"Human, your hands…" the RG600 said with some sympathy as he looked between them. John's hands were shaking, barely able to grip the small screwdriver. His fingers were numb with the cold, his teeth chattered endlessly, and his muscles ached from shivering. They'd been in the run down warehouse for at least a couple of hours now, and John was badly needed. Androids littered the floor, suffering from everything. Failing components. Damaged systems. Broken limbs. Loss of thirium. Dying power cores. There was only so much he could do with emergency tools and no thirium, and he'd been doing it tirelessly.
"I-I can m-manage," John chattered out with a clouded breath, swapping hands to shake some blood back into the freezing limb. His other hand was no better. He was pleased to see the two RG600s again. He'd known them straight away, even before they'd spoken. The shuffled steps of the first had given them away as he'd tottered towards them. Lin was somewhere else in the dimly lit room, also helping as much as he could. He'd learned a lot from John and his books and could patch up his people admirably. Unfortunately, they didn't have thirium or replacement parts. They'd had to do what they could with the deactivated androids available.
"Human needs rest! Human needs food! Human needs warmth!" the worried RG600 reported, scanning John's vitals with some difficulty. The RG600s had shared out the thirium John had given them before to help their new friends. He wasn't low on fuel, but his systems were starting to lag just a little. John smiled tiredly and rubbed his hands together in a useless attempt to warm them. He was touched by the RG600's concern. He was also glad he'd gained his trust after their previous encounters. He'd stumbled over to greet them brightly as they'd entered, cheerfully introducing John as their friend. Someone who could be trusted. Someone who would help. It meant a lot, considering how scared he'd been before.
"They need me more," John replied simply as he nodded to the collapsed androids littering the floor. His expression was somewhat sombre as he realised he wouldn't be able to help them all. The RG600 wanted to object, but he couldn't. It was true. Many of the androids wouldn't have lasted much longer without John's intervention. John shivered and blew on his hands, clapping and trying to warm them. He was frustrated. It was too cold. He envied Katie and Lin. Lin didn't feel the cold, and he'd kindly helped Katie turn off her physical senses, so she no longer reacted to it either.
"How long will you remain? Humans cannot last in this climate! Too cold! Too harsh!" the RG600 pressed anxiously, watching John's jaw tighten in response. He had no intention of leaving. Whatever happened, he wanted to be there. He wanted to help. The RG600 tilted his head before caressing John's cheek intimately, something he'd seen Lin do on numerous occasions in his memories. "You are…a good human. A kind human…I do not want you to die," he stated earnestly, watching John's blue eyes widen slightly. It was too close to what the GT300 had said. Too close to what Lin would say. He shivered.
"And I don't want any of you to die either," John replied as he reached up and touched the hand on his cheek, surprised by how warm it felt. It didn't take long to figure out why. He smiled warmly as he took the hand from his cheek and held it in his hands. "Save your thirium…You don't need your heating systems this high," he chided softly, though he was grateful for the kind gesture. The RG600 was trying to provide some warmth. He looked as if he was about to say something more when heavy footsteps drew his attention upwards and he suddenly looked worried.
"How are things over here?" Lin's voice interrupted in a neutral tone. The RG600 removed his hands immediately. John tried to hide the shaking of his limbs as he turned and smiled up at Lin. He didn't want Lin to worry. Lin let him pretend for now, but he'd been keeping his eye on John since they'd arrived. Despite the small amount of cover the warehouse provided, this was no place for a human in the early winter. Especially since John was only wearing sneakers, sweats, a t-shirt and Takigawa's oversized jacket.
"We're fine. How did things go on your end?" John asked as he looked across the warehouse. There were still so many waiting. LEDs were spinning yellow and red. Some were propped up against old crates or the walls, while others were lying on the ground. The saddest place was the small section to the right where deactivated androids had been left lying peacefully with their skin deactivated and clothing removed to make it easier to access their workable components. It was heartbreaking. John knew he could have helped so many of them if his shop had still been in one piece.
