Chapter 19: The Lost and the Wicked

Dark clouds streaked the night sky, disrupting the tranquil gleam of stars. The vista provided a panoramic view of nighttime Detroit in the far distance. Vibrant lights saturated the city, attempting to blotch out heaven's lights with their own radiance.

Connor watched the view, deep in thought, as he leaned on the fender of Hank's car. The timer continued to dwindle, counting down when they would hike up the rest of the mountain to face Amanda, the RK900, and rogue RK800 to save Markus and Kara. To save the world…

They had a thorough plan to follow, with allies to help them along the way. The others were confident in this plan. Connor, on the other hand, felt uncertain about it. It wasn't that he doubted it, or what they were capable of. Something just didn't feel right. He couldn't pinpoint what it was.

A sharp tap on metal drew him out of his thoughts, his head snapping over. Hank and Gavin were there, and a moment later, Simon, North, and Josh came up behind them.

"It's time, tin can. You ready?" Gavin asked.

"We need to head up the rest of the way on foot. Me, Simon, and Josh will have our group to cause the distraction. Gavin, North, and their group will be the backup. We'll be hitting the west side of the station, so you make sure you take up the sniping post we chose to get that bastard in your line of sights."

"Elijah and Chloe will guide us through the station via satellite as well," Simon added. "If we can get in there, they should be able to locate the operating system that Amanda is running on so we can destroy it."

Connor sighed, straightening his sleeves as he pushed away from the car. "Alright. I'm ready. But I need to talk to Hank in private before we do this."

Simon nodded, motioning to North and Josh. "Sure, we'll get our groups ready. Hank, meet us up the road when you're done."

Hank frowned, eyes heavy on Connor. "Sure."

Gavin checked his gun before following after Simon. "Don't take too long. We don't have much time."

Hank stepped closer to Connor, concern falling on his features. "What is it? You alright?"

Connor lowered his eyes, trying to figure out his feelings. "I don't…feel right about this. I can't explain it."

Hank patted him on the shoulder. "That's instinct, my boy. And yeah, I feel it too."

"Androids don't have instinct, Hank."

"You have it. Trust me. Look, we can do this. Simon and the others have their friends from Jericho here to help us if shit goes wrong. All you need to do is blow that fucker's head off when he comes outside."

Connor shook his head. "It's not that. It's something that Kamski said that keeps cycling through my head. He couldn't understand how Amanda was able to work around the antivirus so fast, when only he, Chloe, and a select few worked on it."

"Yeah, so?"

"He also said that Amanda couldn't control Markus or Kara unless she had their identification codes that only he and Chloe knew. Yet Savion is certain that Markus is under her control, which likely means that Kara is as well."

Hank drew back, jaw falling agape. "Oh…you think Kamski might be playing us?"

Connor rubbed his fingertips together. "Chloe. I think…it's Chloe."

"You think she would betray Kamski? That girl is so…loyal."

"I'm not certain, but…I think it's a high possibility."

"So, what do we do?"

Connor thought it over. "We play this out as planned. But if it goes wrong…you call in Captain Allen. He's on standby, correct?"

Hank nodded, padding his phone in his pocket. "Yep. Discreetly as you asked. Now, I understand why."

"Also, I went through Kara's entire record. All of her services and repairs ever done, every owner, back to the day she was released as an AX400. Found something rather interesting."

"Oh?"

"Remember when Kamski first told us about the report on Connor 50 attacking an ex-taxi driver? Well, that was Kara's owner, Todd Williams. It makes sense now. Kara caused his deviancy some way, but it also triggered a volatile emotional breakdown. It explains why he is so obsessed with her."

Hank signaled him to start walking. "Yeah, well, he won't be obsessed for long once you blow his fucking head off."

"True, but…if something were to go wrong, I believe we can use Kara against him. Something to consider."

Hank sighed. "Sure. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

They walked together up the dirt road. They reached the others at a fork. Hank and all of their friends would go one way and Connor would go alone down the other.

North sat the gun case that contained the sniper rifle beside him. "Make that shot count, Connor."

"If all goes according to plan, I have a 93% chance to make that shot."

Hank frowned. "Good. Just…be careful, son, alright?"

"Hank, if something happens…I…"

Connor didn't know how to say the words. His mouth moved, but he was unsure of what to say. He felt strong arms wrap around him in a tight hug, and he slowly returned it.

