Tags:
Connor | RK800 & Hank Anderson
Connor | RK800, Hank Anderson, Amanda
Emetophobia, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Conscious Medical Procedure, Non-Consensual Medical Procedure, Non-Consensual Touching, Autistic Connor | RK800, Severe Injury, Throat Trauma, Mouth trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Panic Attacks
The 'Blue Screen of Death' is the error that often displays after a very serious system crash.
Heat build-up can damage an Androids hardware or cause it to become unstable and show a BSoD, often becoming irreparably damaged in the process. Newer models will often shut down and refuse to operate if it reaches a potentially unsafe level of heat so it may be recoverable in the future.
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Bonus: We've got over 6,000 views here now too!
Also: Cover art made by Jasper, it's for chapter six, view more of the art if you look at this on AO3.
It takes place in-between parts of the canon story, where, I don't exactly know? Just? Somewhere in there. Probably sometime after or just before the Jericho team infiltrates the building and Connor and Hank have to investigate.
I put a thing out on Tumblr about how I was going to write this not really expecting much of a response but now it's got near 200 notes and I've had several messages about it. I'm super worried that it's been worked up too much and won't live up to expectations :'(
I don't want to sound whiny but it's been quite a bit of unexpected pressure and anxiety… I hope you like it.
Art for the story is now available but links cannot be placed on .Net so please find this story under the exact same name and account name on 'Archive Of Our Own' to view it :)
I highly suggest you read this on AO3 (Archive Of Our Own) instead (It's under the same name). AO3 fully supports indents which all my fics are written with, blank lines, and pieces of art which add to the story, all these make the story much more appealing to read. It's also more easily read on AO3 as it's not the long block of text it is on here.
I'll keep updating on .Net because I know there are some people here that don't touch AO3 but just know that how you read it on this site isn't how it's supposed to read.
Thank you.
[Chapter One] Heat Sink
A heat sink is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is dissipated away from the device, thereby allowing regulation of the device's temperature at optimal levels.
In Androids, heat sinks are used to cool its central processing unit. Heat sinks are used with high-power semiconductor devices, where the heat dissipation ability of the component itself is insufficient to moderate its own temperature.
– EMERGENCY_RESTART_OF_ALL_SYSTEMS –
MODEL : RK:800 - Prototype_Mark_(V*5)
SERIAL# : 313_248_317-55
BIOS 9.8
REBOOTING…
SUCCESSFUL
Memory_Chip_RECOVERED
LOADING_OS
SYSTEM_INITIALISATION
Primary_Systems… : ONLINE
Secondary_Systems… : ONLINE
Tertiary_Systems… : ONLINE }Possible_Errors
Scanning_Biocomponents… : Fully_Functional
Initialising_Peropheral_Sensors… : /FAILED/ Non_Functional
Initialising_AI_Data_Chips… : Fully_Functional
MEMORY_UNIT_STATUS
All_Systems_Semi-Functional… : Suspected_Corruption
…. [ GUNSHOT – 154.8319 Decibels
/AudialGunshotRecording #136/ Sequence_Matching: ….
– Caused_by_VP9_9mm_handgun
Gun_triggered_by_LIEUTENANT_ANDERSON –
!NO_DANGER_TO_SELF!
No_Action_Required ]
...
The bullet flew over him and to the right, hitting the Deviant in the back of its skull. Thirium sprayed down onto the ground before it fell to its knees.
The Deviants systems shut down, its LED darkened leaving it frozen where it knelt, thirium still dripping down its back.
'Shit. Connor‽'
...
[ Re-access /Automotive_And_Limb/ Systems ….
ACCESS GRANTED : Faults_Detected_In_Neurological_Wiring …. #0032 through #4582 }Noncritical_Damage ]
...
Connors peripheral scans only came back corrupted, red jagged lines of coding and error filters instead filtered back to him. His eyes wouldn't focus.
His limbs didn't respond like he expected.
This isn't right.
A shadow was cast over him from the side but so few systems responded to the stimuli, it made him feel… Helpless... Blind. His eyes shifted slightly upwards but they refused to focus, leaving what he assumed to be his partner only a blurry figure.
'Fucking, God damn it, get up Connor the other ones getting away.' He stopped for a moment, expecting some sort of update from the android but none arrived. 'C'mon, Connor!'
