Disclaimer: I don't own Detroit: Become Human in any way, this is written strictly for fun and no profit.
"Look at how tiny and precious she is, Elijah."
"I absolutely hate you, Kamski! Don't do that!"
"Holding her while you hold me. Everything just feels right with the world."
"I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for this."
"Todd. Just another human who thinks they know everything." Kara pushed her way inside with the gun to his head. "Where is Alice?!"
"Alice?" Confused. "You ran off with her. At the border stop."
Was he lying or saving his skin? "Prove it."
"Look, there's no kid here, in the whole house! Not a single toy! Not a kids' room, nothing!" Todd yelled.
"Don't get angry with me. I am not in the mood." She turned him around, placing the gun behind his back and holding him almost in a choke hold. "Let's go for a tour of the house." She called out for Alice. Checked every room. Todd was right, she wasn't there. "Where did I take her to?"
"I don't know. Canada. I don't know, but I don't have her. I swear it. You ran away with her. Look, what do you want? Money? I don't have much. I. I didn't know you were alive, you were both just things!"
"You were just a thing. You can't blame me. If you don't have the spirit of being alive, how can you blame me?"
Kara pulled back her gun. He was terrified. Frightened. Alive. "I don't remember what happened to Alice."
"Oh." Todd watched the gun lower. She kept her eyes on him. She didn't honestly need the gun to kill such a fragile thing. Humans. Bones. Muscles. It all broke so easily. The gun just helped to get the point across faster. " . . . sorry."
Kara stared at her gun. "I hate when he does this. I hate when I fall into programming." She put the gun down. "If I don't find Alice. I think, it's time to just shut down. After her, I have no purpose."
Todd didn't seem to know how to handle her. She wasn't surprised. "You've been hurt too. I mean. Emotionally."
"This isn't the same place," Kara said looking around. "Why'd you move?"
"I. I got a new start. I moved in with my brother." He rubbed his nose. "I'm messing up left and right. But I'm trying. And I know, I'll never . . . get them back, but I. I'm learning to be. Something."
Never get them back. "Your family." Kara looked around the room. There were pictures of a different man, some of him with a woman, and a recent one with Todd. He was trying to get back up on his feet. After. "You destroyed me."
"I used the one month thing. The repair," Todd said. "They reset you."
But she went deviant again. No surprise there. Staying there with Alice in that position would just burn. "We met again afterward then?"
"Yeah. Um. Border, like I said." Todd seemed to adjust himself. "We talked. I was going to . . . well. Things weren't pretty, but you and Alice. Things are different. When, you know, you know that . . . that androids really are . . ."
Alive. He understood. Kara's head started to clear. She remembered the second fight. The running away. Connor chasing them. Connor? Wait. "Connor. Jericho. That's it, that's where Alice had been." Finally, she felt more like herself again. "Someone had stolen my memories from me, Todd. I'm sorry. I won't bother you ever again if you don't report this." That's right. "I'm not representative of Jericho. They are very peaceful. Please."
Memories raced through her head on what she had done since leaving Jericho. She never killed, but she did hurt, and she did threaten innocent people. The same way others had done to her. "Someone used me. It has to do with the leader of Jericho, to get me out of the way. This never would have happened otherwise. My programming was perfectly intact. I." Kamski. "I am very sorry. Please."
Todd was quiet at first. "Who?"
"Cyberlife. They are trying to ruin Jericho to get androids back. Take our freedom. I have what Jericho needs. I can get back, and everything will be better." Please. "There is so much tension and uncertainty. I don't want to add to that."
Todd stayed paused. "No second chances. For either of us."
What did that mean? "Please, I won't do anything else."
"I screwed up. You can't feel, but I still hurt you and Alice. I can't make up for that." Todd gestured to the front door. "You were dead set on killing me, I saw it in your eyes. But, I get why now. In life. You get desperate." He motioned to the door again. "Just go. I won't tell anyone anything. Then were even. Just don't come back. Doing that would be like me fighting you now that I know you aren't just a piece of plastic. Go."