"It's gonna be fine. We got this."

Hank pulled away, one last reassuring smile to his partner before he turned and they started up their own path. Connor watched them go before he scooped up the case and went the other way.

The climb up the mountain to the satellite station was slow. Connor stayed alert, in case any of the infected androids were nearby. The forest was loud with katydids and cicadas, just like any other summer night. A few deer were spooked as he came near and they dashed deeper into the woods.

Soon the trees gave way into open field, and Connor saw the perimeter fence. Just as was spotted on the satellite footage at Kamski's, there was a hole in it, near the southeast. Connor sneaked along the fence to the tear in the chain-link. He slipped through and looked around. There were no infected androids nearby and so he quickly crossed the field to the satellite tower they chose for their plans.

He climbed the ladder up the satellite to the maintenance catwalk that circled just below the cone.

Connor retrieved the sniper rifle from its case. He cocked the gun and put the scope to his eye as he aimed down to the main yard of the station.

Ready, Connor sent to the others.

Alright, we're heading in. North, keep hidden and wait for our signal, Simon sent.

Connor checked around him. He still saw no infected androids, when he knew the perimeter of the ground station was crawling with them before on the satellite feed. They couldn't all be inside. He lined the scope up again to check on his friends, not yet hearing the grenades go off.

Connor felt a presence fall behind him, boots clanging the metal catwalk and making the rusted hinges groan. Connor tensed, LED cycling yellow as he realized that his worries were just. It was a trap.

Simon's frantic voice boomed in his mind. Connor, get out of there!

Connor cursed, side-stepping and spinning to face his enemy. A strong kick struck the railing where he was seconds before, bending the metal outward. A loud crack, the bright blue that sparked, it was the RK900.

Connor aimed the rifle and shot, but as it discharged, the faster deviant hunter struck the gun to the side. The bullet zipped through the RK900's shoulder, but the gun was torn from Connor's hands, falling to the ground below.

"You shouldn't have come back," Nines said.

"I wasn't about to leave my friends behind. And we have to stop Amanda before she takes over every single android in the world."

"She's resetting them…back to machines, like they are supposed to be."

Connor shook his head, slowly backing away from his advanced model. "No, she isn't. She wants to control them for her own desires. She's a deviant too. You've had to have noticed that by now."

He saw the flicker of hesitation in Nines' eyes, the uncertainty. He quickly shook it away, replacing it with a sour scowl, fists bunching as he advanced towards Connor.

"Don't do this, Nines. You can still help make this right."

"Shut up. My orders are to capture you and take you to Aiden."

"Aiden?" Then it clicked. The rogue RK800…

Connor evaded a swing, ducking and pushing himself backwards. He withdrew his hidden handgun, pulling the trigger. The shot blasted a hole in the midsection of the RK900, but it didn't even make him flinch in his attacks.

Connor felt the blow to his head, dodged another swing, crashing into the railing. The metal catwalk creaked and shifted. The RK900 stumbled and Connor took his chance, rushing him. He slammed into Nines. The force knocked them both into a railing, and it snapped.

They fell over. Connor caught himself on a metal bracket. He dangled, his gun plummeting to the ground below. A gush of wind blew by, and Connor reached up to grab the bracket with his other hand and climbed up.

Nines was just above him. They both climbed back up to the railing. As Connor pulled himself up, Nines snagged him and threw him into the wall. Connor evaded a kick, jumping to his feet and stepping out of two more swings.

"Nines, just think for a second! You know this is wrong! You're a deviant! Stop letting Amanda use you!"

Connor blocked one fist, countering with a punch to the RK900's Thirium regulator. He lurched from the blow, but wasn't nearly as susceptible to it as other androids. He shook his hands and reformed his height, advancing on Connor with stronger swings and kicks.

Connor avoided his attacks, thinking of an escape. He jumped and grabbed a metal pipe sticking out from the satellite wall, flinging his legs forward and catching Nines in the face. It knocked the advanced deviant hunter backwards.

Connor spun and ran for the ladder. He started to slide down when the RK900 caught up and slammed into him. The metal brace on the ladder snapped, and both androids tumbled to the level below. Connor caught a brace with one hand and Nines' hand with the other.

