"I'm just saying, why wait, you know?" Phoebe explained while chewing on pizza. "Aren't we on a time crunch?"

"Aren't you tired?" Lloyd retorted, drinking soda from a glass. "I've been shot at twice today, and that was enough."

"One of those events wasn't even real, you didn't even flinch." She reminded him.

"It still happened. And it made you flinch." He clapped back.

She rolled her eyes. "Enough drivel. I want the locator chip deactivated sooner rather than later, and nighttime is the best time to ask my friends for help. Plus, I want to see the purifier in action."

Lloyd grabbed another slice. They had the news on in the background, waiting to see if any casualties would be reported.

"What makes nighttime so special? Not only do the automatons have night vision, they can make their face sockets glow like headlights.." Lloyd remembered walking up to one in the hallway after hours. He stared at his cup.

"I might need a stronger drink than this." He murmured.

"Because of the parties, you old docent. That's where the so called rebels and revolutionaries hang out, planning their attack."

That got Lloyd's full attention.
"Attack on who? On what?" He demanded.

"I only went to two of them, I was scared. I didn't even think they stood a chance at first, that's why I agreed to join digital. But now I don't have a choice."

Lloyd watched her set down her box of pizza. She grabbed the blanket he gave her and pulled it over her head. He rose to his feet and picked up the gun Frederick gave him.

"Let's go then." Lloyd said solemnly. "But we're going to be careful. If another automaton sees us together, we'll never know peace again."

"How much peace have we had recently anyways?" She asked with a small smile, lowering the blanket.

"We have to use your phone again, I left mines at home."

"Good, we can't have them realizing you're still alive anyways."

The car came quickly and they got in their previous positions, her laying down in the back, him up front. Lloyd couldn't help but staring at the bright white light in the distance, casting a strange shadow against the mustard yellow clouds.

Those machines aren't enough. It's already too late.

Lloyd closed his eyes and thought about the first time he was able to see Earth's orbital ring. An oddly pretty sight, especially at sunset. Earth had existed for billions of years, and humanity, which existed for less than a percent of that, had created enough garbage to give it a planetary ring. Now, even further than that, we may have caused enough damage to end life on this planet for good. The car slowed to a stop, and the jingle signaling they had arrived began to play.

"Lloyd? Are you ready? It's this way." said Phoebe.

Lloyd looked at the abandoned warehouse with confusion. The windows were covered and painted over with graffiti. A couple men were outside, some carrying random weapons like big metal pipes, some with swords that almost certainly weren't sharp, others with chairs and blankets. A few of them wore masks while others seemed unfazed by the pollution. Then one began to speak and started coughing. He wasn't as unfazed as Lloyd first thought.

They walked up to the men, who all looked at Lloyd curiously, given his work clothes.

"You a doctor or something?" One asked.

"Pharmacist." Phoebe spoke before he could even think of a lie. "He got tired of watching machines do all the work, so he quit."

"Welcome to the party then." said one who's mask was spray painted red. He held out his hand and Lloyd shook it.

Can he see out of that? Lloyd wondered.

"I was a mechanic, so I lost my job way, way back. I met one of the guys that designed the auto cab though. Knocked out most of his teeth!"

The other guys all laughed and started sharing which jobs they lost, and who they took their anger out on. Phoebe, who was now holding Lloyd's hand, decided to cut to the point.

"This a fun convo, but I'm looking for Bean. Is she here tonight?"

"Just brought two girls in an hour ago, she's probably giving them the tour." said an older guy without a mask. His voice was harsh and raspy, he had to clear his throat twice.

"Got it. Thank you." Phoebe led Lloyd away from the security, who continued their conversation in their absence. They went along the side of the building, reaching a big garage door and a normal black door next to it.

"They're just waiting for an automaton to show up. Recently they've been clearing out warehouses all over town, ruining these parties. Here's the door."

She knocked twice. Lloyd expected a secret signal or something, but the door opened up and music began blaring so loud he could feel his chest vibrate. The guy that opened it did not wear a mask, but appeared to be holding his breath, frantically motioning for them to come in.

They entered and were bathed in blue light, which then switched to red, and then to green. There was a kaleidoscope of colors from smaller lights bouncing all over the building and the warehouse opened up into a wide area chock full of people, with chairs and tables posted up on both sides. Big mechanical robot arms were at each table, accompanied by one or two people controlling them with their phones. Lloyd watched as a girl told one guy what she wanted, and then the robot poured the drink with her. There were even mobile purifying machines, weaving in and out of the crowd trying to clear the toxic air.

"The guys outside sounded like they hated machines!" Lloyd yelled over the deafening music.

"They do, but not everyone!" She shouted back. "These were stolen and repurposed, but they have some people here making their own!"

Lloyd pulled away from Phoebe's grasp, feeling overwhelmed by all the commotion.

