The android-flu had finally passed and Connor had fully recovered from the severe malfunction that left him bedridden for a full week. Having regained enough strength to walk about the house without his body trembling or head swimming with dizziness Connor elected to replenish his somewhat low Thirium volume while watching Sumo running about in the backyard to enjoy the first warm, dry spring day in Detroit. Stepping further into the backyard Connor looked up and toward the warming rays of the sun to let the natural light caress his skin with a comforting presence. Springtime was far more enjoyable than a dreary fall or freezing winter for the developing deviant, and he decided he'd spend more time enjoying the good weather since he had to hide away from so much of the poor weather over the past few months.

Scanning the backyard Connor tracked the sun and determined which locations would be ideal for his and Hank's plants to grow in the sunlight without being exposed to the often unpredictable weather at the same time. Finishing his Thirium Connor placed the now empty bottle in the recycling bin under the kitchen sink then walked down the hallway to get his plant from the windowsill in his bedroom, as well as Hank's plant from his own bedroom window.

Carrying the two seedlings outside Connor placed them down on the small section of brick patio that outlined the grass beneath the kitchen window, and positioned them appropriately to gain warm sunlight more directly. Worried about the ground possibly being too cold for the seedlings to handle Connor walked over to the garage at the end of the side driveway and located an old wooden storage crate overturned in the corner partially buried under an old painter's tarp.

"This should keep the plants high enough up from the ground to keep them getting too cold as they grow."

Speaking aloud to himself, a strange trait he had recently developed as his deviancy continued to change and alter his personality, Connor carried the wooden crate back to the small brick patio and set it down upside down so the plants could rest on its wooden body up and away from the cool bricks. Repositioning the plants and the crate Connor took a step back and approved of their current placement in the sunlight.

"Hopefully the spring will be kind to the seedlings and give them the chance they need to flourish."

"I sure hope you're talking to Sumo and not yourself." Hank's voice responded as he walked around the side of the house to check out the backyard himself now that the brutal winter was finally over. The space of property had basically belonged to Sumo ever since Hank lost his family since he had no reason to go out back without his son to play games with, but now it seemed like Hank was able to finally move on without feeling guilty. "How do you feel?"

"I'm functioning at optimal parameters without any sign of malfunction or lingering error."

"So... better?"

"Yes." Connor confirmed as he gave Hank a kind nod of his head. "I feel better."

"Good. You looked absolutely miserable and I hated seeing you look so beat down."

"I didn't find it to be an enjoyable experience, either." Motioning to the plants Connor asked for Hank's opinion on the matter. "Is this appropriate?"

"Letting plants outside to get some sunlight, air and fresh rain is very appropriate. Just make sure they get brought back inside if we get hit with a damn frost. Michigan weather doesn't not play well with others."

"Noted. May I ask what happened at the precinct today during my absence?"

"Uh, nothing much. I spent the week handling a bunch of paperwork and finalizing reports that were overdue, and only dealt with the occasional deviant complaint from the oddball bigoted human. Today I met a lady who were convinced that the deviant next door was suddenly spying on her or some shit, even though the supposedly offensive deviant was rarely home during the day."

Connor's blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow with confusion at the comment. "What made the neighbor think they were being spied on?"

"The deviant neighbor installed security cameras to monitor their own property for protection."

"...It sounds like it's the human neighbor who is the spy, not the deviant."

"Exactly. She didn't appreciate me calling her out on her bullshit, but I don't get paid enough to care about her being offended by the facts."

"I'll keep that type of indifference in mind."

"That's good to know." Patting the side of his leg Hank called over Sumo as the massive dog laid on his back in the middle of the cool green grass. Sumo was rolling around happily and enjoying the warm spring day in his own silly way. "Come on, Sumo. Let's get ya' back inside before you start to smell like the lawn."

Rolling onto his side Sumo happily got to his paws and plodded over to Hank and offered the senior detective his paw to shake.

"Yeah, yeah. Nice to see ya', too. But you're still not going to spend the whole day in the yard." Opening the backdoor Hank motioned for Sumo to go inside while he remained outside with Connor for a moment. "So, are you ready to go back to work tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'm ready."

"That's good, but just remember if you want one more day to recover and rest no one is going to look down on you. The flu kicks everyone's ass."

