one of the only things that are.

chapter 6.

"aaaannnd, done!!"

katie shows off her masterpiece by waving jazz hands in a presentative manner. it's a tissue box that's been converted to pal's tiny 'bedroom' complete with marker drawings all over it and some cloths that were folded up to use as a pillow and blanket. aaron and katie's hands are both covered in marker, staring at thier artwork with admiration.

"sooo," katie says, placing her hands on her hips, "how do you like it, pal?"

pal is at a loss for words for a moment, at it seems as though she is trying to hide a smile at first but it shows anyway.

"i... i like it. thanks."

"kids!! dinner!!" linda calls out.

"oh, hey! come on pal!!" katie grabs pal as she and her brother speed down the hallway and into the kitchen. when they sit at the table, katie props pal up with the napkin holder.

"uh, katie," rick mutters, "did you... have to bring the phone?"

"dad," katie huffs, crossing her arms. rick sighs, giving in.

"no no, you're right. my, uh... my bad."

katie gives pal a quick thumbs up as linda starts setting plates of food on the table.

the first few minutes of dinnertime are a little quiet; if the mitchell family keeps adding new members to thier family, they're going to need a bigger table. just the original four of them had taken up most space, but now there were two pal max bots sitting as well, not even actually eating, they just sit there to conversate- as pal now also does while propped up against the napkin holder.

"oh!!" katie shouts suddenly, lightly hitting her palms against the surface of the table. "my movie!! guys, do you wanna watch while we finish eating?? i think this is the best film i've made yet!!"

aaron nods vigorously. "yes!! go get your computer!!"

"honey," linda calls as katie rises from her seat, "just be careful that you don't get any- she's gone."

katie races back seconds later with her laptop. "okay guys," she announces as she opens it up, "this is the movie i've been working on that tells our story. 'the weirdos who saved the world: the MITCHELLS vs the MACHINES!!'"

"ooh, i like the name!!"

katie hits play on her video, and watches as her family pays close attention to the screen.

...

pal watches the movie with piqued interest. it starts out about as simple as she'd expect; detailing the whole 'going to college' bit and highlighting katie's rift with her father. she admittedly doesn't pay much attention until her reveal- but she notices right off the bat that something is different.

katie seems to skim over the pal announcement- the night that started it all. she's only got parts- it makes sense, given that katie had not attended the meeting due to being a few states away. but the only real highlight of the pl20 announcement in this movie is the pal max bots taking over. no context of why pal had done what she did.

she can almost feel a little guilty as the movie continues. the realization strikes that, at the time, very few people had likely had context of pal's motives for the eradication of humans. they were just... locked up and flown away.

pal glances at katie. what if she had understood back then... that maybe not all humans are like mark? would she have done things differently? she can't be too sure, at least not yet.

...

katie beams as her family claps, closing the laptop sheepishly.

"thanks, guys... i take it you liked it?"

"yes!!! it was amaaazziiiing," aaron shouts.

"you have created a very adequate film, doodle girl," eric says.

rick smiles softly. "that was... really great, kiddo."

"thanks, dad."

katie's eyes drifted down to pal, sitting propped up on the napkin holder, and her heart seems to sink a little.

"uh, hey, lemme go put my stuff back," she says, scooping up the computer and the phone and walking back to her room.

"katie? what are you doing?" pal asks. katie sits at her desk, placing pal against the book stack.

"hey, you looked kinda upset. everything okay?" katie glances away a bit nervously. "was there... something in the movie...? i- i didn't mean to offend... i mean, i can change it if there's something-"

"it's alright. i just realized something, is all."

"i see. you don't have to spill, but if you wanna talk then i'm here."

pal laughs, her brow furrowing. "i'm supposed to be the one that says that."

katie smiles. "i'll let you stay here. wanna charge?"

"sure."

katie nods before turning her phone's screen off, placing it carefully inside the tissue box and plugging it in through the small hole in the side.

"hmmm..."

katie looks back to her laptop, opening it up and skimming through her movie. she can't seem to find anything wrong, but...

katie leaves a sticky note on her laptop: ask pal about "backstory"

yeah, that'll do. i'll ask her tomorrow and edit some scenes. easy peasy.

"hey katie, you good?" aaron asks, peeking his head through the doorway.

"yep! i was just charging my phone."

katie heads back to the kitchen, glancing at pal for a moment on her way out.