Going Numb

Arna Went With Connor (16)

Arna's POV

The guards lead me and Connor through the building, and as we prepare to enter another area, we are scanned. I glance up slightly, hoping my model is still in the system.

"Agent 23 identified," the voice says. "Connor android identified. Agent 47 identified. Agent 72 identified." I tense up slightly. "CT600 android identified. Scan complete. Access authorized." If I could breathe, I would let out a sigh of relief. If it wouldn't get us caught. I look over as much of the room as I can without moving my head as we walk through. A pang of fear flits through me at the sight of the looming black statue in the middle of the building. I look forward again as we approach the elevator. Connor and I glance at each other fleetingly as the guards stand on either side of us.

"Agent 54," one of the guards says, touching the panel. "Level 31."

"Voice recognition validated," the automated voice says. "Access authorized." The elevator starts moving up, and Connor speaks in our heads.

"We need to be going down," he says. "We have to stop the elevator." I look up at the camera in the corner.

"Camera," I say. I hack into the system and shut it down, looking forward again. "Done." After a few seconds, he speaks again.

"I have a plan," he says. "Ready?" I take a second to prepare myself.

"Yes." He lunges toward the guard on the left and kicks the other in the gut. I throw myself at the other as Connor spins and shoots the first guard in the head. He throws the gun to me, and I twist the guard's arm backward, shooting him. Connor slowly stands up, nodding to me, and walks over to the panel, stopping the elevator.

"Please indicate your identity and destination," it says. Connor sighs quietly.

"Agent 54," he says in the guard's voice. "Level -49."

"Voice recognition validated. Access authorized." He steps back and looks down at me.

"So far so good." I nod.

"Now it just has to stay that way." He looks forward but slowly takes my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. I squeeze it back as the elevator reaches the right floor. The door opens, and Connor hacks into the panel, preventing anyone from following us. We walks through the walkway between the hundreds of thousands of AP700 androids. Connor nods to me, and we walk over to them, each grabbing one of their arms. Before we can do anything, however, Hank is shoved out into the aisle by...Connor? Another Connor?

"Easy, fucking piece of shit!" Hank exclaims. The other Connor, who's pointing a gun at Hank's head, looks at us.

"Step back, you two!" he says. "And I'll spare him." I look up at Connor before looking back at...the other one? I don't even know anymore.

"Sorry, guys," Hank says. "This bastard's your spittin' image, Connor."

"Your friend's life is in your hands. Now it's time to decide what matters most! Him...or the revolution."

"Don't listen to him! Everything this fucker says is a lie!" Connor glances down at me.

"We have to help him," he says telepathically. I frown.

"How?" I ask. "We can't give up, but we can't let him die." He sighs.

"I'm sorry, Hank!" he calls. "You shouldn't have got mixed up in all this!

"Forget about me," Hank replies. "Do what you have to do!"

"We can't trust him," Connor says. "The clone." I bite my lip.