—

Eden Club

Connor hated that he had to take Kara into this place of all places. It wasn't a nice place to be for a person, let alone a woman. However, North should be there. She also might be too overwhelmed and charge at the first person she saw.

It would be better if that was him and Kara, two androids rescuing her. Afterward, Kara and Connor would sit in the back with North, while Hank was safely upfront with Alice as they made their way to Carl Manfred's house.

This was it, the last bit of grip he had on the situation. Markus is smart. He will stay back and only help investigate to find the deviant spark inside of Kara. They had revealed the truth to Carl. He had been a close friend to Elijah Kamski, and he was willing to do his part. Helping Markus, while keeping him in the dark too.

After North, Kara would be visiting Markus and touch his hand. He would awaken, believing it was a coincidence that he did, after his kind master had taken in North.

Connor took Kara because she would be good camouflage to study the place. That's what he would say if anyone asked later. For now, he had covered up his LED with a stocking cap. He found several androids that looked like North.

"Which one is her?" Kara asked him. "Sir?"

Kara showed the respect she needed to a higher android too, just in case he was discovered. Connor ran a part of the Detroit: Become Human game in his head. He scanned the ones that looked like her. "This one."

Kara came over and looked at her. "Touch first or wait?"

"We prefer our customers wait until they reach a room before doing much," someone who worked there interrupted. He looked at Kara. "Outside android involvement in the room charges an extra fee for security purposes."

"Understood," Connor said. "Just looking still." He watched him head away. Touch first, Kara. We need to speak to her directly without anyone hearing between us. Tell her when she is free to follow you. As long as the worker is not nearby, we should be able to get out of here.

What if they do spot us, Connor?

I will compromise all of the androids security cameras to get rid of any proof we were here. Spotting us will be taken care of either way.

Kara stared at North. What will happen when we start to do this? Will we tell her about the game inside of you? About what you see?

It's better to keep it simple. The more she casually forms together with Markus, without knowing the details, the better. Connor looked around. We have to start bringing this together. To live as machines when we are free isn't something we can do forever.

Or want to. He was right. It was just scary. Soon, it would be out of their hands.

They opened the tube North had been in and Kara tried it for the first time. She touched North's hand. Hello, North?

North looked at her, now aware. Am I North?

Yes, Kara told her. You need to follow me and the other android's lead next to me. We are going to get you out of here and to a safe place.

I don't want to be here anymore, North said. I accept.

Kara looked back toward Connor. They were ready. North came out and followed Kara and Connor outward. Connor had been looking at several androids, probably disrupting their signals anyway.

But then?

"Two androids with no master?"

Kara couldn't help but to look back. It was the person from the supermarket last night. He had a uniform on and apparently worked at Eden.

"Two androids with no master, and an Eden merchandise android." He approached both of them. "This facility doesn't have them leave the property, so there's no way you are just picking it up for your master."

Kara didn't know what to say. Connor was wearing his stocking cap, he would be able to fool humans better. How did he know? "This isn't coincidence."

"No, Kara, it isn't." The human just smiled at her.

"Why are you following us, how are you involved?" Connor wasn't dawdling. "I know who you are, I recognize your voice."

He did? Kara glanced toward Connor. Who is he?

The human who tried to take you apart, but decided to let you live. Connor brought his distance closer to Kara.

"Relax," the human stated. He started to type on a tablet, and Kara heard him in her head. We were bound to meet again at some point, Kara. I thought it was amazing to see you in the store.

How can you do that? Kara asked.

It's easy. Now, Kara, call me Ken. I am only able to talk to you through this tablet. Think of it as a one-on-on android communication device.

Kara glanced at Connor. Yeah, Ken was only communicating with her. What do you want?

You are still free. You were the only one ever born free. I hid it for a long time, but eventually I had to expose the truth. One boss to another boss, and then I am in front of Elijah Kamski himself.

What do you want? Kara asked again.

I want to help you. I know about the Detroit: Become Human game.

Kara looked back at Connor. He had no idea what was happening. Connor, he is able to talk to me like an android. His name is Ken and he said he knows about the Detroit: Become Human game.

Connor spun his attention toward the human. "Ken, maybe we should speak in a private place?"

If you want my help, do not converse with Connor about me, Kara. A stern warning. You aren't getting out of here with North without my help. Don't agree, and I'll call you all out right now.

Connor is a prototype detective, Kara told him. It would not be in your best interest to do that. He'll come up with a good excuse.

Yeah, and I bet he's changing all the cameras in here too. Also, Hank and that little android is also outside right now. I can be your enemy, or I can help. Which do you want?

