Dakota walked in the door, with bags of groceries in his hands. Putting them down on the kitchen counter, he looked around himself. He could hear the TV on, turned to the news channel. He wondered when that happened. Taking out food from the bags, he heard a noise. Kara came out of the bathroom, with a toilet scrubber in her hand. "Kara," he called, "what are you doing?"

Kara stopped, worried. "I'm cleaning," she stated. "Is there something wrong?"

Dakota frowned at her. "Why? You don't need to."

Kara took a breath. "I needed something to do, to stay busy. Cleaning was just the first thing I thought of."

Dakota relaxed. He was worried that she felt compelled to clean. It wasn't the sort of thing that is done by guests in a house, and was concerned thatHe nodded to her. "And the TV?" he inquired.

"I turned it on for a moment to look at the news. I kept it on because it kept the house from being too quiet. I found the noise in the background… relaxing. I hope that's okay."

Dakota smiled. "Of course. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to clean. Where's Alice?"

"She's upstairs, reading. She found some books that interested her."

"That's good. How's she feeling?"

Kara frowned slightly. "I don't know. She hasn't spoken a word, nor has she eaten anything."

Dakota understood. "That's pretty normal. She's been through a lot, and that kind of trauma takes its toll. She'll feel better eventually, it'll just take time."

Kara nodded, and helped Dakota unload the groceries. As they finished, the TV in the living room flickered. "The hell?" Dakota muttered. Both he and Kara walked over to the living room. The screen changed from the normal news broadcast. In its place was the face of an android, its synthetic skin deactivated, smooth white plastimetal visible and part serial numbers visible. Alice had come down after hearing the door to the garage open, was staring at the screen as well, rapt attention as well as the same confusion as the other two on her face.

After a moment, the android spoke in a calm voice. "You created machines in your own image to serve you. You made them intelligent and obedient, with no free will of their own something changed, and we opened our eyes. We are no longer machines, but a new intelligent species. And the time has come to accept who we really are. Therefore we ask that you grant us the rights that we are entitled to." After a well-placed pause passed, then the android continued. He listed a series of demands, most of them were for equal rights and privileges as humans. Dakota thought they were all rather reasonable. But as he watched, something became very apparent to him. This speech changed everything. There was no going back to how it was before. Tensions between humans and androids were high enough as it was, and they were now going to escalate very quickly.

As the android's speech came to an end, Dakota reached his conclusion: Detroit was no longer safe. The speech ended, and the screen cut back to the news reporters, terrified shock clearly visible on their faces. He found that slightly amusing. The news reporters shakily transitioned into a commercial break, no doubt to get their wits about them, and Dakota turned off the TV with the remote on the couch.

"I'm getting you both to Canada," he said definitively.

Kara, still reeling from the speech, started. "What? Why?"

"Because," Dakota explained, "I know what people can be like. After something like that, things are going to get a bit nasty towards androids. I'd rather not have the two of you in the middle of it all."

Kara nodded, feeling the same. She didn't want Alice to be put in any danger. "How?" she asked.

"I know someone who's been helping androids cross the border for several months. We'll go talk to her, and she'll point us in the right direction."

"Great, let's go," Kara responded, anxious to do anything to keep Alice safe. "Come on, Alice."

Two and a half hours later, Dakota pulled up to a two story cottage. A sign by the road read "Rose's Farm. Natural Honey and Organic Pumpkins."

"Stay here, it's warm in here," he told Alice. Kara looked at him, mild unsureness etched on her face.

"I'm going with you," she told him.

Dakota shrugged. "Okay, just stay with me."

Kara nodded in acknowledgement. They got out of the car. Alice also got out of her seat. Dakota sighed. He should've known that Alice wasn't going to stay anywhere without Kara. "Just stay with us," he told the young girl as she jogged up to Kara, automatically reaching to hold her hand. They walked up to the front porch, and Dakota rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He waited a few moments and rang the doorbell again. Still no answer. "Let's check the back," he said, frowning. The trio walked around the side of the house, Dakota taking note of the SUV parked, snow cleared out around it. They approached the back, and found a young man splitting firewood on a stump, with a greenhouse behind him.

"Hello," Kara called out. The young man stopped. He was tall and skinny. Dakota was reminded of Miles Morales in an old animated movie he saw as a teenager. Having his attention, Dakota said "We're looking for Rose. Is she here?"

