Chapter Text
Alice’s footsteps were faster, clicking along the damp pavement as her shorter legs tried to keep up with Kara’s pace. It was late at night, and the streets were mostly empty. Kara’s grip tightened around her hand when a police car slowly crossed the intersection ahead of them, and she took the next right, down a street littered with rain-soaked fliers and barred-up windows.
A door opened beneath a neon bar sign, assaulting the street with loud music and the gaudy refractions from a disco ball. A man stumbled through the door with the help of his friend. He tripped over air, muttered something in an angry grumble, and tried to shoo away his friend — the only thing keeping him on his feet.
Kara’s grip was steadfast as they slipped between a couple of cars and bypassed the distracted men, unnoticed.
Alice hugged her stuffed fox close as Kara checked every door that might lead to somewhere they could safely stay the night. They were losing hope, and Alice could feel the stress traveling down Kara’s arm. She looked up, finding the edges of Kara’s mouth pinched in concern. Alice smiled up at her. She wanted to reassure her, tell her that it would all be ok. She didn’t know what to say, though… she wasn’t the best with words. She knew they’d be ok. Kara was amazing. She’d find a way.
The smile Kara returned was sad. Worried. Alice frowned when Kara turned away to check another door.
Rain began to fall again as they made their way across the city, soaking through the fabric covering Alice’s shoulders, making her shiver.
Kara could feel the girl’s little trembles through her hand, and it made her feel all the worse. It didn’t matter that Alice was an android. She was cold, scared, and trusted Kara to get them through this—and Kara was failing. Several people spilled out of a bar at the far end of the block ahead of them, laughing loudly. Kara slowed, gauging the group. When one young woman looked up to see them, tilting her head curiously at the sight of a child out at this hour, Kara’s stress lurched upward.
There was an alley entrance between them. Keeping her ears strained on the crowd to be sure no one mentioned them, ready to run, Kara quickly took the turn down the alley. She kept her eyes on the group as long as possible and wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of her. She collided with it forcefully.
Kara gasped, and jumped back, realizing she’d run directly into another person. “I’m so s—” dread stole the rest of her voice.
A police android looked from her, to Alice, and back. He was taller than her by several inches, broader, stronger in every way, and being a police model, he was probably faster, too. None of the options were good. There was no chance of her defeating him in a fight. It was unlikely that either of them could outrun him, Alice especially. She took another step backward, clamping down harder on Alice’s hand.
Maybe if she attacked first, it would surprise him just enough that she could buy Alice time to run. Maybe. It would be Alice’s only hope to get away. It twisted a fear deep inside Kara, that she had no idea what Alice would do on her own — How would she possibly survive?
Kara’s lip quivered when she looked down at the big, frightened eyes peering up at her, trusting her to get them out of this. Run, she pleaded with her eyes and her heart, run as fast as your legs can take you. “Alice, r—”
“Please,” the Police android took a big step backward, away from them, and held his hands out like he was placating a fearful animal. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He took another step away. “Don’t run. I can’t help you if you run.”
Tension coiled like a tight rubber band within Kara, ready to sprint into action. Ready to fight with everything she could muster, just to give Alice a chance. Something about this android’s voice though, and the way such an intimidating being had been able to make himself appear meek, it gave her pause.
“My name is Nines,” the android spoke calmly. “and I’d like to help you.”
Kara shook her head. “I…”
“I know,” Nines replied. “It’s ok. I’m not going to hurt either of you. I can take you somewhere safe.”
A thousand scenarios ran through Kara’s processor, most of them ending horribly. She’d lost any element of surprise though… What options did she have? He hadn’t moved any closer, offered any sign of aggression despite being easily able to overtake them. Kara steeled her voice, and asked, “Where?”
“It’s late, I can take you to my house for tonight, let you both get some rest. Tomorrow, I can take you to others that can help you get out of the city.”
What option did she have…
Her pump beat wildly in her chest as they climbed into the back of the police cruiser. This could so easily be the end of them, after everything they’d been through, and what a fool she would feel like if she’d just willingly surrendered them both to the police. Kara didn’t know how an android could have his own place in this city, legally or monetarily, and the unlikely event of that concerned her. They drove away from downtown though, and not in the direction of the police department. By the time they pulled up to an apartment complex, Alice was half asleep by her side.
“Come on,” Nines helped her out of the back seat, “let’s get you guys out of this rain.”
The apartment was tidy and warm, and no one was awaiting to arrest or harm them. Kara’s stress level lowered for the first time since they’d fled from Todd’s house. Nines removed his own jacket and turned to them, “Can I get you both some dry clothes? I’m afraid I don’t have anything that will be an exact fit, especially for you,” he apologized to Alice, “but they might be more comfortable than the wet things you’re wearing.”
“That would be wonderful,” Kara replied, sharing a smile with Alice.
