(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

November 6th, 2038
11:31 pm

I stood outside in the rain, listening to Hank conversing with another man.

"Alright, that's all for now. Free to go."

We had just gotten the major information on the deviant case, hence the lieutenant waved the unfamiliar man away. I shot a glance at Hank, who fortunately appeared to have gained back his composure. Next to me, I witnessed Ben Collins turning around, facing Hank and I.

"We've got officers sweeping the neighborhood, in case anybody saw anything."

I nodded, while my superior answered, "Okay. Well, let me know if they turn anything up."

Officer Collins visibly stared at Connor, who straightly stood in front of the car, as if waiting for something. Yet he did not move an inch. Somehow, I felt partly guilty for being so cold earlier, however, he needed to realize he had acted inappropriately.

I was sure Ben Collins was thinking the same at this moment, so I quietly leaned over to Hank and asked him, "What are we going to do with Connor?"

The officer turned to look at the lieutenant as well, curious to know the answer. "I don't got a clue. Why don't you go talk to him, you seem to be gettin' along perfectly," he offered sarcastically. Earning an "are you serious?"-look from me, Hank sighed and walked over into Connor's direction.

I rolled my eyes, following my superior, unable to stop worrying about the android's strange behavior. Even for someone like him, this surely could be called weird. As we arrived next to our other partner, I could not help but address Connor.

"Is everything all right? Did you notice something?"

Connor looked at me with his adorable brown eyes, answering, "Yes. It took the first bus that came along...and stayed at the end of the line. Its decision wasn't planned, it was driven by fear."

Hank jokingly laughed hearing those words. "Androids don't feel fear."

I exhaled, grasping the chance to speak. "Actually, they do. Remember Carlos Ortiz' android? How anxious he was during the interrigation?"

Connor finished what I had started, "They get overwhelmed by their emotions and make irrational decisions." Hank stared at us, as if we were the weirdest team he had ever seen.

"Ah well, that still doesn't tell us where it went."

The detective android next to me, went on stating other facts, "It didn't have a plan, and it had nowhere to go. Maybe it didn't go far..."

Hank looked from one side to the other, probably realizing that Connor's deductions made sense. "Maybe..." he repeated.

I nodded in approval and let my eyes wander across our surroundings. There was a motel, a worn out house and some kind of backyard. If the deviant intended to run away, without a certain goal in mind, she most likely tried to hide in an unobtrusive area. So either that house or the backyard.

"I think we should start by checking that strange expanse behind the house. I'm sure the android was looking for an inconspicious place due to their fear and confusion. Usually one does not come up with complex plans at such times. Especially if you are not used to feeling strong emotions."

Hank and Connor both looked at me, convinced by my explanation. Proudly, I grinned and we crossed the street. Arriving in the backyard, we caught a glimpse of a rusty car. Carefully, our group of three approached it, Hank's and my hand on our gun holsters and quickly looked inside, yet nobody was there. Automatically, my gaze landed on the house.

"I guess it's that then."

Connor headed towards a fence that parted us from the old building. Lifting the bottom part of it, he climbed through to the other side. Just as I was about to do the same, Hank grabbed my arm and said, "Woah woah, easy there. You shouldn't slice yourself up by going through there."

Meanwhile, Connor distanced himself from us. I gave Hank a disappointed look.

"God, you don't need to follow him like a lovesick bopper."

I facepalmed myself, moving my arm out of the man's hands. "I'm just worried. You know how Connor would do literally anything to accomplish his mission." It was true, I was afraid we would lose him.

In the background, I heard Connor yell, "Anybody home? "

"Why are you scared for that machine anyway? He's just programmed to fullfill his duties."

I furrowed my eyebrows, sighing. "Hank, androids are more than simple robots to me, alright? Believe it or not, I appreciate them as people. To be honest, Connor and you have grown on me already so I would like to not lose any of you." Crossing my arms, I shifted my weight on one foot. Hank looked back at me, appearing bewildered.

"I know you were forced to work with us but I truly think we make a fitting team. Rethink what Connor has done for the investigations until now. His work is splendid!" The lieutenant bit his lip, still seeming quite skeptical.

"I know I may not always look like it but I always do my best as well. I am just as eager on succeeding as Connor. I think you are a great addition to this wonderful combination of two idiots." Slightly laughing, I broke my too serious expression.

"Whatever..." Hank's answer was short, yet I knew that he considered what I had said. Satisfied with myself, I glanced back at the worn out house once more.

"You still shouldn't worry about that machine though. He can take care of himself."

I blinked a few times, hearing how the lieutenant tried to placate me. A genuine smile laced my lips, as I thanked him. Hank really was a good guy. Perhaps a little rough on the outside but actually kind at heart.

For a while, we heard nothing of Connor so Hank and I decided to cut the fence apart with the help of some other police officers and investigate the scene by ourselves.

"Well, I guess we do have to look after that android now."

I shrugged my shoulders while walking around the house.

"Connor, what's going on?" Hank yelled, while we opened the main door. There we saw Connor jumping onto his feet and taking off.

"It's here! Call it in!"

Hank and I stared at each other but almost instantly returned to where we came from.

Hurrying through the fence once more, we spotted Connor in the distance. His speed really was something else.

"Fuck, I don't think I'll be able to keep up with that damn android." Hank muttered.

I turned to him, preparing to sprint away too. "Don't worry, leave that up to me."

Confused, he stared at me, as we both started running into the same direction. Yet shortly afterwards, he realized what I had meant. With this body of mine I was faster than most humans - though unfortunately, not as quick as Connor for example.

