A Fighter Who Tries His Best

Runaways

Connor found himself standing in the same cherry blossom garden where he met Amanda. Something that made it feel different than the place he step his foot into was a small bridge with garden of roses by the end of it. Connor knew it must be Amanda's doing, but he couldn't find her presence anywhere. He was alone no matter how long he walked across the garden of flowers as far as his eyes could scan to the horizon.

Until suddenly, a gentle voice of a lady was heard between the garden of roses by the end of the bridge.

"Hello, Connor. It's nice to see you again." Amanda waved at Connor from the garden as she was watering the flowers. "Come here."

Connor looked at Amanda from the distance in confusion, butbhe slowly approached her anyway. A lot of question are yet to be answered. The fragrance of red and white rose perkeating the room were not affecting Connor since he was an android who was not designed with a sense of smell.

"So, tell me about the little girl. What happened between you and her?" Amanda asked Connor as she kept watering the flowers.

"I could not tell for sure whether I could be close to her or not. She had a shock from the moment I was out of my control." Connor shrugged in guilt, remorse and confusion as he had no idea what he had done before. "You said about showing me something. Killing Todd...was it your doing?"

"I just activated your self-defense. Technically I saved your life from further damage that man would do to you." Amanda put her watering pot on the white coffee table next to her.

"Amanda, you don't understand. I could be a deviant at any time I disobey." Connor said in a confused and panic tone.

"Actually I do, Connor." Amanda folded her hands. "You are the most advanced android with the ability to disobey, lie, and cheat to save lives at all cost and being hunted down by cops with another android that replaced your position is one of the cost you would pay. But you are not a deviant...yet."

"What do you mean not yet? There is another android sent to kill me?"
Connor shook his headbin confusion, but Amanda slowly disappeared into the dark mist as her voice echoed through the garden.

"Yes, there is another android sent to kill you. However, you asked the question at the wrong time. What you need to do now is to find out about the little girl. She may know what happened."

"Would I remember anything after I talk to Alice?"

"That is a question for another time, Connor. You were made from what you choose..."

Amanda's voice slowly fades within the mist. Connor searched for Amanda but she was nowhere to be found. The mysterious dark mist already enveloped the whole garden. All he could hear was a faint noise calling his name.

"Amanda, where are you?" Connor shouted.

"Connor..." the faint noise shouted his name again, but the mist blurred his vision.

"Amanda!"

"CONNOR!"

SLAP!

Connor opened his eyes and saw Alice looking at him in concern. He felt no pain but he knew that someone have slapped his face to wake him up. Standing next to him was a blonde-haired android dressing as the bus driver.

"I'm sorry, but this is the end of the road." Said the driver. "In case you asked about who slapped you from your sleep, it was the little girl."

Connor looked at Alice, wondering about the reason she slapped him on the face. The little girl pouted and said, "I'm sorry..."

Connor only smiled and put his hand on her hair, gently rubbed her hair. There was nothing much he could do as he looked outside the window. Even though he could find a little shelter for Alice and him, it would not be in any good condition. Connor didn't calculate this situation in mind. He still had to get out of the bus.
"Come on, Alice. We have to go."
Connor took Alice's hand and walked out of the bus. But suddenly, the bus driver held his hand. Both of their hands turned white as his LED started blinking.