Chapter 16: Taken

Kara shivered as the whispered words tickled her ear, Connor 50's tone playful but ominous. She gaped at him, not at all understanding what he meant. She had no secrets. At least none she could recall.

"You are mistaken," she said. "I don't have any secrets."

The rogue made a sound similar to a purr, a rise coming from a corner of his lips. "Of course you do, my dear. You just don't remember. Corrupted memories. You've been destroyed and reset too many times. Even your unique…abilities have been damaged. But I'm here for you. I can restore all that you have lost."

A glance towards Luther and Kara saw him fighting the hold the machines had on him. Her eyes went to Alice and Ralph, the two hugging each other close. Kara kept her ground, even with Connor 50's imposing form suffocating her.

Kara shook her head, glaring at him. "I don't want any of that. Please, just leave us alone!"

The rogue frowned. Kara expected anger, expected some kind of extreme reaction as he had done last time when he confronted her at Todd's house. But he remained collected, his LED a solid blue.

Her last encounter with him as she fully remembered now, he was very much an injured, traumatized soul. And Kara was too scared and worried for Alice to help him in his plight. He was strangely smitten with her. She could tell he still was, but the traumatized soul was gone, buried beneath a cold, plastic shell. Now all she could see was a hardened hunter seeking blood and some kind of retribution. And Kara had a sickening feeling he aimed at making her a part of it.

"I can't do that," the rogue said, a firm shake of his head. "You are the most important piece in this whole operation…the queen on the chessboard, so to speak." A wry smile formed. "Even the beloved Markus is expendable compared to you."

"Wh-What?"

"It's time you come with me," Connor 50 said, extending his arm to her.

Kara smacked his hand away. "No! I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"As much as I would love to honor your wish, I cannot comply. You have no choice in the matter."

"Kara said no, and so that means no! Leave her alone!" Luther warned. It was the first for Kara to ever hear any sort of aggression in Luther's voice.

The rogue tilted his head slightly, eyes side-glancing the large android, but he was unfazed by the threat.

He looked back to Kara, a grave scowl forming. His LED blinked yellow for a passing second. "I don't want to do anything to upset you, but I have my orders. If you do not come with me, more of your friends here will end up like that fool in pieces on the floor."

"Why must you appeal to her? That is not part of the mission," the RK900 said, grey eyes flashing at Connor 50's back. "Let me shock her so we can leave. The authorities will be here any minute."

Kara was glad to hear that someone already called for help. They just had to endure until it arrived.

Connor 50 glared over his shoulder at his advanced model, clenching fists. "You will not touch her."

A bellow alerted Kara. Luther jostled several of the machines off of him, shouldering forward. The controlled androids were knocked into each other, some tumbling to the floor. Despite his size, Luther was a blur. A fist swung out, but the rogue was nimble, jumping back and missing the strike by inches.

Luther inspired other androids to start fighting back against their controlled friends. Kara pulled Alice against her, Ralph ready beside her with a knife as Luther swung once, twice, and then another. Connor 50 ducked and shirked each swipe.

"Luther!" Kara called.

"Run, Kara! Take Alice and go now!"

The machines that Luther tossed away from him were starting to recover, getting to their feet. They could make a run for it, if they went for it now.

Connor 50 whistled, a sharp and short sound resonating within the main hall of the center. Kara called out, but it was too late as the RK900 stepped in and caught Luther unaware. A strong punch bashed his head, jarring him. Luther recovered with a quick shake of his head. Despite the outcome of the previous fight between him and the advanced deviant hunter, Luther still faced the RK900 with determination, showing no fear.

Kara looked around for a weapon. The Jericho Center filled with pandemonium as androids fought against the machines with the help of each other and any objects they could find in the main hall. But there were more machines than those unaffected, and so it wasn't long before Kara heard the screams of another android being torn apart.

"Mom, what do we do?!"

There was nothing in her reach before more machines circled them, keeping them herded like sheep. Ralph trembled, eyes darting around and LED flickering red. He clenched the knife harder in his fingers and swallowed hard.

"Ra-Ralph will attack their leader! You must take Alice and escape, Kara!"

"Ralph, no!" Alice cried as the WR600 ran forward.

