Deviants Fallen: A DBH Story

Chapter 26: Black and Purple

Clara spent the next few hours discussing with the androids about their next move, and eventually, they reached what felt like a plausible solution. 

"I'll need to get North to agree," Clara said. "It won't work without her and the rogue deviants."

"If any human could convince her to cooperate, it would be you." Simon gave her a soft smile, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand.

"Thanks," she said, squeezing back and returning the smile. "Now, I'll need your guys' help for the next few steps. Connor is already suspicious. I have no doubts that he'll suspect foul play. It's a miracle I've been able to get away with as much as I have. If we give any indication of what we're planning, Cyberlife will clamp down on us, and I'll be powerless to stop them. It's imperative that this remains between the four of us for now."

The androids nodded solemnly.

"We'll do everything in our power to see this through." Kara's voice was sober.

"Good." Clara gave them all a bright smile. "Now let's begin."

*****

Connor watched the exchanges between Dr. Hayes and the android curiously. He wasn't sure what group therapy was supposed to look like, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something important. 

He watched their conversation progress, idly spinning his coin. Then turned his thoughts to Dr. Hayes recent behavior. She was showing no residual signs of fear or trauma from her experience with the rogue deviants, which struck him as odd. In fact, if anything, she seemed more confident, relieved even. 

Then there was her behavior toward Dr. Hollister. She seemed afraid of him at times, and she avoided interacting with him, but hearing his plan to use one of her subjects seemed to have awakened something in her. A colder, almost detached side of her that Connor had never seen. And when she went to talk to the doctor at his lab earlier, she had shown no signs of fear or anxiety, like were present every other encounter. Quite the opposite actually. She'd been calm and composed, in complete control. Then, when she'd attacked the man, it had been with a level of coordination and swiftness that was unexpected given what appeared to be her natural clumsiness usually. 

So much about this woman was contradictory. Who was she really? He felt like he had several pieces of a puzzle, but no idea how they fit together. Instead he was left with a jumbled mess of words and behaviors that were incongruent. He felt a conclusion dance on the edge of his consciousness, but he couldn't reach it without more clues. 

These thoughts rolled around in his head for the duration of the conversation between Dr. Hayes and the deviants. Eventually, she stepped out of the interrogation room, locking the door behind her. 

"I've decided that Simon is going to be my assistant in addition to Kara," she announced, looking at Connor. 

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Connor said cautiously. "One deviant assistant is bad enough."