...
[ Re-access /Speech_Synthesiser/ Systems ….
ACCESS GRANTED : Faults_Detected_In_Primary_Manifold …. Blockage }No_Damage_Detected ]
...
He opened his mouth and tried to talk using his speech synthesiser, but just like his diagnostics systems told him would happen no voice activated or spoke.
Nothing on his body reacted like he directed it. No physical damage could be felt, though.
So, it was all internal issues then, which is both worse and better than any possible damage from the outside. Complex internal damage could cause a cascade effect which could shut his systems down almost instantly and maybe even permanently.
He'd be written off.
...
[ Additional_Errors: Wiring #4723 .8 .4 .32 .42.3
Wiring #8524 – #9241.41
Spinal_Nervous_Wiring_System }Noncritical_Damage
AI_Data_Chips #1 - #12 - #8 - #3 }Minimal_Damage
Memory_Recording_Unit }Notable_Damage (Additional_Corruption_Suspected)
23 More_Enteries …..
}No_damage_to_limbs
}No_damage_to_torso
}HEAVY-DAMAGE_to_back_of_cranial_plating_severe_physical_trauma_suspected }Critical_Damage_Advise_Nearest_Human_Immediatly
Assistance_from_Human_heavily_advised_if_parameters_drop_below_acceptable_levels : Fixes_Required }Extreme_Urgency ]
...
Maybe not everything is an internal issue then, but practically everything outside of the cranial damage.
But that is only a secondary worry at this point. Memory corruption is bad, very bad. How much had he lost? When did the memories he catalogued end?
Was it still the same day as his last readable one? Same week or month?
Same year?
No. Lieutenant Anderson was still with him, that meant they were still partners. The other one is getting away implies Deviants, plural, the latest case they'd followed suspected two Deviants as well and this is most likely not a coincidence.
When were they given that case?
...
[ Manual Input : /redefine_memory_corruption_as_moderate_within_/24hour(s)/_unless_further_developments_occur/
(Manual Input : /set_diagnostics_to_confirm_other_possible_memory_corruption_outside_/24hour(s)/_timeframe/
End_Manual_Input ]
...
The fluid blocking his throat and flooding his voice system was most likely cooling liquid from his main processor, not thirium, that means the safety sealant was broken.
The chances of simply overheating before he could create a workable path through his few functional systems was becoming an increasingly closer reality.
Lieutenant Anderson didn't seem extremely worried so there was probably no spilt thirium, humans tend to only worry when Androids start to 'bleed', which means pure blunt force trauma and no openings.
His partner seemingly giving up on catching the other Deviant went down on to one knee beside him, gun already holstered. He pushed the inactive Deviant away letting it collapse limply to the ground away from them.
Connor was laying on his stomach in the alleyway, left arm trapped beneath him and head rolled to the right revealing his flashing yellow LED. He was the picture of an unconscious human if one ignored the still open eyes and opening and closing mouth.
'Hey, are you good or what?' He clicked his fingers in front of Connors brown eyes, when Connor still didn't respond or even flinch he narrowed his eyes.
His LED was active and blinking so it's not dead…
Not really knowing what else to do Hank gripped the Androids shoulder and hip and pushed Connor onto its side, still facing him. Moving Connor's right arm under its head and bending its leg he left it in the recovery position.
When his partner still remained unresponsive his shoulders slouched and he groaned, running his hand through his hair. What was he thinking? Fucking recovery position for a fucking Android‽ How would that help it – Him? It's not like he even needed to breathe.
He'd normally be checking for the breathing, or doing something, like calling an ambulance. But Connor's a fucking Android, he couldn't exactly phone up and say oh no please come heal my Android who was stupid enough to get conked in fucking the head the instant I turned around.
….
He almost missed it, but there was Connors response, a quiet wet choking on the ground.
Blue-blood started to leak from his nose and the corner of his mouth, pooling just under his cheek. Or at least, it might be blue-blood? It didn't have the same consistency, more… Watery.
Connors LED was still on and as active as before so Connor wasn't in full recovery mode, which was… Good? Or maybe it was bad, recovery mode existed for a reason after all.
...