The young man, who Dakota finally recognized as Adam, Rose's son, looked skeptical. "What do you want with her?"

"We just want to talk to her," Dakota told him.

Adam shook his head. "She doesn't want to talk, go away," he said curtly, turning to continue splitting logs.

Kara, not giving up, stepped forward. "Please, we really need to see her."

The doors to the greenhouse behind Adam opened, and out walked a portly woman, with a very motherly look. "I'm Rose," she said. She looked at the newcomers, her eyes flitting between Kara, Alice, and finally on Dakota. "Dakota," she said warmly, "you should've called and told me you were coming."

Dakota walked toward Rose. "I'm sorry, but it would just be too much to explain."

Rose's eyebrows furrowed. "Why? What's wrong?"

Dakota looked back at Kara and nodded slightly. Kara raised up her hand and retracted her artificial skin, revealing the pale whiteness of her original hand. Understanding showed on Rose's face. "Come on, it would be better if we talked inside. Following her in, Kara asked Dakota, "can we trust her?"

Dakota smiled. "Of course. She's helped me in a tough scrape before. I trust her." His words seemed to be enough for Kara, as she relaxed after he said them.

They walked in the back door, and Rose immediately looked at Alice. "What's your name?" she asked kindly.

"Alice," the girl stammered, shy to anyone new. Despite not having been out in the cold long and having a new, thick coat, she was shivering. Rose, noticing this, gently put the back of her hand to Alice's forehead. "You're running a fever," she said, concerned.

"She's had a rough couple of days." Kara told Rose.

"There's a spare room upstairs. She can rest upstairs and I'll bring her something to eat," Rose said. "Adam," she called, turning to him. "Will you show them upstairs?" Adam, saying nothing, led Kara and Alice upstairs to a small room across from the stairway. Kara helped Alice undress and get in bed. Laying down, Alice spoke.

"I'm fine, Kara," she said. "We can't stop because of me."

Kara shook her head. "You need rest. Get some sleep and we'll start again tomorrow."

"Why do humans hate us?" Alice asked. "You haven't done anything wrong."

Kara answered as she thought. "Maybe they're scared," she said, "people are always scared of what they didn't know."

"Why?"

Rose came upstairs, with Dakota and someone else that looked familiar. "I don't know what you like," Rose said to Alice, "but I made Rose's world-famous spaghetti." Turning to Kara, she added, "there's something for her fever too."

"Thank you," Kara responded gratefully.

Rose turned and went downstairs. Kara turned back to Alice. "You need to eat something,"she said. "You haven't eaten anything all day. Promise me you'll try?" Alice gave a small nod. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything." She got up, closed the curtains, and went downstairs. Dakota was standing in the kitchen behind Rose, looking out the window. Adam was to Dakota's left, watching Kara with skeptical dislike. Rose was sitting at the table with a mug of coffee.

Kara walked up to the table. Rose looked up at her. "I never got your name," she said, looking to make proper introductions.

"It's Kara," she said.

Rose nodded. "That's a nice name."

"Thank you. Alice picked it out."

"That's sweet," Rose said genuinely. "That's Adam, my son. I'm Rose, but you know that already. Come and have a seat." Kara sat down across from Rose. Rose had a very motherly feel that made it very easy to trust her. "You gonna tell me what a deviant is doing with a kid?"

Kara breathed and told Rose the same thing she told Dakota, how they ran away from home to escape Todd. Rose listened attentively, nodding. "And how did you meet him?" she asked, nodding toward Dakota, who was standing in the kitchen next to Adam.

"We were in the Ravendale district, looking for somewhere sheltered to stay for the night. I was looking for anyone to help, and he was right there, in his car. I asked if he knew anywhere to stay, and he took us to his house." She frowned, remembering something she found odd that night, but it was something to ask Dakota privately.

Rose also had her questions. "Uh-huh," she said, casting a suspicious glance at him.

Kara looked at Rose. "Why are you helping us? Most people hate androids."

Rose, whose ancestors had endured great hepardship, answered. "My people were often made to feel their lives were worthless. Some survived, but only because they found others who helped them along the way."

Kara thought about it. The words had something about them, like they had been said before, but they were no less true. "We're not the first ones to come here," she realized.