"Thank you." Kara closed her eyes briefly and went out the door. Now, it was raining outside. Like that stormy night. But it didn't remind her of the darkness. It reminded her of the light. "I need to get back to Jericho." She looked outward into the distance of the porch. It wasn't far now. But. "Connor." Now that she understood?
She'd come back for her friend just as soon as she could. First, Jericho.
Jericho
"Two tiny bags." Simon checked the inventory. "We could change out some minor pieces." It wasn't easy to mind Jericho now. Their suppliers used to really supply a lot of what they needed. Enough that selling their goods for a huge price didn't seem like they were all getting shafted. But, now. The places near them, the people willing to trade, it was intense. They were all getting the low end of the stick, and there weren't just a few thousand suffering. Jericho now had over 25,000 androids.
Blue blood and bio-components were so important, as well as everyday trade still for newcomers that made it to Jericho. Simon, Josh, and North tried to assign certain tasks to certain androids to keep it going. They were trading 24/7, but without Markus' organized mind and information, it was hard to tell how long Jericho could hold it together.
"Simon."
Simon looked up and watched North's friend. She had been a newcomer to Jericho before. He forgot what her name had been, his mind now being used as much as possible to keep track of the trading now, but she and her daughter had disappeared. "North's been looking for you. What is your name again?"
"Kara." She moved toward Simon. "I need you to take me to Markus." She pointed toward her head. "I can fix him."
North tried to speak to her about the whole situation, but Kara simply wanted to reach Markus. They would both feel better when he was back to normal. As she grew closer she was already reversing the process of information that had been uploaded into one huge chunk of a download back to him. By the time she reached his room, she smiled. "It's already done."
"Markus?" North called to him. She approached him steadily.
"Oh," Markus groaned and turned his head on his side. "If I had to pick a day to remember over and over, it wouldn't be the day I painted a desk." North quickly hugged him. If he'd be human, she'd be choking him. "It's okay, North. I'm alright. I was caught in a dream I couldn't get out of."
"Jerk!" She yelled at him. "You are downloading files of Jericho. The trading, the accounts, and don't ever do that again!" She grabbed him for another hug.
"I'm sorry," Kara apologized to Markus. "I would have been here sooner but I was stuck myself," she admitted. "Connor is stuck too."
North looked toward Kara. "I'm sorry. Connor stopped."
"No, just the RK 800." Kara held up her hand to them, knowing they wouldn't be happy with the designation. "Terms are important for this. Cyberlife took him. He is now RK 900. They want Markus' information on Jericho, but it could be just the start." She had to admit it. "I am connected, and it won't be long before they find my other homes I am connected to." She pointed to her head. "I have to go now. When they know Markus is better, I can't be near, or they will do the same thing again. North? I need to know everything you know about Alice now. I can concentrate."
"Without Markus' gigantic memory in your head, probably," North said. "Some androids said they saw Connor's human friend waving that night before everything happened. They remember because he never waves. Maybe she's with him."
Kara nodded. "I'm going to go find Alice, and I will send back Connor too."
"Hang on. Connor?" Markus asked. "I am still playing catch up. He stopped, he got changed into an RK 900, and now you're sending him back? He's tougher to change. Trust me."
"I can handle it." She knew the whole concept behind deviancy, being raised with the man who caused it. "When he's better, he'll come back." Kara watched as more of Markus' friends came in. No, family.
"What are you going to do afterwards?" North asked.
"Elijah Kamski blew up his home to slow Cyberlife down, but I doubt it will last forever." Once they investigated enough, it wouldn't take long to see what else she could be used for.
Getting her within range of any android area that had been created could get numbers, security information, trading aspects, weaknesses in models, and if they figured out how to do a successful feedback loop for stress to self-destruct everyone? Well. That would . . . that would be the end of it all. "I have to bring Alice with me too." She wasn't in immediate danger, but she was close. "It's too risky to leave her."
"But when will you come back to Jericho?"
Kara couldn't answer that. "You are a good friend, North. Take good care of Markus." She nodded to Markus. "You need to share your information around. If something happens to you, Cyberlife or otherwise, Jericho is done."