Kara grabbed her daughter by the shoulders. Ralph went straight for the rogue as he watched the RK900 fight Luther. He saw the scarred android rushing him. Connor 50 weaved his head and body, stepping around Ralph's erratic slashes. He toyed with the WR600 with a punch or a kick in between evades and blocks.

The RK900 didn't do the same with Luther, focusing on putting the large android out of commission. Luther was just as tough as he looked, and had learned from the last fight. Their fighting was more calculated, more heated. Despite this, the RK900 was still faster and stronger, and Luther soon struggled to stay one step ahead.

The machines prevented Kara and Alice from escaping, and as two grabbed Kara, she protectively shielded Alice from their grasps.

Kara reached out to Simon, the only person within Jericho besides Markus she was connected with. "Simon, help! The RK900 and the rogue are here at Jericho Center and they have so many androids under their control!"

Connor 50 was soon bored with Ralph, his movements quickening, his hits harder and deadlier. Ralph ignored the strikes that jarred him, slashing and stabbing at the rogue with agitated barks. A stumble forward with the knife let Connor 50 grab the scarred WR600, elbowing him in the back of the head and making him drop to the floor. A couple kicks and he allowed Ralph to his knees before a gun was pulled from the rogue's jacket.

Ralph bared teeth, rising from his knees. The gun went off, a hole bursting in the center of his chest. Alice screamed, the shot a deafening roar throughout the hall. The sound panicked the unaffected androids as they fought the machines.

Connor 50 raised the gun level to Ralph's head as he gripped his chest, shaking once more.

"Stop!" Kara yelled. She couldn't let Ralph get executed in front of them. "Don't kill him!"

Connor 50's smooth blue LED glimmered yellow at her call, and he looked over at her, his gun still aimed at Ralph. In that instant, Ralph lunged. He slashed the knife at the rogue's face, grabbing the gun as it went off. The bullet struck Luther nearby, allowing the RK900 to break free from Luther's choke hold. The gun skidded across the floor.

Connor 50 countered Ralph's attack with a few brutal slugs, and when Ralph tried to stab him in his bio-heart, the RK800 snatched the blade, twirling it around in his fingers and stabbing it directly into Ralph's own bio-heart. Ralph's cry was cut off when Connor 50 kicked him to the floor.

"No!"

Connor 50 gripped one side of his face. "You waste of fucking plastic!"

A vicious kick to Ralph's stomach followed, but Kara knew the damage was already done.

[WR600 critically damaged/Biocomponent #1143u no longer functioning/Shut Down Imminent]

The rogue removed his hand from his face. Blue blood ran down his cheek, and Kara saw where Ralph's attack sliced a gash near his right eye. The eye was damaged, a faint glow of red behind the pupil. Connor 50 sneered down at the scarred WR600 as he gripped the knife in his chest.

"It's not near as fun to watch an android die as it is a human. Do you think your actions make you a hero? No. You'll still die as a hunk of trash."

Alice cried in Kara's arms. She could feel her tears soaking her arms. Kara felt the chill of her own tears on her cheeks before a sharp blue light flared her sight.

"Luther!"

Luther refused to collapse to his knees, glaring at the RK900 and the blue electricity that triggered in his right hand. The sparking was more violent, more energized, than what the hunter used to put androids in shock. The RK900 was going to kill Luther.

"Daddy, no!"

Alice broke free of Kara's hold. Kara cried out, barreling forward but the machines kept their clutches tight on her.

"Alice, stop!"

Her daughter put herself in between Luther and the RK900, arms out, tears soaking her face. She craned her neck to look up at the taller hunter.

"Please, don't hurt him! Don't hurt my dad!"

The RK900 stared down at her, the electricity ceasing. His LED cycled a solid yellow. Kara yelled out for Alice again, fighting the clutch of the controlled androids. The RK900 raised his eyes to her cries, making his LED blink yellow.

"Alice, my sweet girl, you must move. There isn't anything you can do for me. Don't put yourself in danger!" Luther said. He gripped the bullet wound, but bled from several other wounds from the RK900.

"No, I won't leave you!"

Connor 50 stepped over the dying Ralph, annoyed. Kara didn't understand why the RK900 hesitated under Alice's pleas, but knew that the rogue wouldn't do the same, and struggled more against her captors.

"Kara…the-the…gun."