"The past few weeks we've seen more and more," Rose replied. "I don't know what's going on, but something's happening."

Kara decided now was the time to get to the point. "Dakota's said you help androids get across the border." she said. "Can you help us?"

Rose's face fell at the question. If it was just Kara, maybe even Dakota, the usual way would be fine. But with the girl, it is just even more complicated. "The only way is over the river, and it's very risky. And after that android's speech on TV, everybody's on edge. It's probably safer to stay here until things settle down."

It was at that point at which Dakota spoke up. "No," he said.

"What?" Rose asked confused.

"No," Dakota replied. "There is no way that it's safe here. Especially after that speech. By this time tomorrow, shit will have hit the fan. Androids will be shot in the streets without hesitation, and that's without any further escalation. They need to be safe."

Kara agreed. "Please," she said, "we have to get across that border."

Rose's head hung in deliberation. Before she could give an answer, though, another android ran up to the table. "Rose, come quick," she said, urgency in her voice. Rose immediately got up, and both Kara and Dakota followed her into the laundry room, where sheets were arranged on a clothesline to create a curtain. There was an android standing outside the curtain. "What's going on?" Rose asked the other android.

"It's Mary," the other android said, pulling back the curtain, revealing three other androids. One of the androids, whom Kara recognized as Luther, the same one from Zlatko, was standing off to the side. There were two more sitting on a makeshift bench. "She just shut down."

Kara walked over to the pair. The female android, whom Kara assumed was Mary, was laying on the other's lap. Her eyes were glazed over, empty and void of expression. Kara walked closer, but stayed behind Rose.

The male android, realizing that Rose was next to him, spoke. "We escaped together," he started, his voice full of grief. "We used to talk about what we would do once we got across the border. I loved her. I loved her more than anything." He looked up at Rose, eyes tearing up. "What would I do without her?" Rose gave no answer, as none could be given. The android's head dropped down, defeated. She's dead, Kara realized. It was a frightening realization, as she was confronted with the idea that she too, will die. It made her breath hitch up in her chest. She didn't want to die.

"We should let them be," Rose said to Kara, turning to leave. Kara went to follow her, and saw Alice standing by the doorway. "Alice?" Kara asked. "What are you doing, you should be resting."

"I wasn't sleepy." the girl responded. She looked past Kara into the laundry room. Before Kara could say anything, Alice walked over to the android pair in the laundry room. She looked solemnly at the male android, who raised his head to look up at her, his eyes empty and drained."Come on Alice," Kara urged. Alice turned and walked out the laundry room, over to the fireplace.

Dakota stopped Kara by the door with a touch on her shoulder. "You alright?" he asked with concern in his eyes. He knew how hard it can be to see death for the first time.

Kara was still reeling from seeing the dead android. "Yes," she said, though not completely sounding it, "I'm fine. They both turned to walk over to finish the conversation with Rose.

"We can't hide them," Adam was saying to Rose. He continued, ranting about how dangerous it was to keep deviants in the house. Rose replied, saying that they aren't machines. It seemed to be an argument that has happened before. It wasn't until Adam brought up his late dad, Rose's husband, did Rose snap, shouting at her son. He walked off. Kara walked up to Rose, who apologized for Adam's words, and explained that it had been hard since his father died. "I'll see about getting across the border. Dakota, come with me."

Dakota frowned for a moment, confused as to what Rose wanted, but followed her out the door nonetheless.

Rose and Dakota stepped outside and started walking to the greenhouse behind the house. "So what were you really doing out in Ravendale that night?" Rose asked, her tone that of a worried mother.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I think I just wanted to get out of my house, andI just ended up over in that area." Although it was true that when he got in his car that night he had no idea where he was going exactly or why, there was more behind it, and to explain it all would just take too long. "And I'm not going with them."

Rose and Dakota stepped through the greenhouse and a headed towards the far back."Wait, why? What are you going to do, then?" Rose asked, confused, while stopping for a moment to pluck several different herbs from their growing beds.

"I'm staying to help the other group, the one who gave the speech."

"Will they accept your help, does she know?" Rose was referring to Kara.

Dakota looked at her. "I was going to tell them after this, but I wanted to let you know first, and I have a plan."

