Chapter 6
Sunday, November 6th, 2038

❝ 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘯 𝘈 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘦 ❞

"The good news is, everything looks fine, nothing broken," the doctor noted, moving the small light away from Evangeline's nose. "Just some soft tissue damage, but that's the extent of it," he added, his tone reassuring as Eva nodded, dabbing at her nose with a tissue stained crimson from the persistent bleeding.

After nearly getting herself killed on the highway, Connor had carefully guided her off the perilous road, its demeanour unusually gentle, each step deliberate as if it were handling a delicate artefact. The android escorted her back to Hank, who remained silent and inscrutable, simply ushering her into the car without a word. Hank had then driven her straight to the hospital, where she found herself tasked with the first shift of what could only be described as babysitting duty—keeping an eye on the ever-watchful Connor, who seemed determined not to leave her side.

"Still hurts like a bitch," Eva remarked, wincing as she pulled the tissue away. "Any chance I could get something for the pain? Maybe Percocet, Roxicet, perhaps?"

The doctor eyed her sceptically. "We have your medical records, Evangeline. Given your history of substance abuse, I think we'll stick to Tylenol." He offered a thin-lipped smile, the kind that conveyed both sympathy and firmness, making it clear she wasn't fooling anyone.

"Worth a shot," Evangeline muttered under her breath, returning the doctor's strained smile with one of her own.

"Alright, I'll be back to clean your wounds," the doctor said, giving her a cursory glance before heading out the door.

"Wounds? As in plural?" Eva questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion as she watched the doctor's retreating figure vanish from sight before receiving an answer.

Evangeline sighed, leaning back in her chair, her mind replaying the chaotic events that had brought her here. The ache in her nose was a dull throb, a constant reminder of how close she had come to disaster.

The detective turned her gaze to Connor, who stood motionless by the wall, eyes shut as if in a state of suspended animation.

With a resigned shrug, she rose from her chair, discarding the blood-soaked tissue in a nearby bin. Stepping over to the mirror, she braced herself for the sight that greeted her. The reflection was worse than she had anticipated, grimacing as she took in her battered appearance. While she expected her nose to be busted, she hadn't noticed the black-and-blue bruise beginning to blossom around her eye. It was a harsh reminder of the kick she had taken to the face. Beneath her eye, a scratch marred her skin, red and slightly inflamed, with tiny droplets of blood forming at its edges. Her knees were a mess of cuts and bruises, and her new tights were now torn and ragged. Eva had no doubt there were more bruises scattered across her body, each a painful memento of her falls and pushes, her tailbone already protesting.

She was a soaked, bloodied mess, and it was only her first day back in the field. A sigh of frustration escaped her lips as she contemplated the possibility of being reprimanded by Fowler for her reckless behaviour.

Pushing the wet strands of hair from her face, she took a moment to compose herself before sauntering over to Connor. The android remained eerily still, as if frozen in time, just as unmoving as before.

"Hey," she called, trying to catch its attention. When it remained unresponsive, she snapped her fingers a few times in front of its face. "Hello? Earth to Connor? Anybody home?" she asked, curiosity tinged with a hint of concern.

Still, there was no reply. Eva's brow furrowed as she gently tapped its synthetic cheek with the palm of her hand. "You run out of batteries? System rebooting?" she quipped, a touch of wry humour in her voice. "Or did you decide to power off, Robo-cop?"

Connor remained unmoving, and Eva couldn't help but feel a pang of unease at its silence, wondering what might be going on inside the android's mind as she waited for any sign of response.

Evangeline gazed at the android, her expression hardening as she studied Connor. Unlike its usual blank or neutral demeanour, it appeared serenely calm, almost peaceful. Connor's eyebrows were slightly raised, its eyelids gently shut, lashes brushing softly against its cheeks. Its lips parted just enough to reveal a hint of teeth, giving it an oddly human vulnerability.

As Eva leaned in for a closer inspection, Connor's eyes snapped open, startling her. She jumped back with a sharp intake of breath.

"Jesus Christ, don't fucking do that! You scared the shit out of me," Eva exclaimed, clutching her chest to steady her racing heart.

Connor's LED flashed red momentarily before settling back to blue. "I apologize, Detective," it said, the apology tinged with confusion, not entirely sure what it was apologizing for.

Evangeline collapsed into the chair with a huff, twirling a strand of hair absently between her fingers as she lapsed into silence.

