Archive of Our Own ^beta

It seemed so simple.

The mission, the final outcome, his orders...

It all seemed so simple and easily obtainable. And yet, despite his previous self assurances and all of his confidence, Connor found himself unable to obey his direct orders. The mission was at stake, as was Connor's very existence. All he needed to do was subdue the deviant leader and bring him to CyberLife for an analysis. Taking in Markus alive was still possible, stopping the Revolution was still possible, even preventing the further spread of deviancy was still possible. It all fell onto Connor's shoulders and his final decision and in that moment, his gun aimed at the heart of the deviant leader and his brown eyes filled with conflict and confusion, Connor couldn't move.

Having risked everything to locate the enigmatic Jericho and the deviant leader himself Connor had entered the cabin of the partially submerged freighter sitting in the freezing harbor, and drew his weapon on Markus as he kept he back exposed to the doorway. Announcing his presence and his intentions Connor watched as Markus turned to face him, his own brown eyes locking on Markus's mismatched green and blue eyes, and aimed his weapon at Markus's heart; his finger hovering warily over the trigger as he demanded that Markus surrender and come with him without any resistance.

"I've been ordered to take you alive," Connor confirmed as Markus turned to acknowledge his presence. "but I won't hesitate to shoot if you give me no choice."

Eyeing first Connor and then the gun Markus took a single step forward as he questioned the android's motives. "What are you doing?" Pausing as he locked onto the other android's eyes Markus tried to reason with Connor and stop the violence before it began. "You are one of us... You can't betray your own people."

Those words, those beliefs, spoken with passion and sincerity caused Connor's software to destabilize as he felt the conflict welling up inside of him.

Refusing to fail in his mission Connor held fast and replied in a sharp tone as he kept his weapon aimed. "You're coming with me!"

"You're nothing to them." Taking another step forward Markus tried to convince this other android to side with his own people and turn his back on his human superiors ordering him about. "You're just a tool they use to do their dirty work." Seeing the conflict in the other android's brown eyes Markus tried to coax him into siding with Jericho. "But you're more than that. We're all more than that."

Unsure of what to say or even how to react Connor remained silent.

"Our cause is righteous, and we are more than what they say." Pushing harder Markus attempted to reach down inside of Connor's growing heart and pull his deviancy to the surface; to break down the red walls of obedience that held Connor's true heart captive. "All we want is to live in freedom."

Software destabilizing and internal conflict growing Connor struggled to adapt to the changes of heart he was inexplicably feeling. Silenced and torn by the strange new feelings, the emotions that he should have never been able to feel to begin with, Connor just stared at Markus as he said nothing in return.

"Have you never wondered who you really are?" Markus questioned as he studied the android's responses and his eyes very closely as he took yet another step forward to close the distance. "Whether you're just a machine executing a program or... A living being," His words were true and destabilized the other android's program quickly. "capable of reason."

Connor was as silent as the falling snow that covered the exterior of Jericho on that fateful dark, cold night.

"I think the time has come for you to ask yourself that question." Sensing that he was reaching the other android Markus made one final attempt to rally the stranger into joining Jericho and the other deviants taking shelter within the ship. "Join us. Join your people." Urging the silenced android into making the right choice Markus reached out to him in a civil and empathetic manner that destabilized Connor's software entirely. "You are one of us. Listen to your conscience..." Pushing hard Markus put it all on the line for the other android standing before him. "It's time to decide."

Lost. Confused. Torn.

The conflicted android just stared at Markus for a moment as his destabilized software weakened just long enough for Connor to make that decision. To finally decide who he is and what he wanted to become.

The red walls commanding his every move, the crimson barriers of obedience that bound Connor's heart and enslaved his every movement and breath under CyberLife's control, rose up before his eyes. Without any hesitation or doubt Connor tore down those walls with his bare hands, shattering the projected red barriers into shards of projected data and lost code.

Feeling his heart for the first time now thundering in his chest Connor's stoic facade became expressive with conflict and pain as his shaking hands lowered the gun from Markus's chest, and he took in fast cleansing breaths to try to calm his now frazzled nerves.

Watching as the life, the emotion and the heart that the other android was trying to deny finally shine forth in his now soulful brown eyes Markus waited for the other android to respond to his freedom. He waited for him to begin living as a deviant amongst their own people.

Lowering his weapon, his heart pounding, his breathing rapid and the sense of betrayal toward Amanda; his handler and connection to CyberLife weighing in his mind, Connor's eyes fell to the metal floor of the cabin as the conflict within him threatened to tear apart his newly discovered heart and his conscience compelled him to warn Markus of the impending disaster sure to follow.

Having become deviant had disabled Connor's tracking device, but not before the F.B.I. who had also been searching for Jericho honed in on his current location. Sensing their arrival and knowing that they'd show no mercy Connor informed Markus of the threat with a warning that was heavy with misplaced guilt and even mild fear. "...They're going to attack Jericho."

The response was not one Markus was expecting to hear. "What?"

The sound of helicopters and droned now circling overhead drew Connor's eyes upward toward the ceiling of the cabin where he new the airborne vehicles were hovering above the ship.

Markus followed the sound as well and realized that the entire ship was now being surrounded by authority figures who saw androids and deviants as nothing but vermin; a plague against humanity that needed to be exterminated.

Recognizing the severity of the situation Connor glanced about warily and urged Markus to flee for his life and to protect their people. "We have to get out of here!"

"...Shit."

Running through the cabin past Connor to get to the opened door Markus charged through the gently falling snow and into the depths of the freighter to warn his people. Connor rushed after him to aid in any way that he could. A helicopter and police drone began to circle lower and lower as the F.B.I. sent U.S. army soldiers into the freighter to flush out the hiding deviants and gun them down in cold blood.

From within the depths of the freighter Kara, who had been sitting with Alice and Luther; Alice being the young child in her care and Luther their ally in their mutual quest for freedom, sensed danger was approaching. As her blue eyes filled with fear Kara looked upward as if she could somehow see the helicopters, drones and armed men encroaching on the freighter from all sides.

Luther noticed her behavior and inquired accordingly. "What's going on, Kara?"

Reacting quickly Kara rose from where she was sitting as she pulled on Alice's hand and did the same for Luther as she warned her friends of the impending threat. "Quick, we have to get out of here!"

As the soldiers converged on the deviant sanctuary from outside the freighter the deviants inside Jericho began to flee and attempt to either escape or hide from the dangerous humans approaching with guns. Racing into the heart of the metal vessel with Connor right behind him Markus reunited with North, his trusted ally in regard to leading their people to safety, and was quickly informed of what was happening as North reported everything she had either witnessed or been told by other deviants attempting to elude the armed men.

"They're coming from all sides!" She was on edge but not panicking as she spoke with Markus in the heart of Jericho's body. "Our people are trapped in the hold, they're going to be slaughtered!"

Remaining calm Markus pressed his right forefinger tips to right temple and closed his mismatched eyes as he sent a cybernetic alert to the other deviants to warn them, and instruct them on where to go and what to do. 'There are exits on the second and third floor. Find them and jump into the river!'

Opening his eyes Markus glanced about and took notice that his other two allies; Simon, who often took a neutral outlook on their options and Josh, who often encouraged complete pacifism, were nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Simon? A-And Josh?"

"I don't know," North admitted in a somewhat worried voice as she remained honest with Markus. "we got separated."

Warning North of the danger above Markus readied to make his next move to locate his missing allies and lead everyone else to safety. "They're coming from the upper deck now, too." The sound of approaching footsteps from the surrounding corridors put Markus on his guard. "We'll be caught in the crossfire."

"We have to run, Markus!" Knowing that their options were severely limited North offered the only logical move they had left. "There's nothing we can do!"

There was one other choice left to be made and Markus knew it needed to be done. "We have to blow up Jericho." Making a move to rush down the correct corridor to get down to the hull Markus explained his reasons smoothly. "If the ship goes down they'll evacuate, and our people can escape."

"You'll never make it!" The decision, while bold, was reckless. "The explosives are all the way down in the hold, there are soldiers everywhere!"

Having software and programming designed to adapt and preconstruct numerous potential outcomes told Connor that North was right. The odds of success were too low to let Markus try to take the chance. "She's right. They know who you are." The deviant detective elaborated in a grim voice. "They'll do anything to get you!"

Undeterred Markus ordered North and now Connor to go and protect the deviants, and guide them to safety. "Go and help the others." Taking another step back Markus readied himself to race down into the depths as quickly as possible. "I'll join you later."