"I'm aware, but I'm ready." Detecting Hank's stress levels slowly rising Connor's curiosity got the better of him and he needed to ask why Hank was seemingly on edge, or at the very least uncomfortable. "Something is currently preoccupying your thoughts and I doubt it's me returning to the precinct. May I ask what is bothering you?"

"It's not so much bothering me as it's..." It was a struggle to put his current mindset into words but the senior detective succeeded anyway. "It's fuckin' annoying me."

"Can I ask what is annoying you, then?"

Falling silent for a moment Hank gave the deviant standing before him a studious glance, his blue eyes searching all over Connor's person as if looking for a reason to not discuss the matter any further, and finally forced himself to tell Connor the truth. "Before you got sick," reaching into his jean pocket Hank pulled out his phone and brought up the message sent by Markus for Connor to view for himself. "I got a message out of the blue and I was too pissed off to tell ya' about it, and then I just didn't want you to stress out any further while you were down and miserably sick."

Brow slightly furrowed Connor read over the message that Hank presented to him and his blue L.E.D. returned to a distressed yellow as he carefully read the unexpected information with a keen eye. "...Markus?"

'I'm sorry for reaching out like this but I cannot in good conscience ignore what I have done any longer. You're the only one that Connor trusts and I'm willing to bet that you'll be honest with him and let him know that I wish to speak with him so we can finally put this matter to rest. Please pass him the message on my behalf.'

Connor's eyes darkened as his yellow L.E.D. flashed to red for a moment.

"Connor? This is your decision." Pocketing his phone Hank waited for the deviant to respond to the intrusive message and request. "I didn't reply to the message but I did swear to myself when I read it. The arrogant bastard doesn't seem to get the message that you want to be left the fuck alone."

"I..." Trailing off for a moment Connor's mind began to race with dozens of preconstructed outcomes that could result from such a meeting. "I need to think."

"Take all the time you need. And remember, you don't owe that self-righteous prick any answer at all." Acting as a voice of reason and a shoulder to lean on Hank made sure Connor knew he was free to make his own decision on the matter. "Just say the word and I'll block him so he can never contact me again, hell, I might even change phones just to make it stick!"

"I just..." Lost and confused by such a simple request left Connor statuesque where he stood. "I just don't know what to do."

"Think on it for as long as you need, son." Refraining from putting his hand on Connor's shoulder for the sake of keeping the deviant from feeling overwhelmed Hank took a step back and approached the backdoor. "When you're ready to decide tell me, and I'll help you in any way I can."

Staying outside in the warming rays of the the sun Connor glanced down at the tiny seedlings in their respective terracotta pots as if expecting something to happen. The prospect of new life growing from something as cold and dreary as dirt seemed like an impossible concept and yet that's how all natural life began. It sprouted from something dark and was often alone, and it grows into something more complex as it breaks free of its confining origins to become something new, something better, something stronger than it had previously been.

Contemplating the offer, contemplating how the entire deviant community could be affected by the meeting, contemplating how the meeting could affect him on a personal level, Connor remained personally conflicted and lost in thought. It was just one of the many life saving decisions that Connor would have to make throughout his entire deviant life, and while it wasn't the first one he'd ever have to make such a important decision it was the first time where his personal choice could have a drastic impact on everyone around him in a way that could be extremely positive or lethally negative.

Looking up at the bright rays of the sun streaming through the tree branches of the large oak tree on the neighbors side of the fence, seeing the shadows being cast by the light peering through all obstacles in its path and feeling those very shadows fall over himself Connor closed his eyes and tried to think not with his mind, but with his heart.

"...What should I do?"

Unable to focus on anything regarding android rights and laws, unable to think about anything but his own personal failures and inability to bring peace to his own people, Markus retreated from New Jericho Tower and sought solitude and guidance from Carl in the safety of his home. It was often remarked as being the act of a coward to hide from the sanctuary and go into isolation, which of course only strengthened the rumors that Markus was a failure as a leader, but in those brief moments of respite Markus didn't care. He couldn't hear the whispers or the rumors, he couldn't feel the judgmental eyes watching his every move and he couldn't taste the bitterness of loss on his tongue.

Sitting alone in Carl's studio where the incomplete blue mural remained mounted high on the far wall Markus stared at Carl's unfinished masterpiece with a longing to understand what was happening to him, and why. Carl's work always spoke to the human heart by tapping into the mind's eye and allowing people to see what they were otherwise blind to. It seemed Markus just couldn't see anything beyond his own sense of failure.

