SHORT CIRCUIT, connor dbh (discontinued)

; 11

It had been almost two weeks since they had investigated at the Eden Club. Connor had remembered Amanda's warning to distance himself from Liv, which he had done. He didn't like doing that to her though. After the Eden Club, she hadn't even asked where he was going like she usually did, she just started going to her apartment by herself. Connor didn't know how to explain it, but it almost hurt to ignore her.

Liv didn't think much of it at first, but the following days at work were a struggle. She never really admitted it, but she had grown a liking to him, even confiding her secrets in him. Most days, she was convinced he couldn't be an andriod. Somedays it felt as if the entire thing were an act. However now, he wouldn't talk to her. Liv feared she drove him away after telling him about her family. The andriod was cold to her now, completely emotionless; and she had convinced herself that she drove him away, just like she did with everyone.

I thought he was different.

Liv \/ \/ \/
       Distant

As a result, Connor had spent much more time with Hank, even though it often annoyed the lieutenant. Connor gradually grew more accustomed to not being around her, and Liv stopped caring. She moved on, somewhat. Trying to move on was a better description.

On a particularly cold, early December night, Connor and Hank had driven to an old park with a spectacular view of the bridge to Canada. Liv was on a date, the first one she had been on in awhile, at a nice restaurant nearby. He seemed nice, but that was it. Overall, Liv thought he had a really bland personality and was quite uninteresting.

Connor stood by Hank, who was sitting on a bench, drinking. Snowflakes fell on to them as they gazed at the view.

"Nice view, huh? I used to come here a lot... before," Hank said.

"Before what?"

"Before," he sighed and took another drink, "Before nothing."

"May I ask a personal question, Lieutenant?"

"Do all andriods ask so many personal questions, or is it just you?" Hank said, turning towards the andriod. He had been asked a lifetime's worth of personal questions within the past days.

"When I was at your house, I saw a picture of a young child. He was your son, correct?" Connor questioned.

"Yeah, his name was Cole." Hank looked down, taking another swig of his drink.

"We're not making any progress in this investigation. These deviants, they have nothing in common. The only thing that links them is rA9, but I have no idea what it means. It's like some sort of myth that they've made up," Connor said, confused.

"Andriods believing in God, what's this world coming to," Hank shook his head.

"You seem preoccupied, Lieutenant," Connor said, crossing his arms.

"Those girls, back at the Eden Club, they just wanted to be together. They really seemed... in love."

"They didn't want anything, they're just deviants."

"What about you, Connor? You look human, sound human, but what are you really?"

"I'm whatever you want me to be. Your partner, a buddy to drink with, or just a machine designed to accomplish a task."

"You could've shot those two girls, but you didn't. Why didn't you shoot? Some scruples enter your program?" Hank pushed Connor by his shoulder.

"No, I just decided not to shoot. They're useless to CyberLife if they're shutdown." Connor explained. Hank drew his pistol.