Accident Prone - Becoming Human

Unexpected

A strange request was brought before Hank and Connor shortly after the duo clocked-in for their shifts for the day and immediately held their attention. Roman 'Rampage' Coleman, the former leader of the anti-android gang that originated in Detroit, had asked to speak with Connor in person before his trial. Intrigued by the request and never afraid to engage in what would otherwise be seen as a dangerous situation, Connor agreed to the meeting. Protectively Hank insisted on going with him to ensure that nothing unusual was going to happen to the fearless deviant as he dared to face the man that had nearly beat him to death well over two months ago.

The holding cells downtown were secured with guards, drones and cameras to ensure that the defendants set to stand trial couldn't escape before court was put into session. As a result the building felt crushingly oppressive and eerie to set foot inside of.

"Do you know why he wants to see you, Connor?" Hank was as curious about the meeting as Connor had been. Entering the holding cells where the convicted were awaiting their upcoming trials, the duo were given clearance and shown through the building. "It's not like you two were friends or anything special."

"I'm unsure as to why he wishes to speak with me." The deviant admitted as he held his head up high. "There has been no prior interest or attempt at communication with me since the night of his arrest."

"Whatever he wants better be important." Showing his badge to the prison security guard posted outside the door to the cells, Connor doing the same shortly after, Hank led the way inside the quiet area of the prison designated for isolation while prisoners awaited sentencing or trial. "We got more important shit to do than this."

The electronic door was unlocked by the posted guard on duty and slid open with a quiet hiss to give the two visiting detective passage into the holding cells.

Rampage himself was leaning his forehead against the cold bars of the old cell, his attire was an orange prison jumpsuit and his demeanor one full of regret. As Connor stood before him on the other side of the bars Hank stepped back with his arms crossed and a few paces away next to the neighboring cell.

"Hello." With his L.E.D. cycling in blue Connor greeted with a blank voice as he stood before Rampage. "Why did you wish to see me?"

Rampage looked at Connor and laughed a little with a genuine smile on his face. "Still standing, huh? Not at all surprised."

"Please, why did you summon me?" Without taking the time for small talk Connor pressed for answers. "It must be important."

"Look man, I... I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" Connor's blue L.E.D. flickered to yellow briefly with surprise. "...For your past behavior?"

"Yeah. I, uh, I didn't see how much you guys, you androids, are really... You ARE alive. And it wasn't until I met you that I realized it. So many people and so many androids were fucked up because I didn't understand what was going on. I was hurting my own kind, humans, to let them in my gang just to kill androids. You and the other androids aren't the problem with this city, me and the other people used to think like me are the problem. There's nothing I can say or do to atone for my past crimes, but I can at least say I'm sorry to you, to your face, and mean it." Humble with his every word Rampage looked the deviant detective right in the eyes. "Connor... I'm sorry."

"...I accept your apology." Connor replied sincerely as he nodded at Rampage with respect and a faint grin appeared. "I hope you'll find a sense of peace."

"Thanks, man. If I can just show my boy that he doesn't have to live his life the way I did, full or rage and using fear to get ahead, then I'll be able to sleep soundly. My son becoming a better man than I could ever be will be all I need to survive in prison."