Not for the first time, Cole found himself prowling the streets, searching for New Jericho's lost lamb. The only good thing about the damage Ralph sustained was that the scar on his face made him easily recognizable, even to humans. Ergo, it wasn't too hard to follow the trail of pedestrians that could point the elder in the right direction. But when he found the damaged android, there was no time for a careful approach. Before them was a busy highway, and Ralph seemed determined to cross despite the oncoming traffic. Cole sprung to action, grabbing Ralph by the collar of his shirt and yanking him back just as a semi blared past. However lifesaving the action was, it also resulted in a handheld shovel colliding with his face as Ralph flailed in surprise. Cole had no choice but to let go, his hand reflexively coming back to cover a glossy white cheek.

"Cole should not sneak up on Ralph!!" He exclaims with equal frustration. "Ralph does not like it!" Of course, he didn't know it wasn't intentional. Considering how he came to be damaged, it was not too difficult to get a sort of PTSD response out of him. He didn't like anyone touching him when he couldn't see it coming, not that he really like to be touched by most anyone anyway. Cole was lucky Ralph had not done worse.

I promise I don't bite. Neither do my muses..... Okay... Ralph might.... But that's a different story.

"You are running low on power. You may borrow some of mine," Alma said, without addressing Odi's comment. The truth was, no, he hadn't slept well. His dream had left him feeling a bit shaken. But he didn't want to let Odi know that. It would only worry the android.

Trying to push the topic would only expend more energy than they both should.

He carefully took the other end of the cord, plugging it into his own port. He movements were a bit slow, and not quite as smooth as they were when his battery was more full.

As Odi told him he would alert him of any danger and to use him to rest on, Alma gave him an apologetic sort of look. He felt bad that Odi had to be in this sort of position at all. It was inconvenient for him at best. But he was still being so good about it. "Thank you, Odi," Alma said softly, before resting his head against the android.

He watched the entrance with Odi for a few minutes, listening for any sort of disturbances. But nothing made a sound, and no one came into view. So, finally, Alma closed his eyes and entered rest mode.

A white hallway stretched on endlessly before Alma. He walked down the sterile corridor, footsteps echoing lightly as he came upon a door that had branches twisted around it's frame, creeping in through the cracks. The greenery was a stark contrast to the stark white of the rest of his surroundings.

Opening the door, Alma wasn't sure what to expect on the other side. There was a wooded area beyond the door, but what sat in the middle of the forest clearing made Alma scream. Odi's body, dripping blue blood and bent out of it's natural shape, lay on the ground lifeless.

"You did not sleep well." Odi frowned. Of course, he was not surprised. Stressful situations did tend to bring out the worst in humans' sleep. Alma was not so different in that regard.

It was times like this he wished he could easily integrate with the other, to perhaps assist with said dreams, but he knew he could not. At least not in this setting.

The older android was careful not to move too much, knowing full well he had to conserve his energy. Though, he wished he could be of more comfort to the other. If he kept on this course, he would likely make back to the lab, just in time.

Although he always tried to encourage George in embracing that burgeoning individuality all the further, he remained aware that pushing too hard was liable to provide the opposite effect. Anyway, if it was only ever done to accommodate him, then didn’t that defeat the purpose? It was the sort of line John had never walked before, one that he was still figuring out.

Today, however, was all about new experiences. Although he was consistently on-call ( which stood for ‘ expected to immediately drop whatever he was doing in his spare time should he be called back to the Bureau ’ ), he intended for George to see and do as much as possible of what had been perceived as off-limits prior.

He was considering this, his thoughts already stretching beyond the confines of the field office, when his companion’s voice broke through such reverie. Suddenly drawn back to the present, John’s lips were quick to curve into a subtle grin at the sight of George’s own smile. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen Manning too pleased about much, but I think he’ll approve.”

"I believe I am ready to go, if all is in order." He was honestly surprised Manning's mind had not changed about letting him out and about. He was fairly certain it must have taken a lot of convincing on John's part to get him to agree in the first place.