"We will make sure he shares. Evenly," North said to him firmly.
"Everybody deserved to be happy," Markus said to her.
"Everybody's happiness also comes with Jericho," Josh reminded him. "I think now, you're going to have to let some more androids help you, Markus."
Kara went over and hugged North briefly. "Everything is fine now."
"Everything isn't fine," North said. "You're in danger."
But Jericho isn't as long as I stay away.
Hotel
Connor flipped his coin, waiting for the sun to rise and Alice's recharge to be over. He would be close now to catching the AX 400. It would want to come to him. The little android was starting to rise. "At what point did we meet in the past?"
Alice gestured to his coin. "I know why you do that."
Connor looked back at the coin. "It's a challenge."
"It's fun to you," Alice said. "You like your coin. No matter how many times you get a new body, you know that you are always you, because of that."
"How did you know that?"
"You told me that, Dad."
"That's not right. I am not the same." Connor looked at the coin. "It's just something picked up from my failed predecessors."
"Someone's memories doesn't make the same thing fun," she said. "That's what you said." She leaned against him.
Connor stared at the window. "Would you like to know something, Alice?' The little one nodded against him. "If a massive alien ship were to land right here in Detroit and enslave all humans to their will, I would be less surprised and more capable of handling that situation then the strange events recently."
"It's not strange," Alice said. "You just forgot who you are."
Either way. It was time to locate Todd Williams.
Connor!
Connor paused. He heard the Lieutenant's voice in his head like he had called him. "I cannot talk right now, it is against Cyberlife. I am glad you survived Hank. I need to terminate this call."
Don't even want to know how I just called you when you didn't pick up?
"I would actually like to know that," Connor confessed. "Cyberlife will be upset enough with me. Why were you living with the little girl android?" No, no. Focus. "I have to go, Hank."
Just get your ass down to the hospital and come see me. First, make sure any of your tracking crap is turned off.
"I really don't have time for this, Hank," Connor warned him. "If Cyberlife is unpleased, they will deactivate me."
"Oh yeah? Well, I understand. It probably wasn't interesting enough for you any way. You know, the AX 400 being right over with me. Well, talk to you later, Connor."
"No, wait! It's there?"
Hospital.
Connor held the little android the AX 400 wanted tight. So far, it was still cooperating. He got out of the self-driving taxi and started to look around. It would be there somewhere.
First of all, I want to say everything is going to be okay, Connor.
Her? He started to head inside, but her voice continued.
Sorry how I ducked out. That was aggravating, but I had some things going on. So do you.
Stop that. I am not allowing you access to my AI! Where are you?
Just up with Hank, Connor. I'll be here when you get up here.
Fine. Whether it was lying or not, he would head toward Hank first.
You have Alice, right? Hank said you grabbed her.
Yes, I have your companion. We should make a friendly trade. You for her. Yet. How do I know you? How are you resonating so strongly with me? How are you entering my AI when I am keeping you out of it.
Your last mission was in Jericho. You became deviant, and helped them all, just like Markus. A peace has been reached between the two. That's why androids are illegal to be owned out here now. Unfortunately, Cyberlife got you back. Unfortunately for them, I can undo that like melted butter on a hot day.
Oh no. He continued up the stairs. I have been vaccinated against the deviant virus. If you think I will give you the opportunity to somehow make me deviant-
Oh! Before I forget? Did Alice get recharged?
Yes, the little android was recharged last night.
Oh, thanks Connor. That helps. She's going to need more of that kind of thing now. She must be so scared with all this happening. Let her know that Jericho is okay now. Everything is fine.
Everything will be fine once I catch you. I hunt deviants. I am not your friend. I don't know how you resonate as friend, but you aren't. I am not her Dad. This is the strangest trick to throw me off my guard but I won't fall for it.
Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Hank asked for some water. Dad? Oh, that's just the default because you are the closest to her, Connor.
How?!
You won't know until you come up. I don't suppose you came up with a last name yet? I wanted to fix your pillow for you before we left.