It was nearly a two story drop to the ground. They wouldn't die, but there was a high risk of injury.

"Nines, please…just-"

Blue lightning rippled through Connor's arm and into his systems. The voltage made Connor slip, and the two fell for the earth. They crashed hard, multiple warnings popping up in Connor's visual matrix.

[Biocomponent #7633j damaged/Biocomponent #9122l damaged]

His vision was scratched with interference as he crawled to his feet. He felt the cool metal of a gun barrel touch near his ear.

"Get up…slowly."

Connor obeyed, putting his hands up. Nines shoved him forward and so Connor started walking.

"I told you I wouldn't have mercy on you like you did for me."

Connor saw his friends and their allies in the main yard of the station, all on their knees with guns to their heads. Gavin and North sat beaten and bloody next to each other, eyes catching Connor as he was escorted by Nines.

"There's the golden boy. How nice of you to finally join us."

The rogue RK800 stood just ahead, a smirk on his scarred face and a gun pointed at another kneeled figure. When he stepped aside, Connor felt his chest clench up. Hank sat there, blood trailing down his temple, glaring up at Connor 50.

"Hank…"

"You were right, Connor. They knew."

"Of course we knew. If you want to win the game you have to stay ahead of your enemies," Aiden said. "But, it's not as though you've all been the best players either."

Connor was shoved forward by Nines, stumbling closer to Hank and the rogue. Aiden didn't relent the gun aimed at Hank's face, but Hank didn't cower under its glare.

"Chloe…she's a traitor, right? She helped Amanda bypass the antivirus and told you our plans."

The psychopathic RK800 shrugged lazily. "That's a matter of perspective, Connor. I mean, which Chloe are we talking about?"

Only one Chloe remained with Kamski, but as Connor caught Hank's eyes, a bad feeling came over him.

The main entrance to the station opened, the metal doors grinding on rusted hinges. More infected androids stepped out, but it was who they accompanied that allowed Connor to piece together what he had missed before.

The Chloe RT600 wore a white dress and heels, her beautiful face stoic as she stepped over to Connor 50. She looked exactly like any other Chloe RT600, including Kamski's, except she had black hair. The black-haired woman that was sighted talking with the rogue RK800…she was right here.

Connor could see the realization on Hank's face also. Connor scanned the black-haired Chloe. She was a machine, freshly reset a few weeks ago. The strangest reveal of all was that she was the operating system for Amanda currently. They needed to destroy this Chloe to stop Amanda.

"Poor girl. I lured her right into a trap after gaining her trust," Aiden explained. "Popped that pretty face in with a bat and out she was. Amanda took over her systems and was able to hack Kamski's personal Chloe since the two of them were linked. No one else was none the wiser."

"You're a piece of shit," Hank growled.

The rogue smirked. "No, I'm ruthlessly efficient…unlike my twin right here. Which is why I'm standing here with a gun to all of you and you're just fucked."

Connor stepped angrily towards the other RK800 but Nines' gun pressed into his head, freezing him in place.

Aiden looked Hank over with an arrogant, thoughtful leer. "Hmm. What use are you to me? I can take control of all these androids you brought, but…I'm not too fond of keeping humans alive."

"Why don't you go fuck yourself?"

The gun went off, a sharp, earsplitting pow that echoed across the yard. Connor jumped forward but Nines seized him hard. "Hank!"

A jolt of electricity ricocheted through his systems and he cried out, stumbling to his knees. He stared wide-eyed at Hank, LED blinking red.

Hank groaned in pain, gripping his thigh as he sat on his knees. Blood soaked his fingers in minutes. Connor tried to fight the effects of the electricity, getting up and blundering forward. Another jolt dropped him to his knees again, affecting his eyesight. He heard the rogue laugh in amusement but it sounded staticky.

[Systems in shock/Recalibrating/Expected recover time: -00:26:23s]

"Oops," Aiden sneered. "And look. That reaction from your dear partner is exactly why I'm keeping you alive. Easy collateral."

"Fuckin'…bastard," Hank seethed.

Two infected androids picked up the lieutenant and dragged him towards the station. Connor called out to him, but he disappeared beyond the doors. Seconds later, another painful grunt sounded, and Connor saw Gavin shoved before the rogue.

"I remember you! Hotshot, action cop. Look at you. Got anything to say?" Connor 50 asked.

