Hey all!

We're here! Plot! Please let me know what you think about it, as I've never actually written something with a concrete plot before. It's always been character studies, or looks into what characters feel. Like what this story had been before this chapter. So, let me know if you like the basic plot I've shown!

Also! Good news! You know how, last chapter, I said I wasn't sure when I'd finish the story, since I had no time? Well, that was a lie. I forgot I had a four day weekend last week, and I finished it! I took 12 hours, from 6 pm to 6 am, and just wrote the rest of the story. All I have left is the epilogue, but that shouldn't be hard. There will, indeed, be 20 chapters, with over 120,000 words. Things get, uh... intense. :-)

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Cyber

Connor could feel his heart pounding as he looked at the man he'd tried to kill, talking so happily to North, Simon, and Josh.

It was Friday, meaning it had been a week since he had arrived at the facility. And already, so much had changed. He wasn't following his programming anymore. He was allowing himself to feel. He'd fallen in love with Lieutenant Hank Anderson (possibly, maybe). And he was just about to betray Amanda, the only mother he'd ever known.

Over the past week, he'd realized something, after thinking about it for hours, late at night, mind troubled. He had thought about his objectives, the ones from before he'd arrived. The objective to Kill Markus Manfred was still there, bright red with failure. He saw it, each time he laid down to sleep. Each time he closed his eyes longer than a minute. Taunting him. Screaming at him.

He had wanted to continue the mission, if only to get the objective off his mind, but he knew now that he couldn't. Markus had been so kind to him, here. For no reason. Connor had tried to kill the man and yet Markus still had wanted to help him. He'd helped teach him music, art, and literature; had tried to help when Connor had broken down. He couldn't kill him. He couldn't.

So he wouldn't. Even if he was released from the facility today and the Company (Cyber, his mind whispered to him, breaking free from the long enforced idea of not saying the Company's name) wanted him to complete the mission and kill Markus, he knew he wouldn't. Couldn't.

But he wasn't the only operative the Company (Cyber, he reminded himself, Cyber) had. And he knew that as soon as they could, they'd get someone else to finish the job he'd failed. Maybe they'd even get Nines to do it. He'd always been so willing to kill, where Connor hesitated.

Point was, Markus had a target on his back. Cyber, for whatever reason, wanted the man dead. And they wouldn't stop until they'd succeeded.

So Connor had to warn the man. It wasn't enough to simply say that he wouldn't kill him, because if he said nothing and the man died because of it, it would be just the same as if he killed the man himself. Maybe he wouldn't be the one pulling the trigger, but he'd be just as responsible. So he had to tell Markus about the plans to kill him. He had to.

But it was so hard. If he did it, he'd be taking the final step towards his deviancy from the mission, from Amanda. If he did this, he'd never be able to go back. Amanda would never forgive him. The Company would never forgive him. He'd be painting as large a target on his own back as Markus currently had. That thought terrified him. The Company never failed in their mission. Maybe their pawns failed on occasion, but the Company itself never did. He knew what they'd do to him when they found out.

And yet, despite his fear, he had to do it. What kind of man (man, not robot, he was a man, a man) would he be if he didn't do this? If he let Markus die to save his own skin? He would tell the man. Consequences be damned.

Mustering up his courage, Connor marched determinedly forward, pushing the fear down. As he approached Markus, he saw the quartet pause in their conversation, turning expectant (and angry, in North's case) eyes on him.

"Hey Connor! Is anything wrong?" Markus said, eyebrows furrowed slightly with the beginnings of concern. Connor hesitated, before nodding slowly.

"Yes, actually. But it's not about me. Or Hank," Connor added, knowing the man would assume that next. Markus's eyebrows furrowed further, the man angling his body fully to Connor, so he could give him his full attention.

"Alright… what's up, then?"

Connor took a second to take a breath and looked around the crowded common room.

"I, uh, was hoping we could talk alone. In private."

North immediately glared at Connor at that, shaking her head.

