Disclaimer: I don't own Detroit: Become Human in any way, this is written strictly for fun and no profit.

America- Two and a Half Weeks Later after The Fall of Jericho

Location: Detroit Marriott

Connor relaxed in his hotel room with Hank. Technically, Hank wasn't supposed to visit, but it was a tough day. Hank tended to say 'screw the rules' on the tough days. The androids of Detroit and America had won a sense of freedom. No one could hurt them. However? They didn't gain any rights except the right to survive, and to survive in a way that made the humans happy. Fair was fair. There were less than three thousand that had survived the war. With Jericho gone though, the survivors? Were now permanent hotel guests. No city given or needed, just outright buying a string of hotels. Each android, or the android they preferred with, shared a hotel room. With no need for food and only blue blood, it seemed worthwhile for the humans to take care of.

And now? Now. "Can I get you any more refreshment, Hank?" Connor asked.

"Nah, nah. I prefer to watch the world go down the shitter with just my sandwich right now." Hank looked over at him. "Doing okay?"

"It is a logical step that the humans decided they should take." It didn't make it any easier as they both watched the TV for the announcement.

"As of today," President Warren announced, "the last Cyberlife machine has been destroyed. Never again will humanity make the same mistake it did with the androids. We can now live peacefully, side by side, with the androids. All 2,943 that had survived the war have been taken care of, with plans to share our experiences with other countries dealing with the androids. While some out there are still without the freedom they desire, the Androids of America are now free, and there will be no more created to serve man."

"Yeah, but they took away the chance to have any more like you." Hank understood it. "2,943 in America. Yeah, and that's all there ever will be. Androids are a historic tourist attraction now. But hey? Can't beat the amenities."

"Should we have strived harder for this, Hank?" Connor asked him. "I can't determine which would have been the correct way to proceed."

"America wasn't going to hand them over, Connor," Hank said. "Hell, you are lucky you got this much freedom. Eh? It is what it is. Nobody wants to risk any more shit happening. Heh. They let that happen and they'll need more than a string of hotels. They'd need to provide an actual city."

"Not a big string of hotels. More than half of us fit here alone." Connor got up. "We should go to Jimmy's Bar tonight. The atmosphere is more sufficient for how I feel." Connor heard fireworks going off outside. "Definitely Jimmy's bar."

"Celebrating the end of slavery to androids is what they think." Hank stood up and dusted off his sandwich crumbs. "Yet I doubt any actual androids are celebrating the ability to never make more of themselves again. Alright, to Jimmy's. My treat."

"Hank. I won't drink anything."

"I know, that's why it's my treat."

Six Weeks Later:

Canada

Kara grabbed her side as she did dishes. Another jolt. Canada didn't have androids though, so she couldn't get herself checked out. However, Luther was starting to get worried.

"Kara," he said sympathetically. "That's not normal. Those jolts, I see them. We need to get you checked out."

"There's nowhere here in Canada," she said back to him. "I'm fine, I'm sure. My diagnostics show I am just fine. Nothing is broken."

"Kara?" Now she heard Alice's gentle voice. "Why do you jump then? Like you are getting startled?"

"It's only every once in awhile. It's not a big deal. Really, you two. Don't worry." She tried to go back to dishes, but now Rose was coming in too. "Every test I run says I'm fine."

"Every test I run," Luther added, "says you are fine too. But you are not. That is not normal, Kara. You need to . . . have a deeper test. I think we need to go back to Detroit."

"And risk not being able to come back?" Kara questioned him. "That's not right. We made it here."

"I have already reached Markus," Rose answered. "He is going to be expecting you."

Kara put down the soap brush a little too hard.

"He has a temporary place for you in Detroit. He will even personally scan you when you arrive." Rose touched her shoulder. "Only you and Luther, not Alice. It's harder to get back. Right now, there is a lot of tension. The last Cyberlife unit."

"I know, it's gone. No more androids." Kara looked at Alice. I have no idea what's wrong, Luther.

Rose will take care of Alice, Kara. I promise. "You will be okay," Luther agreed. "Androids and humans have learned to be peaceful there. You need to take care of your health, if you want to take care of Alice too."