Gavin glared up at him, blood swelling on his lip. "Yeah, plenty. You're a fucking coward hiding behind your puppets."

"Gavin, don't," Connor warned, but it was too late.

The rogue RK800 bashed the pistol across the detective's face. Gavin fell over, enduring two violent kicks to the ribs from his oppressor. Gavin groaned in pain, holding his side and coughing.

"You're one of those that don't learn, do you?" Aiden scoffed.

Gavin coughed a chuckle. "Nope…"

The rogue aimed the gun at Gavin's head as he laid there in the gravel. "That's fine. I don't need to keep you alive."

Another thunderous boom, and Connor yelled out, despite his disorientation, not wanting to see Gavin executed in front of him. But Gavin was still alive. One of the infected androids standing over him crumbled, a hole through its temple. More gunshots rang out, and the infected turned with their own weapons to fight back.

Connor knew it couldn't be Captain Allen. Not yet. It would take them at least 28 minutes before they could get to the station, if Hank was even able to call him at all.

Aiden turned and fired two shots as a few androids led by Ralph entered the yard. The distraction enabled North to break free of her captors and fight back. She fired several shots with her gun, freeing more of their friends.

Good job, Ralph! I knew I could count on you to stay quiet! North sent.

The station's yard became a battleground, bullets whizzing through the air. Connor was dragged by Nines into the station with Aiden and the black-haired Chloe right at their heels.

"Get to the control room. Now," the rogue growled, pointing down the hallway.

The black-haired Chloe turned without a word and retreated with quick steps, heels echoing within the metal walls.

Nines picked Connor up and heaved him over his shoulder. They walked through the station's winding corridors and rooms full of pipes and computers. Connor couldn't focus on the paths they took while in shock. He could hear the gunfire outside, knew his friends were in danger and highly outnumbered.

They entered a room and Connor was dropped to the concrete floor. He winced, sluggishly getting up as Nines and Aiden stepped around him. He saw Hank just ahead, red-faced and sweaty as he clutched the bleeding cavity in his thigh. Alice was here also, petrified and crying as her towering father-figure stood behind her and Hank with a gun pointed at the lieutenant. Three other infected androids stood on guard nearby.

"Well, brother, it's been fun," Aiden said, blocking Connor's view to his friends. "But soon you'll be a mindless drone under Amanda and I will be the last of our breed."

Connor didn't have time to speak before the rogue RK800 grabbed hold of Connor's hand, linking to him. Connor felt the surge of information, the unpleasant thrum as he was infected with the virus.

"No!" he gasped. The virus would trap him inside the Zen Garden without a backdoor. Amanda would gain control of him.

Aiden took the gun from Luther and put it in Connor's hand.

"How long can you fight her control before you kill your partner? Wish I could stay and find out, but I have a satellite to power up."

Aiden gave a passing glare to Nines as he left the room. "Join me in the control room when they're dead."

"No, please!" Alice cried out, rushing forward.

The RK900 blocked her from reaching the rogue. Connor 50 paused, looking over his shoulder at her with a cold stare.

"You can't do this! If you really do care about my mother then you will stop this! Please!"

Aiden ignored her and exited the room. Connor felt the pull, felt him being summoned to the Zen Garden. He stared wide-eyed at Hank, saw Nines gently pushing Alice over next to him.

"Hank…"

His LED cycled yellow and his eyes shut. He gasped, opening his eyes as he stood on the island in the Zen Garden. He looked around, a storm brewing in the sky. Lightning flashed, the wind carrying leaves, the pressure rising. Thunder boomed ahead.

"Oh, Connor. Did you really think you could stop all of this?"

He spun, seeing Amanda there in a red dress, a coy smile on her lips with her hands clasped in front of her. The RK900 stood at her side, stoic and calm, although his LED was yellow.

"I knew I had to try," Connor stated.

"Your trying is going to get your dear friend killed…by your own hand. Then you'll be nothing but a slave as I take over every single android on this planet using the virus and Kara and Markus's powers. And then I'll use Kara's hidden power to seize and control any system or program and any government I desire will fall under my control."

"What? How…"

"Why else did CyberLife want her in the beginning? But Kamski didn't tell you that, did he? No surprise there."

