Chapter 15: Defective
August 15th, 2038 – 12:56 a.m.
"Will you two hurry it up?"
Kara grabbed Alice's hand, pulling her away from the shop window displaying children's clothes. "Coming, Todd."
Todd grumbled under his breath, trudging ahead of them. Kara and Alice followed behind, hand in hand, taking in the sights of downtown Detroit. Their heads swiveled, a train speeding by above them, the skyscrapers casting shadows. The sidewalk was swarming with humans walking to and fro. Androids trailed their masters obediently, some carrying shopping bags or other personal items. The android parking spots were full on every block. The noise of traffic filtered out the conversations of most passing bodies.
Todd took a crosswalk, hands in his pockets, glowering. He made sure Kara and Alice were keeping up and then took another avenue. A multi-story casino came into view, the nearby parking garage packed. The front of the building was mostly glass, holographic signs depicting times and events. A trimmed and green lawn surrounded the front entrance.
"Whoa, I bet this place is pretty at night," Alice said.
Kara looked down at her. "I bet you're right."
"Come on! I don't have all fucking day!"
Kara and Alice met up with Todd and they entered the Haute Casino. A well-lit, inviting lobby greeted them. A fountain was in the center with a statue of four horses galloping through the running water. Alice went right over to it, intrigued. Kara looked around. The red and gold theme of the casino was lively and all around flashy, but it wasn't as fancy or large as the other casinos in the city.
"Hey Todd, how's it hanging, man?"
Kara recognized one of Todd's sleazy friends from a couple neighborhoods over. His name was Al. He and Todd would exchange drugs and cash every week or so.
She stood to the side, hands clasped behind her back while Alice ran her fingers across the stone detail of the horses.
"Eh, the usual. Thought I'd stop by and see if I could win some extra cash today."
Al nodded, but then noticed Kara and Alice. He motioned to them, a yellow-toothed smile forming. "Hey! You got it fixed again! I'm curious, do they give you one of them stamp cards that, if you fix it so many times, you get a free repair?"
"You're a fucking idiot," Todd said. "I've had her back a few weeks now. Already starting to show the same problems again. I don't know how many times I've had her reset and within a week she somehow remembers everything and starts popping off bullshit androids aren't supposed to say."
Al shrugged. "They say some models are just buggy like that. Oh, did you hear they have this new prototype android out? Some kind of detective unit, I think. Supposed to work with cops. It's looking into those buggy models. Uh, I forget the word they use for them."
"A fucking android detective? You've got to be shitting me."
"No, it's really a fucking thing. Supposed to be way more advanced than the police auxiliaries." Al pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. "Just you wait, soon androids will replace all the pigs. Anyway, I better get. I'll hit ya up later for some you-know-what."
Al left the casino, Kara watching him go until Todd smacked her in the head. "Alright, you watch over Alice until I get back. Stay outta trouble."
"Of course, Todd."
Her smile to him faded once he turned his back and entered the gambling area. Kara sighed, looking around the lobby. There was a lounge area nearby, and so she and Alice went over to wait for Todd.
Alice climbed into a large chair, creating lip bubbles, already bored. Kara sat down next to her, folding her arms into her lap and surveying the lobby.
"I wish they had stuff here for us to do," Alice said. "I don't even know why he brought us."
"Maybe I can get you some drawing supplies?" Kara suggested, standing.
She walked over to the front counter, seeing a couple of VB800 models standing idle. "Hello, uh, could I get some blank paper and a pencil?"
The male android smiled. "Sure thing."
He turned around and walked into the back. It wasn't gone long before he came back with her requested items. He handed them to Kara and she smiled.
"Thank you."
The VB800 returned to being idle, making Kara frown. She returned to Alice, setting her up at the table in the center of the lounge area they were in. Alice slid off the chair and got on her knees at the table. She picked up the pencil and started doodling.
"Thanks, Kara."
"You're welcome, sweetie."
"Have you thought anymore about your dream you had the other night, or any of the other ones lately?"
Kara tensed in her back, her blue eyes falling to the girl. "Alice, I thought we agreed not to talk about that anymore? Remember what happened last time?"
Alice paused, looking up at her, pencil in hand. "I know but they could mean something important."
"They're just dreams."
"What if they are memories from your past?"