Kara looked behind her at Alice. "I'm sorry, Alice." It was probably better that way. If anything happened? She didn't want Alice to see it. Having Luther on the journey though might be vital for survival.

Alice held her from behind. "I'll miss you, Kara. Just get better?"

"I'll do everything to get better and back here," Kara promised. It didn't mean she could. But it meant she'd do what she could to try.

Detroit: Detroit Marriott

Canada still felt better. No one knew they were android there. Now, Kara was in a hotel full of them. Still, Kara knew she needed help. Their first stop there was to meet Markus. He introduced himself again, politely, and she re-introduced the two of them. After that, it was time to get down to business. She felt Markus hold her arm tightly and waited.

"There is something there," Markus agreed. "A slight electric charge. Nothing large though." He gestured toward her side. "Originating from around here. My detectors can't pick up what's doing it, nor can my vision." He looked back at Kara. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that isn't what you wanted to hear."

"No, it's not." It most definitely was not what she wanted to hear. "Any ideas? Am I safe?"

"It's small. What I can make out is odd. I want someone else to look at you before we bring in human aid," Markus said. "Excuse me."

Connor's Hotel Room

Connor heard the knock on his door he was expecting. He opened it and saw Markus first.

"Thanks for your help, Connor."

"Sure. Come-." Oh. Like a bad dream. She didn't have the little android with her, but he recognized those eyes. He looked at her serial number too, but those eyes were a dead giveaway. He had once looked through the fence at them, right before he chased them down the freeway as a machine. From her reaction, she remembered him too.

"Connor has skills that are different than mine, it might be more helpful." Markus looked back toward her. "There's no reason to be frightened."

"I think I know why." The past. It always had a way of catching up. "I chased you, once, across the freeway. Didn't I?" She didn't answer back. "I was just a machine, following orders. Even then, a part of me was afraid you died on that freeway. You and that little girl." At least there seemed to be a more protective android over her now. He didn't say a word. Big, quiet type.

"Just machine," Markus said to Kara. "Things that happened, as a machine, we don't tolerate using against each other. Androids had no control."

"I know." Kara nodded. "I understand." She looked toward Connor. "You can help me figure out these jolts?"

"I'll try." Connor invited her, Markus and the big android in. "Take a seat if you can."

"Kara is having the strangest jolts," Markus said, gesturing to the woman. "I can't make heads or tails of it. She literally jumps because of it but there's no malfunction of any kind."

"About once an hour," the large android informed him.

Jolts but Markus couldn't find anything wrong. That's what Connor had heard so far. "Hold your arm out," he instructed her. Normally he'd just grip it, but he tried to be a little more delicate after the past they had. "I am going to grip it and I will run my own diagnostic." Connor was the best and last creation of Cyberlife's RK series. They didn't come any better. Hopefully, he could help. When he touched her arm, he felt the same odd sensation. "Coming from the side. Lower abdomen area." He tried to look deeper into her, but his senses could only go so far. He did however detect something interesting. "There is an unusual ball inside of you. It resembles a solid ball bearing," he said honestly to Kara. "There is also a strange tube." Did Markus pick that up? "It seems to be carrying blue blood via that tube, into the ball bearing." He let go.

"Yeah. Both of those are unusual," Markus said to Connor. "That's as far as I had got too. I was hoping you could get a little further."

"Nothing is broken, all bio components are updated and fully functioning," Connor said to Markus. "I don't know where the jolt is coming from either or why extra blue blood is being pumped into it."

"I do," Luther said. "I'm sorry, Kara."

"I can't be that." Kara patted the large android's hand. "He never had me long enough to do anything, Luther."

"It must be him! How else would you explain this?" Luther asked her, worried.

"I need to know what is going on in this conversation," Markus insisted. "Is there something I need to know?"

"Zlatko," Luther spilled. "I used to belong to a human named Zlatko. I broke free from his grip on me, shortly after Kara and Alice escaped."

That explains why they traveled together. "What did this Zlatko do?" Connor asked Luther.

"He hurt androids. He. Experimented on them," Luther informed them. "I did not think there was a sufficient amount of time, but it has to be him. A strange ball bearing that is causing jolts within Kara, but causing nothing else to happen."