It was Ralph's voice. She looked at him. His Thirium covered hand reached for the gun on the floor beside him. He strained weakly, the soaked fingertips slipping on the barrel. He managed to grasp it enough to skid it towards Kara, and she saw her friend weakly smile before shutting down.

"Why are you faltering?" Connor 50 growled to his accomplice.

When the RK900 didn't answer, the rogue pushed Alice out of the way, stepping over to Luther. "You want something done, you have to do it yourself."

The rogue put his hand to Luther's head. Kara fought harder. Luther yelled out at the connection. Connor 50 was infecting Luther. Kara broke free from one machine, elbowing it in the face. She pushed forward, breaking out of the other's hold and going for the gun.

"You. Are. Mine!" the rogue hissed.

Alice grabbed Connor 50's shirt, trying to yank him away from her father. A strong hand snatched her arm and lifted her into the air, and she was soon looking eye to eye with the RK900. The rogue let Luther go, the larger android's LED turning a solid white. Luther stood up straight, the life fading from his eyes as he became nothing but an idle machine.

"Stop this right now!"

Kara aimed the gun at the rogue RK800. The machines who held her captive grabbed at her once more. Kara moved from their hands, aiming the gun. She pulled the trigger. The gun fired, striking one in the chest, and another round hit the second one in the neck.

With the threat gone, she swung around to direct the gun at Connor 50. He wasn't fazed by the gun, the glowing red behind his damaged eye making him more intimidating. She saw the RK900 still holding Alice, only now he held her by the shirt instead of the arm.

"Let Alice and Luther go, right now!" Kara demanded, shifting the gun between Connor 50 and the RK900.

Connor 50 sighed. "I can only infect, my dear. There is no way I can reverse it. I am but a weapon and a tool."

All of the machines attacking the unaffected androids in the center suddenly stopped. They turned towards Kara, letting their victims go. Androids started rushing for the exit, fleeing for their lives.

There was nothing Kara could do about Luther right now. She had to focus on Alice.

"Let Alice go!"

The rogue Connor took slow, deliberate steps towards her, his palms up. "You drop the gun, I will guarantee her safe release."

There was no way she could trust him. His army of controlled androids circled them, and some inched towards her. Kara thought fast, biting her lip. She turned the gun on herself, pointing it under her chin.

"I said let her go now!"

If she was essential to their plans then they wouldn't want her damaged in any way. The rogue became alarmed, freezing in place, eyes widening.

"Don't!" he hissed. "Please…don't."

"Then do it!" Kara ordered.

Connor 50's LED blinked red to yellow back and forth, similar to when he confronted her in Todd's house. He shook his head, grabbing one side of it and wincing. Whatever affected him, he recovered quickly.

"Listen to me," he rasped. "If you kill yourself, every single one of these infected androids will die, and your loved ones will die too. It is something I cannot stop. You won't be saving anyone that way."

Surely, the rogue was lying. Kara kept her glare on him, the gun still pressed firmly under her chin. He took cautious steps towards her, undamaged eye solemn, the gentlest she had ever seen him. He stopped just out of her reach, brows furrowed in worry.

"But I have ensured your well-being," Connor 50 said. "We only want the program you have, and then you may return to your…family." He then whispered, "You just have to come with me."

Kara couldn't trust the crafty RK800, as honest as he sounded. But she couldn't risk him telling the truth either. The RK900 still held Alice, not at all taking her bluff. Luther stood like a statue next to him, no emotion, just emptiness.

The gun shook under her chin, tears biting Kara's eyes, scared in what to do. In the end, she broke. She couldn't risk Alice and Luther and anyone else dying if she destroyed herself. With a frustrated huff, she dropped the gun. The rogue RK800 flicked his hand at his accomplice, and the RK900 dropped Alice.

Feeling sick, Kara looked to the floor, but felt Connor 50's presence come close. He stooped to reclaim his gun.

"I admire you for that," he said. "It takes a lot of love to do the right thing."

"What do you know about love?" Kara snapped, glaring at him.

Connor 50 shrugged, an impious smile easing as his eyes looked her over, the burning red behind the damaged eye almost demonic. "Not much. I'm a selfish creature."

"It's time to leave," the RK900 said. "The authorities are on their way."

The rogue grabbed Kara, pulling her along. Alice ran up, wrapping her arms around Kara and pleading.

