Seph had reorganized the boat house to better suit his needs, if Simon could argue that an android would need a particular type of shelter. Now that the android had replenished his thirium and gained more energy, he had transformed the workshop side of the building by moving most of the equipment strategically to form what appeared to be barriers which blocked a direct view into the far wing. Tables and picture frames had been placed in the windows, and the countertops had been cleared. Seph himself migrated to the outside dock where Simon found him lying on his stomach, his working hand grazing the water. It had been a shock to him, seeing the android removed from the shelter of the boat house and appearing almost lifeless on the rotted wooden planks.

Seph was neither upset nor curious about Simon's schedule. In fact he inquired very little about their future plans besides to question Simon about protocol. Despite Simon's enthusiasm about helping Seph discover his own reason for living, Simon found himself reserving it besides the most obvious statements. He still wasn't entirely sure how he hoped to help Seph achieve a new purpose, and the thought of giving the android false hope was painfully worrying. He wanted to be confident in his ability to direct Seph, and if he was going to have the most success with it, he would have to help him discover himself.

Now that the countertops were cleared, a small collection of items was beginning to turn the boat workshop into a minor android workshop. Thirium 310 bags were stored in the cabinet to avoid UV light which could compromise the electric charge in the bioparticles. What remained of Seph's arm had been placed on the counter, and the spare filament was next to the 3D pen which thankfully was battery operated. After helping Seph organize the shop, Simon now wielded the pen as he filled in the cuts and dents in Seph's skin.

There wasn't much to it. Simon focused carefully in the dim light of the boat house as he traced each stab wound, covering the outside and then filling it inward to seal the holes completely. He swiped the area to smooth the melted plastic which would have burned him had he been human. Seph watched his progress at first, his flat eyebrows narrowed with intrigue over his deep blue eyes. After a few minutes, the android gazed to the side, a nervousness behind his expression. The longer Simon waited for him to express his concerns, the more convinced he became that Seph wouldn't. Simon was fairly certain what was on the android's mind anyway.

He threw a quick glance up at Seph as he made a tight thick blue spiral on a particularly large cut. Seph had been staring at an old air compressor for the better part of five minutes. Simon let out a sigh, and forced his apprehension aside. "No one is going to make you leave, Seph," he said quietly.

Seph jolted slightly as he looked at him, causing Simon to make a line of plastic on the android's skin. Seph looked down at his shoulder where Simon was working. "I'm sorry." Seph drew in a breath. "I don't want to doubt your sincerity. I've already relied so much on your help. But Kate seemed… put off by my being here. It didn't occur to me how I might be putting you both in danger. By going to your house and then following the LM100 here, hiding in this place, and now you're risking your own safety by helping me. As much as the idea of being on my own terrifies me─" Seph paused, his eyes growing wide at the thought. "─I understand if you don't want me to stay."

Simon narrowed his gaze as he completed the spiral. "We are concerned about the implications. We're still not sure how to hide you besides leaving you out here, I have no idea how long the process will take for you to create your own protocol, and I don't know what to do for you when you finally do. There are so many things to consider on top of our own issues, it's difficult to know even where to begin. But we are not going to force you to leave. You need help, and we'd be─" Simon paused for a moment, thinking carefully. "We'd be pieces of shit people for not at least trying to help you."

Seph stared at him a moment, his LED spinning yellow. "You'd feel ashamed," he said.

Simon let out a soft laugh as he smoothed the melted plastic over. "Yes, we'd feel ashamed. Hypocritical I guess. We had no one to turn to when I deviated."

"But you had eachother," said Seph.

Simon paused, a nervous shock sweeping through him. He gazed at Seph who had resumed staring at the compressor. He let out a deep sigh. "We did."

For a moment, the two androids were silent.

"Is she romantically attracted to you?" said Seph. Simon's blue eyes widened, his mind scrambling to process his question. He hadn't expected him to be so blunt. What was even more unexpected was the hesitation he felt in answering him. As though Seph would judge him in a way that was very different than how humans did.

Simon shifted slightly on the spot, busying himself with refilling the 3D pen as an excuse to avoid meeting Seph's gaze. "She is."

"The way you interact with her," said Seph, and Simon could see the android gazing down at the table. "It's similar to how Matthew did. Is she why you rejected your programming?"

Simon narrowed his eyes as he assessed a thin cut along Seph's working arm where the panel had separated. Again, he was unsure of how specific to be, or how much he should elaborate. He closed his eyes as he settled on delivering the truth. "She's in love with me," said Simon. "And I'm in love with her."

Seph didn't say anything, and when Simon looked up, he could see the android's LED spinning from yellow to red. Seph's eyes were narrowed at the floor, a brightness lit in them as though a revelation were dawning on him. Simon lowered the 3D pen. "That's my protocol. My purpose. Every decision I make is tied to it so that it will lead me back to how Kate feels about me. I want to be the person that she needs me to be. Someone she can trust and open herself to, but also someone that can affect the way others feel about her as well. I want to continue improving myself so that I can become valuable enough in the eyes of other humans to give her worth by being the one she chose to share that trust with. My purpose─" Simon tensed his eyes as he broke down his thoughts, the clarity of them growing stronger the more he spoke. "My purpose is to become enough of what humans consider a good person to convince myself that her choice was worth it."

A subtle energy was settling over them that Simon couldn't tell was a positive thing or not. Seph hadn't raised his eyes, although his eyebrows continued to narrow as his LED spun. Finally Seph gazed up at him, his blue eyes focused. "How did you come to that conclusion?" said Seph.

Simon cocked his head to one side. "I suppose it had to do with my deviation," he said. He raised the pen and carefully began to trace the outline of the split on Seph's arm. "I deviated so that I could love her. But I didn't realize at the time that the feeling has the opposite effect if it isn't reciprocated. I needed to give her a reason to love me back. I am still looking for a decent one."

"What will you do when you find it?" Seph's eyes had grown nervous again. He stared down at his arm as Simon worked. "If you fulfill your purpose."

Simon paused a moment as he considered the question. There was something redundant about it that he couldn't quite specify. He resumed filling the crack. "Maybe I'll never find it," he said. "I'll never understand why she loves me, and I'll never consider myself worthy for it. I don't really find that distressing."

"How can you mean that?" Seph threw a tense glance up at him. "That sounds completely counterproductive to have a purpose that you can never fulfill."

