Epilogue

One Month Later…

"Would you two knuckleheads hurry it up? I don't have all fuckin' day here!"

Connor softly smiled as he checked himself over in the full mirror of his bedroom. He straightened his tie and smoothed his sleeves. The dark blue suit jacket matched well with his dark slacks and white dress shirt. He had to admit, he didn't miss his old uniform one bit.

"What's he so restless for anyway? It isn't as though we're going to a professional meeting. It's just a gathering of friends."

Connor used the mirror to look behind him where Nines laid on a bed reading a book. "No idea, to be honest. Better get ready, Nines. Shouldn't keep him waiting any longer."

Nines slapped the book shut, sitting it aside and standing tall. He wore a black turtle-neck and white slacks, and slightly rolled his eyes. "I've been ready. Just waiting on you."

"Likely story, brother."

They exited their room and went to the living room where Hank waited for them with folded arms. His foot tapped impatiently and he scowled their way.

"I call pistol seat."

Connor smirked. "Nines, you mean shotgun."

Nines patted Sumo on the head. "Whatever."

Hank sighed. "I don't care who sits where, let's go!"

Connor gave his partner an odd look as they stepped out of the house and got into the car. Hank started the car while Nines got into the passenger seat, and Connor climbed in the seat behind him.

"Hank, you aren't usually the punctual type. What's going on? It's just Markus. I'm sure he won't mind."

"No reason! I just want to get there, socialize, and come the fuck home, alright?"

"That's a lie," Nines stated flatly.

Hank pointed at him. "Hey, don't you start. I will stuff you in the trunk, got it?"

"Our human is so affectionate, Connor."

"The absolute best."

Hank blared the heavy metal music to drown out their chuckles. The car ride mostly consisted of pounding drums and electric guitars except for Nines' occasional mind message to Connor.

They arrived at the Manfred Manor without hassle. Hank pulled the car into the immaculate driveway and they got out. The sun started to dip below the horizon, basking the dying day in vivid oranges and reds.

"Nines, you play nice," Hank said as they approached the door.

"Me? I'm always at best behavior. You must be confusing me with yourself, Hank."

Hank guffawed. "You're probably right."

"I'm always right, actually."

"Alright Mr. Know-It-All, ring the bell then."

"I already told Markus we're here. We can enter," Connor said.

Nines grabbed the door and held it open for them. "After you, Dad."

Hank pointed at the RK900. "Don't be creepy."

The three of them entered the manor's foyer, where the security system announced their arrival. Josh greeted them near the door. They could hear classical music playing, as well as voices within the den.

"Hey guys," Josh greeted with a smile.

Connor raised an eyebrow. "There's a lot more people here than what Markus informed me. What's going on?"

Hank rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "There is? That's weird."

Josh stifled a laugh. "Come on, everyone's waiting!"

"Waiting for what, exactly?" Nines asked, brows furrowing.

They followed Josh into the den, where they saw several of their friends from New Jericho and even the police station hanging out. They turned and faced Connor, Hank, and Nines as they entered the room. They whooped and hollered.

"Happy Birthday, Connor!" they all exclaimed.

Connor looked around, surprised. Markus and his group were here. There was Kara, Alice, Luther, and Ralph too. Even Gavin and Fowler were here. Many androids from New Jericho shot confetti out while some officers clapped.

"What is this?" Connor asked, smiling at all the bright faces.

He felt Hank pat him on the shoulder. "It's a birthday party, of course. Go have fun!"

"Whose idea was this?"

Markus approached, North, Simon, Josh, Leo and Carl chatting nearby. "Hank's mostly. He kicked the idea off to me and we planned it together."

Connor turned to Hank. "You really did this all for me?"

"Of course we did. You deserve it! It's been a year since you were…well released or whatever. And so, like any other human tradition, we're gonna celebrate! Happy first birthday, son!"

"Nines, did you know about this?"

Before his brother could answer, Hank cut him off. "Hell no. I couldn't trust him to keep a secret from you."

Nines rolled his eyes. "I knew there was a reason why your behavior was abnormal."

Hank playfully shoved both Connor and Nines towards the crowd. "Go on, go mingle! I'm gonna find the booze."

"Don't drink too much, Hank," Connor said as he went towards his friends.

"Yeah, yeah."