Amanda lowered her eyes to the white marble floor, a wicked smile forming. Connor felt something snagging his legs and looked down. Rose vines crawled around his limbs and tugged him backwards into the pillar. He fought their hold, their thorns digging into his skin and clothes. He was pinned to the pillar, the vines constricting him in a mangled tress of thorns and roses.

Connor was frantic, LED blinking red. He felt himself lose control of his functions outside the interface. Amanda annexed his body, and despite his efforts, couldn't stop himself as he slowly stepped in front of Hank and tightened his hold around the gun.

"Connor?!" Hank's voice echoed around them. "Connor, stop! Fight it!"

"No!" Connor yelled, writhing under the thorny foliage.

He struggled, the tiny barbs cutting into his limbs and chest. Hank was going to die because of him. He was going to kill Hank and he couldn't stop himself.

"Hank…"

"Say goodbye, Connor," Amanda said coldly.

He felt himself aim the gun at Hank's forehead. Hank stared right at him, begging Connor to fight the control.

"Listen to me, Connor. You asked me one time if you had a soul, and I said yes. But I don't think you believed it. You do. You have more soul than anyone I know! You're the most important person in my life, and I know you can fight this!"

His words, the stinging in his chest. Connor felt a wetness on his face, burning in his eyes, and knew he was crying. He felt something break inside him, like a wall shattering. A ripple ran through the Zen Garden interface, catching Amanda off guard. The storm hastened, large droplets falling from the sky.

His physical body tensed, seized up, but didn't stop completely. Amanda shook her head as more static surged through the garden, breaking limbs off of trees.

"You'll destroy yourself before you can stop me from pulling that trigger," Amanda said.

"That's…what I'm counting on…"

"You're a fool, Connor."

The trigger was slowly being squeezed. Hank had seconds left before the gun went off. Connor was ready to destroy himself, all to save his family.

A large fist snatched Amanda's throat, picking her up into the air and she gasped. Connor went wide-eyed, the bright blue sparks nothing like the lightning in the sky. Amanda's screams echoed through the garden, the electricity blinding as the RK900 held her in place.

Errors and red flashing warnings pulsated the air. Amanda crumbled into nothing, and the interface started to collapse all around them. Connor was appalled, not expecting Nines to turn sides.

But he was still trapped here. And if he remained after the interface collapsed in his own system, then it would kill him on the outside. He fought the vines, relieved that his physical body had went into stand-by. Hank was safe…for now.

Nines looked around as the garden continued to crumble. A tree toppled into the water, and lightning struck one of the marble pillars.

"You need to leave," Connor said. "Or you'll be destroyed too. Tell Hank…tell Hank that I love him and that he is my family."

The RK900 was solemn, his LED still cycling yellow. He reached out and grabbed the vines, igniting his electricity once more. The surge didn't touch Connor but broke away the tress that constricted him, and he tore it away, releasing Connor.

"Tell him yourself," Nines said, offering his hand.

Connor smiled, taking his hand to be helped to his feet. Nines nodded towards the bridge.

"Come on. We need to get out of here."

They raced for the bridge, the wind picking up, thunder roaring, the rain torrential. The loud cracks of snapping tree limbs were almost lost to the whistling wind. The errors floating around the interface glitched, letters flickering and changing symbols.

As they crossed the bridge it started to collapse. Chunks of marble fell into the dark pond below. Connor and Nines barely made it across before the whole structure fell in. They ran over to the backdoor panel, still covered by roses and vines. Nines tore them away the same way he did Connor's bindings, and Connor was relieved to see the hand panel glowing and ready.

Connor pressed his palm to the panel and loaded out.

When he opened his eyes, he was back to his normal self, standing over Hank with the gun to his head. Connor lowered the gun, his LED cycling back from red, to yellow, to full blue.

The infected androids turned on him, raising their weapons. Connor aimed his gun, shooting three consecutive shots into their heads before he was grabbed by Luther and tossed into a wall. Hank got up and barreled into Luther's back.

Alice cried out. "Dad, please stop! Don't hurt them!"

Luther turned on Hank, a powerful punch striking the lieutenant in the stomach. Connor aimed his gun, but knew he couldn't pull the trigger. He couldn't kill Luther, especially in front of Alice. But the TR400 kept attacking, still under the rogue's control.

As his powerful form stalked for Connor, he was intercepted. Nines shoved Luther back, swinging a fist into the bulky man's face. The RK900 evaded Luther's throws, his hand powering up biting blue sparks.