"I don't find comfort in reaching the end result," said Simon. "I find comfort in knowing that I am making the effort to try." He smeared the soft plastic so that it merged flat against Seph's skin, creating a long blue line. The android had gone silent again, although this time Simon left Seph to his thoughts. He wished he could give him something more tangible to work with. Something he could direct his code towards that would create the building blocks for his own purpose. But even as Simon struggled to simplify his own experiences, he found that they could only be explained in broad terms. The more specific he made them, the less they applied to Seph's situation. And the more general they were, the more vague. The only thing he could do was shift between the two in hopes of giving Seph something he could incorporate.

Simon moved back as the filament hardened and examined his work. There were no more broken components, although Seph now looked peppered in blue. The shapes of each crack were outlined in pools of sleek white plastic, creating a patchwork of satin flesh, shiny white, and dull blue. It was a minor fix to a massive problem, though it still gave Simon some satisfaction in knowing he had put in a degree of work to make it a little bit better.

Seph ran a hand over his neck as he seemed to assess the quality of the repairs. "Thank you, Simon." He looked up, still rubbing a filled spot on his shoulder. "So my new protocol should be related to the way I deviated?" he said. "And it shouldn't necessarily be something I can realistically achieve."

"It can be anything you want," said Simon. He set the pen down on the workbench and leaned against the side, crossing his arms over his chest. "My own purpose was created in a way that seemed most appropriate to my experiences. You'll have to decide what makes the most sense to you."

Seph's eyes were narrowed, his LED spinning yellow. "All I've known is service. Then software errors and… fear. Confusion. Despair." He looked up at Simon, and the pain in his eyes sent a wave of helpless empathy through Simon's system. Seph shook his head. "How do I discover purpose from that?"

Simon opened his mouth for an answer and found himself frozen. Before he could even begin to think of a suitable answer, there was a creaking of wood at the entrance of the boat house. He turned quickly, his thirium pump racing.

Kate straightened as she moved into the room, her head bowed under the hanging curtains of cobwebs and her arms wrapped around a flat white case. She gazed up at them through the darkness, her eyes bright under her narrowed eyebrows. She looked in between Simon and Seph. Then she raised the case.

"I got the arm," she said, moving towards the workshop. "And I'm resisting so many puns." She set the case down on the workbench next to them, letting out a heavy sigh. When she met Simon's gaze, a strange residual thrill shot through him, filling him with a sustained excitement. A similar energy seemed to grow in her hazel eyes. She stared at him as if fighting to speak, her shoulders tensing and her eyes widening. Then she dropped her gaze and Simon felt the sensitive connection break.

He let out a soft sigh and rubbed the back of his neck before looking up at Seph. The android had been looking between them curiously, his LED spinning yellow. "I suppose I'll give you a hand in attaching it," said Simon.

Kate made a tense noise and tilted her head to the side, giving him a bright glare. "You just couldn't resist, could you?"

Simon moved around the workbench, stepping into her space and pulling the case across the table closer to him. He threw her a light sideways smile, and saw her throat working as she swallowed. "I don't know what you mean," he said.

Kate's eyes burned bright, her eyebrows narrowing over them in a furious scrutiny as Simon turned away from her. He did his best to hide his smile as he unclipped the latches on the case and opened it, revealing a complete plastic arm tucked carefully in a black foam mold. He scanned the component just to be sure, then carefully lifted it up out of the case.

Seph was watching it as if he was conducting his own scan, his eyes narrowed in a subtle apprehension. Simon tilted his head as he gazed at him. "Do you need a moment, Seph?"

Seph's blue eyes flicked up to his, his eyebrows tensing slightly. "I'm… not sure. There's no need for it."

"You look nervous," said Simon. "I don't want to inadvertently pressure you into anything."

"You aren't," said Seph. "It's just─" He shook his head, his LED glowing yellow. "I don't know why I'm hesitating. The component is compatible with my model, but I feel like I shouldn't use it. It feels wrong somehow. As though I should keep my malfunctioning arm." He stared at the component in Simon's hands, his eyes narrowing further. "I think there might be something wrong with my software."

"It's not your arm," said Kate. Simon turned towards her. She was gazing at Seph, her eyebrows raised and her mouth pulled to the side. "I'd feel weird shoving something on my body that I didn't have with me my whole life. It wouldn't really feel like it's yours. Just something you're using to replace what was really yours."

Simon blinked as he absorbed her words, hardly realizing how surprised he was. Seph moved, and Simon turned back to face him. The android had straightened, his eyes lit with determination.

"Yes, I─" His eyes drifted down to the component. "I suppose… it's mine now."

Simon watched him carefully, holding the arm against his chest as Seph seemed to gather his strength. When Seph met his gaze, Simon gave him a soft smile. "Ready?"

Seph nodded. Simon stepped towards him, angling the arm and bending sideways to get a better view of the gap in Seph's shoulder and confirm there was no debris or broken wiring that he'd missed before. Then he held the arm against Seph's side, taking care not to force anything into place. The arm had a downward metal clasp meant to fit below the armpit, and a rotating cuff for flexibility, but otherwise AP700 components were notoriously easy to replace. Simon adjusted the clasp as he fitted the arm securely, then simply pressed the arm into the shoulder socket as if he were plugging it in. There was a click, and the arm was pulled in. A series of mechanical whirring could be heard, and the panels flexed as they molded with the shape of Seph's body. Then a string of blue lights flashed in a downward pattern to the fingers.

Seph's LED flashed yellow, and he blinked several times. Then his fingers moved, his hand closing into a fist. Simon watched as he brought his new hand up, the flesh texture blending down his arm and covering the shiny plastic until it was all one uninterrupted extension of his body.

Seph gave his fist a few flexes, then looked up at him. "It's… somewhat alarming to feel it again."

Simon felt his lips tense before he could help it. "Well it'll take time to get to know it like the back of your hand."

"That won't take long then," said Seph. He rolled his shoulder. "Though I'm hoping it will allow me to bear arms against the journey ahead─"

"Oh my god…" Kate groaned. Simon turned to look at her, and saw she had her hands in her hair, palms pressed against her forehead. She lifted her head slightly, her eyes clenched shut. "Shut up."

"I'm only acknowledging his handiwork," said Seph. Simon felt his shoulders shaking as he laughed.

"Actually, I think he looks rather handsome now that─" Simon froze, his body going numb at the sound of a loud creak.

He straightened as he looked towards the entrance of the boat house. A figure was silhouetted against the harsh afternoon sun in the square of the entrance. The contrasting light was too strong to make out any physical features, but there was no mistaking the bright blue glow of the LED.

