The moment the pedestal lowers back into the floor, Austin places the pistol down with a careful, deliberate motion. His hands linger for a second longer than necessary, as if releasing the weapon might mean relinquishing his grip on his own tenuous control.

He glances at Lynne, his mouth half-open, ready to say something-anything-but she's already turned away. Not ready to accept any feeble attempt of an apology. Sam's arm is around Lynne's shoulders, guiding her toward her room. The way Lynne's head tilts, barely held upright, makes Austin feel like a jagged rock has lodged itself in his throat.

"Lynne, I'm..." He starts, his voice faltering, but she doesn't stop.

She doesn't even glance back. Sam, however, does. Her blue eyes are narrowed, the glare so piercing it's almost physical. Already pissed at him for taking the gun, now she intends to make sure he stays away from Lynne.

"You've done enough!" She says icily.

Maddie, who had been hovering by the couch, takes a cautious step forward but halts, unsure if her involvement would help or make things worse. Henry stands off to the side, his face tight with worry.

Sam whispers something to Lynne as they walk towards Lynne's room, leaving Austin standing in the Gathering Zone. He exhales sharply, his shoulders slumping. Maddie finally finds her voice.

"I think she'll be okay," Maddie offers, her words tentative, her tone uncertain.

"Doesn't matter if she's okay," Sam's voice rings out as she returns, her strides brisk, her fury undiminished. She halts a few feet away from Austin, her arms crossed tightly. "You hurt her. You made her cry."

Austin's head jerks up. "You think I wanted to do that? You think I liked it?" His voice rises, defensive.

Maddie stands close to the edge of the couch not wanting to incite anything. Henry feeling the same tries to stay out of it but remains close. Austin trying to defend himself continues to retort back against Sam.

"I hate doing that...to Lynne. I didn't mean it. But..."

"But why?" Sam questions.

"Don't you remember?" Austin taps his temple a couple of times. "We are being held back from our loved ones, who don't know the truth. They don't know that SEED is keeping their children against their will. In their eyes, they're being tricked into thinking we're alright with fake voices of ourselves. But for that rare chance to talk to someone I have missed for a long time, I couldn't ignore that."

Maddie overhears and starts to nod.

"You kept the gun." Sam states, stepping closer. "You pointed it at her. You called her a killer. And for what? A chance to grovel to Serena? To beg forgiveness from a dad who doesn't give a damn about you?"

Austin's face hardens. "You don't know anything about me," he snaps.

Henry shifts uncomfortably, as if caught in the middle of an invisible crossfire. "Guys, let's not..."

Sam ignores him. "I know enough. I know you were willing to throw Lynne under the bus for a sliver of validation from people who left you behind. That makes you selfish. And stupid."

Austin shakes his head, bubbling a sense of fury.

"And that's the problem, we should focus on resisting what Mother and SEED want us to do." She says.

Austin's fists clench at his sides. He takes a step toward her. "At least I have someone out there to fight for! What about you, Sam? Who's missing you?"

"That wasn't fair." Henry berates him.

Austin briefly looks back at Henry and then back to Sam.

The room goes silent. Even Maddie stops breathing for a moment, her hand inching closer to cover her mouth. Sam's lips press into a thin line. Her shoulders square, and she takes a deliberate step closer to Austin, closing the distance between them.

"I appreciate your help Henry, but I got this." She then looks back to Austin. "You're right," she says, her voice low but steady. "There's no one out there for me. But in here? I have Lynne. Henry. Maddie. Even you, if you ever decide to stop being a jackass. That's what I'm fighting for-the people who are still here. Not some fantasy of redemption from people who've already moved on." Sam continues, "We just need to stay together and not let Mother tear us apart."

"Apparently, I don't see it that way." Austin admits shockingly. "We have no control. Mother is in control, she has proven it every time she has spoken. She has finally given at least one of us a shot at talking to a loved one we dearly missed, and I'm not going to waste it for a failed rebellion."

"You know there's a Star Wars reference I want to make but-". Henry tries to say but gets interrupted when Austin and Sam look at him not frankly caring about it. Henry decides to forego the pop culture reference and steps further back.

Sam glances back at Austin, "So you want to talk to a love one at the cost of hurting Lynne."

"Don't make me into the bad guy." Austin retorts, "I had no choice."

"You always have a choice."

"We don't. We never did. Mother and our so-called fans are the ones who decide."

"Not for long." Sam insists.

Maddie adds, "Lynne has been there for us. Being our cook."

"So what?" Austin not bothered despite loving her cooking earlier. "That wasn't by choice, that was by need."

Sam shakes her head, expressing her anger, disappointed. "You should've let me hold onto the gun."

"Why? Why you are so invested in that stupid gun?"

"Because I was going to shoot Mother's camera lens."

