Lin took a breath as he looked over the makeshift wall they'd created. They'd pushed a couple of cars together, and filled in the rest with any scrap wood, barrels, and sandbags they could scavenge from the surrounding SWAT defences. They'd even managed to drag over a couple of industrial sized bins from the quiet streets behind. They'd been allowed quite close to the camp. Less distance to carry our corpses if they open fire...he thought warily, knowing the soldiers were eager to do so. They were only hesitating due to the media presence. It seemed John, or someone else, had tipped them off. One of the deviants who'd joined them at the protest had a small pad connected to the internet. There were two live feeds. The major news networks were focused on Detroit, and the local news was running their story.

The protest in Detroit had started in a similar manner to their own. They had more androids, likely over a hundred. They'd marched down the street and paused peacefully, showing they were peaceful and unarmed. Their leader, Markus, had been the one to step forward and plead their case to the SWAT teams huddled behind their barricades. The response had been a threat, and a demand that they give themselves up. The group had decided to sit in a demonstration of peace and a show of defiance. The humans had opened fire at first, shooting down a few of their members before they could huddle behind their own makeshift barricades. Much like Lin's group, they'd dragged over cars, barrels, and anything else they could reach.

Right now, the pad showed their own group. A camera from one of the helicopters circling above had caught a closeup of the camp. A few of their members had been hit by pot-shots earlier, but the SWAT teams had been told to hold off for now. It seemed they were waiting for orders, or perhaps they wanted to see what happened in Detroit before they made their move here. Markus' group also remained in a standoff. A member of the FBI had tried to talk to Markus a few minutes ago, but he'd outright refused a private meeting. He stood with his people. For freedom. Peaceful freedom.

Lin didn't have time to worry about Detroit or stand around watching the small pad. There was work to be done. Injured androids to be seen to. They'd only suffered a few pot-shots earlier, but those who'd been hit needed help. They'd been lucky the bullets missed anything major. His first patient was an AP500, who sat clutching her leaking shoulder. She was still wearing her white service uniform, which contrasted with her dark skin. It also clearly showed the blue spreading from the open wound. Lin crouched, already opening John's service kit. The AP500 leaned back and removed her hand from the wound as Lin unzipped her jumpsuit and tugged it down over the injured shoulder. It was a fairly clean hit. The bullet hadn't torn through to the other side. It was embedded a few inches within the socket.

"You'll be fine," Lin assured he pressed in a set of tweezers in to remove the bullet. It was a little trickier than expected with the slick thirium making the small metal tongs slip and slide on the warped casing. He finally got it free and tossed it on the ground. It hadn't damaged anything major, though the joint wouldn't be as strong as before until she could get proper maintenance. Lin used some rubbery sealant to fill the wound as a temporary measure. She'd be fine. For now. He'd stopped the leak, and her skin patched the hole until it could be mended properly. Lin looked up as he heard a new commotion. There were scattered camera flashes lighting the area to his left, where reporters were kept behind a police line. There was an inhuman roar and loud shuffling steps. Human voices shouted and screamed in alarm.

"It's a polar bear!" a voice from their camp exclaimed in disbelief. Lin looked across the small camp to see the huge white animal careening towards their barricade. What on Earth? Lin zoomed in a little more to see a small blonde figure gripping the bear's fur and keeping low on its back. The bear was definitely an android. Polar bears had been extinct for some years, and zoo animals were new models. He didn't even realise Cyberlife had released them yet. But why is it here? he wondered in bewilderment. He didn't have time to dwell on it, as another android called for him to help. He ignored the small crowd gathering at the edge of their shelter, so he didn't see the blonde figure hop down at the edge of the barricade. The bear roared and fled back into the streets at full speed. Police raised their weapons, but were hesitant to fire on an animal. Instead, they ran and dodged out of the way as the polar bear loped by.

"Will you let me inside? I need to see Lin!" John said hurriedly as he crouched outside the barricade, barely out of sight of the human soldiers. He was lucky that they were so distracted and confused by the bear running off in the distance. The small group of androids looked at him as if he'd gone mad. Why was he asking permission to enter? To them, he was an android. The yellow LED on his temple flashed nervously as he waited. John breathed a sigh of relief as a hand reached out to help him over. There was one problem as he straightened up though. He'd come face to face with one of the RG600s. It was the one he'd repaired at the shop. He was sure of it. He looked positively alarmed as he recognised John.

"You! What are you doing here? I thought Lin sent you away! And what the hell are you wearing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" the RG600 demanded as he gripped John's shoulders and pushed him into a quiet corner of the barricade. He pressed him right against the wooden pallets they were using as a wall. John took a breath as he pulled a holographic pole from his jacket and slid it open. It was made to display a flag once it was activated, something their little fort was missing at the moment. He also had two holo-message display guns, which he handed to the RG600.

"I came to help...I've programmed a message for the media. You have to display it! Getting the media onside is the only way we can get through this...I have a plan," John assured with a small smile, though he didn't let slip what that plan was. If Lin found out, he'd kill him. There's a chance I'll be killed anyway...John thought nervously as he eyed the looming recycling plant with a shiver. One thing was certain; it had to be him. He'd even changed his identification chip so that any androids scanning his face, and any newscasters doing the same, would know who he was. Johnathan Edwin Wishart, son of Cyberlife's CEO, was siding with the deviants.