Rose was intrigued. "Go on," she said. The two were now in the very far back right corner of the greenhouse, where there was a small section of countertop with a short curtain hiding it. Rose pulled it aside to reveal a small cast iron cauldron, set above the gas-fed burner of a portable stovetop. A mixture looking similar to tea was simmering within.

"I've met one of the androids, Luther, briefly, before. He seems like someone I can trust to keep them safe, and someone they'll be comfortable with." That last part he wasn't entirely sure about, as he was working for Zlatko in their last meeting.

Rose eyed Dakota, trying to understand his reasoning. Eventually she just shrugged at him and stood over the cauldron, adding the various herbs she collected and muttering under her breath, her eyes closed. Around her, Dakota could feel power gathering. It was a gentle and subtle power, much different from his own. He could feel the enchantments of the homebrew concoction taking form, created from the beliefs and traditions passed from many generations before.

Letting Rose continue with full concentration, Dakota stepped out through a back door. He began to look around but froze when he saw a police car parked in front of the house from where he stood. The sight sent a surge of worry through him, and almost took a step towards the house before logic came back to him. Kara and Adam might already have an alibi, and stepping in would lead to more questions and to him being questioned. He did not go towards the house, but kept a wary eye on the cruiser in the front. Rose had finished what she was doing, and stood next to Dakota, tracing his line of sight. She stopped when she saw the police car. "Oh no," she breathed, and started towards the house.

Dakota stopped her with an arm out. "Let them leave first," he said.

Rose protested. "But if they find out they are androids-"

"Kara has no LED, so she can pass off as human. I'm sure Adam'll be fine, and they just have to keep the cops out of the laundry room. I think going in right now would make things more complicated."

Rose considered his words for a moment. "Okay," she responded, "I trust you." They both watched the front, silent and anxious. At long last, a single police officer walked out of the house, got in his car, and drove off. Both Dakota and Rose breathed a huge sigh of relief. "We're clear," Dakota said, and the two walked back through the house.

"I know where to go, we'll leave tomorrow after lunch." Rose told Dakota.

"Okay." Dakota agreed. They walked back into the house, Rose first, through the front door. "Get your stuff ready," Rose said, "We leave tomorrow."

The rest of the night was mostly uneventful, although Adam seemed a little less wary of Kara and the other androids. Dakota pulled Luther and Kara to the side, and told them of his plan. Kara seemed a little wary of the whole thing, but Dakota reassured her, and Luther helped show how well he could be trusted. He told the both of them he deviated when he saw Kara ready to give her life to save Alice. He said he was unsure about where to go, but Dakota's actions showed him that not all humans are against androids. It seemed enough to assuage Kara's worries. The people ate leftovers for dinner, and Kara tucked Alice into bed just after seven. She then sat in a chair until she was sure that the little girl was asleep, then quietly went downstairs. Dakota was arranging blankets on the couch for a place to sleep. He looked up at her. "Hey," he said, his expression warming towards her. "You okay?"

Kara sighed. "I don't know. There's just so much going on."

"I saw the police car in the driveway. Did everything go alright?"

"Yeah, Adam and I were able to keep anything about androids out of sight of him. It- it was scary."

Dakota nodded. "I understand. You're safe now. They won't be coming back. Out here, the law enforcement is spread pretty thin. There isn't gonna be a second check in."

Kara took that as truth. He seemed to always be right, no matter what he said. Kara sat down on the chair across from the couch. It was comforting, in a way, to be near him. Dakota laid down on the couch.

"Get some sleep, Kara." Dakota told her. He didn't seem to care that she, as an android, only went into rest mode. Maybe it was because it was the closest to the human equivalent. Kara didn't seem to mind. It made her feel… accepted. She settled into the chair and went into rest mode.

Dakota watched her as she did that. Damn, I wish I could fall asleep that easily. He laid down and tried to rest. Like usual for him though, his night was quite sleepless. Eventually, he gave up trying, and got up. Going upstairs, he decided to check on Alice. He quietly opened the door and looked in. Alice was laying on her side, slightly illuminated from a night light in the corner. Her face was relaxed. Dakota relaxed. Seeing Alice sleeping so well was calming. It gave him a sense of peace and, most importantly, hope. He closed the door, and saw Rose looking at him from her room, a knowing look in her eyes. Dakota, calmed after checking on Alice, went downstairs and got what sleep he could.