Chapter Text
Miles Hundley sat with both his hands cuffed to his chair. If he was nervous, he was great at hiding it. He looked bored, maybe sleepy. The only thing that seemed to be bothering him was the distance between himself and the bottle of water that Connor placed on the table.
“You gon’ feed that to me or what?” asked Miles. He had a similar accent to the mysterious voice from the little girl's memories. The only difference was his voice was much lower.
Connor tilted the water bottle into Miles’ mouth. He let out a satisfied ‘ahhhh’ after chugging.
“Such a gentleman.” He gave Connor a sly wink and Connor went back to his seat across from the suspect.
Judging eyes from humans was something any Android was accustomed to, but Miles was different. He looked smitten.
“Y’know, I’ve heard a lotta ‘bout you,” said Miles, “I’m honestly kinda starstruck. You’re much more handsome in real life than on TV, which shouldn’t be possible.”
“That’s very kind of you to say,” said Connor, giving a polite smile.
“Sucks we had to meet under these circumstances ‘cause, y’know…” Miles shrugged, looking off to the side. “I look kinda unflatterin’, don’t I?”
“Finding anyone hiding in a cabinet is not the greatest look,” quipped Connor, and Miles chuckled.
Under such circumstances, yes, Miles did look unflattering. The poor lighting did him no favors but if Connor were to take all those factors away, Miles was maybe more than decent. His dark hair was rustled and standing in all sorts of directions but there was a boyish charm to it. His smile was wide and reached his animated eyes. His biceps were practically ripping out his tight tank top.
And with those observations, Connor forcefully shelved them deep into his internal drive
“I gotta tell ya…” Miles leaned forward like he was telling a secret. “That whole Android revolutionary a few months ago was fuckin’ wild to watch, man. Got mad respect for you, wish I could’ve marched with y’all. Though, it is kinda surprisin’ to see you here. Comin’ back to work for the PD again can’t be the most welcoming environment, I’d imagine?”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” Connor replied.
Just then, Gavin entered the interrogation room and hastily shut the door behind him. Along with a tablet and pen, Gavin brought in a completely different tone to the room. Hostility was the right word.
“Alright, Hundley, here are the facts,” said Gavin, taking a seat beside Connor, “there’s a two-day-old warrant out for your arrest for petty theft, and coupled with your most recent breaking and entering, that’s a potential two years in prison.”
“I didn’t break into shit,” Miles fought back, “Becky lets me chill at her place sometimes ‘cause it’s closer to work.”
“Specifically her kitchen cabinets, yeah?” said Gavin.
“I know how it looks, but I swear to God, when I heard you guys comin’ in, I thought a robbery was happenin’. I didn’t wanna get held up so I hid,” Miles insisted.
“We announced ourselves coming inside. You would’ve known it was the police.”
“Well, I heard nothin’. The kitchen cabinets are probably soundproof.”
Connor changed the topic: “Let’s talk about how you know Becky.”
“Kay, so I’m a hairstylist. And she’s been a client of mine at Blazing Cuts since like, a month ago,” Miles explained. “First time we met, we struck up a casual conversation. Bonded over how far we had to drive to get to work and whatever. But then we realized that our houses were, like, midpoints to each other’s workplace. Today I had a shift and was feelin’ tired, so I stopped at Becky’s ‘cause it was closer.”
“Alright,” said Gavin, nodding to himself. “Y’know, I've actually got a really good trim at Blazing Cuts.”
Miles hummed in acknowledgment “Must have missed you. When was that?”
“Two months ago, before it went out of business a week later,” was Gavin’s answer and Miles' face immediately dropped. “So, tell us again, how do you know Becky and why were you at her place? Because it’s not a midpoint between your house and work. At least, not Blazing Cuts.”
Miles kept his eyes aimed down. The room was silent with nothing but the detectives waiting for an answer. A minute passed.
