6.30PM Wednesday 10th November 2038

Megan and Paul ended up going back up the convoy. None of the cab doors were locked so they could go through glove boxes and dashboards and foot wells for discarded snacks.

They stuffed what they found in Megan's backpack, which was mostly candy, granola bars, chips and trail mix. There were thankfully water bottles in them as well, most half empty, which was a little disgusting to think about.

"Beggars can't be choosers," Paul reminded as Megan wrinkled her nose at a half empty plastic water bottle. With a sigh she made sure the cap was properly screwed on and stowed it in her back pack.

"It's good to see you again," Megan finally said.

"You too," Paul nodded. He fiddled with his raincoat, which he had found again. They were also careful to keep their voices down, since soldiers were still in the back of these. Guilt twisted in Megan's stomach, they were stuck in the dark with no food or water, that wasn't humane. They were only following orders.

Yet, what could they do? They had no resources to spare and they were all students. Julia was the only one with a decent income, and even then, providing for over 100 soldiers? Doable with a sandwich and a bottle of water each, but suspicious when buying.

"What are you thinking?" Paul asked, and Megan shook her head.

"Nothing much. Trying not to freak out," for once it couldn't be further from the truth. With Paul back, Megan felt calm, at ease.

"Really? Your vitals are fine," Paul noted, and Megan mentally cursed.

"I'm mostly succeeding," she amended. "How about you? What are you thinking in that big brain of yours?"

Paul didn't respond for a few seconds.

"You put yourself at great risk to help me."

"Yeah," Megan shrugged. "You needed us, and there was no arguing with Alex once their mind was set. They got a plan together before I could even blink."

"Of course they did," Paul chuckled. "But, this was crazy. You could have died earlier, you know that?"

"Believe me, I know," Megan sighed. Every time she closed her eyes she could see the barrel of a gun. "But, so could have you. In fact, if we weren't there you most definitely would have died."

Paul took his beanie off and began to play with it. They stopped outside the next truck and Megan went in to root around.

"I know," he muttered, but in the dead quiet Megan still heard him. "It's just, you don't, I," Paul sighed. "I don't know how to say it, but I really think you shouldn't have come to rescue me. I'm glad you did!" he defended when Megan shot him a disbelieving look. "It's just, you took some serious risks and-"

"Stop," Megan got out of the vehicle and grabbed his hands. "Stop with the self deprecation, because that's what this is. You're always getting me to stop, so let's not be hypocritical," Megan smiled up at him. "I came for you because I like you, I want you in my life, and, honestly, I was a wreck without you. Yeah I came to save you, but it was mostly Alex's plan and I was terrified the entire damn time. I've lost track of how many anxiety attacks I've had or nearly had in the last three days and I'm still here, because you mean that much to me. Okay?"

Paul had no words, and gripped Megan's gloved hands with his much larger ones.

"Tha- thank you," he managed to get out, feeling the words catch in his throat. "I, I'd just gotten used to the idea of not being rescued, I, I don't know..." he could feel moisture running down his face. "I don't know why I'm crying."

"You're overwhelmed, and that's alright," Megan didn't relax her grip, and could feel tears starting fall on her face. "I'm doing it too. This is the first moment we've had where we can really think, huh?"

"Yeah," Paul agreed, and pulled one hand out to wipe his face. "Fuck, I've never done that before. I can see why you hate it."

Megan laughed wetly. "Yeah, crying sucks, but you tend to feel a bit better afterwards."

"Got it," Paul's hand hovered in front of him awkwardly now his face was clear. Megan took it, and in a moment of spontaneity she attempted to pull him into a hug. Since he was taken by surprise he didn't budge, so she flung herself at his torso instead.

Paul was quick to recover, hugging her back. At that point it properly sunk in for both of them that the other was there. Safe, in one piece, alive. No guns were pointing at them, there was no rush, no time limit. For now, all was well. All was good.

Neither of them decided to mention that they could feel the other crying on them.

7.30PM Wednesday 10th November 2038

The two of them made it back to the Recycling Centre, bag and pockets full to bursting with snacks and drinks.

Androids had positioned themselves on the main fence, legs locking them into position and guns pointed outwards. A few were stationed on the ground by the tunnel and one more was lying in a sniper position on top of the front van. There was a slight nod from that one as Megan and Paul passed by, but otherwise no indication that they were noticed.

They found most of Android Allies by the security picker, sans Lucas, Ivy and Nathan, all huddled around some space heaters that had been up from where the flood lights were.

