The Monday afternoon after Thanksgiving weekend and day of returning to classes, a bundled Lori Fitzgerald enters her dorm room. Her face lights up at the sight of her roommate Hannah Frost and gives her a hug. She is on the couch, laptop on the coffee table, with the program Finch beside her.

"I'm sorry I missed you this morning," Hannah greets, face lit up as well. "How's the family?"

Lori shrugs and starts rambling. "Still judging my life choices and fear my life is a black hole that if they stand too close to me they will become trapped in with no hope of ever seeing sunlight again. Though they are glad to see I have a boyfriend, so that's progress. I had to Skype him to prove it, though." She locks eyes with Hannah, smile becoming fake. "Enough about me please. Feel free to stop me at any time."

"I'm good," Hanna offers. Lori nods and flops into the chair, removing her coat and gloves.

"What're you two up to? This wasn't a combination I was expecting," she admits.

Hannah turns the computer towards her. "I am trying to hack these sealed files in Finch's brain-data stream. In her data stream. They, however, are refusing to budge despite my best attempts. Somebody really wants these secret." Finch nods, obviously worried about this.

Lori nods and rises, patting her on the back. "Keep trying, but don't go crazy. We don't want Finch's head to explode or something."

Hannah laughs though Finch looks uneasy. "You got it boss." As Lori heads for their bedroom, she receives a text that makes her groan. "That doesn't sound like the way one should react to their boyfriend."

"He wants me to start running with him," Lori explains.

Hannah smirks, raising an eyebrow. "Running? You?"

"I know," Lori laments. "He saw Finch when she was me and I said the goofy uniform was my jogging outfit. Now he wants the two of us to run together. I held him at bay with the cast, but now..." She wiggles her fingers to reveal that her cast is gone.

"Lori, you lied to him," Hannah tells her seriously. "You're an adult. You have to deal with the consequences. You did what you think you have to do. Now you have to commit to it." Lori sighs. "I will take you jogging suit shopping," she offers with a smile.

"Over my dead body," Lori deadpans. Finch is instantly on her feet, serious. "It's an expression, Finch. No need to protect me."

Finch instantly looks apologetic. "Sorry, once harm is insinuated to Lori Fitzgerald my programming-"

"We get it. But I'm fine. At ease soldier," Lori says with a mock salute. Finch observes the gesture blankly.

XXX

So follow me down

Lori stands with the glowing Disney Encyclopedia. She sighs and pulls out her phone.
Where to?
Outta this town

Charlie examines his map and grabs his flashlight.
With you
Girl, you're movin way

Hannah is typing away at her computer.
Too slow

So follow me down

Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders.
Which way?
Down, down, down

Ben looks at his phone, adjusting his tie.
I'll show you around

Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room.
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

Finch puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over.

Follow me, follow me

Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, Kaity, and Finch are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces.
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground.

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Seventeen: Conscription Notice

XXX

A little while later, Finch is sitting with Charlie Prescott in the living room of his dorm as he works on his Math homework. He sits staring at one for a long moment before looking at the projection. He slides it towards her slyly. "Finch, what about-?"

"Charlie, don't use her to cheat!" Ben's voice warns from the bedroom.

"I wasn't… Fine!" He slides it back and returns to his work, grumbling under his breath.

Finch sits a moment, processing this, before she speaks up. "Why did you listen to him?" Charlie looks at her. "He's in the other room and has no way to prevent you from what you wanted. But you listened despite that," she reminds him.

Charlie thinks before answering, struggling. "Well… he's my older brother. And I know that even if I don't agree he's trying to do the best thing for me. So I do what he asks because I trust that what he's saying is better than what I'm saying." He hesitates, seeing her blank expression. "It's weird to describe. It's like why we listen to Lori when we're looking for characters."

"Fascinating," she offers, contemplative. She suddenly puts two fingers to her temple with her eyes glazing over.

Charlie recognizes what that means and rises, closing his book. "Ben! Pack up! We've got a live one!" He heads for the closet, Ben Prescott emerging a moment later to join him.

"Be sure to put on your winter one," he tells his younger brother. "It's too cold to walk around out there with what you've been wearing."

Charlie grabs it, turning to Finch. "Okay. See what I mean? He's saying the right thing and I trust that, so I listen." Ben helps him into his coat as his phone goes off. "That must be Lori."