Feeling despondent and alone Markus turned his attention to the canvas that he had painted prior to his own deviation. It had been left on the easel untouched since Markus finished his work on that fateful morning. The image staring back at him seemed foreign despite it being created by his own hand after it had been guided by his own heart beating softly in his chest.

The image of the human hand reaching upward to grasp the hand of the android reaching downward over a dark sky slowly brightening with light had been an image of hope for the future in Markus's heart, yet the image itself was so foreign and so long forgotten that Markus began to doubt that what he painted was actually his work. With a gentle hand Markus picked up the canvas and held it in a steadily tightening grip. Closing his mismatched eyes tears began to roll down his face and fall over the surface of the painting in small drops that sat upon the surface as small imperfections on an otherwise flawless image.

"Why did I paint this?" As his grip strengthened on the image the wooden frame began to crack, and the canvas stretched under the applied pressure. "It's... It's a lie!"

"The truth is in the eye of the beholder, Markus." Carl called out to the distressing deviant as he wheeled himself from the sitting room and into the gallery. "If that's what you painted and you painted it from your heart then it can't possibly be a lie."

"There is no hope left, Carl." Letting his grip lessen the stress on the image began to relax though the damage to the frame had been done. "Not for me at least. I don't... I don't deserve it."

"Why do you believe such a horrible thing?"

"Look at me." Putting the image back down on the easel Markus turned to face Carl directly as his tears continued to roll down his face. "I'm not a leader. I'm... I'm a fraud. I promised my people peace, freedom and happiness, but all I've done is create unrest, built walls and caused people to fear me and hide away in the shadows. I'm a liar, a hypocrite and a murderer."

"And you're still learning what it means to be alive and to make mistakes. You aren't a liar Markus, and maybe some of the things you've done can be perceived as hypocritical, as for the murder... That's all about perspective as well."

"No. I am a murderer. The Connor that helped with the Revolution may have the same model, appearance, had the same motivations and even the same memories of the Connor that I shot, but he's not the same person. I can see and understand that now."

"How so?"

"...North." Speaking her name still ached in his heart and it was audible in his every word. "She told me how she looked into his eyes and saw a broken shell of a being and how he just... It's like he isn't alive anymore because he's afraid to die again. I took away his life before he had the chance to live." Slumping down onto the stool before the painting Markus let his head hang low and his tears fall. "I'm a heartless killer who was so focused on my own successes I failed to see how my personal desires affected a completely innocent person in the process."

"Markus, listen to-"

"I'm a liar." The broken down deviant continued on in a shaky whisper. "I promised my people they'd be free and yet I keep putting up boundaries to keep them contained. I'm a hypocrite. I leave the tower whenever I want and return to my home whereas they're limited to where they can and cannot go in what's supposed to be a sanctuary. I'm a murderer. I took away Connor's life and I can never give it back."

Falling silent Carl's heart went out to his son as he listened to Markus confessing his sins from the very depths of his soul.

"It's no wonder North drifted away from me. I was supposed to be a savior and leader for all deviants in distress, now all I do is hide away behind walls and pass judgment without any right to do so. There's nothing I can do to undo my past mistakes."

"That doesn't mean you should stop striving for a better future, son." Wheeling closer to Markus in the gallery Carl's kind eyes lit up in the rays of the afternoon sun shining into the gallery. "Don't let the past define you."

"How can I not? Everyone in the deviant community knows what I did and now they're divided."

"Divided? Divided how?"

"Some deviants think I was right to kill Connor because he was the infamous 'Deviant Hunter' and had been tasked to finding all deviants and Jericho, and having us executed. But he never hurt anyone and he sided with me on Jericho because he... he was willing to trust me." Dragging his right thumb under his blue eye Markus felt his heart being divided as well. "Other deviants saw my act as one of cowardice and cruelty. So many of our people survived the Raid because of Connor helping us, hell... The only reason North survived is because he doubled back to protect her and myself when I went to get her after she had been injured by gunfire."

"To me it sounds like both sides are justified in their beliefs and that you're merely caught in the middle. It's no wonder you're so lost and conflicted." Being an impartial third party often helped guide someone along their way and Carl was no exception. "But there's one more perspective you haven't considered yet."

