missiondeterminant | [Open Post]

[ It sounds like he's about as fine as she is, so Kara accepts his answer for now.

Besides, his thanks are misplaced. ] I couldn't just abandon you.

[ It really is that simple. They're in this together. Kara and Alice's journey became easier when Luther joined them; he saved them from Zlatko's shotgun, and offered to step in and die for them at the border. Kara and Alice both had refused to leave him behind when he was injured or in danger, not because he helped them, but because they cared.

She's sure at this point that she cares about Connor, considers him more than just an ally. Maybe Zlatko was right. Maybe she sees him as her brother. ]

I'm okay. [ She answers - just okay, because she may have seemed calm but was actually screaming internally the entire time. ] I'll be all right when we get out of here.

[ Does she have to start another fire? That wouldn't be a bad thing, if she's honest. ]

[It probably would've been smarter to abandon him, honestly, or do something that would incapacitate him and then try to escape, but she hadn't. So even though she says it so simply, like it was the only thing she could've done, it still means a lot to him.

But they need to focus on getting out of this place, because the only chance either of them really has at ever returning to being okay is if they can get out of not just Zlatko's house, but this simulation. And to do that, they need to keep going.]

Now that Zlatko is no longer an issue, let's check the doors. Maybe it will be that simple.

[Maybe. Hopefully. Also maybe they can find something useful in the house, once they've figured out where an exit is.]

[ Kara nods; she may know the mansion's layout, but CyberLife may have changed it. ]

Maybe. [ Said like she's sure it won't be. ] If we want weapons, he keeps a shotgun in his room, and there are tools in his workshop.

[ And deactivated (and... probably also activated) androids, possibly in pieces. He'd only wanted Kara for a maid, but what had he planned to do with Alice? Ugh...

She closes out that particular process and starts for the stairs, glancing at the... pens, for lack of a better word, where Zlatko had kept his experiments. They're empty, so they've either escaped or were released - and maybe they're what chased the two of them in the city.

There's also the polar bear, but Kara isn't thinking about it right now. She jus peeks out into the entry hall and decides it's worth it to try the front door. ]

Not so simple. [ It's locked. :c ] We could try the back door, where we came in.

[Ugh, a shotgun; it's better than nothing, but definitely not Connor's first or even fifth choice. Still, it might be worth grabbing it if they end up going upstairs, which he has the feeling they might.

Connor spares a last dubiously look at the well, and another at the machine--he feels a sudden urge to destroy it, but pushes that away--before following after Kara. Of course the front door is locked, and if they were in the real world Connor would suggest just getting the gun and shooting off the locks, but he imagines it won't be so easy here.

Checking the back door seems like a good idea and he leads the way in that direction, cautiously glancing around as he does so; he remembers that polar bear issue, but is hoping it won't be a problem now that Zlatko has been taking care of. He tries the back door, and...]

Locked. Are there windows upstairs?

[He would normally presume so in a house, but considering everything else about Zlatko who knows.]

[ Has Kara mentioned yet how much she hates this. ]

Yes. [ But she'll be surprised if they aren't boarded up. ] It's not pretty upstairs, by the way. The workshop... I'm just glad Alice never saw it.

[ She has enough nightmares as it is.

Kara takes the lead again, opening the door to the workshop cautiously - who knows what could be in there, waiting to attack them? Which reminds her-- ]

He had an android in the bathtub. I dunno why. He was scared, even though he kept reciting his orders.

[ Feel free to stop her okay she's in need of some rest, her processor a bit overloaded with all that's happened so far. ]

[None of that sounds great, and he follows closely behind Kara in order to back her up if there happens to be anything dangerous rather than just disturbing behind any of the doors upstairs.

Connor can offer a few different explanations for the android Kara mentions, since a part of his detective programming contains modules that allow for profiling, but he doesn't think he cares to go into them and she probably doesn't want to hear them either. It's not like it's a surprise Zlatko is--or was--a twisted excuse for a human.

The workshop ahead of them is dark and silent aside from the occasional flickers of LEDs, still going on some of the... Pieces, of androids that have been strewn about. Connor immediately wants to help, to salvage any of them that might not be beyond saving, but this isn't the real world; here, the only androids they've encountered other than themselves have been dangerous to them. They're also, mostly likely, not real, and so he can convince himself to leave them and refocus on trying to find a window they can escape through.

He does find windows as he cautiously explores the room, but they're bolted shut and too barricaded and sealed for Connor to even hope to be able to get through, even if part of him almost tries anyway in a sudden irrational need to get out. But he grits his teeth and steps back, turning his attention back toward Kara.]

Let's go to the next room.

[Anywhere but the basement or this workshop, especially since they know neither has an exit and therefore any reason to remain in them is gone.]

[ 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... ]

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.]

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. ]

[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.]

[ 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 ]

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.

[ 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. ]

[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?]

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. ]

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.

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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. ]

[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.]

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.

[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.]

[ 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. ]

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