Deviant Heart

Chapter 6: The Runaway

November 6th, 2038 3:02 pm

Hank parked his car across the street from a food stand called "Chicken Feed." He and Clara got out of the car and headed to the stand, almost getting hit by a car. "Whoa! Hey! Hey! Hey!" Hank shouted. Connor watched from the passenger seat of the car.

Connor had one objective: reconcile with Lieutenant Anderson. He got out of the car and walked towards his companions. Clara was conversing with the man behind the counter while Hank was talking to a young man who approached them. By the time Connor approached the two, the younger man was gone and the man behind the counter was turned away. Clara stood on Hank's left side, her hands clasped behind her back as she rocked back and forth on her heels, quietly humming to herself. Connor positioned himself on Hank's right side, looking at his face.

Hank squirmed under Connor's gaze. "What is your problem? Don't you ever do as you're told?" The android doesn't say anything. "Look, you don't have to follow me around like a poodle!" Hank shook his head and gave Clara a look, who raised an eyebrow and shrugged, continuing her humming.

Connor glanced down, a bit dejected. He decided to apologize for his behavior. "I'm sorry for my behavior back at the police station. I didn't mean to be unpleasant."

"Oh, wow..." Hank muttered. "You've even got a brown-nosing apology program!" He smirked, pleased that Connor apologized. "Guys at CyberLife thought of everything, huh?"

Clara smirked beside him.

The man behind the counter turned, setting down two boxed hamburgers and two soft drinks. Connor scanned the items. He saw that the burgers were full of carbohydrates and the soft drinks full of sugar. He also scanned the man behind the counter. His name was Gary Kayes, born on December third, 1988. He was the owner of the "Chicken Feed." He also had a criminal record of resisting arrest and breach of hygiene regulations.

"Here you go!" Gary said.

"Ah!" Hank grabbed a burger and a drink, Clara doing the same.

"Thanks, Gary. I'm starving..." Hank thanked the man.

Clara smiled. "Thanks!" Gary nodded at the two.

"Don't leave that thing here!" Gary gestured to Connor as the two walked towards one of the standing tables.

"Huh, not a chance! Follows us everywhere..." Hank called back.

Connor followed Hank to where Clara had claimed a spot, and the two humans started to eat their meal. Their android companion leaned against the table and decided to talk to the two about their cholesterol.

"Your meals contain 1.4 times the recommended daily intake of calories and twice the cholesterol level. You two shouldn't eat that," he advised.

Hank gestured his hand towards Clara, who shrugged and chuckled. "Everybody's gotta die of something," Hank replied. The two lift up their hamburgers in a 'cheers' fashion and each take a large bite.

He then decided to talk about what seemed to be a habit for the duo. "Do you eat here often?"

Hank nodded as he chewed. "Most days. Gary makes the best burger in Detroit."

Clara took a sip of her drink. "I only come here when I'm with Hank, but I do agree with him. Best burger I've ever had." She took a bite of said burger.

Connor decided to bring up himself. "Is there anything the two of you would like to know about me?"

"Hell no," Hank replied immediately. Then changed his mind and said, "Well, yeah. Um... why did they make you look so goofy and give you that weird voice?"