"No, uh uh. No way. I'm not letting you alone with Markus, not after what you did." North's glare could only be described as scathing. Connor felt annoyance rise in him as he glared back. Markus was about to say something, looking at North with disapproval in his eyes, but Connor beat him to the punch.

"I don't plan on hurting him, North. Besides, it would be illogical to harm the man after walking up to him in a crowded room and taking him somewhere alone. But," Connor added, after North' glare grew even more hostile, with Josh and Simon starting to frown in concern and look between Connor and Markus, "if you'd like to join us you can. I just would prefer to not be in such a crowded room."

Connor watched as the four individuals in front of him exchanged glances, Josh shrugging as North and Simon frowned. Only Markus seemed interested to hear what Connor had to say, the man nodding with an encouraging smile on his face.

"If that's what you want, Connor. But I don't mind going alone with you. I trust you, Connor. You know that."

It was Connor's turn to frown, looking at the man. Yes, he did know that. God only knew why Markus trusted him, though. Connor felt that if someone had tried to kill him, he wouldn't be so keen to trust them. But that's what made him and Markus different. And that's why he had to do this. Markus didn't deserve to die. He didn't.

"I don't mind if they come. But they have to keep what they learn private. It's important that no one else learns about this. Or else."

North sneered at that, moving into Connor's face.

"What do you mean 'or else?' What the fuck are you going to be telling us?!"

Connor smiled sardonically at that, giving North a look.

"Well, North. I suppose you'll have to come with me to find out, won't you?"

Connor was sure that North was about to punch him, but Josh put his hand on her shoulder and stopped her. Connor wasn't sure what to make of the man. Connor had gone to Simon's meditation class on Wednesday, per Markus's request, and North's class Thursday morning before therapy (which had gone horribly, the woman spending most of the class glaring, reluctantly helping him learn the simple dance moves), but he hadn't really met Josh.

Simon was a decent man, a bit wilting but kind all the same. He knew he'd come to like the man, given enough time. North was a fire, burning bright. He figured that if she got over the fact he had tried to kill Markus they might even get along well enough. But Josh, he had no idea about. He watched, guarded, as Josh frowned at him. A moment later, the man nodded slowly.

"Alright. I'll come. I'm curious what this is about."

Simon nodded as well, coming closer, hands in his pockets. He smiled slightly at Connor, though his eyes were guarded.

"I'll come too, if you're sure you don't mind. Though, I don't think you'd hurt Markus. I trust his judgement about you."

Connor smiled at that, nodding at the wilting man. He looked at North then, eyebrow raised. She stared back, glaring, before rolling her eyes, the tension in her shoulders leaving somewhat. Not completely, but enough that Connor knew she wouldn't make a fuss.

"Fine, I'll come. But if this is just about a complaint about the facility, I'm punching you."

Okay. So they were all coming with. Heaving a sigh, Connor looked at the stairway, figuring the only place they'd get enough privacy was in his and Hank's shared room.

"Alright. We should go to my room, then. It's the only place we can get privacy, without the cameras watching."

North glared at that, but luckily said nothing. She had figured she was outnumbered in her suspicion against Connor, he figured. With purpose, Connor led the group up the staircase and down towards his room. The others followed, some more hesitatingly than others. Markus strode beside Connor, chatting lightly about Connor's day. Connor replied, but only because it helped keep the nerves down.

God, he was really going to do this. Betray everything he'd ever known. Everyone he'd ever known. He had believed in the Company, once. He'd believed that they were doing what was right. But… if they wanted to kill Markus, a man who was so kind, so caring… what else did they do? Who else did they kill?

Connor remembered an assignment he'd had, a few months prior. A man had taken a child hostage, holding her over the edge of a rooftop, gun to her head. The man had been a former member of Cyber, so Connor had been called in to deal with him, cleanly and carefully, so the world wouldn't learn about it. Cyber did their best to keep their business private. So much so that typically he wasn't even allowed to think the Company's name. Just in case someone was listening in.

