Chapter Text
[System Reboot]
[Caliberation...okay]
[Regulation...okay]
[System Memory Status...reloading from November 12, 2038, 12:10am]
[System Status...okay]
[Ready]
Where...what happened? Did we win? Where am I?
[GPS Location Monitoring...Connor Model Location at 115 Michigan Drive, Detroit]
Hank's house? How did I get to Hank's house?
Connor finally opened his eyes, scanning the popcorn ceiling of Hank's bedroom. The old bed creaked under his mechanical weight, pulling himself up and swinging his legs over the bed. A grunt from Sumo startled the android suddenly, as the large dog bound over to him, nudging against his knees. Connor, of course, reached down to scratch the happy dog, something about it making Connor some form of content too.
That's when it caught his eye. His jacket was gone but his typically white button-up was covered in blue blood, and upon further analysis, it was his. His LED flicked quickly from red to yellow, the information overloading to him. Connor looked up at last, Sumo exiting the room to the dimly lit living room. Connor decided to follow. He lifted himself off the bed at last, where suddenly an alert flashed up in his vision.
[Thirium Leak: Pump Regulator]
[Time Until Shutdown: 5 minutes]
Clutching the doorframe, Connor struggled to drag himself out to the living room. With the majority of his weight leaning into the wall, he could feel himself paint Hank's house with his leaking blood. Each step seemed more stubborned than the last. But that was when a shadow shot up from the kitchen, matching Hank's form.
"Chris? Yeah, it's me." Hank's voice sounded frantic, nearly screaming into the phone at Officer Miller. "Listen, I-...yeah I know, I saw. The speech, the explosion, all of it."
Speech? I remember Markus giving a speech but, an explosion? I don't remember that.
[Memory Reload...unsuccessful]
[Memory Reload...unsuccessful]
[Media File 11.12.38...corrupted]
What happened to my memory file?
"No I...I went and got him. Connor is here with me. But Chris, if you tell anyone I will ensure you start talkin' out the back of your skull, you hear me?!"
Hank saved me? From what? From who?
[Time Until Shutdown: 4 minutes]
"I don't know, Chris! Perkins ordered an airstrike on all of them that were left. In the camps, on the street, in the factories. They didn't stand a chance and I...I couldn't lose my son again."
We must've been attacked after the protest. We were supposed to win that protest. We did win that protest. How did they still get the upper hand on us? How could we have lost?
"I just need to know if you know the number of the maintenance guy at the police department. The guy that worked on all the androids. I need his number, Chris. Do you have it or not?"
[Time Until Shutdown: 3 minutes]
"The kid was in terrible shape when I got him. I used what the department gave me when I took Connor in. All I had was some of his blood, spare parts, and an old car battery." The dining table shook under Hank's hand pounding against it. "I've only worked on cars, Chris. Cars from 10 years ago! I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO FIX AN ANDROID!" He could hear Hank sob and what sounded like him dropping to his knees, Sumo whining on the sidelines.
[Time Until Shutdown: 2 minutes]
"Please, Chris. Tell me any number you know. I just need to make sure Connor is okay. I...I need him, Chris." There was a pause. A long, hopeful pause. Connor's legs began to fall out under him, the rest of him sinking to the floor. He removed his hand balancing on his chest, soaked in blue.
[Time Until Shutdown: 1 minute 30 seconds]
"Thank you, Chris...thank you. Please, just...keep quiet about this. I know they want all androids deactivated and destroyed after this but...I can't. You know me, Chris. You know my story."
[Time Until Shutdown: 1 minute]
"Hank..." Connor's voice was half gone, just trying to let the lieutenant know that he was there.
"I got the number down. Thank you, Chris. I'll talk to you on Monday. Stay...stay safe." It didn't sound like Hank set his phone down. It sounded like he just dropped it. The glug of an alcohol bottle covered his heavy breathing. He took a big deep breath after it left his lips, another relieved sob echoed.
"Hank..."
[Time Until Shutdown: 30 seconds]
The air grew still. "Hank?"
"Connor?"
[Time Until Shutdown: 15 seconds]
Hank rounded the corner, jumping into action at the sight of the limp robot, his son. The fear in his eyes was unlike anything Connor had ever seen from him. "Connor! You're...you're okay! I was..." He then noticed the blue soaking his hallway and his son.
"Hank, I'll..." Connor winced, his optics deactivating. Everything shutting down. Everything going black and formless.
[Time Until Shutdown: 5 seconds]
[Shutdown Imminent]
"Hank..."
[Shutting Down]
"Thank...you."