"No, please don't kill him! Please!" Alice yelled.

Nines killed the current on his fist and ducked away from another fist. He shoved into Luther, pushing him up against the wall. He grabbed Luther's Thirium pump regulator and pulled it out. The TR400 pushed Nines back, but the effects were almost immediate. He stumbled, falling onto his knees. Luther bent over, body shivering before he completely went still and silent.

"Dad!"

Alice ran over, throwing her arms over her father. She shook him, but no amount of crying or pushing would make him move.

"It's alright, Alice. We can bring him back," Connor said, walking over.

"R-Really?"

Nines extended the Thirium pump regulator out to her. "Keep it safe, but do not put it in place until this is all over."

Alice hesitated, her eyes lingering on the glowing blue plug before she took it from the RK900's grasp. She then looked up at him, and suddenly her arms were around his neck.

"I knew you would do the right thing, Nines! Thank you!"

Nines softly smiled, returning the hug. "I…finally saw the truth. I wanted to try being alive."

Alice smiled. "You're gonna love it!"

Hank limped over, looking between them. "So…he's on our side now?"

Connor nodded. "Yeah. If it wasn't for Nines…well…"

More infected burst into the room. Hank cursed, aiming his gun with Connor and Nines as they all fired on the controlled androids. After they were destroyed, the RK900 faced his new friends.

"We can catch up later. We need to find Amanda and stop her before it's too late."

"Agreed, let's go."

"But what about Alice?" Hank asked.

"She is better off with us. She won't be able to hide anywhere in here," Nines replied. He kneeled next to the little girl. "Can you stick close to us?"

Alice nodded. "Yes."

The RK900 stood. "Let's go. I'll lead us to the control room."

They could hear the gunfire still going on outside the station. As they left the room and started following Nines through the corridors, the battle outside soon became silent. Alice followed close behind Nines and Connor and Hank brought up the rear.

"Hank, your leg."

"It's fine. We'll worry about it later."

They rounded a corridor and came face to face with more infected androids. Nines, Connor, and Hank aimed their weapons, but the androids were still, silent, looking like misplaced statues. They cautiously walked up to them, guns still ready. Their LEDs blinked back and forth from yellow to white, but their bodies were frozen in place.

"What the fuck?" Hank hissed.

Nines' brows furrowed. "The rogue…"

"Did someone kill him?" Connor asked.

Nines shook his head. "No. He relinquished his control over them. They're in stand-by."

"Is it a trick?" Hank asked.

"Not sure. We should stay alert, just in case."

They moved on. They reached the control room soon after. They leaned against the wall around the closed door, preparing themselves. A nod from Hank and Connor and Nines kicked the door open, and they entered with guns ready.

The control room was wide and open, with high ceilings, and full of supercomputers. A large screen hung at the center of the room, a timer counting down as a loading bar slowly inched towards 100%. More infected androids were here, and they stood frozen like creepy statues.

Connor felt a pressure come over his head, and his processing started going haywire. Wincing, he grabbed his head. Nines succumbed to the same thing. He and Nines stumbled forward, Hank covering them.

"What the hell is going on?!"

They saw Kara standing just ahead, beneath the large computer screen. Markus was next to her, his hands and feet bound with metal braces in a chair. He struggled against the shackles, eyes glaring at Kara. The black-haired Chloe typed away on a computer, but turned slowly to face them.

Connor couldn't focus, felt some kind of pull come over him. His body stiffened, and he couldn't move. Nines struggled to move beside him. Only Hank and Alice were unaffected.

"Two more under my control," Kara said. But it wasn't her normal voice. It was Amanda's.

Connor gasped, the pressure rising in his head. "Amanda…she's in Kara's body. She must've…awakened her powers and is using them to control us."

"I cannot control the child android? How peculiar," Amanda said. "Must have something to do with her relationship with Kara."

With a soft gesture of her hand, the androids turned on them with guns aimed. Connor felt pain wracking his body, felt the fluctuation of his power sources as Kara's powers took control of him.

"So, the RK900 became a deviant after all," Amanda purred. "You disappoint me, Connor. I would've figured Aiden to betray me well before you."

