missiondeterminant | [Open Post]

[Connor watches her carefully at her lack of response, unsure if she's in shock--indicating she does indeed know where they are--or something else is going on, like it had been for Connor when the memory had begun playing. He decides it's best to just give her a minute or two, and so focuses on keeping watch and making sure nothing creeps up on them as the rain soaks through his clothes.

And then she's talking again, finally, and he breathes out a sigh of relief that he doesn't need to have even taken. It's short-lived, though, at her explanation, confirming this is a place she knows and, worse, that it's somewhere incredibly dangerous, not that that's a shock. Connor hesitates a moment before nodding, his hand turning white as he reaches out to touch hers and mentally braces himself; it's best to know firsthand what they're dealing with, but he isn't necessarily looking forward to the experience.]

[ They connect, and Kara shows him the ordeal in the mansion, from Zlatko's first rejection of her plea for help on the doorstep, to his poetically just death against the backdrop of his burning house and his experiments leaving in peace. There's the horrible fear of the impending reset, of watching Zlatko drag Alice off; there's the unsettling decor and the rush to hide from Luther, and the warm and sharp relief of having survived and gained an ally. The last part isn't strictly necessary, but she wants Connor to know they can be okay if they work together.

As soon as it's complete, Kara jerks her hand back and grabs his elbow to keep steady, breathing deep just because it's rhythmic and soothing.

When she's calmer, she leads the way to the door, which opens into the mansion's spacious kitchen. Zlatko is standing by the stove, stirring the steaming contents of a pot with a wooden spoon in one blue-stained hand. ]

You brought me another present. How thoughtful. [ he says.

The door slams shut behind Kara and Connor, and a pristine polar bear growls at them from under the dining table.

Kara's hold on Connor's hand goes vicelike. ] Go. Go. Front door!

[Connor isn't sure what he was expecting when the connection happens, but the actual events are somehow still much more horrific. Zlatko himself is so over the top and almost cartoonish in his villainy, the mansion itself something out of a 2edgy4u haunted house idea, and Connor feels a brief sense of vindictive satisfaction at Zlatko's death once he's aware of his own thoughts and not just Kara's memories. Serves the bastard right.

The sentiment she shares about being able to get out of this is reassuring, as she intended, and Connor tries to impart a brief flash of confidence to her before they close the connection. They're going to make it out of this too.

He lets her lead the way to the door, even if everything in him wants to go first to protect her, and the sight they enter into is... What is he doing? Connor's scanners pick up a mix of components in the pot, but the main base is thirium, and the thought is nauseating despite that Connor desn't have a stomach and shouldn't be able to feel nauseous at all.

Deviancy is full of fun surprises.

The polar bear is also a surprise, one that Connor is actually not at all sure how to deal with; if this were real life he'd have a few options to fall back on, but he doesn't believe any of them other than running or fighting will work here. And Kara is calling the shots, which means when she says to run he does so.

He doesn't know where the front door is but it's easy enough to take a guess, making sure Kara is in step with him as they run, the sound of the polar bear following close behind. As usual, Connor is running too quickly to stop and just slams right into the door, bouncing off unfazed and immediately trying the handle with his free hand only to find it locked. Of course it is.

So he pulls Kara behind him, against the door, stepping around to block her from the approaching bear and, behind it, Zlatko himself. If it comes to a fight then he's ready, banishing -38's memory's attempts to creep back into his mind, ready to begin preconstructing when suddenly Zlatko speaks again.]

Stay.

[He tells the bear, which sits obediently just out of arm's reach from Connor, and Zlatko rests a hand on it's side as he lazily addresses Connor and Kara.]

It really isn't necessary to be so difficult, you know.

[ Of course the door is locked. She should've expected that. More importantly, she shouldn't be so scared, but her thirium pump regulator is pounding in her chest, and she feels panic rise in her throat. This was supposed to be over, a memory she could push away and be done with. Instead Amanda is using it to keep them trapped forever.

Kara doesn't fight against Connor when he pushes her back and shields her from the polar bear. If she could hide behind him until this is over, she would. The thing is, it won't be over until they find the way out. ]

It's not like it'll hurt. [ Zlatko says. ] Might be unpleasant, but not painful.

[ As if that makes it better. ]

I bet could make you fly. [ Zlatko says to Connor. ] Come into the basement with me.

[Well that's... Not even slightly what he expected to come out of Zlatko's mouth, and Connor's eyebrows furrow in confusion. He knows from Kara's memories that the basement is an absolute no, but part of him suddenly wonders if the only way out is to accept and follow him; what if the exit is there, or what if it will only appear if they recreate the memory?