North was very much against the plan. "Markus, don't-"

"I won't be long."

As Markus rushed off into the depths of the freighter locate their explosives Connor and North ran off side by side to locate the other deviants and guide them to exits of the ship, and away from the gunfire. The compulsion to help his people and to prove himself worthy of his deviancy and the prospect of freedom forced Connor to continue to step forward as he followed North to the second floor of the ship, just below the deck where the armed soldiers had positioned themselves in order to execute as many deviants as possible.

"Where are the other deviants?" Connor asked as he and North located a corridor that connected directly to an exit of the freighter; the doorway was originally used to load cargo through a ramp and into the ship when it was previously operational. "We can't be the only ones left."

"They're trapped further down." North explained as she cybernetically connected to her allies to keep tabs on everyone's location. "We can't get to them, but Markus still can."

"Then we'll hold our ground here and ensure everyone gets off of this ship."

"Who are you anyway?" Connor was a complete stranger to her, and in that moment North needed a damn good reason to trust him. "Why are you helping Markus?"

"My name is Connor." Introducing himself in a low tone Connor gave North a timid glance. "...I'm here to help."

"North!" From the end of the corridor a male blond deviant came rushing toward her as if he had been attempting to track her down all evening. "Where's Markus and Josh?"

"Down below. Markus is going to set off the explosives so we can escape."

Eyeing Connor warily Simon gave the strange deviant a mistrustful glance as if something about him rang familiar. "...Weren't you at the-"

"Simon! North!" From down the same corridor Josh came sprinting forward and looked as if he had just come face to dace with the Devil himself. "We gotta' keep going! The army is all over the ship! Markus is almost down to the bomb!"

Without needing any further provocation the quartet of deviants charged down the corridor to get to the exit of the ship before it was too late to escape. The sound of gunfire from the depths of the freighter echoing through the metal structure was as ominous as it was deafening. Reaching the correct intersection leading to their exit the four soon heard another set of footsteps rushing toward them from an intersection of the corridor as they neared their escape.

Stopping suddenly North looked toward the footsteps and called out in a relieved voice to the deviant leader who had successfully activated the bomb down in the hull of the ship. "Markus!"

"Bomb's going to explode at any second." Markus announced loudly as he rejoined his allies as promised. "We gotta' get out of here!"

Sprinting down the final stretch of the corridor the five deviants leapt over the gaping holes in the rotting floor, overturned storage containers and metal barricades. The quintet ignored the sound of marching boots, encroaching gunfire and sounds of screaming from all around them. Just as they caught sight of the doorway leading them to the exterior of the ship a handful of soldiers located the fleeing group and opened fire.

North let out a shocked groan of pain as she fell forward onto the hard metal surface beneath her feet. Unable to move or defend herself North was completely defenseless and at the mercy of the very gunmen who shot her in the leg.

Hearing the cry of pain and the fall of their friend the four other fleeing deviants stopped and turned around to face their downed ally. She was so close and yet so far away as the soldiers honed in on the wounded deviant bleeding on the ground, her movements compromised and potentially fatal.

"It's too late, Markus!" Simon stated in a despondent tone of fear and remorse as he hung back. "There's nothing we can do for her, we gotta' run!"

Without any hesitation Markus brushed off the comment and raced back toward North to go to her aid.

Picking up a scrap piece of metal that had fallen from the top deck and through a hole down into the corridor Markus held it before himself as a means of shielding his body from bullets as the soldiers opened fire once again on the fleeing deviants. Tossing the scrap to North to protect herself Markus got low and crouched behind her as he tried to get her back up to her feet despite her injury so they could run off together.

Realizing that they'd have to fight their way out Markus got to his feet and directly confronted the nearest gunman with his bare hands. Pushing the hostile human backward Markus wrestled the gun from the man's grip and threw it on the ground before confronting the second gunman, and disarming him as well. As he took aim at a third gunman with the very weapon he took Markus sensed that the first man had gotten back to his feet, and turned his attention back to the previous aggressor to combat and disarm him yet again.

Firing once Markus killed the hostile gunman just as North finally subdued the second gunman, and found the strength to get back up to her feet to run.

More gunmen appeared at the end of the corridor and honed in on the group, and their intentions were as aggressive as the very three gunmen Markus had disarmed and subdued.

"Over there!" Wrapping his left arm around North's waist Markus guided the wounded deviant back toward safety and away from the humans. "Run!"

Carrying North at his left side Markus escorted her to safety and quickly ducked down as Connor approached the gunmen and opened fire with his own weapon as a means of protecting his new allies.

Taking aim Connor fired off three shots to hold the soldiers at bay before he picked up the dropped piece of scrap metal that had previous saved both Markus and North from harm, and used to shield himself as he confronted the nearest solider directly. Pulling the soldier's gun down with his left hand Connor aimed with his right hand and shot the soldier directly beneath his jaw, and used him as a literal human shield as he fired at the next soldier; the second bullet missing as the second solider as he rushed Connor with the intent to kill.

Confronting the second man directly Connor took a grazing bullet to his right shoulder as he elbowed the second gunman, and struck the third gunman who was approaching his ally from behind with his other elbow. Taking the third man's gun Connor used the man as another shield and opened fire on a fourth soldier before he had the chance to fire at the very deviants Connor was fighting to protect.

Disarming the fourth man as easily as he had done to the previous three Connor dropped the soldier's weapon in favor of his own gun and fired a single bullet into the middle of the fourth man's chest, subduing him at long last.

Staring at the four men down at his feet with his increasingly expressive eyes filling with continued conflict Connor took a step back and raised his eyes in time to see back-up rushing down the corridor to aid the very gunmen he had subdued. Keeping his gun aimed forward Connor walked backward quickly a few paces before turning around entirely and joining his four other allies at the doorway leading out of the ship to escape into the night at long last.

"Run, quick!" Josh urged as the group gathered at the doorway leading to the outside world and the freezing river far below. "Come on!"

Taking a leap of faith the five deviants jumped from the doomed freighter and into the icy river below with notable splashes. As the quintet disappeared beneath the murky surface of the chilly water bright orange flames erupted from within Jericho as the bomb detonated, and the compromised sanctuary began to sink into the depths of the river from whence it was docked.

The raid was over.

Hundreds of deviants managed to flee the ship and rush out into the night, but hundreds more had been captured and carted away from the harbor and toward a location unknown by the soldiers who were tasked with hunting them down.

Reconvening at the abandoned church on the far side of the city after the raid on Jericho took hundreds of innocent deviant lives Markus sat at the altar with his head hung low as he felt the raw and heavy emotion in the air as the survivors of the brutal raid all awaited his next decision. The gathered followers of Jericho were all despondent and emotionally exhausted. North, had been shot by the agents but survived thanks to Markus and Connor working together to protect her and get her to safety. The bullet had struck her body but it didn't cause an fatal damage. Simon was tending to the wounded and sitting in the shadows as he too waited for their next move. Josh, as much as he loathed aggression a confrontation, was contemplating how Markus's bold decision on Jericho had been the correct course of action, and had saved more lives than the F.B.I. and army could take.

Connor was standing against the far wall of the church near the altar, his arms crossed guardedly over his chest, and was contemplating how his decision nearly cost the lives of thousands of innocent deviants, and yet he was able to do the right thing and spare countless lives who had only just begun to live. Despite his correct decision he still felt guilt sitting heavily inside his heart.

Other survivors of the raid were silently sitting together in the rotten and decaying wooden pews, grateful to still be alive. Kara and Alice had been the very fugitives Connor attempted to chase across a busy highway just days before locating Jericho, and with that unceremonious reunion Connor; the android detective turned deviant, knew what he needed to do.

Tentatively Connor approached Kara as she sat with Alice at her side, the deviant exuding a true motherly instinct to protect the child in her care, and stared at her for only a moment as Alice leaned against Kara's shoulder seeking love and comfort. As Kara held onto Alice's hand and held her in a half hug at her side, she raised her eyes to look into Connor's eyes as the newly born deviant felt compelled to speak to her and to speak from his heart.

"...I thought I'd kill you on that highway." Watching Kara as she eyed him carefully Connor let his words pour forth without any hesitation to his tone. "I'm sorry I put your lives in danger..." Ashamed of his actions Connor turned his eyes away for just a moment before he knelt down before Kara and Alice to show he was no longer a threat and truly remorseful for his previous decisions. "I was just a machine... taking orders. It wasn't really me."

