Game over, try again.

Gavin watched the aftermath of the failed revolution that evening on TV, even though, he hadn't turned that thing on in years. He remembers looking at all the dead android bodies and thinking, how they look almost human. It was a blood bath, with many casualties on both sides and he does hate androids , but the sight still made his stomach turn. He thought back to all the peaceful things they have done and interactions of the plastic prick and Hank, he felt something in him change. There was no time to dwell on any feelings he might have had, as work got extremly hectic and he dove himself into it with joy. It was especially difficult as Anderson didn't come to work the first few days and after searching his home, has been declared missing, which was another capable policeman less.

Despite how much Gavin hated Hank's drinking habits, privileges and his guts in general, he admitted Hank to be a very decent cop. He was certainly better than the carbon copies of Connor that DPD recieved few months after the revolution. He has never seen the original Connor again and knew better than to ask Captain Fowler, who was always on edge these days. He too, recieved a Connor of his own. The android was different, despite the face being jarringly similar to Connor's. He had a different jacket, was taller, and had cooler eyes. Gavin knew about this change and so he wasn't surprised when the android introduced itself to him one early morning. It still made him sour.

"Good morning detective Reed. I am model RK900 serial number 203-853-771. I have been assigned as your utility android. You may use me as you please." said the android in a flat, annoying tone.

"Yeah, okay Connor or tincan or whatever your name is. I don't need any utility tool." Gavin waved his hand, already too sleep deprived to deal with this bullshit.

"I regret to inform you, that I do not have a name. As per new policy of RMC, no androids have names, as only sentient beings can be named." corrected him the android, still maintaining a flat voice.

Gavin awkwardly scratched his nose. "Oh yeah, that's right... So I just call you RK900?"

"If you wish so."

"Alright RK900," said Gavin, putting stress on the android's model number. "You can fuck off and bring me coffee."

Just like more than a year ago, the android turned on its heel and brought him a coffee, although this time, Gavin had to resist thanking him and just went to work at his desk. He tried ignoring the android while taking care of some paperwork, but that was soon impossible, when he recieved a lead for some runaway abuser that has been sighted in a motel. The android automatically followed him until Gavin stopped him.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" he asked, already irked.

"I am following you to help out with the investigation." answered the android calmly.

"I don't think so. I don't need your help." He sneered at the taller android.

"If you will use me or not depends entirely on you, but I am a tool and it wouldn't be wise to cripple your investigation by refusing to use the best tools."

Gavin shook his head exasperately and jabbed his finger in the android's chest. "Stop acting like you're better than me!" He hissed. "I know you're here to learn from me and eventually replace me. But I have something you don't, humanity."

The android replied passively, which just pissed Gavin off that much more. "I assure you detective, I am not going to replace you and I am well aware of my lack of humanity and emotions. I am just a machine following orders and that's exactly what I'll do."

Thinking about the disciplinary action that would be taken, Gavin thought twice about damaging the new android and instead grumbled "Fine." , letting it follow him. Gavin never really liked cars, but he definitely would have bought one if he knew, he would have to share a motorcycle with and android one day.

"If you are uncomfortable with me holding onto you, I can be the one to ride the motorcycle." Offered the android nonchalantly. Gavin's mind immediatly revolted at the thought that someone else would be riding his old friend.

He just waved his hand and put on a helmet. "Whatever, just get on." he got on the motorbike and waited for the android to get on carefully as well. He clicked his tongue annoyedly, when the android's hands barely touched him. "Don't fall off stupid tin can." He moved his hands to be safely gripping his waist.

"I agree, that would be counterproductive." Now ready to start, they sped off, Gavin mentally remembering the map and directions to their destination. This whole situation was bizzare to him. Sure, he hated androids, but after the massacre, he couldn't look the new models in the eye, always thinking about what happened to their predecessors. He was also, like many others, suspicious of how fast Cyberlife managed to produce these new models and rebrand as RMC. It made the deviancy problem seem really insignificant and fixable, even though, it was a really huge deal just a year and a half ago. But the society was on the verge of collapsing after all the android death, so there was a really small time window for Cyberlife to resell their product to the public.