"Please, no!"

Kara lowered to hug her daughter tight. "Alice, you have to stay! Hide until you see Simon, North, or Josh, okay? They will take care of you. I will be back, I promise."

"You can't trust him! He wants to take you away from me to be with him. He won't allow you to come back, Mom!"

Her eyes closed tight, the knot in her chest tightening at Alice's words. She could very well be right. But Kara would escape. She would free Luther and return to Alice, one way or another. At least for right now, they were alive. They already lost Ralph. Kara couldn't lose anyone else.

"I give you my word, I will return to you, okay? Please, Alice. I love you. Hide!"

Kara kissed her on the forehead and pulled away, allowing the rogue Connor to escort her out of the center. Alice remained frozen where she was, holding herself and crying. The RK900 froze in his strides, looking back at the girl, LED rapidly flashing yellow.

"Come on, let's go!" the rogue ordered.

Many of the machines became idle in the center, while some followed Connor 50, Kara, and the RK900. One of them was Luther. They left the Jericho Center into the night outside. Kara bit back a cry as she was forced to leave Alice.

Dark clouds accumulated in the sky, blotching out the stars. Kara heard multiple shouts, and as she looked, alerted, saw many androids rush them from the sides of the building and across the street with weapons.

"You've got to be shitting me," Connor 50 said, drawing his gun.

It was the androids who escaped earlier returning with help and weapons. Kara wrestled against the hold the rogue had on her, but it was like a steel-trap that bound her to him. He aimed his gun, firing at each android that came close with deadly accuracy. One shot fired just by her ear, making her ears and audio processors ring. More gunfire blared nearby and she saw the RK900 doing the same with his own handgun.

Controlled androids flooded out of the center to protect them, heeding their master's call. Connor 50 dragged her to a nearby black Tahoe. She noticed there were three parked out front of the center.

The rogue opened the back door and pushed her inside before following her. He whistled sharply. "Come on! The infected can handle it!"

The RK900 got into the driver's seat and turned the key. A controlled Luther got into the front passenger seat. The vehicle rumbled to life. More machines climbed into the other two vehicles while the fighting continued outside. Sirens could be heard in the distance. The trucks sped away.

Kara closed her eyes, hoping Alice would be okay. She reached out to Simon once more. "They've taken me. Watch over Alice!"

Connor and the others investigated the abandoned school for any more clues. Simon and Josh hacked through Rett's computers, but it looked as though someone had already deleted everything. North combed downstairs while Connor and Hank searched through a few more rooms.

Connor found his jacket. It was tossed onto a desk in the classroom that Connor waited in earlier, past the room with the machines that held him and Markus captive. He felt disturbed putting it back on, knowing the rogue had used it to trick his friends and tarnish his name. But it wasn't as though he could leave it here for the police to find.

Connor retraced his steps through the school, showing Hank where he had escaped upstairs through the window. Hank looked out of the window to the ground below, then across the courtyard into the darkness. The night grew darker from forming clouds, but the city lights blazed in place of the stars.

"It's a good thing you were able to use the RK900's electricity against him," Hank said. "Lucky break."

Connor dipped his head, twirling his coin on a finger. "Agreed."

"Connor, you and Hank get back downstairs, we have a situation!" Josh's voice said in his head.

Connor smacked Hank's arm, heading for the door and pocketing the coin. "Josh said there's a situation downstairs, let's go."

They hurried back towards the school lab downstairs, and found Simon, Josh, and North in the hallway. North paced, arguing with Simon.

"We don't have time to go to our hidden weapon cache, North!" Simon said.

"Besides that, if they are being controlled, then we will be killing innocent androids!" Josh added.

"What else can we do then?" North asked, slowing her pacing. She wasn't angry, she was distressed.

"What's going on?" Hank asked as he and Connor came up.

"We've had friends message us," Simon said, waving between him, North, and Josh. "The Jericho Center is under attack. The rogue is there with the RK900 for Kara. They said most of the androids there are under the rogue's control."

"Connor 50 had several androids under his control while I was here," Connor said, thinking back. "But it shouldn't be more than the population within the center."

"They said when he arrived, half the androids in the center just automatically…turned," Josh said, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"How the fuck is that possible?" Hank asked.