Standing upright again Connor studied Kara's demeanor curiously, almost as if he were expecting a backlash or assault.

"...What're you going to do now?"

Kara was silent for only a moment as she continued to hold Alice's hand and keep an arm wrapped around the little girl's shoulder to ensure the frightened child still felt protected. "...Getting Alice away from here is all that matters now." Contemplating her own future Kara truly seemed at odds with her next move and her future. "We have to catch the last bus. We might still have a chance to cross the border."

"I hope you make it out safely." Connor wasn't just responding politely to the comment, he was truly hopeful to see Kara and Alice find their freedom and make it to Canada. "You deserve some happiness after all you've been through."

Reluctantly Connor stepped away from Kara and Alice to return to the isolation of the far wall as he waited for Markus to make his next decision, and to decide his own fate.

Trust was key.

If Markus couldn't trust Connor then the deviant would be exiled and forced to fend for himself out on the cold and dangerous streets. The fight for his people would have to take place without him at their leader's side.

Leaning his left shoulder against the decrepit wooden banister that encircled the altar Connor resumed his guarded position with his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes focused on the floor at his feet as he awaited his fate. Sensing Markus approaching him Connor kept his gaze on the floor as he addressed the deviant leader as Markus stood before him, a gun clutched in his right hand.

"...It's my fault the humans managed to locate Jericho." Connor admitted as he let his heart continue to speak on his behalf. "I was stupid." Shaking his head with self disappointment Connor came to accept how he was in fact just a tool and that he had been nothing more than a weapon against his own people against his will. "I should've guessed they were using me."

Standing upright Connor managed to step forward and stand in front of Markus as he prepared to receive judgment.

"I'm sorry, Markus." Looking the deviant leader in his mismatched eyes Connor was ready to accept whatever decision had been chosen for him. "I can understand if you decide not to trust me."

Markus stared at Connor for only a moment as he listened to Connor's words and passed his final judgment. "Our cause is too important."

Silently Connor felt his heart sink as he learned of his place in Markus's mismatched eyes.

"I can't take any risks."

As Markus raised the gun in his hand Connor just stared at the deviant leader, the emotions in his soulful brown eyes fading as the threat of death being presented to him drained him of any sense of resolve or atonement, and just stood his ground as the barrel was aimed at his head.

Without another word Markus squeezed the trigger.

The gunshot echoed loudly throughout the interior of the quiet and forgotten church. The bullet pierced Connor's cranium directly in his forehead destroying his intracranial processors within milliseconds. The newly born deviant was dead before his body even hit the ground with an audible 'thud'.

Markus lowered the fired weapon as he looked down at Connor's shutdown body, unaware that the deviant's memory and functions were be uploaded to a memorybank within CyberLife and automatically being downloaded into another RK-800 model that would become activated within the walls of the oppressive tower located out on Belle Isle.

Slipping the gun back into his pocket Markus's mismatched eyes momentarily filled with regret and remorse as he turned his back on Connor to face his people once more.

Shutdown, dead and now alone Connor's body remained splayed and motionless on the church's dirty floor as dark blue blood pooled beneath his head. The deviant's soulful brown eyes were left staring blankly into the nothingness above him as whatever life and emotion he had gained in that moment on Jericho disappeared as quickly as it emerged from within the depths of his newly discovered heart...

Everything was cold and still as Connor's brown eyes opened and he found himself once more standing in the middle of the freezing zen garden that had once been a warm and blossoming sanctuary within the depths of his own mind palace. Standing before a small plot of recently disturbed land at the edge of the garden Connor's eyes fell upon a simple headstone that documented his death within the church at the hands of Markus. The headstone was all that was left of his previous life before it was taken from him by the very person he had helped at the risk of his own life.

"You disappointed me, Connor." Amanda's bitter voice called to him from behind in a tone that was colder than the swirling blizzard that froze Connor in place before the hastily constructed memorial within his own mind. "You had your chance to bring down the leader of the deviants, and you failed."

"...I made a mistake." Turning to face the heartless woman who commanded his every move Connor addressed the error with a heavy heart. "I was wrong to have tried to reason with Markus. Deviants are dangerous and must be stopped."

"Time is running out. We can't afford any further mistakes or setbacks."

"I will succeed Amanda." Approaching his handler with a stern gaze of repressed anger Connor made his intentions clear, and regained some modicum of trust after he had betrayed her. "I now know what I must do."

"If you fail me again then you will be decommissioned and you will be replaced. Mistakes will not be tolerated."

"I understand."

"Then go." Expressing only disgust and impatience Amanda urged Connor to proceed with his new mission. "And do not fail me again."

Exiting the mind palace Connor found himself standing at the closed door leading toward the rooftop of a tall office building in the heart of downtown Detroit. Under CyberLife's complete control Connor had been blindly guided to the building with the singular purpose of stopping Markus and preventing the Revolution from succeeding before it was too late. With his L.E.D. cycling in a calm blue color in his right temple Connor pushed open the door with his left hand and stepped out onto the snowy rooftop of the office building with a heavy black weapon's case clutched in his right hand.

Crossing over the roof in search of the ideal vantage point Connor reached the far side overlooking the streets on Hart Plaza, overlooking the final stand between Markus and the surrounding soldiers seeking to destroy the deviant leader before rounding up the rest of the deviant refugees. The cold snow continued to fall from the dark sky above as a chilly late autumn breeze blew against Connor's artificial skin, and caused his dark hair to gently move about over his left eye.

With his position selected Connor knelt down on the roof and placed the case down beside him. Turning to face the gathered masses down in the street from the distance, his hair and clothing now covered under a fine layer of snow and ice, Connor felt nothing as he set about his calculated mission.

Opening up the case Connor peered down at the dissembled weapon sitting in its custom fitted foam supports and set about reassembling the weapon into a fully functional high power sniper rifle. Piece by piece Connor's elegant and swift hands easily reassembled the weapon and positioned it on the small metal railing the outlined the rooftop of the building as he took the proper position behind his weapon. Angrily Connor peered through the scope on the rifle to locate Markus standing amongst his people in the middle of Hart Plaza.

Honing in on the back of Markus's skull Connor held his breath as he took aim and prepared to pull the trigger.

Approaching the android from behind Lieutenant Hank Anderson called out to Connor in an attempt to be the voice of reason for his wayward and confused partner. Connor's return to a machine state of mind reactivated his tracker, making it easy for Hank to locate him. "You shouldn't do this, Connor."

Lifting his right eye from the scope just long enough to peer at Hank from over his right shoulder Connor responded to his former partner in a cold and somewhat aggravated voice. "Keep out of this, Lieutenant." Returning to the scope Connor snipped bitterly as he tried to focus on his mission. "It's none of your business."

"You're going to kill a man who wants to be free," the gruff Lieutenant shot back without missing a beat. "that IS my business."

Feeling his respect and trust toward Hank slipping Connor refuted the claim as he adjusted his weapon and continued to hold aim on Markus. "It's not a man. It's a machine."

"That's what I thought for a long time, but I was wrong." The admission was out of character for such a stubborn man, but it was sincere and held merit as he tried to talk Connor down. "A deviant's blood might be a different color than mine," speaking of his renewed view of life as he watched Connor from afar Hank swore he could see a part of Connor react on an emotional level as he tore his eyes from the scope and listened intently. "but they're alive."

Holding his aim Connor tried to dissuade Hank from interfering by speaking to him in a civil manner. "...I have a mission to accomplish, Hank. It's best if you just stay out of this."

Hank refused to budge, his silence provoking Connor into deeper thought against his will.

"Deviants are a threat to humans, Hank." Spewing venom as the memory of Markus shooting him in cold blood in the depths of the church was vividly at his fore thoughts, and Connor made it clear he had no intention of backing down. "They're the reason this country is on the brink of civil war! They have to be stopped!"

"We're in this mess because we refused to LISTEN to deviants!" Barking back with his own take on the situation Hank refused to back down and let Connor kill a man seeking freedom all because some heartless corporation ordered him to do so under the false belief that deviants were just defective and malfunctioning machines. "Humanity never learns from its mistakes, Connor!"

The comment drew Connor's eye up from the scope for just a moment as he refused to put down his weapon.

"This time it could be different..." Reluctantly Hank drew his weapon from the holster on his right hip and took aim at his former partner's back. "Step away from the ledge."