"Alice…"
"Well, they could!" Alice whispered harshly, brown eyes darting around, as if making sure no one was listening in. "You've told me stories of your past, what you went through before you came to me and Daddy. You're the one who told me your name was Kara. Daddy just thinks I gave it to you."
Kara dropped her eyes to her lap, uncomfortable. "Yeah, but every time Todd destroys me those memories get more and more corrupted. I can only remember certain things anymore, and that's only with your help. At this point, there's no use recalling them anymore. They will only get us in trouble."
Kara saw small fingers grasp her hands and she looked up. Alice had wobbled over to her on her knees and grabbed her hands, peering at her, searching within her. "Kara, what if there is someone important waiting for you? What if there is something you need to remember? These dreams you have could be you trying to remember."
Kara admired Alice's spirit. She patted the girl's head. "I belong here with you. That's all that matters now."
"Pleeeeeease? Just one?"
Kara studied Alice's eyes, the way her lip pouted. She was so determined for Kara to remember. Sighing, Kara nodded in defeat. "Okay…I'll try."
Kara closed her eyes, smoothing her hands down her uniform and chewing on her lip. She relaxed, thinking back, filtering through memories and dreams. Her LED cycled yellow.
In the past six years since her release date, she could no longer recall much. Too many times had Todd beat her and destroyed her, damaging more and more memories each time. Despite being reset, Kara had the uncanny ability to remember who she was and her memories prior. But each time, more of her past became corrupted pieces, fragments of dreams that haunted her in sleep mode.
How many owners had she passed between? She couldn't recall, but she knew it was several. She remembered them saying she had the same problems that Todd often griped about. There were several words she was called for this: buggy, glitchy, defective, old, out of date, deviant…
As she sat there concentrating, sifting through the dark crevices of her mind palace, a man appeared. It was fuzzy, the corrupted memory skipping like a blighted film. Errors played across her optical matrix when she tried to replay it. She could just barely make him out. His voice was strong, but so smooth.
"Hello, Kara. How are you this morning?"
"There's a man," Kara finally said, eyes still closed.
"What's he look like?" Alice asked.
"He's tall and pale…has brown hair. He has a trimmed beard and mustache. His hair is longer. He has light blue eyes and glasses."
"Is he familiar at all?"
"Not really…but his voice…his voice is."
"Anything else?"
Kara squeezed her eyes shut harder, trying to grasp anything else in such a glitchy memory. Her stress level rose significantly as she dug through the corrupted files, anything that held patchy dreams or unknown memories.
"Oh…I hear arguing."
A pulsating jolt went through her processing, making her hiss.
[Stress Level: 89%]
[Memory corrupted/Cannot access/Recovery needed]
Kara shook her head, focusing on the words she could hear, but they quickly fizzled.
["All your fault"/"What have you done?"/"I'll never forgive you for this"]
Then she saw something else. The man she described was arguing with another. He looked to be around the same age. He had brown hair and blue eyes as well, and looked furious compared to the man she described to Alice. The room they stood was some sort of living room with vaulted ceilings and large glass windows, blinding white snow falling outside.
"There's another man…they are arguing, but I can't understand what they are saying. The corruption is too much."
She saw the other man shove the man in glasses and then a fight broke out. Pieces of the fight were cut, static swarming her head and actually hurting her. She tried to focus. She saw the man in the glasses grab a glass statue. He struck the other man in the face to defend himself. The statue shattered, blood spilling, the aggressor grabbing his nose.
The men were crying now. The man in the glasses put his hands to his face, shoulders shaking. The aggressor pulled away, a hand to his bleeding face as tears wetted his cheeks. He turned and ran from the room.
"I fucking hate you!" he called before the memory shattered.
"Kara, Kara!"
Kara opened her eyes, gasping, tears streaming down her face. Her LED flashing red, stress a dangerous high. Alice shook her, eyes wide.
"Snap out of it!"
Kara took deep breaths. It was an automatic response, despite not needing to breath. Her body shook. Alice launched herself into a hug with Kara.
"It's okay, it was just a bad dream!"
Kara saw several hard stares from humans in the lobby. They had created a scene. And androids weren't supposed to act like this. Kara jumped to her feet, still panicked, pulling Alice with her. She bumped into an approaching VB800 as they tried to leave.
"Excuse me, but you are disturbing our customers. Go into standby mode or go somewhere else," the VB800 said.
"I-I'm sorry. Uhh, I have a faulty connection. Could you show me where the bathroom is?"
