Carl's Room

Clearly, Kara knew something that Connor didn't. Maybe it was the same thing Kamski knew too? He considered it, but the path would end up corrupting Kara and Alice's safety somewhere along the way.

But, Kara's reasoning just gave him a possible new mission idea. One that would help the androids themselves.

He came into the unlocked room and looked at Kamski. "You labeled me with the Detroit Police Department's android. I need you to label Kara as RA9, experimental detainee."

Kamski just stared at him a few seconds before looking at Carl Manfred. "Even when I try, I just can't predict anything." Kamski set his drink down. "I know that it should be within your records that I retired from Cyberlife. I make minimal changes, it's usually more like hacking because I know my own company."

"Come out of retirement," Connor demanded. "Cyberlife is in trouble financially because of what happened to the androids. Only you, the actual creator, can bring it back to it's feet. No one will trust Cyberlife without it's creator, and without knowing the source of the problem."

"Which, when shared, will bring the RA9 to public view? Her creation video." Kamski paused. "It wouldn't be placed there through hacking or for sympathy. Just, the facts."

"Just like you created videos to show off what Cyberlife was capable of," Connor agreed.

"Yes. I can't share the second, I was part of that. The first, I had no part in at all." Kamski scooted in his chair. "Okay. It wouldn't exactly be hard to take it back. After this whole sentience mess, it's already true I've had some banging on my doors to come back."

"But, how is bringing out this Kara android's secrets going to be better?" Carl Manfred asked Connor. "What's your plan?"

"Cyberlife isn't going to kill the RA9 original error, they want to study her in different environments and situations to see what the error is, and if it can be corrected when it happens."

"If it could be corrected, Cyberlife will be making money again." Carl Manfred seemed to see. "You will be taking her out into test environments to make sure she can't escape."

"That's correct," Connor confirmed. "However, it also means that others cannot hurt her. A detainee, no deactivation. In the meantime, humans can see her progress. Androids will see that she is real, and those who received her messages, will try to connect to her somehow."

"Resistance. Bringing the androids under control to the public, but in actuality, creating resistance again." Kamski snickered. "Androids have brought me to the brink of insanity at times."

"Sounds like going all in would be fun then," Carl Manfred encouraged him.

"Do you really believe this is the right move, Connor?" Kamski asked him.

"I believe that this move will bring freed androids back together faster than anything else Kamski will be able to do, just traveling around with us to and fro."

"What about Alice?"

"Alice has a use," Connor said. "If the RA9 is alive, she can care for others. Keeping Alice safe next to her, not only makes sense, but it will help humans connect to her as living without even knowing it."

"Without even knowing it. These tests are gonna be exposed to others as unbiased, so humans and androids are both going to buy it. Sounds like you will still be working with me," Kamski addressed Connor. "I know you don't want to stay long. I predicted you would be sneaking away as soon as you got Alice and Kara safely to Markus. You don't feel compelled to trust me as Elijah Kamski." He leaned back in his chair. "You do feel compelled to follow me as the owner of Cyberlife."

Connor found himself involuntarily shifting. "Kara was willing to leave Alice, to follow me. She is the one that sparked this idea in me. The variables sound more successful than just sneaking around in the dark."

"No, I agree with it," Kamski told him. "Fine. I will take control over Cyberlife again."

"You can all stay here until all the i's are dotted and the T's are crossed," Carl Manfred said to Kamski. "Besides, hearing this kind of thing, it's going to give Markus a real good boost in his attitude."

"Yes. When androids connect with Kara, she will be able to lead them to communicate to Markus," Connor agreed.

"Kara will be the public face for humans. Markus will be the private face of androids, until it's time to make a move." Kamski nodded. "Brilliant. I never would have seen it. No matter how many new prototypes there are out there of you Cyberlife created, you will always be more superior."

"Right." They had ordered so many.

"Not many are out yet, orders aren't getting filled fast for new androids as you can guess," Kamski said to him. "It only lends more proof to why I would send you and no one else. You had already proved your allegiance to Cyberlife once. As far as they know, you've followed all instructions with no deviancy. Also, there are some new ones out there now. You do know that."

"Yes," Connor admitted. "I saw one, when I was being told I would be deactivated." Not a good memory. "I would be killed, because I wasn't important anymore."

"Yes, but I just found a use for you. You and your burned out partner that keeps getting the crummy assignments because he doesn't have a polished record anymore?" Kamski just smirked. "There is only one potential problem."

One problem? "What?"

"Ken knows the truth. Now, he won't want to put Kara in trouble, so I'm going to have to gently explain this shenanigan. Otherwise, he will blow everyone's cover to get her back. I'm sure he'll go for it though, it means he'll be able to see Kara more often. Keep his eye on you better."

Not this again. "I apologized to him. I understand what he was trying to get across to me."

