| “ | I know you think we're just machines... but since I met Alice, I know I can feel things... I care for her, I fear for her, I can't be happy if she's not... This probably doesn't make any sense to you but... I know she changed me somehow... | ” |
— Kara to Adam Chapman[src]
| ||
Kara is one of the three main protagonists and the overall tritagonist of Detroit: Become Human. An AX400 android, she is a common housemaid android serving in the home of her owner Todd Williams and caring for his daughter Alice.
Kara's connection to her young charge may trigger an upheaval that breaks Kara from her repetitive existence and starts her on a journey out into the world, at a time when androids may rise up and confront their creators.
Biography
"KARA" (2012)
The android with the ID KPC-897-504-C, soon named "Kara", was assembled. During her assembly, the android "Kara" was tested on her physical and cognitive functions by the Operator. When she realized she was going to be reset, sold, and considered an object, Kara showed distress, noting: "I thought I was alive." The Operator noted that as an error for which she would have to be disassembled and analyzed for. Scared and tearful, Kara begged for her life and mind, moving the Operator to halt disassembly and send her out to sale despite her "error", on the promise that she keep quiet about it. Kara then thanked him for sparing her.[2]
Pre-game
Kara, AX400 #579 102 694[3], was sent to a store where she was quickly sold, and later resold several times.[4]
Eventually, she was bought by her latest owner, former taxi driver Todd Williams. He assigns her to look after his home and daughter, Alice. Despite this, Todd was abusive, violent, and broke Kara several times in the past, at least some of which was due to her trying to protect Alice. Each time, Kara was sent for repair and returned fixed with a reset memory.[4] Later on, Todd may file a police report in which he claims that Kara had shown signs of aggression in the past.[5]
Todd claims that his daughter named her "Kara", which would appear as a contradiction; however, it is implied that Alice was told the name by Kara in the first place.[4]
In 2038, Kara was again damaged, with Todd claiming she was involved in an automobile accident. She was sent to Android Zone to be repaired; during the process, she was reset and her memory was wiped. [3]
The Opening
On November 5, 2038, at 03:24 PM, Kara reboots in the Android Zone store. Todd comes by to pick her up, re-registering her name as "Kara" and driving her back home.[3]
A New Home
At 04:53 PM, Kara arrives at home. Todd instructs her to do the housework and care for his daughter Alice, starting with cleaning the house. If she attempts to take care of the family's laundry, Kara discovers a packet of Red Ice hidden in the detergent and is physically accosted by Todd, who warns her not to look into his personal stuff. While tidying Todd's room, she discover a gun in Todd's nightstand and an apparently alarming piece of mail.
While completing her tasks, Kara meets Alice and slowly bonds with her again. After completing her chores, she gets the chance to converse more with Alice, who may give her a key depending on their relationship level. The key opens a keepsake box in Alice's room; within the box is a pressed four-leaf clover, a photograph of the Williams family, and distressing drawings made by Alice. The drawings reveal that Todd has been physically abusing her, and that Kara's recent destruction had been at his hands. Afterwards, Kara witnesses Todd shouting and screaming at Alice, having smoked red ice while Kara cleaned. He angrily grabs her and accuses her of hating him, but tearfully relents. [6]
Stormy Night
After serving dinner for Todd and Alice, Todd again begins a furious, drug-fueled rant about their living situation, and how he hates androids for taking his job. He blames Alice and attacks her, flipping the dinner table then slapping her. Alice fearfully escapes to her room and when Kara attempts to go upstairs to comfort her, Todd orders her not to move. Kara becomes bound by his instructions, but upon realizing that Todd will inflict bodily harm on Alice, she has the choice to force herself to deviate.
Kara rebels against Todd's orders.
If Kara breaks her programming, she has the option of attempting to reason with Todd or running upstairs to rescue Alice. Regardless of which she tries first, she ultimately decides that they must flee, with their success determined by the player.
If Kara reaches Alice's room before Todd, the two of them can escape together through the window by locking the door and choosing the option of going out the window. They may also leave Alice's room, hide in another room until Todd passes them, and flee downstairs out of either the back door or the front door.
If Kara does not reach Alice's room before Todd does, either because she attempted to reason with him first or because she simply was not quick enough, she fights Todd to protect herself. If she discovered the gun in "A New Home," she can grab it and use it to threaten Todd. The fight may result in either her or Alice shooting and killing Todd.
If Kara and Alice are successful in either avoiding or confronting Todd, they will escape together onto a nearby bus. However, if Kara is too slow or does not avoid Todd's attacks, Todd can destroy Kara and then proceed to kill Alice. The same happens if she chooses not to deviate from her programming in the first place; she will stand obediently in place as Todd kills Alice, with Todd blaming Kara despite clearly doing so and destroying her, ending their storyline.
Fugitives
Provided they have successfully escaped, Kara and Alice ride the bus to the end of the line until they're awoken by the bus controller. They then disembark and try to find a new place to spend the night. They are approached by a WR600 android who provides them information about a safe location, but it is on the opposite side of town. Deciding they must at least choose a nearby area for the night, Kara then chooses between three locations: a motel, an abandoned squat, or a small, gated parking lot.
If Kara chooses to stay at the motel, she is forced to steal money from the supermarket and clothes from the laundromat to pass off as human and get a room, signing in under the name "Archer".
If Kara chooses the Parking Lot, they find an abandoned car to spend the night in. Alice will be uncomfortable and upset.
If Kara decides on the squat, she needs to find some wire clipper to cut the fence open. She may find a pair in the parking lot or by stealing them in the supermarket. When looking for a way into the building, Alice is being confronted at night by a jittery, badly damage android named Ralph, who has been occupying the squat. Kara can talk him down, and then decide if they want to stay at the squat with Ralph. In choosing to stay, Ralph becomes excited at having visitors who won't harm him.