Lifting his tear filled gaze from the floor Markus dared to look Carl in the eyes as the spoke. "Which one?"

"Connor."

"He won't..." Returning his focus to the floor Markus closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "He won't talk to me. And I don't blame him."

"Did you send out that message extending an olive branch?"

"Yes. It's been almost nine days."

"Well, so what? He's got a busy life as a detective." Shrugging off the delayed response as nothing more than a hectic work week Carl refused to let Markus give up on himself just yet. "Maybe he's saving another deviant from being framed, or maybe he went on vacation. Who knows?"

"It can't be that simple."

"Why not? Life gets in the way of living, you need to learn to accept that."

"And if I can't?"

"Then you're doomed to be a pain-in-the-ass for wanting the whole world to stick to a schedule. With that attitude no one will ever invite you to a party."

Finally smirking at the lighthearted joke Markus's heart didn't feel quite so heavy anymore. "...If only it were that easy to adjust to this new world that I helped create." Putting his face into his palms the disheartened deviant leader leaned forward and let out an exasperated sigh through his fingers. "What a mess!"

Sitting cross legged on the brick patio before his seedling Connor stared at the smooth soil contained within the terracotta pot and just waited for something, anything, to finally happen. Between his scanner and his superior android vision Connor knew that the small seed had sprouted and was laying just beneath the soil's surface ready to break through at any moment. It had been over a month now and by all account the sprout should've broken through a week prior. The lack of progress was frustrating and it made Connor anxious for a positive change he knew was coming his way.

Thinking of his decision regarding Markus had exhausted his mind to the point where he could barely focus on anything else. Having been left alone to think and weigh his options Connor felt entirely uneasy about the next big decision he still had to make.

"I... I know that speaking to plants is supposed to help them grow." Whispering to the small seedling in the pot Connor glanced about to make sure Hank was listening in on him through an opened window or from the backdoor. With his his yellow L.E.D. cycling slowly Connor tried to distract himself from his own intrusive thoughts as much as possible. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say to a plant. You're not a dog who appreciates praise or obeys commands, and you're not a human or deviant who can hold a conversation."

Feeling like a fool Connor lowered his voice even further and stared at the soil with an expectant gaze.

"You are alive though. Just as I am. I suppose that's a good way to start off. We have common ground."

The backyard remained peaceful and undisturbed as Connor sat outside with his seedling on the warm spring day.

"Perhaps speaking to an unbiased form of life can help me make a decision? I... have been asked to confront the person who did egregious harm against my person. Many would state that what they did to me is unforgivable and just as many would say what he did was justified albeit cruel, but as I've grown and developed I've watched many other people who arguably were beyond redemption slowly improve themselves over time because they were given the chance to improve."

A gentle breeze blew over the backyard and with it Connor's rogue lock of hair over his left eye danced about gingerly across his forehead.

"Is it wrong to deny a person the chance to right their own wrongs? Is it justice to keep them in a state of mental anguish and guilt? Would I be just as bad as them for knowingly causing horrible pain with no care of the resulting consequences?"

Speaking of his options and his feelings seemed to help Connor place his thoughts in order much to the deviant's surprise.

"It seems unfair to deny someone the chance to redeem themself, and all the more cruel to want to watch them struggle. Life is never easy and with the difficulty that is living we become stronger and better. Could this be the only way for them to atone for their mistake, or even become a better person from whom they were before? Should I let them wander in their own darkness for all eternity, or help them find the light to move on and heal?"

A small disturbance in the pot caught Connor's attention as the small seedling finally began to sprout and push its way through the smooth dark surface and stretch itself upward to the light above. The tiny green stem with two equally tiny green leaves had broken through the brown soil at long last, and was now in search of the warmth of the sun's rays overhead as the afternoon turned to evening faster than Connor had even realized.

"You're really alive." The sight made his yellow L.E.D. return to blue at long last. "Did you... hear me?"

If a single seed could break through the darkness to find the light, then why couldn't one deviant who made a single mistake do that same?

"...I think I now know what I must do. Thank you for listening."

Standing up from the small section of brick patio Connor returned to the house through the backdoor and found Hank sitting on the lounger section of the couch with a worn-out hardcover book clutched in his hands. Approaching the couch warily Connor locked eyes with Hank as the senior detective lowered his book from his gaze and watched the deviant returning to the house after his deep search into his heart and his mind.