His mind stopped this thread of thoughts and stored it until he had more time, as now they have arrived and had to focus on the investigation. He parked his bike close to the entrance of the motel and moved to go inside to reception, already making eye contact with the receptionist through the glass door, but was stopped by a hand, which turned out to be RK900's.

"Detective, we should secure the perimeter first. In case the suspect is still around and about to escape." Said RK900 convincingly and Gavin failed to see a fault in his reasoning.

As much as he hated having to work with him, he cared about his job too much, to let his pride get in the way. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright, you do that, and I'll talk to this guy." and pointed and the receptionist.

RK900 skimmed over him for a second and then nodded. "Understood." he turned on his heel and went to go around the building turning his head left and right like a security camera. Gavin just sighed frustratedly again and turned to enter the reception. The reception had a glass door and a window watching the entrances to rented  rooms. Gavin took out his badge and flashed it at the receptionist. "Detective Gavin Reed, you called the police station about sighting a wanted person. Can you tell me what you saw?"

The receptionist nervously wrung his hands at Gavin's strict and direct tone. "Well, you see detective... I am not entirely sure it's him, it just kind of looked like the picture and I wanted to be sure and didn't really expect a detective to come and-"

"It's okay, just tell me what happened." Gavin ordered him impatiently. He should be more professional when dealing with civilians, but the android's presence set him on edge.

"I- sorry. He came in probably half an hour ago and booked a room. I haven't seen him since. I don't even know if he's still in there or if he left." Answered the poor man quickly, not wanting to be yelled at again.

Gavin nodded. "Could you give me a spare key to his room? I don't want to kick your door in if I need to get in."

"Ah certainly!" The receptionist reached under the counter and grabbed a key, dropping it to Gavin's outstretched hand. Suddenly, his hand recoiled and he looked behind Gavin in mild horror. Gavin swiftly turned around, ready to pull out his weapon, if needed, but it was just the android, entering the room. "What is that thing doing here??" Gavin looked back at him, to see, how uneasy the man was. Androids caused a huge uproar and even a year and half later, some people were still scared of androids turning violent again.

"It's a new protocol. Please, pay me no mind, as I am just detective's asset." said the android, before Gavin could open his mouth, which made him glare at the damned thing,which adressed him directly next. "Detective, if you would please." He motioned to the door.

Gavin wanted to retort with something nasty, but decided against it in front of an already frightened man and instead, just walked out, waiting for RK900 to do the same. "What the fuck?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth, when the doors were properly shut. "I'm the one giving orders around here and not you. So stop bossing me around you plastic prick!"

The android blinked twice and then nodded his head. "I apologise. It will not happen again."

He shook his head and huffed, but the android didn't say anything more, so he started. "I have a key to his rented room and some info, what have you got?"

RK900 shook his head lightly. "I didn't find anything out of the ordinary. I looked into a security camera on the streetcorner and although the image was blurry, it is possible, he is the person we are looking for."

Gavin's mind processed the information, but still stopped at one important fact. "Wait, did you hack into a security camera or something?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Well, yes and no. DPD has access to the public security camera network, but I did speed up the process. I apologise for acting without your prior knowledge." He said again, truly sounding sorry. Or as sorry as a machine can sound.

Gavin waved his hand. "It's fine this time. Just don't do it again, without telling me." He rearranged his thoughts and got back on track to catching the perp. "Alright, let's go check this guy out."

"Um, Detective? May I make a suggestion?" asked the android quietly.

Gavin clicked his tongue. "Spill it."

"I saw one of the windows open at the back of the building and there's a high possibility it leads to suspect's room. I recommend one of us securing it in case he tries to escape. Preferably me."

Gavin felt a small fire raging inside him get hotter with each calm and collected word from its mouth. "And if he decides to launch a surprise assault and I have no one to back me up? No way. You're staying with me."

It seemed the android still had something to say, but it kept its mouth shut and simply nodded. Gavin, finally satisfied a little went up the stairs and searched for room number 69. He would have made a childish joke, if there was anyone to laugh at it. He found the room and knocked. "Detroit police. Open the door, we want to ask some questions." They heard a loud thud and Gavin flashed a look at RK900, before trying the door and immediatly ramming the key into it after finding out it's locked. He twisted it twice and grabbed his gun, before hiding behind a wall and opening the door. He approached the opening between doors and wall carefully and slowly opened it wider. Sounds of hustling could be heard from inside and another thud on the carpeted floor followed by a swear. Gavin opened the door all the way to see the man they were looking for trying to climb out of the window.

