Chapter Text
You joined the Detroit City Police Department after the androids succeeded their fight for freedom. They took you in happily – they needed as many hands as they could get to help with the aftermath after all. When you walked into the building on your first day it was chaotic. A flood of reports had come in and everyone was spread thin trying to sort things out. Nobody had time for you right now, so you had to stumble around trying to find your assigned desk yourself. You found a clear desk adjacent to a somewhat decorated (it was messy, who were you kidding) desk and sat down in front of the monitor.
You took the initiative to begin looking at some cases you could help with. It wasn’t a surprise to see most of these reports were from androids turning in their past owners for an array of abuses and assaults.
“Jesus fucking Christ, when can I get a fucking break!”
A man with scraggly grey hair and a worn old coat walked into the office. The other officers nearby immediately redirected their paths around him as he stormed towards your direction. In an amusing contrast, a proper looking android walked quietly behind him. You tensed up when he sits in the messy desk right in front of you. Oh god, did you choose the table next to the office asshole? He seemed quite intimidating. Within moments of him catching his breath as he relaxed in his seat, the android beside him spoke.
“Lieutenant, there are ten more reports that were just assigned to you.”
“Fuckin- Connor! At least let me rest for a goddamn minute!”
“Sure.”
The android turns to look at you, the LED on his temple shifted yellow for a moment.
“Hello, you must be the new officer. My name is Connor, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, hi. It’s nice to meet you too, I’m [Y/N],” you said nervously by the sudden interaction. You felt your cheeks slightly flush - like all the android you’ve seen he looked beautiful. There was something genuine about the way he looked at you too – it was comforting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
How can an android feel this human? It was bizarre. You haven’t interacted with many androids in your life – only the ones at restaurants and cashiers usually. But even they had something very mechanical about them.
“My apologises, but it seems that you’ve occupied my desk,” Connor said.
What? You stood up. You were sure nobody was using this desk, there was nothing on it. You leaned over to check the nameplate, and to your embarrassment ‘CONNOR’ was written clearly on it.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll find another desk right now- “you stammered as you began to scoop up your belongings.
“Don’t bother. I’m pretty sure all the other desks are taken too,” the scraggly man said. “We’ll be leaving again soon anyway.”
You sat back down and turned on the monitor hoping you could get started on work. The scraggly man and Connor began to quietly talk to each other about which report they wanted to check up on first. To your dismay however, you weren’t assigned any tasks. You frowned.
“Is something the matter, [Y/N]?” Connor asked you. The way he’s portraying concern on his face throws you off again. It’s so damn life-like. The whole deviant thing is no joke – the line between Connor being an android versus being a human kept blurring.
“I’m not assigned any work yet. It said that my reporting officer is… Lieutenant Hank Anderson. Do you know where he is?”
The scraggly man sighed, “He’s right here.”
Wait, him? Really?
Anderson reached up to his face to rub his eyes. “You’d think after how much I hated when I first started working with you, Connor, they’d stop assigning me more people.”
Connor’s lips turned into a small smirk. “Worked out in the end though, didn’t it? At least it’s not another android.”
Anderson let out another deep sigh.
---
A few days in and you still didn't know why you were assigned to Anderson. So far, your work has been checking up on smaller incidents and filing reports. Anderson and Connor didn’t stay in the office for more than ten minutes before they’re off again.
But today was different. Connor arrived to the station without Anderson. You thought he was just checking up on some files like he usually does but instead he comes up to you.
"[Y/N], has Lieutenant Anderson assigned you any work to do?" he asked.
You sighed. "No. No, not really. I've just been going through some small stuff again today."
You started having doubts. What's the point of the DPD hiring you when all you're gonna do is sit around and wait? Connor turned his head in disappointment, kind of like a puppy dog - which is really strange way for an android to react. It's kind of adorable actually.
"Then there is an area I'd like you patrol. We got a report on a homicide and the suspect is nowhere to be found - unless you'd like to stay at your desk, of course," Connor said. "I have to go now. I've sent the address and some notes of the suspect to you."
Connor walked away before you could respond.
-
“Lieutenant, you’ve neglected to assign tasks to Officer [Y/N] again.”
