Chapter 3: Kala

Kala sighed and stared at her phone screen lying blankly on the bed in front of her. She had, of course, in her rush to leave and subsequent disorientation over Wolfgang's abduction forgotten her charger.

It didn't really matter she supposed, Rajan had told her not to text often as he wasn't sure that his phone wasn't being monitored. Kala had nodded numbly in response to this and let him misinterpret her silence as anger.

The deception stung, but only slightly. After all, what was one more lie to the vast ocean of mistrust between them? And then, with an ease that disturbed her, she shoved him out of her mind, and unlike a certain German safecracker, he stayed there.

But still, jiggling around in the back of her mind was that gnawing, biting sensation of guilt, just waiting to rear its head if she let it. Letting out another sigh Kala burrowed deeper into the pile of blankets Riley had given her, clearly noticing her discomfort with the British weather.

Once again, her cluster-mate had proved to be an invaluable asset, scouting location to location. They were currently somewhere near Manchester, or something along those lines; the cities blurred for Kala, all as grey and bleak as the next. She missed the sunshine, and her father's good cooking and the warmth, although it was nearly as muggy here as in Bombay, but more than anything she missed having Wolfgang in her head.

They had all been taking blockers since they had snatched Whispers and Jonas. Kala found the silence was deadening, oppressive, and achingly lonely. She didn't know how she had managed before her second birth, how any of the 'normal' humans managed.

Her thoughts were terrifying sometimes, growing like vines, choking and desperate. Were she at home she would have gone to the temple and prayed. But she was not, and she had left in such a hurry she had not even remembered to pack her beloved figurine of Ganesh, the one her mother had given her at sixteen.

The only consolation was that she was not physically alone. Robbed of the connection, her cluster felt more like strangers than she was used to, but a whole year inside their heads could not be so easily erased. It had been a considerable relief when she made it off the plane to find Will waiting for her in a dark windowed car, just as steady and calming as he was in her head.

"This place is ridiculous isn't it," said Nomi, plopping down beside her, causing the ancient mattress to creak.

They were staying in some sort of abandoned housing complex, rotting in the shadow of an old steel factory. From the outside it looked like any other abandoned wreck, but the inside, well the inside was almost passible.

"I can't believe it," Nomi cast a glance around the half-lit room, sunlight was barely filtering through a mismatched set of curtains, but there was a lamp on in the corner; the old shack actually had some sort of electricity, there was even a TV, set up so it could be watched from bed. "It is like sketchy Airbnb, or," she amended, "sketchier Airbnb."

Kala gave an absent smile. Her thoughts were elsewhere; Will was supposed to be talking done to Wolfgang now; they had been waiting until he was awake again.

Letting out a third sigh, she attempted to regain some focus; lying beside her phone was a stack of handwritten notes, scrawled on napkins and post-its. Despite being consumed by an almost chronic absentmindedness, she had been attempting to synthesize an injectable version of the blocker as a distraction.

It wasn't as if she were just killing time, injections were far more effective than trying to jam a pill down someone's throat, a valuable consideration for when they woke their prisoners, but it was proving to be an exercise in frustration.

This was no doubt partially due to the rudimentary nature of her supplies; if she were back in her lab in Bombay she knew it would be simple. Here all she had was an assortment of questionable drug paraphernalia and a half working camp stove – far from ideal conditions. But she also knew it was because almost everything she did reminded her of Wolfgang.

Only minutes ago in fact she had been downstairs laboring over what must have been her twentieth attempt when she slopped blocker all over the little camp stove, stirring a mixture of beeswax and canola oil trying to get the drug to dissolve perfectly. A firm squeeze of the shoulder from Will had sent her upstairs to mope instead.

What would Wolfgang say? Were they still hurting him? Fear closed like a fist around her throat at the memory of Wolfgang's face almost unrecognizable with its coating of blood and twisted with agony staring down at her.

It had been nearly a full day since she had snuck into some stranger's empty pool to talk to him, three full days since he had been captured. Kala sighed and rubbed at her throbbing temples; one of the side effects of the blockers.

Nomi had noticed her distraction and gave her hair a reassuring pat. "We'll find him Kala, stay strong."