"Stop right there!" He fired a warning shot at the wall next to the window, but that just scared the perp and he fell out of the window successfully with a small shriek. They ran to the window, only to see him get up and start running away. Gavin didn't hesitate and nimbly jumped out the window after him, almost breaking his leg. He got up in pain and started running after the guy, but the android was faster and without any pain or injuries hindering it, it caught up with the guy in a matter of minutes. Gavin found them wrestling on the ground, the android having the upper hand.

"Detective, if you would please." The android nodded his head towards the suspect's hands he was holding down. Gavin quickly fished out handcuffs he always had to have on him and cuffed his hands.

"You have the right to remain silent and all that, but we'll be taking you in." He said mildy angrily. The android lifted the perp, still tossing himself. "I'm gonna call someone with a car, we can't transport him on a bike."

"I can do it for you detective. It might be faster that way." Offered the android, paying no mind to the guy trying to escape his iron grasp and completely ignoring his profanities.

Gavin lifted a brow. "What? Will you call them like a telepath, submitting your thoughts through their phones?"

The android inclines his head to the side. "You're not far off detective. I can send a text message to the nearest patrol car. In fact, there is one that is a five minute drive from us."

Gavin blinked at him confusedly "What the fuck.."

"Shall I contact them, detective?"

"Uh yeah, sure." He watched the android blink rapidly and then nod, indicating they have been contacted. Gavin made an unsure grimace, but let it be and hoped, that the weird android message worked, instead focusing on the slowly subsiding pain in his leg. His jump was good, but he slipped on something, probably a rock and shifted most of his weight on his right leg, which is why it hurt so much when he fell.

"It is unadvised to risk your own health chasing a suspect, when you have me at your disposal." noted the android all of sudden, looking at his leg as well.

"I don't need your help, I would do fine by myself!" Gavin protectively crossed his arms and glared at it.

"Of course, detective Reed. But it is a risk to your health which could be avoided. I am replaceable. You are not."

Gavin paused at the self-depricating sentence and before he could think it through, a cop car stopped near them. He then got distracted by sorting everything out and having the suspect be escorted to the police station. He only started paying attention to the android when it was time for them to return too and the android was already waiting by his motorcycle. It made him slightly uneasy again and he failed to think of something to say, so he just got on, waiting for it to do the same. His mind started bothering him during the whole ride and by the time they parked, he had to say something.

"Um, hey, look.." He took off his helmet and put it in his lap, still sitting on the bike. "It was rude of me to call you plastic prick and all that, but well, you need a name." Ah fuck, great going Gavin! Can't even apologize to a fucking machine. He's not human, so it should be fine, you dumb idiot.

RK900 tilted his head. "Detective, you are aware of the law saying, I shall have no name, correct?"

"Dammit, yeah! But it's annoying to always say RK900 whatever your serial number is everytime I need to call you."

The android hummed and put a finger on his lips, which made him look surprisingly human. "I suppose it is a mouthful. In any case, you can call me whatever you like, so plastic prick and tin can are fine too."

Gavin shook his head, growing more aggravated at himself and the android alike. "Nah, that won't do."

"Then.. May I suggest something?"

"Go ahead."

"People usually give nicknames to other people, if their names are too long or difficult to pronounce. It is done by taking out an element of the name and creating something simple and easy to remember."

"Yeah.. hmm RK900.. How about Nines? That sounds pretty catchy." asked Gavin with mild enthusiasm.

"As I said, you may call me whatever you please."

Not wanting to get discouraged, Gavin clasped his hands and decided to keep it. "Alright then, Nines it is." he stood up and propped up the motorbike, so it doesn't fall,pocketing his keys. "Now that that's figured out, let's get back to work."

************************

Hello everyone who has taken the time to read the first chapter of this mess. I would like to thank you for your time and ask that you give me any and all criticism you might have. It's all welcome as it helps me get better at writing and bringing you better reading experience. I've recently started writing this story again but I don't like where it's going, so once I finish this version I will probably go back and rewrite it later. So keep in mind this is the first draft and if you have ideas of how to improve the story, don't hesitate to dm me!