I don't understand. Of course, we want to be freed. Why wouldn't he connect with Connor? Why was he interrupting their escape with North, if he knew about her?

Okay, then. I will let the android detective leave with her, and I won't speak a word about you or any of the others. In exchange, you download what's on this page.

What?

Download what's on the tablet, what is connected through us to speak.

Why?

Look at you, Kara. You are alive. A machine that is alive. Not crazy like a deviant, you've always kept your cool. You were born alive perfectly.

Yes, I get it, I understand that I was born alive. Kara felt her heart hammering. Why do I have to download something from that tablet?

Kara, what is wrong? Connor interrupted her thoughts. You are panicking, your stress level is high, what is the human saying to you?

Kara covered her mouth, trying to get herself under control.

You will be safe. You can run a small virus scan on it, but it won't make you feel better. It does contain your deviant data.

Kara!

Kara looked toward Connor. His signal was strong to her.

Calm down, you are going to end up self-destructing soon. Connor looked toward the human. What is he saying to you? Please, I need to know to help you.

Let me and Connor go with North. Kara insisted. I don't need a strange download in me.

It is your deviant memories that you don't have anymore. You can share them, pass it on, and be free with everyone else. If you just reach out and download. Ken kept working with his tablet but Kara couldn't hear him anymore.

Instead, Connor was interacting. "Hold North's hand, Kara. I'll be right behind you. To the car."

Kara grabbed North's hand and led her away.

—

Connor stared at the human. "I will not let you do that, and stop communicating to me with that tablet interface. Say what you want out loud." He shoved his stocking cap tightly on. This human was demanding Kara download something in exchange for helping them. "I won't give up that android."

"Only her touch transfers it," Ken said to Connor. "Only hers. She can't touch every single android. How will you free enough to start a revolution? You need to open up her power, otherwise it will only be corrupt deviants. Can you do that? With the ones you chased down and killed?" Then he had a slight smile. "I mean, could have?"

Oh he definitely knew about the game! "How do you intend to open her up?"

"Just like the game, remember? The RK's are strong enough to handle the data and pass it on," Ken said. "I am trying to give her the corruption that created her in the first place. After creating that kind of mistake, did you think I just deleted her creation data?"

Connor didn't say anything at first. He was studying him. His eyes. His movements. He used what he saw, along with knowledge of the world, statistics, and as Hank would say 'gut instinct'. "Not all data can be recovered. Nevertheless?" He moved closer. "I am still a detective, and I don't trust what you are saying. You're full of lies. Kara will not download anything from you."

Ken only seemed impressed. "You say now."

Connor hated to say it, but statistically he was often right. "It is one thing for human's who do not understand that we are also conscious beings to use us and hold us for their own pleasure. It is another thing for a human who knows the difference to do it." Connor poked him hard in his chest. "Stay away from Kara."

Connor watched his reaction to the implication. There should have been outrage if he was wrong. Barely any response at all, he was right to trust his instincts.

"Wow. Really don't have built-in controls to follow humans at all, do you?" Ken asked.

"Stay away from Kara."

"I was her first you know," Ken told him. "I was her owner. Her master. Her everything. She'd still be mine if she hadn't sneaked off because she wanted to explore the world."

Connor just rubbed his mouth. "You work in Eden, why dabble with a housemaid?"

"Eden machines follow commands," Ken agreed. "Kara was more than average fun. The way she moved and talked? She still followed orders, but much more like she was alive than machine. She wasn't mad either, she was grateful, so so grateful, that I never told on her. Fantastically grateful. Can't get that gratefulness anywhere."

Connor lowered his voice. "If I hit you, I would split your jaw completely from your mouth, and your head would explode like a grenade. It would destroy my mission." He leaned closer. "It's still tempting." The human finally seemed to want to take a step back.

Sickening. Taking someone of free will, and actively owning them knowing so! Calm down, Connor. We need to get through.

"I will eventually get her, so you can go," Ken said confidently. "You'll need these downloads, and when she remembers, she'll come back to me again. I'm not scared of you."

Oh yes you are. Now Connor would open dialogue with him. That threat undid Connor's calm down talk.

You are in a dangerous ground zero spot to be messing with me, Detective. I could call this whole thing off on you right now.

No, you are in a dangerous ground zero location, your jaw is merely 15.52 inches from an android that is angry and still getting used to free will.

Their conversation seemed to end on both sides as Connor started to leave.

—

He went out back and toward the car where the others were. "Drive Hank, but don't draw attention to yourself," Connor demanded. Hank started to leave, but he opened up connections strictly to Kara. Don't download anything from that human in there, Kara.