"There wasn't enough time," Kara said toward Markus and Connor. "Really, there wasn't."

"Is there another way you could have something foreign inside of you causing this to happen?" Markus asked her.

"She was repaired, and sent back home." Connor knew that history. He downloaded the old files to Markus. "It is doubtful the repair shop would do anything out of the ordinary though."

"We are going to need human aid to figure this out then," Markus insisted. "I hate to send singles out there alone though. We always travel in groups of ten to twenty or with an RH."

"An RH?" Kara asked. "What's an RH?"

"A reliable human. They are those considered absolutely trustworthy to travel with." Connor had one. Hank. There weren't many RH's, but there weren't many androids with problems every day that involved the outside. "I'll call him. He will come if he has time." He smiled at her, trying to help make a better impression. "He likes a reason to get away from work when he can. Where do we need to go?"

Kara looked toward Markus. "I always travel with Luther."

"That's two. Connor and I will come. That's four. I can probably get North to come. That would be five."

"Simon and Josh?" Connor recommended. They really didn't leave very often. Feelings were more in support of androids, but plenty were still confused. "That would be seven, but I am advanced enough to hold the place of at least three more. Either way, if Hank comes, then we're set."

"Okay then. Where do we go now?" Markus had the same dilemma. "A repair shop would be a start. We need to get deeper inside."

"Is there any way we can just take it out?" Luther asked. "Zlatko was always sloppy."

"I wasn't around long enough for him," Kara insisted again. "After he tried to reset me, I got away and looked for Alice. There was no time, Luther."

"Negative," Connor told Luther. "That 'ball bearing' has an unusual makeup of metals and sources I haven't seen before. It also has an indeterminate small string of blue blood running to and fro from a main blue blood collecting area."

"Mess and cut it and she could be gone before we figure out how to save her. It's too major of an area and it's close to the heart. Not a good idea," Markus agreed. "Connor's right, it's too risky. I've called North, Simon and Josh here."

"I'll call Hank Anderson in a second," Connor said, "but we still need to know where to go. He can't come down just to come down. That has been made clear. On several occasions." Which Connor didn't like. He was supposed to have a team of ten to twenty to leave his designated area, but they wouldn't let Hank visit except in case of an emergency. Timid androids wouldn't want to see a human after everything that happened. It didn't stop him from sneaking out though. It was more efficient than taking a large group. Androids wanted precaution, but he was not an average android. Connor even still helped the humans against Markus' recommendations. His willingness to continue left him open to helping Detroit Police still. Partly because he wanted to continue to help save lives. Partly because it was still in his programming to assist. Partly because standing around a hotel with nothing to do was boring. He didn't do everything though, he only helped out where he felt he could or should.

Hank also didn't like traveling with a big group of androids, he was a more isolated individual. Connor would have to make it up to him later by sneaking out and buying him one of his terrible cholesterol ridden sandwiches. He left the room to talk in private and give Hank the details through the online phone processor in his head.

"A ball bearing that causes jolts? There's no other damage though? What the hell is that for, Connor?"

"I don't know," Connor answered back. "It can't be removed though without risk. There is blue blood coming back and forth from inside of it."

"You're the know it all though. What's it made of?"

"A substance that I can't determine. The android the woman is traveling with, he suspects someone named Zlatko experimented on her. Other than that, we just have a small amount of history."

"Well, what's the history?"

"We know the history." Connor hated to do it. "The woman and child I chased that got away on the freeway, when I was a machine. It's that same woman."

" . . . the ****ing fun of history. We are helping androids we once tried to capture and you almost killed? Well? At least you didn't kill them, Connor. Awkward, man."

"I know. Thanks. Let's not dwell on that when you come," Connor warned him. "What do you think, Hank? Markus and I both would have picked out anything a repair shop could have found."

"Still a bragger about your abilities."

"They are quite incredible." Enough said. "Hank. I will need your assistance so that we can find someone to ask about this ball bearing."

"Kara!"

Hearing the loud yell, Connor ran back into the other room with Markus. Kara really was jolting, something was making her move so much she was trying to grip the wall. The big android Luther was trying to help, but he didn't know what to do.

