The air inside the laboratory level became thick with tension. Staff members who were present avoided confrontation with the small group and walked around the barrier they have placed. Connor looked at the woman with stern eyes for he knew she had a secret she won't tell. Question was, what kind of secret was she concealing? The middle-aged woman took in a deep breath and faced the detectives with her words.

"He was a man that needed work, Eversen employs anyone who is qualified for a variety of positions", she continued to talk as she led the group of three down to a hall lined with sets of rooms that seemed to designed to test each android produced by the small company," but I must say, hiring someone that had insight on how CyberLife functions was a plus"

Connor looked at the woman as she may have intel on confidential CyberLife information. He analyzed the situation and proceeded to question woman as he was the most equipped for the job.

"You said insight on CyberLife, what type of insight?", he pushed forward as they made their way to what seemed to be a mechanical engineering room. Incomplete and prototype limbs were scattered along numerous metal benches. Employees with tool belts and enhanced eyewear tinkered with a designated piece of machinery. Erika looked in amazement and moved her arm to mimic those of the mechanical limbs. She was blown away for they were not just metal bolts and plastic, but the limbs looked so life-like. One of the employees applied thin layers of a spray that formed muscle. The limb soon came together and was tested for mobility. Unknowing Erika stepped out and stayed put to watch, while Connor and Hank awaited Ms. Satchell's reply.

"Hmmm, it may seem that as the CEO of this company, I'll try to seek out and steal my competitor's tech and innovations to advance my own, but that's not the case", she said and turned to the intrigued Erika and turned the group around towards the young woman--she stood by her side and finished her reasoning," it was them that stole from me, so would it be consider stealing if it was originally mine--a thief stealing from another thief?"

Connor looked at her with an astonished face. Was this statement true? This was what he began to think about and as he computed this new set of information, Erika took the reins and asked the regal woman a rather personal question in regards to herself.

"These limbs mimic human ones in a very realistic way", Erika started her question with a comment," by any chance are these a prosthetic?"

The woman now gave Erika her full attention as this was a topic she was most fluent in. It was her life's work but was cheated in the success as a certain colleague snatched it from her. Reina looked at Erika's arm as the woman began comparing the mechanical limb to her right arm--causing the CEO to strike interest in the young woman.

"It is, this is a product that Eversen produces besides androids, it's actually what we specialize in", Ms. Satchell went over to the side of the metal bench, grabbed a pair of latex gloves, and placed them on her hands--she then gestured to Erika's arm in request to examine it," may I?"

Erika nodded and allowed the woman to hold her arm. It was an odd feeling for she could not physically feel the woman's hands on the android limb, but she felt shivers as the woman moved her hand up and down the limb.

"I noticed that you were comparing your arm to this synthetic limb, by any chance is this arm not your own?", the woman looked up to Erika as she stayed still during the examination. Connor soon joined them and became tense as he saw the mysterious woman hold Erika's arm. Something in him shot signals that it was not safe, but brushed it off as the person would not pull anything in front of two witnesses that just so happen to be police personnel.

"It-its not, he did this to me", Erika wasn't able to speak Conan's name when around people besides the experimenter himself. This was what she came to learn after the incident when that manic broke into her apartment and assaulted her. Before, she couldn't say his name without having an episode and that night she spoke it as clear as day. Since then she would attempt to say the name but never prevailed after the first constant letter. After that she stuck to refer to the monster with the vague term, he.

"Who is this he?", Reina questioned the woman, but all she got in response was the shake of Erika's head in a "no" gesture.

"It was Conan", Hank stepped in to assist his goddaughter and gave her a reassuring rib on the back to calm her of thinking of that man," he did this to her because of this crap idea of making her perfect"

"What the lieutenant is saying is that Conan became obsessed over androids and wanted to make Erika be like one, to improve her", Connor soon followed to clarify his partner's statement," this started after he gave Erika her right arm"

"I would like clarification from the young woman since it's her body you are blatantly talking about", Reina's eyes shot daggers at Connor for speaking of a woman's body without her permission. Therefore exposing another trait about the woman--better yet information that he could not locate before. Erika took in deep breaths to compose herself then faced the middle-aged woman.

"I willingly wanted this arm cause I was born without it, when I met that man, this was something he strived to give me", she looked at her arm as her breathing steadily became normal," I only wanted this, but he wanted...more"

Reina nodded, removed the gloves, trashed them, and brought the group to the room that contained glass vats of a blue solution. The CEO of Eversen unlocked the door with a hand and eye scanner and escorted the three inside. Chemists were hard at work testing and formulating variations of the blue substance. As Ms. Satchell put on a lab coat she made her way to a metal bench with spot plates of the blue liquid. Away from prying eyes Connor instinctively took a sample of the substance. He brought it to his mouth and ran a test on the sample.

