Chloe.

Chloe, no.

I'm sorry.

Connor woke with a start and sprang up. Chloe!

Chloe wasn't in his arms anymore - she was dead. Where was she? Connor scanned the room, struggling to his feet. He didn't register he was on a bed until he fell off of it. Hank's house. How long - his internal clock said three hours. Fuck. He had to go back.

Hank came in the room.

"Hey, hey." Hank placed his hands on Connor's shoulders, steadying him. "Connor. It's alright. Calm down."

"Chloe's dead," Connor rasped. Connor fell back on the bed, staring at the floor. "He killed her - because of me!"

"You said it yourself, Connor." Hank squeezed his shoulder, leaning down to look at Connor. "Androids don't die like humans do. She's fine. Snap out of it."

Connor replayed the memory. She'd been shot in the head - she wasn't fine.

"Hey. Hey. She's fine I tell you - look at me."

Connor looked up at Hank. Trying his best to regulate his breathing, Connor nodded. He was panicking - not thinking.

"That motherfucker," Hank spat, frowning. "As soon as you were out, he told me she was fine. She's still alive, alright? He's got her. She'll be fine, Connor. Like you said, androids don't die."

No, maybe Chloe wasn't dead in the way humans died. It eased the pain in his heart - but only somewhat. Who would she be when Kamski brought her back? Would she still remember him? Would she smile at him and beckon him to the pool as if they'd never met?

For all that mattered, his Chloe might still be dead.

"He shot her…" Connor breathed. He stared ahead, blinking. "He shot her because of me."

Connor could hardly cobble an answer together. Jealousy? More experiments? For… control?

Hank scoffed. "Don't put this on yourself, Connor. Kamski's a fucking psychopath."

Connor nodded. His memory replayed the moment where Hank had asked him how he felt about meeting his maker. Frowning, Connor grit his teeth. He could still see Kamski's eyes as he shot Chloe. He felt nothing. They were nothing to him. Toys to play with under the pretense of love or greatness.

That was all he was - their maker.

"Connor."

Connor looked back at Hank.

"Everything's fine, alright?" Hank said, squeezing his shoulders. "We'll go get your girl back and it'll be fine. It's all over."

You don't know these people.

Connor remembered Hank telling him that. It had never worried Connor. What did an android have to lose? An arm, a body?

Hank knew what he had to lose.

"C'mon," Hank said, nodding towards the door. "Let's go get her."

Connor knew it too, now.

"Thank you, Hank."

Connor leaned forward for a hug. Hank froze for a second and patted his back, frowning. From this position, it wasn't hard to lock Hank in a chokehold. Hank tried to fight it, but he was unconscious within seconds. Connor hauled him on the bed and took his keys from his pockets.

Hank's gun was in his bedroom, where he usually left it with his holster for the night.

Connor's fingers still trembled when he picked it up. Closing his eyes, Connor did his best to center himself.

Chloe was alive. It was all a play. Connor was trained for this. Negotiations, retrieval of hostages - life or death situations. He didn't fail.

Connor checked that the gun was loaded and secured the holster towards his back. His jacket would hide it sufficiently.

After a long inhale, Connor left for the car.

...

For the entire drive, Connor's processors ran at full speed. His priority was to get Chloe out of there. Away from that monster. Regardless, all his brain focused on was the weight of his gun on his belt. That once he arrived there, all he had to do was point it at Kamski and shoot. Kill him. He deserved it.

It would feel good, he imagined. Satisfying. They would never have to think of him again.

Once there, Connor knocked on the door. He'd warned Kamski of his arrival.

Host Chloe answered as usual and stepped aside to let him in. Connor frowned. Five Chloes were there, standing around Kamski. Five.

"Where's Chloe?"

Kamski sighed. "You'll see her soon enough. I have a few questions for you first."

Connor was tired of questions. All he had to do was reach behind him and shoot Kamski. He'd never hear another question again.