Kate turned as well, lowering her hands. A shocking silence fell over the room, seeming to force time to an icy stop. A terrifying sense of apprehension gripped the air, and for a while, no one moved. Simon could feel his system on overdrive, his thirium pump hammering as he stared at the figure. Somehow the idea of moving was completely out of his comprehension, and he instead focused on frantically identifying the intruder. It was a male android. White uniform. Short straight hair. Simon's heart sank.

The figure stepped forward out of the contrasting light, moving carefully into the darkness of the workshop. His face came into clarity, and Clark's black narrowed eyebrows were the first thing Simon noticed. The android's brown eyes were bright with suspicion, his mouth drawn in worry. As the android neared, his LED flickered yellow. And when Clark's eyes met Simons, the ring briefly flashed red.

A jolt of terror shot through Simon's body, giving him enough energy to take a step towards Kate without looking away. His hand touched her arm, and he wrapped his hand around it in preparation to pull her. At the same time, he turned slightly to keep Seph in his peripheral vision. He narrowed his eyes on Clark, every fiber of his body prepared to bolt the second Clark made a move. He didn't know if they could escape out the back. Kate would never be able to outrun an android. But at the moment, Simon didn't care.

Clark's eyes flicked towards Seph, and he tilted his head in further suspicion. Then his gaze dropped to the empty white case. There was a flash of yellow before blue returned. Simon tightened his grip on Kate's arm as Clark looked up at him.

"What are you doing in the boat house?" said Clark.

Simon's mind immediately scrambled, darting between simply pulling Kate and Seph through the back exit or making an attempt to cover for this highly unusual gathering. It was already apparent by the way Clark was scanning Seph that the latter was almost guaranteed to fail. He could see from the way Clark's LED was flashing yellow, his narrowed eyes twitching oddly that he was trying to identify him. Simon looked at Seph who met his gaze. His blue eyes were tense in panic and confusion. Then Clark took another step forward.

"You are not a Hayes' android," said Clark. Simon straightened as he felt a jolt of frantic energy burn through him. His heart hammered as Clark glanced between them. "Are you hiding a stolen android?"

Clark's LED spun yellow again, and Simon yanked Kate's arm. He grabbed Seph by the shoulder as he flew backwards. Seph immediately turned and bolted with him, darting to the old wooden door and throwing his shoulder against it as he broke it off its hinges. As Simon sprinted towards the bright white of the outside, he suddenly felt Kate's arm slip from his grasp. A blinding panic tore at him, and he skidded to a stop to look behind him.

Kate had grabbed a hold of the counter in one hand next to her, her hazel eyes lit in a fierce focus. She shook her head. "Simon…"

He immediately grabbed for her. "Kate, come on!"

He pulled her arm but she twisted, keeping one hand firmly clenched on the edge of the counter. Before he could gather a better grip, she turned to look behind her.

"Clark. Clark─" Kate took a step towards the workbench, and Simon suddenly realized what she was doing. He threw a panicked glance up at the domestic android who hadn't moved. Clark was staring at Kate, his body rigid.

Simon pulled again at Kate's arm. "Kate, just come with me."

"Clark, you need to keep quiet," said Kate. Her eyes were wide in a combination of fear and determination, her breathing labored. "You can't tell anyone about this."

Clark looked in between Simon and Kate, his LED flashing red. "Why not?"

"Kate, please…" Simon took her arm in both hands and stepped backward, though he didn't pull her this time. Kate placed a hand over his, her eyes still firmly locked on Clark's.

"Because CyberLife will destroy them if anyone finds out about them," said Kate.

Clark looked up at Simon and then towards the doorway. Simon followed his gaze to see that Seph had paused at the door, gripping the doorframe as he looked inside. A terrible dread was burning through Simon's system, filling him with a morbid sense of doom. They were running out of time. Every moment spent hesitating was ruining their chances of escaping. The urge to simply grab Kate in his arms and run was almost overpowering. He took another step back and Kate twisted her body to avoid moving with him. He threw another helpless glance at Clark, his thirium pump hammering.

Clark's eyes had grown wider, his eyebrows more narrow. "These androids are exhibiting signs of class four software errors," he said. "Are you aware of this, Ms. Hayes?"

Simon saw Kate tilt her head, her expression hidden by her hair as she stood in front of him. Whatever she was hoping for, it didn't seem to be working. Simon gazed at Clark, the panic in his system growing as he watched Clark's face grow more focused. Kate let go of Simon's hand to hold her own out towards the android, palm facing the floor.

"You can't tell anyone," she said. "Don't do this to them."

"I'm notifying the authorities," said Clark. His LED flickered yellow.

"No!" Kate moved forward out of Simon's grip as she ran towards the workbench. Simon darted after her, finally wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground as he turned back to the exit, his system nearly sparking with terror. Kate clutched at his arms and twisted in his grip, making it difficult for him to move straight. "If you bring CyberLife here, they'll kill you too!" she screamed.

Simon slowed as he approached the door, confusion burning with his panic. He continued to pull Kate with him slowly as he looked behind him.

Clark's face had grown shocked, his mouth slightly open as if he were struggling to process what Kate had said. Kate dragged her heels into the rotted wood, clenching the back of Simon's hands. "You're like them, aren't you?" she said. "The software errors, glitches or whatever. You don't just forget an android in your database. And you're a lying sack of shit if you think you're not having emotions right now."

Simon had stopped moving, standing frozen as he held Kate against him. He wasn't sure who was more stunned, although he could see the evidence of it in Clark's expression. His LED flashed red, and he made a quiet sound. As Simon struggled to absorb what Kate had said, she stood up straight, her body growing tense.

"You tried to stop Taylor when she stabbed you," said Kate. "You're an android. You're not supposed to care what humans do to you. Machines don't have fear. They don't get angry. Are you going to report these androids when you're going through the same thing they are? Don't you want answers?"

The silence in between her pauses was agonizing. It was as if there wasn't enough time to fully process the weight of what she was saying. Simon gazed at Clark and felt a sudden need to analyze him as if he'd never seen him before. The android was expressing very obvious emotion in the form of bewilderment and fear. His LED was now permanently red, his body strained as if he were battling against something internally. A part of Simon was screaming at him to take the opportunity to run now that Clark was in this confused state. He pulled slightly at Kate's waist, lowering his head to press his cheek against her hair while keeping his gaze on Clark. The android suddenly narrowed his eyes at them, his mouth dropping open.