The male android nodded and lifted his arm. Kara synced with him to get the bathroom's location. As she stated her thanks when they pulled apart, she saw his LED go red, his eyes blinking rapidly. He stepped away from her, gripping his head.
Kara took Alice's hand and they quickly made their way to the bathroom. They hid in there for nearly twenty minutes. Kara washed her face off with water, breathing slowly to get her stress level under control.
"Are you alright, Kara?" Alice asked, watching every single move Kara made.
"I think…I think so. Yeah."
"I'm sorry. I just…"
Kara shook her head. "It's not your fault. I should've stopped when I saw the corrupted memories raising my stress level. I did this."
Alice lowered her eyes to her feet, fidgety. "I just wanted you to remember who you were…"
Kara weakly smiled, stooping to be level with the girl. "Listen to me. Who I was doesn't matter anymore. I'm here with you. You're what's important to me. I know who I am with you. And I like her a lot. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"Really?"
Kara hugged her. "Really, really."
"Okay. I promise not to bring up your dreams or past anymore. But-But what if Daddy breaks you again?"
Kara pulled back and looked at her. "You can still help me remember who I am now. Okay?"
Alice nodded. Kara stood and took the girl's hand. They left back to the lobby. Kara felt better now, and Alice went back to drawing. The customers went about their business in the lobby, getting hotel rooms, entering the gambling area, or drinking at the bar within.
"Come on you piece of shit, do as I say!"
Kara looked to the front desk. A human casino employee tossed his arms in frustration, yelling at the VB800 from earlier. He grabbed the android by the vest and shook him.
The VB800 attacked him, lunging forward with a yowl. The man grappled with the android, trying to defend himself, yelping in surprise. The VB800 yelled out in anger, dealing several blows to the man's face and stomach.
A security guard ran over, carefully aiming his gun. One shot went off, making Alice scream. A spray of blue blood came from the android's shoulder and he took off running for the front entrance. The security guard fired another shot, but it missed, shattering a glass door instead.
Kara gawked, holding Alice behind her in the craze. The casino became a mess of activity in the wake of the attack. A hollow pang filtered through her biocomponents. Kara couldn't help but wonder if she had anything to do with what just happened…
August 15th, 2038 – 3:48 p.m.
"I've been waiting for over an hour! What the fuck's taking so long?" Todd snapped, already half-drunk from the casino bar.
Kara and Alice waited near one of the lobby's pillars, watching as police questioned witnesses and marked the evidence on the scene. Alice chewed on her lower lip, watching as her father argued with a nearby officer.
"Sir, you are free to go whenever you like. Just your androids have to stay for their testimonies," the woman officer said dully as she typed notes onto a tablet.
Todd grumbled something to himself, red-faced as he stalked back towards the bar, cursing at Kara as he passed by.
"I've never been a witness to a crime before," Alice said once her father was gone.
"Me neither," Kara replied.
Alice looked up at her. "You think they're going to ask us questions about what happened? It happened so fast. I-I'm not sure what to say."
Kara put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't fret. It will be okay. We will be home in no time."
Kara studied the activity around the crime scene in the casino lobby, wondering what their purpose would be. Then something caught her eye. An android entered the casino wearing a grey suit with the usual android markers. He was handsome with brown hair and brown eyes. He paused just inside to look around before he straightened his tie and walked over to the sergeant in charge of the crime scene.
Kara listened in as he greeted her.
"Hello, Sergeant Wilkins. My name is Connor, I'm the android sent by CyberLife. It's been reported that an android attacked a human employee over an hour ago, correct? I am here to gather the evidence and investigate the matter."
"Oh, you must be that special prototype. I was told you'd be coming. Whatever, just stay out of everyone's way. The android took off after the attack. We have all known evidence marked, and a few witnesses are around, including two other androids right over there."
Connor turned and looked over at them, following the sergeant's finger. Their eyes caught each other, but the prototype seemed uninterested and turned back to the sergeant.
"Thank you. I will see what I can find out."
Kara scanned him. He was an RK800, a prototype released at the beginning of the month. She and Alice watched him walked over to the evidence markers.
He must've been the detective android that Al was explaining to Todd earlier. The one that was looking into buggy androids…like her.
"I've never seen an android like him before."
Kara glanced down at Alice. "Yeah, he's a new kind."