"As well as expected, without replacement parts and thirium," Lin sighed in a resigned tone as he crouched beside John, whose fingers still trembled as he took up the screwdriver once more. "There's a protest building in Detroit…Their android hideout was destroyed and they're planning a demonstration. The androids here want to stage our own to coincide…I agree," Lin said finally as he settled on his knees. John bit his lip as he returned to work on the android before him. Throwing himself into work allowed him to avoid answering right away. Lin allowed it for now. John's heart rate increased nervously. What did that mean? That they'd fight? With what weapons? Going up against SWAT or police like that would be suicide. The humans would probably bring in the army, too.
"A violent protest? Or a sit-in?" John murmured eventually, though it mattered little either way. They'd all seen how humans reacted to peaceful protests. He shuddered as he recalled the bullets tearing through the fleeing androids. They didn't even hesitate! They shot them right in the back! What did that mean for this protest? For the RG600s? For Katie? For Lin? What would he do? He wanted to stay with Lin more than anything, but he knew Lin wouldn't allow it.
"The androids here are primarily carers and maintenance units not built for aggression…We'd prefer to keep it peaceful," Lin replied warily, and John nodded his agreement. They'd be mowed down within seconds if they ran in recklessly, especially without weapons. It would likely be suicidal anyway. From what John could tell, public opinion was just about on their side. Many people hated androids, but there was also a lot of sympathy for their plight. Markus was a charismatic leader and his words had touched many. But is it enough to make a difference?
"Well…I suppose we should plan…I can be on hand to help with any injuries caused by-" John cut off with a surprised hum as Lin swooped in to claim his lips. The screwdriver slipped from his grasp. The android he was working on and the RG600 exchanging an almost embarrassed glance at the amount of passion in that connection. It was like watching their own kind interface. John's blue eyes had widened at first at the unexpected gesture, but they soon fluttered shut as Lin leaned in closer. Lin's palms were smooth and glowing blue as he cupped John's cold cheeks and held him in place, lips pressing insistently. John relaxed into Lin's hold, his mouth opening to allow him to deepen the kiss as his free hand gripped the lapel of his jacket. John was breathless and warm by the time Lin drew back. He bit his lip, shaking his head in denial as Lin gave him a serious look. "Lin, I-" He was cut off as Lin's finger pressed against his trembling lips.
"You're not coming," Lin stated, trying not to feel guilty as tears pricked John's eyes. "This is not your war to fight…and I wouldn't be able to keep you safe…It's too dangerous. You can barely function here as it is," Lin reasoned further as he took John's shaking hands. He was trying to be soft and reasonable as he caressed a little warmth into his cold fingers. He couldn't help the pang of guilt he felt as the tears trickled from John's eyes. The RG600 shuffled anxiously, clearly alarmed as John's vitals shifted all over the place. John felt like he was losing everything all over again. His shop was gone. His home. The GT300. Now Lin wanted to leave. He didn't want to let him go. Not when he was almost certainly walking to his own death.
"Human is leaking! Human is leaking!" the RG600 exclaimed in a panic, confused as a small smile reached John's lips in response. He even managed the smallest of laughs at the innocent observation. He knew he must look a sight. All red-eyed and tearful. He sniffled self-consciously as he realised his nose was running as well.
"I'm not leaking," John replied with another sniffle, wiping uselessly with the worn sleeve of his coat. He shook it off and returned to work, bottom lip quivering despite his attempts to bite it in place. Lin touched his lip firmly to pull it free. John's teeth nipped at his finger instead. It was almost resentful. Lin accepted the small nip, his own heart wrenching at the thought of never feeling this again. "I don't want to leave you," John confessed quietly as he worked, though it wasn't anything Lin didn't already know or feel in return. He didn't want to be separated from John either.
"I would stay with you forever…You know that, but this…The freedom of my people rests on these demonstrations getting through. Detroit isn't enough. The message needs to be everywhere, and these people need help," Lin excused with imploring eyes. John nodded his agreement. He knew Lin was right, and he knew he wouldn't be an effective leader if he was constantly distracted by concerns for his safety. John just wished he knew a way to help. A way that didn't put him in the line of fire. He felt useless. Like he was holding Lin back.