“Hey, talk to us, man,” said Gavin, tapping his knuckles onto the table like he was checking to see if anyone was home, “‘Cause from what we’ve seen from you so far is you hiding in her house, you running from the authorities, and you lying about why you were at Becky’s in the first place. It’s not a great look for you.”
“Don’t pin this on me, I didn’t do shit!” Miles argued back.
“We’re not pinning anything on you, Miles,” said Connor calmly. “We’re just trying to be transparent about your situation here. You need to tell us the truth in order for us to find out what happened to Becky.”
“I have nothin’ to do with her goin’ missin’. I think she’s an annoying hothead, but--” Miles trailed off, teeth chewing on his bottom lip. The exterior threatened to breach open. He let out an exhausted sigh before continuing: “I love her like she’s my own family. I really do. And when I went to her place today, I was checkin’ on her. People still ain’t too fond of the whole Android equality thing. I just worry, y’know? And when I heard the cops comin’ in, I knew I had a warrant out. I just didn’t wanna get caught so I hid.”
“I don’t see why you had to keep that away from us. That’s a very kind thing for you to do for Becky,” said Connor, earnestly.
Miles shrugged. The tapping of Gavin’s pen against the table accompanied them for a while.
“You’re still holding back, Miles,” said Connor after another tense pause. “What is it? We can help you if you help us find your friend. We need to find Becky.”
Miles remained unresponsive. Even as the detectives threw easier questions, there was nothing more for him to say.
“Listen, Miles,” said Gavin, “we know about A.F.C. We saw Becky’s I.D. and collected yours when we searched you. You need to start telling us the truth.”
This was a lie. Gavin had no idea what A.F.C was nor did Connor’s database. Holding it above Miles’ head was a gamble but a calculated one nonetheless.
“Shit…” Miles’ shoulder sagged.“I— I can’t be spewing all this shit out without some kind of deal. They’ll come after me, man. They’ll put bullets in me!”
“We’ll work something out and we won’t let anyone hurt you, okay?” Assured Connor. “For the sake of Becky, tell us what you know. Detail your history together, truthfully this time.”
Miles reset his story: “I really did work at Blazing Cuts for a period of time and met Becky there. It was a part-time gig. During the night I hosted events for A.F.C and I invited Becky to one. It was an AC900 versus a TR400 Android. When we watched that first punch land, Becky became alive.”
Connor and Gavin’s lack of reaction caused Miles to ramble on: “‘Cause, like, here’s the thing, I don’t think we’ve fully realized how physically powerful Androids actually are. A.F.C allows us to put that to the test. And a lot of people and Androids pay good money to watch our shows.”
They tried not to look confused as to what Miles was talking about, but as they carefully and quickly pieced together his story, it finally clicked. Connor and Gavin’s collective conclusion rattled in their brain, then came the waves of utter disbelief. A.F.C ran much deeper.
“Android fighting rings make the big bucks, huh?” guessed Gavin.
Confirming Gavin and Connor’s suspicions, Miles nodded enthusiastically.
Miles continued: “I signed Becky up for the next event. The crowd loved her so the bossman offered her a one-year contract. She broke the rules constantly but bossman can’t fire her or nothin’ cause she’s a star player. She took a helluva beating a lot of nights, but still managed to come up on top.”
“Well that explains the dent in her cheek…” said Connor under his breath. Miles nodded in confirmation.
“That particular fight earned her a hefty raise, and it was totally worth it. Our events are at PEAK when she fights. Losin’ her would be losin’ the entire A.F.C. So when two months passed and Becky was callin’ quits, bossman wasn’t too thrilled.”
“How exactly did he react?” questioned Gavin.
“A few days ago, he told me he gave Becky a visit. I don’t know what happened then but…” Miles looked off in deep thought. “I can’t imagine it was anything good.”
Gavin thought carefully about his next question. “When’s the next event?”
“Tomorrow night,” was Miles’ answer.
In Fowler’s office, the wobbly chair he offered remained vacant. Gavin and Connor chose to stand by each other, for once in agreement. The glass walls were especially transparent today. Gavin could feel eyes darting towards him and his android partner. He refused to give them a show.