“Ah, shit. Do you know where she is now?”
“She’s actually just a few blocks away from us,” Connor replied. "I gave her a task instead."
“Huh, you allowed to do that?”
Connor shrugged. “Probably not. She did look very bored though.”
Hank crouched down to inspect the dead android slumped against a wall. The blue blood has mostly evaporated away, leaving the bullet holes across its body strangely clean. The android was wearing human clothes and removed its LED – a deviant, obviously. Furthermore, the android owned the apartment he was murdered in, that was one of the new rights after the androids won their freedom. However, it seemed like his neighbour didn’t agree with that.
Connor reached down to touch the drying blue blood with his fingers and brought it to his tongue. Hank shook his head but said nothing. The action didn’t disgust him as much anymore. Connor identified the android’s model and the estimate time the blood had been exposed to the air. The android died approximately an hour ago.
“What’s your opinion on the new guy by the way?” Hank asked as he looked at the cracked wood of the bedroom door. There were two bullet holes piercing the door.
“Officer [Y/N]? Judging by her test results and general demeanour, she seems like a capable officer and a great asset to the DPD.”
“Huh. That so?” Hank commented.
Connor noticed that Hank had been asking more about his opinion after he turned deviant. Perhaps that was Hank’s way of helping Connor getting used to his instincts instead of viewing things in a fully analytical way. His own opinion was a strange concept to Connor after all.
Connor analysed the bullets in the android’s body and found out which type of gun was used by the murderer. So far, the gun hadn’t been found yet. He stood up and reconstructed the crime scene.
“The killer didn’t break into the house. It seemed that the victim invited him in. But when the killer began to grow violent, the victim tried to escape to the bedroom.” Connor gestured to the bedroom door. “As the victim was holding the door shut, the killer pulled out a gun and shot them through the door. The victim collapsed and then the killer shot them one more time in the head.”
Connor walked towards a chair that had fallen over. There was a small amount of blood on it. “Judging by the angle on how this chair fell, he tripped over it as he fled. Based on the height of the suspect, there might be a minor injury on his right leg.”
Connor looked up when another officer entered the room
“It looks like the killer forgot his wallet and car keys – they’re in his home,” they said.
“I guess he’s on foot then,” Hank said. “Connor. Give the new guy a call, tell em what you found out.”
Connor nodded and placed his fingers on his temple.
-
The suspect was the android’s neighbour and you memorised the photo of his face. You arrived at a quiet suburban area in your casual clothes. Being the only officer in the area you wanted to stay anonymous – the suspect could easily spot your uniform in such a sparsely populated area. You started asking around shops and checking CCTV footage. It looks like nobody has spotted him yet. Your phone started ringing in your pocket and you answer it.
“Hello, [Y/N]. It’s me, Connor.”
“Oh, Connor,” you replied. This was the first time he’s called you, so you were a little bit surprised. “What it is?”
“You’re patrolling in an area where the killer could be hiding. We discovered he right leg was injured and forgot his wallet when he fled. Also, I must advise caution. He might have a gun on his person.”
You tensed at the news. A killer on a loose was scary enough, but one with a gun still on him made you much more nervous.
“Are you alright?” Connor asked.
“Yes. I’ll keep my eye out for them,” you said as you tried to calm yourself down. “Thanks, Connor.”
“No problem.”
You hung up the call. Where would an injured man with no money who just killed an android go? Detroit has made public transport free a few years ago to decrease the number of cars on the road. You’re still required to carry your transport card around however. He was probably denied from boarding anything. You quickly made your way to the nearest train station.
Once you arrived, you spoke with a few of the train guards and learnt nothing. He hasn’t tried to board public transport yet.
It was getting late and there were less people on the streets. It was about time you reported back to the station. You walked down the steps of the train station towards where you parked your car.
“Hey.”
An unfamiliar voice called out from behind you. Right when you turned to look you feel something hard press against your back. You froze.
“Your transport card. Give it to me.”
“O-Of course,” you said. You reached down into your pocket to grab your wallet. You also kept your work phone in the same pocket and pressed the emergency button four times.
