Despite the cold bite to the November air, you found yourself actually enjoying being outside in the sunlight. You hadn't been in Jericho for more than a few hours, but the cramped, dark hallways were enough to make you appreciate the open sky. You sat with your legs dangling over the edge of the roof you sat on. The building it belonged to was abandoned, run down and forgotten, the kind of place you would have delighted in exploring when you were a kid.

Now, it was a good place to clear your head for a moment.

You had made it into Jericho, to Markus and his cause. While you may not have been welcomed, you were in the fight now. You hadn't really thought about what you would feel if your plan worked, nor had you really taken time to think about it now that it was actually a reality. In fact, in the time that you'd been at Jericho all you'd really been able to do was try to catch up on some sleep. Try being the operative word.

Looking out into the horizon of Detroit, you found that you were finally able to shut your mind up, even if only for a moment. You could see why Markus would like it up here, why he'd chosen this as the spot to talk to you.

You heard footsteps and you pulled your gaze away from the low-hanging sun. Sure enough, you found Markus rounding the corner, taking long, deliberate steps towards where you sat. You offered him a smile, watching him as he took a seat on your right. His eyes, glinting green and blue in the morning light, stayed focused on you, pinning you in place effortlessly. You tried to gage his expression, deciphering what he might have to say. You probably knew him better than anyone at Jericho, but even you couldn't tell what he was going to say now. Always so damn serious. Not that you could fault him for that.

Whatever he was going to say, you expected that it would be some sort of reprimand. You braed yourself when his lips parted, prepared for a few choice variations of 'What the hell were you thinking?'

"I'm glad you're here," he said.

Oh, you couldn't help but think, didn't see that one coming.

"I shouldn't be, but I'm glad." Your heart settled and jumped at the same time, a strange feeling that you tried to ignore.

"Well . . . I'm glad you're glad," you smirked, earning a gentle side-eye from the android. It was the sort of exchange you and your friends had, back when the world made sense. Very different circumstances now, but the familiarity put you at ease. It was also enough for you to test the waters; to see how badly you'd pissed him off by coming here. Not that bad, apparently. You let the air between the two of you settle before you spoke again. "They really look up to you. The androids." You looked back towards the horizon, towards where Jericho sat, unassuming and unimpressive to anyone who didn't know what was inside. "Simon told me how much you've done for them."

Markus shook his head, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward, towards the edge you sat on. He let out a huff, letting his eyes drift closed. "I'm not sure if anything I'm doing is helping them at all."

It wasn't the first time you heard that tone from him. He had sounded unsure before, but there was something more to it now. Like he was weighing options in his head.

You wanted to tell him that he was doing everything right, that you had no doubts, but you realized that you couldn't tell him that and have it be true. You had no idea how any of this was going to play out and neither did he. "They aren't asking you to be perfect," you tried, knowing that you were at least heading in the right direction when he looked at you. "They're asking you to do what you can." You paused, shrugging. "Although I guess that could be worse . . ." you looked back to Markus, who was giving you a look of pity. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good at this."

"No, not really."

Your eyes went wide, first because of shock. Then because you realized that Markus had just joked with you.

"Hey!" You feigned offense, and Markus cracked a smile, chuckling. His laugh was infectious. For a moment, you forgot that there were hundreds of androids just below you that were fighting for their freedom. You forgot that Markus had been killed and brought back, and that just a few hours ago, you could have been arrested or worse. You were just sharing a laugh with someone you loved, one step away from danger.

It was over too soon, leaving you and Markus back in the real world. "What did you want to talk about?" You had put it off long enough. Now that you were on more sure footing, you felt safer finally asking the question.

The intense expression that Markus wore so well returned. "Josh and I have a plan." His words were hesitant. You knew that tone. It was the kind of tone someone used when they were about to propose something dangerous. Non-committal and light, like walking in a room full of trip-wires. Ready to run at any moment if there was a misstep. Ready to write the plan off as foolish at a moment's notice. "We want to make a statement that we are people, and that all we want is our freedom. We're going to march in Grand Circus Park."

