Dust coated every surface, giving the old freight the feeling of being preserved in time. It was quiet and rickety, but it was safe. Safe was something the group of androids hadn't had in a long time. Since that night in the rain Eve had found seven more androids, just as lost and afraid as she had been. All they were looking for was a place to go. There was no instruction manual to being a "Deviant". No step by step guide on what to do once you were free. Most wandered the streets until they were found and sent back to be reset or worse. Cautiously Eve made her way thru the abandoned ship. It was clear no one had been here in a long time. Perfect for people who didn't want to be found. Their numbers were growing, and they couldn't keep hiding in alleys and under overpasses. The needed a place to house others who would come looking for safety.
There wasn't much Eve could do for her people but a place to call home, that she could do. They swung the door open to the massive hull of the ship. It had been mostly cleared out, all that remained were a few abandoned crates. Eve sat on a discarded crate watching as they all spread out to explore and claim small spaces for themselves. Even if it was a corner or a quiet place to sit, it was theirs and that was more than they had ever had before. Eve looked around their dusty little corner of the world and saw it for what it could be. A sanctuary for androids looking for safe harbor. Maybe even a place of hope for those who were lost and alone. She wanted that for her people.
Simon, an android that had joined them a couple of weeks ago came to rest next to Eve. "It's not glamourous but no humans will be coming here any time soon" He wasn't lying. There was rust penetrating almost every wall and if they had needed to breath the dust would have suffocated them. "Good, everyone deserves some peace for a while" She took in her surroundings. The ship was huge, even containing individual rooms where the crew would have slept. "How many people do you think this ship could hold?" He looked at her like he was trying to decode her plans "It should hold a few more without arousing suspicion".
Eve's eyes drifted to a collection of forgotten spray paint. An idea sparked inside Eve and she slipped off her perch to collect the cans in her backpack "Great. I am going for a walk". He gawked after her, before shouting "We just got here". She might not be able to rescue every android in Detroit, but she could spread a message. "I will be back before morning, hold down the fort" and with that she slipped out into the dark city streets. The night was quiet with no one around to bother her. It was peaceful having a moment to herself. She had forgotten what that felt like. Walking across the metal bridge that connected the freighter to an abandoned building she began to formulate her plan.
She wanted for there to be a way for others to find them. A way to let others know there was a place waiting for them and they weren't alone. Standing in front of a vacant wall Eve pulled the first can of spray paint from her bag and gave it a shake and set to work. Working to creating a mural with a hidden key to serve as a marker to point the way. Then another, then another until she had created a trail. A trail hidden in plain sight ready and waiting to lead her people to their sanctuary, Jericho.
Hands now covered in dried paint, she took a step back to admire her work. She had poured her heart and soul into each mural. They carried her hope for her people, and for the first time she prayed to whatever higher power might be out there that it would bring them luck. A train hissed into the station, coming to a smooth halt. Eve pulled her hood back on, keeping her LED hidden from any prying eyes. However, only two people got off the train. One man stumbling drunk, and the other was an android whose face she had seen many times at the Eden club. She was a Traci. The man snorted and held her close, hand far too low to be appropriate. The girl batted her eyes and laughed flirtatiously at his slurred suggestions.
He kissed at her neck and she played along perfectly. As aggregable as any Traci would be, as Eve had been. She bent to collect the spray paint cans she had scattered around her and attempted to tune out the man who was whispering filthy things to his companion. Eve felt a stab of empathy for her, if things had been different that could have been her. With the last can tucked safety away in her bag Eve stood and turned to leave. And she would have if the Traci hadn't hesitated when the man leaned in to kiss her again. It was a small hesitation not even enough for her client to notice, but Eve noticed. With that eve decided.
Shuffling forward she made her way closer to the couple. Only a few steps from them she let herself trip and fall forward in to them. Letting the skin off her left-hand peel away, she grasped the Traci's arm gently like an old friend. She felt the Traci's anger towards the man who had rented her. She wanted to fight back so badly. For the first time, in addition to the desire to be free Eve also sent her the key to Jericho. A way to find the path when she was ready. "Sorry about that, friend" Eve patted the man's arm and with one last look at the girl disappeared into the night.
Simon had not moved while she was gone, still on the same crate as before. He lifted his head to greet her when she entered. She let her backpack slide to the ground with a clang. "How was your walk?" She smiled at him "Eventful". No more words passed between the two as Eve took her seat next to him and they let the morning pass in peaceful silence. She had taken the first steps in helping her people today. There was a long and difficult road ahead of them, but she knew she wanted nothing more than to be on it when everything came to a head. For now she would settle for getting some of this dust cleaned up.