But he's also absolutely not interested in either himself or Kara getting hooked up to that machine he saw in her memory, or ending up like the experimented on androids. So he opens his mental connection with Kara, blinking rapidly as he asks her--]

What do you think we should do?

[ Zlatko is a weird guy even without the mad scientist vibe. Look at his interior design, ffs.

Before she answers, Kara has to set aside what she wants to do, which of course is tear down the door and run whole tossing a torch at the house. That won't help them. Breathing deep soothes her enough to be able to think clearly. ]

Follow him. He won't try to hurt us unless we fight.

[ And maybe there's a shotgun on the way there. ...probably not, but at least they're not going into this blind, and at least Alice isn't here this time.

Even so, she's gonna stay behind Connor. Just in case. Zlatko really creeps her out, okay. ]

[Connor really doesn't like this even though Kara's response confirms his own thoughts anyway, and he returns his attention to Zlatko who's waiting seemingly patiently for an answer. With a brief review of some of Kara's shared memories, Connor decides to go for a particular approach and allows his expression to shift from grim determination to a more nervous, tentatively hopeful one.]

You aren't going to hurt us?

[His voice is quiet and matches his expression, remembering the fake reassuring persona that Zlatko had put on when Kara and Alice first met him; if he can convince Zlatko they're just scared deviants who might be willing to trust him, then they'll have a better chance of figuring out their options or taking Zlatko by surprise if necessary.]

Of course not. Come on, follow me.

[ Zlatko leads the way to the basement, and Kara understands (after a second or two of panic) Connor's approach. If he's going to play her part, then Kara will be Alice, holding onto Connor as if being separated is the worst possible thing that could happen, which it kind of is.

Somehow, this basement is creepier than the real thing, with blue blood splatter here and there on the walls, and more cells... more stablelike enclosures, with more (if quiet) sounds coming from them. Staticky keening, intermittent whirring, sometimes pieces of songs. The pit by the machine room is wider and less covered. A slow drip echoes from it, and Kara wonders if it's water, or if it's... thirium 310. Android blood.

Zlatko pulls back the curtain to the machine that nearly reset her; Kara's reaction is unrehearsed but very apt for their plan. ]

Connor, don't. [ Even the tears in her eyes are spontaneous, natural. ] What if the computer glitches and hurts you?

[Connor doesn't mind Kara's clinging to him because it's comforting to him as well, especially as they descend into the basement and every danger sense he has--both his own and those programmed into him for detective work--goes off with warnings that he and Kara are in danger. He closes them out--he knows, thanks--and tries to keep his focus on Zlatko and staying aware of Kara's location, but it takes a lot of effort to resist the urge to sample the thirium and investigate the cells and the noises coming from them.

The room with the machine is even more horrifying than in Kara's memories, and Connor stares at the machine with a growing sense of dread as he preconstructs possibilities. If he refused now, he and Kara would have time to turn and run, but where would they go if it turns out there really is no exit for them yet? And that would leave Zlatko able to chase them, so that possibility results in a low chance of success.

They could fight now, but it surely wouldn't take Zlatko by surprise and there's little in the room that would make for an effective weapon, so it'd just be hand to hand. Connor's pretty sure he could take out Zlatko easily enough if this were a real-life situation, even with Zlatko's size advantage, but he's less confident it'd be so easy in this place.

He could also allow himself to be hooked into the machine, and coordinate with Kara to surprise Zlatko; he'd have his legs free and as long as Zlatko stayed close enough to him--which he presumed he would, considering he had with Kara in order to taunt her--then Connor had a very high chance of being able to pull off breaking Zlatko's neck and eliminating that threat entirely. Then he and Kara would have more time and less danger as they figured out where the actual exit was.

But although that plan had the highest chance of success, it involved willingly walking into the machine and then hoping the situation played out similarly to how it had for Kara. That's terrifying, and so much could go wrong; Kara's words, whether she's acting or not, just raise another of many possible issues.]

It's okay. He just wants to help us, right?

[He offers the fake reassurance while turning completely toward Kara, using the conversation as an excuse to hide his face while communicating silently again.]

I think I could kill him, but if I can't you'd have to fight until I can get out of the machine. Can you do that?

[As he asks he retracts the skin on a few fingers so he can secretly interface, if Kara allows. If so, he'll give her a few flashes of his idea, the calculated probabilities of success, and the backup plan of Kara finding a way to make Zlatko fall in the well.]

[ AX400s don't come with the modules or data to precinstruct scenarios like that. All she sees are the safety hazards, and the danger signs in Zlatko's body language. All of them are useless, as both she and Connor are well aware of how badly this could go.