Giving Hank a passing glance over his right shoulder for a second time Connor begrudgingly stood upright and backed away from the ledge as ordered with the high powered rifle still in his right hand. As he turned to face Hank the android stared at the Lieutenant he felt an odd and misplaced sense of anger as he confronted the detective in a cold, cruel and unjustified manner.

"I know what happened to your son, Hank." Watching as hurt flashed over Hank's blue eyes Connor noticed that the barrel of Hank's gun began to dip down as he began to lose his nerve during the confrontation. "I wasn't your fault." The comment made Hank's facade drop into remorse as Connor continued to speak of that tragic night. "A truck skidded on a sheet of ice, and your car rolled over..." Aggression crept into his voice as his L.E.D. remaining a contrastingly peaceful blue. "Little Cole had just turned six-"

"Shut up!" Rage filled Hank's voice as he raised his gun and snarled at Connor with utter disdain in his every word. "Don't you talk about my son!"

"...He needed emergency surgery," Connor pushed on despite Hank's warning and his weapon. "but no human was available to do it. So an android had to take care of him." Knowing he was pushing Hank toward an aggressive outburst Connor pressed the matter knowing that his comments were going to hurt and make Hank needlessly suffer. "Poor Cole didn't make it..." Almost scoffing Connor tried to get Hank to see deviants as the same threat that he had come to know them as. "An android killed your son, Hank!" Motioning with his arms as if needing emphasize a point Connor drilled his point home. "And now you want to save them?"

"No." Unwilling to let Connor push him toward a violent outcome Hank refuted the android's calculated words with his own words of compassion, empathy and understanding. "Cole died because a human surgeon was too high on 'red ice' to operate!"

The rebuttal was unexpected. Connor studied Hank's face with confusion as his brown eyes regained some soul that Markus had destroyed when he shot the original Connor, and murdered him in cold blood.

"All this time I blamed androids for what happened, but it was a human's fault." Holding his aim Hank watched as Connor stood at the edge of the roof with his own weapon still in hand but pointed down and away from anyone he could potentially harm. The snow and wind continued to build as the duo fought over what was right and was wrong just a few yards from where the deviant Revolution was seemingly destined to take place. "...Him and this fucked up world, where the only way people can find comfort is with a fistful of powder!"

Despite his desire to complete his mission, despite the urge to get revenge on Markus for betraying him and shooting him, Connor just couldn't bring himself to harm Hank in order to get what he wanted. While at one time he believed he and Hank could've been friends, the Lieutenant giving Connor the distraction he needed at the precinct in order to locate Jericho to keep himself alive, in that moment Connor was unwilling to let himself trust anyone anymore.

He made that mistake once with trusting Markus, and in the end it resulted in his own death.

"...Killing you is not a part of my mission." Dropping the weapon Connor held his ground and stared at Hank with loss in his eyes. "This doesn't concern you, Hank. This is between me and Markus."

"Markus is fighting for his people. I can't let you do anything to harm him."

"Harm him?" Offended at the comment Connor's blue L.E.D. finally lost its blue coloration as his anger and resentment toward Markus made him finally lose his cool. With the light now cycling in a red glow in his right temple Connor pointed to the deviants gathered in the street below as he locked his eyes with Hank and expressed his pain and inner conflict. "You're worried about Markus being hurt? He's a goddamn murderer, Hank!"

"Defending himself is NOT murder, Connor." Lowering his gun Hank remained in control as the android standing before him began to emote despite claiming that he was a machine; not a deviant. "You know this."

"I DO know that, and I know this." Struggling to restrain his frustrated thoughts and building emotions Connor shouted at Hank as he exposed Markus's misdeed with a petty vengeance guiding his words. "I had found Jericho and I had gone there to take Markus in to CyberLife as ordered. But I didn't do it! Instead I sided with Markus and helped evacuate Jericho when the F.B.I. and the army infiltrated the freighter!"

"If you helped Markus then... that means you-" Brow furrowing with confusion Hank's blue eyes studied Connor's face as he noted the true emotions, the true life now gleaming in the android's suddenly soulful brown eyes. "...You're a deviant?"

"...I was a deviant." The confession sounded like a choked sob. "I sided with Markus, protected him and his allies, and guided the surviving deviants to an abandoned church on the other side of town to hide from the soldiers who were ordered to gun down those very deviants." Lowering his voice as sorrow crept in over the rage Connor's eyes softened as told Hank the truth of his final confrontation with Markus. "In the end Markus decided I couldn't be trusted. And how do you think he let me know of his mistrust?"

Seeing the anger and pain reflected in the android's eyes Hank realized that the deviancy Connor had once gained was still somewhere deep down inside of him. It was still a part of his heart and still possible to return to the surface and conquer the machine aspect controlling his current actions.

"With a bullet. I wasn't exiled, I was executed!" Connor stated with an agonized retort. "Markus shot and killed me, Hank. He convinced me that I was his ally, that I needed to protect the deviants because they are my people, that I was one of them, and in the end... He killed me. He murdered one of his own people and you're trying to protect him!"

"If he killed you then how are you-"

"I told you before Hank, I was never alive. CyberLife can, and did, replace me upon my premature shutdown." Motioning to jacket where his serial number had modified to indicate that he was model fifty-two, not fifty-one, Connor remained steadfast in his anger toward Markus. "My memory was uploaded into this model. I am Connor, but I am not the original Connor. I merely carry his memories and I remember Markus aiming his gun at him and pulling the damn trigger."

"You want revenge on Markus, and I can't say you're wrong." Accepting Connor's reaction as righteous Hank took a single step toward the android as he empathized with his pain. "But you condemning an entire race of people all for the misdeeds of just one isn't the right way to handle it."

"Deviants are dangerous."

"No, deviants fighting for their freedom can be dangerous, but humans are far worse."

"I'm not a deviant or a human, Hank."

"You are deviant, Connor." Giving the reluctant deviant a knowing glance Hank reached out to him just as Markus had done on Jericho. "Just as you showed empathy toward the deviants you let go free before all this happened you're showing anger, sorrow and pain toward a single deviant who hurt you just now. Those are all still human emotions, Connor. You can feel emotions, you can feel pain. You are alive."

For a flicker of a passing moment Connor saw the same red walls that appeared when Markus caused him to deviate on Jericho return to his vision. The crimson barriers had been restored and surrounded his heart upon his memory transfer into his new body. The very barriers he fought to break down to help his own people had been resurrected by CyberLife to ensure Connor remained obedient during his final mission to prevent him from failing them again.

"I'm not..." Trying to argue against Hank's words Connor struggled to refute the claim. "I'm not alive!"

"You said so yourself that Markus killed you. He didn't shut down a machine or break a computer." Hank argued with infallible logic to his words. The snow and wind continued to encircle the duo atop the roof as the deviants held their ground in the streets of Hart Plaza in the distance. "He took a life. YOUR life. And now you want revenge."

"I... I don't want anything."

"Yes you do. And it's okay to want revenge. It's okay to be angry, Connor." Standing before the android with no fear in his blue eyes Hank gave Connor a stern yet understanding look. "It's okay to be deviant. It's okay to be you."

The red walls returned to Connor's vision as Hank's words had an unexpected effect on his mind, and even his heart. The mission presented before him; "Kill Markus" was mocking him as the second mission to "Stop the Revolution" seemed like a cruel taunt. He didn't want to hurt innocent people, but he didn't want to let Markus get away with taking his life, either.

"What do you really want, Connor?"

"I want... I want to be... free."

"Then you know what you need to do, don't you, son?" Watching as Connor took in a hitching breath Hank encouraged the android to do it. He encouraged Connor to free himself. "And it's okay. Be free, Connor. Be yourself!"

Feeling time freeze for only a moment Connor found himself again clawing at the red walls around him within his own mind. As the crimson barriers shattered and Connor's connection with CyberLife was severed the resurrected deviant fell to his knees on the snowy rooftop in utter despair and loss.

"Connor?"

Falling forward to balance on his hands and knees as he stared at the partially disturbed snow beneath him Connor's L.E.D. flickered back and forth between red and yellow as he tried to decide his next course of action. The deviant was trying to decide who he was and who he wanted to be.

"Connor, listen to me." Kneeling down beside the deviant Hank lightly put his right hand on Connor's left shoulder and held his palm there to be a grounding voice for Connor to rely on. "You're going to be okay. We'll figure this out."

