Detroit: Become Human One-Shots and Short Fics

The Kamski Test (Connor's Inner Thoughts)

Connor examined Kamski from the corner of his eye as his creator exited the pool, the only Chloe outside of the pool quickly helping him into his robe. He then moved towards the chic end table placed between two chairs that overlooked the pool. Behind them the other two Chloe models chattered away. Kamski inhaled and ran his hands over his head to smooth back any stray strands of hair and fixes the tie in his hair before turning around to face Connor and Hank.

"I'm Lieutenant Anderson. This is Connor." Hank says looking over at Connor briefly. Connor looks back at Hank, a sinking feeling in his gut. Something wasn't right here.

"What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" Kamski asks calmly, as if this was a normal everyday occurrence.

"Sir, we're investigating deviants. I know you left CyberLife years ago but, I was hoping you'd be able to tell us something we don't know..." Hank explained, a hopeful twinge in his voice.

"Deviants... Fascinating, aren't they?" Kamski asks but doesn't wait for an answer before speaking again. "Perfect beings with infinite intelligence, and now they have free will..." He glances at Chloe, who stands perfectly still awaiting it's next order. "Machines are so superior to us," Kamski pauses for a second. "confrontation was inevitable..." he glances towards Chloe again, admiring it this time. "Humanity's greatest achievement threatens to be it's downfall. Isn't it ironic?" Kamski looks between Connor and Hank before Connor speaks up.

"We need to understand how androids become deviants. Do you know anything that could help us?" the android asks, hoping to get a small bit of information.

"All ideas are viruses that spread like epidemics... Is the desire to be free a contagious disease?" Kamski then asks looking directly at Connor.

"Listen, I didn't come here to talk philosophy. The machines you created may be planning a revolution. Either you can tell us something that'll be helpful, or we will be on our way." Hank was clearly growing impatient with Kamski's confusing game of word twister.

"What about you, Connor? Whose side are you on?" He asks the android, staring it dead in the eye.

"It's not about me, Mr. Kamski. All I want is to solve this case." Connor responds as his programming would want him to.

"Well, that's what you're programmed to say... but you... what do you really want?" Kamski asked his face only inches from Connor's.

"What I want is not important." Connor said quietly, feeling a bit tense from the shorter male being in his face.

"Chloe?" Kamski calls and the android walks over, it's face blank. "I'm sure you're familiar with the Turing test." He turns Chloe to him. "Mere formality, simple question of algorithms and computing capacity. What interests me is whether machines are capable of empathy. I call it 'the Kamski test', it's very simple, you'll see..." Kamski turns Chloe so she's facing Connor. "Magnificent, isn't it? One of the first intelligent models devolved by CyberLife. Young" he gently grabs the android's chin and makes it look at him before finishing his sentence. "and beautiful forever. A flower that will never wither..." Kamski turns her face back toward Connor before walking closer to him. "...But what is it really? Piece of plastic imitating a human? Or a living being..." He walks towards the end table that sat between two chairs and takes something out of it. "With a soul..." Kamski reveals the gun to Hank and Connor before slowly pushing Chloe to her knees. "It's up to you to answer that fascinating question, Connor." He puts the gun in Connor's hand and aims it at Chloe's head. "Destroy this machine and I'll tell you all I know. Or spare it, if you feel it's alive, but you'll leave here without having learnt anything from me."

"Okay, I think we're done here. Come on, Connor. Let's go. Sorry to get you outta your pool." Hank says trying to walk away but Connor remains frozen so Kamski continues talking.

"What's more important to you, Connor? Your investigation, or the life of this android?" He gestures to Chloe. "Decide who you are. An obedient machine... Or a living being endowed with free will..."

"That's enough! Connor, we're leaving."

"Pull the trigger" Kamski pushes.

"Connor, don't..." Hank tells him, still trying to get the android to leave.

"and I'll tell you what you wanna know."

Connor's thought process is all over the place. He can't stop staring into the girl's eyes. He imagines what it would be like to be in her place. It scares him. He wouldn't want to die. If he pulled the trigger she would die. But for what? A bit of information Connor could always find on his own. He can't do it. He can't. No matter how important that information may be, Connor can't pull the trigger. He can't just end a life like that. Connor intakes a shakey breath and moves to give the gun back to Kamski.

"Fascinating..." Kamski breathes as he takes the gun from Connor. "CyberLife's last chance to save humanity... is itself a deviant..."

"I'm... I'm not a deviant..." Connor tries but his voice cracks and breaks on him, betraying his true feelings.

He can't be a deviant. He just can't. But he couldn't shoot that girl either. He's not a deviant. But he's not an android either. What is he then?

"You preferred to spare a machine rather than accomplish your mission." Kamski words break Connor from his thoughts as he helps Chloe up. "You saw a living being in this android. You showed empathy." He sends Chloe away to another room. "A war is coming, you'll have to choose your side... Will you betray your own people or stand up against your creators? What could be worse than having to choose between two evils?" Kamski examines Connor up close for a moment.

Hank, now very clearly wanting to leave after all the excitement, steps between the two and grabs Connor. "Let's get outta here..." he grumbles as he pulls Connor towards the door.

"By the way..." Kamski starts just before Connor exits the room, causing the android to freeze in curiousity at what his creator had to say. "I always leave an emergency exit in my programs... You never know..."

'Backdoor?'

Connor ponders what exactly Kamski meant as he met back up with Hank.

"Why didn't you shoot?" Hank asks the android stopping to see his reaction. Connor looks down a bit ashamed of himself.

"I just saw that girl's eyes... and I couldn't, that's all..." Connor says, hoping it would satisfy Hank.

"You're always saying you would do anything to accomplish your mission. That was our chance to learn something, and you let it go..." Hank continues, trying to squeeze a more human reaction from Connor.

"Yeah, I know what I should've done! I told you I couldn't. I'm sorry, okay?" Connor was frustrated, frustrated with himself for not shooting that android. How could he do something like that?!

"Maybe you did the right thing." Hank simply says as he walks towards the car surprising Connor with the tone of his voice. Hank seemed... proud of him. Happy with him? Connor wasn't sure what but he was glad Hank was happy with his decision.