At Home

"If you fluff the pillows on the couch, there's no guarantee I'll use 'em," Hank told Kara and Alice. Their automatic function made them want to feel right at home as soon as possible.

"It'll feel really nice, won't it?" Alice asked Hank. "Is there something I can do to make you feel better?"

"Tch, get me a beer?" Hank kidded until Alice went straight to the fridge. "Nah, nah kid, I was . . ."

Oh, yes. Todd probably did that frequently. Even Kara didn't say anything about the action, like she had done it all the time. Hank took the beer when Alice gave it to him. "I wanted light. Nah, really, Al. Don't ever get me beers."

"It's not her fault," Kara said to Hank. "She's used to a different label of beer."

"The joke is I don't drink light?" Hank tried to make the situation a little better. "Okay, one thing? Yeah?" He got serious. "Alice, don't ever get me a beer. Don't get anyone a beer."

"Okay," Alice responded. "I will save it for Kara."

"No, no! If I'm asking for a beer, I'm making Connor do it," Hank replied. "He drives me crazy and Connor's Connor."

Conner just smiled. "That's Hank's way of saying he cares. It's a difficult language to learn sometimes."

"I can learn it," Alice insisted.

"Yeah, probably will. Mi casa es su casa," Hank said as he gestured toward Kara. "Your little android's been fine overall here since you were down, but she does sort of . . . do odd things sometimes. Guessing that was just a part of her life."

True. Connor remembered when they first brought Alice. She was trying to run her life with Hank like she did with Todd. That balance, it rubbed Hank the wrong way.

All that time, Connor thought having Alice with him would be a bad thing because she'd act like a child. It turned out, it was the not acting like a child that made Hank mad at first. She didn't laugh. She rarely smiled. She only played a little bit, and only when she thought no one was looking. She never got rambunctious.

As time went on, Alice started to warm up a little, but she still seemed on edge. Like when she least expected it, Hank would try something. Connor hoped that having Kara back with her, would take most of the fear and functions to behave with Hank, like she did Todd.

The ESA unit had made a huge impact on Alice's programming, but she was more than just something running a program. Connor doubted that Alice would be playing around Hank, she just wanted the best for him now.

Only time could heal some things.

The nice thing about coming home to Hank's house? The best thing. Connor could relax, like a normal person. He actually watched different programming to see what was going on in the world. He could sit, without sitting up erect anymore.

Kara sat down, still very straight. Alice sat on her lap as she went through the channels. "I'm glad you are here, Kara."

"I'm glad I am here too," Kara said as she gave her a little hug.

All of the trepidation Alice had was gone with Kara. She trusts you completely, Kara. He spoke to her individually, something they could do out of the confines of the police station. This is the first time I've seen her so relaxed. She really needed you.

Kara glanced back at him. We lived in the same household. We trust each other with our lives.

The ESA unit has helped with interaction, wanting to do what is best for Hank as a human. However? It won't change her, as the person she has become. She is going to need the help of the one she trusts.

Kara seemed confused. Is she doing something wrong? She has always tried to be quiet, present only when she should and-

-that's the problem, Kara. Hank isn't Todd. Even today, a light joke Hank made for you, she was the one to grant it. Even afterward, you didn't correct her.

Oh. Kara appeared uncomfortable. Hank isn't Todd, and I will try to teach her how to make Hank happier. Things we had programmed inside, they need to adapt.

No, she doesn't run on programs, she runs on trauma. Connor was blunt. So do you.

Kara didn't seem to know what to say. Did you ever figure out the answer?

The answer to what, Kara?

How to do laundry without doing laundry? she asked. Our original builds are still inside us. Alice has not only her original programming, but a long time to master it. We are in a new situation, so we just want to jump to what we know. Our old programming. We don't want to screw this up, Connor.

I understand.

We didn't want to screw up when you were shouting at Todd. We didn't want to screw up when you sent us back to Todd. We didn't want to screw up on millions of tiny factors we were each computing daily. Still. Kara was getting softer. There is no way to do laundry without doing laundry. She wiped away her tear.

Oh. You're right. I was still machine when I made recommendations to Hank. He was closer to accepting the truth than I had been, but he wasn't quite there either when we put you back. Yeah, this needed said. You are afraid if you or Alice mess up, Hank will hurt or abandon you.

Good people don't hurt their androids. Good people do abandon them. All the time.

I trust Hank with my very life. Connor moved to her closer. You are not comfortable because of the past with Hank, but you aren't completely comfortable with me either. You are trusting us, because you have to for survival.

You have done a great deal for us, and I am getting closer to trusting you. Kara disagreed.

You are resonating higher with me. Conner could agree to that. Do me the smallest of favors? Don't use your fall back programming when dealing with Hank. I promise you. Hank will never abandon you. If he does? We will all run together, and I will help take care of us. It hurt to even say that. He knew for a fact Hank would never hurt or abandon them. I trust him so much, that if you or Alice is ever hurt, we will all get out. Not just you two.

Kara was examining him for some time. That declaration should really help, the smarter the android, the increased chances of survival. Even she would compute that. Things happen that fall out of a humans control too. Even if Hank doesn't want to abandon us, there is no guarantee he won't be forced to.

Connor didn't like thinking about that. Death. The department finding out. She was right. You are seeing variables that could change the outcome. In that case, I still promise to leave with you and help.

Now, he saw a change in Kara. She made her next move. A very unexpected one.

Connor found himself in a very strange setting. It was an outline of Hank's place with no solidness. Just blue and white with no shadows. People were labeled with small labels above them.

