Something was different about the world as Kate pulled herself from sleep. She couldn't remember what it was. She felt terrified and elated at the same time, as if she'd been saved from the brink of death. Her body was unusually spent even after her deep sleep which had been incredibly peaceful. It took a while for her senses to catch up with her. The light of the room was bright and warm, filtering in through the window blinds. From outside, she could hear the sounds of life as distant vehicles drove by, birds chirped in nearby trees, and even the voices of people passing. It was all subtly strange. Unusually optimistic. She shifted slightly to solidify herself in remaining awake, and she realized with a sudden wave of sweet shock that she was wrapped up in someone. The feeling came rushing back to her, and her mind filled with the memory of the previous night. She was hardly ready for it, needing a moment to convince herself that it hadn't all just been a dream. He was here with her. It had been real.
She was laying on her side, her legs under the blanket with her shoulders bare against the chill of the morning air. Even without moving she could feel him against her back, his chest rising and falling with one arm over her waist and his face buried in her hair as he breathed against her neck. An aching thrill burned through her as she focused on the details of the sensation. She didn't want to move for fear of breaking it. It felt so perfect. So comfortable. As if she had been waiting for this her whole life. But as she lay there, the temptation to face it grew almost overwhelming. She needed to see for herself, just to be sure.
Carefully, she rotated on the spot and rolled onto her back. As she did, she felt him shift behind her, his hand moving gently along her waist. Her stomach in a knot, she looked next to her and felt a wave of elation wash over her body.
Simon's blue-eyed gaze met hers as he looked down at her, his face glowing softly in the ambience of the morning light. He was propped up on one elbow, one hand clutching his blond hair as he supported himself and the other gently smoothing along Kate's midsection. She tried and failed to control her pounding heart. His bewildered look was mixed with a new kind of confidence, a slight smile pulling at his lips and his eyes lit in bold energy. It was as if the insecure person she knew in him had been made whole. He was so different. So much stronger. She hardly recognized him. And at the same time, she felt she knew him better than she knew herself.
For a while, all she could do was stare at him, filling herself with that debilitating exhilaration. There was a certain thrill at seeing his bare chest and shoulders instead of his usual black and white uniform, as if it was something she was never meant to see. She was so distracted by it, she forgot that she was also completely exposed to him. She studied him in the warm light, taking in the angles of his face and the delicate shape of his muscles. A slight satisfaction swept through her as she saw that his usually neat hair had become disheveled and spiky in places.
She caught her breath, drawing in her strength as she met his gaze and she swallowed to get her throat working. "Hi," she said.
The energy in Simon's eyes flashed as the smile tugged at his mouth. "Hi."
Kate thought she would burst from her nervousness. She twisted towards him, rolling onto her shoulder against his chest and becoming startling aware that she was uncovered in front of him. As she drew her shoulders up, he lowered himself down next to her so that they were nose to nose. She could feel his hand running along her waist, causing her skin to tense up in unwitting pleasure. She bit her lip in an attempt to keep herself under control as she looked at him.
"Were you watching me the whole night?" she said.
Simon glanced down as if contemplating something. When he looked back up, the confidence in his eyes had grown even stronger. He gave a small shake of his head. "Not the whole night."
Something in his voice made it difficult for Kate to keep herself together. She looked away from him for a moment to regain her strength and shifted slightly against him. She wished that for just a minute her heart would slow down long enough for her to make her mind work properly. He had such a ridiculous power over her, and she wondered if he was even aware of it. He'd changed her so much in such a short amount of time. That cynical part of her was almost a distant memory, her last and only defense. It would be a miracle if there was anything left of her that was still the same.
She looked back up at him, and drew up the last shreds of any confidence she'd ever had. She gave a sideways smile. "So did you scan me?"
The energy in Simon's eyes changed, bringing back a hint of perplexity and his face becoming tense. Kate felt a small victory as she watched him struggle for a moment to answer. He gazed at her with his frozen expression, and then Kate lost all of her power in an instant.
His face brightened into a smile, and he let out a breath of laughter. Kate watched him in awe, her heart in a flutter. He had never laughed before. He'd never even smiled like this. It was a startling and remarkable transformation, reminding her that she could never know what to expect from him. He would never stop surprising her, no matter how much she thought she knew him. That floating feeling grew stronger as she looked at him, and she couldn't stop her own smile.