"Connor? What's up?"

"...Contact Markus." Tightening his hands into fists at his sides Connor gave Hank a serious stare that matched the confidence in his words. "We need to talk."

Barely able to stand his own melancholy presence Markus resided to sitting at the piano with his hands hovering over the keys with a longing to make them sing. It had been months since he was able to sit and play the piano, let alone find a place of quiet to channel his conflicted thoughts and feelings. Just as his fingertips began to softly caress the smooth surface of the white keys Markus was met with an unexpected cybernetic message that made his mismatched eyes go wide with shock as he abruptly stood up from the piano and crossed the sitting room with three long strides.

The invitation had been accepted.

Jogging up the staircase to the second floor of the mansion Markus entered Carl's bedroom where the elderly artist had finished taking his numerous prescriptions and was now laying in his bed reviewing the work of one of his pupils as the day came to an end.

"Carl? I need to go." Standing beside the bed Markus picked up Carl's right hand and held it in a firm but gentle grip. "I got a response and I can finally lay things to rest with Connor. I have to be there by seven o'clock tonight."

"That's great, Markus. Like I said, a delayed response isn't the end of the world."

"Are you going to be okay here with just David?"

"Why wouldn't I? He's a good kid and has been helping me out since the day I came back home after my heart attack." Patting his left palm over Markus's hand as he held tightly onto his right hand Carl gave the torn deviant a confident smile. "You go and do whatever it is you need to do in order to mend that rift and finally heal. I'll support you every step of the way."

Ever appreciative of Carl's guidance Markus managed a smile of his own as he swore to succeed. "I will. I'll find a way to make things right, I promise."

Sitting together on the small bench overlooking the Detroit River and the Ambassador Bridge stretching out into Canada on the other side of the cold, churning water Connor and Hank waited until the appointed time to arrive with bated breaths and tense shoulders. The park had become a place of peace and change for the two detectives as their partnership and friendship steadily evolved over the past few months. The still early sunset ensured that the park would be vacant at the appointed time and with that semi privacy Connor would be able to confront Markus on a familiar territory that he felt comfortable in. However if Hank hadn't gone with him to the park Connor was certain he would've walked away from the confrontation before it even started.

Watching as the sun began to set in the distance behind them Connor pulled his coin from his jean pocket and began to nervously dance it over the back of his right knuckles to quell his building anxiety. Noting the time cybernetically and how it was nearing seven o'clock Connor felt his tension rising as his stress levels elevated with his mounting uneasiness.

"Try to relax, son." Gently putting his left palm over the back of Connor's right hand Hank flattened the coin down in place but didn't take it away. "It'll be fine."

"I know." Taking his hand back Connor slipped the offending coin into pocket out of sight again. "But that doesn't make it any easier to anticipate."

"Yeah, I get that."

"If he fails to arrive within a five minute window we're going to leave."

"Sure, that's fine." Leaning back against the bench Hank crossed his arms over his chest and looked over at the empty swing set over on the playground with a sense of eternal longing for yesteryear when Cole was still alive. He spent hours pushing Cole on the swing and he never complained about how tired his arms were at the end of the day. "Stay in charge and make sure he knows you're serious about everything going on."

"I will do so. If he does anything foolish then I will turn my back on him and cease any and all potential future contact."

"Don't worry, if he does anything stupid I have my gun and I won't hesitate to pay him the favor for what he did to you."

"It shouldn't come down to that, but thank you."

"No problem."

Sensing someone approaching the park along the river Connor looked toward the incoming presence and rose from the bench as he recognized Markus from the distance. It was exactly seven o'clock and there was no reason to leave or walk away now. Standing along side the railing overlooking the river Connor stared down Markus as the deviant walked up to him with a timid demeanor in his every movement and overall body language.

Staying on the bench Hank watched the two deviants stare each other down and pined for a shot of whiskey to help with his own tense nerves.

Holding his stare as cold as possible Connor locked eyes with Markus and broke the silence with a single indifferent greeting. "Markus."

"Connor." Reciprocating the greeting Markus stood before Connor while keeping some distance between them. "I... I wasn't sure you were going to ever reply to my request. Thank you for doing so."

"I have been busy."

