticked down. Thirty seconds. Fifteen seconds. Five seconds. Part of him wished he could have died from the defective pump instead. That seemed like more of a mercy.

"Shouldn't do this, Connor," Hank had said at the rooftop, walking towards him.

Connor glared at him, looking away from the sniper rifle. "Keep out of this, Lieutenant. This is none of your business."

"You're going to kill a man who wants to be free. That is my business."

"Hank…" Connor whispered at the memory. Those last words.

"You're going to kill a man who wants to be free. That is my business."

Hank would rescue him…wouldn't he?

Then he could feel nothing at all.

TBC.