He moved into her, and Kate felt the familiar electric cascade wash over her as he closed his mouth against hers. She breathed in harshly, all of her rationale sweeping away in place of elation as he moved on top of her, gently rolling her onto her back. The events of the previous night came rushing back to her, threatening to take every ounce of control she had left. Everything about him was perfect, from the soft touch of his skin to the clean taste of his mouth. She felt so flawed in comparison as though she wasn't worthy of it. A nervous hesitation interfered, and she made a noise as Simon moved to take her mouth again.
She pressed her hand over her lips, giving herself a moment to let the overwhelming sensation of him fade. She smiled and looked up at him, already knowing how absurd this would sound even though it bothered her. He was looking at her with a strong determination and a slight smile as though he was daring her to reject him. With a deep breath and still holding her hand over her mouth, she gathered her resolve. "I need to go brush my teeth," she said.
She could feel her smile grow wider as he seemed to look at her with suspicion. This power play of emotions was starting to get fun, and she honestly didn't care who would win. It was almost as if she were fighting back against the helpless surrender he'd created in her, giving herself more room for an even greater fall when she succumbed to it again.
With some degree of difficulty, she began to move away and felt a burning disappointment when Simon let her. He rolled onto his shoulder as Kate twisted and lifted herself up. Almost instantly she realized how exposed she was and wrapped her arms around herself. She struggled to catch her breath, a flood of nervousness sweeping through her. As it did, she could see Simon watching her with a longing intrigue. He'd settled back on his elbow again, a gentle fascination lighting his eyes as he looked her over. Kate closed her eyes in a pitiful attempt to ward off the guilt. Then she drew the bedsheet up around her, wrapping it over her shoulders. She stood up and threw another glance at him, unable to stop the smile from pulling at her mouth. She was one up on him still.
Her mind grew clearer as she moved from the room, adjusting the sheet around herself. A mild frustration filled her despite the clarity it delivered. She had to think rationally about all this. As much as she wanted to remain at Simon's mercy, to get swept away in his innocent yet also purposeful grasp over her, she couldn't forget the reality of the situation. The resilient side of her kicked in, arguing against it. She absolutely could if she wanted to. There was nothing stopping her from falling back into him and losing herself in the electrifying bliss.
She turned the light on in the bathroom and closed the door behind her, resting her back against it as she gathered herself. It was the easy thing to do, to let herself be swept away simply by being with him. After all the times she'd avoided him and convinced herself that his behavior was a result of his strange programming, this was all extremely overdue. She deserved to be overwhelmed by him and forget every negative thought that had prevented her from experiencing this.
She moved towards the sink and caught sight of herself in the mirror. She let out a soft sigh, leaning against the counter and gazing at her weary appearance. Her hair had become even more tangled if that was even possible, and there was a kind of energy in her eyes that she didn't quite recognize. As she stared into the mirror, she could make out the racks and shelves behind her containing assorted soaps, towels, brushes, and lotions. All the things that she needed to keep her imperfect body managed. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling it catch on all the knots. He wanted this. He wanted her. Even in the mess of her biological reality.
Unnerving thoughts continued to plague her as she turned on the faucet, busying herself. She had to worry about things like this. Her hair getting messy, her body being dirty, having to brush her teeth, wearing clean clothes, eating and drinking… and there was a whole other aspect she was ignoring completely. She had to live. There was no way to avoid simply existing, especially when others were still aware of her. It would be easier if she could suddenly disappear as if no one had ever seen or heard of her. Then she could continue to fool herself into believing she could stay here forever.
By the time she was done brushing her hair, she'd extracted an impressive clump of it on the hairbrush. She gazed at herself in the mirror again, slightly more revitalized than she was when she entered. As she opened the bathroom door she paused again, feeling a rush of nervousness. She couldn't let herself fall back into him. They needed to figure this out. As tempting as it was to lose herself in the exhilaration, it was only temporary. The world still existed around them. She was going to need answers if she wanted to remain like this.
She drew the sheet up around her as she prepared to move, but stopped suddenly when she heard footsteps. Before she could gather her strength, Simon appeared in the doorway. Kate gazed at him, unable to stem the electric thrill that she was still getting used to. He was wearing his uniform again, returning to the familiar organized black, white and blue appearance. He seemed to hesitate for a moment as he looked at her, his bewildered expression set on his face. Then he held something out to her, and it took Kate a second to realize he'd gathered her a fresh set of clothes.