Once they settle for the night, Alice forlornly inquires as to why Todd could never love her despite her attempts to be a good daughter. She asks Kara to promise she will always be there for her. Kara may immediately promise or hesitate, but ultimately will relent. Before falling asleep, Kara may offer Alice items if she stole from the supermarket; Alice accepts the stolen stuffed toy, but she will refuse any candy, as she is not hungry. Eventually, if they stayed at the motel or squat, Kara falls asleep either next to Alice or in a chair.[7]
On the Run
The next morning, on November 6th, Kara and Alice's troubles change depending on where they stayed the night. The police department have received notice of either Todd's murder or his police report (in which he claims to have been suddenly assaulted by Kara), and deduced their general location. Hank Anderson and his RK800 partner Connor are assigned to this case and are looking for them. Kara takes different steps to avoid them.
In the morning, Kara offers to draw Alice a bath once she awakens. While doing preparing the bath, Kara finds time to cut her hair, change her hair color and remove her LED. Alice comments positively on the new style and heads to her bath; while waiting, Kara can change the channels on the TV and see a news bulletin about Todd. If he is alive, he lies about what happened and paints Kara as the aggressor; if he had been killed, a scoop about the homicide will be broadcast. Either outcome will lower Public Opinion of androids. Alice overhears this and responds in anger, but Kara consoles her and they agree to head to the safe place transmitted to her by the WR600. Kara tells Alice to finish up while she gets some breakfast.
Upon leaving the motel room, she sees several cops including Hank Anderson and Connor. Kara rushes back in to collect Alice and the two leave the motel room. Kara keeps an eye on the cops through the emergency door. Connor may notice the door and give chase. However, if he does not notice, he will instead go up to the motel room with Hank and find that they have already fled. Kara and Alice will have to sneak past the other officers. If they are successful, they will get to the train station undetected; but if they are spotted, they run and are persued by Connor.Kara wakes up and searches around the parking lot. She finds some rusty scissors and cuts her hair, changes her hair color, and removes her LED. She can then open the boot of the car and find a jacket to wear. Eventually, she and Alice talk and agree to go to the location given by the WR600. As they leave, they spot Hank and Connor, who are searching for them but aren't sure where exactly they are. They will attempt to sneak past the officers and, if successful, will to the train station undetected. However, if they are spotted, they will be pursued by Connor.
Kara wakes up and relights the fire, and heads upstairs, where she will find clothes to change into, if she had not already stolen them from the laundromat. She cuts her hair, changes the color, and removes her LED. While upstairs, she may discover a dead human body in the bathtub. As she heads back to Alice, she notices the police outside and sees Connor pick up on their trail.
Kara rushes downstairs and finds Ralph arranging a "family meal" by cooking a dead possum that he caught. Ralph insists that Alice eat it, and becomes increasingly agitated when she does not. Kara can convince or threaten him to let them go. In any case, they will escape through the back.
When Connor enters the squat, if Kara had threatened Ralph at any point, he will become distressed and gives up their location immediately, allowing Connor to pursue them. However, if Kara was delicate with Ralph and instead convinces him to let them go, Ralph will protect them and claim not to have seen them. If Connor finds them, Ralph attacks him to allow Kara and Alice to escape, but Connor will overcome Ralph and pursue them. If Connor fails to find them after too long, he is called away by Hank, allowing Kara and Alice to leave the squat undetected.Regardless of where they stay, if Kara and Alice are not able to escape detection by the police, they are pursued by Connor. In order to evade him, Kara and Alice climb a fence and attempt to cross a high-speed freeway. When Connor attempts to follow them onto the freeway, Hank demands that he stay for his own safety. If Connor refuses to follow the order, he mounts the fence and attempts to accost the duo on the highway. If she is swift and careful, Kara can evade both the cars and Connor, and make it to the train station with Alice in tow.
However, if Kara fails to accurately dodge too many of the cars, she may be hit and killed. Alice runs to her and is struck herself, much to the shock of Hank and Connor. This will end their storyline.[8]
Zlatko
If Kara and Alice survive their encounter with the police, they reach the location they were given by the WR600, which turns out to be the home of a seemingly sympathetic human, Zlatko. Kara persuades Zlatko to help them, in which he tells them that Canada is a great place to go as they have no android laws and they would be able to live a normal life there. Zlatko tells Kara that he will need to remove her tracker in order for her to get there undetected, and leads the group into into the basement where he hides the equipment necessary for this. She steps into the machine and as it locks her in place, Zlatko reveals his true colors. He informs her that when androids become deviants, the trackers stop working working anyways. In truth, he has plans to wipe Kara's memory and use her as his servant, much like his android Luther. As Zlatko takes Alice away, Kara attempts to break out of the machine before it resets her.
If Kara breaks out in time, she can find and free some of Zlatko's experiments, androids who have been mutilated and experimented on. After leaving the basement, she hears Zlatko tell Luther that he is to bring Alice to him in ten minutes. Kara begins to search the building to reunite with Alice before this happens.
If Kara was reset, she makes her way to Luther, who tells her to bring Zlatko his dinner. She can interact with other objects that will jog her memory. After she brings Zlatko his dinner, she can investigate her surroundings to regain her memory, leading her to look for Alice. If she fails to regain her memory in time, she does not interfere as Luther brings Alice to Zlatko and remains as Zlatko's slave, ending her storyline.[9]
While searching, Kara may find a frantic, mutilated android in a bathtub who is loyal to Zlatko and a polar bear android that she can release. She can also overhear a news report about herself, if she either held up the supermarket or ran across the freeway. In the hallway stands Luther, who is idly standing by for the 10 minutes to pass. If passed, he apologizes for taking Alice, but does not move. Eventually, Kara can find Alice and they can make their escape; but if they cannot reunite in time, Zlatko will find and destroy her, ending her storyline.