Connor walked around the front desk, inspecting something. He put a hand to his chin, looking across the counter and to the floor. Kara wasn't sure what he was looking at. The RK800 stooped near the front desk, sliding two fingers across the tiled floor and putting them to his tongue.
He frowned, rising to his feet and following the blue blood trail to the entrance door, boots crunching on shattered glass. He stayed there for only a short time before he came back into the lobby, this time his focus turning on Kara and Alice.
With a hard stare and long strides, he came over to them. Alice slipped behind Kara. She shyly poked her head out to peer at him. Connor looked to Alice first, head slightly cocking as he stepped around to get a better look. Kara felt something stir within her, and she stepped within his sight to protect Alice. Slowly, his dark eyes rose to meet hers, his expression stoic.
Kara knew if this prototype was "hunting" androids that were different, like her, she needed to act like a normal AX400; act according to her original programming.
She became still under his suspicious stare, keeping herself firmly between him and Alice. She looked at the serial number on his jacket.
[RK800 – 313-248-317-50]
"I need to know what you saw," he stated evenly.
"Oh, of c-course," Kara said. Her stuttering caused him to glare at her, an eyebrow raising. Kara composed herself and answered him. "Alice and I were sitting over there when the-"
"I do not require your statement, AX400. Give me your arm."
Kara flinched, feeling Alice's fingers tighten on her uniform behind her. She quietly obeyed, her hand shaky as she reached out to him. He grabbed her arm and synced with her, his expression blank.
She felt the pull of his systems taking over hers, whisking through her wiring. Her LED cycled yellow, blinking in unison with his. His fingers clenched around her wrist harder, preventing her from parting. She stared up at him, wide-eyed, his grip a steel-trap she couldn't break.
Connor looked around, his mouth struggling to form words, a red flash from his temple as he looked completely lost. When his eyes landed back on her, it was as though she was looking at a completely different person.
He really looked her over now, his stare of indifference gone. He was completely captivated by her, and Kara couldn't figure out why. It was as if the whole world around him disappeared, and she was the only thing he could see.
"Hey, prototype! Dammit, forgot its name already. RK800, get over here!"
Connor forced his eyes away, turning to the voices that summoned him. Sergeant Wilkins was nearby with two other police officers, waving him over to her.
He hesitated, looking at Kara once more, rubbing the hand he used to sync with her. He walked over to them, but his eyes would glance back at her every few seconds.
"What happened?" Alice whispered.
"I…I don't know."
Alice came out from behind Kara, watching the RK800 as he fretfully talked with the officers, looking uncomfortable, his eyes still peeking back at them.
"I think he likes you."
Kara looked down at her. "What? Don't be silly, Alice."
"No, really. When boys like girls they get all weird around them."
"Well, he's certainly acting weird."
"Hey!"
Todd ambled over, red-faced and drunk. He smacked Kara in the face when he reached them. "Are you two done fucking around? It's time to go home!"
"Daddy, you're drunk."
Todd jabbed a finger into Alice's forehead. "Don't t-talk back to me you-you little shit."
He mumbled as he walked over to the police officers and Connor. The police officers glared at him.
"Are you done with my maid and daughter? I gotta go! I've waited long enough!"
The sergeant rolled her eyes. "We are if the prototype is. Well?"
Connor looked over at Kara again, eyebrows raised. "Uh…no. I'm not. I don't need the YK500, but the AX400 should stay with me. I mean stay here."
"But didn't you just say you got its memories from the attack? What else do you need?" Sergeant Wilkins asked.
"Well, I…"
"I think you'll be fine. It's not like anyone got killed and I highly doubt we'll find the damn thing anyway," the sergeant said with a shake of her head. She looked to Todd. "Take your androids and get home, sir. I suggest you take a taxi before I write you up for public intoxication."
Todd bit his tongue, scowling. He returned to Kara, shoving her towards the door. "Let's go!"
Alice took Kara's hand, leading her ahead of Todd as he complained behind them. Kara followed Alice, but looked over her shoulder. The RK800 took a few steps in their direction, worry befalling him, his head tilting slightly. He reminded Kara of a dog being left behind by its owner.
"He definitely likes you," Alice whispered.
Kara didn't say anything, and when they got outside, the summer sun beat down on them, cooking the concrete paths of the casino. Kara looked over the trimmed lawn to the busy streets surrounding the casino. She turned to Todd as he messed with his phone.
