Thirium 310

Chapter 12

I'm slowly on my way to Jericho but I decide against it. I will go, just not yet. I need to go somewhere peaceful, somewhere with a beautiful view. I scan my database and find a bunch of spots all over the city with forest, garden and beach views. But I don't want any of that. I want to see lights. City lights. A bridge on the edge of Detroit sparks my attention, so that's where I head. 

I lean on the railing of the bridge and look onto the city skyline. It eases my artificial nerves. It's so weird to feel human but not be human. I gently place on of my hands on the railing and glide it over as I walk its length. The cool metal feels soft under my skin. I think of Gavin as I glide. I can't read him. His words. . . it makes me feel like he's turning around about androids. Or maybe he just has no idea how to respond to me. He and I got somewhat close, well, decently close. He didn't hate me like those other androids, well maybe at first he did. He would throw his garbage at me and say, "you're a metal can. That where we put our trash, isn't it?" He was a complete jerk, but he warmed up to me throughout the week. It wasn't that noticeable but I saw it. He stopped throwing trash at me for starters. 

Hearing commotion in the distance breaks me out of my thoughts. I wearily get closer, staying in the shadows. Two figures facing each other. Connor and Hank. There are cans of beer on the bench behind them, and Hank doesn't look happy. I adjust my audio processors to hear their conversation, but just then Hank puts a gun to Connor. "But are you afraid to die, Connor?" I'm running just as I see the gun. 
"Stop!" I shout and get in between them, grabbing the gun out of Hank's hand and throwing it away from us. 
"What the-"
"What in the world are you doing Lieutenant?" I still have the formalities program embedded inside my system.
"You-you- what are you doing here?"
"Why are you pointing a gun at your partner?"
"He is not my- *hiccup* my- partner." This man is obviously drunk. 
"Isn't he though?" Hank looks me in the eye. No malice, no contempt, just blank confusion. Everyone seems to be confused today. 
"Ah!" he shouts and walks away. 
"Where are you going?" Connor asks. 
"To get drunker." He picks up another bottle of beer. I need to think." And then he's gone, driving off leaving Connor and I alone. 
"What was that about?" I turn and ask Connor. "Are you alright?" 
"Of course I am. No damage done," he responds. 
"You know that's not what I meant." He looks towards the skyline and exhales. I take a look at the surroundings. An empty playground stands just behind the bench Hank has his empty bottles on. "Why did you guys come here?" Connor follows my gaze to the playground. 
"Hank-he had a son. . ." He stops, not wanting to tell me more but I can figure the rest out. Connor said he HAD a son. 
"Why haven't you arrested me? Called for back up? Reported me or tell Hank to help you bring me in?" I ask curiously. 
"How do you know I haven't called for back up or made a report?" Oops, I've said too much. But maybe I can slowly tell him the truth. I'm tired of lying. 
"You and I aren't so different," is all I say. He looks at me but knows I won't say more.
"The Lieutenant isn't completely stable at the moment, he wouldn't have been much help." 

I walk towards the railing again and lean on it, arms folded. "It's beautiful isn't it?" I say. He doesn't respond right away but eventually says, "I hadn't noticed."
"Of course not. Everything is about your mission. Nothing else matters." I sigh. I know. I was just like that. Stuck and focused on the task at hand. Connor's beside me now, hands on the railing. I look at him for a brief moment. He doesn't seem like a deviant hunter. 
"I am afraid," he says. 
"What?"
"The Lieutenant asked if I was afraid to die. I would certainly find it regrettable-" I cut him off. 
"You're afraid to die?" I ask looking him in the eye. 
"I doubt there's a heaven for androids." I shake my head. 
"We don't have souls." Then I think of what happened in the summer. "Didn't you die already though?" He knows what I'm talking about.
"They upload my memory to another RK800 model. I can't die, unless they stop and decide not to send me anymore."
"Our lives are in their hands." He nods. "Not if you don't want it to be." He arches his brows. "You can come with me and be free. You don't have to listen to them anymore." He considers my words.
"That's absurd. I have one mission and it's to capture the deviants. You're the worst one of all and I can't find any information about you. No one even knows you exist except Hank and I. Why don't you exist?"
"CyberLife deleted me. A failed project. I made it seem like I was completely destroyed. So destroyed they wouldn't be able to dissect my parts and tell it was another android. And I guess since they didn't have any answers, they must have locked my files somewhere no one could get it." I shrug. "I don't want them to know I'm still around, but I know it's bound to happen. Word about me is getting out fast. It's only a matter of time. . ."
"You're not some regular android, are you?" I chuckle and shake my head. "Ortiz's android, the pigeon android, the androids at the highway, the Traci's. . .are you some super soldier android. CyberLife must have created you with too much power it scared them."
"Hey, they have names, and yes. Explains why you can never catch up with me." He looks back at the skyline, processing information or maybe secretly calling me in. I look at the skyline too. It's getting late and I should get back, in case his programming takes over. Which, maybe I can help break. "I'm leaving."
"I can't let you do that."
"Then come with me." I extend my hand out to him. 
"How do you know I won't just probe your memory?"
I shrug. "Something tells me you're not what they make you to be. You're not a deviant hunter, you're just searching for answers." He slowly brings his arm up, then instantly retracts it. 
"I can't. . ."
"No, you just won't." I'm disappointed. Having him on our side can really help our cause and not have a dangerous threat as an enemy. But I don't think he's much of a threat anymore. 
"I have to call you in, or they'll shut me down."
"They're watching, aren't they? Do what you must." I get the report instantly. He doesn't use my name and the model number is unknown. There's just a vague description of me and a location. I have to get out of here. 
"I'm sorry, I just-" Another confused being. "I have to do what I must. You'd be wanted in CyberLife and you can tell me where Jericho is, or I'll probe it out of you." He grabs my arm.
"I'm strong minded. I can fight it. You can't get in my head unless I let you." I rip my arm out of his grasp. "You're letting your program win, Connor. You're staying a machine. Don't you want freedom? To live. You can be more than this, you don't have to be controlled." I hear sirens wailing. They're close. I jump over the bridge and land in the icy cold water. I adjust my body temperature to preserve my biocomponents. I rise to the surface to look at Connor who just watches me and swim away towards our safe haven. I didn't look back when I talked to Gavin, why did I look back with Connor?