"Why did you do it?" Connor asked after a moment.

Eva turned her head, meeting its perplexed gaze. "What?"

"Why did you chase the deviants onto the highway?" Connor pressed, its voice tinged with genuine bewilderment as if it was grappling with something it couldn't quite grasp.

"It's my job," Eva shrugged, her tone defensive.

Connor shook its head slightly as if the concept eluded the android. "It was incredibly irresponsible. You could have harmed yourself or caused an accident, injuring civilians. Your chances of capturing the androids were only nine per cent. So why?"

Eva sighed deeply, rolling her head back until her neck cracked. "I need to prove I'm still useful," she admitted quietly. "I've been out for three months, and I feel incompetent. I thought if I showed I was still capable, maybe people would see I was too good for goddamn paperwork." Her eyes closed a mix of frustration and exhaustion etched on her face. "Maybe it would make me feel better."

Connor's response was measured, yet it struck a nerve. "You're highly impulsive. If you took a moment to think, you might avoid putting yourself in danger." It said, not intending to sound condescending, but Eva couldn't help but take it that way.

Eva's eyes snapped open, irritation flaring. "I'll keep that in mind, jackass," she retorted, turning away. "You also ran into oncoming traffic, so maybe you should fuck off with your advice."

"Only to ensure you didn't get yourself killed," Connor replied, the words slipping out almost unintentionally.

Eva's head whipped around, her eyes widening in surprise. Its expression suggested it hadn't meant to be so candid.

Before she could respond, the doctor reentered, breaking the tension. "Let's get these cleaned up for you," he said, his tone brisk and professional.

As the doctor tended to her wounds, Eva couldn't help but glance at Connor, who was nervously fidgeting with a coin. The brief vulnerability it'd shown lingered in her mind, a stark contrast to its usual calculated demeanour.

☆ ☆ ☆

The trio sat in Hank's car in tense silence. Hank's scowl deepened with each passing moment as he drove, his eyes fixed on the road, lips pressed into a grim line. Connor was unusually still in the back, while Eva slumped in the passenger seat, her head leaning against the window, eyes half-closed.

"What the fuck was that?" Hank suddenly bellowed, shattering the heavy quiet with his voice, like a sledgehammer on glass.

"A bike," Eva deadpanned, referencing the cyclist they had just overtaken, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You having one of those senior moments or something?"

"No, smartass, I mean on the highway," Hank growled, shooting a glare at her.

Eva didn't miss a beat. "Dunno, Hank. Got a raging death wish, I guess. Wanted to see how far I'd get before I was plastered all over the asphalt," she replied, her horrific sense of humour seeping through her words. But her attempt at levity fell flat, met with stony silence, eliciting zero amusement from her companions.

"Kill yourself in the comfort of your own home then," Hank grumbled, his voice unusually sombre, his tone also tinged with a sense of disapproval that cut through the air like a knife. "You could have seriously hurt other people. Don't be selfish."

"Real fuckin' compassionate, Hank," Eva snapped back, her tone thick with sarcasm again.

"Detective Demuro revealed her irrational actions stemmed from a need to prove herself," Connor suddenly announced from the back seat, its tone neutral.

Evangeline's head snapped around so fast it was a wonder it didn't unscrew. Her eyes blazed with fury. "You did not just fucking snitch on me, you prick!" she yelled, scarcely believing the android's audacity.

"I was unaware that our conversation was confidential, Detective," Connor responded calmly.

"You've got some fucking nerve, you mother fucking tattletale! I swear, I will rip out your circuitry if you don't shut your massive metal mouth," Eva fumed, her voice seething with rage. Her hand twitched as if she might leap into the backseat and toss Connor out of the damn window.

"Alright, kids, that's enough," Hank interjected his tone a mix of exasperation and bemusement. The fully intended humour in his voice only seemed to stoke Eva's ire, now divided equally between him and Connor. Hank had now earned himself a spot on Evangeline Demuro's hit list, right after Connor, of course.

Eva slumped back into her seat, muttering a string of curses under her breath. Her face was a storm of resentment as she glared at the road ahead, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Hank's grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles whitening. "What do you think you're proving out there, Eva? You're not invincible. You pull a stunt like that again, and you'll be more than a smear on the road. You'll be a damned liability."