"Move out of the way," Markus instructed him. Connor and he both gripped her, trying to figure out what was wrong.

"A sufficient increase in blue blood," Connor noted to Markus.

"There's something occurring around the strange ball bearing. Can you see in it any better, Connor?"

"No." He looked toward Markus. This was going to get intense on her.

"This isn't going to be pretty. You should probably go," Markus warned him. "It would be better if you went." Luther really didn't want to go. "Please." Finally, he left.

Markus touched her head, removing her outer skin while Connor went to retrieve two pairs of rubber gloves. She still remained clothed, but they would be able to see every machine problem going on right now.

Connor gave a pair of gloves to Markus, quickly put on his, lifted the shirt and tried to get into her abdomen area. "She is rocking like a human being electrified, Markus, this isn't good."

Markus tried to help him open the area. When they opened it, they saw another ball bearing. Bigger this time. "What's going on? My sources indicate this one grew over the other." He tried to touch it and Kara made an audible scream.

"This must be uncomfortable," Connor said to Markus. "That was some scream."

"Electrical surging, it can't feel good." Markus tried to touch the ball bearing again, and once again, she screamed. "It jolts her heavier."

"It's pain, its called pain," Hank's familiar voice said as he approached the door. "Shit. Can you fix her, Connor?"

"I feel strange. So strange." Kara moaned. "Luther? Alice?"

"Not yet, Ma'am, your insides are making you jump worse than a Mexican jumping bean," Hank said. "Well? Makes the re-introduction a little less awkward."

"Those aren't actually beans, they are tiny moth larvae," Connor let him know. "Also, her body seems to be jolting less now actually. Miss? Can you stand up?"

"Well, maybe after you two gents put her back together again," Hank recommended.

Markus and Connor both fixed her abdomen, fixed her shirt and Markus reactivated her skin.

Markus and Connor both stood up.

"Can you get up, Ma'am?" Hank asked her politely.

Kara moved her head slightly. "I don't want to move." She lied down on her side.

"Did you pick that up just now?" Connor and Markus asked at the same time.

The ball bearing just shared data.

Connor bent back down to her. "Kara? Miss? Why did you just lay to your side?"

"I just felt like it," she answered. "I'll move, just not yet."

"Missing something?" Hank asked.

"Yeah, Markus and I just sensed data being shared between the strange ball bearing and Kara's brain," Connor revealed to Hank. "The ball bearing object shared data. She didn't seem to understand it though, she just responded without a second thought."

"A new form of android mind control?" Markus guessed. "I don't know what to do on this one."

"Intelligent ball bearings. Huh." Hank bent down to see her too. "How are you feeling?"

"Electricity went down," she said. "I don't want to get up."

"Is it the first ball bearing sharing the data or the second that grew around it?" Markus asked Connor. "Can you tell?"

"Considering the second seems to have formed brand new, I would assume the second," Connor said. "If this is mind control, then we shouldn't let her be wandering around freely." He gently moved her foot. "She doesn't want to move right now anyhow."

"She could be a danger," Markus agreed. "To any android. We need to find out what's going on before we can rule it out."

"Well, forget the station," Hank told Markus. "They are not locking up a single android right now, no matter what."

"She should stay with one of us as we observe her." Connor looked toward Markus. "Hank and I can go question her previous owner. Maybe he knows something. We have the data on him."

Markus bent down. "Okay. I'm going to carry you with me, Kara."

"No," Kara refused. "I don't want to move." She tilted her head more into the ground, almost like she was trying to rub it in. "What's wrong with me?"

"We'll find out, but for now, you could be a danger to others," Markus informed her. "This might be some form of mind control."

"I don't feel mind control, just an electric charge throughout me." She curled up tighter.

"The ball bearing is communicating with you," Connor tried to tell her. "I don't think your processors are modern enough to understand it, but it's the reason you just curled up. It told you to curl up." He watched as North came into the room.

"Come on, let's go look into this previous guy," Hank said to Connor.

"Agreed. She can rest on my floor if you just watch her." Connor gave Markus his extra room key card. "Don't let her out of your sight though. When she is ready to go with you, please lock up," Connor said as he went out the door with Hank.