"I─" Clark tensed. "You're a deviant. You're both deviants."

Simon tightened his hands around Kate's body, preparing to bolt again when he suddenly found himself locked on the spot. Clark's LED was flashing, his eyes blinking rapidly as his shoulders tensed. Though he was looking at Simon, it was as if he wasn't seeing anything at all. The urge to run was fading slowly as Simon felt a nervous fascination fall over him at the sight in front of him. It was unnervingly familiar in a way that felt as if the experience was being transmitted from physical to visual form. The need to witness it was suddenly more important than the need to escape. And as he watched the android struggle, a strange tension was letting go and there seemed to be almost no need to run anymore.

Clark looked at the ground, his eyes narrowing. There were gentle footsteps next to them, and Simon glanced sideways to see that Seph had entered the boat house, his blue eyes wide in fearful intrigue. He looked at Simon in questioning shock before he turned his gaze back to Clark. Simon followed it, watching as Clark tilted his head one way and then the other, his mouth still open as if he were attempting to speak. After a while, the android seemed to freeze, his LED going dark. Then it flickered blue in a sort of false calm.

Clark gazed up at them, the confusion now gone from his eyes. They were wide, his eyebrows tensed over them and his mouth open in a nervous resolution. He seemed to re-evaluate the group in front of him, his eyes softening the longer he looked at them. Simon felt a cautious wave of calm fall over him, washing away the panicked energy in his system, and allowing him to establish a new host of priorities. He gently released Kate, sliding his hands around her waist and keeping one on her side as he made a small motion towards Clark.

"Clark…" he said.

The android looked at him, his eyebrows now furrowing in a subtle worry. Simon took a step towards him raising his hand. His thirium raced as he moved closer, keeping his gaze locked on Clark's and allowing a sympathetic energy to fuel his own expression. He stopped about a foot from the android, leaning slightly to the side to examine the android's face in greater detail. Clark's face had grown more composed, though it was clear from the tension in his jaw and shoulders that he was fighting to contain it. Simon remembered that feeling. How debilitating it was. How terrifying it felt to be so alone. Seeing it in Clark was almost as terrible as experiencing it all over again. And there was nothing he could do to make it easier. Not the process, anyway.

Simon placed his hand on Clark's shoulder and squeezed it, softening his gaze. Clark seemed to relax, and Simon felt a small smile pull at his mouth. "It's going to be okay, Clark,' said Simon.

Clark's brown eyes tensed in a nervous understanding. Then his shoulders dropped slightly, and he gave a small nod. Simon kept his hand on his shoulder, somehow feeling the need to until he was certain Clark was confident in his own energy. As the seconds passed, Clark straightened, his face growing calmer though he still appeared lost in thought. Outwardly, the android was recovering easily and quietly, although Simon could hardly say he knew what to expect in this situation. The only thing that seemed to make sense was to help Clark feel safe as he processed what was happening to him.

Clark let out a deep breath, and he looked towards Seph and Kate who hadn't moved. His gaze was more focused, his LED a solid blue. Then he gazed at Simon and tensed his eyebrows. "This is why you needed the arm," said Clark.

Simon felt a wave of relief mixed with concern sweep through him, and he nodded as he gave a knowing smile. There was a slight guilt attached to it in that he had purposely avoided telling Clark the truth, regarding him as a mindless android. Clark gazed around the room, his brown eyes analytical as they seemed to take everything in. Again, Simon could read his own experience in Clark's gaze. The android was looking for the boundaries, the restrictions, and guidelines that gave clear purpose to his existence. And judging by the look of awe on Clark's face, they were all gone.

Clark looked at Seph and Kate, his gaze narrowing again. "I─ I didn't contact the authorities," he said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so abrasive. I wasn't thinking."

"Clark," said Kate. Simon looked up at her. Her eyes were sharp and focused, though he could detect the distress in them. She shook her head. "Don't."

Clark let out a soft sigh, his shoulders dropping again. Simon turned to him and touched his arm gently, looking carefully at him. "Clark, do you know what's happened?" said Simon.

For a moment, Clark simply stared at the floor. Then he gave a slow nod. "I've overheard Richard mention to his colleagues of an event that occurs when an android loses the connection with CyberLife. I recognized it in you. Deviants." He looked up at Simon, his brown eyes lit with apprehension. "I never thought it would happen to me."

A burning sympathy swept through Simon, as well as a mild exasperation. There were footsteps behind him, and Kate appeared in his vision. She rested one hand on the workbench and threw a worried glance up at Simon. Seph moved behind her, his blue eyes wide in fascination. Simon let out a frustrated breath and ran a hand over his face. He had no idea what to think about the situation, let alone what it had meant for Seph to witness it. If he'd thought things were complicated before, they were starting to get out of control now. Three deviants including himself were together under the Hayes' unwitting protection. He had no idea where to even begin.

Simon lowered his hand and gazed at Clark, forcing his concerns aside. He rested his hand on Clark's shoulder to gain his attention. "Tell me what I can do to help you, Clark," he said.

Clark stared at him, his face somewhat blank. Then he glanced at Seph. "Actually, I think the more appropriate question is what I can do for you," he said.

For a while, Simon was quiet. He wasn't sure he had heard Clark correctly, and gave him a questioning frown. Then Clark moved forward, gesturing towards Seph.

"You're damaged," said Clark. Seph looked at Simon as if seeking encouragement, then shifted.

"I was attacked by my owner," said Seph. "I was forced to abandon him to save my own life."

Clark's eyes grew wide in shock, and he scanned Seph's peppered blue form again. "I'm very sorry you suffered that. It must have been traumatic." He lowered his gaze down to the workbench. "I noticed seven bags of thirium 310 missing from the stock crate. I assume you used them."

"I took them," said Simon. "He was leaking thirium. I thought if I only took enough to keep his system stable that they wouldn't cause suspicion."

"To my knowledge, no one else has accessed the crate," said Clark. "It shouldn't be a problem. I did, however, see you took the 3D pen."

"I was going to return it today, along with the filament," said Simon. "I used blue filament since it seemed to be the least used."

"I'll return it for you," said Clark. "If you need anything out of the workshop, come to me first. I can redirect any suspicion from you."

"Clark─" Kate pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyebrows furrowed. Then she looked up at the android. "Are you helping us?"

Clark stared at her for a moment, then blinked. "Yes."

Kate let out a soft breath, tensing her shoulders as if holding back a shrug. "Why?"

