United Hearts

Chapter 8

Hank was walking through the halls of the CyberLife tower. He had found a map on a wall before. He wanted to help Connor. And to do that, he had to find the android he seemed so attached to, for some reason. Suddenly, he heard screaming.

"Let go of me!!", Y/N yelled in anger. A guard escorted Kamski out of the room, and the two workers were now approaching the android on the table. "Finally, we can make you shut up. You're so annoying,", one of them said harshly as the other walked towards a computer. They connected them through a cable with it, and he was searching for something. "Good night~", the worker said, and it was the last thing Y/N saw before it all went black. They fell flat. No sound, no movement. Dark eyes. All life was sucked out of them with the click of a button.

Connor converted the androids, moving them all to the exit, when suddenly he felt his heart stop. It didn't beat anymore. He fell to his knees, one hand on his chest and the other on the floor. One of the androids kneeled down next to him, trying to hold him. "Are you okay..??", they asked with concern, but it was too late. Connor shook his head before he fell to the ground.

Hank hid behind a pillar as Kamski and a guard walked away from the room. They were in there, Hank knew. When Kamski and the guard disappeare into the elevator, Hank walked close to the door, listening in. "I enjoy the silence right after," one of the workers said as they removed the android's clothing. The other laughed, stepping away from the computer. "You're such a sadist.". Hank was thinking of what to do. He had to get them out of the room, somehow. So he thought of a plan.

Hank knocked on the door. One of the workers turned around, confused. "Yeah?", he called out, his hands still working on opening Y/N's chest plate. Hank tried to change his voice before he realized that they didn't know him anyway. "All of you have orders to evacuate the room immediately.". He was hoping that was going to get them out. "What?? But we just sta-", "Now.", Hank disrupted his sentence and ran behind the pillar to hide as he heard two sets of steps approaching the door. It opened, and both workers stood outside, looking around in utter confusion. "What in the world..". But before they could enter, Hank took out his gun, shooting at them. They fell to the floor, almost soundlessly. Hank didn't know if anyone else heard the gunshots. But someone probably did. There was a guard around here somewhere, so he had to act quick.

He ran into the room, avoiding stepping into the puddle of blood. He ran towards Y/N, who was laying silently on the table, chest plate opened. So were their eyes. Their empty eyes. Hank didn't know much about androids. He never cared to find out, after all. So he tried his luck by just pushing the plates together. And after everything that happened today, Hank finally received some luck. It closed without a problem. He sighed in relief and ran towards the computer. When he passed the door, he took the opportunity to lock it from the inside. The computer was still on, but he didn't know what to press. There were so many files displayed, and so many commands to press. Where should he even start? And what if he accidentally pressed the wrong thing, permanently deleting Y/Ns memories or worse? But the lieutenant knew there was no time to think. He had to act, so he did. Pressing buttons, opening files—he tried everything. Sometimes the computer would make noises, and other times he swore he saw the android's body twitching for just a second. But they didn't wake up yet. Not until the very moment Hank finally pushed the right button. Y/N jumped into a seating position, the cable from their neck disconnecting. They gasped for air, like they were a human who was just underwater for too long of a time. Hank rushed to them, looking for any signs of major injuries or anything else. But other than the open chest plate from before and the lack of clothes, they haven't been touched.

"Here, take this..", Hank said, throwing his jacket around their shoulders as the android looked at them with wide eyes. "You saved me..", they said. "You're Connor's partner, aren't you? Hank..?". He looked at them, nodding quickly. Y/N looked at their hands, their synthetic skin finally turning back on, bringing color to their otherwise white body. Everything that made them themselves returned. Hair, eye color, skin color—everything. And it never made them happier. They put on the jacket and stood up. On the ground, they found their shorts and quickly put them on. Their top had been carelessly discarded somewhere, and before they could find it, Hank grabbed their arm. "Look, we need to go. Now. Someone surely realized that someone who isn't supposed to be in here, is. Now hurry.". Y/N nodded, dropping the hunt for their top. Instead, they closed the jacket and ran to the door with Hank.

Some androids surrounded Connor's body. "We cannot do anything anymore. He woke us up to help. We are free because of him. We have to go help Markus!", One of them said. "But we can't just let him lie there..! You said it yourself; he saved us! So now we're just going to leave him behind?". The arguing went back and forth for a while, when suddenly Connor gasped. The androids looked at him as he coughed, slowly getting up to his knees, two of the others helping him. "What happened..", he asked, confused. "You suddenly passed out. You were off! Dead even-", "Shut it!," another android stopped him. Connor slowly stood up, still with some help. He remembered how his heart stopped all of a sudden. And now it was working again? But the androids hadn't done anything.. He shook his head, trying to get his mind back to the plan. "It's okay.. let's go. We have to meet Markus; we have to help them". Everyone around him nodded in agreement, and they walked through the exit, joining the others who were waiting outside.

"Connor!". The android stopped dead in his tracks. He recognized the voice. He turned around to see Hank and Y/N standing a few feet away. "We have to get away from here, now," Hank said, putting a hand on Y/N's back to guide her towards his car. "You go finish the job, Connor!", he called out. But Connor couldn't watch Y/N be dragged away in front of his eyes again. Even if he knew they were safe with Hank, he had to say something. He ran towards both of them and grabbed their hands: "Y/N..". The android turned around, holding his hands in theirs. "Connor..", they said, looking at him with a small smile on their face. "You have to go. Hank filled me in on everything..". Connor looked at Hank, then back to Y/N as they continued: "You and Markus have to go safe us. They promised us ra9 would save us, but.. I don't believe in them anymore.. but I believe in the two of you and the others.. you can save us.. I know you will..". Their words sat deep inside of him. "Let's meet up afterward.", "What?". "After the march.. after we save everyone, let's meet. This is my chance to get to know you better, and I will not lose it.. not after everything that happened. Not again.". Connor squeezed their hands in his own before slowly letting them go. "When it's over.. meet me at the Detroit harbor", he said, taking a step back. Y/N looked at him for a moment before nodding. "I will.. right after we win.. I'll go meet you there..". Connor smiled a little, and Y/N did too. At this moment, they felt connected and understood. And a new glimmer of hope was right between them.