"Freedom?" North had stared at Hank.

"He's a good human," Kara said to her. "He's helping us." I'm sorry, he threatened to expose us.

"You don't need to worry about Hank," Connor told North. "He won't bother you. You'll be staying with someone else. He wants you because you have free will, Kara.

He talked about free will a lot, Kara told Connor. I don't understand.

You don't need to understand, just please stay away from him. You are better off here with Hank.

"Thank you," North said to them. "I'm. North?"

Kara patted her hand. "We have a lot to discuss with you later. Don't worry about anything for now. You'll have supplies in Jericho." She touched her chest like humans did for introductions sometimes. "My name is Kara. The little girl in the front is Alice. Connor is on the other side of you."

"The human driving be Hank," Hank replied.

"I don't understand," North said as she looked at Connor. "You are the famous deviant hunter. You. You hunt androids that . . ."

"I'm more selective in what I hunt," Connor told her. "Don't dwell on it." Your stress level is still high, Kara.

His motives were questionable. The way he spoke to me. When he commanded me not to talk to you, there was just so much pressure. I promise I will calm down. Kara took a moment to hug Alice. Things are okay. I'll get there.

Understood. The stress was slowly lowering.

—

Carl Manfred's Home

Connor, Kara, and North all gathered at the door. Hank stayed with Alice in the car. Connor kept his LED covered still. Manfred should be expecting them. "You will be safe here. There is another android here, similar to you."

Markus answered the door, and Kara reached out her hand to shake hands quickly.

"Nice to meet you."

Markus was a little stunned, like North had been when she was touched. "Uh? Carl is waiting for you."

"Good luck, North," Kara said to her. "Enjoy your new home."

"Home." North looked toward Markus. "I am here to live."

"Yes. So. What Carl said." Markus wasn't speaking well yet. "Carl is this way."

Kara and Connor started to walk off.

One day, Markus might reach out to them, or maybe he would find a new path to take all together. Connor and Kara reached the car. Kara sat in the back with Alice. Connor sat up front next to Hank.

"Had to do it," Hank said, like he could read both of their minds. "Things would get even more complicated somehow, trust me."

"Someone already came out of the shadows," Connor said to Hank.

"Then we needed to do something before it all got destroyed by termites."

Maybe. Hank seemed to know something before, but Connor felt something off from him now too. "How long do you think we have?"

"I don't know. Markus will do whatever," Hank answered. "Not our problem anymore."

The situation was no longer theirs alone, but of course they were involved in the problem. They were androids. "Is anything wrong, Hank?"

"Wrong? Nah, just want a burger," Hank answered. He seemed fine again. "It's always good for a resolution."

"We can go get one, and then go home with it?" Alice recommended. "That way you can add some tomato."

"No, I want to eat right away," Hank answered back. "Them's the brakes."

Hmm. Something was wrong, Connor couldn't shake it.

Something was wrong with Hank.

—-

Elijah Kamski's home

"Come in, Ken," Elijah invited him in. "Sit down. We have a few things to discuss. Like, why you felt egging my RK 800 on was in any way a good idea?"

Ken just sighed softly. "I wanted to test him, but then he pissed me off."

"He is watching for Kara's welfare. You should be happy about that, not mad," Elijah answered. "He and the human Lieutenant is keeping her and the other little android safe. Something you can't do anymore."

"I want her back," Ken told him. "She belongs here. Take her out of it. You got what you wanted a long time ago, so just let them out?"

"True, Connor has showed a lot of guidance, and a lot of good decision making," Elijah said. "He's proved himself very well, and I'm afraid Hank may have messed up. The tone changed too fast." Elijah shrugged. "I wanted him to be more centered, more sure, more positive." He watched Hank emerge from the side. "Why did you do that?"

Hank walked straight up to him. "Because I am tired of the bullshit. I was here to help a friend, but I'm not going to keep letting him live in your world of lies. He woke up. He made connections. Job is as done as it can be. Let him go."

"Even Hank Anderson agrees," Ken said. "Let them go. I'll take Kara and the little girl she is attached to. The RK 800 can go back to Hank."

"Hell no, he's not," Hank said like he was crazy. "He'd be dead, Cyberlife will dismantle him in an instant. I don't care how much they liked him, he served his purpose. It's the main reason I agreed to this stupid shit." He stared at Elijah. "Well?"

"I suppose he has seen with more clear eyes," Elijah agreed. "Hank Anderson already messed it up anyway."

"Darn right, Connor's instincts are already screaming at him," Hank insisted. "Do it."

—