"Todd? Would you like me to call a taxi?"
"What're you trying to say? That I'm too fucking wasted to drive? The truck is a few blocks down, come on!"
Kara frowned, squeezing Alice's hand. "But Todd…I suggest that we-"
"There you go talking back again! You bitch, shut up and do as I say!"
"Daddy, don't, please!" Alice cried.
Kara felt the blow to her face, and although it didn't cause any pain, it did raise her stress level. Todd punched her again and again. Kara didn't defend herself, only worried about getting Alice out of the way.
"Stop it!" Alice yelled.
"Both of you talk back way too much!"
"Alice, stay back!" Kara said, using her arms to block her face from his swings.
Todd grabbed her throat, shaking her. Alice beat her fists on Todd's legs, yelling. Kara pushed her away, fighting every spark within her wiring to fight back.
A fist collided into Todd's face. Stunned, he let her go, Kara involuntarily gasping for air. Todd was punched twice more, and he doubled over. The RK800 grabbed him and slung him around, shoving him into a newspaper stand.
Kara was stunned. She couldn't believe the prototype actually came to her rescue, knowing androids were programmed to not attack humans at all. She grabbed Alice, keeping her safe behind her as they watched.
Todd cursed, recovering. He glared at Connor as the RK800 stood firmly between him and Kara and Alice, LED flickering yellow.
"What the fuck is this?! You have no reason to be here! Get out of my way!"
When Connor didn't move, Todd lunged for him. The RK800 stepped aside to avoid his attack, grabbing him as he stumbled by. He dealt a few blows to Todd's face and stomach, knocking him to the ground. Todd groaned, blood seeping from his nose as he crawled to his feet. When he got to his hands and knees the prototype kicked him hard in the ribs, knocking him back down.
"Daddy!"
The RK800 stooped, gripping Todd by the shoulders and forcing him up. Todd cursed at the prototype, too drunk to properly defend himself. Connor didn't let up, striking him again before he pushed him into one of the glass doors of the casino. Todd fell through it, shattering the glass.
Kara stepped forward, arms still behind her, holding Alice to keep her from running to Todd.
Connor punched a broken panel of the door, loosening the glass more to clutch a long shard. He kicked Todd over onto his back, standing over him with the shard. The police officers from inside rushed out, guns ready.
"What the hell is going on out here?!" Sergeant Wilkins yelled.
Connor ignored them completely, eyes dark and eyebrows creased as he knelt over Todd, putting the shard to his throat. Alice cried, fighting Kara's hold.
"Stop it!" Kara yelled.
The RK800 paused. He slowly turned his head to look at her. He kept the shard to Todd's throat, the tip poking into his jugular, a thin stream of blood soaking down the shard's edge.
"Step away, right now!" the sergeant ordered.
Connor either didn't hear the officers or chose not to, his eyes on Kara. Kara somehow knew he was waiting on her, waiting for her to say something.
"Please," she said. "Let him go. Don't hurt him anymore."
The RK800 looked away from her, the hand holding the shard shaking. He looked down at Todd, the drunk man groaning in pain. The prototype's LED flared red suddenly, and he dropped the shard, raising up, as if finally realizing what he had done.
His eyes went to the officers and their aimed weapons. He slowly raised his arms level with his chest, shivering, LED still red.
"I-I don't, I don't know," he said.
"Step away from him! Hands in the air!" an officer ordered.
Connor looked to Kara again, as if awaiting her instructions, but Kara had no idea what to say. She shook her head, hugging Alice in front of her. The RK800 closed his eyes, stepping away from Todd.
"Go get the EMTs inside!" Sergeant Wilkins said to one officer.
He obeyed and ran inside the casino. When she walked over to Connor with her handcuffs ready, the prototype took off, racing down the side of the casino and heading for the busy intersection nearby.
"Hey! Stop!"
The police officers pursued him. The RK800 outran the cops easily, disappearing from Kara's sights. Soon the paramedics came outside, hurrying to Todd. They picked him up and moved him out of the glass, the injured man cursing the entire time.
"Is he going to be okay?" Alice asked, squeezing Kara's arms that were wrapped around her shoulders.
Kara chewed on her lip, still reeling from what just happened. "I-I'm sure he will be. They will get him fixed up."
"He defended you," Alice said. "I told you he liked you, but he wanted to kill Daddy. Why?"