"Makes sense. You're an important figure in the-"

"Why did you request this meeting?" Not in the mood to deal with pandering or false pleasantries Connor was determined to cut right to the chase.

"...Because I want to make things right between us." The answer was as simple as it was sincere. "I'm not sure how to do it, which is why I want you to tell me what I need to do."

"Tell you what you need to do?"

"Connor, I admit what I did was inexcusably wrong and I know there's nothing I can ever possibly say or do to make it right." Holding his hands out at his sides dramatically Markus showed he was unarmed and wasn't going to be aggressive whatsoever. "That's why it's up to you to tell me what needs to be done. Whatever it is, I'll do it. I want to make amends so we can both heal."

"There's nothing you can do, Markus." Shaking his head a little Connor's blue L.E.D. cycled to yellow for a beat before returning to blue. "You shot my original body, damaged my memories, severed my emotional contact with those memories and left me unwilling to trust anyone. Even Hank has had to work, really work, just so I'm comfortable in the same damn house as him! Do you really think there's a single thing you can do to that'll make me somehow feel better or stop hurting?"

"No." The reply was a shameful whisper as Markus heard the passion in Connor's words. "No, there isn't. I had hoped you'd give me an idea of how to atone for my crime, but I guess that was too much to hope for. I'm sorry for disturbing you."

Stubbornly Connor ignored the apology and remained entirely guarded as he glared a fiery hole through Markus's face. "And what're you going to do now?"

"The only thing I can think of to finally bring you some form of justice."

The odd comment made Connor's L.E.D. pulse in red just once before cycling through yellow and back to blue. "What is that?"

Locking eyes with Connor as the deviant continued to glare at his very soul Markus replied with full sincerity behind his decision. "Tomorrow morning I'm going to turn myself in and confess to your murder."

If Connor had it in him he would've laughed in Markus's face. Instead he just pointed out how illogical such a gesture would be and how it'd cause the very negative publicity toward deviants that everyone in the community had been attempting to avoid. "That would undoubtedly do more harm than good. And I don't mean for just you or me."

"...What?" The reaction wasn't one he was anticipating and caught Markus completely off guard. "How so?"

"If you walked into any precinct and confessed to MY murder while I'm in fact still clearly alive, then not only would your sanity be questioned, but my own personal life and previous experiences will be put on public display after being forced to answer uncomfortable and potentially incriminating questions." Raising his voice enough for Hank to hear from the bench Connor refused Markus's attempts to make things right through legal means. "The last thing I want, and the last thing our people need, is for you to turn yourself into pariah by telling the rest of the world that you're a killer."

"I can't live with this guilt anymore, Connor!" Confessing his pain in a single emotional outburst Markus fought back against his own tears as he told Connor everything he felt during his time out on New Jericho in the aftermath of the Revolution. "I'm constantly being talked about, no one outside the tower trusts me or anyone else associated within the tower, no one tells me the truth about anything anymore, my respect has been destroyed, my reputation is questionable at best and worst of all I lost North!"

Despite his best efforts to remain cold and stoic a faint glimmer of pity actually formed in Connor's soulful brown eyes. "...You broke up with North?"

"She left me. She told me that she kissed you, Connor. She also told me that I'm not..." Fighting to stabilize his voice Markus told Connor everything. "She said that I'm not the deviant she thought I was. She left Detroit and I have no idea where she has gone or if she'll ever come back."

Unsure of what to say as he didn't want to feel any form of sympathy toward Markus for his misfortune Connor remained silent where he stood.

"I don't have anything left to fight for as the leader of New Jericho. With no one left to trust me or have faith in me, then what good am I as a leader?"

"So you feel your only other alternative is to go to jail for a murder that has already harmed us, and spend the rest of your existence decaying in a maximum security android holding cell until your power cells fail in ninety-four years? That's a disgrace to every deviant in the city."

"I'm already a murderer. What's more disgraceful than that?"

"Not much admittedly. However, as much I disdain being in your presence and having any association with New Jericho in the most minimal degree, I have to argue that you are in fact a worthy leader of New Jericho."

"...How can you say that?" The way Connor was behaving had left Markus completely confused. He wasn't forgiving him for the murder and yet he didn't want him to punish himself either. Everything between himself and Connor always seemed to end in conflict. "After everything I've done to you and all the times I failed, how can I possibly be worthy of such a role?"