He'd done everything he could possibly have done to save the child, including lying to the man. Promising him that he'd be taken alive. The man had listened, trusting Connor. And Connor had watched as the snipers shot him dead, red blood flowing onto the concrete rooftop, man muttering that he'd lied. Connor had just watched, emotionless, and left. It had been on his 30th birthday. He'd gone home and had a casual conversation with Amanda about it. He hadn't cared.

He cared now. He wondered if he could have saved that man. Or the countless others he'd watched die or had killed himself in what he had called defense. He wondered if the Company was right, that they had to do what they did. But… what gave them the right, taking the laws into their own hands? What gave them the right to murder who they saw fit, in the name of keeping the peace? Wasn't the police supposed to do that? Keep the peace?

Then again, the police weren't always the best. The man striding right next to him was proof of that.

Maybe Connor could join the police force, after this all was over with. His skills would align well with the skills of an officer of the law. And he knew the law, completely and totally. That would be nice. Maybe, one day, he could even be Hank's partner (if the man rejoined the force, that is). That would be really, really nice. Together they could try and fix the problems with police. From the inside.

Before he could do that, he had to take down the Company. Cyber. As long as they existed, he'd never be free. He'd never be able to be his own person. As long as they existed, he'd just a machine. A tool. And he didn't want that anymore. God, he didn't want that.

It wouldn't be easy, he knew, as he stopped in front of his and Hank's room. It would be so, so hard. Cyber was a massive, underground organization that worked alongside the government. They had been slowly growing since the Cold War, when Elijah Kamski had created his Company, CyberLife. The subset of CyberLife, Cyber, had been born from Kamski's desire to win the war, through means of human modification. How could the Russian's fight against super-humans? The government had been eager for the plans, and when the war ended, they had decided to keep the ideas, defaming Kamski, pushing him out of the spotlight so they could keep using his modifications. To Connor's knowledge, Kamski lived in a mansion right outside Detroit, living alone with some of his early subjects in his superhuman testing.

No one really knew it existed, though. Oh, people knew of CyberLife and their fantastical technology. But no one knew about the modifications. No one knew that Cyber had been testing on children, wanting to create a new generation of superior beings. Sending them into the world, either raised to believe in the cause, or else forced to obey through more intensive means. No one knew about how mechanical Connor and his siblings truly were, their minds an intricate blend of machine and man. His memory was increased, his vision was increased, his body movement and reflexes were greater than a human's. He could make decisions in a split second, mind calculating hundreds of possibilities at once. He could master anything he wanted in a matter of hours. He was, quite honestly, a superhuman.

And the world had no idea. They walked amongst people who had been raised since almost birth to be the perfect weapon, and never knew. Or people who'd gained modifications later in life, desperate for food or shelter. Connor didn't know how many people were like him, trained from childhood, but he knew the total number of advanced people went into the hundreds of thousands. Some only had minor advancements, like enhanced vision, while others had massive advancements. Connor was, in fact, one of the most advanced prototypes Cyber had in terms of modifications. He'd been proud of that, once. He'd been proud of a lot, once.

He had to stop them. He had to. At least from killing Markus. Even though the thought of it turned his stomach, made him numb from the inside out.

Taking a deep breath, Connor opened the door, grimacing when he saw Hank sitting at the desk, writing on a piece of paper. Damn. He'd hoped the man would be out in the facility today. Oh well. He didn't mind if Hank listened in. Maybe he'd even be able to help, since he had been a detective.

Hank turned when he heard the door open and raised both eyebrows when he saw the group following Connor.

"Hey, Connor. Throwing a party without me?"

Connor smiled, insides trilling at the husky, sardonic tone. He then shook his head, sobering, knowing keenly why he was there. He stepped inside, the others following, Simon closing the door to give them privacy.

"No, Hank. I have something I need to tell Markus and his friends tagged along."

Hank grunted at that, before standing.

"Huh. Well, I'll get out of your hair then. Let me know when you're done."

As Hank tried to leave, half smile on his face, Connor felt his hand dart out and grab the man's bicep, a movement he hadn't really meant to make. Hank's arm felt warm under his hand and it was enough to distract him for a second, but he snapped back to reality when Hank muttered a soft 'kid?' Shaking his head to clear it, Connor looked Hank in the eye.

