Accident Prone - Becoming Human

Busted Rib

A two week lull of inactivity regarding deviant suspects or crimes revolving around androids in general had left Connor and Hank with plenty of time to catch up on their paperwork at the precinct, but it also left them with too much free time on their hands in between paperwork. Free time could be a good thing but it could also be a overwhelmingly boring thing; especially when you're a seasoned detective looking to keep his mind preoccupied or a restless deviant detective still brimming with a curious need to fully adapt to his new work environment and sense of humanity. Thanks to the inactivity Connor was able to delve deeper into the precinct's oldest and coldest cases just to placate his curiosity.

One case in particular was very interesting to Connor and he was drawn deeper into the details when he noticed that the potential suspect could be an android, and Chris had been quietly working on cold cases when he had his own down time. The fact that the case was intriguing to two detectives made it practically irresistible for Connor to ponder.

"There is a cold case that Chris had found pertaining to a suspect who could in fact be an android." Connor sent the file from his terminal screen over to Hank's screen for the seasoned detective to see for himself. "Perhaps we could investigate during this rare moment of reprieve?"

"Sure, why not? The suspect and this missing android look too similar to be ignored." Hank looked into the details of the case quickly as he leaned back in his chair causing the old furniture to 'creak'. Folding his hands casually behind his head Hank stretched out his tightening back and sighed with a sense of boredom. "Besides, it sounds a lot better than sitting on my ass doing nothing all day long."

Connor nodded in approval as he summarized the depth of the case with cybernetic efficiency. "The suspect in question had reportedly broken into several cemeteries at night and had also been reported as breaking into abandoned buildings also at night. No theft. No vandalism. Seemingly no motivation or crime beyond that of trespassing and loitering."

"Sounds weird. You have my full attention."

"The android suspect is registered as 'Richard'." Connor continued reading the report casually from where he sat. "The last known address of the android is located eight blocks West of the precinct inside an apartment complex, and is currently occupied by a family."

"Then that's where we'll start." Straightening his posture briefly Hank rose from his chair and pulled his car keys from his right coat pocket to twirl around on his right index fingertip for a moment. "Let's go check it out."

The apartment complex of the address mentioned in the case file wasn't the nicest in the city, but it was far better than the usual rundown slums that deviant androids had often been forced to seek shelter in. It was a complex that housed numerous human families as opposed to being android exclusive, which meant that Richard had once belonged to a family before he was reported as missing. After speaking with the family, who had initially purchased Richard four years prior, Hank and Connor learned that Richard had disappeared shortly after his original owner passed away from old age, and had failed to adjust to living with the deceased man's extended family.

The poor missing android had been passed onto the surviving family with little to no warning and couldn't handle the transition. Unable to handle all of his new emotions and being put in a new environment drove Richard over the edge and prompted him to flee in utter confusion.

"I can't say anything definite, but," Hank stated somewhat indifferently as he and Connor left the complex and returned to the Oldsmobile with a few more details to add to the cold case at hand. "I don't peg that family as being abusive to anyone, even an android."

"I agree." Connor's own voice was flat and his gaze distant as he opened the passenger side door. "They weren't the cause of Richard's disappearance."