The moment they went through the door, their vision turned scarlet despite being surrounded by blacklight. Red ice vapors filled the circular steeping hallway they were in.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Hank growled under his breath, trying to fan the vapor away. "So this is what they were hiding."

Connor froze once he got to the end of the hall. Hundreds of people filled the stadium-like room, glowing from their U.V. tattoos. The floor tilted downward slightly towards a dimly lit makeshift arena that was a few feet lower than the audience. Neon green strips of light formed an octagon along the edges and was fenced off by clear panels. Connor scanned the area for any sign of Jamie or Gavin but kept getting shoved by the increasingly rowdy crowd. An announcer stood in the middle with a microphone.

"Connor, you hear me?" Hank's voice filled his head.

"Yes, Hank, I hear you."

"That fucking bouncer must have tipped someone off that I was a cop. Had two assholes trailing me. They're going to look for you too. Get your ass out of there."

"But the bust-"

"Forget about it! Jamie and Gavin are going to be fine. Unit is standing by for their signal."

"WE GOT SOME NEW BLOOD IN HERE TONIGHT!" The announcer bellowed into the microphone. The crowd roared.

"What's happening? Get out of there!" Hank ordered.

Before Connor could answer, someone rushed passed him, knocking him to the ground. He felt the ear piece dislodge followed by the static crackle of it being crushed.

Shit.

"I PRESENT TO YOU OUR CHAMPION, TYRANT!"

A panel lowered to allow a shirtless man to drop into the pit, pumping his fists at the crowd. His face was obscured by U.V. claw marks. Connor shoved his way towards the front.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." the announcer purred. "We have a copper among us..."

The crowd hushed. Nervous faces swiveled around, anxious murmurs rumbled through the audience.

"BUT FEAR NOT!" The announcer said brightly. "FOR I PRESENT YOU OUR CHALLENGER, ONE OF DETROIT'S FINEST MEN IN BLUE, CONNOR THE COP!"

Connor froze, looking around him, ready to fight if someone were to grab him. Instead, another man was thrown into the pit. Gavin quickly got to his feet and cursed. The crowd booed and pounded against the barriers.

"What the fuck is this, Michael?!" He shouted at the man who threw him.

"You've been found out, 'Connor'," Michael yelled back in a cold, sarcastic tone. "You're a fucking idiot to use your real name."

The panel rose just before Gavin could try to climb back up.

"I think I know what you want..." The announcer continued, turning and pointing at the crowd. "LET ME HEAR IT!"

Immediately, the crowd chanted, "Death match! Death match!"

The announcer hologram flickered. "WAIT! There's more!"

Another panel on the opposite side the arena lowered, and Jamie tumbled onto the concrete floor. Her left eye had a cut underneath it and was swollen slightly. Gavin moved to help but Tyrant stood between them.

The green lights outlining the arena turned red, and Tyrant attacked. Gavin dodged the first punch and managed to get a few punches in before getting kneed in the side. Tyrant was an animal. He charged at Gavin, catching him on the chin with a left before kicking him backwards with the pad of his foot. Gavin went stumbling backwards, bracing against the wall for support. Crimson blood already coated his mouth. Gavin crouched down and slammed his shoulder into the fighter's stomach, causing Tyrant to take a few steps back before wrapping his arms around Gavin's torso, sitting down on the ground, letting the momentum and his legs launch Gavin over his head and onto the concrete. Gavin clutched his side, groaning.

Connor punched the panel repeatedly with everything he had, but it only quivered. He searched frantically for any sign of the police squad or any way into the arena. Tyrant surveyed the crowd and roared, the crowd roared and cheered back.

"Finish him! Kill the bastard! No mercy!" shouted the mob.

Tyrant raised his boot, aimed at Gavin's head. Tyrant then flew onto the ground, Jamie drop-kicking him in the chest. She landed hard in front of Gavin.

The crowd booed. Tyrant slowly stood, looking between Gavin and Jamie.

Jamie had removed her jacket, her hair in a tight braid, and her toned arms and shoulders flexed slightly as she hastily pulled Gavin to his feet.

"Move!" Gavin yelled as he shoved her out of the way and Tyrant tackled him to the ground. Jamie stood there, frozen. Her hands shook for a moment before clenching them in fists. She wrapped her arms around Tyrant's neck in a chokehold and yanked him back with a grunt. Gavin weakly crawled out from under him, blood coming from his nose and mouth. Jamie strained with effort and then her expression changed to shock when Tyrant didn't pass out. He gripped her arms and stood, lifting her off the ground before slammed her against a wall. Her grip loosened, and he flipped her onto the ground.

