Sleep Mode

Chapter 2

The car was silent and Connor refused to look out of the window instead he stared down at his hands. Hank glanced at him every few moments he could spare, as his mind raced a thousand miles per minute. He tried to figure a way to help the android praying that he could come up with an option once he was home. Another quick look and Hank almost slammed on the breaks, how hadn't he seen it before. There was a scar, barely visible from where it lingered under the sweatshirts collar.

"Connor, can I ask you a question?" Hank spoke getting the android to look at him, his LED still bright red but no longer flashing.

"Of course, you always answer mine." Connor responded.

"I thought that your synthetic skin fixed itself automatically?"

"It does." Connor stated.

"Then why is there a scar on your neck." Hank said as the LED started flashing, Connor's hand immediately went to the location.

"I do not know. I've tried seeking out the skin coding but came up with no missing algorithm or incorrect code. My skin just scars I guess, a feature that made me more human than other androids." Connor rubbed at the scar for a few seconds before pulling his hand away. The turn to the android safe zone was coming up and Connor expected the shift in the car, but it never came.

"Lieutenant, I believe you missed the turn."

"No I didn't." Hank reassured as they made for the next exit.

"Hank, I believe it would be ideal for me to return to the android zone." Connor stated as Hank waved at him to be quiet. In truth Connor didn't really want to go back, he didn't feel safe there. He wanted to stay with Hank but he also knew the laws. Connor didn't want to get the other androids in trouble just because he was too scared to go back.

"You're hurt and you're scared, like I'm going to leave you in that piece of trash place. No, we're going home." Hank declared as Connor moved more into his seat, the LED flickered from red to yellow for a few moments before returning to red.

They pulled up to the house about five minutes later and Hank got out of the car first, noticing the android hadn't followed him right away. He stared at the car as Connor slowly opened the door, he looked so much worse than earlier. He looked tired and his skin which was already pale was even more so. He trudged over to Hank as the older man wrapped an arm around the androids shoulder, another flinch. He didn't understand, why was Connor flinching so much. He had never flinched before, but Hank was a detective it didn't take him long to put the pieces together as they walked up the porch and into the house.

Sumo leapt from his place on the old cloth couch, his tail wagging as Connor immediately squatted down and started to pet the dog behind the ear. Hank watched the android for a few moments, a human must have given him that scar. That was the only explanation and it also confirmed his theory on why Connor was flinching away from him constantly. He was afraid to get hit again. Sumo was licking Connor's face as the Saint Bernard moved closer begging for the petting to continue. Connor's LED was flickering between yellow and red, a good sign.

"Alright. I think we need to have a discussion Connor." Hank stated getting the android to stop petting Sumo. His deep brown eyes snapping up to meet Hanks.

"Didn't we already analyze the problem. I can not enter my sleep mode and without it I do not function as adequately as is considered acceptable." Connor informed.

"That's not the discussion I want to have. I'm aware of that part of the problem but its the other half that we need to talk about." Connor cocked his head curiously, obviously confused by the statement as Sumo tried to get the android to continue petting him.