(no subject)

 

Connor: *gazes back at Darnell as he speaks, as he listens to all of that... and it kind of hits him why it bothers him so much.* ...The difference is that you are expected to feel emotions, but my feeling emotions is unplanned for and will have me dismantled to find out what happened in my programming to cause those emotions in the first place. *that's... what's had him on edge all afternoon... he knows that if these emotions continue, pass or fail the testing, he'll still be taken away from Darnell and killed just to find out why a computer program thought it could feel emotion...*

Darnell: *the words hit him like a punch to the gut, eyes widening as that sinks in* ........no...no, they...they /can't/.

Connor: ...*looks at Darnell... and tries to put on a smile* I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's possible they did plan for this, they just did not tell us so as not to influence the test. *his smile is forced... he doesn't believe what he's just said, but he doesn't want to leave Darnell upset, either...*

Darnell: ..........you're an analyst and investigator, and you know them far better than I do. Do you really believe that? *meeting his gaze* Tell me the truth, Connor.

Connor: *it takes him a long moment to look up at Darnell, LED flickering red for a moment* ...No...

Darnell: ............ *scoots closer and pulls Connor into a hug, clearly /protective/!* We'll figure this out. I won't let them take you. I won't let them /kill/ you just because they don't understand their own actions and consequences. They have no right to punish you for something you can't help, or for their own shortsightedness. 

Connor: *surprised, and yet he shouldn't be. He leans into Darnell, shifting his arms to hug back...* ...Thank you, Darnell... but I don't know that you'll be able to stop them once you leave the States... *he knows CyberLife wants to expand to Europe, but Darnell would have to convince them to /let/ him bring an android in, and CyberLife would have to agree to contract him out to Darnell personally instead of to MCF, /and/... they'd have to determine that he passed his tests with Darnell... what if part of the final test is going over his memories and programming? What if, even if he leaves most of today out of his uploads they still figure out that he felt fear? What will they do then? He suddenly realizes... he doesn't wan to die...*

Darnell: I'll figure it out. I'll contact my agent handler in Britain. Thomas will help us. We'll figure it out. I'm /not/ going to abandon you, Connor. I won't let them hurt you. I don't care if you're technically their /property/. *said with disdain . . . then, quietly* I'll /steal/ you if I have to. Because I know they 're wrong.

Connor: *shifts back, gripping Darnell’s shoulders and ducking to get the man to look at him* No. Darnell, no. You’re a detective, law enforcement. Don’t risk your career, your /life/, for me. Please. *he wants to say he’s not worth that, but knows Darnell would argue, and... and he’s starting to understand why... or at least that he /wants/ Darnell to argue for him. But he doesn’t want to see Darnell ruined for his sake...*