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[missiondeterminant]

[Toplevels in the comments below! Canonmates, cross-canon, rp-canon, etc is all good.]

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[mamabot]

[ He's right; she doesn't want to hear it. :c

Nodding, she leads the way—the next room being the weird storage room. Discarded projects, materials of varying quality, and quite frankly weird artwork litter the space, as dark and creepy as the rest of the mansion, though not outright terrifying like the basement and the workshop.

Kara tugs back the drapes from the windows. The rain on the panes of glass beats out an erratic rhythm that fits too well with this part of the simulation. Only one of them results in something startling her as a mouse squeaks and runs off to hide somewhere else. ]

Now I know why he wanted to reset me. He needed someone to clean up this mess.

[ Did she always have disgusting owners? She hopes not. ]

The next room is the bathroom. If nothing here works, we should skip it. [ That poor android in the tub might be armed, you know? ] If we end up having to burn the house down, you can do the honors.

[ She's still sorry about your jacket... ]

[missiondeterminant]

Burning it down does sound appealing.

[He allows himself to admit that much, after a brief eyebrow raise at the mouse jump scare; humans really are a mess, pretty much universally. He loves Hank, but he's definitely included in that statement as well.

Connor steps up beside Kara at once of the windows, trying to test it, and while it won't open the glass itself seems normal. There's no telling for sure in a simulation like this, but--]

I think this can be broken.

[He just needs something heavy to do so with. The faster they can get out the better, and so he's happy not to explore any other rooms as long as there's something useful in here, which there hopefully should be. Pretty much every weird object ever seems to be in this room.]

[mamabot]

We can use the shotgun.

[ Whether with ammo or brute force, it'll work!

Very Helpfully, she leads the way to Zlatko's bedroom and grabs the shotgun, checking it for ammo -- empty, just like in the real mansion. A little disappointed -- she could've helped, but now she'll leave it to Connor, who is doubtless stronger than her -- she holds the weapon out to him. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[The fact that there's no ammo saves him from having to explain why shooting the window might not have been the best idea, and instead just nods as he takes the weapon. He glances briefly around Zlatko's room, just to make sure there's nothing else particularly useful, and notices the window; it seems very similar to those in the other room, so--]

Let's just go through this one.

[Smashing a window in Zlatko's bedroom seems even better than breaking his windows in another room. More personal.

He takes a moment consider the window, turning the shotgun in his hands to get the right grip on it before looking back at Kara.]

You should step back.

[And once she does, he lines up and slams the end of the shotgun into the window as hard as he can. It doesn't shatter, but it does chip and he gives it another hit, then another, and finally it breaks into pieces and he uses the gun to clear the windowframe of shards. Pleased with himself, he looks back at Kara again.]

Would you like to go first?

[She deserves to get out of this place as fast as possible.]

[mamabot]

[ It's satisfying to watch. Zlatko is dead, and now they're destroying his property. Petty, sure, but worth it.

She walks toward the window, a quick scan determining the risk of getting cut on the glass is minimal. Connor is thorough; she appreciates that. ]

This... this is gonna sound childish, but, I'd like us to go as close to together as we can. I don't wanna get separated.

[ It was scary being without his help a little while ago. :c ]

[missiondeterminant]

That isn't childish.

[And he means it, especially because he realizes he feels the same way. It's comforting to be close together, and they also already have plenty of reason to fear getting separated.

So he steps up close to the window again, waiting right next to it; as soon as Kara climbs out he'll follow her as closely as possible.]

I'll be right behind you.

[mamabot]

[ If she had it her way, they'd go together, hand in hand, but the window isn't big enough for that. She looks at him, nods, and goes for the newly broken window, carefully climbing through it and waiting with her grip on the frame.

Yeah she's really anxious about losing hum again, woops. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[He stays close, though when she stops while still holding onto the window frame he's momentarily confused.]

Is there something wrong?

[Is the drop further than they think, due to the weirdness of the simulation? Is there someone waiting out there?]

[mamabot]

No.

[ A look of embarrassment crosses her face, but she reaches out to grab his forearm anyway. ]

I just-- I really wanna be sure we stay together.

[ No hetero. Or... whatever the nonbinary equivalent is. No romance? None of that nonsense, how's that. ]

[missiondeterminant]

So do I, but I don't want either of us destroying a leg unit because we're trying to hold onto each other while climbing out of a window.

[He says it lightly, forcing a hint of a smile he absolutely doesn't feel in order to try to reassure her, but he does mean it. It's better if they just take turns and regroup; he'll literally be within fifteen feet of her.]

Focus on climbing, and I'll follow you.

[mamabot]

[ Fifteen feet is a lot of feet :c but okay. Kara nods and starts the climb down, not at all pleased with how slick the rain has made everything. Lightning flashes overhead, clearly for effect because why wouldn't it.

But she manages, somehow. She reaches the ground with no complications and faces the gate that'll lead them out of here, she hopes.

