"I told her it would just be us." Still, Connor couldn't reject the human's presence.

"Are two here to play? There will be an extra charge at the end." Kara had changed her position on the table, her head was hanging down while one of her feet hung in the air.

"Sure," Gavin approached her.

Connor watched as Gavin grabbed her by the neck and pulled her back upright on the table. Damn it! "Be more careful, don't break her, we need her!" Connor connected with Hanks phone, Hank could stop Gavin. Not him.

Gavin dragged her like a ragdoll across the table surface. "Now see, I am not one that prefers androids. I know they are supposed to be the best, but I was never able to bring myself close in that kind of way. I mean, what feels better than a real woman?"

Connor watched as Gavin did the same thing that Kara had done to him. He was . . . kissing her. "Please!"

It didn't last very long. "I mean? I don't think its any better than a human woman's," Gavin said to him. "But it's really hard to tell the difference."

"Gavin!"

Thank goodness. Connor's lungs were bugging him a lot right now. "Hank. It was supposed to be just me."

"Gavin, get the hell out!" Hank ordered him.

"Just curious," Gavin said casually. "It'd be interesting to get a peek at those downloads." He just smiled at Connor. "Did you, you little pervert? Did you grab those yet?"

No, and Connor was sure he didn't need to. He watched Gavin get kicked out by Hank.

"Off the table, stand up over here," Hank said toward Kara.

"Are we switching partners again?" Kara asked.

"Yes," Connor said quickly.

Kara pulled her body off the table like being dragged across it didn't bother her. It shouldn't, she couldn't feel pain, she was an android. "What would you like for me to do for you, Sir?"

"Tell me whether you got a number ten or not," Hank asked.

A number ten?

"I don't know what you mean," she answered. "Please rephrase the sentence."

"You are like Connor," Hank said to her.

"That is not like me!" Connor corrected him. "Why would you say that Hank?"

"She's got multiple bodies," Hank told him. "Kara. Do you have another body after number nine?"

"I don't know what you mean," she answered. "Please rephrase the sentence."

"Hm. Probably not going to include it since that knowledge was before these installs. She's all prewrapped not to be deviant," Hank said.

"Prewrapped. Maybe that's the way to stop deviancy." Yet, Connor didn't get anything from it. "Eden's Club probably worked with her several times. It would be better to have something reliable to stop the deviantry."

"Whatever, it was a dead end, and don't download anything from her on this side," Hank warned him. "It's not going to help. You didn't even have to open up this side."

"I explore all possibilities." Still. There was regret. Hank could see it.

"Yeah, she'll be back to normal soon," Hank said casually. "Kara will be better soon."

"This is her design, she was designed for that," Connor said. He just stared at her strange, dead smile. "She should feel more normal and useful as an android without deviation."

"Instead, it makes you feel like shit to see her that way," Hank said to him. "Of course. The misfit part is Kara, not this crap. Maybe she was designed to be that way, but the real her isn't."

"There was nothing on this side to help stop the deviancy signal," Connor informed him. "Nothing. She could serve humans or fight humans, but there was no new information at all to help. Kamski was wrong."

Connor watched as she told them how much time they had left, and started to recommend activities to try.

"Nah, nah, nah, we just want to stand here and have you stand there," Hank said to her. "Clothes on and synthetic skin on, the whole thing."

"Am I not offering enough?" Kara asked. "I am programmed to keep offering things so clients enjoy their full twenty minutes. No options have appealed, I'll try a different area. Romance. Would you like to dance?"

"No," Connor said. "Just stand there and-"

"Yeah," Hank said instead. "Get up there and bust a move, Connor."

Dance? Connor moved up. "I am not installed with any dance moves."

"Then fix the problem," Hank said.

Hank was a strange human sometimes. Connor installed some basic dance moves. One of them would be in her system. He took Kara's hand and began to dance. The whole thing was strange. "This feels like dancing with a doll."