Ben puts on his own. "I'll text her we'll meet her in the lobby. You're going to want something heavier Finch. It is winter now," he comments to the projection that is in her usual long-sleeved shirt only.

She hesitates, but realizes she should blend in. "Okay…" Her torso bursts into pixels which rearrange so she is wearing a thick jacket. They start out the door. "Like that?"

"Exactly," Charlie informs her as Ben exits. "But more based off trust rather than feeling obligation. You seemed like you felt you had to."

"I wanted to record the observation."

The two head out the door, Charlie smiling at her. "Just take your time with it. It's a hard concept. Now let's go."

XXX

About an hour later, Lori puts her phone away as she is walking with Hannah to the preserve, flashlights pointed ahead. "Alright, so we've got nothing in the usual places. We'll meet in the clearing." Her phone vibrates, but she pointedly does not pick it up.

Hannah nudges her. "Planning your morning run?" Lori gives her a fearsome glare. "I just… sorry," she backs off. "I know I'm not making it any easier. But what did you expect when you lied to him?"

"Can we stop using that word?!" Lori snaps, obviously upset.

"Lie?" Hannah questions, caught off guard at her reaction.

"Yes. Can we just say… something else that doesn't have a negative context! It's for his own good," she insists. "He doesn't need to be dragged into this."

Hannah speaks up. "But isn't knowing each other part of a relationship? Lori, there's a big piece of you that you're trying to keep from him- possibly the most important piece," she insists.

Lori halts and gives her a stern look. "Never… never say that this book is the most important piece of me again. It is nothing but a hindrance."

Hannah rolls her eyes dramatically and stops as they reach the clearing. "A hindrance that's making you into who you are! Lori-"Lori is suddenly tackled to the ground, rolling across the grass. "Lori!" Hannah shouts as a tall figure walks to tower over her. Hannah grabs the book from the ground and runs to hit the person over her in the head with the book it, sending them to the ground. She kneels next to her roommate, concerned. "Are you okay?"

Lori sits up. "Fine," She coughs. "Just had the wind knocked out of me." There is a groan from the figure. Hannah whirls around to face them, book at the ready.

"I will use this-oh!" She drops it as the figure rises, smile appearing. "Oh wow."

"Two against one does not seem very fair, especially if you get a weapon," the person says seriously as he walks over to him, revealing a shirtless General Shang.

"Oh yeah," Hannah giggles, taking him in. "Sorry about that."

Lori shakily rises to her feet. "Don't apologize! He flat out attacked me!" she complains, completely ignoring his appearance.

Shang folds his arms. "I was merely doing a quick assessment of where we are in your timeline. My conclusion is not very far. You seem to lack even the most basic of skills."

Lori folds her arms as well. "Well… college student not a soldier."

"That won't work for you, especially if we are this early. We need to start training you immediately. Especially your mental weakness," he concludes, tapping her forehead.

She swats his hand away. "Excuse me. I wouldn't call a B in Organic Chemistry a mental weakness."

He grabs her wrist and starts dragging her. "Come along. We have a lot to get done in a short span of time."

"Text the others," Lori calls over her shoulder. "Tell them to bring a jacket so he doesn't freeze."

Hannah tilts her head as she stares at his back. "Do we have to?"

Lori rolls her eyes. "And you might want to have the Doctor look at your jaw. It would be a shame if it was permanently on the floor. So what-"Lori is knocked flat on her back again. "Ouch! Stop doing that!" she shouts, pounding the ground.

"Your enemies will be just as relentless," he lectures as she stands. "Now think ahead and side-step me." She goes to speak, immediately getting knocked flat again. "Again." Hannah sits to watch and supervise, still admiring the General.

XXX

The next morning, the other Companion, Kaity Klingbeil, sits across from her therapist in her office. "So how was Thanksgiving with your family?" the therapist asks kindly.

"I have a really big family, so it's always this huge production," Kaity starts, a little guarded. "I try to stay as much in the background as possible."

"Why is that?" her therapist asks as she scrawls some notes.

"I have six older siblings- some of them with their own kids even," she elaborates. "The problem is I came last and I'm the one who's bipolar. They all very much resent the amount of attention I got growing up and let me know it."

"So you feel they don't care about you?"

Kaity moves a piece of hair from in front of her eye. "Oh, they love me out of obligation. So I try really hard to let it be their day. They can talk about all their lives and not have to worry about mine."

"And there was nothing you wanted to tell them?"

