Chapter 10 ~ Drunk Hank
724 Words
Hank - Friend
Software Instability
I was in the car with Connor while Hank sat on the bench and drank. We both got out.
Debrief with Hank
We walked over to Hank. I sat on the bench while Connor stood.
"Nice view, huh?" Hank spoke, "I used to come here a lot before,"
"Can I ask you a personal question, Lieutenant?" Connor asked
"Do all Androids ask so many personal questions or is it just you?" Hank asked
"I saw a photo of a child on your kitchen table," Connor started,
v Hank
"It was your son, right?" Connor asked
"Yeah..." Hank replied, "His name was Cole,"
"Before what?" Connor asked
"Hm?" Was all I heard out Hank
"You said, ' I used to come here a lot before,' Before what?" Connor asked
"Before..." He paused, "Before nothing,"
Connor stepped forward, "We're not making any progress on this investigation, The Deviants have nothing in common, They're all different models, produced at different times, in different places,"
"Well, there must be some link," Hank said
"Well---"
"What they have in common is this obsession with rA9," Connor interrupted, "It's almost like some kind of myth, Something they invented that wasn't part of their original program,"
"Androids believing in God..." Hank stated, "f**k, what's this world coming to?"
I turned to Hank, "You seem preoccupied, Lieutenant,"
Connor turned, "Is it something to do with what happened back at the Eden Club?"
"Those two girls, they just wanted to be together, they really seemed in love..." Hank said
"They can simulate human emotions, but their machines and machines don't feel anything," Connor said
I looked down
He's right
They don't...
Then why do I feel so strongly about him?
"What about you two?" Hank stood up, "You both look human, You both sound human, but what are you both really?"
"I'm whatever you want me to me, Lieutenant," Connor said
^ Hank
"Your partner, Your buddy to drink with, Or just a machine," Connor said, "Designed to accomplish a task,"
"You could've shot those two girls, but you didn't," Hank said, "Why didn't you shoot, Connor?"He pushed Connor
I jumped off the bench and pulled hank by the arm giving him a cold look. He stepped towards Connor regardless.
"Hm? Some scruples suddenly enter into your program?" Hank asked
"No," Connor replied
^ Software Instability
"I just decided not to shoot," Connor said, "That's all,"
^ Hank
He pulled a gun out and aimed it at me. I stayed calm. However I could feel Connor constantly trying to connect LEDs, I stopped him every time. I could see the distress in his eyes...
"I could kill both of you," Hank said refusing to lower the gun, "And both of you would just come back as if nothing ever happened,"
He looked at me, "But are you afraid to die, (Y/N)?"
I looked him dead in the eye, "Does it matter? If I die then what happens? Everything will continue without me,"
v Software Instability
"What will happen if I pull this trigger?" He asked me, "Hm? Nothing? Oblivion? Android heaven?"
Almost as if something broke in Connor, He lunged and grabbed the gun off Hank, "Where does all your anger come from, Lieutenant? Some unresolved trauma in your past?"
"You think you're so f*****g smart..." Hank said, grabbing his gun off Connor, "Always one step ahead, huh?"He paused, "Tell me this, smart ass, How do I know you're not a Deviant?"
I looked down...
I am...
"I self-test regularly," Connor replied, "I know what I am and what I'm not,"
Hank dropped the gun
Hank - Friends
"Where are you going?" Connor asked
"To get drunker," Hank said, "I need to think,"
Hank left. I sat back on the bench
"You can leave if you want, I know you don't like to wait," I said to Connor
He walked over and sat next to me, "You've been very silent, What's wrong?"
"You wouldn't believe me, even if I told you," I said
"We are a team, I would," He said
"Connor..." I paused, "You would kill me,"
"No I wouldn't, just tell me," He said
"Just know that I will support any decision you make," I said
He looked at me, "What do you mean?"
"I'm just saying, If anything happens, I'm with you, all the way,"
- Writer