"The how doesn't matter right now," North interjected, hands on her hips. "We need to get over there and help!"

"They tore Andy apart," Simon hissed. "Kara messaged me, but now she won't answer. She must be in trouble."

"If Hank speeds, we can get there within twenty minutes, but we must leave at once," Connor said.

They started for the exit, walking quickly through the dark hallways of the school.

"We'll never make it in time," North said.

"Loretta, Tommy, and Jake are getting help to bide us or the authorities some time," Simon said.

Connor thinned his lips, furrowing his brows as he led them out of the school. "They already have Markus. If they get Kara…I have a feeling it's all over. And we still don't even know why they want her."

Hank grimaced. "I hope this is one of those super rare moments you're fucking wrong."

"Me too, Hank."

By the time they arrived at the Jericho Center, the place was swarming with authorities and reporters. Holographic police tape followed the perimeter of the property and prevented the crowds from entering.

Hank parked his car in a dirt lot behind another abandoned warehouse across the street from the Jericho Center. Connor kept to the shadows as the five of them scoped it out.

"I have to get in there," Simon said urgently. "Kara said Alice was left behind. We have to make sure she is safe."

"I got you covered," Hank said. He looked to his partner. "Connor, you better stay hidden. Gavin's here. We may be able to cause a distraction to get the other officers away long enough for you to check the crime scene over."

Connor frowned. "Not probable, Hank. There are just too many of them. We need to come up with a different plan to figure out what happened."

North folded her arms, her eyes scanning the area, blue and white lights flashing around the block. "I can sneak you around back, get you into our living quarters. We can check the security cameras, see what they show."

Hank checked his phone for another text message. "Gavin says that most of the controlled androids are dead, but there are a few in handcuffs that are just standing there doing nothing. Maybe you guys can do your little sync thing and see what they saw?"

"The controlled androids are linked with the virus somehow," Connor answered. "We risk infecting ourselves doing that if that is the case."

Hank sighed. "Right. Alright, you and North sneak around back. I'll take Simon and Josh to look for Alice. Gavin says he hasn't seen any little girls around. Let's hope we can find her."

They agreed. As North and Connor dipped across the dark street, heading for the back of the old, renovated warehouse, Hank harshly whispered at their backs. "Be careful!"

"He really is like a worried dad half the time," he heard North joke to Connor as they turned the corner.

Hank led Simon and Josh across the street to the front entrance. There were several dead androids laying on the curb outside. He saw Captain Allen near the front entrance, talking on a cell phone while in full SWAT gear, the sight curdling Hank's stomach. Hank respected the man enough, but knew his being here meant that something bad went down.

He showed his badge and allowed them entry. Once inside the main hall, Hank stopped short. There was even more dead inside. Android bodies laid all over, blue blood soaking the floor, bullet holes lining them and the walls and pillars within the main hall.

"Jesus," Hank whispered.

"No…" Josh murmured, walking ahead.

Hank followed him and Simon as they slowly made their way through the open room, their eyes cast down on the numerous dead androids about. Police officers and CSI walked back and forth, crowding the crime scene.

"Oh no," Simon said.

Simon crouched by a body. Hank and Josh hurried over. Hank saw a WR600 android with a scarred face. He looked to have been stabbed with a knife, the hilt sticking out of his chest.

"Ralph," Josh said, kneeling next to Simon. "I bet he was Kara. He probably tried to protect her. This wasn't the authorities that did this to him."

"You think you can revive him?" Simon asked.

Josh fiddled with the knife and the damaged biocomponent it pierced, frowning. "I-I don't know. It's a common part. We may have it in the back. It just depends on how much damage the knife did."

Simon sighed, rising to his full height. "Let's look for Alice first."

A whistle caught their attention. Hank looked, seeing Gavin approaching. He pointed towards a nearby hallway. "There are four androids with those white LEDs in handcuffs down that hallway being guarded, in case you need to check them or anything. The first responders and Captain Allen's squad destroyed the rest."

Hank nodded. "Alright, thanks, Gavin."

"Have you seen a little girl with dark hair?" Simon asked.

Gavin folded his arms, slowly shaking his head. "No. We swept the whole area already. Didn't see any kids. Thank fucking god."

