:::Chapter 1:::

To say Hank was a bit worried was an understatement. Pencil tapping in a sporadic rhythm while his foot aggressively bounced under his desk. He stared dead-eyed at the monitor display, the new evidence for the current attack against androids not fully registering in his mind but making his worry all the more real.

Effing Connor…

Two weeks after the android uprising and not a word from the kid since their meet up at Chicken Feed after everything went down. The last thing Hank had heard from him was that he had some things to figure out with the rest of his people.

He didn't visit. Sumo even seemed to stare at the door more often, waiting for that stupid smirk to appear on the other side of it. He didn't call. Hank was more prone to keep his phone in view where he could see it. He kept waiting for the screen to light up with that familiar string of numbers. And androids were now required to go through the hiring process like everyone else so as to regain their jobs, so Connor had no reason to show up to the precinct. His desk was once again bare and beginning to collect dust.

With the new hate crimes popping up around the city Hank was beginning to suspect that his former partner's silence may not be entirely up to his newly found free will.

Did androids really die though?

Connor had certainly restarted that damaged Traci model for a while. If he was damaged maybe he could be fixed despite Cyberlife currently being under strict investigations.

Hank grumbled a curse under his breath, standing up fast enough to almost knock over his chair. He needed coffee. If he couldn't drink at work and couldn't escape to Chicken Feed, drowning himself in extra strong Mountain Bean Trail coffee was his only chance of survival 'til he got back home.

Just as he was reaching for the steaming black pot of salvation, however…

"ANDERSON! My office!"

Jeffery knew how to make everything worse and at the worst possible moment.

The Lieutenant gave one last longing glace to the small coffee station and turned towards the captain's office with another string of curses. He stomped up to the glass door and into the room.

"What the heck, Jeffery? You couldn't have waited for me to get one cup?"

The big man at the desk turned to pin him with a stare. "I don't need the sass today, Hank," he warned. "You've got a time sensitive case that just came in."

That made the detective cock an eyebrow. "Yeah? And just who am I working with this time? Reed? We both know what happened last time and that he deserved getting his tail handed to him by that AP700."

Fowler's eyes narrowed ever further. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. And as for this case, you'll be solo. And not only that, but you're being sent to New Jericho."

"Another hate crime, but why me, Jeffery? I got other things on my plate!"

"I know for a fact you haven't worked on them, Hank! You sit at your desk brooding as soon as you come in! Now you're going to take this case or I take your badge!"

The captain sighed as his lieutenant leaned onto the seat in front of his desk. "Look. I can't send anyone else. These androids have asked for you to come help solve this problem personally because for whatever reason they trust you. But you have to leave now to meet them. You find that guy Markus and he'll have the information for this. Get going."

"Fine." Hopefully he might see Connor there and that was the only reason he'd go so easily.

***NEW JERICHO***

Hank got out of his car at an old rundown apartment building. The place was seen as too expensive to repair and shut down back in 2030. Now everyone knows it as "New Jericho" and the entire complex was filled with androids trying to make it a home for those with no place to go.

This is where Connor could be, should be. He wasn't one to abandon those in need or in trouble, even back before he was deviant.

"Human! State your business here."

The detective took his eyes from the building and saw a WR400 model staring him down from the entrance. She looked very familiar.

Right. She was on a former case file and was seen on the news with that Markus guy.

"Lieutenant Anderson with DPD. I was told to come assist with a matter here. I'm looking for Markus."

The android's expression turned a little sad. "Ah, yes. Markus is waiting for you inside. I will take you to him."

She disappeared inside and Hank jogged to catch up. Once in he was surprised by how few androids were around on the ground level. A few stand alone pairs seemed to guard some of the doors and the staircase and that was it. Strange.

He spoke up as they entered a back room to a former office area. "If I might ask, Miss uh-"

"North."

"Right. What all is going on out there? Does that have something to do with what's going here?"

North came to a stop in a small sitting room area. The detective could see her LED flash yellow from where he stood.

"Humans have been outside the building recently, yelling at us and throwing objects to try and intimidate us. We have some of our people stationed to keep everyone here safe, so sparse androids on the lower floors in not an uncommon thing here."

"I see."

The free woman gestured to a couch and knocked on the door they didn't go into. "Markus will be out in a moment. It was good to meet the human Connor spoke so highly of."

She left without another word, leaving the man to struggle with the mix of emotions that statement brought.

Connor talked about him. Talked highly about him. So why hadn't he heard or seen that kid for two weeks?

The detective didn't have long to wonder as the door that North knocked on creaked open to reveal the leader of the uprising himself.

Hank stood up and held out a hand. "You're Markus."

The android shook it in a gentle grip. "You must be Lieutenant Anderson. It is good to meet you, but I'm sad it has to be under these circumstances. Please, sit. We don't have much, but can I offer you a drink?"

"I'd say a beer if you had any, but seeing how I'm on the job I'll have to decline," the older man chuckled as he sat back down. He sobered up quickly though when he noticed the sad expression on Markus's face. Just like North. "Uh. Maybe we should get straight to business then. I was informed of the current hate crime and that you would have all the information pertaining to it. How much can you fill me in? And seeing as how this is also considered time sensitive, what is the possibility of Connor assisting me in this? I know you trust me as a human but I could use his help if he's not busy."

The android visibly steadied himself as he sat next to the detective. "As much as I would readily have Connor assist you, I'm afraid that's impossible. The recent act of violence isn't human against android, but android against android."

Hank paled. "What do you mean?"

"Lieutenant, the victim of this crime was Connor."