Disclaimer: I don't own Detroit: Become Human in any way, this is written strictly for fun and no profit.


Connor didn't know what to expect when they first went to observe the home in Nassau, but he wasn't expecting Alice to point to the lion monuments in the front of it in happy excitement. "Shiny Lions! Kara, Shiny Lions!"

"Yes." Kara didn't seem as giddy. "All Kamski's help each other. All Kamski's work with each other. Let's just get this done." Kara gestured to Connor. "There's an extra key inside of the left one's mouth."

"Are you kidding?" Hank said, looking up. "These things are ****ing monolith's, like a hundred feet tall! Who thinks two of these things in front of a place looks good?" He gestured to the water fountain between them. "That doesn't help."

"I've got it." Connor climbed up the left lion, holding onto it's feet, climbing up it's back and swinging to the front to reach into it's mouth. "Got it."

"Boy could make monkeys jealous," Hank said as Connor climbed back down. He should be out for two weeks according to the phone. It could always be a setup though, so Connor still tried to be careful. Hank stayed back with the girls as he unlocked the door. No nasty surprises. Same look, but no one to wait on them.

They each went back toward the same route as last time. Kara placed her hand on it, carefully. Connor warned her to check everything before she disconnected, just in case someone was trying to pull something earlier. Nothing was wrong though, and nothing happened, until Kara disconnected.

On the screen, part of a poem popped up.

What is orange? Why, an orange,

Just an orange!

What was that? Connor watched as Alice perked up and pointed at the screen.

"Kara!"

"I see." Kara looked confused. "I know, Alice."

"He's a good one," Alice swore to Connor. She went to hold his hand. "He's the good one, I promise. He's Kamski but he's a better one."

They were all interconnected. Connor didn't know what to believe, but they weren't going to start- "Is that a small penguin holding a banner that says 'Hello Connor, I'm Popper'?"

A door to a secret room had raised, and a little penguin with a tiny white banner that had Hello Connor, I'm Popper written on it had waddled towards them. Connor scanned it. The paper was recyclable, it was written in English, nothing special that leaped out at him. The penguin was an android of the species Little Penguin, 32 centimeters, 3 pounds, model KR 900. It had a bluish grey tint to it. None of the scanning could indicate why it was walking up toward him with the little banner. "Hello, Popper. Thank you for the welcome?"

Connor watched as Kara grabbed Alice's hand and headed through the door. Connor and Hank followed after. Well.

"That's me? That's gonna be me," Alice said as she touched a body of herself. "I look exactly the same. Except in a dress."

"Exactly. Just some upgrade room," Kara smiled. She moved around the room. "Three buttons."

Connor and Hank came over too.

"Let's get this done so we can get out of here," Hank said. "Connor, your new buddy is following you."

Connor looked to the ground. He still didn't understand the purpose of the android penguin.

"Instructions." Kara started to read them, but she seemed to be reading them to herself first. Something was wrong though.

Connor touched her shoulder. "What's wrong, Kara?" It seemed straightforward. Connor started to read what was on the screen. "Oh."

"Oh what?" Hank came over and read some of it too. "Oh."

"There was . . ." Kara looked back at the panel. She didn't say anything, but Connor knew what she wanted to say.

"There was a good one," he finished. According to the note, Seymour Kamski, disconnected himself from the others. A connected android could not disconnect from the group, it meant eventual stopping. Within that time, he set up certain things.

"Alice, Honey, stand right in the middle." Kara said. "A little more in the middle."

Connor continued reading. He had paid stake in the Live Prey game, nearly 600,000 dollars to remain the top taker for Alice and Kara to be safely returned as soon as he found out they were alive. He had everything set up already to give Alice her new body. He had added an extra feature, somehow guessing Kara would need some extra help again. He even set up the penguin for Connor. It was supposed to be his compatible animal, just in case he received something and needed to slow it down.

A little gift, because he took care of 'his little gifts when he couldn't'.

He wasn't gone for two weeks. He was gone forever. To save them from the other Kamski's.

