Chapter 14

"They ask you to come forward and speak to the agent?" You asked surprised as you stepped up on the barricade to take a look over. Markus stood glaring at the man that walked forward between your barricade and the military's.

"Don't go. It's a trap." North said with a firm voice from the other side of Markus. Her eyes never leaving the human in front of them.

"They might just want you to get out in the open and eliminate you. But he could have something important to say as well." You said thoughtful. You didn't trust the man, but he too must think that he was risking his life stepping forward as well. They thought that androids were dangerous and they might kill him where he stood at that moment.

"It's a risk I have to take." Markus said and before any of you could respond, he jumped over the barricade and walked slowly toward the man. Their conversation was so low that none of you could hear what was being said. But none of them seemed aggressive and it felt wrong somehow. You and North looked at each other and for the first time you think that you felt the same as her. You were both worried for Markus, for the demonstration and for your own lives. You had the same course and there was no going back now.

It didn't take long before Markus turned around and came back. You breathed out heavily when he was finally safe on the other side.

"What did he say?" North hurried to ask but Markus walked passed her with a serious expression on his face. That didn't look promising. As the androids gathered around him he stood up on a turned over garbage container and looked thoughtful for a moment before he spoke.

"The humans are about to launch an attack." He began and it was like the whole world became silent. It was what everyone feared he would say. Everyone hoped that at some point they would see that the androids were living beings. That they wanted to be free; but all they got was a quick dead on live TV.

"We will show them that we are not afraid. If we must die today, then we will die free." Markus preached. You looked around to see the unease in the androids faces. But none of them seemed to want to run or hide. They all stood their ground in silent. You took the opportunity to speak up.

"Is there any way we could buy some time? Connor might be on his way with the androids from CyperLife's storage." I said out loud so everyone could hear what had been unspoken for a long time.

"We don't have the luxury to wait any longer. We have to do this ourselves." Markus explained and you understood. But it pained you that it sounded like they had all given up the hope that Connor would come and help you. You didn't get to think that thought to end before something metallic hit the ground a few meters away from you and someone threw themselves at you and pinned you to the ground. At first you thought you were being tackled by the soldiers but as the first huge bang filled the air, you realized it was one of the androids that had seen what was coming. The second after another explosion went off and you almost forgot the pain in your hurt shoulder that you almost landed on, as some glass splintered near you and you felt the small pieces hit your face. They were throwing grenades over the barricades. People started screaming and running around you as you sat up. The android that threw himself at you was lying too still and bloodied next to you.

"Hey are you.." You tried to grab the body but someone else grabbed you be the arm and dragged you away. You were shocked when you saw it was James that pulled you behind a container as the many soldiers jumped the barricades and started shooting around you.

"What are you doing here? How did you..."

"I saw you on TV and I understand what you are fighting for now. I don't want to just watch anymore. This is wrong and I want to help." He said with clear panic in his face.

"I think it's a little too late now." You said with a frown and he just shrugged.

"At least I tried." He murmured.

One by one the androids fell and you couldn't do anything but look at it. You saw a solider coming around the container you were hiding behind with James and as he turned around the corner you stretched out your leg. He stepped on you and a little yelp escaped you, but it also made him stumble and it gave Josh a chance to grab him and disarm him. Instead of shooting the man, Josh hit him hard in the face with the end of the rifle and threw it away from him. All around you were shooting and screams of mercy. Your heart was pounding and if it wasn't for the sudden burst of adrenaline that ran through your body, you would be sat in fetal position and crying your eyes out.

You saw someone running in the corner of your eye and was about to prepare for an attack, when you realized it was Markus that came running. He was shielding for two other androids with a huge piece of metal scarp. The bullets were flying around them as they ran towards you behind the container.

"Come on. Hurry up!" You called out but it didn't take long before the soldiers were floating in from the other side and pressed you away from your hiding place. You weren't a lot left when you hold up your hands in surrender and back away from the attackers. You were completely surrounded and the scariest thing about it, was that none of the soldiers were screaming or even talking. They just came closer with raised guns toward you. You saw the others drop their hands to their sides. They were tired of fighting and just wanted this to end. You did the same and let your own last guard down. What was the point? They were going to shoot you even though you had your hands up or no. This was the little dignity that the androids had left. They believed in their course and they were ready to die for it. And you were ready to die with them. It was too important to just pretend it didn't affect you. This was affecting all of Detroit and people pretended that they didn't care. Or did they?