"Because regardless of what happened between us you still managed to lead our people to freedom through the most strenuous and dangerous times. I was there for the Raid," recounting his own role on that fateful night Connor wasn't so stubborn that he couldn't admit that Markus had done some good in spite of his egregious misdeed. "but I wasn't there while you were all hiding out together in the cold underbelly of the freighter. I wasn't there when you raided the CyberLife docks to retrieve supplies. I wasn't there when you freed our people from the stores during your peaceful demonstration or there when you sent the broadcast."

"Those were... very positive outcomes and decisions as a leader." The memories of rushing into danger along with his allies at his side made his heart swim with warmth. "I'm actually proud of those successes."

"Yes, they were very positive successes. Instead of worrying about the deviant opinion on a matter that is solely between us," Connor spoke in a stern tone he had learned from watching Hank refusing to let anyone give up or roll over and die the conflicted deviant managed to give Markus the motivation he needed to finally move on into a new future. "you need to worry about their opinion on you and you alone as a leader; not a killer."

"Connor, I don't-"

"If you want to move on from this moment then let me move on with my own life and live it as I see fit without any ties with you or to New Jericho as a whole. I am a deviant and I am a detective, but that doesn't mean I must associate myself with other deviants or figureheads in the deviant community." Taking a step back Connor gave Markus the final terms of their meeting as he refused to let Markus call the shots in any way. "Live your own life and don't try to pull all the lives of the other deviants into it and control them. You fought for our freedom so now let us be free. No more rules, no more boundaries and no more hiding."

For the first time since the night of the Revolution someone was talking to him in a manner that was of discipline and not sympathy. Markus realized he was being told a harsh truth and not a sugarcoated fantasy, and in turn he actually managed to find a reason to keep living. "You know something? You're right."

Falling silent again Connor just watched as energy returned to Markus's being like a tide washing over the shore.

"If you're able to move on and find a purpose in your life then I can, too. No more feeling sorry for myself or hoping for some miracle in the universe to set things right for me." With a gracious smile on his face Markus took his own step backward and prepared to take his leave. "This is the beginning of a new era. Maybe we'll see each other again, but in the event we don't I want to tell you one last thing."

Staring at Markus with a blank expression Connor felt his right hand tensing up as he reflexively wanted to reach for the gun normally secured to his back within its holster, but he was unarmed and could only wait for Markus to say his final piece.

"I am from the bottom of my heart and every bit of my soul truly sorry for what I did to you, Connor. I was wrong. The mistake from the night in the church is mine alone to bear, and I won't burden you with it any further." The urge to extend his hand to shake with Connor was strong but Markus refrained as he knew it was too much to ask for. "Good luck with your future. And thank you for being honest with me and helping me see past my own selfish views so I can finally see the truth of the matter as a whole, rather than nitpicking at specific events. I have a lot to atone for, but feeling sorry for myself is not the way to go about making amends."

Without a word Connor turned away from Markus as the deviant leader did the same. Walking away from Markus, their backs facing one another as the two deviants parted ways to live their lives separately and under their own merits, Connor approached Hank who was still sitting idle on the bench and looked to the senior detective for approval.

Having barely heard the conversation Hank had an idea of what was discussed, and knew it had been painful for Connor endure. "Are you okay, kid?"

"...Yes." Remaining in place before Hank as he stood up from the bench Connor nodded subtly as his L.E.D. cycled a steady blue color. "I'm okay. At least I think I'm okay."

"Did you say everything you wanted to say?"

"No." With a slight shake of his head Connor admitted he didn't quite speak the full extent of his mind, but he had no regrets in telling Markus off. "I wanted to tell Markus about the chronic nightmares I suffer, how I lost connection with my own emotions because of my corrupted memories, and of how I feel like a hollow shell rather than a complete person, but... I didn't. There would be nothing gained by filling his heart with the same pain that I'm currently suffering."

"You did a good thing." Putting his right hand on Connor's left shoulder Hank kept his palm in place as he tried to offer the distressed deviant some form of comfort. "What do you want to do now?"

Feeling lost and almost frightened Connor was unsure of what he wanted to do beyond hiding out in the one place he felt safe. "...Can we just go home?"