Nines nodded, and walked toward the room at the end of a hallway. Kara and Alice stood awkwardly by the door for a long moment, warming up to the idea of being in a stranger’s home. Kara was still quietly assessing the space when Alice’s giggle surprised her. When she saw what had caught the girl’s attention, she grasped Alice’s shoulder and moved them both a step back in surprise. Out of place against the rest of the decor, a random rubber duck sat on the counter top, and from just around the edge of it, a set of small, beady eyes peered back at them. “That’s a … a rat,” Kara kept a hand on her shoulder, “stay away from it.” The home was perfectly clean, a rat was a surprising sight.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Nines approached from down the hall with some clothes draping his arm. “He’s friendly.” He looked at the rat and corrected, “Well, mostly friendly.”
Alice’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Is it a pet?”
“He is,” Nines answered with an amused chuckle, “Would you like to pet him?”
“I would!” Alice bounced in place, and Nines scooped the small animal up as he passed the counter top. The rat stayed in his palm as Nines extended him closer to Alice, and she stroked gently along his back. “What’s his name?”
“Gavin.”
Kara tilted her head. “Your rat’s name is Gavin?”
“Mhmm. Here,” he motioned to Alice, “you can hold him if you want.” He placed the animal into the girl’s eager but careful hands and she brought him closer to herself protectively. The rat investigated her fingers and then stretched up to her face, sniffing over her nose and cheeks. Alice giggled in delight. “Anyway,” Nines continued, “again, I know they’re too big, but this is the best I can do,” he smiled apologetically at Kara while extending a couple of T-shirts and jogging pants, the type with the drawstring to tighten them.
“No, no, this is wonderful… thank you.”
“There’s a bathroom in the hall. You guys are welcome to shower and change in there. Unfortunately we don’t have a guest bedroom but the couches are pretty comfortable and there’s an air mattress I can set up if you’d like?”
“The couches will be more than enough.” This was already so much more than she could’ve asked for. “Come on Alice,” Kara knelt down to say hello to the rat as well. He sniffed over her fingers, little whiskers twitching rapidly at the end of his nose. “Let’s go get changed.”
Alice gently handed the animal back to Nines, and giggled again when the rat ran straight up and perched on the tall android’s shoulder. “I’m gonna get this guy his dinner,” Nines said as he headed toward the kitchen. “Let me know if you guys need anything.”
“Thank you,” Kara replied, for what she was sure wouldn’t be the last time.
She ushered Alice down the hall and found the bathroom easily. The clothes were large on her and huge on Alice, although… Kara couldn’t help but notice that they actually seemed a little small for Nines. Maybe they’d belonged to someone else at some point. They were dry and comfortable though, and Kara couldn’t be more grateful for them. By the time they emerged, there was a smell of food in the air — and definitely not rat food.
The rat sat on a little mat in the middle of the table, nibbling hungrily at a plate of tortellini. He looked up, licking some sauce from the end of his nose, when Alice stepped up to the table curiously. He didn’t pause for long before he resumed his meal and took a big bite of noodle.
Alice watched the small animal eat happily for a moment. He was very clean with his paws. “How did he get the scar on his nose?”
Nines shrugged. “Doing rat things.”
“Hey,” Alice giggled, “he winked at me!”
“Rats can’t wink,” Kara laughed.
“This one definitely can’t,” Nines confirmed.
A tan plastic bag with military type print on the front of it, sitting next to the sink, caught Kara’s attention. The print read, “MRE” in bold letters, and then “Menu 13, cheese tortellini in tomato sauce” in smaller print.
Nines caught Kara’s confused gaze. “It’s all he’ll eat when he’s… like this. He gets into moods,” the android smiled. Kara just nodded and returned the smile. It wasn’t her place to judge what someone fed their pet. Nines offered, “Can I get either of you anything? Food for her? Or thirium for you?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. I think some rest for her is all we need.” Kara was fine without stasis, but Alice’s system was programmed to need it often.
“Absolutely. I’ve set some pillows and blankets on the couch, in case you’d like either.” He picked the rat up from the table, just as it was reaching for another bite, and Kara could swear she saw the animal glare angrily at its owner. He picked the plate up as well, and the rat relaxed in his hold. “I’ll leave you guys alone to get some rest. In the morning, I’ll take you to someone who can help you from here.”
“I truly don’t know how to thank you.”
“No thanks are needed,” his smile was genuine and warm. “See you in the morning.” He retreated to the room at the end of the hall, rat and it’s food in hand. The animal’s cage must be in his bedroom, she concluded.
The room fell into calm silence, and Alice smiled up at Kara. Kara took a deep, long sigh. They were far from out of the woods just yet. She feared what tomorrow, and the following days might bring. They were closer, though — much more so than she could’ve hoped the help of a single person would bring. She melted into the couch, and Alice snuggled up close to her, dragging a soft blanket up and over her shoulder. In no time, Alice’s head was in her lap, and the girl was fast asleep. Unsure of when she’d have this safely again, Kara allowed herself to fall into stasis as well.