"Then ask the real Kara to dance later," Hank recommended. "To me it's like watching two wind-up dolls, all rigid with no feeling."

Hank was strangely judging him for being an android. Again.

"Ask Kara to dance later," Hank said again, this time with no joke in his voice. "Right before we all go back."

That was strange. "Why?"

"It's an order." Hank made it clear.

There were no priority orders that would interfere with that order. Strange, but he would comply of course.

Kara soon went into standby, and then snapped out of it again. "Hank? What are you doing here?"

"Had to come in," Hank said to her. "Good to see you back. Let's head back to the room now."

Oh. She was more back to her usual functions. Right before they left, Hank said he had to ask her to dance. "Kara, would you like to dance?"

Kara just looked at him strangely, then at Hank. "No."

"Give it one round," Hank insisted. "What'll it hurt?"

"I don't know dances," she said, "that's all tucked in the program."

"Eh. Connor, give her the dance," Hank insisted.

"I'd rather just go back." Kara never had a problem saying no. "Is this important?"

"Every bit helps," Hank said to her. "One dance, one stupid dance."

Hank didn't exhibit any signs he was drinking, but he was acting weird. Still, an order was an order. If Kara followed the order too.

Kara seemed to cave and came over. "I don't understand this, Hank, but if you think it's that important. Fine." She accepted the instructions to the dance they had just had.

Connor approached her again.

"We need music," Kara said to Hank. "Something middle ground slow."

"Got it." Hank pulled out his phone and set a middle-paced song off his playlist.

Connor watched as Kara gently took his hand and brought him forward. She was gentler than she had been before. He started dancing, but she wasn't keeping up.

"Slow down, slower song," Kara insisted. "Stay straight but relax."

The slower rhythm was not matching the moves. He looked at Hank, hoping he'd see some answer as to why Hank wanted Connor dancing with her. Hank was just busy on his phone though.

Then, Connor felt himself getting spun out, and spun back in. That was my move, not yours, and that was too fast.

I did it sooner, I didn't want you to thrust me across the wall or something.

I know the move perfectly fine. I will show you. Connor found a moment in the dance where he would be able to insert a spin. He spun out Kara, and brought her back. See?

Nice spin, Kara complimented him. Do you have any idea why Hank wanted us to dance?

No idea whatsoever. Maybe he was hoping I could use this as a nice transition to break bad news? Oh, that made a little sense.

What bad news? Did something happen to me? Kara asked. Why was Hank here? He said he had to come.

Well, I did tell you that it would just be us in this room. Connor saw her eyes were a lot wider than usual. Gavin actually came in.

You just let him come in during that program?! Ooh, not well.

Connor went ahead and spun her out to distract her a moment as he explained. I cannot tell a human no, but I called out to Hank's phone and he came to get rid of him.

Thank goodness. Thank you for calling out to Hank, Connor.

Yes. I. I didn't think Gavin would be good, he is questionable, and I didn't want him to deactivate you. You should know though, I found nothing extra in there at all.

I told you.

Kamski cannot finish the story, and there is nothing here. I have lost all leads to destroy the signal. He felt Kara lean against him closer than before as they danced. Her movement felt more resigned. I have one more week to keep looking, Kara.

Those were the best of leads. Kara took herself further away again. Sorry, I didn't mean to lean so close. I want someone trustworthy to watch over Alice when this is over.

There is still one week before I have to terminate you. She sounded like she had given up hope on him. I never fail a mission.

I know. That's why I know that I won't be here for much longer. Do you think Hank would want her?

Hank doesn't know her very well, and you shouldn't be thinking about that. I will figure this out, before I have to go that far. This was the problem with Kara. Believing that she was a living being, made it hard to look at the big picture. She was contemplating her being inactive and taking care of Alice, instead of focusing on ways to get better. Do not get reckless, your stress level is rising.