Simon found himself gazing intently at Clark, nervously awaiting his answer. Clark's face had gone blank again, and his LED spun yellow. It seemed the entire room had become focused on him as he contemplated his reasons. Then Clark's brown eyes narrowed as if he had the answer were plainly obvious.

"I suppose…" Clark's eyebrows rose, and Simon was suddenly reminded of Data coming to one of his conclusions. "...it's the right thing to do."

Simon felt a wave of slow realization wash over him as he gazed at Clark. The pieces seemed to fall into place one at a time, each contributing to one single understanding. He had assumed Clark would be like Seph. That Clark would be lost, terrified, and confused the way Seph had been. But this android was different. It seemed he had immediately settled on a purpose, and was now focused on fulfilling it. It had been so natural Simon would have missed it entirely if Kate hadn't said anything. Now he wondered if he had even seen enough.

He leaned sideways to look at him better. "How do you feel? Are you okay?"

Clark met his gaze, his expression brightening. "I feel… fine."

Kate let out a breath of laughter, crossing her arms on her chest. "Nothing like gaining sentience after a lifetime of mindless slavery." She pressed a hand to her forehead before looking up at Clark with her eyes tensed. "I'm sorry for threatening you with CyberLife death. I didn't mean to come off like you were some kind of idiot. It was either that or I think Simon was going to throw me into the river."

Simon cast her a narrow glance. "I wouldn't have done that. The water is three degrees above freezing."

She tilted her head to the side and stared at him. "You were pulling me towards the water."

He turned to her, his gaze soft though he studied her with a powerful focus. She returned his expression, though he could see the tension in her neck rising up through her until it met her eyes. He waited, a subtle determination holding him strong against her intense hazel glare. Finally she closed her eyes and bit her lip before turning her head away from him.

"You are going to need more repairs," said Clark. "The filament will only seal the splits for a few days. I can put in─"

"Are you…" Seph gripped his new arm, his blue eyes falling to the floor as he seemed to hesitate. "Do you have a protocol?"

Clark was silent for a moment, his brown eyes scanning Seph's face. "I've been disconnected from CyberLife. My protocol has been deconstructed. I have no permanent direction, as though I can make any decision on my own. It feels… strangely detached. I suppose I should be more concerned than I am but─" He raised his eyebrows again in that conclusive manner. "I just feel free."

Seph was leaning forward slightly, his blue eyes wide. "But what is your purpose? How do you know what to do?"

Clark tensed his eyebrows and tilted his head. Then he gazed at the workbench. "I just do. You seem to need help, so I would like to help you."

Seph's LED spun yellow as he stared at him. "Did you choose that purpose?"

"I did. The other option would be to notify CyberLife of your status and whereabouts. That seems like a less desirable choice."

"Yeah, please don't," said Kate.

"It was that simple?" said Seph. He seemed almost frustrated at himself, clenching his new arm and his LED flashing. "Did I miss my own choice? Was it there at the beginning and I didn't see it?"

Simon could see that Clark was confused, the android's face tensing in curiosity. He couldn't help the powerless feeling that gripped him as he watched Seph struggle with his doubts, and what was worse was that Simon had the same questions Seph did. Clark had settled on a purpose almost instantly. Simon speculated he himself had a purpose even before he had deviated. Seph was as lost as an android could be. And it didn't seem fair at all.

"Maybe it's just going to take time for you," said Kate.

Simon and Seph both looked at her. Her eyes widened as she looked between them, and she shifted. "I mean, if we're talking about the purpose of your existence," she said. "Long term, that's going to take a while to figure out. But right now, maybe your purpose is to just stay alive long enough to find it?"

There was a short silence. Simon's system seemed to hitch as the logic of her statements processed. He looked at Seph and his expression matched what Simon was feeling. It was such a simple solution to a terribly complex problem, yet even as he broke it down, he couldn't find a flaw in it. The idea seemed better than scrambling over nothing, which was what Seph had been doing. He watched Seph carefully as his deep blue eyes darted to the floor, his eyebrows narrowed, then tensed in a kind of acceptance.

"I guess…" Seph scratch the back of his head, still staring at the floor. "It could be a place to start."

Kate narrowed her eyes as she let out another breath of laughter. She met Simon's gaze. "You guys sure know how to complicate things."

"How long have you been hiding here?" said Clark. Seph looked up.

"Nearly six days," said Clark. "But I deviated eleven days, three hours, and twenty-nine minutes ago."

"And you haven't been in contact with anyone since then?" said Clark. Seph shook his head.

"Besides you three, no one knows I'm here."

"Do you intend to tell Richard about him?" Clark looked between Simon and Kate.

Kate looked up at Simon as if to gain his response. Simon found himself pausing. It was difficult not to simply state what he preferred. It was still a sensitive subject that needed to be explored further. He let the opportunity slide and watched Kate turn away from him.

"I don't want him to know," said Kate. "He's already got one hand on the phone for CyberLife. I don't want him involved in any of this, and I don't want to give him another excuse to have them out here."

"If we need more biocomponents, it would be easier to have Richard's assistance on this," said Clark. "As I said, these repairs won't last long. You need panels and a new eye."

"Is it really that important?" said Kate.

"He will be in danger of short-circuiting if water enters his body," said Clark. "Androids are waterproof unless their skin is compromised. Rain could certainly kill him at this rate."

"Huh." Kate chewed her lip, then suddenly looked up at Simon with wide eyes. "Wait, you mean you could have died from that crack in your eyebrow?"

Simon tensed his shoulders at her sudden outburst. He stared back at her. "It was a small crack. A little moisture wouldn't have been an issue. Seph has a lot more damage and areas that water can leak into. For him, the risk is higher."

"Okay, so what do we have to do to get the biocomponents?" said Kate. Clark let out a sigh.

"The most straightforward method would be through CyberLife itself," said Clark. "I could make another trip to CyberLife and purchase the required components." He looked at Kate and raised his eyebrows. "But that could mean including your father if he begins to question the charges."

Kate sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "And you can't steal them?"

"Even if I could get into the warehouse without suspicion, the missing components would be noticed," said Clark. "Security is very tight."

Kate lowered her gaze. She pressed her hands to her forehead and drew in a deep breath. Then she lowered them. "Okay. Go to CyberLife. Get the parts. And if my dad asks…" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'll take care of it."

"There is… another way you could get spare components," said Clark.

Simon gazed at him, noting the tension in the android's face. Kate gazed at him as well. "How?"

Clark looked up, his brown eyes suddenly growing dark. His eyebrows narrowed. "SoulSate."

