Dakota pulled the car up to the gate of the house. "This the place?" He asked Kara. Kara looked past the gate at the large, empty looking house. "This is the address he gave me," she said. Dakota looked at Kara. "You and Alice head on in. I'll wait out here," he told her.

"You sure?" She asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Sometimes people that provide forgeries get a little tense when there's a tag along."

"Okay. Come on, Alice." Kara and Alice got out of the car and went up to the door. She rang the doorbell twice before someone answered. The person who opened the door was an male of about forty five years, about five foot eight, slightly overweight, and had a full beard. "Are you Zlatko?" Kara asked the man.

"Who's asking?" the man said.

"I was told you could help us." Kara said.

"I don't know who told you that, you came to the wrong place. I'm sorry," he said, closing the door.

"Wait!" Kara said, pushing the door open. "We really need your help." The man, Zlatko, looked behind Kara and saw a little girl behind her. He nodded and opened the door for them. "Come in," he said. Kara and Alice walked in the house. "Luther," Zlatko called, "would you be so kind as to take these ladies coats?" A large android walked up to the two. Kara stepped back, instinctively pulling Alice behind her.

Oh, don't worry about my friend here," Zlatko told them, referring to Luther. "He's just an android that I helped. He keeps me company in this big, empty house," he said, gesturing to the house around him. They went to the living room. "Please," he said. "Make yourselves at home."

Dakota sat in the car, having pulled it off into the shadows, out of sight of the front doors. He sat, listening to the sound of the rain against the roof of the car, trying to relax. But he couldn't. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It's just paranoia, he told himself, but his mind would not be quieted. He decided to do some research. He thought he should start with the house. By checking the city records, he found the owner of the house to be Zlatko Andronikov. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he had heard it. He ran a background check on him, and found a whole bunch of stuff. The criminal record alone was enough cause for his paranoia. Multiple counts of assault and battery and production of counterfeit Cyberlife products.. But there is still something else. He checked some of the other databases he had access to. Finally, he found something. Zlatko had worked for Cyberlife from 2027 to 2031, but had been fired due to misuse of company property, namely unauthorized experiments and implementation of prototype features. The surname Andronikov had been connected to various drug distribution rings throughout the 20th century. That's where he remembered the name from. Some of the research from his previous job had to do with drug distribution, and the last name came up quite frequently. Dakota then realized what was going on, and who he was dealing with. Kara and Alice were in danger.

Just as he realized what was going on, he felt something. When a person is stressed, they emit a pulse of emotion. One who is sensitive to the world may be able to feel those pulses. Dakota felt two individual pulses, both extremely powerful. Dakota had not felt anything like this in a long time. The pulses hit him, an absolute concussive wave of terror and fear. His senses were overwhelmed, nausea pooling in the pit of his stomach. He steadied his breathing, regaining control of himself. He had to move fast, for there was no telling how much time he had. He went to the trunk and opened it. He needed to get some equipment.

"You deviants are so naive. They all come to me looking for help, and I just reset them. Or I keep them for my little experiments." Zlatko told Kara, who was restrained in Zlatko's machine.

"No, let me go! I don't want to be reset! let me go!" Kara cried.

"Kara!" Alice tried getting free of Luther.

"Oh!" Zlatko exclaimed. "I almost forgot about the… the child." He said. "Lock it up, I'll deal with it later," he told Luther.

"ALICE!" Kara screamed. "ALICE, NO!"

"Look at that. A deviant that wants to be a mother. That's so sweet. And so deluded." Zlatko taunted.

Dakota looked through the living room window. Nobody there. He could hear some commotion from inside the house, heavily muffled cries and screams. Knowing who they were coming from, they sent a pang through his chest. He just needed to find a way in.

Zlatko pushed a button on his console. Kara felt a dull pain in the back of her head, her eyes lost focus for a moment, and then… nothing. Any feeling she had was washed out by absolute numbness. "That's what you get for having a dream," Zlatko said. "It always ends the same way… tears and disillusionment. Believe me, you're better off being erased. No more pain. No more… hopes dashed," he continued, almost lost in his own thoughts. "I almost envy you."