Gavin and Connor caught Fowler up with the entire situation and it ended with a proposition of going undercover to the next A.F.C fight. Fowler was undoubtedly hesitant if the bouncing of his leg was any indication.
“I know you two are capable of doing an undercover operation. It’s just a matter of doing it together that I struggle to have confidence in,” admitted Fowler.
“Hey, we’re doin’ alright so far, aren’t we?” Gavin patted Connor on the shoulder a little too hard. Connor faked a wide smile.
“Listen,” Gavin continued, “It’s beyond me how this turned into yet another missing android case, but A.F.C’s ‘bossman’ probably knows where Becky is right now. If we get to him, then we’ll be able to bust an illegal fighting ring and find the murderer of Lindsey and Ellisa.”
“This could also be a lead for the unsolved missing android cases if they’re all somehow connected,” Connor added.
“Exactly,” Gavin half-heartedly agreed. “We got this, Chief.”
Fowler dismissed his detectives, and the eyes that were once on them quickly disappeared as Gavin sharply glared at them. His presence gave him the ability to clear a path wherever he decided to walk. The effect was strikingly similar to that of a high school hallway. Those who starred were the curious students and Gavin was the subject of their gossip. He was not a popular kid, nor the genius nerd, nor the playboy jock. He was the bully who, beyond what was expected of his role, was hanging out with his victim.
“Hey, uh…” Gavin cleared his throat. He was nearly whispering to Connor. “Good…... job.”
That last word looked like it physically hurt to say. Connor held back a smirk. “With what?”
“With, y’know…” Gavin shrugged. “With the interrogation, I guess.
“Alright,” was all Connor said.
Gavin squinted at him. “People usually say ‘thank you’ after they’re complimented. Or, like, give one back.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll respond however I'd like, detective.”
The duo made it to the break room where Tina Chen was seated at a tall table, hiding behind a newspaper that was about ten years old. It was always seen lying on the coffee table, no one bothered to throw it out.
She glanced up at Gavin with a question in mind: “Hey, are you good now or do you still need a place to crash?”
Gavin shrugged. “My sister has been playing her ‘Hot Girl Summer’ playlist on repeat for seven days straight, so yeah I think I’d like a place to crash.”
“Can’t be that bad. What’s on the playlist?” asked Tina.
“Like, four different versions of ‘Everytime we Touch’”
“Oh shit, that’s a banger.”
Gavin grimaced. “No it fucking isn’t—“
They were interrupted by Gavin’s cell phone ringing. He checked the caller I.D. before walking out and answering it. Connor and Tina were left alone to keep each other company. It was more awkward than it was comforting.
“How has your day been going—”
“Is he treating you well—”
Their questions clashed together like a car crash. Tina insisted Connor talk first, which Connor then volleyed back, and the pattern repeated itself for too long. Tina went ahead before night arrived.
“I was just asking if he was treating you well?” She repeated. “Gavin, I mean.”
“It’s Gavin, so…. Not particularly,” Connor answered honestly. “I can manage, though.”
Tina nodded and she suddenly lost eye contact “Hey, uh, I know this is hard to believe but, he doesn’t actually, like, hate you,” she told Connor. “He just hates what he sees in you. I’m guilty of doing the same. There are a lot of people who have preconceived ideas of me just because of my identity and appearance. I’d hate to do the same to others.” A nervous smile spread across her lips as she looked back up at him. “So, uh, I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you in the past, Connor.”
An apology. It was something Connor rarely heard, and for once he did not have an immediate response. It appeared Tina was becoming tenser with every silent second that passed. Connor comforted her with a soft smile.
“Thank you, Chen. I appreciate it.”
They left it at that, with Tina finishing her lunch and Connor doing his paperwork. It was silent like before, still very much awkward, yet it was different all at once.