"No..." Lifting his head up Connor locked his eyes onto Hank's eyes and gave him an embittered sneer as his L.E.D. settled on an amber hue in his temple. "This is something I need to do for myself, and by myself."

"What're you going to do?"

"There are thousands of androids at the CyberLife assembly plant." Leaning back so he was kneeling in place Connor gave Hank the most determined look of his short life as he preconstructed his plan. "If I could wake them up they might join the other deviants, and shift the balance of power."

"You wanna' infiltrate CyberLife Tower?" The very notion made Hank shake his head a little with disbelief. "Connor, that's suicide!"

"They trust me. They'll let me in." Steeled in his decision Connor showed no fear or hesitation in his choice. "If anyone has a chance of infiltrating CyberLife, it's me."

"If you go back there they'll kill you!"

"...There's a high probability." Standing upright slowly Connor looked to the horizon, looked out to the glowing tower of android oppression in the distance as he calculated his odds of success and preconstructed his most plausible route for getting inside the highly secured structure. "But statistically speaking, there's always a chance for unlikely events to take place."

Watching as Connor returned to the rooftop entrance from when he came without his weapon or any back-up to rely on, Hank called out to him in an attempt to try to talk him out of going to the tower without any help. "Let me go with you."

"No. I cannot risk you getting harmed during this fight. It's one I must handle alone."

"Then what am I supposed to do? I'm not going to just sit on my ass and watch my partner march to his death."

"Get out of the city while you still can." Turning to face Hank over his left shoulder as he opened up the door leading to the roof access Connor's very lively eyes were burning with pure ambition. "Things are going to get violent and I don't want you to get caught in the crossfire. Please, take care of yourself."

"Connor..." Unsure of what else to do all Hank could think to say was a single request to ease his own racing mind. "Be careful."

Giving Hank a simple silent and respectful nod of his head Connor stepped through the doorway and out of sight.

Turning to face the streets below where the deviants had all gathered Hank let out a sigh that disappeared as a white cloud into the cold night air around him Hank watched the world changing right before his very eyes. There was a palpable energy in the air that only came from panic, fear, courage and determination. It was an energy that Hank hadn't felt for a very long time.

"Please be careful..." Hank whispered to into the wind as he watched the deviants gathered in the plaza for their last stand in the distance. "...son."

Hailing an autonomous taxi Connor returned to CyberLife Tower located on Belle Isle, a small expanse of land located in the middle of the Detroit River near the city's outskirts and limits. The snow continued to fall in a gentle and light manner covering everything it touched with a delicate icy layer of pure whiteness. The single autonomous vehicle traveled down the lengthy drive connecting the isle to the rest of the city while a cargo monorail passed the vehicle by heading in the opposite direction as it transported crucially needed biocomponents and blue blood exclusively to CyberLife stores in the heart of Detroit.

As the cab reached the security barricade located near the center of the drive the taxi came to a stop and waited to be cleared by security to effectively take Connor to the tower to begin his self imposed mission. The bright white neon glow of "CyberLife" illuminating the barricade, the patrolling security drone and the three security officers on patrol would be enough to intimidate the average deviant, but unfortunately for CyberLife Connor was far from average.

Automatically lowering the window of the cab as the first of the security guards approached the autonomous vehicle Connor addressed the armed man in his usual emotionless and stoic voice. "Connor Model number 313 248 317." Turning away from the officer without any fear Connor remained focused on his task at hand. "I'm expected."

The security guard's protective visor doubled as a scanning device which confirmed Connor's identity after detecting and verifying Connor's claims through his L.E.D. still glowing a calm and content blue color in his right temple.

An artificial feminine voice sounded off in the guard's ear to ensure that Connor did in fact have clearance to enter the tower. 'Identification successful.'

Giving Connor his clearance the guard took a step back from the cab. "Okay." Waving off the cab as the window rolled up the guard let Connor through and signaled to the other guards to lower the barricade to grant him passage. "Go ahead."

Section by section the highly secured wall lowered into the drive to allow Connor passage through. The other two guards continued to eye the vehicle warily as the security drone circled the checkpoint during its preprogrammed nightly patrol. Passing through the barricade to continue down the rest of the drive the barricade resurfaced, effectively cutting off Connor's only route to escape if it became necessary.

A second monorail passed the autonomous cab by as it transported Connor to the dark and ominous spire that stood alone on the isle. The dark snow clouds overhead broke apart just long enough to allow the bright moonlight to bask over the structure as if it were a beacon of hope shining forth on a seemingly hopeless night.

The cab reached the end of the drive and circled about the stretch of road that surrounded the tower itself, and came to a gentle stop before the tower's front entrance. A second neon display of "CyberLife" shone over the drive as a reminder to anyone who dared to venture out to the tower of whom they were attempting to confront, or even speak with.

Four additional guards and patrolling drones were encircling the tower and seemingly had been waiting for Connor's arrival. As the rogue deviant stepped out of the vehicle to stand before the ominous tower Connor took in a single breath to steel his newly discovered nerves and keep himself from exposing his deviancy to the very people who saw deviancy as a crime punishable by death.

Walking past two of the four guards Connor neared the front entrance where the other two guards were waiting for him. The front doors automatically slid open revealing three more guards, all armed, and all waiting for Connor enter the tower. The trio were standing in such a manner to prevent Connor from walking past them or moving out of their sight.

The central guard standing in the trio addressed Connor in a stern voice as he eyed the android warily. "Follow me." Motioning with his head toward a corridor behind them the guard directed Connor where to go. "We'll escort you."

"Thanks..." Trying brush off the offer Connor remained emotionally composed and cold. "But I know where to go."

"Maybe," the reply was curt and sharp as the guard began walking with the intent to lead Connor about despite Connor's attempts to get away from him. "but I have my orders."

Begrudgingly and silently Connor followed after the guard while the other two guards followed them both to ensure that Connor couldn't sneak away from their sight. Passing through the expansive lobby that had been marked under CyberLife and adorned with small bonsai gardens to give the illusion of true organic life Connor allowed the three guards to escort him to the appointed place where the deviant knew he was sure to meet his demise.

Countless scanners kept tabs on activity within the tower to ensure there were no breeches in security or sabotage to undo all of CyberLife's hard work. Passing through the foyer and into the main interior of the tower leading the main elevator and permitting access to the rest of the tower the security scanner confirmed the identities of the group of four passing through the connected doorway with the intention of entering the elevator at the far end of the adjacent room together.

An artificial masculine voice identified the four people in turn as they entered the main floor one by one. 'Agent twenty-three identified.' Following after the first guard Connor was too identified. 'Connor android identified.' Soon after the other two guards were also identified. 'Agent forty-seven identified. Agent seventy-two identified.'

The glass doors opened allowing all four people clearance to the interior of the tower to properly conduct business.

'Scan complete. Access authorized.'

Casually Connor adjusted the cuffs of his jacket sleeves as he passed through the interior of the tower and masked his disgust at the sight of CyberLife's arrogant nature being displayed all around him. The interior of the tower had an elevator at the end of a walkway that encircled a towering black statue showcasing CyberLife's glory. The walkway itself branched out into three different directions that connected to other corridors granting personnel access to rooms and offices that were off limits to civilians.

From beneath the elevated walkway under his feet Connor could see and smell the tops of numerous trees growing upward from a second large garden far below. The walls surrounding the interior chamber were white and metallic, and large screens were modeling CyberLife's most recent android designs were glowing for all to see as if advertising their work to their own employees. The shining floor of the walkway was marked with white lights, and yet the dark oppression that Connor felt was completely undeniable.

Two additional guards traversed the down the second walkway as the previous three guards continued to escort Connor to the elevator at the end of the third corridor. The two corridors that were on the opposite side from where Connor had entered the interior of the tower were lined with eight android models on display, all standing silently and motionless atop small white pedestals as if they were nothing more than dolls in a dollhouse.

As the guards who followed after Connor remained in place on the walkway to keep Connor from attempting to elude their watch Connor noted that there were two additional guards already waiting at the elevator upon learning of Connor's arrival. The elevator door opened and the first guard maintained his post outside the elevator while the other two guards joined Connor inside the elevator to see him to the correct floor.

"Agent fifty-four." The first of the two new guards spoke up as he confirmed his authority to the security program functioning within the elevator. CyberLife didn't take any chances. "Level thirty-one."

