Hank let out a yawn as he checked the clock on his car's radio, 2:45am, no wonder he was so damn tired. Yet here he was driving through the empty streets, down Woodward in search of some old falling apart church. Never in his years had he witnessed the Detroit streets as silent as they were tonight, and he had to admit it was pretty eerie. Spotting the remains of a surprisingly still half intact spire peeking over the top of a run down old building, he turned down the side street pulling up behind the half rotted church.
The long pitched creak that echoed through the crumbling cathedral as he pushed open its doors, sent a chill up his spine. The entire god damn place was like some creepy ass scene straight from a horror movie, the fact that it was 3am in the morning, casting dark ominous shadows over the already darkened block and the deathly still silence wasn't helping either. Carefully stepping into the dust filled room, Hank jumped letting out a string of curses as a rat scurried across his boot scaring the crap out of him.
The place was filthy, layered in dust and crumbled rubble, graffiti scrawled on the walls, pigeons in the rafters and rats housing in the crevasses. It made his blood boil to think this place would have been Connors grave site had he not managed to transfer to another body in time. Hell, the kid's previous body was still laying here somewhere in amongst the dirt and litter. It was why he was here to begin with.
After taking Connor back home to the protection and safety of Sumo, who did wonders at calming the android. He'd given the kid an old shirt and some sweatpants to change into and sat with him till he had entered some sort of healing sleep mode. He didn't really know what the hell it was, just that the kid seemed to be deep asleep and apparently his body would work on repairing itself for the next four to five hours while he was out.
He hadn't even realise the android was hurt till they'd started back for the car and he really took the kid in. Noticing the two bullet holes in his jacket and the slightly darkened stain on his back, where the thirium that had been leaking was now almost dried from view. Connor had mentioned the church at some point on the drive home, so once his partner had conked out he had snuck out giving Sumo instructions to keep any eye on him. The android had assured no important biocomponents were damage but it had him thinking back to Stratford tower, when Connor had rushed into the hallway and shot that deviant. With blue staining his hand and all down the front of his torn open shirt.
Connor had told him on the way back to the station what had happened when he had confronted the deviant in the lunch room. How it had ripped out a vital biocomponent, one that regulated his artificial heart, he could still remember cursing himself for not being there when his partner had had to drag himself across the room to retrieve it before he shut down permanently. He remembered the kid blathering on about how many components were common and even vital biocomponents were often compatible with various android models. But being a prototype meant Connor's were all specifically designed for him, he couldn't just grab new parts from a CyerLife store. At least not the important ones.
Which was why he was here in the hopes of dragging home the only remaining spare parts that would fit the kid. If all the other RK800s had been destroyed then the body that still lay were it fell in the cathedral was the only back up they had. Surely some parts had to still be salvageable, to still be useful if Connor ever needed a spare part.
Turns out the place was a graveyard for more than just the RK800, various damaged and forgotten android limbs and parts lay scattered around the place inside the decaying building. Some machinery was stashed by the far wall which he assumed was likely used to help the injured while the androids were hiding out after Jericho sank. A few lifeless androids remained, gathered on old pews and slumped in corners, a couple where whole while others were in pieces, with wires and circuits showing. LED's no longer glowing with life.
Yep, the place was straight out of a god damned horror movie.
Making his way through the space it wasn't long till he spotted the familiar android laying in the corner by the stage. A bullet hole perched between lifeless eyes just like all those days ago back in the interrogation room. Except he hadn't felt anything looking at the two android bodies back then, this time however, seeing Connor's lifeless shell made bile rise in his stomach. Even though he knew the kid was currently tucked away safely with Sumo back at his place.
"Christ, Con." He hissed in a breath as he approached the fallen android. How did the kid always seem to land himself in these situations. There were no more second chances now, he'd really have to keep an eye on the android to make sure he doesn't get himself killed for good.