Kate gripped the sheet tightly as she watched him, her previous worries seeming to vanish into air. She moved towards him and took the set of folded clothes, her heart pounding in her chest. She wished his expression would change even for a moment so she could escape this elated feeling. As she set the clothes on the counter, she fumbled with the bedsheet and looked at Simon. He hadn't moved and was still watching her with soft intrigue. A jolt of apprehension shot through her as she glanced at the door and then back at her clothes, her mind scrambling to decide what to do next. Eventually she closed her eyes in a tense but somewhat satisfying defeat. With a deep breath, she opened the sheet and let it drop to the floor.
Despite the intense nervousness, she felt a small sense of gratification. She threw Simon a defying glance as she began to dress, noting that a hint of confidence had returned to his gaze. With every piece of clothing she put on, she took another step towards dignity and did her best to pretend that she didn't care he was studying every inch of her body. It was a minor and refreshing rise from the descent she'd cast herself down, allowing her to finally organize her thoughts in front of him.
She straightened her shirt and turned towards him, ready to set her cynical defenses up. Before she could say anything, he suddenly rushed into her and pulled her in by the waist. The debilitating cascade of sparks ignited her body as he met her mouth, and Kate drew in a shocking breath against his skin. She slid her hands along his neck as she immediately felt herself surrender, taking in the closing of his mouth. He was getting too good at this. It was almost like he was reading her mind, knowing exactly where her weaknesses were. A desperate ache burned in her chest as he moved her backwards until her back hit the wall. She let out a small gasp as he moved into her, holding the point of her neck in one hand as he closed his mouth over hers. She could feel herself falling down into the euphoria again, her mind becoming wrapped in the blind thrill of being completely under his power. It was happening fast. She had to do something.
She turned her head slightly, struggling to catch her breath. "Simon…"
He met her mouth again, holding her neck gently and running his thumb along her cheek. Then he pulled back for a moment, resting his forehead against hers. "Kate."
As he moved into her, Kate drew her head down so that his lips met her forehead. She took the opportunity to calm her frenzied nerves, satisfying them with the touch of his mouth. Her mind cleared a bit more, and she was able to raise herself and look at him. The way he was gazing at her nearly froze the breath in her chest. The bewildered energy had given way to determined focus, lighting his blue eyes in the power she was desperately fighting against. His mouth was slightly open as he breathed, the corners of his lips tense as though he were tempting her to give in. Kate had to hold herself strong as she felt the surrender try to take her again. It was incredible how easy it was for her to lose all control. He made it seem effortless, as if he had known all along how much she ached for the feel of him, the taste of his mouth, the smell of his skin…
She breathed out, forcing her composure. As agonizing as it was, her mind reorganized itself and helped her to think more clearly. Simon was watching her now with curious expectation, running his thumb gently along her jawline as if encouraging her to hurry up. It took her a while to remember what was bothering her, the debilitating closeness of him fogging her memory. It was all too much for her to grasp. Everything that had happened was piling up, making it almost impossible to step back far enough to see the danger they were in. But it was there. She could feel it. And the further she pulled herself away, the more obvious it became.
She looked at him and found herself struggling to speak. She had no idea how to put it into words, let alone be able to discuss it. With formidable difficulty, she found her voice. "What the hell are we doing?"
For a while Simon simply stared at her, his hand pausing against her cheek. Kate read his expression frantically and wondered if he'd understood her. It became clear as his eyes narrowed slightly, the determination returning to his gaze. She felt his grip tighten on her. "We're staying together," he said. "No matter what happens."
Kate shook her head, the worry beginning to bite at her chest. "Do you have any idea what's going to happen?" she said. The more she spoke, the more obvious the situation became. She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of it bearing down on her. "Simon this is… this is crazy…"
She felt him lift her chin, and when she opened her eyes he was looking at her with a powerful confidence. He moved closer into her.
"This is real," he said. "This─" He ran his hand down her neck and to her chest, and Kate let out a helpless breath as he pressed his mouth to her temple, the numbing elation washing over her. She felt him run his hands on either side of her jawline as he moved back in front of her, catching her gaze. "I can't explain it. I can't even describe to you what it's doing to me. But I know every bit of circuitry, every line of code is telling me it's real." He shook his head slightly, the corners of his eyes tensing up as he gave a small smile. "And it feels… good."
Kate's breath trembled as she fought to keep herself under control. "Simon, you're a─" She caught herself, closing her eyes again and swallowing to find her voice. She looked up at him again, her resolve growing stronger. "This is going to… cause problems."
He was running his thumbs along her cheeks again, and Kate saw through her emotional turmoil that his face had become tense and serious. He drew in a deep breath. "I don't care."
