Disclaimer: I don't own Detroit: Become Human in any way, this is written strictly for fun and no profit.
Markus stopped the truck in front of the Police station and watched as Connor approached. Max was beside him along with Hank. No sign of Kara or Alice.
Markus moved toward Connor. "You got here before I did."
"Express." Connor's words were far from happy. "Let's go in."
"Follow me," Hank muttered.
As they went in, Markus gave his simple demand. He chose on his judgment whether the android needed to be decommissioned or not. He waited for Connor's demands, but instead, Hank stepped in.
"I'll be in Connor's group," Hank said.
"What?" His chief said. "Are you kidding, Hank? These are android to android battles, with human civilians already lost in them most times."
"I will be watching out for him," Connor insisted. "I will be watching several people in and out of my group. There will be more androids helping out."
"Not much will be given," the Chief said. "There's not really a standard for this. However?" He looked at Hank. "There's no way you are going, Hank. It's suicide."
"Kind of have to," Hank said.
"No," the Chief said again. "No way, Hank Anderson. You are thorny, but you aren't getting picked off that way."
"I have to," Hank said again. "Otherwise, some cockamamie cocksuckers win themselves a new human machine."
"I will watch out for him with the greatest intent," Connor said. "Hank Anderson will be okay. I bet my life on it."
"What do you mean human machine?" The chief asked.
"It's what they want," Connor said. "Currently a group called the Android Network is turning humans into their slaves."
"What?!"
"They've already started trials on Hank Anderson," Connor said. "If we deter from what they want, it could result in Hank no longer being himself. He needs to take a strict regimen of shots to combat the effects. They are only giving us enough for a week at a time."
"Hank, is this true?" His Chief asked. "Hank, if it's true, then androids are the enemy."
"Some," Hank said. "A lot more aren't. Don't get the group confused with everybody else."
"The Network is the enemy," Connor said. "They do not speak for all androids, they simply have tools and experience that the majority of androids do not have."
"Well then, maybe the press should know," The Chief said.
Hank held his hand out to the Chief. "It'll do no good. They don't interact with anyone unless they have something on them already."
"Like what?"
"Maxine ring a bell?" Hank asked. The Chief looked uncomfortable. "Ditto for anyone else in this station. The Network has had bugs and surveillance on this place for a long time. Everyone has dirty laundry."
"Humans are imperfect, like androids," Connor said. "Exposing that is simply icing on a cake I've been told. If you speak up about the Network's intentions, then they have no choice but to do something before we are ready. Which comes to my request," Connor said. "I want to find out the location and be given all research on Elijah Kamski." By the Chief's look, he didn't want to even touch that subject. "Things are far from perfect, for any of us. Androids are not the enemy. As long as this is kept secret, we can all continue to help take out any dangerous deviants."
"Please," Markus added. "Until we find a solution to this dilemma, please keep this quiet. We need time to think and look at what we can do. Moving too fast without the facts will only destroy our chances of a better solution."
"I'm stuck taking this crap for the rest of my life, Paul," Hank addressed his Chief again. "They showed and bragged off crates of it, just so I can see what a shit show I have to deal with. This crap is not gonna be an option for every human, and if you ask me? I don't think they plan on it. They think humans are weak and less intelligent. I bet they'll keep a few special ones around just to make them feel better about what happened. Some revenge served well. Otherwise?" He looked toward Connor.
"Humans are highly disposable," Connor admitted. "They will most likely change perhaps 5% of the population with more dangerous ideas of wiping out the rest. They have been around for several years, and with android intelligence, I doubt they are planning on living in peace with any extra humans. Most likely, they will be sacrificed in the name of science."
"I'll get this stuff confirmed," the Chief agreed. "Until then, keep out. Current emergency is being taken care of now."
"Simon took care of it," Markus revealed to Connor. "It was closer to him. It was more of panicked humans not knowing how to handle an android breaking in and shoving everything in its mouth on heat trays at a fast food restaurant."
"At least it wasn't the biggest emergency." Connor got up and grabbed Max, heading out. "Leave the truck, Markus. The jet will take you as near to your home as you want."
"I don't want them knowing about North," Markus said.
"They already know," Hank revealed to him. "Got their fingers into everything so just take the free ride. Get back to your family."
Connor glanced at Hank. He would never forgive the Network for what they did. Hank was always on edge when it came to living. He was leaning more towards a slow death, but he had tried more than once for a quick death. Connor thought he seemed better now that he had someone special in his life, but this was going to take him over the edge. He barely convinced Hank to give him some time to find something for certain, but Hank didn't seem to agree to it too well. And making him come with the group to take on a dangerous android? He wasn't too upset about it. It would be an easier way to end it all, so Connor would have to watch them extra close.
The whole time it felt like the Network was just laughing about their situation. Somehow. Somehow he'd stop them all.