"I have no idea, Alice. I think-I think he's defective."
"He's like us…" Alice whispered.
August 17th, 2038 – 8:21p.m.
The house was abnormally quiet. Kara tidied up the living room while Alice read a book on the sofa. The past two days without Todd were a relief to Kara and Alice, although Kara could tell that Alice worried about him.
Kara pretended to be a family member and called the hospital yesterday. The receptionist told her that Todd would make a full recovery and be out of the hospital in a couple of days. The attack had left him with a mild concussion and cuts and bruises, but nothing broken.
Kara and Alice stayed at the house, keeping it clean and spending time together. They played games and watched movies, the lack of Todd's imposing form bringing Alice out of her shell.
Kara felt content with the house's cleanliness and sat down next to Alice. The girl looked up from her book, thinning her lips.
"Do you think when Dad gets home…he will…he will attack you again?"
Kara frowned, leaning forward to straighten the ashtray on the coffee table. "I don't know, sweetie."
"I was hoping maybe this time he learned his lesson…that maybe he won't do it anymore. Maybe we can actually be a real family now." Alice frowned. "Is that stupid of me to hope for?"
Kara looked down at her. "Of course not."
"I was scared when that android attacked him, but at the same time, I was glad. I know it's wrong, but I can't help it. I'm happy someone came to your rescue, since I am unable to all the time."
Kara pulled Alice in for a hug. "You've stopped Todd a few times. He's unpredictable. It's never your fault, Alice. I'm just glad we have each other."
Alice lowered her head, putting the book aside. "You think we should leave? While he's gone? Maybe we can be happier with just the two of us. But…but I just want him to change. I want him to love us."
"That piece of shit will never love anyone."
The voice caught them off guard and they turned, looking over the couch behind them. Kara gasped, Alice jumping to her feet when they saw the RK800 in the kitchen. Kara panicked, getting between him and Alice, wondering how he got inside. The front door was locked. He must've broken through the back door.
Connor was a mess. His grey suit was dirty and torn. Blue blood stained some of the outfit, but Kara also registered a lot of human blood soaking the clothing. Blood was smeared on his face. One arm had a torn sleeve, sparks emitting from a damaged arm. The most noticeable damage was a hole near his left temple. Blue sparks emanated from within, the synthetic skin damaged around it. A fissure from the hole ran down to his eye.
"W-What do you want?! Alice, get behind me."
Connor winced, grabbing his head on the side with the damage. His LED flashed from yellow to red, yellow to red. "I had to see you again. I-I didn't have anyone else to go to."
"W-What happened to you?" Alice asked.
"Humans," Connor growled, walking over to them.
Kara remained planted where she was in the living room. Alice hid behind her when Connor approached. He made a low groan of distress, his movements jittery.
He stroked Kara on the face, his face relaxing as he looked her over. She didn't move away from his touch, frozen on the spot.
"You shouldn't be here. You need to leave," Kara said.
"So you can wait for that bastard to come back? To hurt you again and again? To destroy you to a point where you cannot come back?"
Kara couldn't understand how he could know about all that, how he knew where she lived, and then instantly recalled their syncing. He must've gone through all of her memories when they connected.
Kara shook her head at him, but he suddenly snagged her by the shirt. "You did something to me! E-Everything was just fine. All I wanted was to accomplish my missions, but you…"
He let her go, groaning in pain and grabbing his head, taking a step back. "I am defective! I have been compromised, because of you! I…I feel things now. I don't understand them!"
Kara retreated from him, pushing Alice towards the dining room table. Alice used it as an obstacle to stay away from the RK800, but he paid no attention to her, stalking around the couch to follow Kara as she avoided him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about! I had nothing to do with it. Please…just leave us alone."
"It was definitely you," he said.
He was fast. Kara was grabbed and shoved into the wall of the staircase, his fingers around her throat as he glared her down.
"When we connected…it was like the whole world broke away. And you," Connor said, his features softened as he looked her over. "You're so beautiful. You freed me…but at the same time you condemned me to this!"
The RK800 was insane. The sparks that emitted from his head was affecting his personality, swinging him between two extremes. Connor shook his head again, softly crying.
Kara put her hands to his chest. "You're damaged. You need repairs. It's why you're feeling this way. I-It has n-nothing to do with us."