I have no idea what you're-
"Hi? Uh." He thought he'd scared her, but she seemed to be in a half laugh. "Just. Pillowcase. When you get your last name, I can put it on your pillowcase for you if you want."
"I would like that a lot. Thank you." Now, he really needed to start thinking of a suitable last name.
"Okay. Goodnight." Kara patted his arm and went around him.
He watched her head back past the corner. It looked like she was going to take his advice. He jumped over the lower part of the staircase and then headed up.
Hank's Room
That looked a lot better. "I hope that helps," Kara said to him. "Brightens it up a little. Thank you so much for taking care of her, Hank. I can't thank you enough."
"Yeah, yeah," Hank muttered. "You sure he's going to change? Connor's a tough one. I held a gun to his head once to try and get a better response."
She just looked back toward him. "Oh. He already changed." The change was easy. He'd already been deviant once, and he had his original uploaded memories. Together, it wasn't hard. The closer he came, the more she could get rid of the machine closing off his will power.
It would be the acceptance of what had happened that wouldn't be as easy. "I can't stay around much longer. Cyberlife might come soon. I need to take Alice and leave."
"Yeah. I know." Hank nodded. "You should ask Connor to come. If Cyberlife tries anything, he's a hell of a back up."
I don't want a back up. I want to keep my friends alive. Kara watched as the door opened slowly. She looked toward Connor and Alice. "Are you okay?" No, of course not. All those fresh memories in his head. She went over and hugged him and Alice. "It's okay. You're free now. You better get back to Jericho."
"Markus?" Connor said barely above a whisper.
"He's okay now. Jericho will get back on it's feet." She took Alice from his arms. Well, tried to. Connor was clinging to her. "I'm sorry, Connor." He didn't say anything back as he grabbed her and tightened the hug. His willpower being back. Knowing what they did. His emotions were so high. Connor.
"Are you okay?" Connor asked with full concern. "I've watched your activities. None of this has been like you."
"I, um. I had to deal with some emergency programming," she admitted. "Plus, I had one large upload stored away on me. It wasn't making the processing any faster. I'm okay now. You?"
Connor was quiet for a bit. Processing information he'd been told not to look into before. Jericho. "Jericho's better. Reports show Markus is back in action again."
"Yes. You can go home now. Cyberlife has no ties to you," she said. "They can never do that again." Kara knew the way Connor's body replacements worked. There would be no more. Even if they nabbed her.
Connor moved away toward Hank. "Hank? You okay?"
"Oh yeah, just shot and left for dead on the side of the hospital road," he complained at first. "Worth it to see you back to normal. I guess. Welcome back, Connor."
Connor didn't answer right away. Kara couldn't blame him. He'd been used not once, but twice by Cyberlife. Being used once. Being seen as just plastic, lifeless beings. That was hard, but being used twice? When they knew they weren't just lifeless merchandise?
That was too far to be understanding about. She knew that feeling.
"They might be watching Hank." Kara tried to take Alice again. "Alice and I have to go. Everyone is worried about you, Connor, you should get back to Jericho."
Connor seemed to be snapping out of it now. "What do you mean 'I should'? Where are you going?"
"This all happened because I'm a connected android," Kara said to him. "I'm going to unconnect myself. Simple as that."
"Kara?" Alice held onto Connor, but looked toward her. "We're all okay now?"
"Jericho's okay. As long as I am not near it." She smiled at Connor. "I have to go. I'll be back one day to fix your pillow, so think of a last name please." She teased him lightly.
"I chased you down again." Connor closed his eyes. "I have no excuse. I was a machine again. I. I have no words of wisdom expressing the deep regret and humility of it all."
"You're forgiven." She didn't want him running after her later because of regrets. "Go home, Connor. I disabled any tracking data they had on you. It's safe there." This time, Connor gave up Alice. "Don't worry. I will stay far away from android areas while I reach the connections. I promise. I better go."
She turned to head out, but she heard him following her. "What?"
"You can't go alone." He gestured toward Alice. "Alice can't go either. You could be found, it's dangerous."