"There are safer ways to prove yourself, you know," Hank remarked, his tone softening as he glanced sideways at Eva.

Eva let out a huff, her breath fogging up the window. "Sorry if the thought of my squashed carcass on the road almost gave you a heart attack."

"Trust me, I don't care enough about you to be traumatized," Hank replied, a faint, uneven smile playing on his lips.

"Fuck you, too," Eva shot back, her own smile just as crooked but genuine.

Before long, the dysfunctional trio pulled up across the road from a food truck. The mere thought of eating made Evangeline's stomach churn, but she certainly wasn't about to stop the lieutenant from getting lunch.

Hank was the first to leave the car, barely making it across the road unscathed as he was almost run down by a car, narrowly avoiding becoming a hood ornament for an impatient driver.

This prompted Eva to snort, not at the prospect of Hank getting run over, but at the sheer irony of it all.

She glanced over her shoulder, glaring at Connor before exiting the car herself, crossing the road with seemingly more finesse than Hank.

Arms crossed, Eva stood beside Hank as he finished placing his order. The vendor then turned his attention to her, eyeing her up and down with an unmistakable sense of lust. "And anything for the pretty lady?" he asked, a smile spreading across his face, his tone oozing with sleaze.

Evangeline's face contorted dramatically with disgust for a brief moment before she forced a sickly sweet smile. "A water," she said, fluttering her long lashes and started playing with her hair. "And if you call me that ever again, I'll taze your sack, you fucking creep," she added, dropping her voice to a lower tone, yet still as sweet, biting her pouty bottom lip.

The man's smile vanished in an instant as he mumbled a quick "got it" before busying himself with Hank's order.

Hank glared at her. "Cut that shit out. You're gonna get me banned."

"Don't surround yourself with assholes, then," Eva shot back, pulling her phone from her pocket to check her messages.

First was a text from Dr Westbrook checking when her next appointment would suit her. Then one from Lynn, asked how her first day back was going. Lastly, there was Dex, who inquired if he could stop by later, with a rather unsolicited dick pic to sweeten the deal.

Eva sighed softly, contemplating a response. She turned around, sensing a presence beside her, and found Connor standing uncomfortably close, its expression unreadable. She prayed it hadn't caught a glimpse of her phone.

"Are all androids this unaware of personal space, or is it just you?" Eva snapped. Connor took a step back, its reaction making her snort.

"Better."

"What is your problem?" Hank finally barked, only now registering Connor's sudden appearance. "Don't you ever do as you're told?" He glared at Connor, his face a picture of exasperation. "You don't have to follow us around like a poodle!"

Connor stared blankly at Hank, processing the accusation. After a beat, it replied, "I wanted to apologize to Detective Demuro for 'snitching' on her earlier. I didn't realize she didn't want anyone else to hear what we spoke about."

Eva mumbled a dismissive "Yeah, yeah," looking away, her voice tinged with irritation.

"And I apologize for my behaviour back at the station," Connor continued, turning its gaze to Hank. "I didn't mean to be unpleasant."

"Kiss ass," Eva muttered, a hint of amusement colouring her tone.

Hank's gruff voice carried a note of mirth. "Oh wow, you've even got a brown-nosing apology program," he chuckled. "CyberLife really thought of everything, huh?" He sucked in a breath, shaking his head slightly. Connor's brow furrowed ever so slightly in response.

The food truck vendor slid Hank's order across the counter, avoiding eye contact with Eva as he pushed her water towards her. They both muttered their thanks before making their way to a small table sheltered by a wide umbrella, Connor trailing behind.

"Don't leave that thing here," the truck guy called out, pointing at Connor.

"Not a chance. It follows us everywhere," Hank replied, half-jokingly. True to his word, Connor dutifully followed them to the table. "See?"

Eva shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips as she leaned her elbows on the table. She took a sip of her water, watching the rain splatter on the pavement.

As the trio settled under the umbrella, Connor finally spoke up, its voice cutting through the patter of raindrops. Eva turned her head towards it, curious despite herself.

"Your meal contains 1.4 times the recommended daily intake of calories and twice the cholesterol level," the android informed Hank, stated matter-of-factly. Eva raised an eyebrow at its commentary. "You shouldn't eat that."

"Alright, Michelle Obama," Eva quipped, stifling a laugh.

"Everybody's gotta die of something," Hank grumbled, not pausing in his mission to finish his meal.