"Oh, there was so much," Kaity disagrees. "I feel like a completely different person, and I half didn't say anything because I hoped they'd just notice and ask. Of course none of them did. But they spent so long absorbed in me they have every right to be absorbed in their selves."

"That's an interesting definition of family."

"It is. But that's not mine." Her therapist gives her a look. "It used to be, but this year influences are really shaping the definition for me. And maybe that's why I was so disappointed in my six siblings… because I would have rather been back here with my other six."

XXX

The next afternoon, Lori is standing atop a log over a small creek. She is desperately trying to balance and make her way to Shang on the other side. "I don't quite understand the point of this," she announces.

"Balance- both inner and outer," he explains.

"What do you mean by inner?"

"I've only had one woman among my ranks, but from what I've come to understand she was unusually stable in her emotions," Shang says with a fond smile. Lori rolls her eyes. "I can see the same is not true for you."

She rolls her eyes. "Please, lecture me on the emotions I struggle with you who hath known me for less than a day."

"Guilt," he says. She nearly falls but holds on. "One just has to look at you. You, soldier, look much older than you should be because of it. You are constantly weighted down and fighting something that you will never be rid of."

Lori takes another tentative step forward. "You don't know that."

Shang gives her a nod of encouragement. "Removing the book from your possession will not make you a fountain of honesty. If you cannot move past things with it in your grasp how do you expect to live life when this is over? There are some things that you are going to face, decisions you will make as leader. You need to learn to dismiss those as soon as they come, otherwise they will easily overtake the good emotions."

"There's no good in this situation. I immediately take that back. How do I go about magically purging myself of feeling guilty?"

"There is no magic to it. You simply have to fight the past and then move on. It starts with collecting yourself enough to cross this log."

She takes another step forward. "Then what?"

"I have a larger exercise planned after we've done a few more things. We are going to build you into a better leader by removing the cloud from your judgment so you can lead. Your mistakes will shape you, not consume you."

"That's an awfully big promise." She reaches the other side and smiles triumphant.

"You'll just have to trust me to deliver. It is what I'm here for. Again and faster." She nods, a little more trusting, and steps back onto the log.

XXX

Meanwhile, Hannah and fellow Companion Michael Harms sit having lunch together. She fiddles with her food and looks at him worried. "Maybe we should go-"

"I'm sure she's fine," he comforts, taking a bite of his sandwich. "He's here because she has something to learn from him." Finch enters the cafeteria and walks to stand over them.

"May I sit here?" They both immediately nod.

"How'd you get in?" Hannah inquires. Finch holds up Lori's ID.

"I have her permission to join you. I requested it this morning because I wanted to inquire something of the two of you."

"What can we do for you?" Michael offers kindly.

Finch gets right into it. "Why do you follow Lori as your leader?" They both hesitate, so she continues. "For example, she is out there by herself. But despite that you stay here simply for the reason she requested it of you. Why?"

Michael speaks first. "Well, because we acknowledge her role as leader I suppose. And that comes with the territory of having a leader," he attempts, tripping over what to say. "They have a job to do and you help support them by doing what they need you to. So you listen and follow orders."

"You trust she knows best," Finch recites.

"Often she does," Hannah agrees. "It is her book and thus her responsibility. But even if we don't agree we try to make things easier and help her. Only on big sticking points will we go against her."

Michael nods. "We're trying to make things easier because we care about her. We also follow her because of that. We care about her that much."

Finch takes this all in and taps her temple. "Fascinating. You have provided me with a lot of data to consider. Thank you." She rises to exit.

"Stick around," Hannah insists. "You spend too much time off by yourself." She sits again as Hannah turns to Michael. "You know what's funny to me. Half a year ago we said we were a team with no leader. When did we buy into Lori and her Companions?"

He shrugs. "She started acting the part. That's all there is to it. And I don't know about then but now I'd do just about anything but sacrifice being a doctor for her."

"You have always wanted to be a doctor, correct?" Finch joins politely into the conversation.

"Except for when I was three and wanted to be a singer," he says, which makes Hannah laugh. "You mock, but I actually have a killer voice."

"Prove it," Hannah challenges.

"Ah, you'll just have to take my word for it," Michael offers back, not biting.

She pouts and crosses her arms. "We'll see."

XXX

That evening, Kaity is hard at work in the art room going to and fro when Ben enters. He gives her a smile. "It's good to see you hard at work again."

