SYNTHETIC [Connor/RK800]

Conflicted

The crime scene took place in a run-down neighborhood full of dilapidated houses. Connor mentally pulled up a photo reference of the same neighborhood a decade ago. The changes were astonishing. The once serene and beautiful neighborhood now set off his fight-or-flight response. Trash was littered in every yard, laid among the overgrown grass and weeds were pieces of furniture and empty containers.

Water had dampened the dirt, creating mud. Connor would have to clean his shoes later. The red and blue lights of the ambulance and police cruisers combined into a soft magenta. Such a pretty color despite the horrible crime scene. Spotlights were erected in the front yard to properly illuminate it, given the absence of proper streetlights. In a neighborhood like this, however, streetlights would have been counter-productive for the daily activities of the people living in it.

On-lookers observed the house, some simply bundled up, others holding umbrellas to combat the drizzling rain. What was so interesting about death? Or crime? Connor couldn't conceive an answer. As the car slowly stopped, Lieutenant Anderson motioned at him. "You wait here."

Although Connor was programmed to listen to him, the order went against his mission. Therefor, the order was null, and Connor would follow him. "My instructions are to accompany you to the crime scene, Lieutenant."

"Listen, I don't give a fuck about your instructions. I told you to wait here, so you shut the fuck up and you wait here." Lieutenant Anderson replied, clearly agitated.

Connor could sense that their budding relationship was already tense. However, it didn't matter. He wasn't created to make friends, he was created to stop deviants. Lieutenant Anderson stepped out of the car, walking up to the crime scene and past the holographic police tape. Connor stepped out of the car, choosing to proceed with CyberLife's orders rather than Lieutenant Anderson's.

The onlookers spoke among each other, upset that no one was explaining the situation. Connor passed them, intending to get to work. His intentions of crossing the tape were halted by an officer. "Androids are not permitted beyond this point." The officer stated, his hands clasped behind his back.

"It's with me." Lieutenant Anderson said, stopping Connor from having to offer an explanation. Connor passed the hologram, following behind Lieutenant Anderson. "What part of 'stay in the car' didn't you understand?" Lieutenant Anderson snapped.

"Your order contradicted my instructions, Lieutenant."

Lieutenant Anderson was less than pleased. "You don't talk, you don't touch anything, and you stay outta my way. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Evening, Hank." A gray haired, heavy-set man with a goatee said from the porch. "We were starting to think you weren't gonna show." His voice is deep, but nasally. Connor identified his face through public records. Officer Ben Collins.

"Yeah, that was the plan until this asshole found me."

"So... you got yourself an android, huh?"

"Oh, very funny. Just tell me what happened."

"We had a call around eight from the landlord. The tenant hadn't paid his rent for a few months, so he thought he'd drop by, see what was going on... That's when he found the body."

The trio walked into the house, the floor immediately creaking upon entry. Connor's olfactory sensors picked up on the rotting body immediately, but it didn't have even half the impact on him that it had on Lieutenant Anderson.

"Jesus, that smell!" Lieutenant Anderson said.

Officer Collins agreed, and began to introduce Lieutenant Anderson to the case at hand. "The victim's name's Carlos Ortiz. He has a record for theft and aggravated assault. According to the neighbors, he was kind of a loner. Stayed inside most of the time, no one ever saw him." After that, Connor chose to tune it out. This briefing wasn't for him, it was for Lieutenant Anderson.