"Kara!" Alice cried, breaking free of Luther's grasp and running to Kara. Kara saw her, knew her, but couldn't remember from where. Her memory seemed to be corrupted.

"Aww, poor little Alice," Zlatko mocked."Looks like mommy doesn't remember you, huh. Looks like mommy's completely forgotten about you." Alice froze at those words, tears streaming down her cheeks, eyes filled with desperation and terror.

Dakota was in the kitchen. He had picked the front door lock to get inside, counting on the events downstairs to cover any noise he made. He needed Zlatko to leave the basement, otherwise there was too great a chance for either Alice or Kara to get hurt. The mere thought of the two in pain made his heart quicken in fear. Odd. He hadn't felt this way about anyone in a long time. Probably because there's been no one there for a long time, he thought. Maybe, a small part of him said, hesitant to accept that as the absolute truth. He heard screams growing louder. It was Alice, being dragged upstairs. He hoped she remembered the trick he showed her that afternoon.

Alice? Alice, what's going on? Dakota's voice sounded in her head. She heard it and thought toward it. Dakota, help! He's got Kara! He's going to reset her! She heard a response almost immediately. Got it. I'll get Kara. I need you to look around and let me know where he takes you. Got it?

Alice thought to him, I think so.

Ok. Hang in there, kid. We'll get you out safe. Dakota thought to her reassuringly. He snuck past Luther in the living room and went down to the basement. He reached the machine, and stopped. Kara was standing on the machine platform, stock still. Her face was expressionless and her eyes were blank. The monitor screen on the wall next to her read "Reset Complete." Oh God, he thought. I'm too late. "No," he breathed. This couldn't happen. He refused to give up. "No, there's gotta be a way." He started looking around for anything that could help him. He saw the cages along the hallway. He went up to one of them and saw multiple androids in there. They were heavily disfigured, having been experimented on. He unlocked the door and went in. In an instant, they were upon him, surrounding him, murmuring, almost violent. "A human?" one rasped. "What's it doing here?" A friend of Zlatko's?"

Dakota took a breath, calming himself. "I need help. That andoid's memory was reset," he said, gesturing out at Kara. "Is there any way to get it back?"

"What do you want with it?" one asked accusingly, it's damaged vocal processor making its voice echo.

"I just want to get her memory back. I know you have no reason to trust me, but please, I'll do anything. I'll set you free, I'll get you repaired, anything you want, just help me out."

Silence. "He speaks the truth," one spoke up. Dakota was relieved. Another android started talking. "The memories are still there. The code just has to be broken through." Dakota sighed. "Thank you," he breathed gratefully. "I'll help you in any way you need," he told them.

"Leave the door open," one told him. Dakota nodded and walked back to Kara. She is still standing in the machine, her face still blank. He walked in front of her and looked into her. "Kara?" No response. "Kara, it's me, Dakota. Do you remember me?" Kara looked at him, and a sliver of vague confusion flickered across her face. It gave Dakota some hope. From upstairs, faintly, he heard a voice. "Luther. Bring me the little one in about ten minutes. I should be finished up here by then." Shit, Dakota thought. Running out of time. "Please, Kara, I need you to remember. Alice? The little girl? Her father?" No response. Desperate, he tried something that to anyone else would seem idiotic: access her memory.

There is a difference between a mind and a brain. A brain is a biological organ, that, through complex chemical and electrical interactions, simulates a perception of life and awareness. The mind, however, is the perception of life and awareness, including all of one's thoughts, emotions, and memories. Although it is true that the mind is contained within the brain, and is affected by its state (brain damage can cause memory loss and even personality changes), one can exist without the other; Dakota had seen many things that show complete consciousness without any sort of brain. It would make sense that androids would be subject to the same principles.

