"I'll be back, be a good girl." You pet Vida on the head gently, and she hops off your lap, landing on the carpet with an ungraceful thud and a wagging tail. She was a golden Labrador with a head as thick as a pincushion and as soft as anything - metaphorically and literally. Her bright brown eyes blinked intelligently at you from her pouting on the floor, her tail furiously swiping the fibres she was now lay upon. "I know, I know - if I don't go how am I gonna afford anything?" You laugh at the dog burying her face in the cushions of her bed.
You stand, switching off your TV, and gulping down the last of your orange juice before hurriedly putting the glass into the dishwasher, the proceeding to wash your face and leave the apartment with a jacket lazily slung over your shoulder and a bounce in your step.
You enter the department at exactly 9AM, registering at the front desk before being sent in by the android receptionist and told to wait for Hank Anderson as Fowler had set you some work to do for him.
As you're waiting, you spy not many people in and around the area - the kitchen was vacant and the android compartment on the back wall was empty, but Fowler was in his office.
Setting your bag and files on your desk, you knock the glass door and he calls you inside. "Good morning, Y/N. Did you need anything?"
You smile warmly. "Morning sir! No, I just came to ask do you want a coffee or anything? I could die for one." You laugh out, making him smile lightly.
"Yes please, Y/N, if you wouldn't mind. Milk no sugar, please."
"Of course." You slip out silently, and head over to the place you recently became visiting more. Thank the heavens for coffee on the morning of a weekday.
As soon as you deliver it you spot Hank arriving slovenly and heavily dunk into the chair attached to the desk.
Today you were dressed in dark blue splotched jeans with hints of fraying and wear in some areas of the fabric, discreetly showing their age but their fashion still accepted by the day and age. Upon your torso was a simple, purple top which almost streamlined your body and forked into tails at the back - of which you lazily tied together, therefore showing a very small amount of the soft, fuzzed skin upon your back, your jacket now lazily tied around your waist,casually slipping further down below your hips with every step.
"Good morning Lieutenant. Are you well this morning?"
"Bah! Good as you can be with an android following you around like some poodle." He mumbles. His opinion of the RK800 has obviously dropped overnight.
"I'm fine, thanks." You smile slightly. "Can I get you anything?"
Hank sighs. "What are you, a waiter? Sit down, Y/N, this is work not some fancy restaurant." You sit upon his desk drawer rather than the seat on the other side of the desk, and a prickle at the back of your neck makes you suddenly aware of another presence beside you. "It's good to see you again Lieutenant, Detective Y/N."
"Oh, Jesus-"
"Hank!" Yells Fowler. "In my office!"
Again, Hank?
Hank groaned loudly and hesitantly got up from his chair. You share a look with the android next to you and grin your good morning, suddenly aware of how close he had been standing next to you, and you both set off in pursuit of the Lieutenant.
You enter the glass room for the second time that morning, and Connor closes the door tightly behind you.
"I've got ten new cases involving androids on my desk every day. We've always had isolated incidents, old ladies losing their android maids and that kind of crap..." He pauses and puts the coffee you made him down heavily on the wooden desk," But now, we're getting reports of assaults and even homicides, like that guy a few nights ago. This isn't just CyberLife's problem anymore." Connor shuffles his feet, but doesn't take his eyes off of Captain Fowler," It's now a criminal investigation and we've gotta deal with it before the shit hits the fan." Hank looks down at his hands in his lap, his shaggy grey hair for a moment obscuring his face from Fowler's view. "I want you to investigate these cases to see if there's any link."
"Why me?" Hank throws his hands up in the air in annoyance. "Why do I gotta be the one to deal with this shit?"
You sombrely clock your surroundings, and upon seeing nothing of peaking interest you turn your attention back towards the conversation. "I am the least qualified cop in the country to handle this case!" He complains. "I know jack shit about androids, Jeffery! I can barely change the settings on my own phone." At the word android Hank jabs his thumb backwards towards Connor, who had been silently listening to the conversation with you behind the angry cop.