"And what will that create?" Austin ponders, "Mother is still part of this house. No doubt SEED won't allow their AI to completely fade away just because of a stupid cracked camera lens."

"At least it was a plan." Sam gets even closer to Austin's face. "Hope your talk to your loved one is worth it."

Austin still feels frustrated and upset. "Listen, I feel really bad for Lynne, but I couldn't. If you were in my shoes. You would understand."

"I understand." Sam mockingly agrees.

"You don't have to pretend to care. I know what I had to do...I know it hurt someone, but I couldn't ignore it."

Sam shakes her head, "Yeah, you had to embarrass Lynne just to try and make amends to someone you obviously cheated on."

"I didn't care about how many homes you had, but I refuse to let you criticize my relationship with who I want to care about." Austin counters. Then, with a frustrated exhale, he drops to the floor and starts doing push-ups, each one sharp and aggressive.

Sam watches him for a second longer before turning on her heel. "I'm checking on Lynne. Maddie, Henry, don't let him blow a fuse while I'm gone."

Maddie nods quickly. Henry looks at Austin, his lips twitching, wanting to say something, instead moves toward the laptop, his safe haven. Yet as Maddie heads over the desk area to grab a book, she turns back to see Austin.

Austin keeps at his push-ups until his arms burn and his breaths come in short, ragged bursts. Finally, he collapses onto the floor, rolling onto his back and staring at the ceiling. "She doesn't get it," he mutters to no one in particular.

"Maybe she does," Maddie ventures quietly, still perched on the arm of the couch.

Austin props himself up on his elbows, giving her a skeptical look.

"She's just... hurt, like the rest of us," Maddie continues, picking at the edge of her book. "We all miss someone. But that doesn't mean..." She hesitates, searching for the right words. "It doesn't mean we should hurt each other over it."

Austin sighs and flops back down. "I didn't mean to. I just... I miss them, you know?"

Maddie nods, her expression softening. "Yeah. I know."

***

Next day as the artificial morning light shines bright, there has only been a simmering of tense silence. This is the first day in many days there is no shared breakfast. Most of the morning and afternoon, the teens remain in their separate corners. Lynne eventually emerges from her room, her eyes red but her head held high. Sam stays close to her side, acting as a shield. Austin tries to apologize again, but Lynne waves him off with a curt shake of her head. The divide between them feels like a chasm.

Austin saunters back towards the couch after briefly taking an apple from the bar counter. Maddie sitting by the couch alongside him while Henry stays firm by the computer desk, both supporting Austin and Lynne. Sam tries to be there for Lynne, who seeks solace in the kitchen trying to prep for the next group meal.

The atmosphere is soon broken by Mother's sudden reappearance. Her voice echoes through the house, cloying and sharp. "Austin, darling, it's time for your reward. Please proceed to the room behind the main screen. And do try to smile for the nation."

The others freeze. Maddie's eyes narrow. "You don't have to go," she tells him firmly.

"Yes, he does," Mother's voice counters smoothly. "And I suggest he doesn't keep me waiting."

Austin glances at Maddie, then at the others. He gulps hard, squaring his shoulders. "I'll be fine," he says, though his voice lacks conviction.

As the hidden door slides open, Austin steps forward. The room inside is dimly lit, the air thick with an artificial chill. A single stool sits in the center, illuminated by a harsh spotlight. He hesitates before sitting, his hands gripping the edge of the stool.

"Well, well," Mother purrs. "Remember, my dear, the nation is watching. They want to see you interact with a loved one. You can't call everyone. You get to choose one. So choose Austin. Serena? Or dear old Dad?"

Austin's jaw tightens. He's thought about this moment for hours, but now that it's here, the decision feels monumental. After a long pause, he answers. "My dad."

"How touching," Mother says, her tone dripping with insincerity. The room fills with the sound of a dial tone, followed by a soft ringing. A holographic screen appears, displaying his father's name, Derek Moore, with a professional headshot-similar hazel eyes with a middle aged face and a salt-and-pepper smooth hairstyle. His father's picturesque pose is like those real estate lawyers being plastered on billboards.

Austin's heart pounds as the ringing continues.

When the voicemail picks up, his heart sinks. His father's voice is cold, clinical, the words practiced and detached.

"This is Derek Moore from Moore, Delacroix, & Fisher Associates. I'm not available to take your call right now, but please leave a message with your name, number, and a brief reason for calling. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

The line goes dead. Austin stares numbed at the empty screen, his throat tight, his hands trembling.

"Well, well," Mother chirps. "That was anticlimactic."

"I...I...need," Austin tries not to choke up, "Can you...can you try again?"

Mother in a graceless act, "Ooh, I'm so sorry, my dear Austin. You only get one call. Too bad it turn into a wasteful one."

Austin doesn't respond. He reacts deadpan, trying to wipe the tears away from his eyes quickly, refusing to let her see him cry. Refusing to give her the satisfaction.