Time Heals

Out Of Time

At some point, amidst all the hugs and tears Hank's and Cole's phones go off from an automatic message alerting all citizens that the city had gone into lockdown.  This meant a strictly enforced curfew and shutdown of all public transportation, making their hopes of escaping to Canada now near impossible.  No matter how many preconstructions Connor ran, he couldn't find any way to the border that didn't put all of them into immediate danger.  However, staying presented its own problems.  If Connor were discovered in Hank's home, Hank would very likely go to jail. Well, that was if Hank didn't attempt to fight off the soldiers, in which he would most certainly go to jail, or worse.

His mind palace loaded a memory from his banks even though he had not requested it.

Memory playback; subheading Family Dinner.

"Connor, that was very dangerous."  He remembered the subdued disappointment in Hank's voice.  "You not only put yourself at risk but Cole and me too, I want you to think things through next time."  It was clear that leaving them was Connor's best choice of ensuring the safety of his family, but the mere thought made every inch of his body clench up in anger.  It wasn't fair, after all this time of being alone he had finally found his home, and now he would have to leave it all just because some humans with guns decided they weren't human enough.

Hank picked up the remote from the end table and turned on the TV.  "We're reporting live from downtown Detroit where hundreds of androids have gathered outside the containment camps in what appears to be a peaceful protest," the newscaster says in a neutral tone as his helicopter hovers safely above the carnage.  The man's words went in one audio processor and right out the other as Connor watched his people prepare to stand for their rights.  AP-700s, AX-400s, he even spots an ACRG-7000 somewhere in the crowd, all following their leader, an RK-200 prototype named Markus standing stoically in front of the group.  His mismatched eyes stared intently at the human soldiers strategically waiting for the right time to act.

"Well, nothing we can do now but wait and see what happens," Hank said as he sat himself down on one end of the couch.  Cole took his seat on the other side, tucking his legs under himself.

Connor wanted nothing more than to sit on that couch and watch another movie with them.  Just one last pleasant memory before it all goes dark, but he didn't want to put them in any further danger.

"I should go," he managed to choke out.  "Thank you for everything I—"

"Connor," Hank cut him off and patted the middle cushion.  He doesn't say anything beyond that; he merely continued to stare at the TV as it cut back to a statement Warren had given earlier.

"Yeah.  Come on.  You're not gonna wanna miss this," Cole said in an oddly cheerful tone.  Connor cocked his head at the boy's words.  "The ultimate battle," Cole proclaimed in a slow, deep voice imitating an announcer or narrator.  "Man vs. machine. Nature vs. technology." he jumped up on the couch and began dramatically flexing.  "In a showdown for the ages!" Connor timidly smiled at Cole's attempt of adding levity to their situation.  Connor took his place between his father and his brother.  Cole bounced back down onto his seat.  "You guys are totally gonna kick their ass," Cole said, elbowing him in the ribs.  Connor ignored the long list of reasons the deviants are at a substantial disadvantage his mind generated and just quietly agreed with his brother.

There is nearly a minute of tense stillness as the androids prepare.  Even though nothing is happening, Connor found himself holding on to both Hank and Cole's hands.  Hank gripped him back a little tighter than Cole did.  When the march down Hart Plaza toward the camp began, Connor tries to steady his breathing to fight back the panic attack he can feel beginning to claw at his chest.