Chapter 1- Freedom

The revolution that Markus was leading put Luther and I on the edge.

We tried our best to assure Alice and make her feel safe as possible. Unfortunately, she was a very smart girl and I'm sure no matter how much Luther and I try to hide our worries she can feel it. She understands the seriousness of this situation. Especially when we were trying to cross through security to the Canadian border and she saw many androids splattered without a thought by the humans. The humans didn't think much of us. Didn't think we were alive at all.

The temperature checks were coming up and I was so nervous. What will happen to us? Larry offered to sacrifice himself. Rose offered to sacrifice herself. Luther even sacrificed himself. That especially, is not an option to me. It's because he was willing to survive and sacrifice himself for Alice and I. Luther was family now to me and Alice, if I lost either of them I would be beyond devastated. I watched wearily of Markus's demonstration on the television. Luckily, he seemed like he was going peacefully to show the humans all we want is peace and rights.

I remember when at Jericho Markus seemed to be conflicted with North another android there that wanted to be violent to the humans to take revenge. I'm thankful Markus didn't chose to be violent. Maybe I have a chance… The human faces in the checkpoint seemed to be sympathizing the androids that were being murdered with their hands up. Each one taken down and the ones around them having to march peacefully being hopeful that change will happen.

We come closer to the counter. Rose. Larry. Luther. Alice..

"IDs please," stated the clerk.

I place them on the counter.

He takes out his temperature check and I can see he knows.

"Please…we just want to be free.", I plead. I sacrifice myself.

…

…

He glances at the peaceful protest on the television.

"Welcome to Canada."

A sigh of relief comes over all of us.

We pass through security doors.

"We did it Alice, we made it."

We got on the bus to Canada and sat together snuggled up to one another. I glance at Luther as he wraps his long, strong, arms around Alice and I. There was something warm growing inside my chest I couldn't explain. This was a different feeling from when I feel for Alice. I'm still new to emotions and understanding them since I decided to finally become free. He stared straight ahead at the road as the bus continued to move. Never once could I fathom being free when I realize how far I have come from being just another AX400 android (specifically AX400 #579 102 694) being abused by Todd.

I don't remember much. But Alice told me I was rebooted at least 3 times because how badly he would damage me and must repair me again. I remember this itch back then that something wasn't right. Something I shouldn't have been feeling but I did anyways. Now it's reality as we cross the Canadian border that this feeling was knowing that I was alive. It sounds cheesy but what Markus says is true.

Whether or not the humans think highly of us or not it can't change the fact of what we are feeling. Call it a glitch or programming or an act of God (whatever the humans believe). But one thing is for sure is that I feel like I can mimic the emotions and feelings that humans can because it's something I can't control. I hear whispers it's because of Ra9 will set us deviants free. At this point I almost believe it what I thought impossible was here, being free.

I glance at Luther with his arm still wrapped around me. His warmth was comforting even though we could regulate our temperatures in our programs it was nice to feel his warm radiating over mine. The bus is heading to another station I think in Vancouver B.C. it seems at least a couple of hours since we have been on this trip. I never thought we would get this far to be honest. Once we get off I'm not sure what we can do but maybe we can be lucky enough to find another kindred spirit like Rose. Either way I am grateful I got to have Luther and Alice with me. I saw that Jerry went through fine as well because he got the same kind checkpoint guard.

Even though Canada is our haven we still have to be weary in case there are humans who is willing to be violent like in Detroit. I hope Markus and the rest of them will be okay. Luther assured me they're strong enough to keep their own. Right now I'm excited to start a new life with the two androids I care about the most. Although Alice is an android and not a human, like I denied, my care for her hasn't ever stopped. Luther on the other hand for some reason I've been having a weird feeling that I can never explain. It started right before we met the Jerrys and I was telling Alice a nice bedtime story. When I was describing Luther I couldn't help but feel fuzzy when I said he was our guardian that left his master. I feel safe around him, Alice must too because she has become more outgoing around him. Luther calls her the most special person he has ever met. I agree. I think Alice helped the both of us find who we really are—

To my surprise I find Luther holding my hand and squeezing it firmly.

I see the bus stopping at the station just 1 mile ahead.

When we get off the bus it's finally the first step to being safer and starting our own lives. Somewhere where we don't have to fear for our lives every day. Somewhere where we can finally be free.

The bus finally stops in Vancouver B.C. and Luther still holds onto my hand. It's out of the blue but I don't mind. It's comforting right now. Even though I am relieved we made it past security and into Canada we have some other issues coming up like where are we going to go and what are we even going to do now. I can see on Luther's face that he is just as worried too, he always is the worried one. It's reasonable though he fears for the future since we haven't always had the best of luck. Whatever happens all that matter is that we stick together. Especially after all that has happened its best that we stick together.

I didn't really have much of a plan to be honest once we got to Canada. In a sense I didn't really believe that we would get past security. The protests that Markus was brewing I didn't know how it was going to end for androids everywhere. Never did I think that Luther, Alice and I were to make it into the Canadian border. In some twisted way I was prepared for deactivation but hoping for freedom. A hopeless redundancy.

We take our things and get off the bus. Luther carries Alice on his shoulder and follows along side me. The snow still falls but lightly.

"Where do we go now?", asks Alice.

Luther and I glanced at each other.

For some reason I was hoping Luther would have a plan because I certainly didn't. But we both seem clueless. It seems both of us didn't really think we would make it this far but were willing to hope in tragedy.

"Well...", I try to break the awkward silence. "We should try to find shelter Alice, like when we ran away from Todd"

"It's a start.", stated Luther.