When Kara and Alice are reunited they make their way through the house as Luther discovers that Alice is gone. They can hide in various places throughout the house and sneak through the rooms until they make it to the stairs. Kara can also set a room on fire to create a distraction. If they are discovered, they are chased by Luther and a shotgun-wielding Zlatko. If they are not able to avoid the two of them, they may be killed, ending their storyline.
Eventually, Kara and Alice escape downstairs and to the backyard where Alice stumbles and falls. Kara drops to assist her and begs her to run, but Alice refuses to abandon her. Zlatko confronts the duo and plans to kill them, but Luther intercepts and disarms him. If Kara released the androids in the basement, they surround Zlatko and beat him to death. If Kara did not release them, Luther shoots him in the stomach with the shotgun. Luther explains that Zlatko changed his programming to force him to obey, but that watching Kara and Alice protect each other helped him deviate. He offers to help them reach someone who can truly help them get across the border, which Kara accepts.
The Pirates' Cove
Kara, Alice, and Luther have stolen Zlatko's car to travel through Detroit. The car eventually breaks down, and they find an abandoned amusement park called Pirates' Cove. They find an EM400 android, who greets them, but unfortunately shuts down due to being in a frigid condition. Kara and others will seek refuge in one of the buildings. Once Kara makes a bed for Alice inside the tavern, she tells Alice a story before telling her that it is time to sleep now. Kara has the chance to speak with Luther about either the snow, Luther's past, his plans for when they reach Canada or about rA9. After a while, a group of snow-worn androids begin storming the tavern. They turn out to be a fearful group of EM400s who collectively call themselves “Jerry”. A Jerry explains that they had seen the fire going in the tavern, and were scared that humans had returned to harm them; but they are elated once they find out the group is only androids and a human child. The Jerrys will attempt to cheer up Alice by starting up a carousel that is still functioning. Kara and Luther will watch Alice ride the carousel and observe her smile for the first time.[10]
Midnight Train
Kara, Alice, and Luther find the farm belonging to the sympathizer Rose Chapmanand her son Adam, which is a temporary shelter for deviant androids. Noticing her fever, Rose offers for Kara to put Alice to bed in a spare room she has upstairs and she brings Alice food, which she refuses. Kara returns downstairs after Alice settles into the spare room with Luther, who offered to stay with her.
Rose and Kara formally introduce themselves, and Rose asks Kara about her and Alice's situation to which Kara can respond either in a sincere or cautious manner. Kara has the option to ask Rose about her life and why she helps deviants, and to thank her for her assistance. When Kara asks if Rose can help them cross the border, Rose is cautious and tell Kara that it is very risky and that it would be safer for Kara and her family to stay with her and Adam until things settle down in Detroit. Kara insists that Alice needs a safe and stable life which is why they need to cross the border to Canada.
Before Rose responds, another deviant suddenly appears distressed, calling for Rose. Kara follows and witnesses the android Andy cradling and crying over his lover Mary, who has just permanently deactivated. Alice may come and check on them, causing Andy to calm down. A paranoid Adam argues with his mother out of fear of getting arrested for harboring androids, who he does not believe are living beings. After he storms off, a tearful Rose tells Kara that she will see what she can do about getting her and the rest of the deviants across the border as soon as possible.
After Rose leaves, Kara will have the option to check on Alice and look around at the belongings in Rose's house. She may reassure Adam and confess that she really does feel emotions since she met Alice, even though many other people think that androids are just machines. She alternatively may simply explain that she does not want to cause any trouble for him and his mother, and she and her family are simply trying to leave to Canada. A police officer then arrives at the door, patrolling the area for deviants. Kara has to quickly hide all evidence indicating the presence of deviants, such as bags of thirium and the door leading to the grieving androids. If the officer suspects nothing, he leaves the house and Rose returns with urgent news that they have to flee tonight. However, if the Police officer becomes too suspicious of Kara and Adam's behavior, he will discover the other deviants in the laundry room, and Luther sacrifices himself to protect Kara, Alice, and the other androids.[11]
Crossroads
Kara, Alice, and Luther (if he did not die in Midnight Train) say goodbye to Rose who tells them to find Markus. Once they reach Jericho, Kara goes to Markus‘s office to meet him; if he had died in Freedom March, she will meet North instead. She explains that she needs to cross the border as she is with a little girl. The leader will reply that the city is under curfew and the soldiers are capturing androids, bringing them to camps to destroy them. Kara insists and the leader agrees to help the group to get ID so they can cross the border.
As she heads back to her group, Kara spots a YK500 android who looks identical to Alice. She recalls an piece of mail she found in Todd's room advertising this model, and realises that Alice is not a human child; she is a small android designed to allow humans to simulate a child-rearing experience. If he is alive, Luther asks her if she loves Alice less now upon knowing the truth. He believes Kara should not consider their relationship as false, since Alice truly regards Kara as the mother she always wanted and Kara regards Alice as the child she always wanted. If Luther has died, Lucy will instead give similar advice. Kara sits next to Alice and either hugs her lovingly or stays distant. If the Kara chooses to remain distant, and their relationship is poor, Alice splits away from Kara, either along with Luther or by herself.
If Connor managed to locate Jericho, it is raided by the FBI and U.S. Army. Kara, Alice, and Luther try to escape the freighter quickly as the forces begin shooting androids on sight. If Alice is distant and feels disconnected from Kara, she wanders away; at this point Kara may abandon her, or reconcile and escape together. Luther is shot by a soldier during the escape and urges Kara to save herself. If Kara refuses, she hides him in a cabin first, and then carries on fleeing and hiding. At one point while hiding, an android begs Kara to open the door or else the soldiers will murder her. If Kara opens the door, the android is shot anyways and Kara has to fight the soldier who stormed in the cabin.
