Empathy (Connor X Reader)

Chapter 16

Kamski gave you a look. "(Y/n), right? You seem like you've grown a fond attachment to Connor." Blush started to form around your cheeks. "W-Why would you think that?" Kamski glances downward, seeing that you two have been holding each other's hand. "Oh!" You quickly let go of Connor's hand, nervously trying to come up with an excuse about what just happened. "Y-You see I didn't notice that. And I was trying to make sure Connor didn't wander off. Heh heh.." "Interesting." Kamski stood between you two. "Society's first true human and android couple." "W-We're not a couple!" You stuttered. "I just happen to think Connor's a n-nice person, that's it." Connor blushed. This was the first time anyone has called him by a person, not an android. Why did this make him feel.. accepted?

Kamski turns to Connor. "What about you Connor? Who's side are you on?" Connor was hesitant to reply. "I have no side. I was designed to stop deviants and that's what I intend to do." Kamski chuckled. "Well, that's what you're programmed to say, but you.." He stepped forward toward Connor. "What do you really want?" Connor looked troubled. All he could think of in that moment was you. 'No.. this can't be.' He thought. He couldn't help but think of how beautiful you were. How much it made him chuckle whenever you acted stubborn. How adorable it was whenever you smiled at him. How much he wanted to hold you in his arms and never let go. A sudden realization hit him. 'I-I've fallen in love with her...' Connor turns to you, making you give him a nervous look. He glanced back toward Kamski whilst taking your hand. You blushed again. "What I want is not important." Connor answered. Kamski nods. "Chole." Chole steps forward. "I'm sure you're familiar with the Turing Test. Mere formality, simple question of algorithm and computing capacity." He turns Chole so that's she's facing you three. "What interests me is weather machines are capable of empathy. I call it 'the Kamski Test', it's very simple, you'll see.." Now you were starting to see why Connor was hesitant about coming here.

"Magnificent, isn't it." Kamski continued, glancing at Chole. "One of the first intelligent models developed by CyberLife. Young, and beautiful forever. A flower that will never wither." He turns back toward Connor. "But what is it really?.. Piece of plastic intimidating a human? Or a living being?" Kamski opened a drawer and took out a gun. "With a soul.." He pushes Chole down so that she's kneeling. "It's up to you to answer that fascinating question, Connor." Kamski proceeds to place the gun in Connor's hand and aims it towards Chole'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." "What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull, Kamski!? Keep Connor out of this!" You protested. Hank pulled you back. "Okay I think we're done here. Come on, Connor. Let's go. Sorry to get you out of your pool-" "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." "That's enough! Connor, we're leaving." Hank insisted. "Pull the trigger." Whispered Kamski. "Connor, don't." Hank ordered. "And I'll tell you what you wanna know." Said Kamski. "Connor, no!" You begged.

Connor's arm was shaking. 'What's more important..?' He thought. "Please, Connor." He turned to you. "Please don't do it." You sobbed. He looked into Chole's eyes. He saw something he thought he only saw in himself. Fear. Connor couldn't do it. He hesitantly hands the gun over to Kamski. "Fascinating..." Kamski takes the gun. Relief took over your whole body. You didn't think Connor wouldn't shoot, but you were thankful he didn't. "Connor!" You cried as you ran over to him and hugged him, practically burying yourself in his chest. "CyberLife's last chance to save humanity..is itself a deviant." Connor couldn't believe it himself. He thought he'd obey his programming and not let his emotions take over. But something about the way Chole was looking at him... and how you were crying, begging him not to shoot... It made him go against his program. "I'm..." Connor turned toward Kamski. "I'm not a deviant..." He said in a troubled manner. "You preferred to spare a machine rather than accomplish your mission." Kamski helped Chole stand up. "You saw a living being in this android. In the same way (Y/n) sees you as a living being. You showed empathy."

Kamski let's Chole leave the room. "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?" Hank couldn't hear this any longer. He grabs Connor's shoulder. "Let's get outta here." With that, you left. "By the way." Connor stops, holding onto you tighter, not turning around to face Kamski. "I always leave an emergency exit in my programs. You never know.." After a moment, you both proceed to leave. The three of you made it outside. You couldn't stop thinking about what had just went down. Connor noticed how scared you looked. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked. You shook your head. "I-I'm going home." You replied bluntly before letting go of Connor. "By yourself? You gonna be alright?" Asked Hank. "Y-Yeah, I just wanna be alone right now, okay?" You got on your motorcycle and left. Connor was worried, but he knew you probably didn't want to talk about it so he just let you be.

"Why didn't you shoot?" Hank asked. "I just saw that girl's eyes... and (Y/n) crying... and I couldn't, that's all." Connor insisted, not wanting to think about it anymore. "You're always saying you would do anything to accomplish your mission." Said Hank. "That was our last chance to learn something, and you let it go." "Yeah, I know what I should've done! I told you I couldn't!" Connor snapped. "I'm sorry, okay?" Hank stood there for a moment. "Maybe you did the right thing." He gave him a small grin and walked away. Connor turned toward Hank. He expected him to scold him for not obeying his programming, but he seemed as relieved as you were for not killing Chole, which in turn relieved Connor.