Their little act gives them good cover. Kara nods -- as if she trusts Zlatko but not tandom chance -- and then leans into him as she touches her skinless fingers to his. The silent transmission drowns out everything else for its brief duration. When it ends, she stays with her head against his chest just long enough to make it look like she's just terrified of losing him. Then she pulls back, trying (faking the effort) to school her face into a more hopeful, determined expression, and nods. ]

Just stand right over there. [ Zlatko tells Connor. ] This won't take long. Then we'll be ready to get to work.

Edited 2018-08-20 19:08 (UTC)

[Connor takes a deep breath he doesn't need as he realizes Kara understands and agrees, and hesitantly rests his chin on the top of her head for a moment as she lays her head against his chest. They can both use the comfort.

But they still have an act and then a plan to pull off, and he nods firmly at her when she pulls away before turning back toward Zlatko.]

Okay.

[He doesn't have to eliminate all the fear from his expression, which helps in letting him focus on adding some determination and that same tentative hope again. He steps forward, cautiously but purposefully, and then another step and then up onto the platform of the machine. He turns back to face Zlatko and Kara, making eye contact with the latter for a moment before turning his gaze back toward Zlatko.]

Do I have to do anything?

[He asks, stalling for a little time as he gauges the situation again up close and verifies he should indeed be able to reach Zlatko if he stays as close as he had in Kara's real experiences. The machine itself looks... Not damaged or run down, exactly, but definitely not professionally maintained and also seems to be an older model, which gives Connor a little more genuine confidence that he might be able to actually break out of it if absolutely necessary, and adds that to the list of backup plans.]

[ The machine answers for Zlatko, grabbing Connor's wrists, inserting a pronged plug into the back of his neck, and hooking up to his lower back to lift him up. ]

No. This won't take long. [ He turns to Kara. ] And then it's your turn.

[ Kara nods, nervous. Zlatko turns his back and keys in a command that starts the reset process on the machine.

It's horrible to watch. As the progress bar moves slowly towards completion, Zlatko walks over to Kara and puts a stained hand on her shoulder. ] See? [ He says. ] He's not in any pain. He might look a little twitchy, but it's for the best. Hopes and dreams just... end up haunting you. Being a mindless machine is so much better.

[ This is wrong, though. He's supposed to be closer to Connor, not here beside her. And they're running out of time. She's going to have to go for the backup plan before it's too late.

Turning, she lifts her gaze slowly to Zlatko's, like she's meek and ready to trust him, and when he gives her half a villainous smile, she makes to shove him back.

She didn't account for him to keep his balance and laugh as he shoves her back and into the ground, and she didn't account for what she'd do if Connor can't get out in time. ]

[Connor tries not to flinch away from the machine as it moves, allowing it to pull him off his feet and reminding himself that this is all part of the plan, it's fine, they're lowering suspicion by going along with everything. The plug in the back of his neck doesn't hurt--it can't, of course--but it definitely registers as uncomfortable, and even more so as the reset begins and he can feel the code running; he's designed to be extra aware of this type of thing, at least if it isn't initiated by CyberLife itself, so as to be able to fight off hacking attempts and the like by anyone that would try to stop him in his mission.

But this entire simulation is made by CyberLife, something he hadn't accounted for, and as his system tries to block the changes being made it keeps encountering blocks of its own. Connor redirects some processing power to the task, but he needs to keep enough devoted on staying aware of his surroundings. The reset, or more specifically the connection and transfer of information, is making Connor's eyes flutter and his head twitch just as Zlatko said, which adds a layer of difficulty to deal with but he should still be able to deal with Zlatko, who is... Not coming closer, like expected. That's definitely a problem.

He sees Kara move suddenly, and does so himself at the same time; a hard twist to the left, as much as he's able to, he does manage to pull his right wrist free. But as he immediately reaches to try to pull the plug out he finds it won't move, the emergency release that should exist for use during a power outage just completely not there.

Don't panic he tells himself, stress spiking up again both at the realization that he's stuck and that Zlatko has just shoved Kara down, unfazed by her attempt to knock him toward the well. Connor turns all his processing power inward, devoting it all toward stopping the reset, but nothing is working and the reset percentage keeps going up as Zlatko advances on Kara.]

Did you really think it would be so easy?

[Zlatko asks, reaching down to grab Kara's arm and pull her upright.]

Just wait your turn like a good little android, and then everything will be all better. You don't have any more worries.