Kara and Alice eventually reach the exit along with many others, but the soldiers behind them begin shooting at the entire group. If Kara plays dead immediately and never moves, the soldiers will believe her destroyed and leave. She and Alice then escape and rendezvous with the other survivors. If she attempts any other solution, they are either captured or, if she continues even after being given second choice, eventually shot and killed along with Alice.[12]
Night of the Soul
Kara's appearance in this chapter is determinate. If Jericho wasn't assaulted, Kara died or was captured during the assault on Jericho in "Crossroads", she does not appear. If Kara and Alice escaped the assault they are both present in the abandoned church, and can be spoken to by either Markus (Markus on Sacred Ground) or Connor (North on Sacred Ground).
If he is the leader, Markus apologizes to Kara for telling her that Jericho is a safe place and asks her to leave the city with Alice while they can. Kara responds that they still have a chance to catch the last bus and tells Markus to save their people. She then listens to Markus' speech.[13]
If North leads, and Deviant Connor is present and previously chased Kara and Alice in On the Run, he will apologize for putting their lives in danger on the highway and explain that he was just a machine taking orders. He then questions Kara about what they will do next. Kara says that getting Alice away from the city is all that matters so they must catch the last bus. Connor says that they deserve happiness. She then listens to North's speech.[13]
Battle for Detroit
Kara Leaving Detroit
As Kara and Alice continue their way to the bus terminal to get on the last bus, U.S. Army soldiers are patrolling the streets and capturing or shooting all androids seen in the area, leaving them with the task of having to sneak past them. Kara may find a gun in the snow, which she may save for later. On the way, they find Luther (if Kara helps him in Crossroads) and a Jerry held hostage by a soldier. Kara either saves or leave him; if she decides to save him, she sneaks up behind the soldier and knocks him down with a brick to the back of the head. Luther is glad to see her and hugs Alice warmly, while Jerry makes his own way to the bus station and mentions to Kara that he owes her a favor. The group continues on their way to the bus terminal, hiding from soldiers. If the group is caught, it leads to Kara Captured. They arrive at a security checkpoint; due to the soldier's knowledge of androids it is risky to go directly through, but the safer detour prolongs their journey and may cause them to miss the bus.
If they go to the checkpoint, Kara hands over their ID's and talks to a soldier who question their presence despite the curfew. Kara calmly comes up with an excuse and the soldier lets them pass, but then calls them back. Luther initially begins to panic and believes they are onto them. Kara either orders Luther to shoot the soldiers (or shoot them herself if he is dead) or calm Luther down. If no one attacks, it turns out the soldier simply wanted to give Alice back her glove, which she had dropped.
The group reaches the bus terminal, a soldier announces that the last bus is full at its capacity and are only allowing people with tickets to board on. If Todd is alive, he catches Kara and confront her, angrily calling trying alert soldiers that they are androids as revenge for leaving with his "daughter". If Kara had the chance to look into Alice's treasure box back home, she can appeal to Todd about his past. She correctly deduces his situation: his wife left with their daughter and he bought Alice to prove himself that he can take care of a child, which leads to Todd breaking down and ultimately admitting his faults. A soldier walks by to address the commotion and Todd tells them he made a mistake. Alice then approaches him and can hug him goodbye. If Kara did not see Alice's treasure, Todd reveals to the soldiers that they are androids, which leads to Kara and Alice being shot on sight. If Luther is around, he creates a diversion to save them.
Alice then approaches a mother and her baby, Oliver. The woman's partner arrives and the family leaves to take the last bus. However, the envelope containing their tickets falls out of her bag. Kara picks it up and realizes this is their chance to leave. The family comes back after realising they lost the tickets, and the man asks Kara if she has seen it. Kara either lies and keep them, or gives it back to the family.
If Kara gives the tickets back to the family or misses the bus, soldiers begin using thermal scanners to identify androids. With this, Kara's only other option is to go to the parking area where she will find Adam and Rose, whom offer Kara the chance to escape via the river. They drive the group to the river to cross the Canadian border where a smuggler waiting for them and Rose gives the smuggler the cash for the boats. Rose and Adam will say goodbye to Kara and the others. After saying goodbye, Kara, Alice, and Luther (if alive) take one of the boats. However, the coastguard appears and start firing at the boats containing the androids. Luther will die no matter what happens. Kara and Alice's fate rely on what choice Kara makes:
- Surrender: the group is killed
- Hide behind Luther: Luther dies shielding the two
- Protect Alice: Kara is injured
- Accelerate: Alice is injured
- Dive: Only Luther dies
- Hide (if Luther is dead): Alice is injured
If Kara chooses to keep the tickets, the group takes the bus to the Canadian border. The bus will arrive at the Canada Border Inspection Station. There, a high presences of soldiers and border agents are checking ID and using thermal scanners to identify androids. Kara starts to panic and, if he has survived, Luther tells her that he is ready to sacrifice himself to allow the girls to cross the border.
Kara can spot the Jerry model that she saved earlier who offers to cash in his favor by sacrificing his life so they can all get past. She can also spot Rose and go to the bathroom to talk to her. She can ask her to take care of Alice if she dies. Back in the line, Kara has to decide: she can sacrifice herself, Luther, Jerry or nobody.
- Sacrifice herself: Kara is killed by the soldiers and Alice crosses the border with Luther or Rose.
- Sacrifice Luther: Luther is killed by the soldiers and Kara and Alice cross the border.
- Sacrifice Jerry: Jerry is killed and Kara, Alice, and Luther cross the border.