"You can stay, if you'd like, Hank. I-I'd like you here."

His heart started to pound as he said it, but he knew it to be true. He wanted Hank there. The man could calm him like no other. He'd need Hank's quiet strength if he wanted to get through this. Plus… maybe he wanted the man to know. Hank may not have had any questions for him, but Connor suddenly had an intense desire to have the older man know more about him. To share his deepest secrets with him. (To see if he'd stay if he knew the truth. If he knew how inhuman Connor truly was.)

Luckily, Hank could tell how serious the moment was, as his face sobered and he nodded once, returning to the desk, leaning against it. Everyone else remained standing in the center of the room.

"Yeah, okay Connor. I'll stay."

"You know, this better be a fucking fantastic secret, or all this will have completely wasted all of our time."

Connor scowled, turning his gaze to an annoyed looking North.

"I assure you, it's important," he snapped back. He took a second to formulate how to bring the subject up, before deciding to just… go for it. He wasn't programmed to just "wing it," as Hank would say, but he'd been breaking his program a lot lately. Maybe he could do this, too.

"Alright Connor. I believe you. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Markus was so kind, Connor felt, eyes turned to the man. Fidgeting with his hands, Connor mustered up his courage and spoke.

"It's about Cyber. A secret underground organization. They want you dead, Markus. That's why I tried to kill you that night. I failed, but whoever they send next will not. I… I had to warn you. You need to know."

Connor heart pounded as silence filled the air, Markus and his friends staring at him with wide eyes. It wasn't until Hank moved slightly, shifting to stand upright instead of leaning, that the tense silence broke. Connor turned his wide eyes onto Hank, who held his hands up in a 'hold on a second here' position.

"Hold up. Go back. First, what the ever-loving fuck is Cyber? Second, why the fuck do they want Markus dead? And third, what the fuck?!"

Connor winced at the angry confusion in Hank's voice, his eyes filled with steel. Oh, no. Hank hated him now. Oh God. Oh, God.

Connor was about to stammer out an explanation, heart clenching with panic, but Markus beat him to the punch. Voice calm and steady, Markus began, eyes on Hank.

"Cyber started as a subset of the tech company CyberLife. It promised human modification to help win the Cold War, should it come to that. The U.S. government coopted the project and has been secretly building the organization without public knowledge ever since. It's hidden so far underground that only a select few know about it. And-" Markus paused, then moved his shrewd eyes onto Connor, his face betraying none of his emotions.

"And they want me dead because I have been moving against them. Trying to dismantle the whole operation. That's why I wanted you to come here, Connor. To keep an eye on you. And to get you away from that mentality, to give you the chance that my father gave me. And it's worked, I see." Markus smiled slightly at that, eyes crinkling as he looked at Connor. Connor did his best not to throw up with the way his stomach turned.

"You know about Cyber," he whispered, staring Markus in the eye. Markus sobered, and nodded. Connor looked away briefly, before looking back. "How? How do you know about them?"

Markus grimaced at that, looking around the room. Everyone was silent as Markus shrugged, looking back at Connor.

"I was one of their experiments, before my father died. I was a gift from Kamski to my father, given when I was 10. I was a prototype, raised since birth as part of the Company. I was designed to care for aging individuals, given to my father as a gift, as he got older. He always treated me kindly, though, and made me realize that I was more than the machine they had turned me into. When I first started to rise up against Cyber, I disguised my actions as part of the movement against police brutality. I mean, of course I did assist in challenging the police system and their failings, no offense Hank, but my ultimate goal has always been a much bigger one. I wish to destroy Cyber, to dismantle the organization completely and totally. We all do," Markus added, gesturing to the others. Connor looked at them, eyes wide, mind reeling with the information. He'd never heard of Markus before he'd been tasked to kill him. How…?

Simon came forward, then, smiling his sad smile. Connor watched him, wary.