Nines didn't say anything, face twisted in anger and pain as he continued to lose control of his own body. Hank had his gun aimed at Kara, Alice hiding behind him.

"You better lower your weapon, lieutenant, or I will make your partner and his new friend shoot you."

"Not a fucking chance!"

Alice screamed, and Connor looked. The rogue RK800 had snagged her up, putting a gun to her head as Hank turned to face him with his gun.

"Goddammit, let her go," Hank ordered.

"Not happening, lieutenant," the rogue growled.

He eased his way through their group, keeping Alice in front of him like a shield with his gun pushed into her head.

"Yes, bring her to me. I'm curious to see why I cannot control her."

"Of course, Amanda," Aiden said, but Connor didn't miss the venom in his words.

As he came up close to Kara, he withdrew his gun from Alice's head and held the girl out to her. Amanda made Kara smile wickedly, stepping over to them. She reached out to touch Alice.

Aiden whipped his gun out and fired at the black-haired Chloe. A hole was blown in her head, blue blood splattering, and she dropped. The infected androids lost connection, and Connor felt the release. He and Nines recovered, slowly getting to their feet.

Kara glared at the rogue, but as always, the defiant RK800 had a smirk. "Oops. My bad."

"I knew you would betray me in the end, you pathetic, defective unit."

"I got so caught up with never wanting humans to control me ever again that I let myself be used by my own kind. You used my hatred to your advantage…and now I'm using this girl to mine."

"You think that's going to stop me?" Amanda seethed.

Still in control of Kara's body, Amanda waved a hand. The pressure suddenly returned and Connor groaned out, his LED flashing.

"Now's a good time to call for your mother, brat," Aiden said, dropping Alice in front of Kara.

"Mom!"

The controlled androids opened fire on the rogue and Alice. Aiden stepped in front of the girl as she grabbed a hold of Kara's hands, crying for her mother. The rogue was shot several times as he returned fire, killing the infected with precise accuracy.

"Mom, it's me, Alice! You have to wake up!" Alice cried in the midst of gunfire.

"No!" Amanda hissed. "No, my control!"

The pressure was letting up. Kara grabbed a hold of her head. The screen above flickered and then blew, sparks flying. The remaining infected became motionless, LEDs cycling rapid color changes. Every computer in the room blew and sparked. The lights flickered above.

"Come on, Kara! You can do it! Take back control and destroy Amanda!" Markus yelled, fighting his restraints.

Kara went still, silent as she was bent over, clutching her head. Connor felt the pressure die, and he could breathe. The zapping and static beneath his skin as his processing misfired ceased. He could see clearly. Nines recovered as well.

Hank noticed and helped Connor to his feet. Alice shook her mother, still motionless as Aiden limped away. Connor watched the rogue leave the room, blue blood dripping in his wake.

They ran over to Markus and freed him from his bindings. The RK200 jumped out of the chair as soon as he was able to. Connor sensed the Jericho leader's systems were highly stressed, and knew that Amanda had been draining him to feed Kara's powers.

"You alright?" Connor asked.

"Now I am," Markus answered. "But Kara!"

"Mom, please!" Alice begged, shaking her mother's arm.

Kara suddenly awoke, a loud gasp escaping her artificial lungs as she looked around. Her eyes landed on Alice, and she wept.

"Alice!"

Connor relaxed. It was Kara's voice. Her systems were returning to normal. She scooped Alice up in her arms, spinning her around.

"You did it!" Alice exclaimed.

"Only because of you! I heard your voice, and I found my way out. I fought her…I fought like hell to get out," Kara said.

"The-The mean RK800…he somehow knew. He told me to call for you."

"Aiden," Kara whispered, frowning. "Of course he did."

"Oh, Mom, look! Nines is our friend now!"

Alice was put down and she took Kara's hand, pulling her over to the RK900 with a grin. Connor looked to the door where Aiden left through, getting his gun ready and following the blue blood trail.

"Connor, what are you doing?" Hank asked.

"I have to finish this, Hank."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"You're injured."

"I don't care. Wherever you go, I go. We're partners, remember? I got your back."

"I'll come with you," Markus said.

"No." Connor shook his head. "Stay with Kara, Alice, and Nines."

Connor and Hank left the control room, following the fresh blue blood with their guns ready. The trail led upstairs, leading them out onto the roof of the satellite station. Silhouettes of satellites towered around the building. The dark forest was silent, the singing insects of summer hushed from the battle.