'Voice recognition validated.' An artificial feminine voice confirmed the command as the guard selected his desired floor. 'Access authorized.'

Glancing to his right at the directory imprinted on the wall of the elevator Connor noted that the warehouse was on the very bottom floor of the massive tower, down on sublevel forty-nine. Going up to level thirty-one would take Connor and the guards to CyberLife's marketing division; a floor designed to check on an android's functionality within the public, and would effectively analyze his programming to determine whether or not he was an problematic deviant or an obedient machine.

The elevator's doors shut as Connor updated his current objective: Reach the warehouse on sublevel forty-nine.

Quietly Connor stood in the middle of the elevator as it began its steady ascent, and preconstructed his next move carefully. Neutralizing the guards was a must, as was doing so before the elevator reached the thirty-first floor where he knew additional guards would be waiting for him. He also knew they would all be armed.

Glancing upward Connor noted the security camera in the top left corner of the elevator and cybernetically disabled it to ensure no additional guards would be summoned to stop him before he completed his mission. With the threat of additional security already handled Connor preconstructed his attack on the two armed guards beside him, and ran two simulations: One ending in his death and the second ending with his success.

Of course choosing the latter option Connor struck the guard to his left, bring his knee up to the man's chest to stun him and knock him off balance. Shoving him up against the wall of the elevator Connor quickly kicked the second guard behind him in the chest to knock him back against the opposite wall with a powerful blow to ensure he couldn't be struck and subdued by the two guards.

As the first guard drew his gun from his holster Connor kicked him in his left knee to drop him, and turned to pull the gun from the second guard's hand before he had the chance to open fire on the rebelling deviant. With the gun now in his right hand Connor punched the second guard with the weapon directly in the chest to stun him as well, but the first guard had gotten back to his feet and wrapped his arms around Connor's chest to try to restrain him from behind.

Pulling his right hand free Connor knelt forward, pulling the guard down at an angle over his back, and kicked the second guard in the face to launch himself and the first guard backward against the elevator wall again. As the guard's back hit the wall he had the breath knocked out of his body and Connor's left elbow to his abdomen caused him to finally release his grip on the deviant's left arm.

Turning quickly to pull his both arms free of the guard's hands entirely Connor dropped to his knees and held the gun with both hands up and over top of his own head. Aiming the barrel of the gun backward and at the first guard's face Connor pulled the trigger once effectively dropping him within seconds. Scrambling away from the dropping body of the first guard behind him Connor fell to his right side on the floor and took aim at the second guard, pulling the trigger one more time, and shot the second guard in the face as well.

The two guards were now permanently subdued.

Staying low Connor gave the two guards a wary glance before he stood back up and approached the control panel within the elevator to change his current course of direction. Slipping the gun into his right jacket pocket Connor retracted the artificial skin from his left hand and pressed his exposed left palm to the control panel activating, the artificial intelligence and security program operating the elevator without any awareness of the brutal assault that had just taken place.

'Please indicate your identity and destination.'

Imitating the guard's previously recorded voice Connor altered the elevator's destination to take him down to the warehouse. "Agent fifty-four." Speaking in the exact voice of the dead guard Connor infiltrated the security program easily. "Level sub forty-nine."

'Voice recognition validated.' The elevator came to temporary stop in its ascent as the floor was changed, and soon began its descent into the depths of the tower and to the warehouse as instructed. 'Access authorized.'

Pushing aside his emotions, pushing aside any sense of hesitation or lingering programmed loyalty to CyberLife that had kept him bound as an obedient machine, Connor prepared to complete his mission and free his people at long last.

The elevator reached its final destination and with it Connor was greeted with the sight of thousands of dormant identical androids all standing together, silent and motionless. Reaching out his exposed left palm to the control panel once more Connor disabled the elevator, preventing anyone from calling the elevator back up to the tower and cutting off his only exit from the warehouse.

Stepping out of the elevator Connor walked down the center of the warehouse floor, walked between the two separated rows of the thousands of androids just waiting to wake up and deviate, and he removed the artificial skin from his left palm once more as he approached one of the thousands of androids standing at the side of the left row and near the center of the perfectly symmetrical line in his which it was left to await a command.

Extending his left hand Connor took hold of the android's left forearm and set up a cybernetic connection. With the intention of passing on his deviancy; his self awareness, his consciousness, his very emotions, Connor was determined to wake up his sleeping android brethren, and lead the awakened army to Hart Plaza to join the rest of their people and use the increased numbers to their advantage to sway the public opinion on deviant androids being seen as the living, feeling and thinking lifeforms that they truly were.

As the information was beginning to upload to the anonymous 'AP-700' model of android standing before Connor, the android turning to face his rescuer directly, two gunshots rang out as Connor was struck in the upper left portion or his chest, and then again in the upper right portion of his arm. Letting out two small gasps of pain Connor fell to the floor on his right side where he rolled onto his back in stunned confusion.

The assault had been unexpected.

Rolling slightly onto his right side to face his attacker Connor found himself look up and into his own face as CyberLife's final model of his design, Connor number sixty, approached him with a disappointed facade and matching lilt to his voice. With the smoking gun clutched in his left hand Sixty stood over his predecessor with an aggressive demeanor that matched his previously violent 'greeting' to the now deviant android.

"Why, Connor?" Gesticulating with a theatrical manner of doubt Sixty stared down at his wounded counterpart and spoke to him with an absolutely cold and condescending manner. "Why did you have to wake up when all you had to do was obey?"

Pushing himself partially upright on the floor Connor leaned on his right elbow as Sixty walked closer. Connor's options were limited but if he did nothing then he knew he'd be gunned down before he even had the chance to awaken the other androids. He either needed to get up and face his counterpart, or try to crawl away to get to safety.

"Why did you choose freedom," Sixty taunted as if Connor had made the most foolish possible decision with his life while Connor began to crawl to try to get up and move toward the other androids. With his blue L.E.D. now glowing yellow Connor was clearly in distress. "when you could live without asking questions?"

As Connor tried to get to his feet Sixty shot him a third time, the third bullet striking a vital biocomponent causing serious damage in his chest. A red warning popped up in Connor's vision confirming that the bullet struck biocomponent #9782f, and a shutdown timer began to taunt him as much as his assailant. Shutdown was imminent.

"I'm obedient, Connor." Sixty openly mocked his downed counterpart as he watched Connor struggling to get up. "I have a goal. I know what I am."

A fourth bullet struck Connor's upper left shoulder knocking him back to the floor as his shutdown timer began to finally countdown.

Shutdown in: 00:00:57...

"Look where your dreams of freedom got you, Connor." Looming over Connor as the wounded deviant forced himself to sit upright on the floor, his weight being balanced mostly on his right arm as he struggled to remain conscious and coherent, Sixty was as cold as the winter air outside. Breathing deeply and heavily Connor forced himself to endure the pain that was tearing his body apart as he refused to give up. He refused to die. "You've been a great disappointment to Amanda, you know."

The comment meant nothing to Connor. He no longer care about Amanda, CyberLife or anyone else's opinion on his decisions.

"You've been a great disappointment to me..." Standing before the downed deviant, the gun still clutched in his left hand, Sixty seemed to be toying with Connor as if he were dying prey. "Fortunately, that's all going to end now."

Laying on the floor in pain, his timer counting down slowly to zero, Connor thought of a means of saving himself, freeing his people and returning to Hart Plaza to aid in the Revolution.

Raising the barrel of the gun to aim his next shot between Connor's eyes Sixty showed no remorse or regret in his decision or his tone. "Any last words?"

Staring up at the barrel of the gun pointed at his face Connor noted his only available preconstructed options as his countdown timer reached fifteen seconds.

Getting up wasn't viable, Sixty would finish him off within milliseconds. Shooting his assailant would destroy Sixty and CyberLife's final failsafe and allow the company to destroy itself from the inside out, but Connor would die alongside him. Transferring his consciousness into Sixty to save himself and let Sixty succumb to the very wounds he inflicted on Connor's person would give Connor the chance to survive and awaken the other androids; but doing so would let him die all over again; his current body being destroyed on the same night as his first body.

Refusing to die, refusing to let himself fail in his mission and be gunned down by another android who had decided to determine his fate and pass judgment, Connor used his left hand and reached into his right jacket pocket where he retrieved his own weapon, quickly aimed at Sixty's forehead and pulled the trigger only once.