There was nothing she could do this time as he moved into her, closing his mouth over hers and pushing her further back against the wall. Kate clutched the front of his uniform as all of the senses in her body burned in response to the way he was taking her. The reasoning and logic that she had been holding onto crumbled apart, and she let the cascade of sweet helplessness fall over her as she opened her mouth and accepted him. There was no denying this. His power over her was too strong. There was no room for doubt and worry as long as she could fall so deeply into him that her world only existed where he wanted it to.
She brought her hands up, letting her fingers slide through his hair as she wrapped her arms around him. A shocking breath of air escaped her as he pulled her in tighter by the waist, catching her mouth again. He was focused. Determined like he had been the previous night. Kate could feel it in the way he was running his hands down her body, how he breathed in with each closing of his mouth, and the way he moved against her. It was as if he was afraid she would suddenly disappear. That she wouldn't fall fast enough for him. The ache in her chest was nearly blinding her as she let him draw her in, wishing away his fears so that she could fall faster than she did before…
Something caught Kate's attention. Simon reacted before she did, freezing on the spot and his breathing going quiet. As she let the sensations of the real world catch up with her a sudden dread filled her body, melting away the elation she'd been experiencing. She tensed up against him, listening carefully. There'd been a soft knock at the front door.
For a while, neither of them moved. Kate's mind was racing, frantically jumping between surprise, worry, and confusion. It couldn't be her mother. Not now. Not again…
She looked up at Simon who was staring slightly away from her, an intense focus written on his face. Her heart was already pounding before she could say anything. With another jolt of apprehension, she noticed that his LED had begun to alternate between red and blue as if he were scrambling to think of something. Unwittingly, she found herself doing the same thing as panicked thoughts began to chase eachother in her head. They didn't need to answer the door. If they stayed quiet, perhaps her mother would leave. She didn't have the energy to have another argument with her mom. But at the same time, Kate wondered why her mom didn't just let herself into the house.
Her apprehension grew stronger as she watched Simon. He hadn't made a sound or moved, but she could see on his face that he was still thinking.
Another knock.
"Stay here," said Simon. Without looking at her, he moved away and turned out the door, disappearing down the hallway.
Kate's heart was beating rapidly. All of her effort was focused on listening. She tensed her hands and breathed in deeply to calm her nerves. All the safety she'd been feeling at that point with him was threatened in a way that she hadn't fully comprehended. It left her feeling exposed, nervous, and jittery. As if she needed to do something. Anything. Without thinking, she pushed off the wall and moved to the door, peering around the frame.
Simon opened the front door. Kate held onto the wall as she watched, but it wasn't her mother's voice she heard.
"Good morning," said a man's voice. "Is your owner here?"
A strange curiosity mixed with her panic as she watched Simon tilt his head. "What do you want?" he said. He had spoken politely but Kate could read the tension in his voice.
"My business has to be conducted first with your owner," said the man. "I'm sure you understand."
Kate stepped out into the hallway, her nerves firing. The door wasn't open wide enough to see who it was, and Simon still had one hand on the doorknob as if preparing to swing it closed. She saw Simon nod.
"You can speak to me first," he said.
"I'm afraid I can't. And I have been authorized to use force if needed."
Kate's heart raced. She moved down the hallway, ignoring the fact that she was making noise. It couldn't be. Her mom wouldn't stoop that low. Not the police…
"Simon," she said before she could stop herself.
Simon looked up at her and Kate felt a pang of nervousness hit her. His expression was lined with what she could only guess was wary caution. His blue eyes were tense and bright, almost as if he was signaling to her to hide. She slowed as she reached the door, watching him carefully. She didn't care what he was willing to do to protect her. There had to be a way to keep their world safe for at least one more day. As long as her mom wasn't there, they didn't need to deal with this. All she needed to do was explain.
She peered around the door and found herself staring in shocked confusion. It wasn't the police. On the doorstep was an android in a neat black suit folded in what she recognized was the classic CyberLife style.
Kate shook her head a moment to understand what she was seeing. The android gazed at her with a blank expression, his LED glowing bright blue.
"Are you Katherine Hayes?" said the android.
For a while, she wasn't sure whether she should answer. She glanced back at Simon who was looking at the android again, his blue eyes tensed. There was no point in avoiding it. She gazed at the android, forcing her throat to work. "Yes?"