"When I turned 18, a few friends and I saw an ad for a science experiment that would pay very well if we joined. We had run out of money, our parents not involved in our lives anymore. So, we all went, completed their training, did everything they asked. And when it came time for the surgery, to implant their devices into our heads, only I survived. They sedated me and had me do what they wanted. I was able to break out of their control after a few years and was sent here, to Jericho, after a police officer heard me talking about a secret underground mind control facility. It wasn't until I met Markus that I realized I really wasn't insane."

Josh stepped forward after Simon finished, hands in his pockets, frown on his face.

"My baby sister got sick when I was 12, an inoperable brain tumor. They promised that if we both underwent their experiments that they'd be able to save her. My parents agreed. She died. I survived. After that my parents gave me to them, to train me. I escaped when I was 23, and found my way here, to Jericho."

Connor turned his eyes to North, then, wondering what her story was. However, instead of sharing, she just scowled deeper and crossed her arms. Obviously, she did not intend to share. That was fine, Connor thought. His mind was already reeling from what he'd learned. It was… intense, to say the least.

Markus stepped closer to Connor and put his hand on Connor's shoulder, looking him in the eye.

"And it's not just us. Kara was a housekeeper, designed to complete tasks fully and completely with ease. Luther was a laborer, modified to have superhuman strength and sight. The Jerry's, from the abandoned amusement park? Kara and Alice found them, abandoned experiments left to die.

"You see, we all found our way here, to Jericho, where Rose helped us all get better enough to fight back. As soon as I was awoken, I was determined to make Jericho a safe place for people like us, so we had somewhere to go. All the while, I learned about psychology and law, so that I could properly fight against Cyber when the time came. And the time has come. We are so close to gaining the freedom and peace that we deserve. I've found a way to out Cyber to the public. It won't be easy, but we're almost ready to do it." Markus paused then and looked back at the others. It seemed like they were conversing through thought alone, because North was shaking her head while scowling, while Josh was nodding slowly, eyes distant as he thought of something. Simon just looked between Markus and Connor, hesitant look on his face. Whatever it was that Markus saw there, he obviously had made up his mind, as he nodded once to himself, before looking back at Connor with determined eyes.

"Now, this isn't what I had originally planned, as I hadn't expected you to reject their mentality so soon, but if you want, you can help us. You'll need to stay here, since you are a patient and could use the assistance the facility provides, but you could help us from the outside, working computers and phones. But it's completely up to you, Connor. If you choose not to, no one here will hold it against you. I know this is a lot, and if it were up to me, I wouldn't have told you any of this for quite some time. But you kind of forced my hand. And time is running out. Your attempt on my life proved that to us. We must strike, quickly. Before it's too late."

Markus finished after that and took a step back, smiling minutely at Connor, his eyes turned troubled. Clearly, Connor had thrown a wrench into his plans. Well, the feeling was mutual, as Connor had no idea what to do with any of this. He'd just wanted to warn Markus and go. He hadn't really expected to take down Cyber. I mean, sure, it sounded like a nice dream. But, despite his minute plans before telling the group the truth, he hadn't actually expected it to ever become reality, not so soon. Not like this was sounding. This wasn't a spur of the moment idea. This was… this was large. Monumental. This could make or break all of them. What could he do? How could he help?

He didn't know. He didn't know how he could help. Or if he physically could help. He was so lost. So confused. He distantly heard Hank's gruff voice start, and gratefully latched on to it, needing something else to think about.

"Wait, hold on a single fucking second here. So, you're telling me that, not only is there a secret underground facility that brainwashes people and makes them into fucking super humans, but each of you are products of that company? And this, this whole fucking facility is just a, a, fucking, save haven or some shit? So, was every fucking thing you told me a lie, Markus? Did I ever fucking know you, at all, or was this whole god damn thing a fucking lie?!" Hank growled, hand clenched, glaring daggers at Markus. Connor felt the desire to walk up beside Hank and sooth his anger. He might have done so, if he hadn't felt just as lost and confused as the older man. Connor's confusion just didn't translate into anger, like Hank's.

Markus gave Hank a sad look, before looking away towards the ground. Silence reigned for a moment, thick and palpable. Then Markus looked up, eyes determined.