You nodded. It was all you could think to do. Hundreds of androids storming the streets, demanding freedom from the people who had built them . . . it would get their attention, that much you were sure of. It was the kind of thing you read about in history class. Never once did you imagine that you would be part of such a movement. You never thought that you would be there when history was made. Then again, you imagined that many people across history could say the same.

"You don't sound sure about it," you observed.

Markus shook his head. "No. It needs to happen, humans need to see that we're willing to take action." There was something reserved about the way he said it that let you know something wasn't as certain in his head as he was letting on.

"So what's bothering you?"

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "I don't know what's going to happen; how they're going to respond." He was afraid, you could see it in his eyes. "I want to think that they'll understand, but there's no way of knowing."

You wished you had an answer for him, but you didn't. You didn't know what might happen beyond the feeling in your gut and your lack of faith in people. As far as those instincts went, you could say with some confidence that people would be afraid of Markus and the rest of Jericho. And you knew well what people did when they were afraid. "I don't know. If they don't understand . . ." you weren't sure what to ask. What are you prepared to do? Would you fight for your cause? You settled with something different. "What do you want them to see you as?"

Markus didn't have to think long to come up with his answer. "People."

There was something heartbreaking about the way he said it. Hell, the concept by itself was enough to shake you, but the way Markus' face contorted, the heart that his voice was full of . . . it made you reach out and take his hand, lacing your cold fingers between his. "Then show them who you are." Your voice found its strength as you spoke, but the way Markus squeezed your hand took it away just as soon as it came.

Green and blue met your gaze, crystallized under the golden light of the morning. All of his focus was on you, sincere and almost reverent. You could never remember Markus looking at you the way he was now. It was the kind of look that accompanied a promise, you realized. The look you might give someone when telling them that you would always have their back, that you would always be there. Markus didn't say anything like that; he didn't need to. Your hand in his, warm against the cold November morning was enough.

"Thank you," he hummed, giving you a smile.

You shrugged, smiling back at him. "Glad my shitty advice is good for something." The two of you let your hands slip apart, standing together. You leaned back to stretch your back as you stood, your muscles stiff. "I'm coming with you, by the way. On the march."

Markus didn't like the idea, that much you could see, but he didn't speak against it. "I know." His voice was low, again, his stern look returning. "Just be careful."

You knew he wasn't talking only about the march.

"I always am."

A lie, and not a very good one.

It was funny, how unperceptive people were. Maybe it was that they didn't want to acknowledge their problems until they become unavoidable. Or maybe it was that they really just didn't notice when things were changing around them until someone slapped them in the face to wake them up. Either way, no one noticed the growing number of androids walking down the street until there were enough to fill a stadium.

Once they did notice, all they could do was stare, dumbfounded. Like Markus and the rest of Jericho had just materialized out of thin air.

Then, with an effectively captive audience, the march began.

Markus, naturally, was at the front of it all, setting a slow pace for the rest of the androids behind him. His gaze was fixed out in front of him, determined and calm. North and Josh flanked him, and just behind them were you and Simon. It was hard not to feel your chest swell as you walked alongside the androids, a heavy inspiration that you only heard about in stories.

But Markus was like something out of a story, beckoning other androids over to him and adding them to the cause. Even when his gaze turned back to you, you found no signs of uncertainty. No fear, no hesitation. He was more beautiful now than he had ever been. As your confidence grew you picked up your pace, moving closer to Markus. You couldn't help but smile, thinking of the idiots who pushed him around because they needed someone to be mad at. You hoped that they could see him now, that they could see all of the androids marching for their freedom.

Then again, you were sure that almost every camera within range was trained on Markus and the rest of Jericho. People were watching, and not just the ones in Grand Circus Park.

You were part of something that the world was watching, and nothing would be the same after it was over. You were doing something that mattered and it was more fulfilling than even the graffitti you had plastered across Detroit. It made you feel powerful, even if it wasn't your fight. More powerful than you had ever felt in your life.