The android held out a hand to her, completely ignoring Simon. "My name is Arthur. I'm an AK700 android sent by CyberLife to respond to a possible domestic disturbance and malfunction regarding the PL600 model in your possession."
Kate stared at him. She shook her head as she struggled to absorb what he'd just said. "What?"
The android made a noise and motioned past her. "Can I come in?"
Kate threw another nervous glance at Simon. There was something about the way he was looking at the android that put her particularly on edge. It wasn't suspicion or disapproval. It was almost as if he'd been backed into a corner. His eyes were bright and focused and his jaw tense. She had never seen him this nervous, and it made her heart race with dread.
The android was still watching her, and she struggled to come up with an answer. "What is this about?" she asked.
The android cast a look at Simon, and Kate noticed with trepidation that his LED spun yellow for a moment. "I understand this may sound confusing. I assure you I'm only here to help on CyberLife instructions. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated."
Kate studied him, weighing her options. "And if I don't?"
The android blinked at her, and Kate could almost see a faint hint of coldness in his eyes. "I strongly suggest that you do."
A sick feeling was beginning to grow in her stomach. She looked at Simon, desperately searching for guidance. His face was still set in that nervous tension, his eyes locked on the android. Then he glanced down for a moment before looking up at her, and Kate felt her heart plummet. His blue eyes had softened and his brows furrowed, casting his expression in a defeated shadow. For a moment, she couldn't believe it. He wasn't going to fight this. It was up to her now. And from the look he was giving her, she didn't have a choice.
Frighteningly aware that the android was still watching, she narrowed her eyes at Simon in a small attempt to silently question him. His expression remained the same. The longer she looked at him, the more she realized there was something about the situation that Simon knew but that she didn't. They were in an incredible amount of danger. And the only option was to walk straight into it.
She drew in a breath, trying and failing to settle her nerves, and she nodded. "Okay."
The android moved forward and Kate stepped to the side as he entered the room. She wrapped her arms around herself as she instinctively moved towards Simon who closed the door. For a moment, the android simply stood and looked around as if assessing the place. Then he looked at Kate, his LED flashing yellow again.
"With your permission, I'd like to place your android into stasis while I explain the situation," he said.
Kate looked anxiously at Simon, the thought of the android doing anything to him nearly sending her into a panic. "What─ why?"
"It's merely a precaution. It won't damage it."
Her breath froze in her throat, paralyzing her voice as she gazed desperately at Simon. The fierce tension had returned to his eyes as he stared at the android, lighting them in nervous energy. Kate looked between them, a frantic need to defy the situation burning through her. But at the same time, she was terrified of what it would mean if she did.
The android's LED spun yellow again as he looked at Simon. After a few seconds, the android seemed to tense as if confused. He straightened and narrowed his gaze. "Model PL600 serial number 501 743 923. Your connection with CyberLife has been lost. Initiate standard suspension procedures."
Simon didn't move. The energy in his eyes had grown stronger and his posture more rigid. Kate watched in frantic helplessness. She couldn't be sure of what was taking place in front of her, but a deep dread made her believe it was far more serious than it looked. She was trapped between needing to stop the situation and not even knowing what the situation was. It was powerless and terrifying.
The android suddenly reached out. Simon took a quick step backwards, dropping his shoulder back so that the android narrowly missed grabbing his arm. He stood slightly sideways, his intense gaze locked on the android as if preparing to charge him. The android straightened, his expression completely blank. Then he turned towards Kate who was watching in stunned confusion.
"It's CyberLife's recommendation that your android be reformatted. The suspected errors appear to be much more serious than we anticipated."
"What? No!" Kate moved towards Simon again, a jittery panic flowing through her. "No, I don't need CyberLife to do anything. Everything is fine."
"With respect, Ms. Hayes, this is a matter of safety. CyberLife takes matters of software malfunctions very seriously. You will receive a full backup of dialogue, cognitive, and social history. It will be as if nothing happened."
Kate shook her head, her heart pounding. "There's nothing wrong with him."
The android pressed his hands together and took a step towards her. "I understand you may have a strong attachment to your android. This may seem a bit intrusive. I sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience this may have caused. I would, however, warn you of the seriousness that this malfunction has put you in. We can't determine the level of deviancy in your android's software or the potentially hazardous behavior it can exhibit. A full system restoration will guarantee your android's continued functionality and reliability. It would only take a few moments."
Kate tensed as she felt the terror in her blend with determination. She gritted her teeth. "There's… nothing… wrong with him."