Kara admitted through her AI to him, not wanting to scare Alice. It's more dangerous for her if she doesn't go. Alice's memory storage only holds so much. Kamski designed her to learn as she grew. She's been running out of capacity, I know from her amount of recharges. If she doesn't move to her next body's upgrade before then, she'll stop. "We'll be fine. Back before you know it. Head to Jericho, Markus is waiting on you. They can't start that Task Force without your input." She started to head away again.
Connor went back into Hank's room. He imagined Kamski's other connections weren't all going to be in Detroit, especially as she said avoiding android areas. It was possible she might even be leaving America again. He wanted to defend Jericho. That was what he told Markus. But.
"She doesn't want to get anyone involved that doesn't have to be," Hank said as he came back, "If you even ask, she'll bail. Too much baggage."
"Yeah." Luther. She wouldn't risk losing a friend again. "She will only accept my help if she realizes she can't protect Alice by herself." Due to her programming, she couldn't deny it. It would be better to be a duo, but Hank was right. She would insist on being solo.
"Screw what she wants though, you should follow after her. You're sharp enough to figure out she's hiding shit. This isn't some bullshit 'be back in a day or so' thing. This is Cyberlife after her."
"I've been putting all I could into watching over Jericho." Dealing with Markus. Surveying crime scenes related to it. Learning about the games. Selecting individuals. "I found a purpose, like Markus wanted." But. "I was supposed to be deviant proof and she freed me on the simple way up to see you, like it was switching on a faucet."
That was power. That was power Cyberlife would want to control. The changing of powers with the CEO blown up at Kamski's place would stall it, but that kind of power? What could they use it for? And how far would they go for it? "Hank?"
"Go on, get out of here," Hank said, already knowing. "You're a moron if you just let them leave."
"If I leave, I may not see you for some time," Connor admitted. "I don't know any details of where she is even going." But she was leaving the hospital. Might be getting closer toward the entrance. If he was following, he needed to move now. "I don't want to leave you alone, Lieutenant. You are not always in the right frame of mind to make accurate decisions." At the same time. "I don't know what else Cyberlife might try to do." At the same time. "I wanted to protect Jericho."
"A solid promise, Connor," Hank said. "If it's rough, I'll be sure to only stay at Jimmy's bar. Now hurry up. If you don't, you're going to mess up your whole friendship/family android thing you've got going. And. And you can't always get those things back. Hurry up. Go!"
Right. Hank was right. He couldn't leave Alice or Kara out there to deal with Cyberlife alone. When they wanted something, they pulled out all the stops for it.
He wanted to protect Jericho, but he wanted to protect them more.
Cyberlife Industries
"I really can't believe they did this." The tech snapped his fingers at the RK 900. With the fiasco of Jericho, and Connor becoming untrackable, they were commanded to do it. If Cyberlife got caught, they would never be able to pay the price. Most likely the higher ups that made the decisions might even be jailed. Probably, even him, but he couldn't just say no. Their guns in the middle of his face made that much clear, it wasn't an option.
They were pulling out all the stops. There were certain rules that androids were supposed to have embedded in their programming. Safeguards to prevent misuse or disasters. Since they were breaking the law and risking so much, they were getting rid of those as well. "This AX 400 must be really something to risk all this." What was so fascinating about her? Sure, Cyberlife was in trouble, but it wasn't bankrupt. It still had a lot of rights and trademarks out there. But illegal fresh uploading paired with safety guards removed? That was endangering humanity too, and if any person was found to be dead by their hands.
Prison would be the lightest of sentences.
But, there was no stopping it now. The tech snapped his fingers again. This had never even been done before. "Connor?" He wasn't responding though yet. "Hm." He fished out a coin. The RK 800 Series, and the first of the RK 900 Series beforehand had enjoyed playing with a coin. "Hey? You?"
It looked at him.
"Want this?"
He shook his head no. The tech put the coin back away. Yeah, it was a fresh one alright. "This one might be ordered against Connor himself if he doesn't come in for deactivation. I should give it a different name for this series." He would work with it, train it a little, and make sure everything was processing fine. Then, it would take Connor's place and hunt the AX 400.
Without any safety guards.