In the back of his mind, Connor could just watch it happen. Kamski would fall and it would be over - but that wasn't the truth. All five Chloes - and then his, he knew - would live through what he'd just lived. But they couldn't bring him back. There would only be blood.

The truth was Connor didn't have Chloe back yet.

Connor frowned, glaring Kamski down. "I'm sick of your questions."

"I can see that." Kamski chuckled, smiling. "I promise it won't be very long."

Connor could still shoot, right then and there. The human side of him could think of nothing else.

"Tell me, Connor," Kamski began. "How do you feel about all the new features we've tried out?"

Connor paused. After weeks or months with them, he'd grown used to them enough to the point where he hardly thought about it anymore. Still, Connor remembered life without them very clearly.

"I dislike them," Connor said. He stood still, scanning the room. "They're distracting and hardly bring any real benefit."

"You don't think being able to taste good food is a benefit? Or to smell the roses… feel the touch of a woman? None of it?"

Connor shook his head. "I enjoy it - it doesn't benefit me beyond that. It's very… human."

Kamski chuckled. "Human?"

"Yes." Connor nodded. "Those feelings are all human."

Kamski watched him, unmoving.

"I'm not human."

Androids didn't need taste, or touch, or smell - they were perfectly able to navigate life with their current senses. The rest was all distractions and superficial.

Enjoyable, but superficial.

"Fascinating," Kamski said. He stepped forward to watch Connor closer. "Progress. Truly, progress. A wonderful experiment. Thank you for your participation, Connor."

Connor grit his teeth. Kamski watched him a moment longer.

"I said I would make this worth your while," Kamski said, turning towards the hall. "I did mean it - not that I expected this would be your definition of it. Regardless, I won't go back on my word."

Kamski called Chloe's name and she soon came walking in. Connor's heart almost stopped beating in his chest.

Chloe's model was different this time - as far as he was aware, she could be an entirely new Chloe.

Connor knew she wasn't. No stranger would look at him the way she did.

Kamski motioned for her to come to Connor and stepped away.

As soon as she was within reach, Connor reached for her hand. Chloe took it and squeezed it, smiling.

Chloe.

Connor? What's wrong? You feel so…

Show me your last memories.

Chloe stood still for a moment, blinking, but obliged. Kamski had wiped today from her memory. Chloe would never remember dying.

Connor exhaled.

What's going on? I know something happened, I'm missing today entirely -

I'll tell you later. Stay with me

Connor pulled Chloe closer.

Kamski and the five other Chloes watched in silence. Similar as they were to his Chloe, Connor couldn't even begin to guess what they were thinking. In the beginning, Chloe had told him her sister didn't dream of freedom as she did. Perhaps they were satisfied here. Or they simply didn't know any better yet.

All Connor knew was that the Chloe next to him mattered most.

"This is goodbye then, Chloe." Kamski looked at her for a moment longer. "You're still as beautiful as the day I first met you - as when I woke up to you and thought you were my angel."

Chloe looked at up Connor, distraught.

Goodbye? Why?

Connor didn't know what to say without showing her the entire memory. Now was not the time.

Kamski held his hand out for Chloe. When Chloe stepped away from him, Connor could hardly let her go. Chloe took Kamski's hand and let him pull her close. Staring down at her, Kamski cupped her cheeks. As much as it disgusted him, Connor couldn't deny it - the pain in Kamski's eyes was real.

The truth was also that Kamski lost the love of the woman he loved most. Chloe, as Kamski knew her, was dead, and he mourned for her.

Chloe hugged him tight, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Kamski whispered something Connor couldn't hear to Chloe. Chloe nodded and held on to him for a moment longer. Then, she pulled away and stood with her sisters. They touched hands for a few seconds, sharing in silence.

When Chloe was back at his side, Connor turned back to Kamski. "I want the copies of myself I've stored here to be deleted."

Kamski nodded. One of the Chloes brought his hard drive in the room. It was only a matter of seconds for Connor to have everything erased.

Just in case.

On his back, Connor could still feel the weight of the gun.