Kara still looked terrible. He would need better words. A week is a decent amount of time. Anything can happen within the span of a week. Relax. Spend time with Alice.

I'm sorry, if I did or said anything that . . . made you uncomfortable.

Connor thought back to when she basically grabbed him and kissed him. You were overenergetic and grabbed me. I wasn't thrilled about it, but I knew that it wasn't you. You are an android that would ask.

I grabbed you? I am so sorry, Connor, she apologized. That really wasn't me.

No, it wasn't. I wouldn't mind being grabbed by you if you asked. That would be logically okay, though most don't ask and then grab someone.

Kara just shook her head at him. Did I do anything else, were you okay?

You couldn't damage me in any way, even if you wanted to. Still. You performed an act reserved for humans. It was obtrusive.

Kara looked terrible. If you actually use the word obtrusive, it was really bad. I don't think I can say sorry enough.

Well? It wasn't terrible, once again, I just would like to know if someone wants me to analyze their mouth. Connor watched Kara completely move away. The dance isn't over yet.

I cause people to want to fight me, what you are saying sounds more like I was kissing you? Analyzing? Was?

There were two parts to the program you ran. I ran both parts. Oh, like she hadn't been stressed enough. It was fine, you didn't damage me. It looked more damaging with Gavin.

Gavin?!

Yes. He wanted to analyze you. Kiss you. He wanted to see what it was like to kiss an android. He had even grabbed her around like a ragdoll, holding onto her neck while he tried it. There was no damage either to you. Hank came in.

Is that all he did?

There was no damage. He was a little rough around your neck, but you were fine. Hank came in. Same phrase again. Analysis is something I just use to detect things. Therefore, there was no damage. To either of us. To me. To you. To Gavin. No damage.

I don't want to know anymore. I have nothing left that I can say. I just want to leave.

I don't mind analysis? Kara wasn't raising in stress, but she still wasn't her misfit self. I analyze several things Hank thinks is distasteful, but I am an android, and that is what I do. Your mouth was no worse than human blood.

Kara really tried to distance herself, but Hank said they needed to dance. They weren't done yet.

Sorry, human blood might not be the thing to say for comparison. It wasn't human blood. I didn't actually analyze anything, I had been caught off my guard. He tried to move her back into the dance. We need to complete this.

You need to, I was just being kind to Hank. "I'm done."

No. I don't finish things partly, I complete them. Connor brought her back over. The song is almost done, we need to finish this.

I said I didn't want to.

Kara! Not this. Don't start with your misfit ways right now, you are disobeying a direct order I have from Hank. Connor tried to force her to dance, but he found that dancing was not as easy to force her to do. Kara!

"I had my neck squeezed, I forcibly grabbed people and kissed them, and I was forcibly grabbed and kissed, Connor! After learning all of that strain, I still have to deal with the fact that I am going to continue to hurt others, and I have to stop existing, to end it. So, no, I don't want to keep dancing anymore."

"I have been trying to make you feel better misfit, I can't believe you are denying me this."

"It didn't feel good when I grabbed you against your will. It didn't feel good when I forcibly kissed you. Grabbing me and continuing this dance is the same kind of force."

The dance was nearly over. Having her actually stop dancing, already ended it. To complete it, he would have to start and end a new dance. He didn't like the way she put it though. "I need a full dance with you later, when you are feeling better and more willing to cooperate."

Fine.

"You two suck," Hank said. "Got mostly what I needed. A little. Got one more favor, Connor."

Connor swore Hank was actually smiling devilishly.

"Analyze Kara's mouth."

"Hank," Kara chided him.

"It's an order. Get to it," Hank demanded. "I want a full analyzation of everything in there."

Uh? "Kara isn't participating that well."

"Yeah, I heard, I'm not deaf. It's your order, get to it." Hank stared at him. "Or have you stopped taking orders?"

"Hank, what are you trying to accomplish?" Kara complained to him. "I want to go back to my cell."