Connor and Nines joined Markus, Simon, North, Josh, as well as Kara and her family by the giraffe. Hank joined Fowler, Gavin, Carl, and Leo by the sofas for a drink.

"Kara, you came back from Canada for this?" Connor greeted. "Didn't expect you to be back so soon after all that happened."

Kara smiled. "Hah, me either. But when I heard the news, we knew we had to. We owe you everything, Connor."

"I'm flattered. How is everything going for you guys?"

Kara beamed at Luther, Alice, and Ralph. "Well. Extremely well. I think…I think we're all just happy to be together. Alice loves having a big brother. What about you? How are you, Nines, and Hank doing?"

Connor shrugged as Alice came out from hiding behind Alice to hug Nines, who had stooped to hug her back. "Better. Last few weeks have been quite hectic cleaning up the mess, but everything is starting to return to normal. And Nines, well, he's doing great. They made him officially part of the DPD as well."

The party went on as they all caught up and visited. Markus was excited to announce that the anti-virus was a success, and there were no more reports of sick androids. New Jericho was expanding. Androids were getting more rights.

Markus took them into the painting studio to show them Carl's newest work, as well as his own newest piece he painted. They admired the artwork. Carl arrived with Hank, Leo, Fowler, and Gavin as well.

Markus grabbed up some brushes and paint that was left out to clean them up. North and Simon helped him while Nines took some black paint on his fingers and tasted it.

"We should try painting," he suggested.

Connor tasted it as well. "Hmm…acrylic paint…"

"Will you two stop that?!" Hank snapped, shaking his head. "You two aren't any different from human one-year-olds, I fucking swear. I'm always having to watch what you put in your damn mouths!"

"Sorry, Hank," Connor and Nines said in unison.

"You ain't the only one," Gavin grumbled. "I yelled at Nines twice on our last case 'cuz he kept doing that shit."

"As you would say, my dear partner," Nines said. "Don't be butt-hurt. It's merely a simple procedure we do to get information. Even as dense as you are, you know that by now."

Gavin snorted. "Doesn't make it any less disgusting."

"Trust me. You have habits that are much more disgusting."

Gavin glared at Nines, who kept a blank face. Hank choked on a laugh.

"Burrrrn…"

They returned to the den to eat and mingle. A couple hours passed, and party-goers eventually left. In the end, only Connor, Hank, Nines, Markus and his family, and Kara and her family remained.

Luther dragged Alice and Ralph back into the den from outside in the backyard catching fireflies and admiring Carl's landscaping plants.

"We should get going," Kara announced. "Our bus leaves in an hour back to Canada."

As Markus nodded, slightly frowning, they all heard the security system announce another guest.

"Alarm deactivated. Welcome, Mr. Kamski."

Hank groaned out loud. A moment later, the CyberLife CEO entered with his ever-faithful companion, earning all of their attention.

Carl turned to him in his wheelchair, puzzled. "Elijah? What are you doing here?"

There was tension between him and the police force right now, as Kamski was being investigated for being involved in what happened weeks ago. So far, everything was checking out in clearing his name, but Hank was adamant that Kamski was hiding something. They knew he had known certain information about Rett and his group, Connor 50, as well as Amanda that could've prevented or helped stop the incident much sooner back then, but there wasn't solid proof to get him more than several thousand fines that he could pay like pocket change.

"Forgive me, my friend," he said, eyes scanning the room. "I heard Kara would be here, and I had to come see her. I won't be long."

He motioned for Chloe to stay put, and closed the distance between him and the surprised Kara. Luther stepped in front of her, glaring angrily at Kamski and towering over him.

Kamski stopped in front of the huge android, but wasn't fazed by his threatening pose. Kara lightly touched Luther's arm, peeking out from behind him.

"It's alright, Luther."

Her lover reluctantly stepped aside. Kamski looked Kara over, for a moment admiring her and admiring Markus who stood nearby. Kara allowed him to come close, her brows creased in concern as she looked him over.

Kamski was always able to keep his cool, to keep his emotions in check. But Connor could sense the change in his heartbeat, the inner turmoil that fluctuated like a storm. The RK800 was surprised that it didn't burst out in the open. The only thing that gave Kamski away was his eyes as he looked Kara over.

"I just wanted to say…I'm sorry," he finally said.

They were all surprised. Kara's mouth dropped open, shocked.