"By that logic, I'd be on so many drugs right now," Eva muttered into her straw. Hank shot her a sideways glance. She caught it and quickly added, "Joking."

Connor turned to Eva, it's head tilting slightly. "What about you, Detective? Aren't you hungry?"

Evangeline shook her head, her voice tinged with dry humour. "I'm a vegetarian. Plus, near-death experiences tend to kill my appetite."

Connor's gaze shifted back to Hank, its tone lowering conspiratorially. "I don't want to alarm you, Lieutenant, but I think your friends are engaged in illegal activities." Eva, having missed the earlier exchange while distracted by a rather inopportune text from her sort-of, sort-of-not boyfriend, raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

Hank shrugged nonchalantly. "Everybody does what they gotta do to get by. As long as they're not hurting anyone, I don't bother them." Eva found herself grudgingly admiring Hank's laissez-faire attitude and pragmatic outlook.

Connor paused, considering Hank's response before speaking again. "Can I ask you a personal question, Lieutenant?" To which he gave a hesitant nod.

"Why do you hate androids so much?" Connor's question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.

Eva winced internally, bracing for Hank's response, sensing the potential for conflict.

Hank's face hardened. "I have my reasons," he said flatly, his voice tight. Eva couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with the personal tragedy he had endured in recent years.

Connor, after a short moment, looked between them. "Is there anything you'd like to know about me?"

Eva, seizing the moment, shot back, "Why are you such a pain in the ass?"

Hanks's response was immediate. "Hell no." He paused, reconsidering. "Well, yeah. Why did they make you look so goofy and give you that weird voice?"

Connor's gaze remained unblinking as it replied, "CyberLife androids are designed to work harmoniously with humans. Both my appearance and voice were specifically designed to facilitate my integration."

Hank nodded along as if enlightened. "Well, they fucked up," he deadpanned, sending Eva into a fit of laughter

"I dunno, I'd hit it," Eva teased, taking a casual sip of her water, making Hank nearly choke on his drink. Connor blinked at her, confusion written across the android's synthetic face. "I'm joking!"

"Don't start with that shit," Hank groaned, shaking his head, while Eva grinned mischievously.

Connor interrupted the awkward silence with its characteristically even tone. "Perhaps I should share what we know about deviants?"

Eva groaned, fishing a pack of Marlboro Reds from her jacket pocket. "You read my mind," Hank muttered sarcastically, his eyes shifting to Eva as she lit a cigarette. "Absolutely not, not while I'm eating. Go cripple your lungs over there," he grumbled.

"Asshole," Eva muttered under her breath, grabbing her water and stalking over to a bench. She settled into the rain-soaked seat, cigarette smoke curling around her like a defiant halo.

While she sat there, Eva couldn't quite catch the conversation between Hank and Connor, but she observed them closely. She then popped open the lid of her half-drunk water and pulled out a flask from the inside of her jacket, pouring vodka into the cup until it brimmed, looking full again.

Taking a long drag on her cigarette, she exhaled, watching the smoke dissipate into the damp air. When she glanced back, Connor and Hank were staring at her, mid-conversation, Hank's face unusually concerned. She couldn't shake the feeling they were talking about her, though what about, she had no idea.

Stubbing out her cigarette on the wet pavement, she sauntered back to the pair, curiosity piqued. "What are you jerkoffs talking about?" she asked, her tone light but inquisitive.

"Taxes," Hank stated, which made Eva look at him with absurdity written all over her face.

"Really? Taxes? That's what you came up with?" Eva crossed her arms, looking between the two.

"Yep, nothing more riveting than a good old tax discussion," Hank deadpanned, stuffing a bite of his meal into his mouth.

Connor, unfazed, added, "Lieutenant Anderson was explaining the intricacies of property tax laws in Michigan."

Eva snorted, shaking her head. "You guys are impossible."

Hank swiftly turned to Connor, eager to shift the conversation. "So, you must've done your homework, huh? Know everything there is to know about us?"

Eva took a sip of her spiked water, glancing over at Connor with a raised eyebrow.

Connor began with Hank, its gaze steady. "I know you graduated top of your class and made a name for yourself in several high-profile cases, becoming the youngest lieutenant in Detroit. You've received numerous accolades but have also racked up several disciplinary warnings in recent years and, statistically, spend a significant amount of time in bars."