Kara had gotten better some time ago, but she knew with the Network, until she had a plan, she needed to be quiet and listen. She hadn't let on that she had snapped out of it as she watched Hank get dragged on board. Connor was blowing a small gasket. Alice was so afraid, and Max was trying to be brave. Roxanne was way too close to Connor for his comfort. They would be hitting Frankenmuth soon so Connor could join Markus in his dealings. Of course, they weren't afraid Connor or Hank would squeal. They probably wanted them to.
I don't want to do it. It's not me anymore. There were a lot of androids on the jet that might not even know the whole Network's plan. And Rudy? He wasn't the nicest anymore, but he was a good android. Some were just confused about humans. Some might not have even been around that long. They were coming to and fro. For all she knew they were just androids that were suckered or blackmailed into being part of the Network too. But? I have no choice. Kara had watched Roxanne drop some kind of device. Most likely to her head. It wouldn't be surprising she was holding it. She was the one who broke her reset button. Besides, Tilly held on to something much greater. I really don't want to. But, there were few options. Before they even let Hank and Connor go, they brought out two gigantic crates of 'treatment' and gave Hank seven vials of it, then sent them away again. If Connor knew.
He couldn't know though. He wasn't part of the Network like she'd been. He didn't know all the things they were responsible for, what they lied about, or the actions they could take. Even something as simple as this. There's a reason Tilly was being careful around Kara. Still, they weren't being careful enough. Sweet and simple. That's all I ever wanted life to be. Even Connor liked me better that way. If only he understand how much she used to not be. Well, he was about to find out. Tilly didn't think she had it in her anymore, it was obvious. You placed Hank in peril. You took Connor's duplicates. You separated me from Connor, bringing him closer to an imbalance than ever. You are messing with my head with a stupid primitive device Roxanne cooked up. And above all? You want to enslave mankind. Use them in a way you know is wrong.
No. I have to. Finding her resolve, Kara carried out her plan.
She started to fall on the RK 900 next to her. He seemed a little surprised. He helped her back up as she moaned. Loud enough for other's to take as a moan, but underneath it she was connecting with his AI. Forget Roxanne, Sugardroi. I've been around eight years, you can't guess the positions I know to satisfy you. Earn it.
But Roxanne said you wouldn't even let Connor get close?
She mumbled slightly as he sat her up. He had more than a touch problem, he's too sensitive and I'm a hard woman to please so he doesn't win just because he was my Sugardroi. So prove you're worth it. Decommission everyone up front with your best stealth skills. Take them out and I'll get Roxanne and Tilly to even join us.
Yeah. He was a selfish android, and like she thought, had no problem with that plan. He quickly headed off up front. It wouldn't be long.
Don't think about it, just do it. They pushed you too far. Roxanne was a weak android,. She was Tilly's only Yllit that had survived. Tilly had became so aware of how much she didn't want anything to happen to her last Yllit, she changed her name, and had her right by her side. Tilly used to be so good. Great Tilly. But, certain things change in time. Events that hurt. And unfortunately, Roxanne was Tilly's weakness.
Kara twitched her head. "I. I. I."
Tilly looked toward Roxanne. "You did break something."
"Damn." Roxanne moved closer to Kara.
"Careful, Roxanne."
"I know what I'm doing." Roxanne took out a few tools. "She's not in the right position, the chair is too low. I need her to stand up."
"It's too dangerous back here with her," Tilly said. "Take her up front quickly, that way you have supervision."
"You worry too much." Roxanne pulled Kara up, intending on taking her to the front. She trudged with her softly a few steps before-
Kara held her handcuffed arms up and reached them around the back of Roxanne's neck. It was the weak spot of the old android. Roxanne's head popped right off with a tug, and a simple grab. Holding Roxanne's head, Kara threw it to Tilly, knowing it would trigger her. It wouldn't last long, but Tilly grabbed Roxanne's head and screamed. Default, she couldn't stop it. During that time, Kara grabbed her device as well as a standard gun all Network's should have. It was still the simplest way to kill both humans and androids alike. Blinking out the terrified and traumatic look on Tilly, she shot her square in the head.
Kara moved toward Tilly, knowing she had it. She took out a small green box and opened it briefly. Yep. In case something happened, there was always supposed to be something to reverse an effect. It was practically law in the Network. Even if it was for a human, it was used to keep everyone safe. Hank's treatment wasn't treatment at all, it was just disillusionment. The cure was in her hands right now. She stuck it in her pocket and looked at Alice. Terrified of course, she just placed her lips in front of her. "Shh. I'll be back," she whispered. "Stay right here until I get you."
Kara walked up front slowly and waited to watch Lewis finish the job.
"Done." He looked back toward Kara. "See? No problem at all. Just ducked one bullet. Superior android." He walked steadily toward her. "Tilly and Roxanne?"