Kala absently smiled again; Sun had crept into the room, moving in that nearly silent way of hers to poke at the TV.

"I have Bugs and Neets on it even ask we speak," continued Nomi, "And once Whisper's wakes up we will be able to –"

There was a crash in the general vicinity of the TV and Sun let out a muted string of curses.

"Do you-?" Kala began, but Sun was emphatically shaking her head. Nomi continued.

"- we will be able to force the location out of him."

"Will we?" asked Kala, the thought only now occurring to her. How would they get Whispers to talk? Had Will even thought about it? Sure he must have picked up some skills when it came to interrogation, but would it be enough?

None of them were experienced in the area of torture: none other than Wolfgang, of course. Possibly Will could, but he was too moral, to righteous to do such a thing. Looking at it realistically, they all were, except Wolfgang, again.

But what if it was necessary?

Kala's fist closed at the memory of the electric brands burning into Wolfgang's chest; desperate times called for desperate measures after all. The thought of his pain made her angry enough to want to hurt someone, but there was a big difference between intention and action, she knew that now.

Could she do it? She imagined Whispers, two floors below, bound and deeply unconscious, Jonas in a similar state one room over. What would she do? What could she do?

Another clatter brought her out of that avenue of thought with a start, Sun had dropped something again. Nomi was already hurrying over to her.

"Sun what are you -?"

Her cluster-mate sighed, sinking onto the bed with an uncharacteristic thump. "My phone screen is broken. I wanted to watch the news."

Nomi wisely made no comment, and after digging around in her suitcase to locate the correct cord, merely held out her hand for Sun's phone. Sun seemed to hesitate and then passed it over.

Immediately the newscaster's voice filled the room, speaking in bright and bubbly Korean. Nomi fiddled with the volume, and then they all settled back onto the bed, Kala leaning against the headboard and Nomi and Sun sitting at the end.

Kala could tell by the former's unsettled expression that they were experiencing the same thing; understanding the newscast, which their eyes told them was clearly in Korean, as if it were in their native languages, all nuances and idioms intact.

"- the album is expected to be released sometime next year," continued the news woman, her expression now becoming serious, "And now onto our top story tonight: Where in the world is Bak Sun? Ms. Bak, sister to Bak Joon-Ki, and daughter to deceased banking tycoon –"

"What is this?" asked Lito from beside Kala, who jumped in surprise; the sound of the TV must have masked his approach. After a gentle prodding she moved over so that they could share the bed.

"- current CEO of Bak Financial is out of the hospital in good condition, and has released a statement once again encouraging his sister to turn herself in and quote – seek help for what is clearly a violent and homicidal disorder –"

Four pairs of hands formed identical fists, and Nomi placed a restraining hand on Sun's arm. "We only have one TV," Nomi said in a tone that was clearly intended to placate her.

"- Over eight people have died since the shooting at the Bak Gala earlier this week, and six more remain in hospital. Among their number –"

And here Kala felt a quick swell of nervousness, that was terribly familiar but not at all hers, before it was brutally tamped down, like a boot on a cockroach.

"Detective Mun Kwon-Ho, is now in stable condition –"

"He is very handsome," added Lito, in a carrying whisper, as a picture of the detective flashed on screen. Kala couldn't help but agree. Although not quite her type, there was something appealing about a clean-cut crusader for justice.

And of course there were impressions, not even real enough to call memories, of a lean body, golden light, sweat coursing down her face, pleasantly bruised limbs and a surprisingly gentle kiss...

Sun glared at the both of them, before tucking her legs up in a seated fetal position.

"- Although the Seoul Metropolitan Police refuse to issue a statement as to why he was at the Gala in the first place. Rumors have been circulating of widespread corruption remaining inside Bak Financial –"

"I think, sometimes I irritate her," continued Lito, gesturing towards Sun with appealing nonchalance, "can't figure how though..."

"He said what?!" demanded Kala, rounding on Will, who looked wan and emaciated under the harsh florescent light in the kitchen.

Riley sighed, running a hand through her hair, casting shadows on them from her perch on the dilapidated kitchen counter, "It's Wolfgang, I mean did we expect any different?"

"No," conceded Kala, before flaring up with righteous fury, "But I didn't expect you to agree it!"