"Sick burn," Eva murmured, using the term with a heavy dose of irony, unable to resist adding her two cents.

Connor then turned its attention to Eva, who was now eyeing the android over the rim of her cup. "You're relatively new to the precinct, graduating from the Detroit Police Academy in 2035. Despite that, you've proven to be a talented detective, even with your past and-...ongoing struggles with substance abuse." It paused, pointedly glancing at the cup in her hand.

Eva's mouth twisted into a smirk. "Love how you just slide that in there, robo-bitch."

"So, what's your conclusion?" Hank asked, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.

Connor looked at them both, its tone softening. "I know you're both gifted officers. I'd like to earn your trust. I'm confident we can solve this case if we manage to work together." For a moment, Eva was taken aback by the earnestness in its voice. It was the most human she'd ever heard the android sound, and it made her pause.

Connor's LED flickered yellow, indicating incoming data. It blinked as if resetting.

"You okay there? Cataracts kicking in?" Eva teased.

Connor's gaze refocused. "I just received a report of a suspected deviant a few blocks away. We should go check it out."

"I'll let you finish your meal. I'll be in the car," Connor nodded slightly before heading back to the vehicle.

Evangeline watched it walk away, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"You're not slick, by the way," Hank muttered, breaking her reverie.

Eva turned her gaze to Hank, silently urging him to continue.

"You reek of vodka," he said, tossing his trash into a nearby bin. "Pull yourself together. We've got work to do."

☆ ☆ ☆

"You know, it might actually do you some good," Evangeline suggested, leaning against the wall of the painfully slow elevator, ascending the building at the speed of a tranquillized snail. "Maybe you wouldn't be such a grumpy pain in the dick if you gave therapy a shot."

"Hell no," Hank grumbled, staring into the distance. "I'm not paying some shrink $280 to sit there and show me inkblots that all look like dicks."

Evangeline's face contorted into confusion, utterly baffled into silence for a moment. "Uh," she mumbled, trying to find her words. "I think that says more about you than it does about therapy."

"Great, we're here," Hank muttered as the elevator doors finally opened. He stepped out, with Evangeline trailing behind, shaking her head. She quickly noticed Connor had frozen up again, eyes closed just like back at the doctor's office.

"What the fuck is wrong with him now?" Hank exasperated, stopped in the hallway.

"It," Eva corrected, to which Hank only replied with grumbled agreement.

"Hey, Connor!" Hank shouted. Connor's eyes snapped open. "You run outta batteries or what?"

"I was making a report to CyberLife," Connor explained, its gaze flicking between them.

"Ah," Hank hummed, expecting Connor to step out of the elevator. When it didn't, Hank raised an eyebrow. "Well, you planning on staying in there? Hank questioned sarcastically.

"No," Connor stated rather defensively, in a somewhat childish way. "I'm coming,"

Eva snickered at the unintentional double entendre, though the android seemed oblivious.

As they walked toward the apartment where their suspected deviant was hiding out, Eva grimaced at the grimy state of the hallway, gazing at the filth that coated the hallway, stepping carefully to avoid the worst of it.

"What do we know about this guy?" Hank asked, his eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway.

"Not much," Connor replied, summarizing the scant details they had. "A neighbour reported strange noises from this floor. No one's supposed to be living here, but the neighbour claims he saw a man hiding an LED under his cap."

"Well, no offence," Eva interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "but this place looks like a goddamn crack den. I wouldn't be surprised if that same neighbour was hallucinating a talking teaspoon."

As Connor kneeled down to inspect something on the ground, Eva turned away, half expecting to catch the android doing something it shouldn't, like shoving evidence in his mouth again.

"Oh, Christ, if we had to investigate every time someone hears a strange noise, we're gonna need more cops," Hank remarked, leaning against the door frame.

"Hey, were you really making a report back there in the elevator?" Hank asked, his curiosity piqued. "Just by closing your eyes?"

"Correct," Connor confirmed without looking up.

Eva placed a hand on her hip, watching Connor closely. "So, that's what you were doing in the hospital? What were you reporting?"

"Our failure to capture the AX400 and the YK500," Connor stated. Eva raised an eyebrow, sensing it wasn't telling the whole story.

"Shit, wish I could do that," Hank muttered as Connor approached the door.

"Technology's advancing every day, Anderson," Evangeline teased, nudging Hank. "Maybe one day you'll catch up."