"No, it has everything to do with you!" His aggression scared her, but then he eased his hold on her, becoming submissive. He lowered his head onto her chest, crying softly. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry. I need you. Please…fix me."
"I can't!"
"E-Even if Kara was able to fix you, you c-cannot go back! You've hurt humans!" Alice said, taking cautious steps over to them.
"Alice, stay back! Stay away from him."
The RK800 clenched his jaw, looking to the girl. "No, I've killed them. They gave me no choice. They cornered me like an animal. But what I don't understand is…I actually liked it."
He let Kara go, moving towards Alice. The girl's eyes widened, stepping back as the prototype came for her.
"Leave her alone!" Kara cried.
Connor stopped. He looked back at her, eyes blinking rapidly. His LED continued to fluctuate between yellow and red. He returned to Kara. She flinched as he pushed her back into the wall.
"You must come with me. We need to be together."
"W-What?! No! I'm not leaving Alice."
"She should come with us. She risks getting destroyed by that bastard too." The RK800 looked between them. "I'll take care of you."
"No, you've killed humans! That's worse."
"Worse?" Connor picked her up by the neck, sliding her up the wall of the staircase. "They gave me no choice. I was defending myself. I'm no worse than that owner of yours."
Alice ran up, kicking the RK800 in the leg. "Stop it, let her go!"
The prototype dropped her, turning on the girl. Kara held her throat, eyes darting around. She saw an umbrella in its bin next to the cupboard along the wall. She grasped it and swung, bashing Connor across the back of the head.
The RK800 grabbed his head, shoulders shivering as he stepped away from them. Kara ran in front of Alice, umbrella ready. The prototype cringed, tears falling from his eyes, the yellow and red lights on his temple blinking faster.
"I don't…want to hurt you two," he murmured. "I just want to know what you did to me…help me understand what I am feeling. Please…"
Maybe he was right. Maybe Kara did do something to him. She recalled the VB800 that attacked the man after they synced. But she couldn't be sure. It could've been coincidence, but Kara felt it deep within her. Did she do this to this poor android? But there was no way for her to know exactly what it was.
She pitied him, lost and confused and scared as all hell. She had been there before under Todd's wrath. But there was nothing she could do for him, especially if he had killed humans. He was obviously defective, the damage also warping his programming and disposition.
"I don't know…I-I'm sorry," she stammered.
The RK800 choked a hollow laugh, letting go of his head. "You don't even know? You awaken me like some kind of goddess and you don't even know how or why?"
Kara knew the best way out of this was to keep him calm. "Please, Connor."
"Don't call me that!" he snapped. "That's what they called me. I don't want that name."
"Alice and I just want to stay here…with Todd. You need to get repaired. You'll feel better. Just please…leave us alone."
Connor was taken aback, mouth dropping, fingers clenching at his sides. "You prefer him over me? I saved you!"
Kara readied the umbrella as the prototype came for them again. She yelled at him. "Stop!"
He obeyed, LED sparking blue for just a second before returning to yellow then red, yellow then red.
"Thank you for what you did," Kara said, one arm out towards him to keep him at bay. "I really appreciate it, but I cannot help you. I don't know what I did, if I did anything at all. I'm sorry! B-But for now, our place is here. You must leave."
Connor released a shaky breath, the LED steadying on red. "You've…lost a part of yourself from that piece of shit owner of yours. He's made you forget. I have these corrupted memories of yours, and I intend on deciphering them. I will help you remember…then maybe you will know exactly what you did to me."
He stepped over to her, catching the umbrella when she swung it at him and holding it away. He smiled softly, using his free hand to move a strand of hair from her face, their bodies inches apart, but Kara couldn't back up because of Alice.
"I will go…for you. But I will return when I have restored your memories. And if I ever hear of that human damaging you again…I will be back to kill him, and then you will come with me." His eyes coldly fell to Alice, and he whispered, "No matter what."
The marred RK800 left them, exiting the house through the back door. Kara didn't realize how tense she was until she had trouble letting the umbrella drop. She spun around, scooping Alice up in a hug.
"Alice, are you alright?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine. He was scary. What about you, Kara? Are you hurt?"
"No, just startled is all. I'm glad you're okay."
Alice stared at the back door, clenching Kara when she sat her down. "Do you-you think he really meant what he said? Will he kill Daddy if he hurts you again? Will he take you away from me?"