As you were standing there you looked around you. First your eyes met James'. He actually had the strength to give you a little smile. It was painful but you smiled back at him. It was a silent agreement that everything was going to be okay. This was okay. You already created the attention that was needed for this course and people could see that you weren't violent. The helicopter sound came closer and the cameras along with it. They had the best angle on this scenario. There were so few of you and so many of them. Everyone should be able see the wrongness in it.

You looked toward your leader Markus and how he was reaching out for North. They had a special connection and if they wanted to act on it, it was about time. Your heart broke for them. They hadn't had time to love each other the way they deserved. You hoped that there were humanity enough the soldiers to let them have a moment before their blood would be painting the ground. Markus turned to North and took the chance and leaned in. There was almost a visible spark when their lips touched and you had to press your lips hard together to not sob out loud. The tears started to form in your eyes. It was so beautiful and sad on the same time and it made your heart ache. Connor. Where was he? Was he dead? You wanted a moment like that before you would.. You didn't want to think about it. All you wanted to think about was how it would be to kiss Connor again. Just to see him again would...

The soldiers didn't shoot. Suddenly they broke away and walked in every direction away from you. What happened? You looked around you at the equal confused faces and then you heard it; a cheer from behind the barricades where the media was hold back. But every single camera were pointed in your direction. You looked towards the helicopter not far above you and the correspondent was waving his arm at you and then gave you all a 'thumbs up'. Did... Did you win? Were the androids free now? The army was packing up around you. Not a single word about what was happening.

"We did it." Markus said out loud. None of you dared to believe it at first but Markus turned around as the many media people came running with cameras and microphones. The army much have said that there were no danger anymore or else they wouldn't have let them in. They still hesitated when they realized the massacre that had occurred on the very ground they were stepping on. Many androids didn't make it to experience this moment. You gave yourself a moment to look around at all the fallen heroes around you. You closed your eyes and prayed that this was all over. The press people kept their distance and started to turned their attention from Markus and your group, to something that was coming towards you. At first the hairs on the back of your neck rose, as you were sure it was a huge arms that came to destroy the last of you. But between the cameras and choked news reporters, you would see the well-known light grey uniforms of hundreds of CyperLife androids. They were marching towards you ready to fight but what made you gasp, was the person that walked in front of them all; Connor.

You forgot about anything else around you and started walking toward the unarmed force of the newly acknowledged specie of intelligent life. The cameras turned their attention to you as you walked between them and out on the other side. Only the small battlefield was between you and Connor now.

"Connor!" You called out and as you saw his determined face changed to something so mild and loveable, you started to run.

"Y/n!" Connor called out your name over the sound of the many footsteps and it was the most beautiful thing you had ever heard. He was calling for you and no one else. To your delight, he started to run as well. When you were close enough you let yourself fall into his arms and he held you close. You rested your head against his shoulder as he caressed the back of your neck with a soothing hand. With the other arm tight around you and years around his middle, you finally felt save again. You didn't want to remove yourself from his grasp ever again and it felt like he didn't want you to either.

"I told you I would come back." He mumbled into your hair.

"I know but I didn't dare to believe I could be so lucky." You said under a breath. Connor shifted a little so he could look at your face. He looked you over careful before locking eyes with you.

"But... what did they do to your face? It looks like you have been scratched all over. I can't believe what they did here. I'll never leave you again, okay?" He looked at you with a serious expression and you were about to answer when you were interrupted by Markus.

"Connor." He said firmly. Connor pulled you into his shoulder again as he greeted Markus.

"Markus. You did it."

"No we did it. This is a great day for our people and it is good to see so many of us with you, Connor."

"I keep my promises. I went to CyperLife's assembly plant and woke them up. They are ready to fight but it seems that the last battle has already been won." Connor nodded to the lost that the remaining standing were looking over while the journalists were running in circles around themselves to get the best pictures of the fallen and the three of you talking.

"The human will have no choice now. They have to listen to us."

"And we will." You said on behalf of the humans. You were sure that changes would come now.

"We never had any doubt in you y/n. You'd been standing on our side through it all and showed them that this fight is not only the androids. It's equality in general. So let us show them again what we are fighting for." Markus said and Connor took your hand and walked to the side, so Markus could lead the newly deviated androids.