Gavin had gotten off the phone with Lana Manning and was headed downstairs to meet up with her. She was waiting outside by the entrance steps, still not properly dressed for the chilly weather. Her attire was an entirely black formal dress. Parked on the side of the road in a black electric car was Alex Patel, presumably Lana’s driver. He too was dressed exceptionally well in dark colors.
It was then Gavin was reminded of today’s date. Lindsey Manning’s funeral.
In his pocket was a ziplock with a silver charm necklace. It was found around Lindsey’s neck but Forensics had no need for it anymore. Lana made a special request to have it.
She sighed solemnly when Gavin gave it to her. “This was our mother’s. She wanted to pass it on to our own children if we ever had any,” Lana explained. She kept it safely in her purse, and then asked: “Any updates on the case?”
“We’re followin’ a lead and waitin’ to see if we can restore some of the corrupt surveillance footage from The Solar. They’re the best witness we got right now,” Gavin provided.
Lana went eerily quiet, standing in her spot like a statue in great contrast with the busy civilians speed walking along the sidewalk beside them. Her emotionless gaze was focused on Gavin’s face, and he had to look away in fear he’d be put under a spell or something. His fingers inched towards his breast pocket where a lighter and cigarette pack was found. He took one out and popped it in his mouth before offering Lana.
“Want one?”
Lana blinked out of her lost state and shook her head. “I’ve never smoked. It’s terrible for the environment.”
“You sound like my sister.” Smoke dispersed into the air as he blew. She continued staring.
“And how about your brother?” she suddenly asked and Gavin put on a puzzled look.
“Huh? I don’t have a brother.”
“Oh right. Kamski is your cousin.”
Gavin’s instinctual reaction was to freeze at the very name that left Lana’s lips. The reaction that he forcefully put on display was nothing but a blank stare, completely unbothered. Though, his silence told a tale.
“Sorry,” said Lana. It did not sound all too sincere. “I’ve done a lot of research on Cyberlife and Kamski, and you just happened to be mentioned very briefly in an interview. I don’t know why I did not make the connection sooner, though, you two do look a lot alike. Are you close?”
Gavin couldn’t help but scoff. “No, he’s living in an entirely different world.”
“In the interview, he was talking about his growing relationship with the PD. You guys kind of endorsed him when the Connor project was launched.”
“I guess so.”
“Is there any regret in that?”
“It is what it is,” was Gavin’s nonanswer. He purposely burnt his cigarette out. “I should get going….”
Lana was quick to brush off his attempt in escaping: “You know, when people look at Kamski, all they see is a success story.”
Gavin stayed muted.
She continued: “But what exactly does all that glitz and glam amount to? The working class is struggling more than ever because they’re being replaced by androids that were designed by a multi-billionaire. No one benefits from it except the 1%. Yet, we continue to award people like him because that’s the world we’ve been forced to accept. We’ve fallen so deep into this Cyberlife black hole, all we can really do is lean in.”
Lana looked and sounded like she was without passion. All the colors of hope that used to be there had been drained long ago. The result was a black dress and a funeral.
Gavin suddenly wished he was still smoking.
“Are we really ‘forced’, though?” he said, close to mumbling. It was the most unconfident he has heard himself. Yet, he persisted. “There’s always a choice.”
“Okay. In the past five minutes, how many Androids have passed us on the sidewalk?”
The challenge Lana posed was one Gavin could not complete successfully. Strangers continued to pass them, all of which he would forget seconds later.
Lana took Gavin’s silence as an answer. “In broad daylight, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between androids and humans,” she said. “We have no choice but to accept them as human. But have you ever seen an android at night? It’s only then you’re able to see the difference between Kamski’s creation and God’s.”
There were many lines Gavin has crossed throughout his professional career, but many were ones that he knew would result in little to no reprimanding. Talking to Lana felt like a gamble. One misstep and all his chips are gone.
He gave her a polite nod. “We’ll be updating you on the case when we find anything new.”
Gavin left it at that, his mind swirling with thoughts unsaid.