I felt my legs hastily move above the ground, reminding me of flying. I passed the motel we had seen earlier, holding a breath to fasten my pace. I hurried down the streets, praying not to slip and fall due to the wet surface underneath the soles of my feet. Connor was a few meters ahead of me, now stopping, apparantly listening to a police officer. Within one fast movement, he looked right and took a turn into that direction. I trailed his steps, entering the alley as well, noticing how he was heading for a large fence. Behind it, I recognized an android and a... Human child? Confused, I stopped for a second, however, I soon was brought back to reality as Hank reached the alley too.

"What are you doin'?" he asked, not stopping.

Shaking my head, I quickly ran up to him again, now witnessing how Connor stopped in front of the fence, gripping it tightly. While he stared at the android behind the fence, a police officer joined our side, aiming his gun at the machine.

"Don't shoot! We need it alive!" Connor yelled and held out his hand to stop the man.

In the meantime, the child and female android slid down the hill, heading for the large street up ahead. Hank and I halted next to Connor, as the grey haired man panted due to exhaustion from running.

"Oh fuck, that's insane..."

We watched the two silhouettes fight their way through the road filled with cars, which almost ran them over. I felt my lips quivering at this point. Was this android taking care of the child? The way she protected the little girl from every danger, putting the human's life before her own, underlined that notion. Could I possibly arrest someone like that? A caring mother?

Suddenly, I noticed Connor, about to climb up the fence.

"Hey! Where you goin'?" Hank asked, bewildered by the android's actions.

"I can't let them get away." The brown haired man's voice was full of determination.

In fear, I grabbed Connor's arm, stopping him."You can't. You'll only risk your own life." Anxiety filled my whole body as I pleadingly stared up at Connor.

"They won't make it to the other side anyway," Hank commented.

Not convinced by that, Connor exclaimed, "I can't take that chance."

He pushed my arm off, leaving me blankly gawking at him. Now Hank grabbed his arm.

"Do NOT go after 'em, Connor, that's an order! Listen to (Y/N)!"

For one second, Connor glanced back at me, his LED flickering yellow. Just as I was about to feel a certain amount of hope, he crushed it all by quickly climbing up the fence and jumping over it.

"Connor, goddammit!" Hank yelled, yet the android did not stop moving. He swiftly slid down the hill, heading for the large road.

Without thinking about it any further, I was quick on my feet and moved up the fence too.

"(Y/N), what the fuck?! Don't do that shit too!" Hank seemed angry but I didn't stop.

"I told you before, I can't lose him!" I screamed back while following Connor down to the street.

Presently, he jumped out of the way of a truck. The female android and child ran across the middle part, which was seperating both large roads. Once I stood in font of the road myself, something gnawed at my heart, something even worse than simple fear. Shaking my head, I took a deep breath and jumped onto the street myself, barely escaping the silhouette of another darn huge car. I hastily rolled to the middle part myself and heavily sighed due to relief of having almost caught up with Connor.

While the deviant and child tripped on the road, my partner swiftly vaulted over the border at the side of the road. I kept on following the group in front of me, seeing how the female android pushed the child safely to the other side. At the same time, Connor tackled her in between several driving cars. Shivers ran down my spine, as I left the border behind as well. The deviant managed to shake Connor off, sending him backwards. She ran to the safe side, yet my partner now laid on the street, just sitting up, a car almost right in front of him.

My eyes widened in horror, as I pressed myself to hurry even more.

"Connor!" I yelled, a few tears in my eyes.

The car was coming closer.

With all my mustered strength, I grabbed the android's upper arms and pulled him towards my body, as we collided into each other and fell backwards near the border. I gulped, scrambling onto my feet and dragging Connor towards the middle part, finally on a secure side again. There, I felt the strength leaving my legs, surprising me once more that they did not maintain it any longer. I slumped onto the dirty ground, shaking due to the rush of adrenaline but something much worse as well.

Just now, I reminded myself of the reason I was so scared. Why I had wanted to prevent Connor from running onto the street under any circumstances.

Cars.

Experiences caused me to believe my heart would stop any second. I gripped my arms tightly, another tear rolling down my cheek. Connor was not supposed to experience the agony of being run over. Being crushed. Feeling sick, I covered my mouth with one hand. I already did not want to lose him, however, this specific situation amplified my fear.

I recognized Connor's voice uttering "Shit...", before turning to me.

"Detective (L/N) are you all right?"

Weakly, I looked up at him, tears still spilling out of my eyes. He was safe. Threatening to choke on the air, I coughed, trying to wipe the liquid from my eyes off my face. I sensed Connor kneeling down next to, saw his LED once more glimmer in a bright yellow. Unable to control my emotions any longer, I gritted my teeth and fiercely pulled him into a hug.

"What the fuck were you thinking? You would've died Connor!" I weeped, shaking in this embrace.

At first the android did not hug me back but after a short while, he moved his arms around my body. "I'm genuinely sorry, detective." His voice was sincere, causing my heart to flutter, yet that did not hold back my anger.

Overwhelmed by anxiety, shock, fury and confusion at the same time, I pulled away after a minute and tightly gripped his grey jacket.

"You can't just run onto a busy street like that! I know you only focus on your mission but god damn it, watch out for your safety at least a bit! If not for yourself do it for Hank and me!"

I shivered, feeling the rain eventually get to me. My breathing was unsteady and I was still lacking oxygen. Connor looked at me, confused by my outbreak.

"At least have the decency to swear on it." I hissed through my teeth, peering directly into his hazel brown eyes. The soft look within them moved something deep inside me. Out of the corner of my eyeshot, I recognized his LED once more blinking yellow.

"I can try to."