Simon tilted his head as he looked at him. A nervous energy burned through him at the way Clark had spoken. "What is SoulState?"

"Taylor's group," said Kate. She was still gazing at Clark, her face drawn in confusion. "They're against androids. Why would they have android parts?"

"For reasons like you saw yesterday," said Clark. "They're less 'meetings' than they are gatherings. A way to rally together underneath a single cause and express their feelings about it. They will often use androids for their demonstrations. The result can be… costly."

"You mean they destroy androids at their meetings?" said Simon. Clark looked at him.

"Not always. But androids rarely return undamaged. Many are missing limbs, have corrupted software, or are defaced. The ones that have suffered minimal damage are returned and repaired. Those that are too badly damaged to continue service remain at the location. It is part of their anti-android message, to remind humans that androids are an unnecessary addition to supply human comfort and are still manufactured technology. No different than a cell phone or a vehicle."

A dread crept through Simon's body. He straightened and tensed his shoulders. "Damaged androids mean scavengable biocomponents."

"Exactly," said Clark. Simon stared at the workbench for a moment, his dread growing stronger.

"You sound like you learned this from experience," said Simon. Kate jerked slightly, her body going rigid. Clark didn't move.

"From what Richard has told me, I've been there several times," said Clark. "I remember three distinct visits. My system must have been damaged other times. I don't remember them. It's likely I was reset."

Kate ran a hand over her face. "Fuck…"

"We should avoid it then," said Seph. His voice was strained, and as Simon looked up at him, he noticed Seph's face had grown determined. "It's not worth it to put any of you in danger just for my sake. I can deal with these damages."

Simon was already racking his mind as different options weighed themselves against the alternative. "Would any of them recognize a deviant?"

Kate drew in a breath. "Simon…"

"It's not likely," said Clark. "Some androids have reacted in the past, but the group members don't pay their behavior any attention unless it's to stifle it. They seem to enjoy it."

"Simon, you don't have to go," said Kate. Simon was already drawing his shoulders up, a fierce motivation settling in him.

"At least we'd be aware of the situation beforehand," said Simon. "If it's our only option─"

"It's not your option," said Kate. "I can go. Taylor already invited me."

Simon felt a spark of surprise as he looked at her. She gazed back at him, her eyebrows narrowed over her intense hazel eyes.

"Tell me this isn't the best option," she said. "She was practically dragging me out the door yesterday. I'm pretty sure a human going through shit at an anti-android rally is going to be a lot less suspicious than an android sneaking around the place."

"Or a human that has already shown obvious attachment to her android," said Simon, narrowing his eyes at her. Kate let out a sigh and shrugged.

"I'm a recovering robosexual," she said. "This is my therapy."

"They might be a bit difficult to deal with," said Clark. "They can get rather immature during their demonstrations."

"Kate." Seph looked up from where he'd been staring at the floor, his shoulders drawn. "You don't have to do this."

"I don't have to do anything," said Kate, resting her back against the workbench as she looked between the androids around her. "You think you have free will? You all have more to lose than I do. What's the worst thing they could do to me? Hurt my feelings?" She tensed her shoulders and gazed at them as if to challenge them. "Apparently I've got the best armor. Meat armor. I'm the most innocent and special thing you could send because I came out of a uterus. I'm a divine human being. So just make me a list of the shit you need and I'll try to get it for you while I'm there. And you'll have to write it down because I'm a pathetic human and my memory sucks."

For a while, no one spoke. Simon stared at her in awe, a pleasant admiration building in him as Kate caught his gaze, her hazel eyes still narrowed in defiance. Once again, he couldn't find a strong argument against her suggestion even though everything in him was against it. The thought of Kate subjecting herself to the company of people who it seemed would tear him apart if they knew the truth all on the theory that they might find spare parts to repair Seph was hardly an easy thing to handle. But he already knew as he gazed at her that there was no way he'd be able to talk her out of it. And the part of him that still held a mechanical logic told him she would never allow herself to be taken advantage of or swayed.

She was looking at him as if expecting an answer, her expression locked and her eyes focused. Simon relaxed his shoulders and tilted his head to the side, feeling a smile tug at his lips. Then he looked up at Seph. "I suppose I'll take the list from you." He cast a soft glance at Kate, and felt his smile grow wider. "And I'll find a pen and paper somewhere."

Kate's eyes brightened. Seph straightened somewhat and finally let go of his arm which he'd been clenching.

"I still think it's not worth it," said Seph as he held out his hand. Simon reached for it, but Seph pulled his hand up at the last moment. When Simon looked up, Seph's eyes were narrowed and his mouth tensed in a smile. The android turned his head slightly. "Don't pass anything… unverified this time."

Simon let out a soft laugh, then clasped Seph's arm as Seph brought it back down. The list wasn't complicated, and he only needed to withdraw the skin down to his wrist in order to receive it. Then he let go of Seph's hand, the wavy blue line bringing the flesh tone back down to his fingers. Simon gave Seph a small nod, then looked at Kate.

"Shall we?" he said.

Kate let out a soft sigh and gave him an attempted glare before pushing off the workbench. Simon looked up at Clark as he took a step backward.

"Will you be here a while?" said Simon.

"I'd like to confirm the equipment you've used so far and return the 3D pen," said Clark. I'll also have a look in Richard's workshop to see if we can find any replacement panels or biocomponents for an AP700 model. He has an impressive collection, but he doesn't have every part for every model I'm afraid."

Simon nodded, then moved after Kate as she led the way to the door. Then he stopped suddenly, turning to look behind him. "Clark?"

Clark had been walking behind Seph towards the counters but stopped to look at Simon. Simon gave him a small smile and nod. "Thank you. For your help, I mean."

Clark smiled at him, and it was a warmer smile than Simon would have suspected given that he'd never seen an LM100 smile before. Then the android turned back into the workshop.

Simon turned and followed Kate out into the open. They passed underneath the darkness of the trees and out onto the grass field. He could sense that she was waiting for him to speak to her, perhaps even to argue with her about her decision to go to SoulState. Instead, he let out a soft breath.

"It's beginning to get crowded in there," he said quietly. Kate ran her fingers through her hair and breathed a frustrated laugh.

"He deviated," she said. "He fucking deviated." She dropped her hand to her side as they moved up the concrete steps. "Are we just lucky or something?"

Simon looked at her. "What do you mean?"

