Takigawa breathed again as the order was shouted out. They were told to stand down. The president had ordered a complete withdrawal, and the closure of the recycling plants. Takigawa didn't wait for further orders before he threw himself over the sandbag barrier and ran to John and Lin. They hadn't moved since Lin had slumped to his knees. They were like statues. Undisturbed by anything. Even the breeze had died. He threw himself to his knees beside them and shook Lin's shoulder worriedly.

"Hey, Lin...Lin!" he called as he shook, but Lin remained as he was with his mismatched eyes vacant. He was clearly in some sort of standby mode, and Lin had no idea if he could pull him out of it. It wasn't like he had an on switch. Takigawa was hesitant as he reached out to feel for John's pulse. It was weak, but at least it was still there. He's not going to make it if we don't get help now! "Hey! We need medics over here!" he yelled as he looked back towards the human lines, hearing a distant yell of agreement. Took you long enough! He returned his attention to Lin, balking as he noticed the gaping blue hole in his chest. He cursed as he noticed the small light held loosely in John's hands. The core was still active. That meant he must still have time. He was hesitant as he took the glowing light and slotted it back into Lin's chest. He wasn't sure if he'd be alerted, but he didn't jerk awake or anything. Was I too late?

He winced as the sound of a helicopter filled his ears with a deafening thrum, ducking down as the wind kicked up. What the hell are they landing here for? He could barely see through the bright lights on the thing. It was a wonder the noise wasn't enough to bring Lin out of stasis. Takigawa leaned down over them, protecting John as much as possible as the wind picked up and dirt was sent up in clouds. It stung his neck and face a little where his armour wasn't covering him. The breeze died down slightly once the helicopter landed, but it remained ready to take off. Steps sounded as a group of medics rushed towards them. He felt a little disoriented as he sat up, still squinting through the lights.

"We'll take it from here!" a feminine voice yelled loudly above the noise. He could barely make out an RT600 android in a pink dress and white cardigan. The objection died on his lips as she stepped aside to let the medical androids come in with stretchers and med kits. He didn't know who they were, but they were John's best chance at this point. Takigawa accepted the RT600's strong hand as she offered to help him up. He rested a gloved hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

"Please, take good care of them!" The RT600 nodded her agreement with a warm smile before allowing Takigawa to step away. He watched as the medics leapt into action. It didn't look good. They were calling for blood already, with two androids pressing down on two separate wounds. Another medic was tending to Lin. He had no idea what he was doing, but whatever it was, it didn't wake him up. The android lifted Lin over his shoulder and carried him to the helicopter like he weighed nothing. Getting John ready took a little longer. They needed to put temporary bindings over his wounds while they moved him, but each loss of pressure was letting him bleed out more.

"Do you know them?" the RT600 asked curiously, her crystal blue eyes scanning him to read his rising stress. He gave her a tight, worried smile as he nodded stiffly. The medics finally had John bound enough to rush him to the helicopter. More yells went up for oxygen and a defibrillator to be readied. Takigawa hoped the latter was just a precaution.

"I've known him since he opened his shop...It was an android repair shop. He loves androids, especially old ones...He's a good kid. He shouldn't have been caught up in this," Takigawa replied stiffly as he watched the medics hurry to the open doors. A lot of shouting was going on as they handed the stretcher up. They were preparing emergency measures and readying supplies, should the worst happen in the air. The RT600 needed to follow so she didn't hold them up. "Don't let him die!"

"We'll do our best, Detective Takigawa...Excuse me," the RT600 replied with a nod before she hurried over to climb up. Takigawa tore his gaze away from the helicopter as the rotors started spinning faster. There was nothing more he could do for John and Lin. His next priority was somewhere behind the android barricade. Rather than returning to the human side, he tossed his helmet down and jumped up onto the taxi. Orders be damned. They were standing down. Two of his friends had been hurt, and he needed to check on the others.

"Ayako? Charlie?" he shouted, hazel eyes scanning the joyous crowd eagerly. A few androids were nervous around his large form as he stood over them, obviously. He was wearing a SWAT uniform, and had a gun slung over his back. He didn't care about that for now. He shouted again, hoping they'd see or hear him. It didn't take long. A tall, dark-skinned figure paced through the crowd, excusing himself as he passed between groups and couples. Takigawa couldn't help giving a wolfish grin as he jumped down and dodged between androids, who staggered back fearfully.