"This is mine," Kara said from behind him. "It's nowhere near as nice as your place you let us go to. It's still just my little area."

She was connecting with him? Sharing her place of space. It wasn't much, but she didn't have the same upper grade functions. No artificial wind. No real colors. It was more like walking in blue prints. Outside sound still invaded the senses. She was right, it didn't seem like anything. But to him? "I am honored to visit."

It was trust, it was major trust. While a lower android like her couldn't mess with his place, he could practically infect her with that connection.

"If you want. You can do something else here, and Alice and I can stay here during the day. I know it's not comfortable having someone else in your space."

Another really big trusting move. He could practically shut down everything with a single dangerous download. Connor went ahead and started making some simple downloads and replicas. "It's not the same, but I don't want to overwhelm you." Her whole programming would explode.

It was a blueprint of outside. The feeling of wind was replicated. Colors, but no shades. He blocked out the outside noise. "You don't have to use this place though, just for yourself. I want you to keep sharing my space in the police station."

"Are you sure?" Kara asked. "This isn't bad at all, you really made it nice in here."

"No. I want you and Alice to have the full simulation of it. I am okay, with having you there." He nodded. "Thank you for trusting me so much. Can you extend that trust in me?"

"To Hank Anderson. Use the trust in you, to extend to him." It wasn't an easy thing to do. Not with everything she'd been through with Alice. "I will do my best to ignore my programming. It isn't easy."

"I know, but we can follow our own decisions and ways," Connor reminded her. "We're free. Don't choose the comfortable path. It will get better. Hank is a friend."

"Hank is a friend. Treat him as a friend, not our owner." Kara was bringing 'our' into it. She sounded like she would honestly try to help Alice too.

"Except?" Connor added. "You know, Hank really doesn't eat that well. I'm not saying diet food, but he eats food that could kill him daily. He might not eat that way, if decent food started to appear in front of him?"

"I will lean on the nutritional programming," Kara said. "That's actually a specialty of mine."

Connor found himself back in the real world again, the colors and environment all fixed. Thank you for letting me into your Secret Garden.

My what? Kara hadn't heard that phrase before.

Connor downloaded a song to her. I have been in Hank's home so long, I've ingested about every piece of media he had. He noticed Kara's expression turned much less android. Almost, quirky? What is it?

Secret Garden by Bruce Springsteen. I don't know if you picked up on it's true meaning?

I am very thorough in my research and selection, Connor said, his own programming to defend his intelligence kicked in. I don't know the meaning to humans, but it fits for an android very well.

She just smiled slightly and didn't say anything else. At least she was starting to look a little happier.

It's important for all of us to get along. We are probably playing the long game. Connor watched her expression. Do you know what that means?

I know several meanings, but I don't know which one applies, Kara answered.

I can find the other androids, and we can have Jericho ready. Getting them into a situation where they will accidentally touch you without any police involvement, in a coincidence type situation? It isn't going to be easy. I have taken cases, but then I solve them in a decent matter of time. I am just put on a long recharge afterward.

I see. I had a feeling this wouldn't be that easy. It has to be done to not get Hank in trouble, and to assure Markus doesn't cause war. The long game.

Yes. Hank said the long game actually changes a person. Let's make sure we all change for the better.

Yes. We all must learn for a better future. She was staring at Alice now, and Alice looked back at her.

Connor hoped Kara could teach Alice. If she could, then maybe it would be easier to take this long game Hank predicted.

—

Alice? Kara called to her gently individually to her. We need to talk about Hank.

How to make sure he stays healthy, happy, and emotionally safe? Complete program talk from the ESA. Alice was completely relying on it.

No. I'm sorry, we need to talk about us and Hank. Everything that we learned with Todd, we have to . . . How to approach this? There was no erase function. We shouldn't treat Hank Anderson the same way. He isn't the same owner, and he expects different things.

Oh no, I'm messing up? She could tell Alice was freaking out. What do I do?

Well? We need to ignore our inner programming and treat Hank like a nice friend.

A . . . friend?

Yes, Alice, a nice friend who likes us.

Hank is the owner, Kara. If we mess up, aren't we in trouble?

Connor assures us that Hank will not do us any wrong, and I believe him, Kara said. He even let us be in his personal space all day instead of standing around in boredom. That was a trusting thing to do, wasn't it?

Yes. Alice admitted that. It was really good of him. Connor's nice.

Yeah. He's in the same predicament, and he said he'll run away with us if Hank ever did anything to hurt us or abandon us. If you trust in Connor's word, then you need to use that, to trust in Hank. Don't just rely on your programming, Alice. I can hear from the way you speak, you are relying completely on it.

Okay, but. Alice didn't know what else to say. We are ESA units, so we still have to obey him.

Yes. Don't follow your programming, just listen to him like you would me. That's all. Also, Connor says we can focus on the nutritional side.

I will do that then! This is going to be different, Kara. I feel unprepared now. Alice gave her a hug. "I'll try." She looked toward Connor. "This is new."

"Life is new, dangerous, exciting, and unknown," Connor said to her. "It won't get figured out in a day. I've been doing my best to adapt to it too, so you aren't alone."

Alice nodded. "So, can I play with the toys Hank got me outside of my room?"

Connor smiled. "I think that would be a very good start."

Kara watched Alice get one of her toys. It would take some time to learn how to ignore their programming to 'owner'. It was more than just the ESA unit, Connor got that right. We might be here a very long time. The long game. This is probably going to be home for awhile.

Adaption. That was okay. It was already so much better than their old home.