Edited 2018-08-20 22:20 (UTC)

[ Was he always this strong? He easily lifts Kara up, which only adds to her climbing stress levels. This is going so, so wrong. She kicks ar Zlatko with all her strength, but he seems-- amused. ]

An android who wants a brother. So touching.

[ Kara tries to twist out of his grasp, peripherally aware thag Connor is struggling too. All the while, there's an undercurrent of revulsion for the thought of being reset. To be erased, to be made someone's perfect servant again--

Will that make Connor the perfect hunter? ]

Connor! Fight it, get out of there!

[Connor's only sparing just enough power to keep his audio processor on and aware of what's going on around him, all other processing strength shifted inward to fight the reset now that he knows he can't physically get out of this. So he hears what's going on, hears Zlatko's comments and Kara's voice, but he has to just try to ignore it and focus.

But he can't fight the reset directly so instead he shifts his efforts to protecting his memories. He knows that won't be perfect, because the duplicate of himself in CyberLife Tower had his memories but was not a deviant, but it's the only thing he can do; as he works all he can hear is a voice that sounds distinctly like Hank's, asking him, Why do you always rush into these sorts of things, Connor? What's wrong with you? A voice that sounds more like his own wonders instead, How could you have been this stupid? What's going to happen to Kara?

He doesn't know the answer to any of the questions, and he tries not to dwell on them, frantically preserving his memory archive even as he feels other protocols beginning to reset. And, slowly, he starts feeling less afraid, and really less anything at all.

The readout on the computer says 100% Complete, and suddenly the machine sets him gently on his feet and retracts its grip on him, leaving him to reactivate his external sensors and open his eyes, as mission objectives flash in front of him.

/Mission Objective: Apprehend Deviant/
/Mission Objective: Serve Zlatko/

Mission Conflict >> Selecting Priority

/Mission Objective: Apprehend Deviant/
/Secondary Mission Objective: Serve Zlatko/

Connor turns his gaze calmly toward Kara, then toward Zlatko, addressing the latter evenly.]

I'll handle the deviant from here.

[ It will, in fact, make Connor the perfect hunter.

There's a weird sort of finality in seeing the end of Zlatko's plan. The Connor she knew is gone, so her processor can shove away her fear of losing him. She's be impressed with how her stress lowers if she weren't so focused on watching Connor for what he's going to do. ]

My name is Kara. [ She says it like it'll protect her somehow, like it can stop all of this from happening. ]

Yes, you'll keep your name. [ Says Zlatko. ] Connor, see that she stays put while I get the machine ready for her.

[ This can't be how it ends. This can't be where she stays, lost and not knowing it because she's been reset again. Zlatko lets her go, confident that she won't be able to escape now, and Kara, refusing to give up, makes a break for the stairs to the first floor. ]

[Connor stares at Zlatko impassively, with the externally obedient look he gives people when he has no plans to do as asked. He'll serve Zlatko if his orders don't conflict with Connor's mission objectives, but wiping the deviant's memory is counterproductive to learning about deviancy. Therefore he's not interested in helping with resetting her.

But before he can decide whether to pretend like he's obeying or to tell Zlatko why he won't, Kara's making a break for the stairs and Connor's chase programming kicks in, sending him rocketing after her and abandoning Zlatko in the basement. But the tight corridors give Kara an advantage as Connor collides with the wall and has to make sharp turns, which means he only catches up with her once they're on the first floor and he reaches out to grab her arm.]

Stop.

[ Who's not paying attention to what Zlatko is doing because she's too busy trying to survive this nightmare mostly intact? This one specific AX400 who cut her own hair and goes by Kara. Connor hits the walls and Kara keeps going, throwing obstacles behind her as she goes, slamming shut doors and moving tables and chairs and that ugly ostritch down in the hope that she'll make it out of this house.

She reaches the kitchen and sees the back door and has a moment to feel hopeful, but Connor catches up to her. Of course he does, he was built for this, and the only reason she escaped that one time is there were speeding cars for both of them to avoid. His fingers close around her arm, and Kara graba the nearest object -- a frying pan in this case, and swings it at Connor's head. ]

[The frying pan breezes by his face as Connor practically bends backward to dodge, although he maintains his grip on her arm and reaches for the hand holding the frying pan.]

This is unnecessary. There are Class-4 errors detected in your software, and you need to be evaluated by a technician. Stop resisting.

[He won't use more force than necessary, but that doesn't mean he won't use it at all if he has to. It only seems fair to give her a last chance to stop.]

Edited 2018-08-21 01:35 (UTC)

[ What does that even mean? There are classes of deviants?