Will scrubbed a hand through his beard, "He has a point."

"A point?! A point? – I can't – Surely you are not just going to leave him in the hands of, of those monsters!"

"But if we want to bring down BPO..." began Nomi.

"It would be helpful to have a man on the inside. I know," finished Will. "We have to be smart about this."

Kala let out an angry puff of air. This was so like him; she could have kicked herself for not seeing it before. Damn Wolfgang: always choosing the most dangerous times to play the hero.

"I have something passible for an injectable blocker," she said finally, entering back into the conversation after taking a minute to stew angrily. "But I am going to need to make more if we are also using them on Jonas and Whispers."

"What is the plan with them?" asked Capheus, speaking for the first time from his place at the wobbly kitchen table. "I don't like the idea of hurting them."

"They have already hurt us," stated Sun flatly.

"Either way," Will surveyed the room, "I think it is time for us wake our prisoners up."

"Are you sure you can do this?" asked Will, halting abruptly in the cobwebbed stairwell, in front of the barricaded door, the door to the rooms Jonas and Whispers were in.

Kala gave what she hoped was a convincing nod, "Of course, I mean –" and now that damned tendency to ramble was reasserting itself, "I mean – what is a little violence and interrogation? Why not add to the pantheon of evils a being could commit? I should be going for the full collection." She really hoped Will dismissed the hysteria in her voice for humour.

"Kala..."

"I am just saying, I am likely going to be reborn as a cockroach, or a slug, or some sort of deep sea squid –"

"Kala."

"Right. Yes. I am ready."

Will scrutinized her his one of his analytical 'Officer Gorski' looks. Kala found herself unconsciously straightening her spine.

Whatever Will found in her expression must have been enough, because after a moment he nodded.

"Jonas first?" confirmed Kala. Will nodded again curtly and they unbarred the door to what must have once been the laundry room of the house.

Jonas was collapsed limply on a scrubby mattress one-arm flopping off like a dead fish, the scene reminded Kala unpleasantly of Angelica. Swallowing the nausea that rose in her at the memory of her cluster's mother spattering her brains out into the floor, Kala began to lay out the contents of little kit she had brought along.

With steady hands she measured out the blocker. It was still not perfect; the results could be unpredictable, but still, better than nothing. After she had injected it, she and Will sat back on their heels and waited. It didn't take long; Kala had been very precise when she calculated the heroin dosage – something she had gotten good at in the year Will had been on the run. While they were waiting, just to be safe they handcuffed his hands and feet together.

Jonas stirred weakly then sat up with a violent gasp wobbling dangerously without the use of his hands; his eyes flickered around the room blindly, and then settled on Will.

"You are making a mistake," he panted

'Am I?" Will picked disinterestedly at a spot on his shoe, "Sort of seems like the other way around."

Jonas's flitting eyes met Kala's, if he recognized her he didn't show it, lingering on her only a moment before continuing a frantic scan around the room.

'The blocker works," said Kala, "I can't visit him."

Will nodded approvingly and gestured that Kala should step back. Grasping Jonas firmly by the shirtfront Will forced his roving eyes onto his face.

"Why would you side with BPO?"

Jonas's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile, "You are forgetting, Will, what I told you about us and them."

"Are you trying to tell me that BPO isn't our enemy now?"

"It is not BPO, but what BPO represents that we are fighting."

Will rolled his eyes and gave a threatening jerk of his arm, "Cut the bullshit, I don't have all day."

Jonas attempted to extract his mangled shirt from Will's grasp. "You know there is a divide in BPO, a faction that wishes to return to a more accepting position."

"And which side is the Chairman on?"

Jonas pressed his lips together and smiled, "It doesn't matter."

"How could it not matter?" demanded Will. Kala could begin to see the rage building up in him.

Jonas remained unfazed. "Because, there will always need to be something like BPO, an official system in which we can interface with the sapiens, to ensure our secret is kept, to monitor and maintain the health of our kind."

Will seemed too enraged to say anything but suddenly Kala understood.

"You are afraid that if BPO falls the sapiens will hunt us down instead."

Jonas seemed to see her for the first time. "Kala Rasal I presume."