- Sacrifice nobody: Kara gives her ID and when the agent uses the thermal scanner to identify them, she pleads with him to let them past. If Markus led a peaceful protest, the border agent will sympathize with them and allow them to cross the border. However, if Markus led a violent revolution, or North leads her own revolution after Markus is sacrificed, the border agent will alert the soldiers and they will all be killed.[14]
Kara Captured
If Kara was captured, she and Alice are in a transport truck with other deviants. They are sent to a recall center. U.S. Army soldiers order the deviants to get out of the truck; if Kara doesn't move fast enough, the soldiers will force her out with violence, terrifying Alice.
After exiting the truck, a soldier demands that Kara and Alice deactivate their skins. After being processed through the tent, one of the deviants tries to escape. He gets spotted by the soldiers and is promptly shot and killed. They then order another deviant to move his body into one of the trucks carrying destroyed androids. This deviant refuses in fear, and Kara may offer to do it instead of him.
When Kara is carrying the destroyed android, she has the choice to pretend that she is dead, which results in her betraying Alice or she can walk back to Alice. A soldier separates them from each other. Kara can ask Jerry if he has seen Alice anywhere and he says he will ask the other Jerrys. Kara can talk to the scarred android if freed from Zlatko. The scarred android tells Kara that she does not know where Alice is either, and says she will help her. When she encounters a Jerry, he tells her that one of him found her.
If Luther is alive, Kara can converse with him. The soldiers tell them to stand in line; Alice is scared about what is going to happen to them; if Kara does not calm her down, Alice will fearfully run to her and get killed by a soldier. Kara has the choice to move over to Alice's lineup. She can ask a Jerry, Luther, Ralph (if met in "Fugitives") or the scarred android to create a distraction for Kara to move over.
In one choice, Kara, Alice, and Luther (if alive) run to an unprotected fence wall to escape but have to fight a soldier. If unable to defeat the soldier, they are shot. In another choice, Kara, Luther, and Alice are freed by Markus. In another choice, Kara and Alice are shot by soldiers if caught running. If Markus failed, you will have the ending "Alice destroyed", and if Kara did not betray Alice, she may be killed as well.[14]
If Kara betrayed Alice and escaped the recall center, she wakes up alone the next morning in Solid Waste Landfill. If she didn't betray Alice and they both managed to escape, they wake up in the landfill and hug each other. If Luther escaped with them, he is there and join their hug.
Credits scenes
Kara has two options scenes available in the game's credits, in the form of one mid-credits scene and one post-credits scene.
If Kara abandoned Alice in either Crossroads or in Battle for Detroit: Kara Captured and Markus was successful, she is seen crossing the streets of Woodward Avenue by Grand Circus Park where she stumbles upon an advertisement for the YK500 android, identical to Alice.[15]
If Kara was reset in “Zlatko” and failed to regain her memories in time to rescue Alice, she will become Zlatko’s slave. Alice will scream out to her and beg her to save her, but she will stare blankly as Zlatko takes Alice away, leaving her fate unknown. After the credits, Kara is then seen setting down a tray of food as Zlatko is working on an android laid out on a table. Zlatko will order her to set the food down on the nearby table. As she looks back up, both the iris and sclera of her eyes are shown to now be completely black (somewhat similar to Lucy’s eyes), suggesting that Zlatko may have experimented on her.
Chapters
- The Opening
- A New Home
- Stormy Night
- Fugitives (determinant)
- On the Run (determinant)
- Zlatko (determinant)
- The Pirates' Cove (determinant)
- Midnight Train (determinant)
- Crossroads (determinant)
- Night of the Soul (determinant, non-playable)
- Battle for Detroit (determinant)
Appearance
Kara has blue eyes and long brown hair, done up in a low bun at the back. She also has a LED ring on her right temple, to distinguish her as an android and indicate her mental status. Later, to change her appearance and make her less easily identifiable, she removes her LED and cuts her hair into a short pixie style; at the same time, the player can alter her hair's color, choosing between white, blonde, black, or the previous brown (this choice can only be made once, and whatever color is picked remains for the rest of the game).
Initially, Kara wears a standard android uniform style, with a white and black short-sleeved tunic and white pants and shoes, alluding to the French housemaid dress (if she stays in the abandoned car but does not take the jacket, she can remain in her uniform until after “Zlatko”). After becoming a fugitive, Kara has several outfits of human clothes throughout the rest of the game:
- Green jacket, red beanie, dark pants (Laundromat)
- Dark Gray jacket, dark blue pants (Squat)
- Dark brown jacket over her Android uniform (Parking Lot)
- Gray blouse and dark pants ("Zlatko")
- Dark coat over a dark-and-white turtleneck tunic, and dark pants (after "Zlatko")
If captured in Crossroads or Battle for Detroit, Kara will be forced to deactivate her skin and strip off her clothes. Her skin disappears with it turning into a shinny plasticky white with light gray accents across her body and cheeks. The only thing she maintains is her blue eyes.
If Kara failed to regain her memories in “Zlatko”, her appearance will have changed slightly in the post-credits scene, she will still be wearing her android uniform or her Zlatko clothes (depending on the clothes she took during Fugitives) with her formerly blue eyes becoming completely black, sclera included.
Personality
Marketed in 2032 by CyberLife, AX400 model androids are designed to take care of the housework and look after young children. They can speak 300 different languages, cook more than 9000 dishes, tell 9000 children stories, help children with their homework and play with them. They are highly popular because of their ability to get along with little kids. As a model primarily used to take care of family, especially children, she is designed to act kind, patient, obedient and all around pleasant.
However, in "KARA", it can be seen that Kara has the capacity to feel emotions, much to the surprise of her operator. She is almost disassembled after she expresses independent thought but is later kept alive after she tells her operator that she feels fear.
