Deviant Hunter of New Detroit- A Detroit: Become Human Fanfiction

Chapter 20: A World Without Choice

Kara tried to remain positive. She kept a smile on her face for everyone. She'd like to believe it would be so simple. Banished and over. Heh. Banished and over. It would be so lovely if that was a thing. Where she got tired enough and went 'no more'. Like the Network was just going to let them walk away after that. You have Connor. Markus is even here as backup. Just get to the humans. Give yourself purpose.

"Kara, you don't look so good over there," Markus said from the middle of the back seat. "Are you okay?"

Absolutely not. "Fine." Wear that smile. Pretend it wasn't over. Unless Tilly resets, and she won't, it's all over. Kara closed her eyes, listening to the children talk back and forth. She thought back to how much they went through with each other. House to house. Dancing in the rain. Sleeping on a rooftop. Merely such a short length now to Connor's dream plan. Owning a house.

That little place. She could have made it so homey. Cleaned it up some. The kids would have rooms. When it rained, they could gather to watch it instead of feeling cold and being in it. The kids would have played in the backyard together, with a playground. Something Max would be bound to enjoy. All the hurdles though were gone. Because Connor couldn't let go.

No, that's not right. If he let go, he would have those amenities with Max and Roxanne. That would not be her choice still. He and Max would be established, balance and happy though. At least, she knew they would all be okay. With the Network's care, she'd be fine. With her new Sugardroi Lewis, she'd have been fine.

"You look like your contemplating your own immediate shutdown over there," Connor noted as he looked toward her. "Relax. We will help the humans, but it's still the same thing."

"Yes, we'll reach the president later. Tell him that we aren't working for the Network," Markus agreed. "We are here for everyone."

It's all senseless words. Senseless. Why didn't you just go? Kara had been around Connor's positive attitude for too long. Even she had the audacity to speak up. I could run. I could take Alice and run. If they see I'm running, maybe they'll understand that I'm not a threat? I can't leave Alice in trouble. But, her life was more than just Alice now. Everyone in that car deserved a chance.

"Kara." She heard Connor's words again as he tried to grab her hand. "If you were human, I'd think you were about to have a stroke. I had no idea an android could be as fidgety as a human when scared," he said. "Everything is okay. We are going to Frankenmuth and making a deal. We are fine."

We aren't fine. We are never fine. They always have a plan. They always have a backup. The Network didn't survive this long as a fluke! Connor was holding her hand tighter again, but called to her with his AI. Just her.

You've been crying for miles now. I won't let anyone hurt us, you know that. Please stop? You have to have some faith. Markus and I are right here, you aren't on your own.

I should be. I will be.

Kara. There is no one even around here. It will be okay. Connor tried to convince her, but it was like someone in a burning house telling her there wasn't a serious fire. She could feel it all deep inside. Even burning memories. Memories.

"Kara? Kara, no!" Connor stopped the truck as he watched Kara start to bang her head on the dashboard. He'd seen that before! Carlos Ortiz' android. Markus was there too, and with combined power they made her stop. He got out of the car while Markus held her head from behind and got out to get to her side. He moved as fast as possible bringing her out of the truck.

Her level of stress was going through the roof so much, she was trying to self destruct. "Kara. Kara!" Connor tried to call out to her. Tried to reach her. "You have to stop this. You have to stop! Calm down, this isn't doing any good. You don't want to leave Alice all alone, do you?" Her stress only fell to a minor 98 percent.