She also just stands there and waits for Connor to descend.

Never mind the android polar bear that may or may nor be sniffing around outside, around the corner, for completely and totally unrelated reasons. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor leans out the window and keeps watch over her as she climbs down, and as soon as she's on the ground he pulls himself through the window and hangs from the windowsill. He doesn't bother actually climbing down, just letting himself drop easily next to her, noting the polar bear but ignoring it as long as it ignores them.

Instead he focuses on the gate, and then glances toward Kara.]

Let's go.

[Who knows where the gate will actually take them, or what their next horrifying encounter is going to be, but he has to avoid thinking about that. One step at a time.]

[mamabot]

[ What a showoff. Kara gives him a wry grin -- it feels good to be able to joke a little after what they just went through. ]

Okay.

[ She absolutely reaches out to take his hans as they walk to the gate. Her free hand undoes the latch and pushes it open.

None of this is real. The flooded potholes on the street, the thundershower overhead, the squeaking of the gate's hinges, even their bodies -- but they are real, and that's what matters.

Whether she goes through first or right by his side, what comes next is the sound of snow crunching under her boots, and an eerie wind blowing through the trees. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor curls his fingers around Kara's as she takes his hand, and he briefly realizes that it was only hours ago that she'd been convinced he was the one doing this; that they were enemies, and she should be afraid. But androids bond quickly, and everything they've faced so far had only sped up the process, and at least something good is coming out of all of this.

The sound of snow and the howl of wind momentarily jolts his system with a memory of the Garden, and he has to firmly cancel the process and remind himself that he isn't there. He's--

In the Garden. They're both in the Garden, wind howling and snow covering the ground, a storm starting to pick up and visibility lowering rapidly due to the frozen fog settling in. Connor's LED lights up immediately red and his grip on Kara's hand tightens, but he still reaches out to grab her arm with his other hand as well.]

Stay with me.

[He means more for it to come out as a need to remain close together so as not to get separated just as she had feared, but instead it just sounds more like a plea. But he'd shown her this memory before, when he'd told her about Amanda, and so surely she understands the danger here without further explanation.]

[mamabot]

[ Oh no. Not here, not like this.

Kara grips Connor's hand tight, his tone tugging at her heartstrings. She's gonna stay with him as long as she's able. If they could escape Zlatko's house of horrors, they can get out of the garden. What's a sim within a sim anyway? More of the same. ]

Let's go.

[ They need to find the exit. Is it on the other side of the quiet pond? Should they walk or run? She's the one who calls the shors, they'd agreed. What woukd Amanda expect?

The little boat could mean drowning, and they don't have enough time to row anyway. Maybe it's in the roses? But which ones?

She leads them toward a bridge, the trellis her goal. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[The trellis is absolutely not the place Connor would be choosing to go, and that's exactly why he allows Kara to lead them in that direction. Connor's first instinct would be to avoid the center of the Garden, and avoid everything that was specifically Amanda's, in order to look for the emergency exit first.

But Amanda surely knows that, and so Connor stays close to Kara and refuses to let go of her, for both their sake. He needs the reminder that he isn't alone, and he can also try to protect her if they're together.

The wind is howling and the snow is whipping around, but it isn't quite as violent as the night of the revolution; they can at least see where they're going, and aren't in danger of actually freezing, at least not yet. The trellis stands in the midst of everything, across the bridge, most of the pond frozen but some slushy water still available for the boat to float on. No sign of Amanda just yet.]

There is only so much here.

[He makes the remark to both Kara and himself, a reminder that the Garden is a limited place. There aren't the countless rooms of Zlatko's mansion, or the open streets of Detroit. Their exit has to be somewhere, and sooner or later they'll find it.]

[mamabot]

There's enough.

[ Enough danger, enough ways to die. The elements can be worse than people, because you can stop a person, but nature can't be commanded.

Kara leads them across the bridge and scans the area, zeroing in on the place that triggers a danger alert to flash in her vision. With her free hand, she picks up a pair of pruning shears. Good, now they have something to improvise with. ]

What if we cut the trellis down? [ Amanda might not expect that. ] Hold onto my arm so I can use both my hands.

[missiondeterminant]

[Kara's right, of course, even if part of Connor might've preferred to hold onto the belief that there's less here to hurt them; the rest of him is too practical for that, and he's also immediately frustrated with himself for being so distressed by the situation. He needs to be focused and prepared to deal with anything that might come at them, not clinging to Kara's arm.

So instead of doing as she said he clenches his jaw and lets go of her entirely, though he stays very close.]

She would dislike the destruction of the trellis. It will likely draw some sort of reaction, at least.

[Good or bad. So he's here for this plan, and considers the trellis for a moment.]

If you can chip away at its structures, I think I can just break it down.

[Damage the supports and he'll just kick them out. The idea of throwing the trellis into the pond is oddly appealing, actually.]