-
Connor and Hank had returned to the car to move scout another location for the killer when Connor jolted in his seat. The LED on his temple turned red.
“[Y/N] just sent a distress signal. She’s by the train station two minutes away.”
Hank immediately turned the steering wheel, his car sharply turned into the next street.
-
“Come on, hurry up,” the man said, nudging the gun harshly into your side.
“I know,” you said fearfully, but it was half an act. You were really hoping Anderson and Connor were nearby to help. You made your hands tremble as you fumbled with your wallet, buying as much time as you could. But the act had gone on for long enough, and you held up your transport card.
The man immediately snatched it from you.
“Don’t fucking tell anyone what happened.”
You heard him begin to walk away, and you slowly turned to look. Your suspicions were right. It was the killer. He walked quickly towards the light of the train station, his right leg limping slightly. You reached for your phone, but your hands won’t stop shaking.
Your car. Just get somewhere safe first.
You took one step and your legs stop working, making you fall to the ground. Your emotions finally caught up to you. You were terrified. You could’ve died right then.
“[Y/N]!”
You didn’t register your name being called out at first. But you forced yourself to look up in your state to see Connor running towards you, Anderson following right behind him.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his hands were on your shoulder – keeping you steady.
“The killer,” your voice trembled. “He stole my transport card. You can track him. His gun is still on him.”
Connor nodded. He closed his eyes his LED blinked yellow.
“I’ve notified the DPD and transport services. He won’t get away.”
You nodded. Connor helped pull you up from the ground, your legs still felt weak but at least you could stand now. You looked into his eyes to thank him, but you hesitated when his LED was bright red. What's that supposed to mean? Connor kept a close eye at you, staring at every part of your body.
Then you remembered it was an android. You gently pushed him away.
"And I'm fine. He didn't injure me. Thank you, Connor," you said. He was probably analysing you.
Connor stopped and nodded. He still looked worried though.
“Good work. Now head home,” Anderson said. “Going through this shit in your first week is rough. Make sure you rest up.”
“Yes, sir,” you replied. You assumed Lieutenant Anderson would be a pain in the ass to work with because of his personality, but that was considerate of him.
“Connor let’s go.”
Anderson and Connor ran back to their car and drove off, while you stumble your way to your car exhausted by today's events.
-
Connor had analysed your pulse and your expression. He concluded from your inexperience and the situation that you were traumatised. Hank did the right thing to send you home. The killer would’ve boarded a train by now and they were making their way to the next train station as quickly as possible. Connor wanted to stay with you a little longer though. He didn’t want you to develop any mental complications from the trauma you experienced today. Unfortunately, the killer was of higher priority.
He felt like that reasoning wasn't sufficient though. When Connor assigned you to take that patrol you were his responsibility. Learn to identify your emotions, you're a deviant now, he thought to himself. Hank glanced over.
"Connor, your LED is still red. What's wrong?"
"I'm... just concerned about [Y/N]'s well being. She looked shaken by the events that happened to her. And I'm... angry."
"Angry? That's kinda new."
Connor shook his head, "I just- I wasn't authorised to assign her that patrol. It's my fault she was in danger today. But she looked so lost this morning, I-"
"Enough, Connor. I get you, and you can't change the past," Hank sighed. "So you're worried, huh? Well, we don't have time for her right now, but I'm sure she'll be fine."
Connor leaned back and relaxed in his car seat. That's right, you're capable - you should be fine. "Of course," Connor said, his LED shifting back to blue.
Hank paused. "That shouldn't stop you for checking on her once we catch the killer."
"But didn't you said she was going to be fine?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, well, it's still a nice gesture to check on someone once in a while. You know, human stuff. It lets them know you care about them."
"Oh. I see."
He created a task to be done once the killer had been arrested.
---
You returned to work the next day to write up the report. Anderson and Connor weren’t there as usual, and you went to sit down at your desk. Your transport card and a note were on the table. You grabbed the note and read it.
[Y/N],
Thank you for the bravery you displayed yesterday. The killer was caught last night at 11:23pm and I have returned your transport card. If you need to talk, I am equipped with psychological research to aid in your happy to make time for you. Just let me know.
Connor