Then you heard the wailing of police sirens and that power you felt was gone.

One moment they weren't there and the next you were surrounded. Cruisers blocked you in, pulling up in the middle of the road as you turned out of the shopping mall. The unmistakable sound of a helicopter blasted through the air, stirring up your hair as it flew overhead. The SWAT trucks followed, and from them spilled dozens of men in riot gear. Shields up, guns fixed on the androids. On you. Shit shit shit shit.

Your breath caught in your throat.

You came to a stop, aware only of Markus and Josh on either side of you, and that there were guns pointing at you. Markus looked over at you, his eyes softening for just a moment before he looked back towards the barricade of SWAT officers.

"We came here to demonstrate peacefully, and tell humans that we are living beings." You had no idea how he was staying so calm. You could feel your heart hammering, like it was ready to explode at a moment's notice. The voice that answered didn't help.

"This is an illegal gathering. Disperse immediately or we will open fire."

Suddenly, you snapped to attention, the threat of death catching your focus. Why? Would they really gun down a group of unarmed protestors? You knew the answer, deep down, and it filled you with just as much rage as fear. They didn't see the androids as people, so what guilt was there in murdering them?

"We're not looking for confrontation." Still, Markus' voice was steady. "We've done no harm. We have no intention of doing any, but know that we are not going anywhere until we have secured our freedom."

You knew the answer before you heard it, but it still made dread coil in the pit of your assurance of death if Markus held his ground. Give up or die, those were the choices being laid out for him.

North was the first to speak against those choices. "Markus, they're gonna kill us. We have to attack! There's more of us, we can take them!"

"If we attack, we'll start a war." Josh's voice was full of urgency. "We have to show them that we're not violent. We should just stand our ground, even if it means dying here."

You couldn't think. Or rather, you were thinking too much. There were too many possibilities going through your head, too many thoughts to sort through them all. You didn't realize that Simon was looking at you, concerned. You were barely able to hear his words. "Dying here won't solve anything." He said. Your eyes remained fixed on the guns in front of you. "Markus, we need to go before it's too late."

"No!" You weren't even aware that you'd spoke until the androids around you turned to face you. "We can't run. This will all be pointless if you do." It was the truth. People respected strength. Something had to be done.

No matter how much you wanted to run, you found it in yourself to stay planted on the ground.

It was strange, knowing that your life or death could hinge on what Markus said next. God, you could never remember being so afraid, like every nerve in your body was being pulled on. Where you felt untouchable before, you now felt like glass. Too easy to break. You saw some of the riot shields lower to the ground, guns moving in to replace them. You heard the man on the other side of the street yell again, his words lost to the static in your head. You were focused on Markus. This was it. The time to decide was now.

"We have to show them we won't back down." Your throat tightened and you forced yourself to keep your eyes on Markus. Don't look death in the eye. "We stay right here."

You had heard gunshots in movies. You'd heard them off in the distance, a decently common occurrence in the neighborhood you grew up in. You had a gun pointed at you for the first time just hours ago. None of that prepared you for the pops of machine gun fire, or the soft sounds of those bullets hitting flesh. It yanked you out of your body, an effort to protect yourself with no other way left to you. You saw androids fall behind you, blue blood spilling onto the white snow.

You could run. You knew you could save yourself, turn and never come back. You could have run, but you didn't. In the moment, you couldn't say what kept you in place as the guns went off in front of you. There was too much going on around you to piece out your thoughts.

Your breathing quickened. Your muscles went rigid.

I'm going to die.

A hand wrapping around your own stopped everything. You looked down, finding Markus' fingers entwined with yours, just the way they had been this morning, a world away. He didn't look back at you, but it was enough to know that he was there. You found some strength in that, in knowing that you weren't alone. You hoped he did too . . .

I should have told him.

Josh tried to reassure him as the androids fell. "We have to make a statement. We have to stay put no matter what."