He reached for her arm, and as soon as his skin touched hers, he felt a connection. He felt her memories, present but blocked by Zlatko's programming. He needed to get rid of it. Dakota started pushing his will on it, trying to weaken it. At first it wouldn't budge. He pushed more. Slowly, parts of the programming began to give way, like cracks in a dam. Some memories began to come through: Zlatko telling them about Canada, Luther taking her coat. It still wasn't enough. Dakota pushed harder, forcing his way through the coding. Memories were closing faster, but it still wasn't enough. "Remember," he whispered, and gave one final push with his will. Zlatko's program shattered, and the memories came flooding in. Todd hitting Alice. The two running to the bus. Dakota. Everything came back.

Kara's eyes flew open, gasping. Dakota let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Alice? he asked.

Yes? he heard Alice in his head.

Kara's okay, she's going to get you. We just need to know where you are.

He took me upstairs, I'm in the very last room, she told him.

Thanks, we'll get you soon, he told her.

"You get Alice, I'll get the car. She's upstairs, in the room at the end of the hall," he told Kara.

"Okay," she said. They went up the basement steps. Dakota went out the front door, and Fara turned to go up the stairs.

Dakota made his way back to the car. He drove it up to the front gate, making sure to keep the lights off. Getting out, he realized that those ten minutes are about up. He hoped that Kara and Alice would be able to escape undetected.

They weren't so lucky. Zlatko found them as they were trying to sneak from one room to the next, and a chase through the house ensued. They ran out the back door and went through the backyard. Kara tripped and fell.

"Kara!" Alice cried, turning back to her.

"Alice, run. I'll be right behind you." Kara shouted to Alice.

"No! I'm not leaving you!" came Alice's reply, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice filled with fear.

"Alice, go!"

"No! Not without you!"

Alice, go. She'll be safe. Dakota's voice said in her head, though it sounded… different. It was deeper, more assured. Alice nodded, tears streaming down her face. She turned and ran. She wasn't sure exactly where she was running, but she knew that she was running in the right direction.

Zlatko approached Kara, who was just getting up, with his shotgun trained on her.

"You should've stayed reset. It would've been easier. Now, well now you get to see your dreams be disappointed," he said, sounding almost upset. He raised the shotgun, taking aim. As Zlatko pulled the trigger, a knife flew from the darkness. It hit the barrel of the gun, knocking it to one side and sending the shot wild.

"That's enough!" Dakota shouted, his tone sharp and full of authority, with a gun of his own pointed at Zlatko. He had at some point changed clothes. He was now wearing black military fatigues with pieces of light body armor. He approached Kara, putting himself between her and Zlatko. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she said, somewhat confused. Where had he kept the armor? she thought. Odd. Why was her mind going there? She was just being threatened with a shotgun.

Dakota turned back to Zlatko. "You have no claim to them. Let them go."

"Or what? Who even are you?" Zlatko asked.

"Doesn't matter who I am. Let them go, and I will leave with them. Try to harm them, and you will regret it," Dakota replied, his voice calm, yet hard.

"Luther, get this guy out of my way," Zlatko ordered his android.

"Luther, if you do as he says, you will die," Dakota told Luther. "Tell me, how many have you seen him kill? Are you willing to let that number go up?"

Luther's LED went flashed a puzzled yellow, then turned a solid red. He blinked several times and his face changed, filling with understanding.

"Luther," Zlatko barked at the large android, "get a move on!"

Luther walked to Dakota, but instead of trying to stop him, he stopped and stood next to Dakota, turning to face his master. Zlatko's face went from annoyed, to confused, to angry in the span of a few seconds.

"How dare you?" he spat, "how dare you betray me!" He brought his gun to bear against Luther. Dakota quickly stepped up to Zlatko. Before the latter had time to react, Dakota slapped the shotgun out of his hands, an effortless and practiced move, and kneed him in the stomach. Zlatko grunted in pain, but still attempted to tackle Dakota. Dakota twisted to the side, grabbed Zlatko's arm, and locked it behind his back. Zlatko tried to free his arm, but ended up getting it dislocated instead. His pain came out as a grunting cry, and he slumped in agony.

"Go ahead, kill me. I'm sure you want to," Zlatko said through clenched teeth.