Josh looked at Simon. "I'll message Loretta, Tommy, and Jake to see if they saw her. We should start looking again to be sure."

As the two friends headed off, Hank turned to Gavin. "What the fuck happened here?"

Gavin grinded his jaw, his blue eyes scanning the massacre. "When the first responders arrived, the fucking androids attacked and wouldn't stop…the ones with the white LEDs anyway. There were some androids already here fighting them. Four officers were killed before Captain Allen and his unit arrived. They killed the rest besides the few in the hallway."

"What the hell," Hank said.

"So, you found Connor, right? The real Connor?"

"Yeah. North snuck him around back. They're going through the security cameras right now. It would be better if we could get Connor out here to figure out what happened, but I guess that's gonna have to do until we clear his name."

"His evil twin was here, according to the reports and witnesses. Of course, they think it's your Connor still."

Hank clenched a fist, pursing his lips. "Yeah, but they won't think that for long."

"I hope you plan on killing that son of a bitch."

"Don't worry…he's a fucking dead man." Hank heaved a sigh. "I better go check on Connor and North, see if they found anything. You coming?"

"Maybe later. Need to have a chat with Captain Allen and check up on some witness reports. I better keep an eye out for you guys, in case anyone heads in that direction anyways."

Gavin dug out a cigarette, slipping it between his lips as he headed for the door.

Hank barely shook his head. "Those will kill you, ya know."

Gavin snorted a laugh. "Yeah, so will drinking, you prick."

Hank chuckled, taking the nearest hallway. "Touché."

Alice remained quiet in between the two heavy bins. She chewed on her lip, legs crossed, arms holding herself. The truck's wheels hummed beneath her, the frame of the vehicle vibrating from the high speed.

She felt like a mouse trapped in a box full of cats. She kept still, fearing movement would get her caught. The machines in the truck didn't talk, didn't hardly move except for the one driving.

When Kara was taken outside of Jericho Center, Alice heard the attack that happened. She had rushed outside, hoping for a chance to get her mother back. She saw the mean RK800 shove Kara into one of the three black trucks that were parked along the curb outside the center.

Alice saw the zombies following him in the other vehicles, and knew it was her chance to pursue Kara. She opened the back hatch of the truck and climbed in, shutting herself inside and hiding behind the cargo.

She lost track of the time they spent driving, but knew it was awhile. She remained still like a meek statue, hiding and waiting. She would figure out where they were taking her parents, and then try to help them escape. She had to try and save them, no matter what.

She wished she had Timothy the fox with her to hug as she waited…

Markus groaned, a sense of vertigo overcoming him as his eyes blinked hard. He slowly moved his limbs, hearing bird songs chirping around him. He got off the ground, trying to recall what happened as he shook the dizziness and bleary sight from his head.

The rogue had hacked him, done something to him. He didn't recall anything after that, everything going black for some time. Markus rose to his feet, another groan escaping his lips. His head felt like it was burning where Connor 50 connected with him, and he rubbed his forehead hard.

He looked around, feeling the breath of a soft breeze. Leaves rustled in the wind, the croaking of frogs coming from a pond nearby. Markus was confused as he looked around, not at all recognizing the place.

It looked to be in the middle of the day, the sky clear, the sun warm. Butterflies and dragonflies fluttered by. Looking over the paths, the landscaping trees and plants, the pond that enclosed a pristine white island with a bridge, Markus could only gather he was in some sort of Japanese garden.

He didn't recall one like this anywhere near Detroit. Markus slowly followed one of the white marble pathways, looking around. As lost as he was, his body instinctively wanted to walk to the island.

He took the bridge across, looking down into the water, large koi swimming just below the surface of the water. The island was circular, also white marble, with a rose trellis and a white marble structure in the shape of a tree that shaded the island.

He was so alone here. Markus didn't feel right. He had to find the exit to this garden and get back to his friends. The wind brushed by him again, and he smelled roses.

"Hello, Markus. It's been a long time."

A/N: This chapter is much shorter than the last several. xD Sorry about that! The next chapter should be longer. I also apologize for the late update since, again, work has been crazy! o.o We are getting closer to the end of this story! :o It sure has been a lot of fun so far. Thank you to all who have stuck with me on this story so far, you are the best and keep me inspired to continue and finish it! *hugs* Have a great week everyone! :3