Fresh Air
DATE
FEBRUARY 2, 2039
TIME
PM 03:31:56
Connor leaned on
Hank’s desk. “Lieutenant, I received a call from Haley Ryan. She wants to
meet.”
The
lieutenant kept his gaze on his terminal screen. “Yeah? She got something else
for us?”
“No.
She said it was personal.”
Hank
took his gaze off the screen and raised his eyebrows at Connor. “Personal?”
“Yes.
She wants to meet at Three Cranes Park.”
“Just
you?”
“Correct.”
The
police lieutenant rested back in his chair, trying to hide a grin.
“What’s
that look for, Hank?”
“Nothin’.”
His smile betrayed him. “You should go.”
Connor
blinked and tilted his head slightly. “But lieutenant, we’re in the middle of
researching this case-–“
“Yeah,
yeah. But I think even an android like you could use a break. Fresh air could
do you good.”
Connor
stared at him. “Androids don’t require fresh air, Hank. The breathing we
simulate is only for human aesthetic.”
Hank
sat up straight, reaching for his half full coffee mug. “Not literal fresh air,
but just…take your mind off the investigation.”
“I
don’t understand. How will that help? It would be inefficient.”
“Sometimes
it helps to take a step back and return refreshed.” Hank took a sip from his
mug. “Besides, it’d be rude to turn her down.”
DATE
FEBRUARY 2, 2039
TIME
PM 03:57:48
“What are you
reading?”
Haley’s
stomach fluttered at the sound of the android’s voice. She looked back to see
him standing behind the bench where she sat, peering over her shoulder. A hint
of a smile crept onto her face. She closed the book on her thumb, revealing the
cover. “A Drink of Dragon’s Blood by R.T. Collins. It’s the sequel to my
favorite novel that he wrote.”
She glanced back
down to place her bookmark, then stood to fully face Connor.
“The Mage’s Sin? So
then you like fantasy-fiction books?” Connor circled to the front of the bench
to meet her.
“Yes. That’s most of
what I read. Do you ever get to read?” She held the book to her chest.
Connor turned his
chin to the sky, looking thoughtful. “Not fictional stories. But I think I’d
like to.” He looked back to Haley. “Do you think I’d like fantasy?”
Haley smiled and
squinted at him. “Mmm. Maybe. I think you’d like more sci-fi though.”
The android’s mouth
pulled up into a half smile, and the look made Haley feel a rush of warmth in
her face. Thank god for the cold, which had no doubt already colored her nose
and especially her cheeks.
Haley stared at her
feet, tucking a piece of hair away from her face. “Would you like a walk?”
“Sure.”
The android fell
into step next to her as she made her way down the paved pathway into a group
of trees. The snow had settled on the bare branches, making them sparkle in the
sunlight. The park was mostly empty and quiet.
A small breeze
picked up, and Haley tugged her knitted hat down a little. “Okay so you haven’t
gotten to read. What about music?”
Connor walked
holding his hands behind his back. “Hank has been showing me some…interesting
music.”
“Like what?”
“Knights of the
Black Death and other dark heavy metal groups. But then he also likes jazz,
which is very different.” Connor’s eyebrows creased. “I still don’t quite
understand music, I don’t think.”
Haley chuckled. “He
sounds like a character, that’s for sure.” She admired the sun spots dancing on
his face as they broke through the trees. “I could introduce you to some
classic rock if you’d like.”
“Rock?” Connor
looked down at her.
“Yeah. I feel like
you’re a rock kind of guy.”
He smiled. “I’d like
that.”
The android and the
girl walked for a couple minutes in silence, taking in the wintry view.
“May I ask you
something, Haley?”
The red-head
snickered. “You just did.”
Connor sneered.
“Something else.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you call me
out here?”
Haley’s steps
slowed.
The android took a
couple more steps before he realized she had stopped. He paused in his tracks
and turned around.
Haley put her hands
in her pockets. “I wanted to apologize.”
Connor looked deep
into her eyes, even standing several feet away. He tilted his head.
“I felt like what I
said at the café the other day was insensitive. I’m sorry.”
Connor gave her a
reassuring smile. “It’s quite all right. I’m still not honestly sure what I
am.” He stared off into the distance. “I think I know what I want to be.”
Haley watched him
for a moment and took a couple steps toward him. “And what do you want to be?”
Connor’s gaze met
her without turning his chin. He hesitated a second, parting his lips slightly.
Haley’s stomach
twisted. She couldn’t decipher his expression.
The android faced
her completely. “Alive.”
Haley watched his
LED turn to yellow when he spoke, then spun back to blue. She looked deep into
his brown eyes. “I think you’ve already proven that you are.”
Connor stared back at
her.
Her heart rate picked
up.
“I wasn’t there. But
I heard about bits and pieces.” Haley paused. “You were designed by CyberLife
to hunt the deviant androids and stop them. But you ended up joining Markus and
the others to free your people, right?”
Connor nodded.
“You must’ve made
some difficult decisions along the way.”
His expression
became distant again, his LED flickering.
“Those choices made
you who you are. When you act on what you feel is right, you make your own
path. That’s living.”
Connor glanced
back at the young woman. A breeze came through, causing Haley’s auburn hair to
swirl around her in a very appealing way. Connor wasn’t used to humans making
him feel valued. Only one other person had ever made him feel that way.
He stared
intently at her striking green eyes; a deep forest full of wonder. “You have
very beautiful eyes.”
Haley’s
expression immediately changed to surprise. “What?”
“Did I make you
uncomfortable?”
“N-no. I mean. I
just didn’t expect…” Haley looked down and twirled her hair around her finger.
“Thank you.”
Connor leaned
sideways, trying to look at her face. “Sorry that was out of the blue. I just
thought you should know.”
Haley looked up
at him through her lashes and smiled.
DATE
FEBRUARY 2, 2039
TIME
PM 05:02:01
“So what’d she
want?” Hank said as Connor came into the station.
Connor stopped in
front of the lieutenant’s desk. “We just walked in the park and talked a little
bit.”
Lieutenant
Anderson glanced up from his terminal screen at him. “You look happy, Connor.”
Connor returned
the look. “It was the ‘fresh air.’” He straightened his tie. “I do feel
better.”
Hank leaned back
in his chair, a half smile appearing on his face.
The android went
to sit down at the desk on the other side of Hank’s. “Any progress on this
serial killer case?”
“Not yet. Chris
and the guys are still searching the area around that cemetery for the spot
where this bastard does his business.” Hank let out a sigh. “They keep widening
the perimeter.” He took a sip from his coffee mug. “Ack. Cold. I need a fresh
cup.” He wandered off to the kitchen.
Connor turned to
his terminal screen and browsed through the victim files. Seven girls now.
Bruised. Butchered. And disposed of like garbage. His forehead creased as he
scrolled through the crime scene photos.
He lingered on
the last photo, focusing on the girl’s dark red hair. He remembered watching as
a breeze blew Haley’s red hair around her shoulders. His gaze went to the
victim’s eyes in the photo. They looked so hollow. Frozen in fear. His gaze
fell to his keyboard, thinking about Haley’s eyes. Their incredible deep forest
green color. The way they seemed to light up when she smiled.
Connor returned
his attention to the screen, then realized Hank was standing just on the other
side of his terminal, his expression serious and concerned.
“Don’t worry,
Connor. We’ll get him before he gets her.”