"Trust me, it feels really good," she says with a smile. She heads over to a rectangle of clay. "It looks like I might make the deadline on everything if I can re-make my sculpture by Friday. Everyone else is done though, so it's pretty lonely."

He pulls up a stool next to the table. "I'll hang out with you then." She starts chipping away for a minute. "Sorry I couldn't go with you to the therapist yesterday."

"I understand the call to arms. It could have been anyone and she really could have needed you. We just talked about Thanksgiving and my family."

Ben squints, trying to remember. "Six siblings, correct?"

She clutches her heart dramatically. "How flattering. You remembered." He laughs and she goes back to work. "Yes, along with my three nieces and two nephews. I was really far down the line."

"I imagine you're a pretty cool aunt," he smirks.

"They used to keep their distance- I half thing their parents told them too," she admits, a little sad. "But this year I regaled them with my harrowing tales of chasing Disney characters."

"You didn't?!"

"Oh, they loved it! They didn't want to go home! My siblings just rolled their eyes and my parents muttered artist under their breath, but they believed. They believed in me. It felt really good. They think Lori's some sort of superhero."

Ben crosses his arms and puffs out his chest. "And what did they think of me?"

"They thought you were my knight in shining armor." She blushes at what she said and takes a step away from him, embarrassed. "I really just said that out loud. That was humiliating. It was what they said, not me."

Ben rubs the back of his neck, a little awkward. "Of course. You're adorable." He realizes what he's just said as well. "Now I didn't filter that through. We should just…"

She nods. "Yeah…" Their phones buzz and they both pick it up. "'I need you in the preserve- even Kaity.' Apparently I'm invited."

"'Bring a pillow.' She's asked for stranger," He admits with a shrug, heading for the door. She follows. "After you." They both head out, keeping about a foot between them.

XXX

A little bit later, all the Companions arrive at the clearing carrying their pillows to find Shang standing there with a nervous Lori.

"It is time for her final test," Shang informs them as they gather around. "She has made these up for you." He hands them each an index card. "You are to stand in a circle around her- about twenty feet away. When she approaches you read what's on the card. She will then hit the pillow until ready to move on. Understand?" They nod. "Spread out," he orders and they immediately do. He stands outside the circle and locks eyes with a wary Lori. "Alright, you can do this. You need to do this." She nods and runs over to Hannah.

Hannah freezes at her card, turning to Shang. "But… but I don't-"

"Read it!" He barks. "That's an order!"

Hannah turns to Lori, obviously caring more about her thoughts. Lori gives her a nod and small smile. "It's okay. I need to do this."

"You're the reason Kenny landed me in the hospital," Hannah read. Lori punches a few times in a style she has obviously just learnt from her mentor.

She then runs to Kaity. "You're the reason Rachel was blinded." She hits this one more.

She then sprints to Ben. "You're the reason the Yeti hurt people. And then your solution was to hurt him." She gives one, strong and solid hit.

She runs to Finch. "You're deceiving and lying to the man who deserves the truth." She hits this one half a dozen times.

She then runs to a reluctant Michael. "You keep putting us in danger- ruining our lives and possibly futures." She hits him about a dozen times.

She then runs to Charlie, who looks very upset. "You're the reason Cody died," he reads at no more than a whisper. She hits his pillow about two dozen times before running back to the middle, obviously tired and frazzled.

"Again!" Shang shouts. Lori takes off again to Hannah, who frowns indignant.

"You can't possibly-"

Shang glares her into submission. "I said again! We need to follow through!"

"Kenny." She hits and moves to Kaity.

"Rachel."

Then to Ben. "Yeti."

Next is Finch. "Shawn."

Then is Michael. "Us."

Finally is Charlie. "Cody." After finishing hitting the pillow, she returns to the center. She shudders from the cold and wipes a tear from her eye- emotionally drained.

"Again." She takes a longer moment before running to Hannah.

Hannah pulls the pillow away. "She's had enough! Stop it!"

Lori looks at her. "Hannah… listen to me. Do it."

She stares her down a long moment before placing the pillow back. "Kenny."

"Rachel."

"Yeti."

"Shawn."

"Us."

"Cody." She returns to the middle and sinks to her knees, burnt out.

Hannah turns to Shang one again. "Are we done now?" At this, Lori rises very suddenly and practically slams into her.

Shang actually gives a smile. "That's good! Keep going!"