[mamabot]

[ But she's the one in charge why are you letting go :c

His agreement encourages her, and his idea bridges the gap between the thought and the action. A quick scan shows her its structural makeup and where it's being held together. Normally, she'd be satisfied this is safe for a family to be around. Now, she's happy to know how to use a little force to do the most damage.

No sooner has she started than the icy water in the pond goes turbulent, beginning to splash onto the little island the trellis sits on. The wind picks up too, biting and sharp, her sensors tell her. But Kara keeps going, channeling some of the lingering anger at being made to relive Zlatko's mansion into cutting and weakening tbe trellis. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Because he's a control freak who does what he wants. >:c

He stays close while she works on damaging the trellis, holding it steady so she he an easier time, although his attention is immediately distracted by the motion of the water. Part of him feels a sense of satisfaction because good, he hopes Amanda is annoyed, but the rest of him has that same sense of apprehension and shame that he always had whenever he disappointed her.

It isn't enough to deter him, though, returning to watching Kara and noting the anger in her motions. But before he can say anything there's an oddly familiar voice behind them--]

Put the shears down.

[Connor's attention snapped toward the source of the sound, and it actually would've been less surprising to see himself--he'd seen the other Connor in the Tower, after all--than it is to see... Almost himself. The other android is taller and larger, and his voice is just slightly deeper than Connor's, but aside from those thing and the different uniform he can't tell much.]

[mamabot]

[ The voice is too far away to be Connor's, but it's so similar that Kara stops short after clipping a weakspot in the trellis. The android looks almost exactly like Connor, but there are enough differences to make him look uncanny.

Amanda at work, clearly.

Which means Kara isn't gonna obey. ]

No.

[ Said simply but firmly, as she turns back to the trellis and cuts another strategic joint. ]

[missiondeterminant]

It wasn't a request.

[RK900 states, although he does so without any of the usual irritation or threat that would normally go with the statement; it's just fact, coming from him, and he begins to approach. At this point, Connor is pretty sure they should abandon the trellis plan, no matter how fun it might be, but he's still willing himself to let Kara call the shots.

But she better finish up with the destruction quickly.]

[mamabot]

[ Despite her mostly calm outward appearance, Kara is Very Stressed. She wants to finish this because if she runs now, she might not get another chance to come back for a while. But the Connor-lookalike approaches, like this is just a walk in the park for him, Kara works faster, snipping the last few points highlighted in her HUD.

RK900 is almost within arm's reach when she tells Connor to run and darts off herself, shears in hand. She'd wanted to push the trellis over, but well, she also wants not to get caught.

It's getting stormy overhead. How predictable, and how not reassuring. At least Connor will know where she's heading - the backdoor exit, if nothing else because she knows it's there and it's a good reference point for them both. Of course, RK900 probably expects that too, so Kara holds the shears tight, ready to rake a swing at him if he's within reach.

The scent of roses pervades in a sudden gust, so strong that it almost knocks Kara over. ]

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor shifts on his feet, tense and ready as he watches RK900 approach while Kara stubbornly continues working on the trellis, and when she suddenly runs he dodges behind the trellis. That leaves RK900 the choice of going after him or Kara, and he's the more appealing target but he's also shielded by the trellis which will surely be destroyed in a fight.

Or not in a fight, as Connor suddenly reaches out to wind his fingers through the trellis and pulls hard in a sudden motion, throwing his weight backward to break the trellis from its damaged base and taken them both into the pond. It's more than deep enough for Connor to fall back into safely, even if he hates the feeling of being even colder, but that's balanced out by the satisfaction of successfully destroying the trellis.

It doesn't take more than a few seconds to swim across the pond and pull himself out on the other side, and his scanners locate RK900 crossing a bridge toward Kara. Not great; he'd expected the android to continue coming after him, since he's both the more dangerous target and the one who finished off the trellis, but of course they couldn't be that lucky. Connor heads toward them, but he's not going to get there fast enough to prevent RK900 from reaching Kara.]

[mamabot]

[ So, the only reason the wind doesn't knock Kara over is that RK900 grabs her by the arm. It's impressive how little time it took him to catch up, but of course, it inspires terror in her. Are they helpless here? Was destroying the trellis a waste of time? She hadn't gotten the chance to see what it may have been hiding, and now all she can do is struggle uselessly in RK900's grip and try her best to keep her stress level from increasing to the point where she can't think. ]

You have no recourse. You've added destruction of propert to your crimes. You'll be deactivated and disassembled for research. If it's more appealing to you, think of it as giving your life to save other lives.

[ He's so calm, his even tone eroding at her stubborn refusal to scream and panic. She doesn't want this. She doesn't want to lie in pieces on a table. She doesn't want to die.

He reaches for the shears she's still holding. Okay, fine, take them—she swings them down, aiming to stab him somewhere vital, but she'll settle for just doing some amount of damage. ]