"Oh lord won't you cut me down. 'Cause the devil's at my heels. Got me hiding in the shadows screaming. Somebody set me free Oh brother won't you take me now? 'Cause there's a darkness I see. Lord strike me down, down!"

- Take Me Now by Extreme Music


9 MONTHS LATER

August 4, 2039

"You can't screw a man in the ass and then expect him to buy you flavors!"

The well-known and wise words of Hank Anderson boomed across the room of Detroit City's Museum.

"Enough with the life lessons, Anderson. I get it!" Sergeant Reed stroked his forehead as the nagging feeling of, yet another migraine was approaching. "Remind me again how the actual fuck did I get stuck in this investigation with the likes of you two idiots?"

"Well, if you insist."

Connor stopped analyzing the dead body in the center of the open space of the exhibit. This was a history museum and had many different types of battle gear presented on display. Which also meant that seeing the murder weapon to be a medieval sword was no surprise for the detectives.

"You deliberately punched your last partner in the face, twice, which resulted in you getting a two week suspension, you pissed off Captain Fowler by not apologizing for your behavior, and you lost your car keys. Forcing you to have no other options than to assist us with this homicide." Connor flat out said.

"And that's just the tip of the iceberg." Hank added while crossing his arms.

"Hey, it's not my fault every rookie that gets partnered up with me is a fucking retarded microwave." Since the new rules and regulations have been put out to encourage humans and deviants to work together on cases in hopes of forming an understanding and defusing hostility against androids, Gavin has since then struggled to gain a deviant partner.

Both Hank and Connor dismissed the rude comment. Hank turned to the case at hand while he eyed the scene of the crime "What ya got, Connor?"

The RK800 moved closer and kneeled near the lifeless body. "The victim was a male deviant who was reported missing approximately two months ago. Cause of death was this sword straight though his essential biocomponent. The thririum pump."

"So, he was stabbed through the heart."

"Correct."

"But that still doesn't tell us how he got here."

"The CCTV cameras showed that there were overnight androids on cleaning duty. There were five in total. And only one was left behind after the break in."

"Left for dead." Gavin said and exhaled. "Figures."

"Seems like it." Hank let his gaze over the room. Presentation of gear, tools and weapons all broken and scattered out over the floor. Blue blood splattered near the victim and the two iron weapons. "So, whoever kidnapped this guy probably took the others. And since he's dead tells us he must've put up a fight."

"He didn't want to obey." Connor said to himself as he shook his head looking at the Lieutenant. "This is the seventh case this year that has a similar scenario with all the others. Break in, or a fight. Left for dead or gone missing without a trace."

"It's like human-trafficking. But with machines. Android-trafficking." Gavin made up.

Connor decided not to say anything insight of Reed's world changing discovery and instead he let his optical units meet the back of his head.

"We better get back to the precinct. Get a head start on this case before Jeffrey blows up in our faces again."

Hank marked off 'examine-the-scene-of-crime' on his smartphone which consisted of a list of tasks for today, a list no doubt a certain RK800 made him do to be more sufficient.

It was like his average every day. Connor and he would start the day off with a scene of a crime where a deviant had been murdered in cold blood, or to have to investigate missing android cases that seem to be constantly growing. Many would find the work unappealing, gruesome, and gut-wrenching, but not Hank and Connor. Sure, it wasn't a pleasing look, but determining and apprehending the rightfully convicted criminals was in fact.

Hank grumbled as he remembered to go ask the manager at the front entrance. "Slow progress my ass. He should fucking try solving these cases alone."

Gavin cocked his brow while following the older man to the reception area. "You mean in your faces. Remember I'm just here temporally."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Reed."

"What's that's supposed to mean, Anderson?"

"You're delusional if you think you're not in this shit with us."

"Funny. Cause I remember you caring rat's ass about these fucking tincans-" Gavin and Hank continued off a rant in the distance while the RK800 focused on the deceased deviant on the floor instead of listening to the Lieutenant and Sergeant picker.

Connor was about to finish examining the scene when he started hearing whispers coming from the dead body.

He knitted his brows when he thought he misheard, but he leaned closer to the body under the black plastic sheet.

Just as the detective was about to peel back the sheet, a pair of hands flew out and grabbed ahold of his neck.

Connor was pushed back but he immediately regained his senses and reacted by kneeing his attacker against his stomach, knocking him off him.

Quickly the RK800 stood, readying himself as he tried to scan the now alive deviant before him. Funnily enough that wasn't the most shocking thing he saw. The fact that the deviant's face was untraceable, sifting and changing in seconds.