"Please Markus, we can't let them slaughter us without fighting back!" You wanted to agree with North. You did agree with her. This was wrong. Innocent androids were dying for no reason, and more were about to. You shouldn't have to just stand there and take it, Markus. You'd told him that, not too long ago.

"We're not moving." Markus' words were like law, and everyone stayed still. Even as another round of gunfire went off. Even as you flinched, waiting to see if a bullet was intended for you.

"Markus! What are you doing? They're gonna kill us all!" North almost begged.

She was right. You didn't think that they would be taking any prisoners today. As far as they were concerned, the deviants were just a bunch of machines going haywire. And you were going to die with them.

Those cops better be damn good shots. You wanted it to be quick. It probably wouldn't be. You had never been lucky in that respect. You'd been unlucky enough to be born to a family with three other kids, and not enough money to put one of them through college. You'd been unlucky enough to be saddled with a boss that didn't give two shits about your well-being. You'd been unlucky enough to fall in love with an android who would never know how you felt because you'd both be dead in a few moments. Your last heartbeats. You held onto Markus like a lifeline, like he was the only thing keeping you anchored to the world.

You risked one final look around. You saw Josh at your side, trying himself to look brave and doing a far better job of it than you were. You saw North, angry as ever but afraid too. A person, just like you, who didn't want to die but was willing to.

When you looked at Simon, he met your eyes. He had wanted to run. He didn't want to die, either, and he'd stayed. When he looked back at you, there was something strengthening in his gaze.

There were worse ways to go, you supposed. Worse ways than holding hands with the man you loved, fighting for something that you believed in. Martyrdom always looked so good in the books. You had never expected to experience it first-hand. That was a trend today, it seemed.

You stood, ready to see if all the stories about heaven were true. You turned forward again, letting your eyes drift closed. Then, you felt Markus' hand slip out of yours.

Your eyes snapped open, and you watched Markus step forward. Everything around you - the guns, the snow, the chaos - stopped.

As Markus walked forward, the world waited for him to make a move.

He could have attacked, and you thought that he might for a moment. Instead, he stopped in the middle of the two groups, standing still. You realized what he was doing too late, your eyes going wide. "Markus!" You screamed, and it felt like the world had deafened itself to you.

The next thing you heard was gunshots and then Markus fell backwards, blue blood splattering into the air.

You couldn't move.

The androids behind you scattered, running into the street where you'd come from. You stayed still, watching Markus hit the ground. Some of the SWAT team closed in, the others continuing to fire into the crowd. You could almost forget the bullets that flew through the air, or that you might be shot at any moment. Instead, you were focused on your friend, lying motionless in the street. No. No no no no no please no.

He couldn't be dead.

You wouldn't let him be dead.

Not again.

His eyes fluttered open, and you held your breath. He was alive, but with the SWAT team closing in, you knew that he wouldn't be for long if you didn't do something.

Move.

Save him.

Move. Move!

God damn it MOVE-

You didn't see the android until he landed the first blow against the officer. He smashed against the SWAT team with a precision and grace you could never match. It shocked you into action, and you were running, ignoring the sound of gunfire around you. "Markus!" you called his name, but he didn't hear you, his attention on the android that had rushed in to save him. You didn't look up, even as you heard the sound of police batons swinging into flesh. "Come on, Markus!" you urged, dragging him back with all your strength. He finally seemed to get his bearings and looked up to you, eyes wide.

He looped his arm around you, staring at you for a split-second like he had never expected to see you again.

"Quick! They're coming!" You bared your teeth as you helped to lift Markus, looking back at the SWAT team, trying to see if they were following. Instead, you found the android lying beaten on the ground. Half of his face was missing, a mess of blue and grey. Dark eyes looked back at Markus as you pulled him to his feet. Then, they looked to you and held your gaze. You had never seen this android before, didn't even know his name. It didn't make it any easier to watch a gun be lined up over him, or his acceptance that this was his end.

You looked away just as the trigger was pulled, running as fast as you could with Markus leaning against you.