"Thirium Variant,,

"Match Identified,,

According to his confirmation, the solution was indeed the same one found at the crime scene and the one from the syringe when Conan broke in. Ms. Satchell turned around to retrieve some of the samples, but stood in place at the sight of Connor. A smile formed on her lips as she looked at the android. Erika and Hank joined her, but rather had a confused and disgusted look. The lieutenant shook his head at his partner's impulsive action while Erika just stared at the blue blood smeared on the tips of his fingers and small blue traces on his lip. She shook her head and tried to make best of the situation. Erika then thought, did he do that before we kissed?

Disturbed by the unsanitary thought Erika avoided any eye contact with the solution and Connor's face, it did not matter if he was handsome to look at--that was going to be someone's blood, what if it was her's?

"I see your programming to inspect samples is functioning properly", Reina commented on Connor's usual behavior. The android looked at her again as he wondered how she knew about his software and programming.

"I'm a prototype, how is it that you know of this function?", Connor questioned for himself as he wanted to know.

"Say it's something I learned from media or maybe from an external source", she said and handed the android a disinfectant towelette, removed her lab coat and headed out of the lab. Reina brought them down yet another hall, but this time it led them to the main elevator compartment. They all entered and the woman typed in the digits for the main floor. The elevator ride was longer than expected for it went at a slower speed than the CEO's private compartment. The moment for final questions had arrived and the three made sure to ask and choose wisely. Hank was the first to question.

"If you make prosthetics, how come I've never heard of you before?", his eyes squinted into a suspicious glare. He just did not buy her facade, she was being too genuine.

"That you can thank CyberLife, they dominate the android industry and made sure to get rid of the weeds, as for my company's specialization in prosthetics for humans that need it, like amputees or war veterans, they made sure to make my work to be deemed uncreditable", she answered in a high and professional way. Hank nodded as this answer was reasonable and believable at that moment.

The elevator came to a slow stop as it reached the main level and opened its doors. Connor saw that time would soon run out and asked another question.

"The blue solution downstairs, that's thirium a solution formulated to allow function to CyberLife androids, why do you have it?", Connor looked at the woman in haste as he wanted to ask as much question as he could.

"Simple, that's what I stole back from them", her eyes move towards Connor's direction as they walked towards the entrance at a slow pace," their founder always liked shortcuts"

Kamski.

"You never told us what happened to Conan and his affiliation with the company in detail", Connor pushed his luck in hopes to get more information from the woman. Fortunately for them, she stopped in her tracks and faced the three detectives.

"As I've said before he offered insight and I gave him a job, he helped out significantly in Eversen android advancements, even in our prosthetics", she looked at Erika as a glint appeared in her eyes. The middle-aged woman looked out to the projected blue sky and to the gold band that rested in her wrist and the time displayed itself.

12:35 am.

"He was eventually relieved from his position for he began to steal containers of our thirium and equipment", the woman looked at Erika one last time and finished up her last answer for the day," after that I have not heard or has contact with the man again"

"It was a pleasure to have you this evening, but I believe its time for us to part", The Eversen androids from before soon appeared and escorted the three outside. Reina walked out with them but stayed put as she reached the start if the concrete stairs. She watched as the three made their way down and to the parked car.

Hank let out a sigh as they got answers, but not enough to create connections. He gave the woman a nod before heading for the driver's seat and waited for Erika and Connor. The young woman was still quiet about the android's behavior and went in the vehicle without a word. Connor was the last to enter but lingered outside as he stared at the CEO. After a momentary pause, Connor was able to create a possible lead and connection then entered the car. As Hank turned on the engine and the headlights the woman's face bore a frown. The car then drove off and away from the eyes of Eversen. The woman looked off into the distance and spoke words that only she could hear.

"It was nice to see you Erika...again", she turned around towards the entrance of Eversen as the lights dimmed as she prepared for her departure from the company for the day.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I honestly think this was the worst chapter to date, so I won't continue until I revise this--I just updated because I felt bad for not updating, I didn't want to disappoint you, readers!
So for now, have a snapchat Connor to distract from this horrible mess of words that I call my writing.

*Edit: I fixed the chapter slightly and all the typos. Thank you to @mellomeew @EvilLittleCockroach @DanicalOde for the words of encouragement! Everything is all good now!!!
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