She coughed and gasped as she struggled to get to her feet. Tyrant grabbed her braid and pulled her up. She cried out, clutching the top of her head. Tyrant smiled before striking her across the face and she collapsed onto the ground. Gavin laid motionless, his breathing labored.

I have to do something!

Connor felt like his systems were on overdrive as he watched the brutal match. This was panic.

Tyrant sauntered towards her until his feet straddled both sides of her hips. She stared up at him, fearful. Then, her eyes dilated. She grabbed his ankles, hooked one leg around one of his, placed her other foot on his other hip, and straightened her legs and pulled his ankles in one fluid motion. As though paralyzed from the waist down, he fell backwards like a cut down tree. Riding the momentum, she pulled herself up and straddled him, striking him repeatedly in the face, stunning him. He reached both hands up to grab her throat but she shifted off to the side, capturing one of his arms. She sat on his chest as she swung her legs around so they were pinching his arm between her thighs before falling off to the side onto the ground. She clasped his wrist in her hands and thrust her hips upwards while pulling down with her hands. Her and Tyrant cried out as his arm broke at a gruesome angle.

Streaks of light blinded Connor as the police unit poured through the entrances. The mob became absolute chaos, rushing and trampling each other to get out. The blacklight was replaced with white light overhead. The panels of the arena powered down, descending into the slits in the ground. Connor jumped into the pit. Blue blood covered Jamie's fists and torso where Tyrant's broken arm dangled uselessly in her hands, lights flickering in the circuitry and the skin peeled back.

"Holy shit," Gavin groaned, leaning against a wall. "He was a fucking android." He spat a glob of blood onto the ground.

Connor gingerly helped Jamie up. Her hands shook more violently but she balled them in fists so that her knuckles were white. Strands of her hair had been pulled out of her braid and were now sticking to her sweat-covered face and neck.

"What the fucking hell happened?!" Hank shouted down into the pit. The outrage on his face waned when he saw Jamie and Gavin. "Get a medic here now!"

It felt like something deep in his system was malfunctioning as his earlier panic faded. He glanced down at the broken android and immediately he recognized him. It was a Rupert model. His eyes stared blankly up at the ceiling.

With the help of another officer, Hank lowered himself into the pit.

"Are you alright?" He placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder and she flinched.

"You're okay," he continued. "We'll get someone to take a look at you."

Her eyes seemed to have glossed over for a moment before focusing on Hank and then on Connor, her pupils slowly contracting back to normal. Without a word, she nodded and lifted herself out of the arena. Connor moved to follow but Hank gently grabbed his elbow.

"What happened?" Hank said firmly but with concern.

By the time Connor reported everything, they were by Hank's car, red and blue lights reflecting off the surface and on the new snow.

"Shit," Hank sighed, leaning against the car door. Connor nodded, the wind tousling his hair.

"What about you? You okay?"

He ran a quick diagnosis. Everything was in working order but he felt like something was wrong inside him.

"I couldn't help her. I couldn't help either of them. I felt..."

He couldn't look at Hank.

"Felt helpless, right?"

Helpless.

That was the word.

"They're going to be okay, Connor." Hank opened the driver's door and Connor automatically walked to the passenger's side.

He didn't feel reassured. It was as though there was a glitch and all he could replay was the fight. The fear in Jamie's eyes. And something else he couldn't quite place.

Hank settled into his seat, pausing before starting the engine. Connor closed his eyes and filed his report into the Detroit police database. He didn't open them until the car came to a stop and he heard barking. Sumo. Hank's house.

"You can stay here. I don't feel like driving to the station," Hank said quickly before exiting the car. Connor's mouth twitched. The station was closer to the crime scene than his house.

"Thank you, Hank." Connor petted the excited Sumo as he circled his legs.

"Don't mention it."

Hank patted Connor on the back before disappearing into his room. Connor laid on the couch and sighed. There was a pressure in his chest that wouldn't go away. Sumo then bounded onto the couch, lying on top of him.

"Good night, Sumo." He stroked his fur until Sumo started snoring. Hours passed before dawn shone through the blinds. Connor watched as the light moved gradually up the walls.