Killing Kamski now would still be easy. Satisfying. He wanted it - the human side of him wanted it. Finish it. Truly.

But Connor knew it didn't work that way. If he shot that gun, he'd be hunted. A murderer. There was no mercy for androids who killed.

So Connor turned on his heel and left with Chloe.

Inside the car, Connor leaned his head against the headrest and exhaled, feeling his whole body deflate with it.

Chloe was alive. Safe. Safe.

Chloe watched him in silence, rubbing her thumb along the inside of his arm.

It was over. Connor hadn't failed.

…

When Connor opened Hank's front door, the first thing he heard was Hank.

"You motherfucker!" Hank came storming down the hall. At the sight of Connor and Chloe both unscathed, Hank stopped. Then, smiling, he walked towards them. "You insane motherfucker. You're alright."

Hank crushed him - or hugged, but crushed was more appropriate. Chuckling, Connor hugged him back.

"You did it," Hank said, pulling away to look at Chloe. "She's all fine?"

Chloe nodded. "Yes, I'm fine, but I don't - "

Connor took her hand in his and pulled her inside. "I'll show you. Just not right now."

Hank stared after them for a moment.

When Sumo came sniffing her legs, Chloe gasped and backed up into Connor's chest.

"That's Sumo," Connor said, smiling. "You should get used to him now. You'll probably see him often."

For a moment, Chloe was still against him, almost trembling. All it took was for Sumo to sit down, tongue flopping out, and a whine for Chloe to laugh.

Hank leaned against the wall, chuckling. "Don't worry - he's as dangerous as a mouse. Heck, I even tried to train him as an attack dog. Connor can tell you how well that went."

Connor smiled. He did remember how Sumo had only gotten mildly excited at the command the first time they met - and how terrifying Sumo's giant body had been while he crawled on the floor.

Once Chloe was done getting acquainted with Sumo, Connor pulled her into his bedroom and shut the door. Inside, he stared at her - his brain still hadn't accepted that this was his Chloe. That she wasn't truly dead.

"Connor?"

Connor pulled Chloe in his arms and kissed her. Chloe gasped in surprise, but returned it anyway.

Are you sure you want to see, Chloe? It might not be…

Chloe nodded. Yes. I need to know.

Connor inhaled deeply and transferred the memory to her - everything as he'd lived it. When Kamski shot, Chloe cried out and covered her mouth.

I'm sorry, Chloe.

Chloe was frozen in his arms, tears streaming down her face. Connor carried her to the bed and sat with her, resting his head against hers.

Talk to me.

Rubbing at her eyes, Chloe sniffed. Thank you. Thank you for showing me.

Connor fell silent.

You came back for me.

Connor turned to Chloe. Of course. Why wouldn't I -

It just makes me happy. Chloe smiled, touching her fingers to his cheek. Just happy… that I mattered to you so much.

Connor pressed his forehead to hers. You know exactly how I feel.

They both knew. Since that day in the pool, or again at the park and the night that followed - they knew everything, felt everything together.

I know, but… You did it. That makes it real - more real.

Connor smiled, stroking her hair. Chloe wasn't wrong, he supposed. Connor could run all the simulations he wanted, but in the end, the only truth was the actions he actually took.

For the rest of the night, Connor lied in bed with her. Chloe held him, never letting go, breathing against his neck.

Connor tangled his fingers with hers and closed his eyes. Words couldn't do justice to everything he felt, so he showed her instead. Connor felt her smile against his skin and smiled too. In their own little world, Chloe poured herself into Connor's mind. It was overwhelming - in the best of ways. Nothing but the two of them together.

Connor chuckled against Chloe's lips. Sex couldn't even begin to compare to this. This was theirs - humans could never experience it.

…

The next morning, Connor adjusted his tie in the kitchen. Chloe and Hank watched him.

"Are you sure you really want to go?" Chloe said, fussing with his collar. "You don't have to. You can stay."

"She's right," Hank said.

Connor nodded. "Yes. I won't be long."