"Kenny!" Lori shouts, hitting with such ferocity before rocketing towards Kaity. "Rachel! Yeti! Shawn! Them! Cody!" She does it twice more before merely standing in the middle. She is completely exhausted, panting loudly, but she looks much calmer and at peace as she stares Shang down.

"One last time around. Everyone, other side of the card." They all flip as she runs to Hannah, whose face lights up at what it says: Compliment (If You Can Think of One).

"Without you, I would be a fake cool kid and not a real one." She drops the pillow and hugs her.

Lori then runs to Kaity. "Without you, I would have never believed I could change my stars." The two high-five.

Then she heads over to Ben. "Without you, I wouldn't have a purpose." The two hug.

Finch gives her a salute which makes her laugh. "Without you, I wouldn't exist."

Michael hugs her first before speaking. "Without you, I would still be all alone and not know what I was missing."

When she reaches Charlie, he just stares at her for the longest moment struggling. "You know," he says finally. She nods and hugs him tight. Everyone circles around and pats her on the back, cheering. She turns to face Shang, who is smiling proudly.

"You performed better than my expectations. I hope you understand the true purpose of this exercise."

Lori nods. "Bad things are going to happen. I can't stop them. They come with the territory. But I need to keep going. I need to stay strong. That's how I am a better leader."

"And you need to look at the positives," Shang continues. "You need to remember that every one of your fellow enlisted believe in you and follow you. You need to be their leader, so you must shake off your burdens before they become yours."

Lori gives him a bow of respect. "Thank you, General."

He bows as well. "It was my pleasure Lori. It will not be easy, but I have faith in you."

"Despite the personality," she jokes.

"Because of the personality," he insists. Finch hands her the book which she opens to a glowing poem.

"Be a man With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon" He vanishes in a burst of light and she sinks to the ground. "Somebody carry me back."

"Or we could just leave you here with the pillows for a nap," Michael offers. She laughs and he helps her up. "Lead the way." She nods and they all start back behind her, Finch looking as if she's made a decision.

XXX

The next morning, Lori opens her door as she puts on some track pants to find Finch. "Hey. I've only got a minute honestly. Shawn-"

"I will be brief," Finch concludes. "I have a request for you, Lori Fitzgerald."

"Hit me."

Finch frowns. "Physical contact in the past has been despised and often ends with me-"

"Expression," Lori cuts in. "What can I do for you?"

"I have completed my observations from this encounter and have reached the conclusion that I want you to release me from my objectives."

Lori pauses, confused. "You mean the objectives that consist of keep me safe and help me with characters?"

"Affirmative," Finch nods, confident. "My programming leads me to believe only your command can do this."

"Okay," Lori says, hesitantly. "But… did I do something wrong? Why don't you want to help me anymore?"

"Oh, I'm still very committed to my goals."

"And now I'm officially lost."

Finch adjusts her tie as she launches into her explanation. "The other Companions as you refer to them follow you as a leader because to them you are brave and have their best interests at heart. They trust you. I have seen that. I wish the same- to follow you because I want to and not simply out of programming. In essence, I am requesting a freedom of will."

Lori is floored and takes a moment to recover. "Finch… wow, I'm flattered. Of course. We still don't know exactly what you are, but you have every right to find out for yourself and make your own path. I'm just glad you think it's still with us." She clears her throat and sounds official. "I release you from any and all obligations to me." The pixels of Finch's head spread out and then pull back together. "How do you feel?"

"Odd," Finch admits after a moment. "A piece that drove me is missing. There's now an odd emptiness within me now. But I still feel like myself."

Lori gives her a smile. "You'll find something for that empty piece. Think about it this way- every human needs to fill that piece. It's just something we have to figure out."

"You mean to imply now I am more human."

"Exactly."

Finch smiles as well, satisfied. "Thank you, Lori Fitzgerald."

"Door's open anytime. And even when it isn't, you tend to pick it open." She laughs and Finch joins.

XXX

A short while later, Lori comes out of the building to meet her boyfriend Shawn Zimmerman. "Now I'm just a beginner so take it easy on me."

He kisses her. "Never. I have a feeling that's not your style."

She gives him another longer kiss. "I suppose you're right." They start running towards the forest preserve trail.

"Do anything exciting yesterday?" Shawn asks her casually. She hesitates.

"Well… there's this-not a thing," she decides finally with a large smile and not a trace of guilt present. "You?"

XXX

Tune in next week as Kaity's long awaited art show arrives, Charlie and Michael set out to solve a mystery, and Shawn demands some answers of Lori.