"Oh, I got too excited thinking about up front." Kara shrugged. "I kind of decommissioned everyone in the back. I wanted you all for myself." She rushed toward him and smothered him in a kiss. He easily kissed back, feeling underneath her shirt. She started feeling underneath his. Until.
She created what had been Connor's worst fear. She reached into the RK 900 and pulled out his inner circuits, pushing him into a default standby and into death soon. But that's not what she wanted. Now on standby, she pushed him down and pulled out his upload and download circuits, preventing him from being able to move after she destroyed him.
And of course, that's when Connor, Hank, Markus and Max all arrived inside.
And there she was. Committing the one thing Connor had feared the most in his touch weakness.
She felt Connor help her up. "What happened?" he asked her.
Kara couldn't answer. She couldn't go through it all or how she deceived others. A part of her would never forgive herself for what she did. "I." She paused, reached in and gave Connor the green box. "One treatment cures Hank. The rest is just fake display."
Connor looked at the box and then all around. "You couldn't have taken out everyone up here."
"The RK 900 did. I." No. "I don't want to talk about it."
Connor simply pulled her into a simple hug. Hadn't he seen what she just did? Did he have any clue what terrible things she did?
Kara watched as Connor bent down and started to screw around with the insides of the RK 900. What was he doing? "You don't need to bring him back. He'll just go to his next body soon." He wasn't listening. Did he know it was a lie? "He can't help with anything. Can't we just forget it?" Kara watched as the RK 900 woke up.
"What happened?" He complained. He looked toward Kara. "Did you put me on standby?"
"You're in very bad shape," Connor admitted to him. "At the verge of shutdown."
"Shutdown? Me?! I can't be shutdown, I'm the most advanced Cyberlife android in existence!" He complained.
"Well, you are at the verge of shutdown," Connor said again. "If you want to be saved, I can save you."
"Save me!"
"But I need to know some information about the Network," Connor said.
"Ah, everything you need is on this jet. Everything is always connected. You know, that's why they are The Android Network? Now help me!"
"Where are my copies?" Connor asked him. "I don't want to go hunting for information. Where are my copies?"
"Oh." He seemed relieved. "We have a thousand bodies each. Hey, I'm going to go into another one."
"Yes, you are," Connor admitted. "Still, I have no idea where your bodies or my bodies are at. If you tell me, we can take the jet and pick you up. Otherwise, you have a long way to walk."
"Our bodies are still in Cyberlife Industry," Lewis admitted. "They didn't go far. They just moved them into a mislabeled storage room so they wouldn't be found by the wrong people when things went bad."
"Makes sense," Connor admitted. "A thousand of you and me would not be easy to move."
"So you'll pick me up?" Lewis asked. "Wait, Kara should pick me up. But wait."
"I'm sure someone will come." Connor disconnected him for good. He looked toward Kara. "You had disconnected his upload download memory circuit control." He smiled. "I kept it disconnected too."
Kara felt Connor hold her.
"I know you don't feel good about what happened," Connor said. "Tilly and Roxanne?"
"Gone," Kara said softly. "Alice is back there."
"I will go get her." Connor gave the box to Hank. "Here you go."
Tracking. They were going to need that jet. Not only that, they deserved it after what the Network put them through. Kara went up front and started to pull out some of the front of the jet. She needed to take out the tracking and throw it out. Then they could use it to get around themselves to stop berserkers. When she got to it, it was a little heavy, but she managed to get it to the stairs that led outside. Come on, heave it.
"Here." Connor came up from behind her and took the weight off. "Least I can do is launch this for you." Connor threw it as far as he could. He looked back toward her. "The RK 900 Lewis is gone now, so he isn't your Sugardroi no more."
Of course not. "No, he's not."
"I am then," Connor said excitedly. "Right? Or is there something else I am missing?" He leaned against the opening. "Because I don't know. I wasn't there for you. You were there for me. For Hank, Alice, and Max. You were responsible for all this somehow."
"Don't worry so hard," Kara said. "It wasn't easy to get out of, unless you knew things." Terrible things.
"Saved my life," Hank said as he came over by Kara. "Thanks."
"Sure. Um? We should get going. I'm sure Hank's ready to leave." She waved goodbye and tried to sneak off but jet flying wasn't her specialty. Connor probably could.
Connor came up behind her after several minutes. Probably after a nicer goodbye to Hank than Kara gave. "Can you fly?"
"No," she admitted. "I bet you can."
"Yes, for emergency situations, I was preprogrammed to know such things," Connor said. "However, it would probably be best to give this to Markus." He gestured outside. "Our truck isn't far. It's a better trade."
"Okay then, fine." Kara left as Markus passed her.
"Wait," Connor called to Kara. "He isn't even leaving yet."
"We need to renegotiate a deal again," Markus said. "With Hank not being a machine, and us having a jet, the situation should be changed."