"I'm sorry." A small voice sounded from somewhere behind him and Hank turned to find a damaged android slumped against the stage stairs. She looked a lot like the androids that had run reception back at the station only with light blond curls. One leg was missing at the knee and one arm had a large open gash that trailed the length of her forearm, showing dimly lit circuits and flickering damaged wires. A dark stain bled down the side of her dress.
"I take it you knew him." The female continued, shifting to try and sit herself up a little straighter. "A shame really, he wasn't given much of a chance. Though whispers have it he was the one who led the humans to Jericho."
"Yeah, well maybe he was confused. Maybe he didn't really know what he was doing." Hank huffed back, feeling the need to try and defend the kid as he turned back to look Connor's old body over once more. The head wound seemed to be the only damage it sustained.
"Not everyone had Markus to guide their way. Though maybe that didn't turn out so good for any of us in the end, I'd have though someone would have returned by now if..." The android trailed off sadly and Hank found himself turning back to her.
"They won." Hank stated, "Your people. The troops were ordered to stand down, they have to set your people free. They're probably just still a bit too busy to send anyone back here to collect any remaining survivors."
"I'm the last one. The others have all shut down one by one." The android admitted tears gathering in her eyes. "If they don't return soon, I'm scared I will too."
Hank let out a long drawn groan, because damn it all to hell, now he felt somehow obligated to help the damn girl. Which was crazy cause only days ago he wouldn't have felt obligated to do anything for a bloody android. Now though he couldn't just leave the android to die alone in this place and he'd like to hope if it was Connor hurt and alone maybe someone might do the same for him.
"Stay there, I'll be back in a minute. And don't do that stupid android timer thing, a minute means I'll be back when I bloody back." The quizzical look he got in reply made him wonder if maybe not all androids were quite as literal as Connor was.
It wasn't long before he returned, the old blanket he used to cover the back seat whenever he took Sumo for a drive in hand. The female android said nothing just watched as he walked back over to the RK800, she didn't tell him the exact length of time it had taken him to return, down to the second. Like Connor seemed so inclined to do, because 'three minutes, five seconds is a little longer than one minute, Lieutenant'.
Tossing the blanket over the destroyed RK800, he really didn't want to keep looking at it, it was starting to give him the heebie-jeebie's. And he certainly didn't want to risk Connor seeing it when he got home, that was the whole reason he came by himself to begin with. Once it was wrapped up he hauled it up and onto his shoulder, thankful that a dead android wasn't quite as heavy as a dead human was. They probably had lack of muscle and fat to thank for that. Though his back would still likely be complain in a couple hours time.
He stood back up with a small grunt turning to the other android and helped her up by the arm, wrapping his free arm under her armpits and helping her hop along back to the old car parked out side. It was a bit of a challenge getting the passenger door open and the android inside. Once she was he opened the back stuffing the RK800 in the back seat before buckling himself in.
"Look, there were a lot of androids down at Hart Plaza, with a little luck they'll still be there." Hank said as he started the ignition and started down the street. "Oh, ah names Hank by the way."
"Cali. And Thank you." The android replied softly, turning to look out the window.
The rest of the drive was spent in silence, Hank didn't really have anything to talk about with the android and it seemed she didn't have much to talk about with a human. Thankfully there were still a bunch of androids lurking around Hart Plaza, he wouldn't have known what to do if there weren't. He pulled over, helping the android out of the car and started towards the first group he spotted. Giving a short whistle to catch their attention before lowering her on a nearby bench.
"Found a stray." He called to the androids as one of them cautiously approached, backing away back towards his car. "I think she needs repairs."
Despite the god awful screeching his rarely used garage door made as it opened for the first time since last winter. Connor didn't stir from his android slumber, which Hank was more than thankful for. He stuffed the blanket wrapped broken RK800 in a corner half behind a shelf, before heading into the house. Peeking into the living room to check on the resting android and dog, before trudging back down the hall to his own room where he kicked off his boots and slumped onto the bed. Not even bothering to change as he yanked the covers over him and closed his eyes.