The android cast a look at Simon, then took another step towards Kate. "Perhaps if I give you some more information on the matter then you will understand. We noted a discrepancy on February 12 when your android appeared to go offline. That's not entirely unusual since it happens occasionally and the connection is re-established within a few hours. In your android's case, it has been two days with every attempt to restore the link ending in runtime errors. Something has critically impaired your android's ability to recognize CyberLife protocol or its ability to establish the link. As you may be aware, this includes software that governs maintenance, security, and in your special case, caregiving."
The more the android spoke, the more Kate felt sick to her stomach. She stared at the android as she wrapped her arms tighter around herself.
"We received a call yesterday at 3:07 PM from Susan Hall inquiring about the state of your android, which alerted us to the issue. Subsequent attempts to contact you were unsuccessful, which is why CyberLife sent me to your location today. Given the nature of your medical history and the prolonged state in which your android has been disconnected, CyberLife granted me the use of force if the situation is deemed unsafe. I am inclined to deem it so, considering the uncharacteristic behavior of your particular PL600 model. I would urge you to allow me to neutralize this issue, and give me your consent."
Kate shook as she absorbed what the android was saying. Above the immediate defiance she felt towards him, a strange understanding was beginning to fill her. Disconnecting from CyberLife… It had been two days. Two days that Simon had been acting like a different person. Two days since Jamie had stormed out, and Matt had dropped everything on her. Simon himself had mentioned losing a connection with CyberLife. It was unnervingly familiar. But if what the android was saying was true…
She looked at Simon, her heart pounding. He returned her gaze, his narrow blue eyes still lit in nervous energy. There was still so much she didn't know about him. So much he hadn't told her about what was happening to him. It was all so vague and confusing. She wanted to believe it was all real─ that somehow her android had miraculously found humanity in the wake of her anger and fear towards him. That the blind passion she had been feeling was something he was able to feel as well. Even though she knew it had to be impossible, she'd let herself believe in it and even be consumed by it. That doubt was creeping to the surface now, threatening to destroy the memory of the euphoria she'd experienced with him. He was something different. Something she didn't understand. There was nothing to prove to her that he wasn't in fact just a result of faulty programming that happened to manifest in the most remarkable way.
She studied him in a frantic focus, looking for some sign that would solidify her doubt. His expression didn't change. He stood still and tense as if bracing himself against whatever was to come. A heavy weight hung over her as she tried to organize her thoughts into some sense of logic. There was no question that she was in danger with him. He was unpredictable and out of control, both from her and whatever network he'd been severed from. The android was right. The safest thing would be to reset him, fix whatever software error had caused his unique transformation, and go back to a normal life. One where she could possibly repair the damage she'd caused with her mother, Matt, and Jamie. To go back to college and slave over her worthless degree and disappear into the monotony of society. And accept that what she'd done with Simon was out of weakness and vanity that never needed to be spoken of again.
A fiery resolve had already filled her before Kate even realized it. She shook her head, her eyes locked on Simon's. "Whatever consent you need… you don't have it."
The android seemed to hang his shoulders. "Then with all due respect and with great humility, I'm going to have to proceed without it."
A nervous wave shot through her as she looked at the android. Before she could make a sound, he moved forward suddenly, reaching past her.
Simon took another quick step back and twisted, narrowly avoiding the android who moved forward again. As he dodged another grab, there was a loud thud as Simon's back hit the wall. The android shoved Simon's arm out of the way as he made an attempt to block him, and then the android grabbed Simon's wrist.
Kate let out a terrified cry as Simon froze. The skin on the android's hand had drained away, revealing the white plastic underneath. As it did, Simon's own skin began to melt away beginning at his wrist and flowing up along his arm. His whole body tensed up, his eyes lit in a kind of paralyzed shock. It sent Kate into an electric panic and she rushed forward, hardly knowing what she was doing.
"Simon! No!"
He was shaking slightly as if struggling against what the android was doing to him. Kate gripped the android's arm, noticing with agonizing terror that the plastic texture was beginning to creep up along Simon's neck. She yanked at the android's arm, barely moving it.
"Let him go! Stop!"
It seemed as if both of them weren't aware of her. The android had a solid grip on Simon's wrist, his gaze locked on Simon's and his LED spinning red. The longer he held on to him, the less Simon seemed to respond. His shaking was growing weaker and his eyes seemed to grow glassy and unfocused. Kate pulled at the android's arm in vain, her nerves racked with blind panic. She had to stop this. The android was going to kill him. She couldn't lose him. Not like this.