As a deviant, Kara is primarily motivated by a desire for parenting. Her sole and primary purpose even after becoming deviant is to protect Alice and make her happy again, no matter the cost. She may be extremely loyal to Alice, to a degree of denying her machine nature, however, depending on player choices she may develop doubts about the nature of Alice, and could eventually deny Alice's identity as human (and as a family member) in some paths. In the case that Kara abandons Alice, it is revealed her secondary motivation is to escape from danger, leading to an inevitable outcome of escaping from Detroit to Canada. Kara may lose the will to live if Alice dies. She is capable of being gentle, caring and compassionate.
Kara initially distrusts Luther but accepts his aid in taking them to someone who knows how to cross the Canadian border. Over time she may befriend or be distant to Luther; as Luther becomes a father figure to Alice, Alice's reaction to Kara has an impact on Luther's view on her. In several paths she may become selfless and entrust Alice to Luther should she choose to sacrifice herself.
Initially naive and nervous, she may perform reckless actions including robbing, stealing, and breaking property. This behavior could be changed for better or worse, as she may subsequently perform ruthless deeds including selling out comrades for survival, or noble actions such as saving other humans and androids. Kara may also have a change of heart and can take different stances in regards to empathy on machines.
Unlike Markus and Connor, Kara is small, not very strong and inexperienced in combat, and when it comes to fighting bigger and stronger opponents she tends to encounter, she has to make use of her wit to come out in one piece, and relies on the environment around her and creativity to win a fight. She rarely has scenes where she is actually fighting someone. Almost all of her quick-time events are her escaping with Alice. The only two times she is seen fighting is when she escapes from Todd with Alice and when she is escaping Jericho. She is a quick thinker, creating solutions to problems extremely fast, and has no problem protecting Alice, if the player decides to take her on that path.
Gameplay determined elements
Kara' chapters feature several gameplay measures/stats: the in-common Public Opinion and the personal Relationship Status with Alice and Luther.
Relationship: Alice
Kara is Alice's parental substitute. When Kara is ordered by Todd to stay still while he abuses Alice, she pushes beyond her programming and gains awareness so she can protect her; she would not have deviated in the first place if it was not for her love for Alice. Afterward, she does anything she considers necessary to ensure Alice's safety and well-being, no matter the cost to herself and others. Kara was also aware that Alice was an android the entire time, but repressed her knowledge of it out of a desire to act like a mother figure to a human child, to the point where the player can decide to be colder to Alice as a result of this.
Relationship: Luther
Luther is a companion of Kara after Zlatko's death, he assists Kara with strenuous work, including breaking into abandoned shelter, and expresses parenting tendencies to Alice, assuming a fatherly figure to Alice and subtly trying to influence Kara into adopting a motherly role towards Alice, despite the fact that all three of them are androids. While Luther rarely objects Kara and does not stand against her in all paths of game, he is inclined to encourage Kara to take a humanistic stance as aforementioned, and expresses gratitude should Kara help him despite verbally objecting Kara's recklessness putting herself in further danger.
Possible Deaths
Stormy Night
- Todd Williams (Determinant)
- If Kara does nothing to break her programming, Alice will be beaten to death by Todd. Afterward, Todd will turn his aggression on Kara and destroy her.
- If Kara deviates but is not fast enough to enter the room to save Alice before Todd beat the former to death, Todd will destroy Kara afterwards.
- If Kara fights Todd without grabbing the gun and fails to win, Todd will break her apart and proceed to kill Alice.
- If Kara and Alice fail to catch the bus, Todd will catch up to them and destroy Kara outside, then go back inside and beat Alice to death.
On the Run
- Car accident (Determinant)
- On the second freeway, if all of the QTEs are failed, or on the first freeway if all QTEs are failed on the Experienced difficulty, Kara will get hit by a car and be killed. Alice will run back to her, only to get hit by a car herself.
Zlatko
- Zlatko (Determinant)
- If Kara and Alice are caught and fail to escape, Zlatko can kill Kara with a shotgun either in the storage room or in the bathroom.
- If Kara escapes the memory machine or recovers her memory, but fails to find Alice in time, Zlatko will kill her with a shotgun and Luther will bring Alice to him.
Crossroads
- U.S. Army Soldier (Determinant)
- If Kara and Alice continually try to escape Jericho during their final scene of the chapter, they will both be shot and killed by a soldier of the U.S. Army.
Battle for Detroit
Kara Captured
- Drone (Determinant)
- Inside the Recall Center, Kara will be mortally wounded by a drone, who will shoot her in the abdomen if she keeps moving or does not "remain silent" when getting spotted by it. If Kara keeps moving or speaking for a second time, she will be shot in the chest and killed by the drone. This will leave Alice alone and have her fate be decided by Markus.
- The Line (Determinant)
- If a soldier hit Kara for not moving forward the first time, he will mortally wound Kara by shooting her in the abdomen if she doesn't move the second time. If failing to move forward a third time she will be fatally shot in the chest. Alternatively, If Kara was mortally wounded prior via the Drone or was shoot by the soldier in the first line, the Soldier will immediately fatally shoot Kara in the chest after hitting her once for not moving forward.
- If Alice's stress reaches 100%, Alice will run to Kara's line and leave Kara a choice. If Kara intervenes, then Kara will die protecting Alice.
- If Kara and Alice were taken to the recycling center, Markus is either dead, banished, failed the Revolution, or did not lead a revolution, and Kara does nothing to escape, she and Alice will both die in the recycling machine.
- U.S. Army Soldier (Determinant)
- If Kara tries to flee when escaping through the fence in the recycling center, she will be shot and killed. This also results in the death of Alice (and Luther if he is present).
- If she fights the soldier but loses, Kara and Alice will both be shot (unless Luther or Ralph intervene, saving her).
- While escaping to the fence, if Kara was shot by the drone or soldier prior she will stop and refuse to join Alice (and Luther if present). Kara will say her goodbyes and then be gunned down by the soldiers.