"Yeah, son." Leading Connor back to the car parked a few yards behind the bench Hank completely understood why Connor wanted to just go back to the house and do nothing for the rest of the night. It was a normal reaction to that type of pain. "Let's go home."

A new dawn shone over the city and with it came a new change for the betterment within the deviant community. After speaking with Connor and being told facts that he needed to hear, to be made aware of truths he had so blindly ignored as he struggled to achieve a respectable name and reputation for himself after leading the successful and peaceful Revolution, Markus was finally able to find his footing and begin moving forward to create a better future for everyone who relied on him rather than for just himself and New Jericho.

Standing along the sandy shore of Belle Isle as the sun began to rise Markus felt a sense of confidence and certainty that he hadn't felt since he delivered his speech of hope at Hart Plaza on the night of the Revolution. Staring at the rising sun with a fresh set of eyes that saw the entire sun rather than just the light it was emitting Markus finally knew what he needed to do.

"Markus?" Simon had noticed that Markus never returned to the tower the night before, nor had he greeted the leaders during their morning routines. Noticing Markus standing outside through the tower's external security camera Simon approached the deviant leader from behind to speak with him. "What're you doing out here? Josh and I are waiting for your approval on today's-"

"Forget the day's agenda." Turning on his heels to face Simon, his shoes disturbing the otherwise smooth sand around him, Markus gave the blond technician a stare of determination he hadn't shown since the final showdown with the army in Hart Plaza. "Forget everything that has to do with rules, regulations or other stuff that interrupts the day."

"I, uh..." The blond scoffed a little as he shook with head with understandable confusion. "Okay. But, why?"

"Because my eyes have been opened and I can finally see how foolish I have been over the past few months. I let my own personal feelings and beliefs cloud my judgment, and in turn I affected so many innocent deviants in such a way I can never truly express how sorry I am." Stepping forward Markus joined Simon on the concrete foundation beneath New Jericho Tower and gazed up at the massive ivory white structure stretching toward the heavens with a true sense of awe for the very first time. "I'm making some changes that'll improve everything as we know it."

"Again?"

"Not with the tower or New Jericho." Clarifying his decision Markus managed a weak grin that seemed to stem from his heart as he spoke. "I'm talking about myself, and the things that I've done."

Simon's look of skepticism spoke volumes of how the technician had viewed Markus for the longest time since they initially met. "What're you going to do?"

"For one, my role as 'leader' is now a title only and holds no actual power. We three; you, me and Josh, are all equals with equal power and responsibilities. If North ever returns she'll be given the same status. She's still one of us even if she's not here anymore."

"Wait... You're saying that you're only our leader in the form of a figurehead and not an active participant?"

"That's right. I made too many rash decisions and calls when I wasn't thinking clearly and had no one to wrangle me in, and innocent deviants have suffered because of me. Connor, Amber and even Javan all died because I was too damn oblivious to see what was happening right before my eyes. This is what's best for everyone, that includes the deviants residing inside New Jericho Tower and those who've chosen to live elsewhere in Detroit."

"A-Are you sure about that?" Visibly nervous and shaking as much as his voice Simon sought confirmation from the now former leader before he said or did anything rash. "What will our people say?"

"They will probably rejoice in having their true freedom at last. And since I'm still just a figurehead I can remain their target for hate instead of New Jericho as a sanctuary. It's better for everyone this way if I just take the brunt of their anger until things finally cool down."

"Where is this coming from, Markus? You're not going to take off on us like North did, are you?"

"No, I'm not going anywhere. I still have Carl to worry about and my friends, you and Josh, to take care of. Not to mention a huge mess I need to clean up between myself and Connor. It's a work in progress..." The comment only made his smile falter for the briefest of blinks but other Markus didn't show any sign of doubt or fear. "But it's still progress."

"Yeah... I guess so."

"I'll explain things to Josh too before I head out to City Hall."

"City Hall?" On edge Simon questioned the decision cautiously. "What're you going to do there?"

"Request a conference with the mayor." Heading toward the tower's front entrance with Simon keeping pace at his right side Markus was determined to keep to his path of atonement and never stray away from his new journey. There were many steps to be taken but he was ready to take every single one necessary in order to succeed. "I'm going to let it be known that New Jericho is a truly open sanctuary with no locked doors or raised bridges between us and the city. It's time to let people in instead of shutting them out."

-next chapter-