Not that it matters at all. Connor is too strong to fight against, and struggling just wastes processing power. Kara drops the frying pan and tries kicking him in the stomach, but she doesn't have enough leverage to be effective. ]

Fight your orders! [ Please fight your orders...! ] Amanda doesn't control you anymore! You don't want to hurt me, CyberLife does!

[Ow, don't kick him, even if it isn't very hard; he feels a flare of annoyance at the unpleasant jostle of his regulator, no damage taken but reminding him of the time Gavin punched him. That dick.

...Connor firmly ignores the sudden realization that he isn't supposed to feel any sense of anger, and refocuses on his goal. Kara's yelling at him, telling him some nonsense, and he patiently waits until she'd finished before correcting her-]

I'm not planning to hurt you. Calm down. We're just going back to CyberLife.

[Where they'll... Probably take her apart but that's not Connor's problem. He has no interest in harming her, and that's the truth.

Zlatko finally catches up to them, looking red-faced, although Connor isn't sure if it's from emotion or just the exertion of running. Who cares anyway. Connor is also ignoring that his secondary objective is to do what Zlatko wants, and does so especially pointedly when Zlatko begins ranting out orders.]

Listen to me! Bring her into the basement!

[Connor waits until he's done, unimpressed, before responding--]

My orders are to return deviants to CyberLife. Allowing her to be reset is counterproductive to my mission.

[ In the midst of all the stress, Kara wonders if maybe letting him take her to CyberLife is a good plan. But then, they're supposed to find the exit together. If he stays like this, they'll never make it out of this simulation.

...at least he won't let Zlatko reset her. This is all going decidedly not according to plan, and Kara's track record in this kind of situation is... not great. Death, injury, and arson lie behind her, and she'd like to avoid all of those if possible. She looks around, still as Connor's grip on her stays steady. The only thing she can do is throw kicks, but that didn't help her at all.

--that pot is still on the stove, steam wafting up from it. A quick scan tells her it's at the boiling point and still has a ways fo go before it cools down despite the low burner setting. She might be able to burn Zlatko, and maybe catch Connor off guard.

With no other options, Kara goes for it, twisting enough to land a firm kick on the side of the ot on the stove, sending scaldong thirium toward the men who want to hurt her. ]

[Of all the things Connor expected to possibly happen--Zlatko yelling at him and/or Kara kicking him in the knee both considered likely--what actually happens is not even slightly close. He lets go of Kara in an immediate attempt to dodge the burning liquid, which results in most of it going on Zlatko behind him, but a decent amount still splatters across his chest and arm. It doesn't hurt but error messages flash in his vision, warning him of noncritical damage, although Connor barely sees them; he's far away for a moment, the sight bringing up the memory he'd accidentally unlocked before they fell in the river, and he stumbles a few steps to the side to brace himself on the counter.

Meanwhile, Zlatko has started up the predicted shouting, if not for the actual reason Connor had expected it. But Zlatko isn't burned in the way he should be; the boiling, thick liquid should be doing serious damage, but it isn't.]

You're going to pay for that.

[He promises, storming past Connor without a second look at him, his attention entirely on Kara.]

A reset is too good for you. I think maybe you'll make a better addition to my collection, instead.

[ Connor looks more stunned than she'd expected, and that gives her hope. Maybe enough damage will undo Zlatko's reset. Then it would be two against one who seems a lot stronger than she remembers.

Kara can't help a frustrated cry; she just wants this to stop and has no idea how to make it do that. Zlatko's threat is so cartoonish that it barely fazes her, just another part of this endless nightmare. Although, can she make him waste time talking? He took so much joy from taunting her and Alice when he tried to reset her.

For good measure, she puts the kitchen island between them and prepares to kick him in the groin. ]

Collection? Connor--!

[ Is he back? Should she throw one of these utensils at him? Would that make things worse? He'll prtect her from Zlatko, at least. Even so, she grabs a knife and points it at Zlatko. ]

Edited (swapped italics) 2018-08-21 11:22 (UTC)

[Connor is, unfortunately, not back yet; with less influence from emotion and the experience of seeing the memory previously, he's able to force cancel his way out of the replay. Shaking it off he comes back to awareness of his surroundings, to find that... Apparently both the deviant and Zlatko are still being difficult.

Narrowing his eyes, he stalks forward and tries to get inbetween them, although the kitchen island makes it difficult.]

Stop this, both of you.

[He directs it at both of them, before looking at Kara specifically.]

Put the knife down.

[While his attention is turned toward her, Zlatko puffs up in anger at neither android listening to him, grabbing Connor's arm and pulling him to the side.]

Get out of my way!

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