This time, it's Fowler's turn to throw his hands up. "Everybody's overloaded. I think you're perfectly qualified for this type of investigation."
"Bullshit! The truth is nobody wants to investigate these fuckin' androids and you left me holdin' the bag!"
You stick your hand up politely. "If I were a qualified officer I would think it's an honour, sir."
"Shut up!" Hank turns and snaps at you, and you politely put your hand back down with a smirk upon your face.
"CyberLife sent over this android to help with the investigation, and a form of jury picked out the top recruit qualified for the job, with the assistance of CyberLife managers, to help too." Upon hearing your own mention, your ears prick up and curiosity strikes like black lightning within you. "That android beside you is a state of the art prototype, and that cadet is a fully qualified, whether or not I say so, and sharp minded addition to this entire department. They will act as your partners."
"No fuckin' way! I don't need any partners, and certainly not this plastic prick! Also, you just said yourself that girl's enough to handle on her own, she's 'qualified' to do it herself!"
"Hank, you are seriously starting to piss me off! You are a police Lieutenant, you are supposed to do what I say and shut your goddamn mouth!"
"You know what my goddamn mouth has to say to you, huh?"
"Ok, ok... I'll pretend I didn't hear that, so I don't have to add any more pages to your disciplinary folder 'cause it already looks like a fuckin' novel! This conversation is over!"
Hank takes a deep breath, steals a furious glance at you and Connor then turns back to the head of the department, making the blood in your veins pulse ever so slightly faster at the increase of hostility. You feel Connor analysing the entire situation, and you know he notices your blood pressure rise at the bawling between the two veterans, and he places a hand on your shoulder lightly, causing it to go back down. "Jeffery, Jesus Christ! Why are you doin' this to me? You know how much I hate these fuckin' things. Why you doin' this to me?"
Jeffery Fowler huffs in aggravation. "Listen, I've had just enough of your bitching. Either you do your job or hand in your badge - now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."
Hank's eyes linger on the man behind the desk for a moment longer before growling, storming out of the door, leaving a trail of destruction behind him.
You and Connor look to the door. "Well then..." You rock back on your heels awkwardly. "C'mon, Connor. Sorry Captain, we won't keep you any longer."
"Have a nice day, Captain." The android says, following you out the door.
You make your way to Hank's desk hesitatingly. He's sat with his arms crossed tightly across his chest and a vacant look in his eyes behind his acrimony.
Connor is the first to speak. "I get the impression my presence causes you some inconvenience Lieutenant," he steps forwards whilst speaking," And I'd like you to know I'm very sorry about that." You look at the apologising android, and you notice him ever so slightly either under your gaze. "In any case," he says," I'd like you both to know I'm very happy to be working with you. I'm sure we'll make a great team."
At the silence, you slip out casually and sit down at your desk. "Connor, you can come work with me at my desk." You murmur, and he steps out behind you. He wheels in a chair politely.
You log in to the terminal and the deviant reports appear on screen.
"243 files..." Connor murmurs. "First dates back nine months. It all started in Detroit and quickly spread across the country. "We've already checked out the AX400 model case, which was a decent starting point to our investigation. There are no immediate cases that call for attention."
"Hmm." You ponder quickly. Hank suddenly stands from his desk, and begins to walk out.
You and Connor share a look before getting up and following him.
You yell after him. "Lieutenant! Where are you going?"
"Get some fuckin' air, kid."
You stop in your tracks, but then the policing divide in your brain switches and your face falls into a steel defence. "Hank, it's only 11am. If you're going to get drunk I'm not gonna forgive ya easily." You laugh. He turns around and sneers. "Does 'air' sound like booze to you?"
You shrug. "Depends what's in it. A lot of different gases with drug like effects - such as those of alcohol - can be in 'air', not necessarily-"
"Stop soundin' like a fucking android and get in the car. Connor, you too, ya plastic prick."
You smile. "Of course." You both chime together.