"Nah," Dakota replied, "your actions will give your consequences." He pushed Zlatko to the ground and left. As Zlatko got up, the androids that were locked in the basement were coming around the side of the house, coming toward Zlatko. Zlatko saw them, bewildered. "Wait a minute, who let you out?" The malformed machines surrounded him, closing upon him. Dakota took Kara's arm. He was wearing the same clothes as when they arrived. She was momentarily confused. Was he ever wearing any gear? "Let's go, Alice is waiting by the car," he said. Dakota, Kara, and Luther ran to Dakota's car. When they got there, Luther stopped.

"There's somewhere I must go." He told Dakota.

"Go ahead," Dakota said, understanding. Luther turned and ran to the house, presumably to a garage. The others got into Dakota's car and drove off.

The drive was silent and uneventful. When they got home at about 12:15, Kara put Alice to bed, although she wasn't sure how much the child would sleep. Kara went downstairs. Dakota looked up at her, sitting at the couch. "Hey," he said, with a worried expression on his face. "You okay?" he asked, a worried expression on his face.

Kara didn't know how to answer that. She sat on the other end of the couch, silent. Dakota patiently waited for an answer, still worried. Kara's processors started sorting all the information from the past two days. There was just too much. Her head hurt from the amount of information, and the emotions, those were new. From a purely technical view, the emotions took so much more memory space and processing power then her sensory memories. Trying to process all those emotions was simply too much. She broke down, crying. In an instant, Dakota was by her side, an arm around her to comfort.

"Hey," he said softly "It's okay." Kara continued sobbing into her hands. They stayed that way for a few minutes.

"I just want Alice to be happy," Kara said between sobs. "I wanted to find somewhere where we could be happy. But every time I try something, it just goes wrong."

Dakota understood the feeling well. He had felt it before, and it was devastating. He knew that the best thing he could do for Kara was to comfort and support her. "It's okay," he told her, his voice calm and reassuring. "I know everything seems really fucked up right now, but it does get better."

Kara's sobs have mostly abated. R-really?" she sniffed.

"Yes. It does. I've been in some tough times before, and it always gets better." Dakota said, his tone confident.

"You- you're sure?"

Absolutely. I promise it will get better. And promises are not things I make lightly."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." Kara said. Her sniffling had tapered off, but her voice was still shaky.

"Anytime. Come here." Dakota gently pulled Kara closer to him, a comforting gesture, and she accepted. She stayed there, feeling soothed by Dakota's words. His simple presence helped to put her at ease, as there seemed to be a certain solidity in him. The way he spoke, his movements and actions, they had an air of purpose and finality. As she was processing the information from the past few days, she remembered a few things she didn't quite understand. "Dakota?" She spoke up.

"Yeah?"

"How did you know where Alice was, at Zlatko's?"

"She told me. You remember this afternoon? Me and Alice?"

Kara recalled that particular moment from her memory. "I do. You taught her something?"

"Yes. Telepathy. That's how I knew where she was. I asked her where he took her, and she told me, all with thought," Dakota responded.

"Is it something you… can teach me?" Kara asked tentatively.

Dakota's brow furrowed slightly, thinking for a moment. "Yes," he said after a pause. "It is. But not now. Try to rest. You likely feel tired."

That must be what I'm feeling, Kara thought. Although her diagnosis program reported no malfunctions or damage to her system, she still felt like she was in a low power mode. If this is what feeling tired meant, then she was feeling a lot of it. Kara closed her eyes and went into standby.

She was still leaning against Dakota's shoulder when she fell asleep. He was surprised by how warm she felt. He always thought that an android would be somewhat cold. But still, her weight on him was comforting. Part of his mind wanted to keep going, to plan out the next step of how to help Kara and Alice, but everything else in his body was telling that part of the mind to shut the hell up and go to sleep. He reached behind and grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and draped across himself and Kara. Dakota leaned over and stroked the top of her head, her hair surprisingly soft. "Goodnight, Kara," he whispered, and drifted away into the blissful darkness of sleep.