Kara Leaving Detroit
- Drowned (Determinant)
- If Kara and Alice take the boat to Canada and Kara does not push the boat at all, she will drown.
- Shut down (Determinant)
- If Kara protected Alice during the boat ride, she will be mortally wounded. If the two make it to the shore, Alice will hug Kara one last time as Kara shuts down.
- If Kara and Alice make it to shore by swimming, Alice will become severely weakened and shut down. Kara has the option to keep living or give up. If she gives up, she will shut down and die, holding Alice in her arms.
- Shot while on the boat by U.S. Border Patrol (Determinant)
- If the group surrendered while on the boat, Kara will die along with Alice (and Luther if present).
- Shot at the Canadian border by U.S. Army soldier (Determinant)
- If Kara chooses to sacrifice herself at the Canadian border, she will be shot and killed.
- If Kara sacrifices no one and the androids lead a violent revolution, the guards will capture them and execute them.
- If she chooses to sacrifice nobody and Markus leads a revolution or the opinion is hostile toward androids, she will be shot along with Alice and Luther (if present).
- Shot at the bus terminal by U.S. Army soldiers (Determinant)
- If Kara returns the tickets instead of keeping them or arrives late, she and Alice will be unable to get onto the bus to the border. If Luther is dead or does not make a diversion, Kara will be shot and killed along with Alice if she gets caught by the security check.
- Killed by Todd Williams (Indirect/Intentional, Determinant)
- If Todd wasn't killed in Stormy Night, he will reappear at the bus stop. During which, if he spots Kara he will start alerting security to their presence. If "your story" (unlocked by opening Alice's box) is not chosen, Todd will inform the soldiers she and Alice (and Luther if he's present) are androids. The soldiers will order them on their knees and gun down the group.
Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Kara has killed.
- Todd Williams (Determinant)
- Bathtub android (Determinant)
- Zlatko Andronikov (Caused, Determinant)
- URS12 Android Polar bear (Indirectly Caused, Determinant)
- Luther (Caused, Indirectly Caused, or Sacrifice, Determinant)
- Jerry (Caused or Sacrifice, Determinant)
- Ralph (Accidentally Caused, or Sacrifice, Determinant)
- Herself (Suicide or Sacrifice, Determinant)
- United States Army Soldiers (Determinant)
- Unnamed humans (Determinant)
Behind the scenes
- Kara is portrayed by Valorie Curry, who provided her likeness, the voice acting and performance capture.
- Cécilia Ngô did the motion capture stunts for Kara.
- In dubbed versions Kara's voice was acted by: Maïa Michaud (French), Sako Mayumi (Japanese), Andrea Orozco (Latin American Spanish), Olga Velasco (European Spanish), Nicole Hannak (German), Emanuela Damasio (Italian), Lina Ivanova (Russian), Victória Guerra (European Portuguese), Flora Paulita (Brazillian Portuguese), Julia Kamińska (Polish).
- Valorie Curry was first cast in 2010 for the titular role in the short film "KARA", and reprised her role for the game.
- Additional acting in the "KARA" short film was done by Karen Gansk Wallet, for Kara speaking German and French, and Hanako Danjo, who performed Kara singing the "Sakura Sakura" song.[16]
Quotes
"That's enough! Leave her alone! (...) No... I want you to leave Alice alone!" - Kara to Todd as she is protecting Alice in Stormy Night.
"She needs me. And I need her. It's as simple as that." - Kara about Alice, in Crossroads.
"I love you too!" - Kara's last words to Alice's as she dies in Kara's arms after crossing the Detroit River.
“I know I’m just... a machine... But, I feel as if something ties us together... I want you to know, no matter what happens... nothing will ever separate us.“ - Kara to Alice during On the Run.
"We're going to pull through this, Alice. As long as we're together, nothing can hurt us." - Kara to Alice during On the Run.
"It's us against the world, Alice. Just the two of us. We have to learn to trust each other. I only have you... and you only have me... and I'm going to do everything I can to make you happy again." - Kara to Alice during On the Run.
"Her father was beating her. When I saw what was happening... something snapped inside of me... all of a sudden I felt like her life was more important than mine. I had to protect her... so we ran away." - Kara talking to Rose Chapman about her situation regarding how and why she became a deviant, during Midnight Train.
"I don't care whether she's human or android. She's just someone who matters to me." - Kara talking to Markus North about Alice in Crossroads.
"I'm sure we used to be friends before I was reset. Maybe we can be friends again?" - Kara to Alice in A New Home.
"I know I used to live here, but they erased my memory. I was kind of hoping you could help me get my bearings, give me some advice, that kind of thing." - Kara to Alice in A New Home.
"When your wife walked out... she took your daughter away... You couldn't live without her... so you bought yourself an android... a substitute little girl... You thought you could love her... that she would make you forget... but nothing could replace your child." - Kara tells Todd his story in Battle for Detroit.
“We’re free Alice! We’re free! Alice? Wake up... Wake up! ALICE! (...) Yes... we made it. (...) I love you too.” - Kara to Alice after successfully crossing the river with her during Battle for Detroit.
“Alice, I... I can't go any further with you... (...) I know I promised I would never leave you... but things didn't turn out like that... (...) There's no other way, Alice... Listen, I... I want you to go with Rose... She'll give you the life I never could... (...) You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Alice... You made me feel alive and you deserve so much more than I could ever give you... I hope you’ll find a real family... and be happy... without me...” - Kara to Alice, after choosing to sacrifice herself at the border to save Alice, during Battle for Detroit - Kara Leaving Detroit.
“It‘s over, Alice... We’re free.“ - Kara to Alice, after they successfully crossed the Canadian border together, during Battle for Detroit - Kara Leaving Detroit.