"We have food," Paul announced, and Megan dropped the bag on the ground.

"Some of it's half eaten," she warned. "But it's better than nothing."

"Oh thank God, I'm starving!" Oscar was the first to dig in.

"Hey, save some for the rest of us!" Nathan cried. "That's got to feed all nine of us!"

Oscar paused, and guiltily put some of the snacks down, and everyone else leapt on them.

It was not a substantial meal, but it would do for now.

"We need to do a supply run," voiced Maggie halfway through a candy bar. "We don't know how long we're going to be here."

"These guys have got it under control," Allison countered, "they don't need us!"

"Then what?" Alex asked. "We go back to my place and hide there?"

"We can go with the original plan," Allison shrugged. "A shit ton of protesting."

"Hate to break it to you," Lucas responded from the cabin. "The right to assembly is suspended. We go out and protest, we'll get arrested."

"Oh, and we won't get arrested staying here?"

"Actually, unlikely," Paul added. "Given the android's positions and weaponry, and the fact the alarm doesn't seem to have been raised, we're not likely to be arrested here."

"Huh," Allison was surprised, and Megan got a question in before she could recover.

"How're the others doing?"

"Not so great," Alex sighed. "Not much has changed from the last convo over radio. There's stuff connected to the internet in the trucks, it's just wiring it up to the phones. And, none of us are engineers."

Alex looked at Paul, who shook his head.

"I am not a jack of all trades droid. I am designed for home assistance, not engineering."

"You wielded a gun pretty well there, I doubt that's in your programming," Megan responded, and Paul's shoulders slumped.

"Fine, I'll go see what I can do. I'll bring some snacks for them," Paul grabbed an armful to a small protest and left the main compound.

Lucas had driven the truck up to the barrier, so thankfully they weren't far. Lucas followed them and jumped into that truck while Ivy and Nathan were working in one of the massive dumper trucks. Paul tried not to think about their contents as he delivered food.

Lucas had merely nodded when Paul dropped by, engrossed in setting up his work. So Paul went up to the larger truck.

"All hail the bringer of food!" crowed Nathan as he dug in. He took a bite out of some chocolate and let out a sigh. "I might miss Dairy Milk, but right now, this is some good shit."

"Nathan!" Ivy snapped, but she reached across and grabbed some chips from Paul, who was on the step up outside the cab. "Thanks though."

"How's it going?" Paul asked.

"Slow," Ivy responded, Nathan too busy enjoying chocolate. "I'd love to see a nice obvious USB port, but of course, it's not that simple. It's only connected to the internet for maps, so trying to get it go further than that is fucking nightmare!"

Paul frowned and leaned over Nathan. "Mind if I-?" he started as he reached over. To his surprise his skin pulled back, and before he'd finished his fingers brushed against the electronic dashboard.

All of a sudden, he could see it. See the code, understand it. It just took a little push here, a little nudge there, and...

Ivy's phone beeped and when she went to look at it, she found that through the amalgamation of cables, it was connected to the truck internet.

"How the hell did you do that?" she asked, in utter awe.

Paul pulled his hand back, synthetic skin covering his hand again. "I, I don't know."

Ivy began to scroll through her phone, getting online. "Let's see what's been happening."

9.24PM Wednesday 10th November 2038

Android Allies were crowded around Ivy's and Lucas's phones as well as the space heaters. They had moved them out to the trucks and had been joined by a small group of androids, who were going to broadcast to the rest.

President Warren's speech was about to begin, and no one was expecting anything good.

They were greeted to a tiny President Warren on each screen, walking towards the podium in the White House, all smiles and waves as cameras flashed. She got settled, and began to speak in an oddly halting manner, although it made it difficult to mishear anything even through tinny phone speakers.

"At 6AM this morning a national curfew was declared. Civilian movement will be strictly controlled, the right to assembly is suspended, all electronic communications are restricted, and I have granted enhanced powers to our security agencies. In addition to these measures, all androids must be handed over to the authorities immediately. Temporary camps are being set up in all our major cities to contain and destroy them. I am now asking all civilians to co-operate with the authorities, and rest assured that everything in our power is being done to guarantee the security of our nation."

"So basically, nothing Detroit didn't already know," Allison sighed, huddling closer to the space heater.

"I don't know," Lucas disagreed, shifting position. "I don't think we knew the curfew was country wide."

"I feel sorry for those who want to check on family," Julia suddenly interjected as various reporters vied for the President's attention. "If communication is down countrywide then no one can check if anyone's okay."