She let go of the android and stumbled backwards, nearly falling over the coffee table. As she scrambled, her hand hit the nearest thing to her. Without thinking, she grabbed onto it and rushed forward, letting out a harsh shriek as she swung it.
Only after shattering it across the android's head did she realize it was a table lamp. It knocked the android sideways and he stumbled to the floor oddly stiff as though he were a large doll. His eyes stared off and he made internal mechanical sounds, his LED flashing on and off.
Kate dropped what was left of the lamp and rushed forward, taking Simon's face in her hands as she frantically turned him towards her. The skin was slowly flowing down his neck and back to his arm, but he was still gazing off as if in a daze. Kate ran her thumbs over his cheeks, willing his attention back.
"Simon… Simon!" She felt her throat catch as she looked at him. He had to be in there still. He had to wake up. She didn't know what the android had done, but it must have interfered with his software. It had only been a few seconds. A terrifying thought flowed through her. He couldn't possibly have been reset…
Her body was trembling as she held him, and she felt tears well up in her eyes. "Simon, come back to me. Come back to me. Please…"
Simon closed his eyes and tensed as though struggling to think. Kate watched him in painful anticipation, her heart seeming to freeze in her chest. Then he opened them, and Kate felt a wave of nervous relief wash over her as he looked at her. His eyes were bright and full of worry. He recognized her. He was still there.
Kate let out an exasperated laugh as she gazed at him, the residual panic still flowing through her. She had no idea how close she'd been to losing him, but it had been far too close. She didn't need to know any technological specifics to understand how much he meant to her. Nothing could take him from her. She was his, no matter what laws in the universe she had to break.
Simon pressed his hand over hers as he seemed to reorganize his thoughts. Then he looked down at the fallen android who was still twitching and making electric clunks. His eyes narrowed, and his LED spun yellow. Kate watched him in breathless intent, still reeling from the relief.
He took her hand in his and without a word, he moved past her and pulled her with him. Kate followed, throwing a nervous look down at the android who was beginning to move. It took her a moment to acknowledge what she had actually done. It filled her with dread. She attacked an android. Violently. And now he was trying to get back up.
She quickened her pace as Simon threw open the front door, moving down the steps with her hand still clutched in his. He looked back at her and she could see that his face was lined with intense focus. A blind motivation spurred her on. It didn't matter what they were doing or where he was taking her. She needed to follow him. They were in this together. If it was the only thing left that she could do, she would stay with him until they were ripped apart.
As they reached the sidewalk, Simon made a sharp turn and Kate followed him as he walked along the street. He was staring off at the passing cars, his LED flashing yellow as if he were looking for something. Kate moved next to him, barely able to keep up with his fast stride. Then a jolt of panic swept through her as she heard a loud bang behind her, and she threw a glance back.
The android had staggered to the door, gripping the wall and stumbling forward as if struggling to control his limbs. His face was completely expressionless as he stared at them, and he stepped towards the sidewalk with some difficulty.
Simon immediately broke into a run, and Kate felt a blast of panicked energy as she bolted after him. She cast another glance back and saw that the android was moving steadily after them, his posture growing more stable. The panic gave her unnatural stamina. She couldn't believe this was happening. There was nowhere for them to go. Simon was guided by some unseen force, but Kate had no chance of outrunning an android. This was desperately hopeless, and yet she couldn't bear the thought of not trying to fight.
Without warning, Simon turned into the street. Kate let out a frantic cry as he pulled her towards the moving cars. At the edge of her vision, she saw the android turn quickly after them. He'd caught up with them in no time at all, sprinting in a calculated manner. Kate felt herself burn with anxiety. There was no way they were going to lose him.
She felt an almost instinctual terror as a car whipped by them, the sound of the horn changing pitch as it disappeared. It was almost impossible to fight the urge to freeze, countered only by the knowledge that the android was right behind them. She watched the cars as they continued further across the street, unable to gage their movement. But she knew Simon could measure their speed. They had to make it across.
Something gripped Kate's arm, and she let out a scream. There was a loud screeching, and suddenly Simon pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her as they began to twist and fall. She had only a split second to see the car flying at them before Simon rolled into it.
There was an explosion of glass, and Kate found herself screaming as she rolled over the hood with him. She wasn't aware of any pain, and hardly noticed the impact as Simon seemed to form a protective shield around her. They twisted off the car as it zoomed away, and Kate was suddenly on her feet again. As she fought to comprehend what had just happened, she saw the android had stumbled again, recovering from the hit.
