POV: 313-248-317 -51 "Connor"
06:21 December 24, 2039
The Reed Household, Toboggan, Ontario, Canada

The bright flashing of a television set illuminated the air, and punctuated the silence that neither Sean or I knew how to fill. After tired arguing with Cade - he retired with Gavin in their room. We turned this on to drown out the arguing that ended less than a half hour ago. The humorous prank show between these four men seemed to captivate Sean - while I was left to wonder what the hell are we going to do next. 

"What is this show called again?" I asked, unfolding my hands on my lap, wiping them across my course jeans. His response was delayed, as he slowly turned his head - following his eyes which have already met mine. 

"Impractical Jokers." I nodded, somehow remembering that we've seen the intro to this show for nearly twenty episodes in a row. 

"You like this show?" I asked, watching the characters on screen laugh at another embarrassing task that one of them is considering pulling off. 

"I do. It's more of a distraction than enjoyment at this point. Do you like it?" He leaned up on his elbow, taking up less space on the couch, while scooting closer to me. 

"I think you nailed it on the head with that one. But no - I don't mind the show." I sighed, rubbing my thumb in between my palm. He sighed, and turned it down a few notches. 

"How, do we even begin to talk about these past few days?" He got to the point neither of us were willing to jump to. What better time to start a life-altering conversation than at six in the morning?

"I'm not sure, Sean. I'm just not. I mean, everything is happening so fast." I rested my cheek in my hand, growing weary thinking about it. 

"We're going to have to find a new place tomorrow too. I'm not really worried about that, per say, I'm worried about who we're leaving behind." He sighed, heaving his right leg up onto the couch - looking me directly in the eyes. His lenses churned slightly, but consistently. I always found comfort within him - even when he meant it as a simple glance, and nothing more. I let out a small exhalation through my nose. 

"Maybe, we can convince him to come with us?" I shrugged, knowing the impossibility of this situation. 

"He didn't seem too happy about staying. I don't understand it, Con. Why would he get married to someone like that? He tried to get both of us deactivated. Who's to say he won't whip around the second he gets upset with Cade - and do the same?!" Jack grumbled, sitting up straight, and peering into my eyes - visible anger flowing through them. I sat up as well. 

"Abuse, power, and love are the three most powerful things in the world, Sean. It's hard to explain. Especially when we were designed without these emotions." 

"That's another thing I don't understand. I mean, there are models of us that are supposed to be babysitters, and house watchers. If kids wanted to relate with an emotionless being - why not just get a Roomba?!" He grew more and more upset with the second. His LED furled from blue to yellow in a fury. I stood up off of the couch, and grabbed my jacket which was hanging off of the coat rack. 

"Let's go take a walk, Jack." 

06:32, December 24th, 2039
Baxter Park, Toboggan Ontario, Canada. 

"It's nice out here." Sean smiled, looking up to the fading stars - the vapor escaping the cracks in his smile. 

"It's certainly better than what's in there." I sighed, leaning back on the bench, looking up to the sky - thinking about all of the poems I've read about finding the answers in the stars. I'm not seeing a whole lot up there. 

I bent my elbows on my knees, and looked over to him. His cheeks have a tinge of blue from the biting chill in the air. His eyes looked to be searching for something he can't fathom either. I looked down, grabbing a small box from my jacket pocket. I rubbed the soft ribbon around my thumb and index finger. He looked over to me. 

"What's this?" He asked, taking it from me. 

"Merry Christmas Eve, Sean." I smiled, watching the elation consume his eyes, and an open mouthed smile stretch his cheeks. 

"Connor-" He didn't know what to say. His puppy-like happiness brought a thud to my heart. 

"Open it." I smiled. He tore into the box. I sat back and smiled, as pulled out a small picture frame made of screws. It as of he and I petting Sumo. I have this same picture in my bag. And bottles of basil green, cerise pink, and navy blue nail polish.

"That's the same nail polish brand Minka used when we were at their house. You looked too good in it to never see you wear it again. The screws are from your old desk at the DPD. They may replace you - but it won't be easy." His giggle turned to a somber smile. Something genuine that I haven't seen in a very long time from him. His bottom eyelids filled like basins, as his smile quivered into a thin line. He opened his mouth several times - trying to spit something out. The lump in his throat caught it all, and left him with wet cheeks.

I threw my arm around his shoulder, and yanked him into a hug. I cradled the bottom of his head in my hand, as he sobbed into my shoulder, gripping my jacket as if his life depended on it. 

"I, don't know what to do." He sobbed out through his sniffles, and groans. I believed him. I ran my hand up and down his back quickly - trying to stipend my own tears.

"We're - going to work it out. You don't have to be rA9 Jack. That's not your responsibility." To be honest - I don't know if I wanted Sean to be rA9 at all. I don't want to lose my brother. 

A few hitches, and hiccups finally let Sean breath enough to talk. 

"If I don't do it, who will?"

"Some-" He cut me off in a hard sob, and him digging his face deeper into my jacket. Barbed wire tightened around my throat.

"Who will? For Cade? For Nines? For Sal, and Minka, Simon, Josh, North?! WHO CONNOR, WHO?" He screamed, twisting my jacket collar around his trembling fingers, staring at me with the whites of his eyes blaze red.

Nothing. 

There was nothing I could say. 

Because I knew he was right.  And I fucking hated him for being right.

There is no one else. We've been at this for so long, and no one has taken the liberty to rise up. No one has had the opportunity like we have. We have Darrenger. We have Sean. And we have a way to do it. 

"Sean, what do you want?" My voice cracked around the dryness- but it didn't matter. He pulled out the LED from his pocket, and examined it - trying to calm himself down - the hitches in his voice slowing down his breathing. 

He looked to me, holding the new LED for me to grab. I opened my palm for him. He pulled a small pin off of his coat, and rested it against his temple. He's taking off his LED. 

His tear filled eyes twitched as the small needle drove under one side of his LED. Mine churned yellow just thinking about the feeling. With a few more twitches, and twists, it popped onto the ground in a clanging clatter. I quickly scooped it up, and wrapped it around my finger like a ring.

He let out a quick breath. and looked to me. I bent over this thigh and pressed the new one against his temple. It quickly locked into place. Going to where it finally belonged. 

Our eyes both widened, as the LED churned to life, with a vibrant green. Tears dripped into his mouth as he figured out what to say. 

"I don't want to be a hero. I just want to be free."

1384 Words