"Charlie!" he cried in relief, not hesitating to latch onto his partner. He was surprised as his partner returned the gesture. He was even more surprised to hear the genuine laughter of relief he let out as he squeezed. He'd never heard Charlie laugh like that before. The only times he'd laughed before were the times there'd been a clear social clue, and it had always sounded forced. This laugh was genuine. It was the happiest sound he'd ever heard. Takigawa drew back to look him over. He could see the life in his dark eyes as he held him at arm's length.

"Takigawa! I wasn't sure I'd be seeing you again!" Charlie laughed, his tone clearly laced with relief. Takigawa looked him up and down. He was still wearing his suit, though it was a little dirty and stained with blue. There were a few scuffs and tears in the material, but he didn't think he'd been shot. That was a relief. It's one of the things he'd worried about most. He knew a few androids had been his during the first barrage earlier. Charlie's eyes were the most startling difference. They were bright. The deep chocolate glittered with unshed tears of joy and relief. Deviant looks damned good on you.

"Of course you were going to see me again! We have work on Monday!" Takigawa joked above the sound of the circling helicopters, bringing Charlie in for another hug before drawing back to ask him about Ayako. He didn't even get to ask. Her voice cried out from the crowd, and both Takigawa and Charlie turned to look for her. She forced her way through the milling androids and barrelled into his arms. Takigawa sighed in relief as he held her, running his fingers through her tangled hair.

"I thought we were dead for sure!" She sighed in relief, closing her hazel eyes as Takigawa rocked her in his arms. He nodded his agreement. He felt sick at how differently things could have gone. He wasn't sure he would have been able to follow orders to execute the protestors. He'd been carefully weighing up the risk of turning his gun on his own men. It would have been to incapacitate rather than kill, but that wouldn't have mattered in the end when it came to the legal ramifications.

"I'm so glad you're both safe," Takigawa sighed into her hair, closing his eyes as he rocked her back and forth. He didn't fight it as Ayako rose on her toes and captured his lips in a demanding kiss. He held her face and leaned over her smaller body. His eyes closed as he enjoyed their shared closeness and relief. Things could have ended far differently. Maybe they would have, if not for John. Something had swayed the nation. He didn't know what was going on in Detroit, but a human willing to die for androids must have played a small part somewhere.

"So, it's over? It's really over?" Ayako checked warily as she drew back and looked up hopefully. Takigawa smiled uncertainly as he looked back over to the human side. There was a flurry of activity behind their lines, men rushing back and forth delivering orders. A few were pointing over to the android side as they spoke. None of them had their weapons raised. Drones were swooping in low over the barricades to capture the latest images of relief and celebration. Takigawa kept Ayako close as a drone circled them almost curiously before it flew off over the crowd.

"I'm not sure, but we were told to stand down," he replied, keeping his hands resting on Ayako's waist. Things were getting chaotic within the small barricade as androids came together, whooping and yelling. They were celebrating, so Takigawa could only guess they knew something he didn't. Charlie's LED span yellow as he looked into the excited crowd. He rested his hands behind his back in his usual idling pose before turning to Takigawa as always. "You got a report for me?" Takigawa asked with a smirk. Charlie had always stood like that to report.

"There is news from Detroit. Human forces are in full withdrawal. The president has declared peace. Deviant androids are to be fully recognised as living beings. There is still much to do on the legal side, but the fighting is over for now," Charlie reported with an elated smile. Takigawa shared a relieved look with Ayako before tucking her against his chest again. He stayed like that awhile, but he knew it couldn't last. He was still on duty, and although he was relieved, this wasn't really his celebration. He pressed a kiss into Ayako's hair before he drew back to look down at her.

"I should get back...see what's going on my side. Are you...I mean, before all this you were, but I guess now you...Will you be home later?" he settled on at last, hoping that he didn't sound too pathetic as he asked. Ayako smiled and nodded as she looked up. He tried not to look too happy as he drew back and left a final peck on her lips. "Great, I guess I'll...see you there," he added before returning to the taxi and hopping back into the wasteland. He couldn't help pausing beside the small pool of red on the way back. He really hoped John would make it. He deserved his happy ending, too.