"Is it? Do I get a countdown? I?"

Connor stopped reading and went over toward Alice. No doubt she was nervous. "Everything will be fine. You'll close your eyes in this body, and open them in the next." Still. Connor had scanned the machine too. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all. "You'll be safe. I've checked it over myself."

"There's." Kara coughed. "Just, um. Download, upload, and then it's over. Ready?"

"Close your eyes," Connor said. Alice closed her eyes.

Kara began the download. When it was complete, she hit upload. After that, she hit engage.

Connor walked over to the new body and watched Alice open her eyes. "All better," he said. "A very pretty new dress too."

Alice looked at her new dress. "Thank you." She closed her eyes again. "I have some new information." She smiled. "Kara!"

She went over and held Kara's hand. "We need to go up front!"

"I know." Kara got pulled to the front with Alice. "I saw it too." Kara moved over to the machine, using it manually, and pulling up the map Connor had seen before. Finding every android. "There I am," she said, pointing to a dot. "Only they could trace me accurately."

Alice held her hand and the signal disrupted. "This new body disrupts signal feed, from everybody."

"Yes," Kara said. She looked toward Connor. "When I disconnected, something else downloaded too." She had a sad sort of smile. "Schematics to building new upgrades for the children androids, as well as regular machines. Without needing Cyberlife involved." Kara touched Alice's hand again. "Now, being hidden from everyone's view?" She looked back to Connor. "We can return to Jericho."

Connor picked up the Little Penguin. "You are coming along too, Popper."

"Christ Almighty," Hank said pointing to the penguin then Connor. "It's like looking in a mirror."

Both Connor and the Little Penguin turned to look at him.


Jericho

The plan was the simplest it could be. Markus had the residents line up in row through Jericho, with at least fifteen androids covering up one yard. Compressed together and turned, they each held their hand out. To receive treatment, Kara should just have to touch it. Kara kept Alice with her, running and touching hundreds of hands in Jericho.

Meanwhile, Connor and Hank were supposed to be doing something else, to distract from it.


Outskirts of Jericho

"Oh great, it's you," Gavin said as Connor stood near him. "They just had to put you over here too, didn't they? What happened, I thought it was my lucky day and you left forever."

Connor didn't smile or frown at him. "I got comfortable with the female android. Hank said too comfortable and we got thrown back to Jericho." Hank's excuse. He hated it.

"Makes sense," Gavin said. "Don't know a female, human or android, who'd want to give you the time of-hey!" Gavin looked at his arm. Then he noticed Connor's arm. "What the hell is that thing?"

Connor looked at his shoulder. "This is Popper. He was a gift to me. He is my compatible animal android. In a dire situation, he may be able to save my life." He patted his head. "He's a good penguin."

"It's a bitch. Ow," Gavin said as he got poked again. "Freaking beak. What's it made out of? Ow!"

Connor shrugged. "Everyday android material. He is not female though, the male of the Little Penguin species has a special hook at the end of it's beak. Popper has that hook."

"So, what's the damages?" Hank asked coming over to Gavin.

"Thirty last night. None tonight. So far that I know of, since we're babysi-ow! Screw your penguin, Connor!"

"I don't honestly advise that one," Connor said. Gavin took several steps away. Connor just shrugged and gave Gavin a look that said he was pretty pathetic.

"I'm not afraid of it. It keeps hitting me with it's beak." Gavin looked at Hank. "Where'd he get that thing?"

"The Bahamas," Hank said honestly. "Last stop before we split."

"Yeah?" He looked back to Connor. "Because this shithead got dissed by some girl android? Can't blame her. Probably doesn't even have the right parts. Get more sensory out of-****!" He lifted his leg.

Popper had crawled off of Connor to start attacking Gavin's leg. He was making noise and flapping it's wings.

"Didn't know if you knew this?" Hank said, "It can understand language. Give Connor a break."