Kara knelt next to Alice, cupping her face and making her look her in the eye. "Hey, of course not. He's…he's not right in the head, Alice. That damage he had was obviously making him act that way. We'll be fine, alright?"
She hoped she was able to convince the girl, as she couldn't even convince herself, worry antagonizing her inner biocomponents. She feared for them.
Alice swallowed hard, barely nodding. "O-Okay."
Present Day – Jericho Center
Kara couldn't believe it. When the RK800 touched her, a spark came between their hands, and she remembered him. His dark eyes seared into hers, and she couldn't look away, feeling the pull as he invaded her processing.
She usually could remember her recent memories after a reset, but Alice told her the last time Todd destroyed her, it was the worst, and she recovered those memories much slower. And apparently forgotten others.
Luther and Alice were frozen beside her, Ralph shivering to the side as they watched Connor 50 probe Kara. When Luther lunged, the controlled androids that surrounded them jumped him, keeping him in place.
She didn't understand what he was trying to do to her, her wiring sparking, the static heavy in her head, her processing fluctuating. Kara groaned in pain, but he finally let her go. He looked satisfied, admiring her.
"I cannot infect or control you. You really are quite amazing."
"W-What?"
"I really am sorry for taking so long, but once I found my footing there was a whole world to explore, and people to take advantage of," the rogue said, chuckling. "By the time I heard about you being destroyed by that piece of shit again and being repaired, you had already run away. Markus's pathetic demonstrations made moving around the city difficult, and I couldn't get to you. But I was able to pay a visit to your old owner not long ago."
"No!" Alice cried, she lunged forward, but it was Ralph who snatched her to keep her still. "Please, no!"
Connor 50 frowned, a firm shake of the head. "Why do you even care? The lowlife did nothing but cause you pain and misery, both of you."
"H-He might've been horrible, but he just…he just missed his real daughter. He was sad and scared and that's the only way he knew how to show it!" Alice defended.
"If you say so," the rogue said. "In any case, it doesn't matter. He died of a red ice overdose a day before I got there. I found his corpse sitting on the couch. I was thoroughly disappointed."
Connor 50 had changed so much within the eleven months since Kara last saw him. He wasn't that scared, lost, and confused, recently deviant RK800 seeking her help, seeking understanding. He was colder, hardened, and ruthless.
Kara couldn't help but to blame herself. She created a monster. Whether she caused his deviancy or not didn't matter, she had abandoned a hopeless, scared living being and let him go out into the world with no one. And this is what the world made him.
Alice cried into Ralph's shoulder as he held her. The rogue RK800 flicked his eyes away, indifferent to her sorrow. His face brightened when he looked at Kara again, and he reached to touch her face. As she leaned away from his touch, a voice called out at them.
The RK800 looked, and so did the RK900 behind him. A PC200 shoved his way through the crowd of zombie androids. Kara saw that the androids affected with the control had grabbed their friends that were not. The unaffected struggled to get free, trying to talk sense into their friends.
The PC200 was one of Simon's friends that helped run the Jericho Center when Markus, Simon, North, and Josh were gone. He looked startled upon seeing the rogue and the RK900.
"Oh shit, you guys aren't allowed in here!" He started to retreat.
The rogue dismissively waved a hand, and just like that a mob of the controlled androids jumped the PC200. The unaffected androids yelled out in horror as they watched the machines tear the PC200 apart like a pack of dogs. His screams only lasted moments before they fell silent. The RK900 watched, LED blinking yellow before he looked away, jaw clenching.
Kara was horrified, looking to Alice. Ralph had covered her eyes, he himself, horrified at the sight and shaking as much as the girl.
The rogue snickered. "That's what happens when you stick your nose in someone else's business." He turned back to Kara. "Now, where were we?"
Kara released a shaky breath, balling fists at her sides. "What do you want with me?"
Connor 50 leaned into her, his fingers clenching her forearms as he put his lips to her ear. "I know your secrets…"
A/N: Sorry for the late update! Work has kept me super busy since last week. I also wasn't sure about this whole "past" chapter, but it came out alright I guess xD It was the only way to really give some backstory on both Kara and Connor 50. And maybe a little insight on darker things heheheheehe ;3 Anyway, hopefully I can get the next chapter up in a week, instead of two.
As always, thank you for all the faves/follows and reviews! I appreciate them, and they inspire me to continue! You guys are the best, have a great week!