Connor knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the deserted hallway.

When there was no response, Connor turned to Hank and Eva, silently asking for their next move. Both shrugged.

"What'd I say, crazy crackheads," Eva mumbled.

Connor knocked again, this time harder, its fist thudding against the door. "Anybody home? Detroit Police!"

As the echoes faded, a loud crash from inside the apartment made everyone freeze. Hank stepped forward, motioning for Connor to stay back. The android looked at Eva, who was about to offer to kick down the door herself, but Hank cut her off with a powerful kick, the door flying open with a heavy grunt.

Weapons drawn, Hank and Evangeline cautiously stepped through the doorway, their eyes scanning the dim interior. Ahead, a trio of closed doors awaited them, each one a potential hazard.

Eva took point, methodically pushing open two doors. Both were empty, revealing only walls covered in optical illusion-like graffiti. "Ready?" she whispered to Hank, her voice tense as they approached the final, firmly shut door.

With a single nod from Hank, Eva braced herself and shoulder-barged the door open. The door swung wide, and her bravado quickly turned to surprise as something flew toward her, causing her to stumble backwards and land unceremoniously on her ass as a flurry of shapes hurtled toward her.

"What the fuck is this?!" Hank's voice rang out, his shock mirroring Eva's as he helped her back to her feet.

Eva blinked in disbelief as she took in the scene before her. Pigeons—yes, pigeons—were flapping around the room, cooing and pecking at the floorboards as if they owned the place. "Fucking pigeons?!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of incredulity and annoyance.

Hank grimaced, lifting his forearm to cover his nose. "Christ, this place reeks!" he growled, stepping gingerly through the debris-littered room, hoping the stench would be less oppressive near the window.

Carefully stepping around the flapping birds, Eva couldn't help but feel like she had stumbled into some bizarre alternate reality. The detective navigated around the squawking birds, who parted like the avian Red Sea as she moved, the pigeons seeming to part ways for her as if recognizing her authority—or maybe they just didn't want to be stepped on, their beady eyes following her every step. With a quick glance at Hank, who was now gulping in fresh air by the window, she headed towards the bathroom.

Inside, the sight stopped her cold. The walls were covered with the manic scrawl of "Ra9" repeated thousands of times. It was a sight she had seen before—in the house of Carlos Ortiz, and again in the abandoned house where they found the rogue androids hiding.

The mention of Ra9 sent a chill down Eva's spine. The android who had murdered Ortiz had spoken of Ra9 as if it were some kind of saviour, a figure that would deliver them from their suffering. But what exactly was Ra9? A virus? A glitch? A deviant? The first deviant? The questions swirled in Eva's mind, but no answers presented themselves. The word seemed to be everywhere, a chilling mantra among the deviants.

In the background, she could hear Hank and Connor discussing a notebook and a fake ID, their voices muffled by the oppressive air in the bathroom. Eva's eyes fell on a knocked-over stool and a marker on the floor. She crouched, brushing her fingers against the wet ink smudged on the tiles. This had to be the source of the loud crash they'd heard earlier—the android, mid-mania, had probably fallen while scribbling.

Connor entered the bathroom, its LED flickering as he took in the scene. Eva stood, wiping her inky fingers on her jacket.

"Any idea what it means?" Hank asked from the doorway, his gaze fixed on the wall of obsessive writing.

"Ra9," Connor replied, its voice steady. "Written 2,471 times. It's the same thing Ortiz's android wrote on the shower wall."

"It was in the house on Ravendale, too," Eva added, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the letters.

"Why are they so obsessed with this sign?" Connor mused aloud, more to itself than to others. It's brow furrowed, and it's LED spun yellow as
It tried to process the significance.

Evangeline leaned over the sink and immediately recoiled. "Oh, what the fuck!" she exclaimed, her face contorting with disgust as she gagged. The sink was a grotesque mess, clogged with decaying leaves and soaked in blue blood.

Connor joined her, with its usual analytical calm as they both peered into the repulsive mess.

"Is that an LED?" Eva asked, pointing to the small, circular piece of metal discarded beside the sink. Connor nodded in confirmation.

"So, the android tore it out? Making it look exactly like a human?" Evangeline muttered, her mind racing with implications. "Damn, that seems like one hell of a pretty big oversight."