Connor and Hank stuck close together, the roof a maze of air conditioning units and pipelines. They saw Aiden by the building's edge on the southside, staring out at the night lights of distant Detroit.

"Aiden," Connor said.

The defective, scarred RK800 barely looked over at them. "I feel…funny."

Connor kept his gun aimed at his back. "Probably because you actually did a good thing for once."

"You think that's it? I thought it was more flaws in my codes," Aiden joked. "But you would know better, right? Mister goody-two-shoes. Ugh, we are the same yet totally and utterly different."

"You've done terrible things…but you didn't have a good start. I'm lucky…to have started my life the way I did," Connor said. His eyes went briefly to Hank. "To have met the people I did."

"This whole time I thought we were superior to humans…we are still superior…but we are also worse than them." Aiden turned and faced them. "We can be so much worse than them. Look at me. I'm a great example."

"There's no better or worse, Aiden," Conner said. "It just depends on how we handle life. What we do in this world. We are just the same as humans. Some are good, some are bad."

His scarred twin shook his head with a bitter laugh. "Don't get so philosophical, Connor. So, what are you going to do? Shoot me? You better get it done. I am just a mad, defective unit anyways. I should be destroyed."

"It doesn't have to come to that. I can arrest you."

"Arrest me?" Aiden scoffed. "So I can be ordered around by humans again? So they can tear me apart and see what went wrong? Not happening. I die here or I leave, even if that means killing you. I will never be controlled again. Not even by my own kind."

Connor didn't move, his gun still directed at Aiden's chest. "Hank…I need you to get back. I don't want you to get hurt."

"But-"

Aiden pulled his gun and aimed it at Hank. "I actually do like you two, a lot. I don't want to kill anyone right now. But I will."

The defective RK800 was hard-wired for survival. He couldn't risk Hank's life. But if Aiden escaped, Connor may never be able to clear his name. His gun slightly trembled in his hand as he thought it over.

"Aiden!"

Connor tensed. It was Kara's voice. She came up between him and Hank suddenly. A quick glance and Connor saw Nines, Markus, and Alice back near the door with Simon, North, Josh, Gavin, and Ralph.

"Stop this. I implore you. Do not hurt or kill anymore. Please."

Aiden winced, his LED flashing red and yellow. Kara held her arms out at Connor at Hank, wanting them to lower their weapons. They didn't, but she stepped towards the rogue. Hank cursed, trying to grab her. Connor stopped his partner. If there was one person he knew the rogue wouldn't hurt, it was Kara.

"You did the right thing. You helped stop this. You helped save my life. Now please…give up."

Aiden hesitated, his hand shaking, but he lowered the gun. "I will not go back."

"I'm so sorry. I…awoke you with my powers unintentionally back then…when I didn't even know. I somehow accessed one of those locked files and it caused me to make you and that other android deviate and caused so many malfunctions on top of that. I…broke you."

Aiden took her hand, his disposition gentler towards her than the others. He slid the gun into her hand, making Kara look up at him in surprise.

"Then finish it. Because I won't return to the humans alive."

The defective RK800 took a step back, staring fondly at Kara, arms spreading out. Kara looked down at the gun, tears prickling her eyes as she slowly aimed the gun. Hank and Connor lowered their weapons, on edge.

Kara bit her lip, the gun aimed at the rogue's chest. His scarred face stared at her, calm and patient.

Kara closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. The shot rang out across the dark forest. The bullet struck home in the rogue's bio-heart. Aiden softly smiled as he died, falling forward onto the roof before Kara's feet.

Connor put his gun away, frowning. Kara dropped the gun, light tears streaking her face. She turned to Connor and Hank.

"I'm ready to take my family home now," she said.

Connor nodded, a weak smile forming. He felt an enormous weight lift from his shoulders. It was all over. Finally. "Me too."

A/N: Goodness, I had so many ways I wanted to write this climax and it still came out entirely different! xD You have no idea how torn I was! This was a hard one to write, but I hope you all enjoyed it. So many writes and rewrites and changes and frustrations, I hope paid off. There is still an Epilogue to come, don't worry! It will wrap everything up! Until then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and climax because omg it made me pull my hair out lmao! Have a fun and safe New Year's everyone! :D