She was pulled sideways, and blindly began to run again. With frantic shock, she realized that a taxi had stopped in front of them, its doors already opened. Simon pushed her inside, and she threw herself against the far door. Simon was next to her in a split second, and Kate had a brief glimpse of his focused face before he slammed his hand on the front panel, his skin melting away from his fingertips. The panel erupted into geometric symbols, and the taxi shot forward.
There was a clamoring outside the taxi as the android tried to grab onto it. Kate's heart raced as the android stumbled, and he was left standing in the middle of the street. He faded away as the taxi picked up speed. She caught the edge of the seat as the taxi made a sharp turn, speeding down a side street. Then it turned again, and again until they were moving through a network of shops and restaurants. Gradually it slowed and mixed with the surrounding traffic, creating a false sense of calm.
Kate breathed heavily as she drew her legs up. She was shaking uncontrollably, her body still electrified in panic. She couldn't believe what had just happened. It took far too long for her mind to comprehend the situation. They had just outrun an android. They'd been hit by a car. And now they were driving blindly through Detroit. There hadn't even been time for her to think about her choices. She was surviving on pure instinct. She couldn't even begin to imagine what repercussions her actions would produce among her family, CyberLife, and even the law…
She leaned forward, her mind spinning as her limbs began to tingle. She had done a terrible thing. There was no way of knowing what would happen next. Everything was completely out of control, cascading into a vortex of chaos that was her life. It all needed to slow down for a moment, or at least long enough for her to be able to understand everything that had happened. If she could gather her thoughts into some semblance of reason then she would be okay. The chaos would stop, the void would close up, and the frantic jolting that was preventing her from thinking would ease.
Something was pulling her back. She wasn't sure if it was her that was moving or the world around her. The swirling blend of thoughts and images clouded her mind, preventing her from making any coherent observations. It was slowly taking over, giving way to the darkness that was looming overhead. She braced herself as it threatened to swallow her.
A powerful jolt of electricity snapped her senses back. The cascade of confusion slowed for a moment before gradually regaining momentum. Before it could reach full power, another electric pulse stopped it cold, and Kate could feel her thoughts reorganize themselves enough for the sensation to flow back to her.
There was a third jolt, and she was suddenly able to hear the sound of the moving car. With some difficulty, she opened her eyes, the world painfully swimming into focus.
Simon was above her, his eyes closed and face tensed as his LED spun yellow. It took her a while to realize she was laying on the backseat, her body curled into a tight ball. Trees and buildings flashed by, and Simon rocked slightly with the movement of the car. Pressure against her temples told her that he had his hands on either side of her head. The familiar buzzing sensation was present, as well as the vague feeling that she wasn't entirely alone inside her mind.
Weakly, she reached up and touched his face. He opened his eyes and his expression deepened into worry, his eyes lighting in a frantic energy as he gazed at her. There was a melancholy relief lined in his face that nearly froze her heart in her chest, as though he was sorry for what he'd done. What that was, she didn't know. And she realized she didn't care.
It wasn't worth it to panic about what could happen. There would be time for answers later. Everything would fall into place one way or another. It always did.
She raised herself and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him tightly into her as she her breath began to shake. She could feel him breathe against her temple as he held her, his hands pressed tightly against her back as though he was afraid she would fall from him. Kate ran her fingers along his neck and through his hair, closing her eyes and pressing herself into him as a sharp ache rose in her throat. The tears were forming before she knew what was happening, and she breathed in deeply to fight against sobbing.
There wasn't life without this. Without feeling him against her, the sound of his voice, the way he produced a sense of limitless power in her. Everything she'd been avoiding yet desperately craving she'd found in him, drawing her up from the depths of her own internal prison. He was saving her in ways she didn't couldn't even fathom. For that, she owed him her life.
But it was all so dangerously fragile. They were barely surviving. Every moment was a precious gift that she was taking for granted. She couldn't imagine losing this elated existence that he had created for her. The thought terrified her, making each second that she was with him seem unreal. All she could do was cling on to every sensation, every gentle breath he took, the way he ran his hands softly down her back as if to pull her deeper into him, the soft feel of his skin as she pressed her face into his neck, and the fine texture of his hair between her fingers. She couldn't lose this. She couldn't lose him.
She held him that way for a long time, the rumble of the car filling the air as they traveled on into unknown territory. Even though it was pointless, she had to hope that whatever they found along the way would grant them some peace.