"CyberLife couldn't have anticipated something like this happening," Connor replied evenly, causing Eva to nod in reluctant agreement.

Without hesitation, Connor dipped its fingers into the sink, collecting some of the thirium and licking the blue liquid from its fingertips.

"Jesus Christ, Connor! I thought we agreed you wouldn't do that again!" Eva exclaimed scornfully, turning away in revulsion.

Connor, unfazed, looked at her. "Now I know its model number."

Eva rolled her eyes. "I'm sure there were other ways to find out." She exited the bathroom, joining Hank by the window. Meanwhile, Connor turned its attention to a birdcage in the corner.

Hank, looking more worn out than usual, exhaustion etched into every line of his face, grumbled. "I think it's time to call it a day,"

Eva watched as Connor's gaze shifted to the ceiling, her own eyes following the androids. Above them was a gaping hole. "Hold on, I think it's onto something," she said, her curiosity piqued.

Funny, Eva thought, how two out of three androids they'd investigated so far had hidden in the roof. She was still pondering this when a sudden movement drew her attention. A figure leapt from the ceiling, crashing into Connor and sending the android sprawling to the floor. Pigeons scattered wildly, their frantic flapping filling the room.

The android bolted from the apartment, and Eva was immediately on its tail, her determination driving her forward. This time, she was going to catch it, no matter what.

Despite her determination, Eva struggled to keep up. Connor, with its superior speed and agility, quickly overtook her. But Eva refused to give up. She pushed through the pain in her muscles and the burning in her lungs, taking safer but longer routes while Connor pursued the android with reckless abandon, leaping off buildings and trains.

The chase was a blur of adrenaline and noise. Eva could hear the android's footsteps echoing ahead of her and Connor's relentless pursuit. Every breath was a fight, every step a test of her resolve.

Just when she thought she might lose sight of them, Eva rounded a corner and saw the android falter. Connor was closing in fast. She gathered her remaining strength and sprinted forward, her eyes locked on the fleeing figure. This time, she wouldn't let it slip away.

Eva sprinted after Connor through the open expanse of a lavender field, the fragrant purple blooms a surreal contrast to their urgent pursuit. As they resurfaced on the other side, she watched in horror as the deviant android shoved Hank, sending the lieutenant teetering over the edge of the building. Connor, without hesitation, rushed to Hank's aid, hauling him back to safety. With Hank secure, Eva zeroed in on the android, her determination unbroken.

As they neared the building's edge, Eva launched herself at the android, tackling it to the ground in a fierce struggle. Grappling for control, she finally managed to snap a handcuff around the android's wrist and the other around her own. "You're not getting away this time, bastard," she panted, breathless but triumphant.

Connor and Hank, catching up, looked on in astonishment. Eva had not only subdued the android but also ingeniously cuffed it to herself.

"Alright, move your ass," Eva snarled, her voice steely as she dragged the android towards them.

"Save me, Ra9," the android muttered desperately, eyes wild as it twisted back towards the ledge. In a frantic burst of strength, it yanked Eva, dragging her to the building's edge. She toppled flat, her wrist dangling perilously as the android hung over the side, the cuffs digging into her skin with agonizing pressure.

Eva's scream echoed as the dead weight threatened to snap her wrist. Connor and Hank scrambled to pull her back, but their combined strength was barely enough to counteract the android's hanging weight.

Eva's heart raced as she locked eyes with the android, who had produced a pocket knife. With horrifying determination, it began sawing through its own wrist. "No, wait, stop!" Eva shouted, her voice raw with panic, but it was too late. The android severed its hand, plummeting into the void.

Freed from the weight, Eva flew backwards, crashing into Hank and Connor as they hauled her to safety. Scrambling to her knees, she rushed, crawling to the ledge, staring in shock at the mangled remains of the android far below.

"Jesus Christ," Hank muttered, grimacing as he peered over the edge at the gruesome scene.

The adrenaline slowly ebbed as the three of them stood at the building's edge, gazing down at the twisted wreckage of the android on the pavement far below.

Connor knelt beside Evangeline, its LED flickering a concerned yellow. "Are you alright, Detective?"

Eva cradled her bruised wrist, her breath coming in heavy bursts. She could still feel the phantom pressure of the android's weight, the metal cuff digging into her skin. "Yeah, just peachy," she managed, her voice strained.

— 𝗩𝗮𝗹