Connor hated the excuse, but everyone seemed to buy it. Hank said something close to the truth was usually the best answer. Connor knew that. Still, the thought of Kara actually telling them to go because she completely rejected him?

These feelings were some of the hardest things about being alive and not just a machine anymore. Even with resonating turned off. Still, he was better without it. He needed to stay alert for her, for Alice, and everyone.


After Jericho was fixed.

The cops were gone. Morning. Alice was definitely needing a recharge, having kept up with the running, light jogging, and walking of Kara. She needed to constantly hold her hand so the other Kamski's couldn't find her. Alice was already invisible, the other Kamski having put something in her new body to jam the feed. It could be taken out when things were safer. It also meant something else.

Something Hank talked about with Markus.

"Paris, The Cayman Islands, and San Miguel de Allande," Kara said to Connor. "It's almost over." She was still holding her hand.

"Well. It's over for us," Hank said. He stood next to Connor, making him look at him. "I can deal with plenty of shit. Girl in trouble. You. Long drives. Long flights. I gotta draw the line at android ****ing penguins."

"My penguin is bothering you?" Connor asked confused. "Popper hasn't hurt anyone." Except Gavin. "Important to me."

"Not that." Hank gestured to Alice. "You don't need a smokescreen except for Jericho. I had a talk with your Markus."

Markus moved toward Kara and Connor with Liberty on his shoulder. "You two have got more than just Jericho now. I've made some calls. The half deviancy virus has made a dent in at least one of the places near where you need to go." He held out his hand and interfaced to Connor. "Those android bases. Don't visit the houses, visit them. Cure them, and they will gladly help however they can. A lot more than Jericho when you're all the way across the oceans."

Connor smiled. "Thank you Markus, we appreciate it."

"There's one more thing. Well, two," he said. He gestured toward his head. "I've managed to get you an escort jet to the first base."

"A jet?" Kara looked toward Connor. "Wow." With that kind of assistance, they would get to the houses much easier. "We can go as soon as Alice is done sleeping."

"About that, is the second thing," Markus told them. "Hank's staying in Jericho until this is over, and he wants Alice to stay too."

What?

"The new body. The schematics," Markus pointed out. "All the children of Jericho. Wasting even a day on this means we could start to lose them."

"I gave you the information," Kara insisted. "You have everything you need."

"Alice has a new body, with new upgrades," Markus said stronger. "If anything happens, she should be somewhere that she has access to blue blood and emergency bio-components. She really probably needs some good recharging. Especially after that mini-marathon through Jericho."

"I." Kara paused. "I know you're right."

"It may be more beneficial to her health," Connor admitted. It would be strange not travelling with Alice. He looked toward Hank. "The penguin was it, huh?"

"We've got food, drink, a choice of beverages of all kinds, and androids who will fetch anything he wants," Markus said to Connor. "He needs rest too."

True. His human friend had gone through a lot. Hank might be ready to stay in Jericho instead of another adventure. If he had things to keep him comfortable. "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah. I'll watch Alice at your place," Hank said. "This next part isn't for me. Way too many androids. Way too many heightened feelings of androids. Not everything's kosher everywhere yet." He pointed at Connor. "You watch your back too. Come back alive, because you owe me so much. Don't think a trip to California and the Bahamas in pursuit mode is gonna cut it. That was no vacation."

"I owe you plenty," Connor agreed. "I promise. I will come back." He looked toward Kara. "Just us then."

Kara glanced at Markus. "Where's North?"


Kara sat quietly with Alice, her hand still in hers. Everyone had left. Connor was getting Hank to 'their place'. Markus was waiting for the jet to arrive. And North was petting her snow leopard, Lady.

"I so love her," North said to Kara. "Lady. She's so sweet, but when she senses something annoys you she becomes a real bitch. Beautiful and badass, just my style." She glanced at Kara. "Yours too. What's his name? Oh yeah, Connor."

Kara looked toward Alice. "I can understand that maybe I should let Alice stay here. Let her get rest. Get more adapted to her body. I just find it an incredible coincidence that Hank is more than ready to be in Jericho now."