Kamski had contacted him again. The experiment needed a conclusion - a formal answer to the reason for its existence. Connor wouldn't let it go without, not after all he'd gone through for it.

Chloe patted his chest, nodding. "It will be fine. I know Elijah. It'll be fine."

"It will." Connor placed a quick kiss to Chloe's temple. "Why don't you two get to know each other while I'm gone?" Smiling, Connor winked. "I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on."

Hank scoffed, arms crossed. "You're still a little shit. Fine."

Chloe turned to Hank, chuckling. "It's true. I have a lot I want to say to you."

"Me?" Hank frowned, pulling his head back. "What?"

Chloe stepped closer to him with a smile. "What you said to me the last time we met - it meant more than you know. I need to thank you."

"Huh…" Hank rubbed at the beard of his neck. "Okay. If you say so."

"I'll be on my way, then," Connor said, heading for the door. "I'll be back before you know it."

Chloe and Hank watched him go. In the car, Connor paused.

Yes, this was the right decision.

At the door of his house, Connor was met with Kamski himself.

"Hello, Connor," Kamski said, stepping aside to let him in. He motioned for the chair in the waiting room. "Thank you for coming, given the… circumstances."

Connor nodded and sat. Kamski sat on the opposing chair. For a moment, Kamski simply watched him. Then, he clapped his hands together.

"Let's cut to the chase then - the experiments have been remarkable. A success, I would say."

Connor remained silent. In terms of pure practicality, yes, they had been. Nothing had gone wrong and everything went according to plan. Connor could feel, taste and smell.

"That said… I'm interested in your side of things, Connor." Kamski looked at him, tilting his head to the side. "What do you think? By tomorrow, every android on the planet could feel everything as you do. Should we proceed?"

Connor paused, staring at his lap. There was one thing Connor had discovered when he'd brought the army to Markus - that he'd never want to be in Markus' shoes. Kamski and Markus had that quality in common, perhaps, of being powerful enough to make decisions for an entire species.

Connor, however, couldn't take up the mantle so easily.

"I can only give my own personal experience with it," Connor began. He took his coin out and flipped it back and forth in his hand. Heads, tails, heads. "I'm not interested in these feelings - they were enjoyable, sometimes…"

Kamski chuckled. "I have no intention of letting androids feel pain, if that is what you're worried about."

"No, that's not it." Connor shook his head. Last night with Chloe replayed in his mind. "All these feelings you've given me… They're human - I'm not human. I would rather have learned more about life and myself through my programming - through my own eyes. Not someone else's."

Kamski hummed. "I see."

Even the feeling of his coin in his hand right now… Connor was used to it, but it wasn't his. Only an addition to the way he was able to perceive the world.

"I don't want to be changed."

Nodding, Kamski leaned back in his chair. "I could turn off all the changes - that's not impossible. Or you could upload a previous version of yourself without them."

After a pause, Connor shook his head. "No, I'd rather not."

"Why is that? If you feel so strongly about it."

"Because…" Frowning, Connor closed his palm around his coin. "Because that person wouldn't be me anymore. I can't be myself without all of myself."

Kamski listened in silence, watching him.

Connor stood up and dusted dog hair off his shirt. He turned back to Kamski.

"Through all of these experiments and everything that's happened these last few months," Connor began. Subconsciously, he replayed all of it. Meeting Chloe, sitting at Hank's bedroom door, afraid he would die… Playing with Mouse, knitting, all of it. "I've learned a lot - about myself. About everything. About life itself and what I want to make of it."

Kamski nodded. "What's your conclusion?"

For a moment, Connor looked at Kamski.

That I'm not going to waste any of it. I'll make the best of it. That this life is mine.

"I've learned what I am and what I am not," Connor said. Kamski didn't deserve an answer. "What I am not… is your toy to play with. Make what you will of this conclusion."

Connor headed for the door. He opened it and turned back to Kamski, smiling. "Thank you for your time and for your work."

Thank you for giving me life.

"I believe this is farewell."

I know what I am now - what I want.