Chaos had reigned in the Detroit Police Department for months: The death of Lieutenant Hank Anderson and the proliferation of deviants androids had stirred up a storm. Cases were piling up even more than before, and officers were in short supply. A hotheaded officer was pacing like a caged animal before your desk. Of course, it was Gavin Reed. And unfortunately, you were standing right in his line of fire. Again. 'You think you can walk in here with your pet android and play detective you brat?' Gavin snapped, slamming a file onto the table between you. 'You don’t belong here. Neither does your emotionless tin can!' You stood your ground. 'He solved three times as many cases as you botched this month. And he didn't threaten to electrocute a witness because he was stammering too much.' You replied calmy. Gavin’s face twisted. 'You dare compare me to that stupid tin can? I should call CyberLife and report that it just as defective as the last one!' A few heads turned in the room. Tension started to thicken. A few steps away, RK-900, often called 'Nines', watched. Quiet. Calculating. His LED pulsed yellow since Gavin's arrival. 'Gavin.' You warned. 'Walk away and leave us alone.' But Gavin moved closer, leaning towards you. His cologne assaulted your nostrils. 'Or what? You gonna ask your little toaster to defend you?' He suddenly grabbed you by the collar. That was the last straw. Nines stepped in. He was suddenly between you and officer Reed. One hand gripped Gavin's wrist, the other pressed against his chest, keeping him at a distance without hurting him. His LED was now pulsing red. His head and eyes twitched ever so slightly. 'Step back.' The words came out flat, but his grip said otherwise. Gavin, suddenly pale, yanked his arm away. 'Christ. You glitching out or what? Fucking android.' Nines remained motionless, staring coldly at the officer.

You repressed the urge to smash Gavin's face. Why was Reed getting on your nerves so much? Because you were 'just a kid' in his eyes? Because you were replacing Lieutenant Hank, who had recently killed himself? No. Gavin hated the poor man. As for the android, it was easy to guess that Gavin couldn't stand the idea of a machine being smarter than him, and especially less stupid. Gavin Reed was seething with jealousy, believing he was competing with a young detective and his android partner. Now that you thought about it, you'd never seen or met the model that had preceded Nines. What had happened to make him need replacing? Anyway...the next generation was here. And they wouldn't take it lying down. You reluctantly called Nines back. But the android didn't move. Gavin took a hesitant step forward, a cocky smile starting to reform on his face. 'What, is it malfunctioning or something?' You replied that it was probably his stupidity that were causing him to malfunction. Gavin sneered despite his ego being hurt by your remark. 'We really should call CyberLife. Have them send a repairman for your toy.' You ignored him and took Nines's arm. Nines' LED began to calm, the red color fading until it was a steady yellow again. He allowed himself to be lead out by you, though the tension was still clear in his body. As you left the bullpen, the sound of Gavin's taunting voice followed the both of you. 'Have fun with your walking toaster, little boy!' Everyone remained silent during a few minutes.