Three weeks. It had been three weeks since the hostage situation on the rooftop, and while Connor had previously never had a problem storing and locking memories away in databanks only accessed when necessary, the piercing look on that android’s – on Daniel’s – face when he’d fallen remained.
“You lied to me, Connor. You lied to me..”
Connor’s fingers tapped mindlessly against his leg, closing his eyes to stabilise his systems from the frustration that rose. He was a police android, he wasn’t meant to feel anything. He’d done his job; gain the deviant’s trust, rescue the hostage. Even if he could have stopped the snipers, there was no way Daniel would be allowed to continue functioning. Being shot was only one of two options he’d had, and Connor had been there to ensure that happened.
Lifting his head when Hank motioned him to follow, the android stood and left his desk, following his partner obediently. “Got another job for us, more for you, I guess. Another fuckin’ deviant, takes this kid hostage and just runs outta the home. Dad’s not exactly stand up, but he’s a normal guy. Apparently the deviant was busted and repaired, probably shoulda been scrapped.”
Connor’s expression remains detached as he watches Hank, tilting his head slightly. “So there was motive?” Hank shrugs theatrically. “Who fuckin’ cares, it’s a deviant android, which means we get to unleash our local deviant dog on ‘em.”
Two hours later found Connor on the streets; their first stop had been the house in question, and now, he found himself in a crowded marketplace, scanning faces. Kara, was the deviant’s name. And, eerily similar to Daniel, she’d been very close with her now-hostage child.
“We’re going to need money, soon.”
A slight brunette clings to plastic-coated hand with a desperation, a ferocity that hopefully most children do not have to experience -- a ferocity Kara wished Alice had never tasted. Gray eyes slide down to a tentative-faced child. Kara knows Alice well enough to know that the only reason she’d speak up is if she were truly concerned.
“We’ll need more clothes, and food.”
“What if they remotely deactivate you?”
“Maybe we should find a new spot -- I thought -- last night...” Alice trailed off, uncertain, and Kara’s lips thinned, knees bent in front of small charge. The child was nearly frozen with terror.
“Alice...” Kara’s voice fell low, careful, hands wrapping around the one that had been offered to her long ago. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you anymore. You’re going to be happy. We’re going to live, together, and it’s going to be beautiful!” Conviction, there, in her eyes -- in the quick flash of a smile. “We’re going to keep protecting each other, like we’ve been doing, okay? You’re safe now.”
Alice wrapped a tentative grasp around Kara’s shoulders, and Kara knew she would give anything to make her promise a reality.
The streets of Detroit were both exactly what Kara had envisioned and nothing like she imagined -- rain-slick and dirty, boisterous and crowded. No place for a child like Alice. They had found shelter in an abandoned construction site days ago, and Kara was staying there while she worked out a better plan to get accommodation without being scrapped.
After all, with the topic of android deviancy still fresh on everyone’s minds from recent news, she was sure she would have trouble convincing adult humans that she was owned by a child and had totally pure intentions about removing her from her home.
Kara, of course, had since changed -- no uniform, long hair cut and cropped short, and she mostly kept her gaze down, despite the bubbling of excitement in her throat to attempt to reach out and feel, experience this world around her. Her own wish to live life came second, of course. Alice was more important.
She had to protect Alice...
Slowly, carefully, Kara raised from her crouched position -- saw a man handing out fliers. It wasn’t food, or clothing, but an idea still came to her that flicked at the corners of her lips, regardless.
“Stay close to me, Alice.”
They hadn’t been able to take much with them in their escape -- certainly nothing that Alice had held dear. So, as she wove her way through a market place with Alice and fliers wrapped in fingers, Kara researched, counted her steps back to their hideaway.
“Do you know how to do origami?”
“The art of paper folding -- making people out of paper.”
“People, objects. Dragons, flowers, owls -- dolls.” Kara smiled at Alice’s automatic indecision. “We will not do it if you do not want to -- I thought it may be better than nothing, for now.”
I thought. The words that had once condemned her -- they, and the ones following, now brought a small simper to Alice’s features as she reached out accept one of the papers.
From their spot came murmured instructions -- soft laughs from both -- peaceful and gentle. A sacred moment.
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