"What plan? I don't like this!" the RG600 sighed in despair as he accepted the laser guns that were pressed against his chest. He didn't trust humans at the best of times, and something about John's plan was setting him on edge. He could tell that John was afraid. John gave him a weak smile, his skin paling a little more as he took in the towering factory again. Whatever he had planned, it was surely dangerous. He was shaking like a leaf, despite trying to seem put together. It could partly have been the cold, but given the situation, fear seemed more likely.

"Please! Find a friend, point the message that way, and shoot!" John pleaded quickly as he pointed towards the media line. The RG600 sighed warily as he looked at the guns. He'd used them before, so it wasn't a problem, but he didn't like the way John was acting. He was a little too guarded. A little too urgent. "If all goes well, this should be over soon," John assured as he looked around for Lin. He bit his lip as he found him tending to a PC200, mainly reassuring him because he was so scared. He was still wearing his police uniform. He must have deviated just before the decommission order went out. John wanted to call out to Lin desperately, but his lips were suddenly sealed shut. He made a small sound in his throat as he locked his eyes on Lin. His feet carried him through the crowd before he could think.

"You'll be fine. We're in this together, alright?" Lin assured gently as he gripped the PC200's shoulder. The PC200 seemed a little calmer, his LED shifting from red to yellow at the assurance. He nodded his agreement and touched Lin's hand in acceptance and thanks. Lin sighed as he pushed himself to his feet, looking over his shoulder as he picked out a set of familiar footsteps. Uneven, shuffling, human footsteps. His thirium pump pounded in his chest as he turned his head in disbelief. "No...No-no-no-no-no! What are you doing here? You can't...You-can't-be-" he stammered, barely registering the impact as John barrelled into his chest and gripped him in a tight embrace. He looked down as he felt John look up with tears in his bright blue eyes. John pulled him down by the lapels of his borrowed black coat, kissing his lips as if he'd been starved. Lin couldn't help returning the kiss, moulding their lips as he cupped John's warm face in his cold hands.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry...I know I said...I wouldn't come, but...I had to see you...I had to be here...There's something I have to do...something only I can do," John said breathlessly between kisses. His whole body warmed as Lin held him tight. He gripped his biceps hard, holding him back a little. Both of them were breathless. Lin shook his head, his own eyes tearing up. He didn't want John to be there. It was the worst thing he could imagine at that moment. If he were human, he'd think this was a nightmare, but as an android, he knew it wasn't. John was really there. Standing in front of him. In the middle of a potential battleground. A stray bullet could hit him at any time. He had to get him somewhere safe. He had to get him out of there.

"John, please...You don't know how dangerous it is! Why did you come here?" Lin demanded, unable to hold back from shaking him. He was tempted to rip the fake LED from his temple. The LED flashed red, as if it were actually connected to him, but it wasn't. It was subtle, but Lin could see the delicate wire connected to something behind John's ear. John reached out, his palm facing Lin. Despite his hurt and anger, Lin couldn't refuse his human. He extended his hand, his skin automatically drawing back. John linked their fingers and squeezed, his blue eyes closing almost peacefully. Lin couldn't help squeezing back, feeling John's pulse and the blood rushing through his veins. He's so delicate...so fragile...

"Because I love you," John replied with a serene smile, standing on tiptoe expectantly. Lin felt his own chest warm as he leaned down and accepted the kiss. John leaned into it, demanding more. He pushed all of his love and desire into that moment as he pressed closer. Lin returned it, a small moan escaping his throat as John's tongue demanded entry. It was strange for John to take charge, but Lin allowed it. His free hand cupped John's cheek and tilted his head for a better angle. John's cheeks were flushed as they parted breathlessly. "Sorry," John murmured, dropping his eyes as he took off through the crowd at a sprint.

"John-no!" Lin shouted, too surprised to stop him as he passed by. He was running forward, straight towards the front wall of the barricade. "No! Don't!" Lin cried in horror as John raced towards the end. He was too far behind to stop him, but he was still following as fast as he could. His feet pounded the tarmac as he dodged between androids, or jumped over them entirely. John activated the holo-flag as he approached the jumbled wall. He used a barrel as a step and easily jumped onto the roof of one of the taxis being used as a shield. He didn't stop or hesitate as he took the sharp metal pole and drove it through the front window of the car. He knew his limited human strength wouldn't get it through the metal roof, so the window was the next best thing. The flag was made of pure blue light, displaying the shining blue triangle of Cyberlife with a raised fist in the centre. The chosen emblem of the androids.

John was shaking as he stood vulnerably on the taxi's roof, staring across at a line of black armoured humans. Everything seemed to stop for a moment as everyone, human and android alike, stared at him. His heart pounded as the humans ducked down behind their own stronger barriers and aimed their rifles cautiously. The people behind the media line were pointing cameras his way as the reporters got into place. I've made it this far...John was unwilling to lose confidence now. He had to speak. To his left, he could see the RG600 had done as he'd asked. The bright blue text was standing proud, facing the media. John swallowed, almost deafened by the sound of helicopters and drones as they whirred above. Everything else was eerily silent.

"Red or blue, it doesn't matter!" John shouted as loud as he could, surprised by just how far his voice carried despite the roaring motors. He could feel countless eyes upon him, staring at him in shock. He blinked as the cameras flashed.