"I'm sorry Hank. To answer your last question first, no, it wasn't a lie. I truly enjoyed spending time here, with the patients. With you. And no, Jericho isn't just a safe haven for the victims of Cyber. It's just word-of-mouth and luck, or the lack of it, that brought us all together here. I decided, after I got out, to help make it into a place that people like us could go. It's a sad fact that many individuals who go through these modifications end up with mental illnesses related to them, most commonly depersonalization or dissociative disorders. With Rose's help, we can assist people in readjusting to life in the real world. I… I'm sorry I didn't tell you Hank. I just-"

Hank interrupted, eyes murderous, fists clenched so hard they were turning white.

"Just couldn't trust an ex-cop, huh? Well, fuck you, Markus. If you'd told me, I'd have helped. You fucking know I would have. So fuck you, and fuck your fucking friends."

Markus glared back, showing his first sign of anger since Connor had met him.

"That wasn't what I was going to say. Of course I trust you, Hank. Of everyone in this facility, you're the one I trust most, outside of my friends. But you're in here for a reason. And I didn't want to make you choose between getting better and helping us. I didn't lie to you, Hank, when I said I wanted you to get better. That you deserved to get better. Even now I wish you hadn't been here for this conversation. You've gotten better since you've met Connor, but you're still not quite at a place where I think you can handle all of this. I'm sorry, Han-"

Markus barely had time to get the apology out before he was slammed into the wall, everyone in the room moving instantly. Connor had moved towards Hank, to try and help him calm down, while the others moved to Markus, to help him out. Everyone froze when Markus lifted a hand, to the best of his ability, eyes never once leaving Hank's deadly ones.

"You fucking prick. Who gave you the right to make decisions for me, huh? What the fuck let you think that I can't make my own decisions? I may have depression, but I know myself and I know my limits. Who the fuck are you to tell me who I am?" Hank growled slamming Markus into the wall for emphasis. Markus, to his credit, didn't change expressions, though he did look a touch more annoyed.

"Are you honestly telling me that you'd have been able to help before now? You tried to kill yourself just the previous month, Hank! I had to watch as they rushed you to the hospital to get a blood transfusion! You weren't, and still aren't, in a place to help. I'm sorry Hank, but it's how it is."

Hank barred his teeth at that, before shoving Markus away to go and pace the limited space. Connor moved towards him at last, body singing as he grew closer. He gently laid a hand on Hank's forearm, eyes deep with concern. Hank just jerked his eyes up to meet Connor's, face softening when he saw him. A second passed, before Hank's face grew closed off once more.

"Tell me something, Connor. Had I not been here today, had I been fucking around outside, would you have ever told me any of this? Or would you have also left me in the dark?"

Connor froze at the question, turning his eyes away. What would he have done…?

"I… I don't know, Hank. I don't know." Connor said the words like they were the worst secret he possibly could have kept. And maybe they were, as Hank deflated when he heard them, all the fight escaping out of him.

"Right. Of course. You all think I'm a fucking invalid, worthless to everyone. Well, fuck you. All of you."

Hank shook his head, stumbling away from Connor, towards the door. He looked at Markus again and scowled.

"You know, I may not be in the best shape, but neither is Connor. Kid fucking thinks he's a robot, for Christ's sake. And yet you're dragging him into your war, you fucking hypocrite. But you know what? I'm done. I'm just… done. I'm going to go now, process this shit, and you all better be gone by the time I come back. And don't fucking come near me until I'm done thinking. That goes for all of you," Hank added, eyes darting to Connor. Connor felt his heart shatter at the words, watching the man harshly open the door and storm out, door slamming loudly on his way out. Connor couldn't help his flinch at the sound. It had seemed so… final.

Connor distantly heard North's voice, but it was like it came from underwater. It was so muffled to his ears.

"Markus, we have to go after him! He knows too much, we can't let him leave!" North moved to follow Hank, but Markus stopped her, gentle hand on her arm.