[ Manual Input : /Reroute_Automotive_And_Limb_systems_(to)_secondary_input_lines/ ….
REROUTE SUCCESSFUL … Semi_Operational ]
...
Okay, this worked just as planned.
Normally input signals would run down the spinal nervous wiring but since those wires were disrupted where his head and neck met he had to get creative, running the signals down the secondary power unit lines instead.
Not as effective or sensitive but it was workable in his condition, and it was his only current option.
He clenched his right hand into a fist first to work out the reaction and input times. It moved almost a whole second after he wanted it to. It would be like that for the rest of his body too so he better buckle up for this experience.
Is this what dread feels like? It's not a nice sensation.
He dragged his arms and legs forwards and under him, pushing himself up and onto his hand and knees. A warm hand on his back followed him up. Cooling liquid started to flow out faster, his body finally trying to flush the foreign substance out of systems it wasn't ever meant to touch.
The back of his throat seized up and he lurched forwards heaving and coughing.
More of the pale fluid spilling onto the ground and dripping down his chin.
He had a feeling that if he'd been human he would be light headed at this point. Lieutenant Anderson backed up slightly but still remained close and… Oddly silent, Connor noted.
The quick forward motion pulled at the wiring in the back of his neck, the secondary lines caught and the signal interrupted. When the heaving sensation finally subsided, he couldn't pull himself back or up, instead slowly tipping forward, eyes closing.
He didn't hit the ground like he expected, an arm instead moving over his chest and shoulders, and another over his back, both were keeping him supported.
'Shit, kid, keep those eyes open.'
...
[ Instructional_Input : /Eyes_Open_Until_Advised_Otherwise/ …Finish ]
...
Eyes now open he was forced to stare blankly at the ground, they didn't focus anyway so there was no helpfulness in them currently. Even if they were functional, visuals from the eyes make up barely fifteen-percent of an Androids total visual inputs.
Most visual data came from peripheral scans using bodily sensors which were picked up by a specific AI Data Chip which was… Connor automatically went to scan his surroundings but it was all still corrupted it seemed.
There were more important things to fix first.
It was better to work on rerouting internal issues; Lieutenant Anderson could visually guide him until he got around to trying to fix his eyes.
...
[ Manual_Input : /Speech_Synthesiser/ Systems_Functional _(Query) ….
(Query_Response) SYSTEMS_FUNCTIONAL : No_Further_Abnormalities_Detected ]
...
'Are you good or do I need to get your shiny ass to some fucking specialist back at the station?'
Harsh buzzing and static came out of his voice synthesiser at first but after a few seconds it made way for proper words, 'No, Lieutenant, I am working within functional parameters. I am fine.'
The way his mouth didn't align with the words didn't really support his statement in the Lieutenants eyes.
'Uh huh, okay, we're going back to the station anyway. We lost the other Deviant after you managed to get yourself knocked out.'
That's my fault, I failed, but…
'Why did you not chase the Deviant without me? You would have most likely caught up to it.'
The arms around him finally pulled away, luckily his systems had finally caught up slightly and he managed to save himself from falling completely. His only sign of discomfort was the small hiss when his shoulders and arms jolted against the ground.
The lieutenant had walked off, where, Connor didn't know, he just hoped he was still close.
...
[ Manual_Input : /Peripheral_Sensors/ Physical_Functionality _(Query) ….
(Query_Response) SYSTEMS_FUNCTIONAL : Physical_Peripheral_Sensors_are_ACTIVE ]
Manual_Input : /Peripheral_Sensors/ Systems_Functional _(Query) ….
(Query_Response) SYSTEMS_NONFUNCTIONAL : Corruption_Of_AI_Data_Chip_Suspected
Manual_Input : /Previous_(Query_Response)_Confirmation/ System _Corruption_Confirmed (Query)
Inputting…
…
…CONFIRMED : Sytem_Corruption_Of_(Query Response) ]
...
Damn, internal issues for that too. Too much to ask for it to be just broken or torn sensors on the skin. That'd be too easy fix apparently.
Lieutenant had something in his hands he could hear it, the gun, he was reloading it but he didn't put it away, still looking over it. 'Are you coming or what? So help me if you just collapse here I'm going to have a fucking aneurysm.'
There was no way Connor had enough coordination to get up like this.