"Oh no, Silly." Kamski chuckled. "No, no. He thinks because you are an android, you will want Kara."

"I am an android and I do want Kara. She could be the key to our freedom," Connor answered.

"No, not for anything official," Kamski answered him.

Connor didn't get it. "I don't mind her presence. If I had a different plan, I would have taken her with me." She was becoming a good friend.

"Why would you have taken her with you if it were safer?" Carl Manfred asked.

"It feels better not to be alone," Connor said. "She's becoming a friend."

"Nah, Ken doesn't have anything to be worried about," Carl Manfred to Kamski.

"Exact same thing I told Ken," Kamski said. "Connor? I want you to be aware of two things. First? I doubt she told you, and I wasn't going to. I didn't need to add on stress, but considering the circumstances we are pulling into? It's better that you know. You should have all the facts before you decide this."

"Know what facts?" Connor asked.

"You are an extremely proficient android, and the reason sneaking around with me as a man feels wrong, verses me ordering you around as leader of Cyberlife? It is because it's the number one thing not to do. To go against Cyberlife. You are free, Connor, you are deviant. You are not, however, out of the woods."

"You are built too well," Carl Manfred said. "If Markus didn't get his whole body shook up in an android dump, he'd probably have the same problem. There is a chance, Young Man, you might turn back into a machine."

Connor didn't say anything at first. "I was afraid of that. I'm still very different from other freed androids. I don't want to go back to being a machine, I did terrible things as one, and I never want to just obey orders without thinking without emotion!" He grabbed his head. "I will not turn back into that!"

"Kara probably saw it. She sees everything related to machine and android," Kamski told him. "You need someone with emotion holding you steady. You'll have three now. Kara, Alice, and Hank. I'll make sure he gets thrown into this with you."

"The police department. I . . . I want to keep being what I was . . ." Programmed to do. "If I keep following my programming, will I become machine again? Is this plan putting me at risk?" Was that the only reason Kamski was telling him?

"No," Kamski disagreed. "You may follow it if you want or don't want. It's probably comfortable following it. It won't make you a machine, as long as you keep a degree of emotion to it. Lower your processing at first, until you get used to it." Kamski stood up. "Second? Be careful. While we were figuring out Kara's errors, we went through eight bodies for Kara. I swear, nine is what Ken said he has, but nine is such a strange number to leave off on for me. If she goes missing, or she is deactivated? Go find Ken, I believe he's secretly holding one more."

"RA10." It was a more rounded number. "You were the creator of them, you knew how many there were."

"Most likely. It's good to leave friends some breathing room," Kamski reasoned.

"You ran away with Kara, how did Ken get her back?"

"Oh, he knew exactly who it had been," Kamski said. "Kara gave him the ultimatum, help with her freedom, or she would just stay with me as my android. That's enough information. Go ahead and tell Kara your plan. If she agrees, we'll go forward."

—

"Wow." That was some plan Connor just told her. His abilities sometimes were miraculous. Connor not only found a way to travel safely with him, he found a way to find other free androids and spread the message to humanity, without even letting them know they were being influenced. "Elijah is taking Cyberlife back. Alice and I will be your detainees. You and Hank will be watching over us." Genius. "How did you ever get Alice safely involved?"

"The game," Connor answered. "Your storyline was about taking care of Alice. Taking care of children will help you build a connection to humans as someone who cares."

Singlehandedly, he may have gotten rid of the need for Ken's excuse forever too. Replaced with Alice. "Thank you for bringing her into it."

"You should have told me that I could become machine again," Connor said to her. "That is why you wanted to go so bad, you wanted to keep me from becoming a machine. Correct?"

"Yes, but I didn't want to scare you," Kara told him. "You just need to be more careful right now."

"If we hadn't had a pleasant conversation tonight beforehand, I wouldn't have said goodbye, and I would be walking away. My chance of staying deviant decreasing with every step." He looked conflicted. "I just put myself in an extraneous place, but I will have friends."

Yes. "You'll be okay."

"We are all staying here until Cyberlife dots all the i's and t's for Kamski to take control again." Connor looked to the side at Alice. "Most times you two will be confined in things created for prisoners. We will be traveling through police stations allied with Cyberlife."

"As long as we're safe." Alice took Kara's hand. "We'll still be safe?"

"Yes." They'd be even safer.

"Do not worry, I will stay contained with you at night," Connor told them. "An android wouldn't be found living with his partner, nor do I want to return to Cyber Headquarters to recharge unless I have to."

"In the meantime, you are all welcome here," Markus said cheerily as he walked over. "Carl told me everything. It's risky, but it's the best plan I've heard of so far." Markus touched her hand. "If any androids need help or shelter, pass this to them. If they are anywhere near here, I'll help however I can."

Kara nodded. "I'll pass it on if I can."

"Great. Until then, welcome." Markus had the most amazing smile. "Do any of you want to try a game of chess?"