"North, don't. Like I said, I trust him. Hank might be gruff and likes to bark, but he wouldn't do anything to harm us. Any of us," Markus added, side-eying Connor. Connor just stared numbly back, no idea what to do then.

So much had happened in such little time. To think, it had been barely a week previous that he had still been stuck in his programming, unable to feel. Now he could feel so, so much. Most of it currently being pain. And he was now unwittingly part of a plan to stop his former (?) employers. His former educators. He had fallen in love (maybe, possibly), realized that love was not what it was cracked up to be, felt the keen sting of heartbreak… so much had happened. Where could he even begin?

Markus must have seen something in Connor's eyes, for the man cleared his throat.

"Why don't we just leave Connor and Hank alone for now, okay? We can figure out what to do about them later. It'll work out, I promise. And Connor-" Markus turned his eyes to Connor, face serious- "please know that none of this has to affect you. Hank is right. You're still learning to get better. It took me at least a month here before I started to show signs of improvement. So please, focus on yourself first and foremost. But the choice is yours. Whatever you choose, I will be behind you one hundred percent. I promise. Now we should probably leave. We've encroached on your hospitality long enough. Thank you, Connor, for telling me about the attempt on my life and for trying to warn me about Cyber. If I hadn't already known, it would have helped immeasurably. Goodnight, Connor. I'll see you Monday."

With that, Markus strode out of the room, leaving the three volunteers behind with Connor. Not long after, North scowled deeply and stormed out after Markus, and Josh gave a friendly, if awkward, wave goodbye as he walked casually out the door. Soon, the only two remaining were Connor and Simon, who looked up at Connor after a long moment of silence.

"Thank you, Connor, for not killing Markus. For wanting to tell us about the Company. What he is doing, what he means to m- to all of us… it can't be explained. He'll free us all. So thank you. He's needed," Simon spoke in his soft, lilting voice, eyes filled with unknown sadness. Connor thought it was funny, being thanked for not killing someone, but he accepted it. Part of him made a note on the fact that Simon had obviously stopped himself from saying 'me,' when talking about what Markus meant. Maybe North wasn't the only one with a crush.

Before Connor could reply back, Simon carefully left the room, closing the door gently behind him, trapping Connor with his thoughts.

God, this had all gotten messed up. He had just wanted to warn Markus. Yes, part of him had wanted to take down Cyber, but now that it was an actual possibility, he had no idea what to do.

Should he help? Should he try to save his people, others like him? Should he take down everything he ever knew?

Should he take down Amanda?

Connor felt his heart clench at that, at the thought of not only betraying Amanda, but destroying everything she stood for. Despite everything, Connor loved Amanda. She was the closest thing he had to a mother, despite all the things she had done to him. No matter how many times she hit him, or yelled at him, she had always seemed to care, at least a little. Connor could remember the days he'd spent on her lap, when he'd been young, Amanda reading him a story. Or how she'd smile at him when he had completed a mission. He had to believe that it wasn't all a lie. That she had cared for him. That she still cared.

Maybe he could save her? He could help take down Cyber and help her get away from their mentality? Maybe she'd understand why he had to do this? Maybe it would work out?

Connor scoffed, and sat on his bed, placing his head in his hands, like he had seen Hank do a few times. It wouldn't be that easy. If he did this, Amanda would hate him. Irreparably, forever. She'd be so disappointed. He hated it, but what choice did he have? So many people like him were suffering out there. More than he even knew. And what of the people Cyber killed each day? How could Connor live with himself if he did nothing?

Hank would hate him if he did nothing.

Connor's heart clenched at that, and suddenly his mind was made up. He couldn't live with Hank hating him. In the short week that he'd known the man, he had come to realize that he never wanted to be parted from him. Even knowing that Hank was angry now made him hurt deep inside. He'd fight the world itself if it meant that he'd stay with Hank. If it meant Hank would smile at him so sweetly.

He still didn't know if it was love, or if it was just deep affection. But he knew that he couldn't ignore it. He'd follow Hank anywhere the man wanted to go. And if Hank wanted to take down Cyber, so would he. If Hank didn't want to take down Cyber, neither would he.

It was that simple.