"Let's get you a drink. HEY TONY!" She shouted at a guy by the table. He was wearing a button down black shirt, but the top three buttons were open, partially showing a chest tattoo of a name. He had a small black box in his back pocket, and wires from it connected to both his phone and the machine. The robot was on a pedestal, with a pyramid base and human looking arm covered in pink paint and names in a variety of colors. He raised his right hand and waved, the robot mimicking his movements.

"He's a smart guy, check this out." She walked over to him and gave the robot hand a high five. Lloyd didn't notice at first because of all the paint, but the robot arm was a black metal machine.

"Where did you get this?" Lloyd asked him.

Tony looked confused. "WHAT?!"

"THE ROBOT!" Lloyd tried to fight the decibel levels. "WHERE DID YOU GET IT?!"

"OHHH. You're out of luck, we picked that place clean!" Tony screamed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two plastic little packages.

"You might want these!" Handing them the earbuds.

Lloyd quickly put them in to save his damaged ear drums.

"You know where we can find Bean?" She asked, leaning in so she didn't have time scream. Tony surveyed the room, then pointed to an area with a partition where a woman was talking to girls sitting down, looking as overstimulated as Lloyd was.

Phoebe tried to drag Lloyd with her as she ran towards Bean but he was too heavy, so she gave up and kept running. Lloyd swiftly jogged behind her, not wanting to be left alone in a sea of strangers. Once they got past the crowd the warehouse seemed even bigger, other doorways leading to different areas.

"BEAN! BEAN!! BEAN!!!" Phoebe chanted. The lady turned around with a smile that dropped to shock as she saw Lloyd's face.

Bethany?!!

She turned and ran past the partition, leaving the girls with curious looks. Phoebe looked back at Lloyd pointedly.

"I should've made you change clothes, you spooked her."

"Bethany is your friend?! Why the fuck are you calling her Bean?" Lloyd demanded.

She works at a transfer facility, she doesn't want anyone giving up info to them about her." Phoebe explained.

"I know where she works at! I-, we gotta get to her, now."
They ran past the partition, only for a big guy to stop Lloyd in his tracks. The only thing behind it was a line for a tattoo table, and a stairway.

"Woah, you can't skip in line big dawg."

"We're trying to follow Beth-Bean, she just ran away and-"

"If she's running from you she probably got a good reason." The man cracked his knuckles.
"I suggest you start running from me."

Quicker than Lloyd could react, again, Phoebe kicked the man in his privates and pushed him over, causing the whole tattoo line to cheer and push each other, fighting to be next.

"There's no hierarchy here, you don't owe that asshole an explanation, Let's go!" Phoebe grabbed him and this time he kept up the pace, following her up the steps.

You're more... Intense than I expected. Lloyd thought to himself.

As they reached the top, the music began to fade. Lloyd pulled out his ear plugs and held Phoebe back before she opened the door.

"Wait, what if she tries to shoot us?" He asked her.

She looked at her wrist and giggled. It's not midnight yet. You really think that would three times in one day?"

"I'm serious."

"I am too. Bean isn't like that, I promise. I think I know her more than you do."

Lloyd hesitated, but let her hand go.
"I bet you do."

They put their masks on pushed the door open together. Walking out onto the roof, they saw Bethany standing near the edge.

"Slow down, wait! I'm not here to hurt you!" Lloyd blurted out, holding up his hands.

Bethany's face was now hidden, and Lloyd could not read her movements.

"Lloyd... I'm sorry. Please, don't hate me. I did what I thought was right. I had to." She said through the mask. She sounded like she was on the verge of crying.

"I don't care about this, I'm not going to tell on you, it's just a party. A very loud, very obnoxious party. Maybe Pete was right, maybe I am getting a little old."

He hoped the wry joke at his own expense would lighten her mood, but she didn't not step away from the edge. Bethany turned to look at the purifier in the distance, slowly beginning to move. Phoebe grabbed his wrist and walked towards her slowly.

"We wanted to ask for your help. You said you'd help me when I needed it right? I need it now more than ever." Phoebe sat down on a crate left on the roof, and Lloyd grabbed two more stacked in a corner.

"Can we talk?" Lloyd asked her. "Away from the edge, I mean."

She looked down below at a trampoline they weren't aware of, and a couple guys on guard duty. One looked up at her and gave her two thumbs up, but she stuck out her thumb horizontally, signalling him to wait.

"Just promise you won't hurt me." She replied quietly, taking a crate from him.

"Why would I do that? How many evil people have you run into?" Lloyd asked her.

SWOOOOOSH!

They all felt a huge gust of wind nearly knocked them off their crates as the purifier gathered up toxic air. They turned to see the machine, whirring like crazy as it stirred.

BOOM!

Like last time, the purifier punched a hole in the toxic cloud, creating a temporary black hole piercing into the perpetually hidden night sky.
Bethany took off her mask to enjoy the brief period of less toxic air. She looked at Lloyd, her eyes tinged with guilt.

"Lloyd... I lowered the dose in the brownies. I'm the reason Phoebe woke up."