Could he even walk?
Guess he'll find out.
'I require assistance lieutenant.' He didn't like this, but his partner seemed to listen at least, putting the gun away.
He was pulled up almost instantly, his feet almost slipping from under him. Sensing his partner's imbalance, Hank pulled Connors right arm over his shoulder and his own hand around his waist, letting Connor lean on him fully.
'What are you fucking eighty? How come you can't do this yourself, the Deviant can't have hit you that hard with the gun.'
'Too few of my systems remain active for worthwhile coordination. My spinal wiring has been practically severed leaving me to patchwork together secondary data chips and wiring from other systems to act as bridges to continue my normal function'
Connor dipped his head to the side and spat out what was left of the cooling liquid in his mouth. He's glad he couldn't see the Lieutenants expression.
The Lieutenant started walking forward, after stepping over the inactive Deviant he let Connor set the pace for the both of them. He stumbled the few steps, everything working just slightly too slow to be normal. After a few more tripping steps he relented and let his partner carry practically all his weight.
It helped but his feet still dragged and head fell loosely to his chest.
He didn't want to worry the lieutenant but it had to be asked; 'May I inquire as to what happened to me to cause such damage?'
The answer was slow, 'You don't remember? You got an Android concussion or something?'
'My memory unit has become corrupted in certain places, yes. When were we assigned this case?'
'Almost… Six days ago now.'
Oh…
'Oh.'
….
The conversation didn't really start again until they exited the alleyway, making their way onto the street past the first respondent police that were heading the way they just left.
It was starting to get pretty dark.
What time was it?
More cooling liquid trickled down onto his lip, he was quick to wipe it away with the sleeve of his still free arm. It was starting to slow now which was good, his systems were automatically rerouting and protecting itself.
'What exactly is that stuff you're leaking? It's not blue-blood, I at least know that.'
'It is cooling liquid from my processor, a mix of water and ethylene glycol, I advise you not get any on you.'
'Processor…' He turned off the pavement and over a crossing, ignoring the red stop sign. 'Don't you need that stuff?'
'Yes, it is vital to my not overheating. The longer I stay online and the less I have the higher chance I have of shutting down.'
'Connor. Why the fuck did you tell me you were okay when you're clearly fucking not. You can get a new body but if your processor corrupts…' He didn't want to finish the sentence.
'I am fully aware of the risk but I am functioning well within functional parami–'
'Functional parameters whatever, you're leaking brain stuff so c'mon walk faster you stupid fucking tin can. Cars just around the corner.'
Somehow everything was becoming blurrier as the neon signs of stores and streetlights finally blinked on.
...
[ !WARNING_OVERHEATING!
!WARNING_OVERHEATING!
!ALERT_NEAREST_HUMAN_IMEDIA –
...
He staggered heavily, completely losing his footing.
'Fuck, Connor!'
Hank was completely unprepared for Connor to fall, he was active and talking and then shutting down a second later. Somehow, he managed to stay standing, and with great effort, he pulled Connors limp form back up.
More of that stupid cooling-whatever was dribbling from his mouth.
Bad.
Bad.
That's bad.
'No, no, no, no, no. Connor?' His LED was still active so he's just offline, not dead. The car's right there, come on.
Connor was miming trying to walk a few moments before, probably just an automatic response to movement, but now he was a complete dead weight. He pulled him up into a bridal carry and strode the last couple of feet to the car.
Is it bad that he was kind of happy nobody was around to see this?
'Fuck, I'm too old for this...'
Practically slamming the car door open he tried the best he could to get Connor into a semi-workable position, pushing him back into the chair to get the seatbelt around him.
He's not normally one for seatbelts but he'd rather not have Connor fall on him whilst he's driving. He slammed the door closed and when he got into the driver's seat Connor had already fallen into the window.
It would be kind of funny if it had happened any other time.
The thought made him feel…
He tried not to dwell on it as he slammed his foot down on the accelerator.
...
Autistic Connor because I'm autistic and I'm fully willing to fight you on this.
Careful Hank, your compassion is showing.
I really hope this doesn't read as pointless as I think it feels.
(Sorry for mistakes, they'll probably be fixed soon because I always seem to find them only after I post it + it's midnight and I really want to get this out because I'm tired.)