The attacker charged at him and Connor smirked as he was ready to use the victim's thoughtless move to his advantage, but just when his opponent got close enough, he changed tactics. Making Connor recalculate his attacks as well.

The deviant suddenly dodged Connor and headed to his left, effectively finding the abandoned murder weapon from the floor.

Connor reacted the same way, as he picked up a sword as well. And then suddenly these two deviants where fighting like some sort of medieval warriors.

A clash of metal, and the swords collided. Connor held his place by keeping his hands gripped on the weapon.

"You fucked your way into this." The attacker suddenly spoke, his voice full of hate and determination, right before he pushed all his weight against Connor, making him stumble back. His opponent ready, precisely calculated move and the side of his sword made its way against Connor's neck. He grabbed ahold of his collar bringing Connor's gaze to the sharp threatening weapon dangerously near his skin. "I'd like to see you try to get out of this one."

Connor exhaled when he saw that the deviants face morphed again. His central processing system couldn't identify his attacker and his never-ending facial shifts. Almost like he was trying to hide who he really was.

Connor gaze lowered when thought the deviant had a change of heart when he withdrew the sword from his throat. But just as soon as he did, in one quick move, he thrusted the sword straight through Connor's thirium pump.

The RK800 released a painstaking scream as the object had pierced through him in unimaginable pain. Blue blood oozed out of him, dripping to the ground.

He panted as he looked at his opponent leaning in closer to his right ear to whisper the last part out. "I'm coming for you." And without hesitation, he pulled the sword out without mercy.

Connor gasped and his back immediately arced as he stood seated on the couch, grasping his palm over his chest where his raging thirium pump resided against.

Still panting, Connor gazed over the living room as he realized where he was and that it all was just a nightmare.

Sumo let out a small whimper as he placed his chin against Connor's left knee, feeling worried as his friend was in distress.

"It's alright, boy." Connor rubbed the side of Sumo's head as he wouldn't allow him to be sad over something so simple as a nightmare. "Just a bad dream."

Connor had begun recently dreaming thanks to the new Cyberlife update, allowing deviants to have many resemblances and features that mimic human experiences. One of them being able to dream as well as experiencing nighmares.

Connor rested his head back on his pillow when he finally calmed down. His internal clock notified him of the current time.

? 04:11 A.M.

A breath left his lungs as he sighed, not feeling tired enough to fall asleep or have the appeal to dream for the rest of the night.

He sat up and his gaze fell on to the coffee table where an old PS5 game resided on. Connor grimaced at the memory as his system recalled him playing God of War with Hank yesterday.

Last time we play that before bed. He thought as he stood up from the couch.

Connor watched as Sumo walked to the entrance of the house, finding the front door he immediately pawed at wood.

Connor smiled and went to help his friend out. When he approached the door, his hand wrapped around the handle and he unlocked it.

The scent of the freshly mowed summer grass made its way to the young detective's nose, as the rays of the morning sunrise slowly ascended. Indicating a clear morning with a slight breeze.

Just as the door was opened, Sumo sprinted out of the house like Bolt, and quickly found a fire hydrant to go relieve himself.

Good boy.

Connor left the door open, just barely enough so Sumo could get back inside. As he scanned the living room and kitchen to find some various things out of place, his perfectionist mind decided to quietly start cleaning up before the Lieutenant would wake up and they had to go to work.

While the happy St. Bernard was done with his morning business, his brown eyes fell upon a yellow butterfly that had landed on his nose. Sadly, for Sumo, the little bug didn't stay there for long as it took off and beautifully glided its way to the side of the house where the beams of dawn didn't quite reach the shadows of the walls.

Sumo sensed something was off and heard a rumble coming deep within his own throat as he let out warning growl to the stranger stalking in the darkness.

From what Sumo could see and smell, it appeared to be a male. The loyal hound made another warning growl before the man mimicked him. Just like a wild animal, the stranger let out his own low warning growl to silence the dog.

Sumo's ears furrowed as he let out a small whimper, quickly hurrying back inside the house to hide- or to protect his owners.

The stranger didn't faulter where he stood as he eyed the house before ultimately deciding to blend into the shadows as a form to leave without being detected by anyone else.

Almost time.


Be honest. And don't fucking act like you're some sort of wizard that can turn yourself invisible and pretend like you just didn't waste your time reading this crap.

How many of you are here?

Honestly. I'm curious.

Tell me what you think!

Love ya!