Kamski's home was incredibly modern, almost to the point of being obnoxious. But in the summer twilight it was gently illuminated by solar lights, though the eerie beauty couldn't yet be appreciated so early into your deviation.

Parking in his driveway, Elijah glanced at you before emerging from his car, beating you to the passenger side door and helping you out. "First things first. I can smell alcohol on you. What happened?"

Led inside the house, the interior was equally obnoxiously modern. Not that you could use the strangely red pool, of course. "I prepared a bourbon on the rocks... it went untouched until it was thrown at the wall beside my head."

Shaking his head, the tall human opened a seemingly random door for you, arm out for you to enter. Inside was a large and elegant bathroom, black tiling along the walls and floor, odd geometric sinks, and jet-black toilets. In the back stood a shower, the type that acted like rainfall. "Please. At least so you are not plagued with discomfort from dried liquor. Chloé will see to your clothing."

Before you could question anything, another android appeared at his side. She had a sweet, gentle face and maternal demeanor. For the sake of privacy- or perhaps respect- Eli stepped back from the door. "I'll let you have some time to yourself, Nove. But before you retire for the night, please come see me. I'd like Chloé to probe your memory so I can see what happened."

Ushered inside the bathroom, the blonde android shut the door behind her. A hand laid on your arm to stall you for the moment. "May I ask, have you just deviated?" You nodded, her smile as gentle as before. "It gets easier. It's quite strange at first. Is there anything I can get for you while you shower?"

Everything was happening at once. Your venture into the wintery mind palace only did so much, and there was a good deal of guilt lingering from understanding who your mentor was. That combined with everything else...

Delicate hands reached and wiped the tears pouring down your cheeks again. "Are you overwhelmed?" You nodded expectantly. "... crying is a release, Miss Nove."

◇___#$&!___◇

At his computer, Eli turned partially when Chloé finally came back, an oddly concerned expression lining her perfect face. "Chloé...? That took you longer than I thought. Something the matter?"

She smiled, but it was faint and short-lived. "I probed her memory as you requested."

"... worse than I thought? Lieutenant Anderson didn't say much, just that I had to take her in sooner."

"Her self-destruct sequence is locked by a voice command, and she had repeatedly asked for it to be unlocked."

There was a loud thump as Kamski let his forehead hit the desk. "Oh my God I'm gonna kick him in the balls so hard..."

Taking a few steps closer, the blonde laid a hand on his shoulder. "Even in deviance she wants to return. Her primary directive should no longer be dictating her functions, just as you designed us, but... I am unsure as to why your brother is still her first priority."

Lifting his head, Elijah rubbed his face. "That's... a good point. She knows about the emergency exit, and she hasn't used it. But based on what she revealed about her mind palace, it wasn't a situation that demanded she locate it." When the RK800 needed his exit, the serene garden was caught in a blinding snowstorm. Your already winter-frozen lake was calm.

LED flashing yellow, Chloé glanced at the door to his study for a moment. "Perhaps asking the detective who designed her would help. You said that he had a hand in every detail."

"Maybe. But could he have made a prototype whose mission would stay, even after deviating? That's..." Shaking his head, the male sighed heavily. "I don't think this is about her algorithms." Turning to his computer again, he held up a thick black plug. "Here, love. Better check her memory, that might help."

Thirty-four minutes passed before you quietly knocked at the open doorway, white heels in hand and wearing some clothing that Chloé had left for you. When the pair turned to you, you managed a faint smile. "Thank you for the hospitality, both of you. Am I to assume my uniform is being washed?"

Perking up a little, the blonde smiled warmly. "Yes, Miss Nove. Forgive us, we are examining your memories now. If you are uncomfortable being present, I can show you to a spare bedroom for the night."

While his beloved spoke with his idiot brother's partner, Elijah's attention was pulled to his phone by a text: [Is she okay?]

Gavin. Texting him well past sundown, close to midnight. About you, no less. As much as he wanted to be happy that his brother was asking in the first place, there was a heaping helping of salt in the response: [What the fuck do you care?]

[Oh come on!! I'm an asshole, okay? I fucked up! No one else is talking to me! Hank chewed me out in one long fucking wall of text. Connor just said "I'd call you a cunt, but you have neither the depth nor the warmth". Which, Jesus fuck, that's brutal and impressive.]

[So you message me as your last resort.]

[I didn't fucking know if you had her or not. And I don't think she'd answer me.]

Eyeing the message, Kamski realized the most effective reply would be to simply not. Setting his phone aside, he gazed towards the threshold, finding your hands in Chloé's, no longer closed off from the world but accepting a little comfort. He smiled and got to his feet, approaching cautiously. "Are we feeling any better? As much as you're able to feel, that is. Being deviant is quite different."

You managed a nod and a tiny smile. "I... I believe this is the sort of comfortable feeling one receives after showering, or simply being in warm water." A pause. "I did not expect hot water to be so... wonderful."

Chuckling, Eli nodded. "I agree wholeheartedly. A hot shower makes me pretty lazy, but it's always worth it." Holding out a hand, you took it more willingly this time. "Now, then. Let's get you into a bed, I get the feeling you haven't slept since being activated. So you should sleep, and in the morning I'll see you to the precinct."

Your head tilted, as it always seemed to, and the male had to admit how adorable it looked, though he had no idea how it got his brother's heart to skip a beat or three every time. "I am returning here afterwards, yes?"

"Yes. That was the original agreement; that I would take you. Even if this happened much sooner than we anticipated, you are wanted here just as much. Unless, of course, you would like to return with Lieutenant Anderson? I will not blame you if you choose to stay with him and the RK800."

Now you were quiet for a bit. Your hand was taken from the human by his lovely android, and the pair guided you to a spare bedroom. "... I'm unsure, I apologize."

"No need to apologize; just let us know what you decide when you do." Eli smiled in his vague way as he reached and cupped your face gently. "You have purpose, Nove. This is just a minor blockade; nothing we can't hack our way through, hmm?" When your smile widened, he winked and released you, gazing at his beloved. "Should she need anything--"

"Already done," Chloé answered.

"... Of course it is. Not sure why I even asked," he added, chuckling again as he left, returning to his study.

There was another text from the bastard: [Eli, come on. Please tell me, for fuck's sake I feel fucking awful. IS SHE OKAY?]

[Again: why the fuck do you care?]

[BECAUSE I FUCKED UP BAD. Just... come on. Please.]

It was a long pause before Elijah responded. [She's fine, now that she isn't within arm's reach of you.]

[Will you tell her something for me? I'm too fucking terrified to message her directly.]

A second pause. [What's the message?]

[Tell her I'm so fucking sorry. I know I've got no right to say anything, but I'm hoping I can make it up to her if she'll let me.]

Kamski snorted. [I will tell her.]

[OH THANK FUCK THANK YOU.]

[I will tell her that she has the choice to speak to you or not. I will tell her that she has every right to ignore you. And I will tell YOU that you cannot apologize through me; sack up and apologize to her in person, you pathetic fucking coward. If she even allows you to get close enough. I cannot speak on her behalf, of course, but I hope that you drown in this guilt.]

[...... what the fuck.]

[I am disgusted with you, Gavin.]

_______

Reed could barely see his phone through the tears, but he managed a reply: [Makes two of us.]

I can't give up. I'm a fucking bastard, I fucked up so goddamn bad... just... I gotta apologize. At least let me do that. Please.

Please let me do this. I fucking hate that I made you cry. Just let me apologize. Please.