"I want to stay…I want to help…" John cried, unable to stop the warm tears trickling down his cheeks. Again, their two observers looked at each other uncomfortably. Lin could only think of one way to stop John's tears. He gave John no choice as he gripped his neck and claimed his mouth once more. John made a small sound of objection at first, squirming against his firm hold before slowly falling into it. The RG600 blinked curiously, watching with rapt attention as John looped his arms around Lin's neck and tugged him closer with a hand in his hair. It was confusing. The push and pull suggested the human was conflicted.
"Perhaps there is something you can do on the human side…Think about it. I'll call a taxi to take you back to town," Lin decided, noting the way John's eyes filled with pain at the suggestion. It felt too soon. They'd only just arrived. He couldn't just spring this on him and then send him away. It hurt. "Finish what you can," Lin added firmly as he got to his feet and headed further into the crowd. John took a breath, wiping his eyes furiously before returning to work. The RG600 shuffled, clearly anxious to make John feel better.
"The tall one is right. Human must be safe! Safe! Human can help! Human can tell people! People see, people…watch?" he suggested timidly, John's eyes creasing slightly. He wasn't sure, but it sounded like the RG600 was suggesting media attention. John's eyes widened as he thought about it. He's right…If the local news stations are tuned in, then the protest has a higher chance of remaining bloodless…SWAT won't want to look bad by gunning down unarms androids…So all he had to do was get the cameras to watch. But how? I'm just one person…would they listen to me? Maybe if I revealed myself…but then father would…Unless I…
"You're right, but it won't be enough…Something needs to happen, but…I need help," John thought worriedly, finally finishing his patch job on the android lying before him. As his chest panel clicked into place, the android touched his hand. The artificial skin peeled back to shock John's hand. It was a sign of affection and gratitude stemming from the desire to interface. Unfortunately, this android's vocal processor was beyond repair without a replacement. John smiled and nodded, resting a hand on the android's shoulder to squeeze in return. He understood.
"The little one! You should take the little one. Too small, too fragile," the RG600 added as he scanned the room for Katie, who was happily talking to one of the PL600s. They were basically nanny models, similar to Donald. She looked like she was enjoying herself. They were playing patter cake. John nodded his agreement. Katie didn't belong in the middle of a war ground. None of these androids do…No one, human or android, deserved to be in the middle of a war-zone. He hated it. He hated that everything always resulted in fighting. Running low on money? Start a war. Running low on resources? Start a war. Having a disagreement? Start a war. Looking to expand? Start a war. Meet a new culture? Start a war. It had been bad enough these past few years with Russia making moves on Antarctica in the south, but that had all quieted down somewhat since the android uprising had started. Could they be having trouble with their own automatons? But their androids are so different to ours…less lifelike, more functional…I'm not even sure their AI are advanced enough to experience something like deviation…
"Of course. A war-zone is no place for children," John agreed, his mind slinking back to the playhouse. The booted feet on the stairs. The shatter of wood. The slap of a body hitting the floor. Gunfire. Josie's scream dying to leave that terrible silence in its wake. He shivered as he recalled the weight of Donald's body and his final mechanical urging to be still and silent before the armoured man had appeared above them. He still didn't know how he'd been missed. Laziness? A show of mercy? He forced a small smile as he realised he'd been staring at his toolkit for the past few seconds. "Where to next?" he asked kindly as he pushed to his feet.
"This way! This way!" the RG600 urged as he tottered along a few feet. He skipped two of the more seriously deteriorating androids to reach a young female model. A BL100. Outwardly there didn't seem to be much wrong besides the fact that her right shoulder kept twitching. Some form of feedback loop? John pondered as he laid a gentle hand on the joint and put on his best reassuring smile. "Human is safe! Human will help!" the RG600 insisted as he crouched beside the BL100, who seemed somewhat reassured as she allowed John to reach out and unzip her service jacket. I don't have much time left…