A simultaneous sensation of guilt gripped those still in college. Their parents had to be freaking out, and for good reason. Not one felt like telling their parents where they were and what they were doing.

The President picked a reporter to respond to, and they asked.

"Has the leader of the deviants been apprehended?"

"The deviant that is known as Markus has not been located yet, but we will soon track it down and neutralise it."

"There was a thing with Jericho," Ivy explained for those who didn't know. "Which was Markus's base. It was raided last night, and we don't know if he's alive. He's also kind of a big fucking deal."

The next reporter was called upon.

"Is it true that the androids could hack our IT systems, like nuclear power plants and military bases?"

"All androids working on sensitive sites have been neutralised and all IT systems have been suspended to avoid any risks of hacking. The situation is under control."

"Can you hack things Paul?" Megan asked, genuinely curious, and Paul shrugged.

"That's how we're even watching this. I didn't even know I could do it until then."

Yet another reporter.

"Many believe that androids are a new form of intelligent life. Do you have any comment?"

"That's ridiculous. Next question please."

"Fuck off!" Allison and Ivy both snarled while the androids all responded angrily. Surprisingly it was Nathan who exploded next.

"That's clearly not ridiculous you ignorant, incompetent, senile old bat!" he bellowed, making everyone jump. "If they weren't sentient, they wouldn't be fucking revolting now would they?!"

"Nathan, we get it," Julia tried to calm him down. "And she can't hear you."

"I know, I know. It's just, ah! After all this!" Nathan mumbled before settling back down, just in time for the next journalist's question.

"What's going to happen to CyberLife? Will androids be banned definitively?"

"We're working very closely with Cyberlife to neutralise all deviants. I won't make any comments about anything else until we have dealt with the android question."

Megan glanced at Paul, and gripped his hand, giving it what she hoped was a comforting squeeze. He noticed the pressure and looked down at his hand before smiling warmly at Megan, the gesture appreciated.

"Madam President, public opinion seems to have become increasingly favourable to the deviants, particularly since they've adopted a peaceful approach. How do you feel about this?"

"Damn straight," Oscar almost rumbled over the President's response.

"Public opinion is one thing, the security of the state is another. These deviants are dangerous and my highest priority is to protect the American people. Thank you. That will be all."

"Oh fuck off!" Lucas rolled his eyes as the President walked away, desperate reporters still shouting their questions. "They're as dangerous as any other human, and frankly, humans have probably harmed more androids."

"Here's a pretty good example," commented android. "Excluding you guys."

"It's hard to figure out who's the exception at this point," Oscar added. "Especially if public favour is being brought to the President's attention."

Alex suddenly yawned. "So basically, that was a load of bullshit to make everyone's life harder. I'm tired as fuck, so I'm going to sleep. Don't know about you lot."

"Alex," Julia started, but paused when Alex looked blankly at her. "Are, are you going to be okay?"

Alex suddenly slumped. "I will be. I'd just like some space."

They stalked back to the compound, and Julia sighed, but didn't follow.

"I agree," Ivy yawned. "Time for sleep. And deal with shit in the morning."

She got into the big truck with Maggie, and Oscar took the bench the behind the driver and passenger seats. Lucas wordlessly went to the smaller truck, and was joined by Nathan.

With his new found hacking power, Paul unlocked the rest of the nearby trucks and everyone got as cosy as they could. Julia brought one of the heaters down to Alex before climbing into her own cab. Paul had turned the electronics on, so each cab was warming up.

He and Megan were in a small truck and Megan reclined her seat as best she could before curling up on the passenger's side.

"...Paul?"

"Mmm?" Paul was leaning back in the driver's seat, not worried about sleep.

"You're going to be here when I wake up right?"

"Of course I will," Paul responded softly. "I won't go anywhere."

"Thank you," Megan murmured, and she relaxed into sleep.

Paul sat there, staring out of the windscreen. He was here. He was alive. He almost wanted to laugh it seemed so farfetched.

Instead he leaned back in his seat, and propped his feet up on the dashboard. He didn't need to sleep, and had no plans on going into stasis, but there was no point in sitting rigidly upright.

I am an absolute sucker for Megan and Paul soft moments, just, ah!

The President Warren speech and reactions are pretty much copy and pasted from the Protest Path, although those who remember it will know that Paul never did the interface thing, 'cause he never needed to. Nothing much to add there, just a cool detail.

Other Options Flowchart

(Megan) Tell the truth

(Paul) Say nothing. Go along with the lie.

(Megan) Don't mention Paul using a gun