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The wounded and dead we taken care of and the barricades were cleared in no time with the many hands that had joined you. Connor kept insisting that you relaxed your injured shoulder as you were the only one there that could actually feel the psychical pain, but you kept denying it, as the injured were someone who had stood beside you only hours before that and you were authorized to help them. James, for once, was quiet and just did what you told him. He had seen you work before home in your basement and knew what to do most of the times. The dead was covered up with whatever clothing and sheets you could find around and placed shoulder to shoulder; kind of symbolic to how they died. None of you knew what exactly what to do with them, as android had never been buried before. You had seen with your own eyes where androids ended when they shut down and it wasn't pretty. That might be one of the first things that needed to be figured out about the androids new rights.

Connor stood not far from you, as you stopped the bleeding on another androids upper arm. When you finished you walked to him and saw how he was spaced out, before he turned his attention to you. The wondering folds on his forehead disappeared.

"You are speculating." You said and wrapped your arms around his middle. He placed his hands on your hips and sighed.

"There is a lot to think about."

"You are free Connor. That is the only thing to think about right now."

"It seems like it. Doesn't it?" He said like he didn't really believe it yet.

"I'm so proud of you." You said honestly and leaned in to rest your cheek against his chest.

"Not nearly as proud as I am of you y/n. Thank you for helping my people. Thank you, for standing up for what you believed in. And thank you... for waking me up. All you really had to do was looking at me. Just once! And then I started question my whole existence. You showed me how to be alive."

"You already knew how to be alive. You just needed a little push." You said with a smile and looked up at the android before you. He smiled back at you and rested his forehead against you as he sighed happily.

"Hey. You are that android cop that came to y/n house all the time, right?" James came up behind you and the moment was interrupted. You pulled away from Connor and took his hand instead.

"I was." Connor said in a kind tone.

"I knew you would go deviant for y/n. You had that look in your eyes. Every man looks like that, when they look at something they want." James said while sporting a huge grin. You rolled your eyes at him but Connor just proudly nodded.

"I guess I'm like any other man." He confirmed.

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Some of the waste from the barricades was turned into a platform. A platform that would help Markus talk to all of his people. They needed to hear that everything was going to be alright now and they needed to hear that from a leader. Everyone looked up to Markus; Connor had made sure of that with the newcomers. Connor didn't want to lead but wanted to be a part of a whole and you understood that very well. It was a huge responsibility to have on your shoulders. But Markus was made to do this. It was like it was something that was in his program and he had been determined from the moment you met him. He asked North, Josh, Connor and you to step up on the platform with him. James stood at the side looking up at you with pride.

"You all played a big part in this. You all deserve to stand here as much as I do." He said and he stepped up. North stood beside him and Josh took the other side of him. Connor took your hand and stepped up as well. A silence fell upon the crown of androids in front of you.

"Today our people finally emerged from a long night. From the very first day of our existence, we have kept our pain to ourselves. We suffered in silence. But now the time has come for us to raise our heads up, and tell humans who we really are." You listened to Markus speech to their people and you couldn't help but smile. You gave Connors hand a little squeeze but you looked at him when he didn't return it.

Connors face was twitching in a way that looked like tic disorder but that wasn't possible for an android. Was something wrong with his hard drive? Was he injured? You remained calm and looked shifty out to the crowd and at Connor.

"Connor, are you okay?" You whispered to him, but there was no response. You didn't want to disturb Markus speech so you tried to give his arm a few tugs and you kept saying his name to make the contact. If anything else failed, the android were able to react to the name they were given when first activated. Why couldn't you get through to him? You were about to step in front of him and ask him more direct like a superior would do to the androids at work, but thought better of it. However you were shocked when you saw that Connors hand that wasn't occupied with yours reached under his jacket and pulled a gun. As his face, his hand were twitching like crazy.

"Connor!" You said one last time a little louder and it was like he snapped out of a trance. He shook his head and immediately put the gun back under the jacket. It took him a moment of twitching in his eyes before he turned to you and smiled. What was that all about? He nodded just once and turned his gaze towards Markus again. You looked at Connor suspiciously a moment before you did the same.

"Human are both our creators and out oppressors and tomorrow we make them out partners." Markus steps aside and gestures toward you and Connor. You blush when people cheered at you.

"Maybe even one day our friends." Markus continued and even though he isn't on the platform, he gestures to James that is standing just next to it. James is as weird as he used to be and started bowing and waving. You couldn't help but laugh and feel all lightheaded. This was the start of something beautiful.