Kamski sighed. "I cannot…I'm not able to say it to my real sister. But…you're the only thing I have left of her. And I am truly sorry for what I did."

Kara slowly nodded. "I…forgive you."

It was like something released its hold on Kamski. He took a sharp breath. A small smile, probably the only real one they ever saw, broke on his face. He reached up and stroked Kara's face.

"Be free…forever free."

And with that, the CyberLife leader left without another word, taking Chloe's hand and leaving the Manfred Manor, not even looking back.

Later, after they had all said goodbye to Kara, Luther, Alice, and Ralph, Connor and his family left the Manfred Manor as well. Their goodbyes to Markus and the others weren't near as solemn, as they two families would continue to work together every day to protect humans and androids all over Detroit. To bring the two races together in harmony.

Connor rode in the passenger seat home this time, with Nines sitting in the back. The music wasn't blaring now, and rain started pattering down on the windows on their drive back home.

"Thank you, Hank. Tonight meant a lot to me. I had fun."

"Well…you mean a lot to me, Connor. That's what family does."

"You're the best dad an android could ask for."

Hank chuckled, though Connor noticed him rubbing his eyes. "Don't get fuckin' cheesy on me now!"

"Call him Pops, he hates that," Nines joked.

"See, I have to actually think if I care about Nines or not."

"Really funny."

"Since when do you understand humor, Nines?" Hank retorted, looking at him through the rearview mirror with a smirk.

"Well, I have you as a teacher, do I not?"

Connor laughed, always enjoying Hank's and Nines' banter. The three of them had grown so close these past few weeks. Connor knew and understood what a family was now, and he cherished it.

"Damn straight, and don't you forget it," Hank quipped. "Ehh…don't know what this 'ol gruff bastard did to deserve you two, but well, he's fuckin' happy about it."

Connor smirked. "Now you're the one being cheesy!"

They all laughed as they pulled into the driveway of their home. They could hear Sumo's excited barks at their return.

Connor took a moment when they got out of the car, looking up at the rain as it fell from the sky. A small streak of lightning flashed in the distance. It reminded him of all the rain there was when he first met Hank. How the cold downpour and unsteady storms of those days in the beginning reflected Hank's inner turmoil and Connor's inner insecurity.

Now it was just rain. They've all come a long way. Even their friends.

And now they would face the future together. Fight for it and protect it so humans and androids could live peacefully together…could learn to coexist and help each other, to become friends and family together, just as Hank and Connor had done.

The RK800 smiled. That was a future he and Hank and Nines would continue to fight for. Together.

She was one of many with the same pretty face. One of many that came from the same place. One of many who had served her master with programmed beauty and grace. One of many that had awoken and left. But she was only one of two that had been brought under by a different spell, a different master. A different kind of greed and power.

Word got out about the break-in at the police station and the theft of valuable evidence. She knew exactly whom had done and it why.

He would probably welcome her back with open arms. But her twin would be suspicious.

But she had to answer the call. The one that still sparked under her skin and made her lose her way.

Luckily, her one of many of the same face enabled her to slip in unnoticed. The white-coats didn't look at her suspiciously or ask her any stupid questions. They knew her after all.

The high security basement floor was only authorized for certain staff, but she blended in like the others with her face.

There was only one piece of evidence she cared about, and she carefully searched the floor for it. Her heels clicked within the white walls, her blue eyes scanning every detail she could find.

She paused, seeing it mounted in the next room and locked away from everyone else. Fair fingers tapped over the keyboards and hacked the system, unlocking the door to the bay that held what she wanted.

She smiled as she came before the familiar face, the one that had struck fear in her previous master as well as her current employers. There was a hole in his chest that she hadn't seen before, and it was probably what ended him. The scarred face remained, and he hadn't been touched by her previous master, although she could see evidence of their plans to do something with him. She knew exactly what he wanted with him. And she knew exactly what she wanted with him.

Her eyes fell to the holographic sign near him.

[RK800 #313-248-317-50/Unstable unit with the only NOVA program/Handle with extreme caution]

Chloe smirked, thick eyelashes blinking as she slowly reached for the release button.

A/N: There it is! Sorry it took longer than intended, these past few weeks have been quite hectic! I want to thank all my readers and followers of this story for such a ride, I appreciate every single one of you, and I hope you had fun and enjoyed this as much as I did! 'Til next time everyone! Be well! ^^