There was no need to ask how he knew, if Whispers knew it would have only been a matter of time. The thought sent a shiver down her back; she was a fugitive now.

"Yes," Jonas continued, now addressing Will, who was still glowering at him, "I suppose it is ironic, but in a way I an choosing the lesser of two evils. BPO is after all, limited, finite, and to a certain extent, no matter how they bend the rules, governed by the law."

His gaze flickered to Kala. "You both know as well as I there is nothing as dangerous as sapien with a weapon and the ability to mobilize others through fear. The facts don't matter; reason doesn't matter. It only takes one and the hunt will be on."

Wills grip on his shirt had slackened, and Jonas jerked himself free and sat up a little straighter. "It only takes one," he repeated, "And there are billions."

"They are better than that," murmured Kala, although she was having flashbacks to the riot at the temple, sharp elbows digging into her sides, experiencing for the first time the claustrophobia of so many people in one space, bubbling like an overfull pot. "It is possible they would accept us, wonder at us even."

"You have not seen very much of the world have you?" There was no derision in Jonas's voice, just a patient sort of sadness.

"Perhaps not," replied Kala, "Or perhaps I have not given into pessimism and rebranded it as realism."

"What of Angelica's research?" interjected Will, "I remember that she had started it with the intention to make the sapiens less afraid."

"Yes," Jonas licked his lips, and Kala poured some water from a plastic bottle into his mouth, "She thought that if they knew all about us, they would be more accepting, removing the unknown as it were. But the more they knew the more they began to fear for privacy, both personal and governmental. The neural graft was devised as a way to allow sapiens to connect to sensates, as we do to each other, so that if needed they could be monitored."

He smiled sadly, "Angelica thought that if they could just experience what it is like to be connected to another in that way, they would no longer be afraid. That it would breed an inescapable empathy of a sort." He met Kala's eyes, "She was an optimist as well."

"But it didn't work?" prodded Will, he had gotten up and was pacing back and forth in front of the grubby mattress.

"Not on sapiens, no," Jonas gave a significant nod at Will, "But with other sensates, well we all know how that turned out."

Kala watched as her cluster-mate swore softly under his breath. She couldn't tell if Jonas was gratified by this response or not, his face was carefully blank.

"BPO will already be doing damage control, you can expect a full system overhaul in a matter of days" warned Jonas, "Whatever you do will need to do it quick and you will need to be careful."

"What do you think?" asked Kala. They were back upstairs all crowded around the kitchen table. Amanita was fiddling with the camp stove making tea; she had proven to be the most proficient at using it. This was a source of some surprise, before with an eye-roll and a toss of her hair she reminded them – "I grew up in a commune guys, I am better at this than all of you."

Nomi's eyes never left the screen of her computer; a grainy image of Jonas pacing around the room they had left him in was on the bottom corner. "I think he is telling the truth."

"I think he is just trying to save his skin," Amanita piped up from behind them.

"Could be both," mused Will.

Riley, who was the only one off blockers and as such was in a quarantine of sorts in the closet upstairs made a noise of agreement. They had decided communication over phone was the safest option when off blockers, so her voice was coming over the phone they had sitting in a bowl in the counter.

"How is Wolfgang?" asked Kala, unable to keep a note of anxiety out of her voice.

"Still can't reach him." Riley shrugged, "Must be on blockers."

"Any other visitors?"

"None." She frowned, "It has been oddly quiet."

"I don't like it," murmured Sun, accepting a mug of tea from Amanita.

In unison they looked to Will, who was leaned over the edge of the table, drumming his fingers.

"We stick to the plan," he said finally and it was decided.

Note: Kwon Ho is apparently a translation of Mun's first name, as shown on the business card he hands Sun's teacher on the show, as translated by an anonymous commenter, as shown on ww-n-double-d's tumblr page. Wow. Sense8 fandom is kinda like its own Archipelago. Anyways, credit where credit is due - I can't read or speak Korean and I don't know if Gwon Ho is more correct, I just like 'k's and I kind of need to know Mun's full name to write a shipping fanfic. Any Korean proficient folks feel free to correct.

Also, I kind of hate this chapter because I had to make a lot of guesses as to plot things, but bear with me, next chapter has exciting things like Torture! and Angst! and Whispers!