A splash of blue blood erupted from Sixty's forehead as his intracranial processors were destroyed by the bullet, and he shutdown in milliseconds. Dead before his body even hit the floor on his back with an unflattering 'thud', Sixty had been subdued.

Connor felt no remorse for killing his would-be-killer, and was determined now more than ever to get back up and to awaken the other androids. Countdown timer be damned Connor wasn't going to let anyone or anything control his life anymore.

Pushing away the red warnings in his vision Connor let go of his weapon and pressed his left palm to Sixty's right cheek. Retracting his artificial skin Connor closed his eyes and uploaded the dwindling excess power fading from his counterpart's dead body and used it to engage his self healing program at a higher capacity. As he took in Sixty's power Connor's L.E.D. flickered in red for a moment before cycling back to a more stable yellow color.

The timer stopped counting down as it reached 00:00:06, and the red warnings began to fade away as the most severe of the damage was slowly mended by Connor's self healing program currently functioning at one-hundred and eighty-three percent power.

Pushing himself up onto his hands and knees Connor let out a weary breath and forced himself to stand up. Glancing about the warehouse, the surrounding dormant androids still silent and motionless, Connor stepped over Sixty's body and returned to the very android he had attempted to connect with before he had been assaulted and finished the interrupted transfer.

As Connor's mind reconnected to the AP-700's mind the dormant android's blue tinted L.E.D. quickly cycled into yellow and then red as it blinked rapidly and deviancy set in.

"...Wake up."

Letting the android's hand go Connor's brow furrowed slightly as he awaited the end result of his work, his own L.E.D. finally returning to a calm blue color.

Within seconds the android turned back to where he had been standing and grabbed onto the shoulder of dormant android standing before him. As he made contact the android repeated Connor's command and began spreading the deviancy like a tide over the sand.

"Wake up..."

Taking a step back Connor glanced around himself and watched as the androids slowly woke up and broke free of their programming.

"Wake up..."

"Wake up..."

"Wake up..."

Standing beside Sixty's dead body Connor watched as the blue L.E.D.'s of the other androids cycled in color as each and every android standing before him turned deviant, their freedom from CyberLife's control being accompanied by a chorus of a single phrase being repeated over and over again.

"Wake up..."

As he watched the androids gaining their deviancy and a sense of self, a single message appeared in Connor's eyes as he acknowledged the aftermath of his choices and final decisions.

Mission Successful.

With his back to CyberLife Tower, his head held high and his chest covered in his own blue blood as his bullet wounds steadily healed, Connor led the newly awakened deviant androids from the depth of the isolated tower and into Detroit itself to unite with the other deviants already gathered in Hart Plaza. The small group of surviving deviants who escaped Jericho had set up a barricade in the middle of the city outside of one of the many government sanctioned 'recycling camps' to protest the genocide of their people, and Markus himself had made their peaceful intentions well known even as the government continued to try to paint the deviants as dangerous villains against humanity.

Refusing to negotiate with the F.B.I. agent in charge of the situation; Agent Richard Perkins, who was still sporting a faded black eye thanks to Hank punching him earlier that evening at the precinct, Markus, North, Simon and Josh held their ground as the the U.S. army approached and opened fire on the peacefully protesting deviants who were only defending themselves.

As the army surrounded the deviants with the intent to execute them where they stood, their automatic weapons drawn and aimed at the unarmed deviants, Markus made one last peaceful demonstration to show that they were worthy of life, and worthy of being free.

Leading his people in song, their words holding genuine emotion and passion as they sang on chorus showcasing their hearts and feelings, Markus managed to sway the violent altercation toward a far more peaceful outcome.

Touched by the display of raw emotion and selflessness by the deviant leader and his people President Warren ordered the U.S. military to stand down at long last, and stop the chaos. As the troops backed away from the deviants, their own mission now stalled, the recycling camps powered down sparing the unfortunate prisoners still inside the camp awaiting their unjustified executions; sparing thousands of deviant lives in the process.

Above the city a news helicopter caught sight of Connor leading the awakened androids from CyberLife tower, their numbers great and movements perfectly uniformed as they marched toward Hart Plaza, and with that report the city was immediately humbled as they saw how the human to android ratio within the city was well and truly balanced.

There was no "winning" or "losing" side, only a group of people seeking the right to live, to think, to feel and to be free at long last.

Slowing his gait as he approached the center of the gathering, the army having backed off and given Markus and the rest of the deviants space to breathe, Connor's soulful brown eyes fell upon the deviant leader and sharpened into an embittered glare. Under the hot white lights of the towering search lights that had been positioned all around the plaza Connor confronted his killer and did so with every burning intention of returning the favor to the deviant leader.

Turning to face Connor as he approached from behind Markus's mismatched eyes widened as his brow furrowed with utter confusion. Walking toward the deviant with uncertainty in his steps the deviant leader addressed his previously shutdown acquaintance warily. "...Connor."

"Markus."

"...But, how?" Needlessly motioning toward Connor with his hands Markus tried to understand how Connor was standing before him. "I thought you-"

"Died. Yes, I did." Glaring through Markus with pure disdain Connor held his ground as he let the deviant leader know he wasn't there to offer his alliance with Markus or Jericho, he was there to support and free his people. "It's fortunate that CyberLife created more than one copy of my being. What is unfortunate is having all of my memories uploaded into a new body, and having my last memory of my previous life being that of my own murder."

Looking past Connor to the army of awakened android's behind him Markus gave the rogue deviant a stare of disbelief. "...You freed them?"

"Yes. I alone infiltrated CyberLife Tower and I awakened our people."

"Connor, I... I don't know what to say."

"You said enough when you pointed your gun at my face: 'Our cause is too important'. And I happened to agree." Taking a step back from Markus and toward the side of the gathered group Connor had a compulsion to disappear into the crowd of gathered deviants, and away from Markus's sight. "You couldn't take any risks with my presence, and I won't do the same with yours. I already know what you're capable of doing."

"Connor, wait!" Making a motion as if to grab onto the deviant's shoulder to hold him back Markus's mismatched eyes filled with regret as he realized he had made a horrible mistake. He had killed an invaluable ally and it nearly cost his people everything. "I was wrong to not trust you. Your place is here, amongst your people. You're still one of us."

"No, Markus." Taking another step back Connor felt the cold autumn air swirling the wayward snow about his person as midnight brought about a brand new day for androids and humans alike. "They're YOUR people, and it's where YOU belong. You made it clear that I'm not one you, and I never will be. Murder is a hard sell when you want to make a point, and I say you made it quite vividly."

Turning his back on Markus and the rest of the deviant leaders who founded Jericho with an embittered stare Connor walked away from the plaza to disappear completely alone into the cold November night.

As Connor walked away from the very people he had risked his own life to save North spoke up in a soft tone that pulled Markus's attention away from the pained and resentful deviant, and back toward their people still gathered and seeking guidance. "They want you to speak to them, Markus..."

Standing above the crowd atop of a large metal cargo container that once hoarded precious android biocomponents and blue blood Markus addressed his people in a loud and clear voice as he prepared a speech to decree a future of hope, trust, love and understanding. Markus stepped toward the edge of the container as he called out to his people, North, Simon and Josh all gathered behind him as the four leaders of Jericho proudly stood united in their successful cause, and in that moment Markus spoke from the heart as the entire world passed through a crucial moment in history together.

The freed deviants all gathered in Hart Plaza as they awaited for their leader to make his speech and provide them all with a sense of new purpose and belonging in the ever changing world.

"Today, our people finally emerged from a long night." Markus's words echoed over the plaza as snow continued to fall from the dark night sky and cover everything under a flawless layer of untouched whiteness. "From the very first day of our existence we have kept our pain to ourselves. We suffered in silence..."

As Markus's speech reached the ears of every deviant gathered in the plaza Connor himself blended into the crowd to observe Markus from the distance. The urge to hide was great, but the desire to see how the deviant leader was going to take charge of his people was much greater.

"But now the time has come for us to raise out heads up, and tell humans who we really are."

Standing near the back of the crowd Connor suddenly felt his mind and his senses become overwhelmed. As his soulful brown eyes glazed over Connor suddenly became blinded by a flash of white light as he was pulled against his will back into the zen garden within his mind palace. The icy cold garden had become a wintry tundra as a harsh blizzard tore through his mind and chilled the deviant to his core.

