POV: 313-214-317 #51 - "Connor" 

08:27, December 25th 2039
Toboggin INN, Toboggan, Ontario, Canada.

The cheap sheets chafed against my legs all night long - but it didn't seem to bother Hank. His exhausted eyes haven't twitched since they fell to rest. Sean was in recovery mode in the other bed. I sighed - grimacing at the sun bleeding through the shutters. I quietly flip the on the news through my palm. I have a feeling our names have been on a lot of lips recently. 

"Detroit has fallen to utter chaos as the hunt for the two deviated androids continues to consume Detroit. The models are a RK800, and a newer model, a 16-13-1 - which accompany ex police lieutenant, Hank Anderson. Reports from Cyberlife.org suggest that there is a "last chance" protocol. Apparently former Cyberlife employee - Elijah Kamski - has been in contact with the company, in hopes to develop a way to catch, and properly dispose of these androids. 

Ever since their escape - more than one million androids across the United States have been surrendered, following orders from President Warren, to continue her once postponed destruction of any android belonging to civilians. Androids working in job fields will assist in this destruction - until they themselves, are reduced to rubble. Is this the way to finally deal with deviants? Or is this going to be proof that if you try to ban something - it won't stop the problem and just make people get more creative to bend the rules? Check back in with this Thursday for an exclusive interview with Elijah Kamski to unveil this new design. I am Tony Gunk with WTG-NewYork news."

"Kamski has sided with the police?" Hank's tired voice jolted my attention from my trembling hand. 

"I, don't know." I whispered. Shades of blue, purple, pink, and red flashed across my eyes. I tried to blink them out - but the harder I tried, the more vibrant they became. My sweating hands trembled, and poured out burning sweat. My cheeks flourished blue. I stomped to my feet, and thrashed my hands through my hair. 

"Connor!?" Hank called for me- my response is a remote crashing into a picture frame above the T.V. Sean jolted up. 

"Hey! What the hell?!" Hank screamed, reaching for my hand. 

"It's every DAY! Something ELSE is falling apart! Something else is wrong! Something else is made illegal! Why the fuck we were created only to be destroyed years later? What's the POINT?!" I didn't even realize I was so upset. My nails tore down my cheeks. I felt the sting of small beads of Thirium warm up the abrasions on my skin. 

"None of us are made with a point!" Cold hands clasped my wrist. Volts of electricity stunned my core - and rendered me momentarily paralyzed. 

SYSTEM RESET: IN PROCESS

COMPLETED IN: 00:00:03
00:00:02
00:00:01

SYSTEM RESET: COMPLETE

As my vision blurred back from black, and into reality - a pair of cyan eyes stared back at me. The lower lids dropped - and lips in a deep frown. I took in a short breath, and got myself set back together. 

"I'm, I'm sorry. That was - really unlike me." I stood up straight - his hands still clasped around my wrists. 

"Yeah, I'll say! What the fuck was that?!" Hank asked, standing behind my shoulder. 

"I - I don't know, Hank. I'm sorry." The truth dribbled out of my lips - and planted itself on Sean's emerald LED. It's so unnatural - but of course - it somehow seems to compliment his facial structure, and eyes. His wavering gaze traveled over to my LED blinking red. The lenses in his eyes twirled as his led bled back to a deeper blue. 

"God, your system just wont give you a break, huh? Connor - that deviancy detector is still rampant throughout your system. It's affecting your software still." His slender fingers grazed my LED. The gentle touch of his hand sent pulses throughout my skull. 

"How, are you able to do that?" I asked, reaching for his thumb - I felt the static. He looked down to our hands. 

"There are a lot of things I don't understand about Darrenger. It's an error somewhere that's letting me over produce electricity." He said, squeezing my hand to prove a point. I quickly snatched my hand back as the shock was about to start. 

"So, your LED is green - you can electrocute people - and now you can overpower Connor?" Hank asked, as Sumo waddled up to his knee, leaning his weight against him. 

"I know what else I can do." His pupils shrunk, and gaze darted to the ground. I tilted my head. 
"We have to get into the WTG station before Thursday. We need Kamski."

"Jack, are you fucking nuts?! There's no way we're going to get in there. Hell, we're probably not even going to get back into the states!" Hank shouted - seemingly annoyed that he would even suggest this. 

"He's our only chance to understand what the hell this new thing is!" Sean growled back, throwing down his hands. 

"Yeah? And how the hell do you think we're going to do that, smart-ass?" 

"What is your problem?!" Sean snapped. 

"You wanna know what's my problem?! I don't want to be here! I don't want to do any of this! I'm too damn old to be doing this kind of shit! I mean, for fucks sake, I'm in a different country! I'm wanted by just about everybody out there - and the three things I cared about the most are breaking down in front of my eyes! You two have more glitches than I count - and Sumo is getting too old to keep moving like this. Look at him! Look - look at my boy." Hank's rage melted into a depression as he sunk to a kneel to look at his ageing dog. 

I hadn't considered Sumo at all in this equation. Although his lips are constantly pulled in a smile - his eye lids are dropping and red. His gums are red and black. He has trouble standing for a long time, and he's starting to smell. He was so healthy a year ago. There is a lot of problems that come with age for a dog. I knelt down to him. His breath is raspy. My heart slowed. 

"He's so old, Connor. He's not going to be around for much longer. He's, my baby." Hank's breath hitched in a quiet sob. His shaking fingers intertwined in his dirty fur as he pulled him in for a closer hug. 

"Hey buddy." I whispered, scratching the back of the old dog's ear. A small grunt rumbled deep in his chest, and he breathed out a slobbering smile.

"I, don't want to do anything until Sumo is feeling better." Hank said, nose buried in his fur.

"Hank, we're not going to have time other wise. We need to get to Elijah. We can leave Sumo with Cade and come back once we have this figured out." Sean offered, standing over all three of us.

"I'm not leaving him in that house."

"Hank, please don't do this. I don't want to do this without you." There was a pleading crack in his voice.

Hank slowly breathed as he mentally decided what to do.

"You're going to have to go without me, son."

"What?! Hank, I can-"

"Jack, you wouldn't understand."

"No. I guess I wouldn't. I mean - why would I - a machine - understand anything about physical affection for something that will never fully understand you. No, you're right, I'm completely out of the loop." Sean's sarcasm birthed from a deep burrow of hurt and pain in his chest.

"Son-"

"NO! You're right! Who am I to understand!? Right?! I was built indestructible! I was built as a war machine! I. Was. Built. I don't NEED any affection. Sumo does - I get it." What started as a stomp turned into a slugs crawl as he tried to convince himself to leave without Hank.

"Jack I know you need love."

"NO! I don't - you, you don't know. You, don't. Goodbye, Hank. Be a good boy Sumo. Merry fucking Christmas." His anger, tear filled goodbye sent him out the door following a chorus of pitiful sobs, and angry groans.

The tension in the air suspended everything logical I had to say. I know what I'm going to do. I made a promise to Sean.

"We'll see you soon, Hank." I grabbed my jacket off of the bed, and walked towards the door.

"Take care of him, Connor. Tell him I love him. I don't care if he listens - just tell him."

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