"Maybe your little love rejection with Connor was the nail in the coffin, Kara," North said. "Connor doesn't have resonating on."

"He gets sloppy with it. He gets too . . ." Clingy. Lovey dovey. "It just doesn't fit with his parameters."

"Resonating love is only sloppy when the one they love doesn't resonate back." North almost snapped. "Kara. If I didn't accept my feelings for Markus, there's every chance Jericho as a force might not have won that war. What if he was more concerned about me? Resonating is a strange thing. Even the smallest thing over me that he couldn't think through right. Show him you love him back, and he won't slobber over you like a dog. He'll become . . ." She smiled. "He'll become even better."

"I knew it." They were bribing Hank to stay. Not that it'd take much, but to get her alone with Connor. "It's ridiculous. I can't." She just didn't! I mean, how was she supposed to react? "I am putting enough on the line, I'm not worried about a little thing called love. I could be in really big trouble, North."

"I know. Cyberlife and Kamski are both technically trying to kill you," North said. "Things are on the line. Things are always on the line. After this is over though, then will you give him a chance?

No. "His life. I just want a simple one with Alice. He wants everything else but simple," Kara admitted. "If I survive, I don't want to go through that."

"Well? It's noble to save the heart," North said. "but not possible. Alice is already family with him. You resonate lover."

"He resonates lover," Kara said, "mine is just off or destroyed."

"He is family to Alice. Is he going to be Uncle, and you're bound to find a new dad? Because unless you have some valid reason for you to not stop falling, there's no way you can avoid it."

" . . . you can only have one lover." Kara looked back at North. She didn't like that look. "He could be within the human parameters of an uncle. If I find someone to replace the word 'dad', it would make him get back a bit."

"Kara!" Ooh, now North was mad. "That was not supposed to make you go hunting for someone else, it was supposed to show you! It doesn't matter what you want now, your heart has decided for you. Connor is it. Connor is the one." North humphed. "I. I!" She touched her forehead. "I love you."

Kara blinked. "I'm . . ."

"Not as a lover, I love you as a friend, and I just want to rip that Kamski to pieces!" North yelled for her. "I. I don't even know what he made you feel, to make you even think that . . . ?" She shrugged. "Give it up to the human. He was right. Okay, fine. You have to see for yourself." She gritted her teeth. "Turn your resonating on, Kara, and leave it on."

"It's not working right."

"If I'm your lover, turn it off. It's that simple," North said. Kara turned her resonating on. "Good friends. It feels nice to feel that back from you again."

"I guess it fixed itself," Kara said.

"Two android imbalance of resonating isn't going to last forever." Still, North lingered on Kara a little more. "Fine. We'll do it your way. Mac!" North yelled.

"I'm not quite done yet for the next one," Mac said as he came into the room to see North. He looked at Kara and smiled. "Oh. Hello. Thank you for everything you did today."

Wait. This guy.

"I'm your new neighbor, Mac," he reminded her. "Brief meeting before." He looked at North. "Anyway, orangutans take a little longer."

"Mac, your programming skills to make the animal androids understand us have been fantastic," North said. "Connor and Kara will be traveling to new places where your skill could be useful as well." She glanced at Kara who was shaking her head. "You're going to go with them." She smiled at Mac. "I'm a little envious. Germany, The Caribbean, and even France. In the City of Love, no less."

Kara kept shaking her head, but North only nodded hers.

"Wow." Mac looked back at the Orangutan. "Kara Wonderland gave me the cure like everyone else, but is it really safe?"

"It's safe," North said. "It's absolutely safe. Go pack up. You'll be catching a jet here soon. Connor and Kara will catch you up on all the details."

"Are you sure?" Mac kept looking at Kara. Kara didn't do anything when he was watching, but when he looked away she kept shaking her head at North.

"Very valuable skill, you should go. You can teach others who know about your programming just what to do, so they can help their own area," North said. "Have fun, Mac. I'm sure it'll be an enlightening experience for everyone."