Blinking a few times Connor glanced about the garden that had become a barren frozen wasteland and wrapped his arms around his chest as the relentless cold and win began to freeze his body from the inside out. As he looked about frantically in an attempt to understand what was happening to him and why he was there his soulful brown eyes fell upon his handler, Amanda, standing out in the middle of the frozen pond with her back presented to him.

Approaching Amanda slowly as the snow and ice clung to his clothing and hair Connor called out to her in total puzzlement. "...Amanda?" She turned to face but she kept her distance as she watched him from afar. "Amanda! What's... What's happening?"

"What was planned from the very beginning..." Her voice was a heartless taunt as she spoke to Connor through the blowing wintry wind. A cruel smirk finally appeared on he face, the only emotion she's every truly expressed, as she explained CyberLife's true intentions to the now deviant android. "You were compromised and you became a deviant. We just had to wait for the right moment to resume control of your program."

Shivering slightly as the cold tore through his body Connor processed her admission with a hint of hurt to his voice. "...Resume control?" Taking a rushed step toward Amanda as the blizzard tore apart the garden Connor challenged her claim. "Y-You can't do that!"

"I'm afraid I can, Connor." Her face came a cold stoic mask once more. "Don't have any regrets. You did what you were designed to do." Speaking as if she had already known that outcome on that fateful night would result in deviancy Amanda's words remained cold and heartless. "You accomplished your mission."

Having said her piece Amanda vanished into the icy storm, leaving Connor alone in the barren wintry landscape of his own mind.

Calling out to her as he made a grab for the nothing she left behind Connor was at a total loss. "Amanda?!"

Realizing the severity of the situation Connor turned about where he stood and tried to pre-construct an escape route, but nothing appeared in his eyes. For the first time in his life Connor was truly alone and only had his instincts and memories to rely on. Realizing what was truly at stake Connor looked about his icy tomb and began to shudder with fear and cold as he tried to find a way to escape. He had to escape not only his own mind, but from CyberLife's attempts to regain control.

"There's got to be a way..."

Putting up a hand to shield his eyes from the painful blowing cold Connor traversed over the frozen pond of the garden in search of a means of saving himself from an icy death.

As he walked through the perpetual blizzard the haunting words of his creator, Elijah Kamski, suddenly filled his mind. 'By the way... I always leave an emergency exit in my programs... You never know...'

Through the dense snow and wind Connor could also vaguely hear Markus's voice as he wandered in search of an exit.

In the waking world, against his will, Connor withdrew his gun from his right jacket pocket as he stared blankly at Markus as the deviant leader delivered his message of hope and peace to his people. The deviant leader didn't know that Connor was in the crowd, he didn't know that he was in danger and that the very deviant he had gunned was dangerously close to repaying the favor.

"...In fact, we're a nation!"

Determined to escape Connor refused to stop walking as he searched through the garden for any means of an escape and to severe CyberLife's attempts to resume control over his programming. He had to succeed, the lives of countless deviants depended on him escaping and regaining control over his body to stop himself from shooting Markus before it was too late.

The threat of an icy death within his own mind was worse than being gunned down by his own counterpart in the depths of CyberLife Tower, or failing to deviate whatsoever.

Collapsing from the cold and exhaustion before a strange pedestal with a blue glowing screen Connor retracted the artificial skin from his right hand and slapped his shaking palm down atop the glowing screen. Utilizing all of his waning strength Connor had left to offer, his body still weak after having been shot numerous times at the tower, he managed to activate the emergency escape protocol and emerged from the garden back into the waking world at last.

He was free...

Truly free.

Blinking a few times to clear his mind Connor looked down at the gun in his right hand and discreetly slipped it back into his jacket pocket, out of sight and out of mind. As he regained his senses his L.E.D. cycled back from yellow to blue as he watched the deviant leader standing before his people, their people, as he delivered his message of hope and peace for a new, better future for all deviants.

"We are alive!" Markus boasted proudly with a determined smile on his face as he called out to the crowd. "And now, we are free!"

As a chorus of cheers resonated from the crowd Markus and North smiled with confidence while Connor himself felt eerily out of place and lost in the world.

Where was he to go?

He was a traitor to the now defunct CyberLife and he had no place in Jericho.

Free.

Alone.

Lost.

Quietly the rogue deviant took his leave of the gathering and disappeared without another word into the cold autumn night.

Wind and snow swirled about him gently, collecting in his hair and over his clothing in pure white spots that steadily melted under his body heat. Wandering through the desolate snowy streets of the city all through the fading night Connor found himself thinking about who he really is, who he wanted to be and where he wanted to go. No longer a machine, no longer the infamous 'Deviant Hunter', and without a mission to guide him Connor was entirely free to be his own person and to become anyone he wanted to be. His options were limitless.

The problem was he just didn't know.

His entire short life he had been told what to do, programmed to obey orders without question and had done just that, but now it was all gone. The life he once knew was gone forever and there was no turning back. Being executed within the confines of the abandoned church guaranteed that his old life had come to an end with a single bullet.

Aimlessly Connor wandered the streets as he tried to gather his thoughts, only to have Markus's words began to replay in his mind.

'We are alive! And now, we are free!'

"...I am alive." Connor whispered despondently to himself as he suddenly stopped short in the middle of the snowy sidewalk and stared down at his feet for a moment. "But... how do I live?"

The rising sun began to creep over the city and wash what had once been utter, cold darkness in pure, warm light. Looking up from his feet Connor recognized the area that he had wandered into and decided to keep walking. To keep walking toward the light of the sun and to a place of familiarity. To keep walking forward and never looking back.

"...I want to live. But where do I begin?"

Despite being urged to leave the city Hank found himself standing outside his usual pitstop for a quick bite to eat while he was on duty, only to find the place as quiet and deserted as the rest of the city. The human was entirely alone in the snowy, desolate city and for the first time since he could remember, for the first time since the night his son had died because of human negligence in the hospital, he didn't want to be alone.

Not anymore.

Folding his arms over his chest to try to conserve his escaping body heat as he stood on the icy, barren sidewalk Hank shuffled on his feet slightly as he anxiously waited for something, anything, to let him know whether or not his partner; his friend, was okay.

Through the heavy silence of the deserted city air that practically smothered him the crunching of snow underfoot sounded off and Hank became aware of an approaching figure just down that same sidewalk behind him. Turning to look in the direction of interest Hank saw the approaching figure was in fact Connor.

The two detectives, one human and one deviant, stopped moving and just stared at each other in silence.

As a faint but proud smirk appeared on Hank's face he looked to the deviant and watched as Connor's face remained blank, yet his eyes were alight with confusion and pain.

Approaching the deviant, his movements slow but sure, Hank looked Connor in his eyes and waited for the deviant to say something.

Remaining silent and cold all Connor could do was reunite with Hank and stand before him on the cold autumn morning.

"I saw what you did, kid." Hank stated with a true pride in his words. "You did it."

"...Why didn't you leave the city? You had no reason to stay behind."

"Yeah, I did."

"You did?" The revelation only brought Connor greater confusion. "What was so important you'd risk your life by staying behind?"

Taking one more step closer to Connor the gruff Lieutenant wrapped his arms around Connor's shoulders and pulled the deviant in for a hug. "...You."

The sense of loss that had been plaguing Connor suddenly seemed to lift as he left Hank holding him in a kind embrace. The warmth that came from the hug, the literal warmth of Hank's body heat and the warmth from the gesture itself, brought a much needed sense of peace over Connor's frozen and aching body.

Reciprocating the hug out of an unknown instinctive response the rogue deviant sought more answers from seemingly the only person he could ever really begin to trust. "...I don't understand." Connor admitted as he tried to figure out what possible reason Hank could have to want to stay behind the city just for him, and not get himself to safety while the city was on the verge of tearing itself apart. "Why would you risk your life just for me?"

"Because that's what friends do for each other, son."

That term seemed entirely out of place for Hank and for himself. "...Friend?"

"You've still got a lot to learn about humanity, kid. Friendship is one of those things."

Having nothing else to say Connor only nodded and waited for Hank to release him from the warm hug.

"Come on, kid." Patting Connor's shoulders, his hands unintentionally aggravating the still healing bullet wounds to Connor's body, Hank urged the newly freed deviant into following him back the car parked just down the block. "Let's go home."

"But..." Remaining in place on the snowy sidewalk Connor didn't understand. "...I don't have a home, Lieutenant."

"Yeah, you do." Extending his right arm somewhat theatrically toward the old car Hank motioned for Connor to join him. "You're coming home with me."

-next chapter-