𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄

Chapter 17

(Connor's POV)

I watched in my peripheral vision as (Y/N) looked between myself and the DX642, woundedly eyeing the pistol between us. My fingers tightened on the steel trigger, not yet firing the weapon in my hand but with enough pressure to allow a sharp click to echo through the cold room. A gasp sounded from (Y/N)'s lips and I turned my head a fraction to see what had caused it.

Her round, (Y/E/C) eyes were welling up with tears that threatened to spill over onto her flawless cheeks. Both of her hands had reached up to cover her mouth, too late to stifle the noise drawn by the scene she was currently being forced to watch. Her pitiful gaze was burning into my hand which was still aimed at the android on her knees just three feet in front of me.

A satisfied chuckle rose from Kamski's throat, his eyes taking in (Y/N)'s vulnerable form like a vulture would stalk a field mouse. He was studying her every move, waiting for the best time to strike.

I moved to put the gun down, not liking the pain in my chest that intensified when I saw the horrified look on (Y/N)'s face. The pain that, while not new, sparked new feelings of longing that embedded themselves deep in my chest cavity.

But that was when I remembered my mission.

My gaze hardened and I focused back onto my target. The DX642. I barely registered the choked sob and the quick, light footsteps of (Y/N) dashing out of the room and back out into the snow. The sound of Hank calling after her was muffled. The only thing I could hear was my Thirium regulator pumping in my chest.

When I looked down at Gwen, I almost dropped the gun entirely.

Because for a moment, it was (Y/N) on her knees, innocent (Y/E/C) eyes blinking up at mine, not knowing that she was about to be put to death for something that wasn't even her fault. Like a voice in my head, I heard her begging for her life. Pleading for mercy. But Gwen just sat there, waiting for her next order. Eager to please her human master.

I imagined the aftermath of shooting Gwen. I imagined having to live knowing that (Y/N) would never look at me without a hint of fear in her eyes. I imagined never again hearing her witty remarks or scoffs of disapproval. Could I go on in this investigation knowing that she would always see me as the murderer who killed her doppelganger? The only other surviving android of her model? It would be like poaching an endangered animal. And for what? A tidbit of information that we could probably squeeze out of someone else for free?

I glared up at Kamski, who looked at me expectantly. Behind his steely gaze, I could almost see the cogs turning in his head. The 'will he do it's whispering just behind his closed lips. Without hesitating a moment longer, I snapped the safety back onto the pistol and grabbed the barrel, forcing it into Kamski's hands.

The look on his face was broken. The cogs had stopped spinning and were rebuilding themselves to run counterclockwise. He hadn't expected this.

"Fascinating," He breathed, taking the gun from my loose grasp. I could sense Hank's regard as he furrowed his brows. I didn't have the guts to face him. Not yet.

"CyberLife's last chance to save humanity...is itself a deviant..." The statement rang like a question, a question that I didn't know the answer to. "I'm..." I started, desperate to remain in control of the situation. "I'm not a deviant..." I had meant to make it sound like a declaration, but the result sounded more like I was pleading him to believe me.

"You preferred to spare a machine rather than accomplish your mission," Kamski argued, lifting Gwen to her feet. "You showed empathy." With one hand, Gwen was dismissed to stand in the back of the room with the Chloe already stationed there. I no longer saw her as (Y/N). Just another lifeless creation, just like Kamski said.