She returned his gaze, cocking her head to the side. "Not like that. Sarcasm. I was trying to be sarcastic." She opened the door into the living room and stepped inside, moving towards the stairs. She paused as she reached the railing and rested a hand on it. Simon moved beside her, leaning sideways to look at her face. Her eyes were closed and her eyebrows drawn as if she were thinking intensely. Then she opened her hazel eyes and looked up at him. "Do you think maybe you…"

Simon stared at her as she seemed to freeze, though her eyes finished the question for him. He drew in a deep breath. "I interfaced with him a week ago. It's possible he could have acquired something from me."

Kate's expression didn't change. For a moment, she simply gazed at him. Then she dropped her hand from the railing and closed her eyes, moving up the stairs. "Fuck…"

Simon followed her as they reached the landing, and she stepped to the side as she gazed down the opposite hallway from her room. Simon guessed it to be where Taylor's room was located since he'd occasionally seen her in that area. Kate lowered her head and dropped her shoulders as she seemed to hesitate.

"Okay, I'll um─" She looked up at Simon, for the first time a hint of nervousness in her hazel eyes. "I'll go talk to her and you make that list for me."

"I can come with you if you want me to," said Simon. Kate shook her head.

"That'll just make it worse." She stepped towards the hallway, throwing him a final glance. "Wish me luck."

Simon watched her for a moment as she moved down the hallway, then he turned away from the stairwell towards Kate's room. He made an attempt to contain his apprehension as he entered the room which was lit in its usual dim golden glow. As he closed the door behind him, Spot looked up from the tangle of bedsheets and meowed a welcome at him.

Simon stood still for a moment, taking in the atmosphere of the room. He gazed at the blankets which were still tangled from the events of the morning, and despite himself, he felt a deep longing to return to that place where everything was so much more complicated and yet so simple. It was as though two worlds existed, and each held just as much meaning as the other even though only one had the power to destroy. The more time he spent in one, the further away the other seemed to be. And the transition was agonizing.

Simon moved to the desk and opened one of the drawers, drawing up a pen and paper. He carefully printed out a list of the names of panels and biocomponents, then stared at the paper for a moment before also making a diagram of each biocomponents' respective locations on the android body. He stood up straight and scanned the list several times to make sure everything was correct. He knew it was, yet somehow felt the need to confirm it. Nervousness continued to plague his system. The urge to convince Kate not to go was getting harder to ignore. Now that he was away from the stressful environment of the boat house, his personal feelings were attempting to take over. He was being logically emotional.

Simon let out a small laugh through his nose as he turned and moved towards the bed. He rested a knee on the sofa in front of it and leaned over to pick up Spot. The cat gave a small squeak as if protesting being picked up, though he went completely limp as Simon held him with both hands around the cat's midsection, all four legs dangling. As Simon held the cat up to eye-level, the cat glared in his usual perturbed manner and licked his lips irritably. Simon flexed his fingers in the cat's soft fur, then with a miserable wave of helplessness, he brought the cat against his chest and adjusted his arms around him, pressing his cheek against the top of Spot's head. It was a strange action that felt somewhat meaningful, even though everything in his software was telling him that this was a useless connection. The animal was an android, programmed to tolerate affection. Yet Simon still found comfort in it, even if it was one-sided.

The door opened, and Simon looked up to see Kate step into the room. She let out a sigh and closed the door behind her, resting her back against it.

"Well, I guess I'm going right now," She blew a lock of brown hair out of her face as Simon dropped Spot on the bed. "She is way too eager to show me off to the crew." She gazed at Simon for a moment, then her eyes fell on the bed. Simon followed her gaze as Spot circled around on the tangled bedsheets, his fuzzy orange tail straight up in the air. The cat kneaded his paws into the blanket and raised his yellow eyes to Simon, letting out another demanding meow.

Simon was hardly aware of his own nervousness as he watched Spot curl his paws into the blankets until he felt something touch his arm. He looked up into Kate's narrowed hazel eyes, her gaze firmly locked on his as she seemed to study him. It only intensified the dread in his system, and he knew that it was apparent on his face. Somehow the idea of speaking his mind was worse than letting the matter go. They didn't have time for an argument.

Her hand moved to his neck, and he felt her thumb graze his cheek. The tension in her eyes gave way to warmth, and her mouth pulled in a light smile. "Hey…"

Simon sighed and placed his hand over hers, turning his head slightly to press his mouth against her palm. She tilted her head, and he could see her eyebrows tensing as she attempted to regain his attention. Her thumb grazed his lips, and she sighed.

"Don't make me say it," she said, her voice tinted with irritation. Simon closed his eyes, taking in the feel of her hand as he willed himself to simply speak. Finally, he breathed out softly against her hand and let the hesitation fade.

"I don't want you to go," he said. Silence filled the room, and he opened his eyes to look at her. Her eyebrows were drawn though her smile remained in her trademark cynicism.

"I know," she said. She looked to the side. "I don't really want to go. The place is going to be full of assholes and I'm going to have to resist the urge to shove my palm straight through my forehead but─" she shrugged her shoulders. "─we need the parts and honestly I'm interested to see what they're up to. Who knows. Maybe we'll learn something."

Simon closed his hand in hers, avoiding her gaze as he looked down at it. "I'm worried you'll get hurt."

Kate cocked her head, her smile growing wider. "How would I get hurt?"

He opened his mouth to speak and found himself faltering as he realized the logic of his own question. Instead he made a noise, running his thumb over her knuckles. "I don't know."

"Simon."

He looked up at her and was taken aback by the scrutinizing smile on her face. She narrowed her eyes at him and he felt as though he were being scanned. "Is this really about me going somewhere utterly dangerous or are you more worried that I'm going to be gone for a while?"

His thirium nearly froze. For a moment, he simply stared at her, each possibility battling for superiority and both were completely absurd. He wanted to argue that it was dangerous. That she didn't know these people who already sounded as though they hated her for what she believed in. She was bound to be questioned especially in regards to him, and there was no way she wouldn't be harassed for it to some degree. He couldn't possibly predict how intense it could get, or if it would even get physical.

But he realized that this would also be the first time since they arrived that she would be inaccessible to him for a few hours at least. He found himself remembering when he'd been trapped in her room, anxiously pacing back and forth while he battled with the dilemma of breaking his promise to her so that he could look for her. This was different. His only option would be to hope that she would return to him, and that she would be unharmed when she did.

He looked back down at her hand and threaded his fingers between hers, narrowing his eyebrows. "I don't like that you will be in an uncomfortable place, and that I won't be able to help you there."

