Connor x Reader - Altering algorithms (DBH)

Chapter 16: Are you a deviant?

"It's up to you to answer that fascinating question, Connor." He forcefully put the weapon into Connor's hand. As I wanted to protest, Kamski grabbed my wrist and dragged me a foot away.

"(Y/N)!" Connor's eyes worriedly landed on me, yet the black haired man immediately let me go.

"She just shouldn't interfere."

He inched closer to Connor again, moving the android's arm up so he was aiming the gun at Chloe's head. "Destroy this machine and I'll tell you all I know. Or spare it, if you feel it's alive, but you'll leave here without having learnt anything from me."

Kamski surrounded Connor, ending up next to him.

"Okay, I think we're done here. Come on, Connor. Let's go. Sorry to get you outta your pool." Hank interrupted, already about to leave, yet our partner did not move. Connor's LED flickered yellow, as he was obviously troubled.

"What's more important to you, Connor? Your investigation, or the life of this android? Decide who you are. An obedient machine... Or a living being endowed with free will..."

I clenched my fists, speaking up, "Don't listen to him Connor. We don't need the information that desperately."

Kamski put a hand onto the android's shoulder. "Pull the trigger -"

Hank and I shouted at the same time, "Connor!"

I saw my partner slightly averting his gaze from Kamski.

"-and I'll tell you what you wanna know." The black haired man finished his sentence.

"Connor, you're more than a machine. You don't need to listen to him!" I exclaimed, getting Connor to look at me. There was helplessness in his eyes, causing my heart to constringe. As his LED blinked red, he handed the gun over to Kamski, who accepted it from him.

"Fascinating... CyberLife's last chance to save humanity... Is itself a deviant..."

The LED turned to yellow again, as Connor hesitated. "I'm...I'm not a deviant..." Kamski helped Chloe up again and then sent her away.

"You preferred to spare a machine rather than accomplish your mission. You saw a living being in this android. You showed empathy."

"A war is coming...you'll have to choose your side... Will you betray your own people or stand up against your creators? What could be worse than having to choose between two evils and possibly losing someone you treasure?" Kamski's gaze went over to me, as he said those words.

Unable to just stand there and watch him, I marched towards Connor, gently gripping his hand and dragging him away. Hank was right next to us. Shooting a glare at the black haired man, I hissed "You tested Connor on empathy, yet I do not even see you showing any of it. He is much more human than you will ever be."

Turning on my heels, I softly pulled Connor behind me. As we were about to leave the room, Kamski added, "By the way... I always leave an emergency exit in my programs... You never know..."

Shaking my head, I continued walking, tightly gripping Connor's hand, who appeared to squeeze it back.

Once we arrived outside, I tentatively let go of my partner's hand, still walking in front of him.

"Why didn't you shoot?" Hank asked, turning around. I looked at him, wanting to know the same deep on the inside. We both faced Connor, who appeared troubled to explain himself.

"I just saw that girl's eyes...and I couldn't, that's all..."

I lowered my gaze, knowing he was very well aware of the reason himself. He just kept denying it.

"You're always saying you would do anything to accomplish your mission. That was our chance to learn something, and you let it go..."

I gasped, turning to Hank now. "I think that's enough, don't-"

I was interrupted by the lieutenant. "(Y/N) I can see what's going on with you but stop trying to constantly protect him."

I wanted to protest but Connor was faster than me. "It's all right (Y/N)." Shooting me a short glance, he then faced Hank, visibly upset.

"Yeah, I know what I should've done! I told you I couldn't. I'm sorry, okay?"

Hank stared at him for a second and then genuinely smiled at Connor. I had never seen him directing such an expression at the android. "Maybe you did the right thing."

The grey-haired man walked around Connor and headed for his car. Using the chance to speak, I inched closer to Connor. "I believe you definitely did the right thing. Like I already explained, emotions are nothing bad. I am seriously happy that you didn't shoot back then. I always knew that you were as good as any other human. You deserve to have your own life." I mildly smiled at Connor, grasping his hand and carressing it with my thumb.

"I wasn't programmed to feel this way..." He declared, glancing at our hands.

Chuckling, I lifted his hand and covered it with both of my own, still smiling at him. "That doesn't mean you're not allowed to perceive such things."

Before Connor could react, Hank called out to us from afar. "Are you two comin'?"

I sighed, slightly disappointed that he had ruined the moment. Lowering Connor's hand, I squeezed it once more and then strolled towards the lieutenant. Sensing Connor behind me, I felt contented, to have him by my side. I was proud of him for having proven the world that he was worth as much as any human.