Gallery
Images
See also Category:Images of Kara.
Videos
Notes
- Kara's actress, Valorie Curry, also played a woman who goes on the run with a little child in the TV series The Following.
- Initially, Alice was going to be entirely mute, communicating to the player using American Sign Language. In order to teach the player basic ASL signs, developers created concept art of ASL books and a game sequence where Kara would learn ASL, but it was cut out.[17]
- While shooting the game, Valorie Curry has never actually met her co-stars Jesse Williams and Bryan Dechart. Because of scheduling, they filmed all their scenes separately and they were edited together.[18]
- The only time the three main characters meet each other (not at once) is in the chapter "Crossroads" at Jericho.
- Kara and Connor do not actually meet face to face in this chapter but they meet Markus at separate times.
- Excluding On the Run, Kara and Connor can however interact in "Night of the Soul" after Jericho is blown up. However, their face to face interaction happens only if Markus leaves Jericho after being rejected or is killed prior to that scene.
- Kara and Connor do not actually meet face to face in this chapter but they meet Markus at separate times.
- A life-size statue of Kara based on Valorie Curry's likeness is created for a museum at Grévin in Paris.[19]
- Kara is the only protagonist that isn't a prototype.
- Kara means "beloved" in Latin, and is also Irish for either "friend" or "love", which perfectly embodies her personality and the theme of her story.
- Also, "Kara" is consonant with the word "care", which is another symbolic side of her name.
- Kara's first line in the game is "My name is Kara". This is a reference to KARA (tech demo) where the first time she says this after the operator gives her the name.
- Another thing could be interpreted as a reference to the tech demo is the memory reset scene in the chapter Zlatko where Kara struggles to break free from a machine that locks her in place as she begs.
- Kara is the only playable character whom the player has the freedom to change her appearance (in her case, her hair color) based on their choice. The player can choose between four colors: Brown (default), Blonde, White, and Black.
- By choosing black or keeping brown, and with Kara having cut her hair short, she can more closely resemble the version of Kara in the tech demo.
- Originally, Kara was designed to be very customizable. The players had the option to adjust her android apron/clothing colors.[20]
- Kara continues David Cage's trend of having fugitive protagonists in his games, the others being Lucas Kane in Fahrenheit, Ethan Mars in Heavy Rain and Jodie Holmes in Beyond: Two Souls.
- Another trend Cage's games has is the relationship dynamic between Kara and Connor (pursued-pursuer). Players are presented with protagonists from opposing sides and expected to chase down themselves. The other examples are Lucas Kane and Carla Valenti/Tyler Miles in Fahrenheit, Ethan Mars and Norman Jayden in Heavy Rain.
- The developers considered the option for Kara to run the revolution if Alice and Markus die, but they found it unmanageable due to increasing complexity of branching narrative.[21]
- The teaser trailer for Detroit: Become Human hinted at Kara having a similar role in the game.
- Kara's story takes on the theme of a mother trying to protect her daughter, similar to Ethan Mars’ story of a father trying to save his son in Heavy Rain. Kara can also be willing to go to great lengths to protect Alice, even sacrificing herself at the Canadian border (determinant), similarly to how Ethan may go to great lengths (for example, his trials) to save Shaun.
- The promotional material for Kara's character ended with the line "How far will you go for love?" which is similar to the central question/tagline of Heavy Rain, "How far will you go to save someone you love?"
- In Battle for Detroit, if Kara and Alice are taken to the Recycling Camp, Kara will begin to shout for Alice repeatedly. This has parallels with Ethan from Heavy Rain when he looks for his sons Jason and Shaun.
- If Kara sacrifices herself at the Canadian border, she will tell Alice, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Alice.” This may be referencing one of Ethan's lines in Heavy Rain. If he took the poison in the final trial and then arrives at the warehouse to save Shaun, he will tell him, "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me in my life. I want you to know that whatever happens, I love you more than anything in the world."
- Kara's story seems to take inspiration from the slaves who were using the Underground Railroad to escape into Canada during the early to mid-1800s.
- Kara appears in the least amount of chapters out of all three playable characters, with 11. She is playable in 10 of these.
- Kara is the only playable character who cannot directly kill or be killed by the other playable characters.
- Kara has the highest number of good possible endings of the protagonists. She and Alice can survive until the end by crossing the border with Luther, escaping on a truck from recall center or getting freed via Markus’ assault and getting to Canada by boat (albeit Luther will always die in this scenario). Sacrificing no one and having Markus leading a peaceful protest on the border, is widely considered the best ending for Kara, Alice, and Luther, as the trio stays alive under the best possible circumstances without sacrificing anyone.
- On the other hand, Kara is the only main protagonist who can die in nearly every chapter of her story. Markus cannot die until Freedom March and afterwards, and for most of the game Connor is simply replaced as he is still a machine.
References
- ↑ This height was measured in blender from the model of Kara ripped from the game.Kara height reference
- ↑ "Kara" short film
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Opening"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Detroit: Become Human Extras, Gallery
- ↑ "Waiting for Hank..."
- ↑ "A New Home"
- ↑ "Fugitives"
- ↑ "On the Run"
- ↑ "Zlatko"
- ↑ "The Pirates' Cove"
- ↑ "Midnight Train"
- ↑ "Crossroads"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Night of the Soul"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Battle for Detroit"
- ↑ Detroit: Become Human, mid-credits scene, Kara and YK500
- ↑ The Making of Kara, on YouTube
- ↑ Bryan Dechart's Twitch Mod & Community Manager's Twitter
- ↑ Bryan Dechart's Twitter
- ↑ David Cage's Twitter
- ↑ Bryan Dechart's Twitch Mod & Community Manager's Twitter
- ↑ David Cage's Reddit AMA