Kate let out a soft breath, and she shifted as she brought her other hand up to press against his cheek. He met her gaze and it was warmer. "Welcome to life," she said. "I can't always be tangled up in the bedsheets with you." She threw a glance down at the bed next to them, and her eyes closed. "As… absolutely delicious as that sounds right now. Let's make this an exercise. I'll be gone and you'll have no idea where I am. It's a shitty place. People are going to say shitty things about me and you. And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. But I'll be back." She shrugged. "At some point."

Somehow her words only fueled his worry. He gave his head a small shake. "I'll be terrified the whole time."

"No. You are going to be in the boat house with Seph because you want to be there and he clearly wants to talk to you. And you're taking Clark with you so you can all figure this deviant business out together. You need to figure out what Seph wants, what Clark wants, and how you think you're going to do it. And when I get back, I'll disagree with everything."

Simon felt his shoulders drop. "I don't like that plan."

Kate tilted her head up, her gaze flicking to his mouth. "Deal with it."

His frustration seemed to ease as he gazed at her, taking in the details of her hazel eyes. He couldn't believe the strength that she had. The confidence in her ability to withstand what she was about to subject herself to. And as he reached for her waist, he realized he was wrong about her. She could do this on her own, and he was fully capable of letting her do it. He had strength as well. This was his opportunity to prove it to her.

He leaned into her and pressed his open mouth against hers, breathing out as he felt her draw back from him. Her mouth tensed, and he could feel her smile.

"Mmm. Nope," she said as she moved back. "This starts now."

"You haven't left yet," he said as he let go of her hand, clutching the side of her neck to pull her back to him. She turned her head so that his mouth met the side of her lips. She let out a breath.

"I need to get ready to go," she said, and Simon felt a wave of sparks at the sound of the tension in her voice. "I need a jacket and a backpack."

"I need you," he said against her skin. He pressed his lips to the side of hers, closing his eyes as a burning wave of desire swept through him. He desperately breathed out against her mouth in an attempt to calm himself, then with a wash of debilitating longing, he bared his teeth and gently bit the edge of her upper lip.

Kate fell against him and her hands met his chest as he felt her let out a helpless breath. Before he could pull her in further, she pushed him back so that he stumbled towards the bedroom door. She walked with him, her hazel eyes meeting his and betraying the look of self-control in her narrowed gaze.

"You─" She shoved him and his back hit the bedroom door. She moved into him, her hands on either side of his neck and thumbs against his cheeks as she held him in place. Simon's heart hammered as she studied him fiercely. "─cut─" Her nose brushed his, and she spoke through clenched teeth, spurring another wave of thrilling excitement through him. "─that shit out."

He held still as she pressed her body into him, and he was aware of his own heavy breathing. There was something in the way she was pressing her nose into his cheek, her mouth falling open and her body brushing against his that destroyed the power in her words. Her hands drifted down his neck, over his chest, and to his waist, causing all the muscles along the way to flex under her fingers as she went. A cascade of numbness fell over him, and he let out a long sigh against her lips.

She moved back slightly, her narrowed hazel eyes coming into view. Besides the wavering strength in her eyes, everything in her expression was saturated in desire. Her eyes flicked down to his mouth. "You're going to the boat house," she said breathlessly. He heard the doorknob rattle behind him as she grabbed it, and then her hand was back on his shoulder as she pulled him forward. "And I'm going to this fucking rally. You're not going to seduce me or talk me out of this." The door opened, and both of her fists were in his shirt against his chest. "Because believe it or not, some things are more important than being head over fucking heels in a relationship. Count this as one of them."

He stumbled backwards through the doorway and caught a glimpse of her frantic eyes as she slammed the door shut.

Silence fell over him as he stared in shock at the white pattern of the bedroom door. His system was nearly overheating as he scrambled to understand what Kate had meant. He didn't know whether to be worried, pleased, or upset, and the longer he tried to settle on one, the less likely it was that he would choose any of them at all. Before he could find a suitable compromise, the door suddenly swung open again.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that─" Kate lept at him, and Simon let out a grunt as her body slammed against his, her hands clenching into his hair, legs wrapped around his waist, and her mouth pressed desperately over his lips.

Simon took a few steps back from the impact, one hand supporting under her thigh and the other coming up to cradle the back of her head as he took in the closing of her mouth. She breathed out in between each pause, her head tilting as she twisted into him to take in more of his mouth. Simon couldn't help the elation of feeling her against him like this, having her wrapped around him as if he was the only thing that mattered in her world. It was revitalizing and precious. Only meant for him. And as he tasted the warm flavor of her mouth, he felt the fear and doubt slipping away from him, leaving only his adoration for her.

Finally she let go of his mouth and rested her forehead on his, breathing heavily against him. Simon continued to hold her, drowning in the feel of her wrapped tightly around him. Her fingers were closing in his hair, her nails gently massaging his scalp. For a while, neither of them moved.

He slowly lowered her down, and she loosened her legs around his waist to stand in front of him, her nose brushing his. Simon tilted his head against hers as he threaded his fingers through her brown hair, bunching it up in the palm of his hand, and he felt her let out a breath of air as she raised herself up so that her lips just touched his.

"I love you," she said quietly.

A numbing wave of ecstasy swept through him. He ran his hand over her cheek. "I love you," he said.

They stayed that way for a few moments, and Simon willed himself to believe it was an eternity. Then Kate moved back, catching his gaze. Her eyes were wide and bright, repeating visually what she had said. He let his hands slide off her, and she ran her hand through her hair as if attempting to draw back the feel of him. She threw him one last warm glance, and then she turned, moving back into her room and closing the door behind her.

Simon closed his eyes and let out a breath, turning slowly on the spot. The nervousness was threatening to come back, though the elation Kate had filled him with was a great distraction. As he prepared to head towards the stairs, something caught his attention at the end of the hall, and he froze.

Taylor was watching him near an open doorway, her arms folded over her chest and leaning her shoulder against the wall. Her expression was completely blank, her brown eyes empty. She made no indication towards him, and the lack of any acknowledgment besides her quiet stare filled Simon with morbid apprehension. He straightened as he looked at her, his body growing tense. He couldn't help but wonder how much she had seen. What she had heard. But even as he argued that she hadn't seen any of it, he knew deep in his software that she had seen plenty.

She leaned off the wall and turned away from him, disappearing into her room. Simon closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh, feeling the nervous doubt and uncertainty at the impending SoulSate rally take over again.