An order was an order, no matter how much Connor didn't understand it. Kara was not being willing, so he would have no choice but to put some force on her. Nothing that would damage her.

Kara could tell though, so he grabbed her quick.

"Stop," Hank commanded, "just hold her there."

Connor followed the order, but Hank was just playing on his phone again. Recording them. He had been mostly recording them through the dance too. What was he trying to do?

"Better struggle Kara, or you are going to get kissed by that idiot," Hank warned her. "God knows who wants that."

Kara did struggle in his arms, so Connor had to hold her tighter. She yelled for him to let go, but he wouldn't. He couldn't. Hank said to hold her. He had to hold her. Even though she didn't want him to hold her.

"Hank, damn it, what are you trying to get out of this already?" Kara said quite fed up with Hank. She was even starting to cry again. "I just want to go back! Just let me go." All of her struggle was starting to die out. "Fine, I don't care, as long as I can just end this."

Connor watched her move closer to him. Her skin was still wet.

"Just take it. The kiss, the dance, whatever, then let me go back."

Okay. Logically. Kara should be in a better mood to dance. "I will analyze you."

"Then analyze me." She wasn't helping, but she wasn't scooting back.

Okay. He could analyze her now. That wouldn't be too hard. He just had to get closer to her mouth. Easy. He widened her mouth. Her tongue was right there. Simple.

It wasn't what she wanted. It was an order though. An order by Hank, a human. His human partner. The misfit would just have to cope, like he did. It didn't do any damage.

"Don't got all day for this Connor," Hank complained. "You two are giving me a whole lot of nothing. Fine, forget it, I'll work with what I got."

No! Those weren't words of a successful mission at all, whatever Hank wanted, he wasn't going to be successful. Connor grabbed Kara's mouth and analyzed it.

There wasn't much there, but Hank wanted a full analyzation, so he checked everywhere he could. Temperature, lower than human, but comfortable. He could sense the blue blood in her tongue, coasting inside of it, keeping her active. Keeping her functioning.

"Okay, okay, you made it, Connor!" Hank yelled at him. "Stop kissing already."

Connor let go of her mouth. "I wasn't kissing, I was analyzing her mouth."

He moved Kara away. "Sorry. It was needed." He showed her his phone. "We have not been able to get Ken to respond. I think this video of you dancing and kissing Connor might do the trick."

"Don't send that," Kara commanded.

"Too late, did it already. I need to talk to him."

"Ken is not gonna, oh, I can't believe this!" Kara didn't look well. "May I please just return to Alice now?" Kara asked him. "Please?"

"Yeah, come on." Hank led her out.

Hmm . . . "There was something interesting in that analyzation. Kara?" Connor called to her. "I want to analyze you some more."

"No."

"A different kind of analyzation," Connor said. "I think it might help us find you if you are pulled apart from your body." Yes, that made her stop in her tracks. "Hank, could you bring Wallet and Echo in here?"

Connor waited in the room with Kara until Wallet and Echo came in. Echo came over to Kara and him, using his echo locator once again. "Good boys. Come here." Wallet and Echo moved over toward him.

Let's see. "I've never done this one before. There is potential in it."

"What is it you want to try?" Kara asked.

Connor gave her Wallet. "Wallet is best utilized for this. Hold him, please." Kara held the cat. "Mouth, please."

"Why?" She was of course confused.

"There are no defenses in your mouth, nothing sets off your stress level," Connor said, "and I need to go back into you, along with Wallet, which is an unknown that your mind may see as a threat."

"Wallet?" Kara looked down at Wallet. "Connor, pets don't visit inside like that."

"Neither do other androids, and that rule is easily broken." She wasn't the most confident, but conceded. "It would be even better receptively if you performed the action back."

"Don't push it," Kara told him.

Fine, fine. Connor touched Wallet as he pulled in Kara to kiss her. Analyze her. He was right, there were no defenses at all.