Borders [DBH]

2880 minutes

"What's that mess again? REED! ANDERSON! Can I know what's going on here? "

Folwer came hurriedly, visibly overwhelmed by the behavior of his two agents. He was used to their fiery temperament and their notorious enmity, but that was going too far. Really too far, judging by the still bloodied nose of his inspector and his swollen hand that began to dye in a bad purple red.

"I sobered the lieutenant ... Sorry, but for a second, I took him for one of those boozers squatting this place. It's true that the resemblance is astoning! "

Gavin merely replied with a provocative and contemptuous smile against the old man. The lieutenant got up calmly and then wiped the blood that blew from his lip before sending an ironic smile to Folwer ... which was followed by a good punch in the Reed's belly. The latter, surprised not so much by the gesture as by the pain, folded in half, gasping for breath, before casting a dark gaze at his eldest.

"Maybe the ressemblance's astonishing you better like that, Reed? "

Two officers seized the lieutenant to separate him from his colleague. As another approached to help Gavin, Gavin shoved him away with his usual bad mood. Jeffrey Fowler was dismayed. The two men had never get to grips until now, but given the characters, it was not a surprising thing. However, Reed's state intrigued the police captain. His hand seemed sore, maybe even broken, and his nose was still bleeding. He knew his men. Hank was an angry and sometimes violent impulsive man, but he could never have gotten away with so few injuries against the young and athletic inspector. Not if Reed had attacked the first...

"Hank, do not take me for an idiot otherwise I promise you that this time, I will write myself the epilogue of your disciplinary novel! "

"It's ok Jeffrey! This guy is only a brat without brain and heart! A bastard that justifies the massacre of androids by ... »

"Stop with that Hank, it's not going to start again! "

The captain had shouted these words on his subordinate who had stopped speaking, not without, however, dedicated to him a look filled with anger. Here it is, the reason for this violent altercation. Folwer sighed. A further provocation from his young agent about the machines, a day when it was not a good idea. In a posture of chagrin, he pinched his nose before speacking with an ostentatious annoyance:

"Jesus, Hank! I manage a police station, not a kindergarten! You beat me it with your androids. They were machines, Hank, just fucking machines! Gouverment just pressed a switch, and they switch off tje androids like your electrical devices when you turn off the breaker. "

Hank closed his eyes painfully. Millions of people thought that. And every day, as the desire for freedom had blushed the bluish glow of androids, this speech of the victorious gained ground and contaminated the minds of humans. Soon, history would remember only the bug of 2038. It would forget Markus' moving song against the bullets, the canons that fall in front of this call to life, and the shy smile of Connor, so simple, so mimetic, still hesitant, in front of an old burger truck. But history is like that. The losers are silent, the winners decide.

"I tried everything Hank. I protected you against Perkins, I closed my eyes on your delays, your smell of alcohol, your staggering footsteps. I offered you the help of a psychologist, to take a vacation I ... I did everything ... but here you go too far. I helped you in memory of the past, and you did nothing but spit on the hand I handed you. It's over, Hank. Now you get out of there, you get out of this crime scene immediately and you give me your plate. You are suspended until further notice! I don't want to see you here anymore, understood? "

the old lieutenant didn't blink at Fowler's anger. For a moment, the captain thought he was going to see his old friend again in this defensive stance, so solid and so peaceful at the same time. No heat. No scream. Just the strength of a character who refuses to bend. Hank took out his plate and his weapon and threw them at the feet of his superior, before turning around and leaving, without uttering a single word. Yet, in his mind, a lot of things were happening.

He prayed with all his might, hoping that Fowler pay no attention to the irregular shadow of the concrete pillar that hid the last dreamer of Jericho. He prayed that the young inspector didn't decide to denounce the android finally, and that he could get him out of there. He prayed beacause he want that tonight again, an earthy glow with sadly reddish shades would continue to shine in this night without the slightest star above their heads.

A thought crossed his mind like an unconscious revelation.

It was impossible to see the stars at night in Detroit.

Except for those who knew where they had to look for finding their red shy light...

***

and a another chapitre is ending ! It was particulary hard to translate, so don't hesitate to tell me if there are too many mistakes ! Hope you enjoy this chapter too ! See you soon for the rest of the story !