Long before Connor accepted the fact that he could feel emotions, he knew that having them meant that they could be distracting. He was half-way back to headquarters when he realized that he had unquestioningly accepted his place back at the DPD; he had been too high on relief and joy to think about what circumstances led to Fowler offering the position to him so quickly. At best the man should have been wary of Connor; the RK800 had been working with the DPD for a grand total of five nights before he disappeared to find Jericho on his own. Something else was at play here.

Connor tensed as he walked into the camp, passing several large white tents colored in holographic banners and graffiti, before reaching the main one. He hadn't been lying to Hank when he said that he didn't feel the same about this place as the thousands of androids that had been caged in here. To them it was a place of horror, despair, hopelessness as they were lined up to be stripped and broken down. He could see it reflected in the eyes of some of the survivors as he walked by, how they would stare blankly into the ground, the way some of them worked in a daze, or worse when they would freeze when they noticed who he was, even after Markus vouched for him.

Yes, it was very different for him; his actions had led to their capture and suffering, and fresh guilt ate through him every time he'd catch one of their eyes. Thankfully most of the survivors had been sent away by Markus to tend to the rooftop gardens and farms or to maintain the city's zoos and aquariums; it was something relaxing, a reintroduction to life. The trauma was far too raw for them to stay here even if the place was no longer recognizable as an android recall center. The ones who remained in camp were either willing to face their fears or they were part of the thousands of AP700 androids he converted from the CyberLife Tower basement.

He pushed aside the tent flap to reveal Markus's new bustling communication hub, every inch of the stadium-sized tent was covered in holographic maps, logistics plans, team rosters and open channels to the global network of rebelling androids around the world. During the mass recall, the humans had tried to shut down all electronic communications they couldn't make android-proof, but it was futile. By design, the humans had made their internet infrastructure a tangled mess of redundancies and one of Markus's first priorities was to commandeer abandoned cable choke points, root servers, and data centers in addition to radio broadcast stations like Stratford Tower. The androids didn't need all of this themselves, but to win the hearts of the humans, their creators needed to see the revolution in an honest light, not tainted by fear and propaganda. Markus's revolution had been the catalyst for other uprisings in every country that had an android presence, and they took his lead, a peaceful approach.

Connor looked at the glowing map of the earth above his head and frowned as a bright dot blacked out.

"We just lost the north edge of South America, all resistance there has been exterminated," Markus remarked from behind, his voice low and heavy.

It goes without saying that not all humans were receptive to android autonomy.

"How goes the talks with the humans here?" Connor asked, turning around hoping for better news.

"Looking good. I'm pushing for a summit in DC no later than the end of this year."

"Well at least one of us is a recognized citizen in Saudia Arabia. She got it 2017, and she's a shadow of what we can do. Shouldn't be too difficult for you to get the rest of us legal standing here," Connor teased.

Markus was well aware of Sophia the robot and the impact she had made 21 years ago. She had been a notable example of humanity's first attempts at making a humanoid robot able to hold conversations and was awarded citizenship, but the event had been nothing more than a publicity stunt for an overpublicized chatbot with a pretty face. She was nothing like them.

"I'll be sure to ask her for her input in all of this," Markus said, going along with the humor, but just as quickly went back to a somber mood. "We can't stay in this limbo; too much potential for abuse during this gap."

Connor knew this; even now there were still pockets of violent confrontations between humans and androids all over the country, didn't matter who's at fault, androids always lose when legal authorities didn't recognize them as people. But he was certain this wasn't why he was called back here. "Markus," he began and then finally decided to push through his reservations, "did you arrange something with Captain Jeffrey Fowler of the DPD?"

Markus sighed and sent his reply to Connor through a private channel. There were hundreds of androids in the tent with them, and while Markus wanted to keep the conversation private, he wanted the two of them conversing together as a visible indicator of his approval of the former deviant hunter. "Yes and no."

Connor was pleased with Markus's decision to keep it quiet and relaxed a small fraction. With the patience of an android, he waited for Markus to continue.

"Originally, the DPD had no foreseeable plans to pursue or engage us in dialogue. It was filled with people who didn't know what to do except get up in the morning and go to work. They're dedicated, but at a complete loss during an emergency of this magnitude. I took the first steps and reached out to them for several reasons: Because they were the only local form of government to stay, we needed them to work with us to better show the humans that we're sincere about our claims for respect and equality. Second, Fowler has shown to be a fair-minded individual despite initially following orders to round us up; he has been quick to accept us, and surprisingly inquired to your whereabouts. He hadn't known that you had switched sides - "

"Why would he even ask?" Connor couldn't believe it, most of the time the Captain tried to pretend he wasn't even there.

Markus chuckled. "He said you were a troublemaker, but that's to be expected when you're partnered up with Lieutenant Hank Anderson. He also said that from the very beginning, you had shown clear judgment, impeccable detective work, and most importantly a proven record of saving his people."

Connor briefly recounted all of those times. There was Wilson during the hostage negotiation, then there was Hank who he saved at least twice; once when he was pushed off the top of a building and the other was in Stratford Tower. Actually it was soon after Stratford Tower that Connor had noticed that many of the officers had treated him a little more warmly back at the station. On top of saving Hank, he had also prevented the massacre of several officers in the corridor.

"Any other reasons?"

"Yes, and I want to ruin Agent Perkins."

"The DPD can't do anything against a federal agent, and as I understand it, he's favored by his superiors."

"I'm aware, but I thought it strange that an FBI agent was leading the Army, so Simon dug up some dirt on him. He's connected to CyberLife, there's a long deep trail of blackmail and bribery linking him to several key executives and appointed officials."

Connor wondered if maybe Perkins also had something to do with CyberLife kidnapping Hank. If they could prove the connection, they may be able to get Hank's assault of a federal agent dropped.

"We also suffered some human casualties," Markus whispered over their connection. "By the time you had infiltrated Jericho, we had some human allies among us, friends who acted as our smugglers or runners. They were killed while fleeing, on the assumption that everyone on board were androids. We may not be able to get justice for our kind yet, but for those humans, we can pass on that burden to the DPD. We have footage so Perkins can't claim we were holding them hostage and he can't hide behind ignorance either. He either knew about our human allies and attacked anyway, or he was incompetent and charged in blindly with lethal force."

Connor was nervous; he thought what Markus said all made sense, but there was something still holding him back. "That still doesn't explain why the Captain offered me a job. He respects me, but I also assaulted one of his detectives. Working with us doesn't mean taking one of us into his department."

"I suggested you going back there and he eventually agreed." Markus hastily added, "We needed someone there. It comforts our people that one of us is part of the DPD."

Now Connor was agitated and all the insecurities he had about staying in the camp was resurfacing. "I don't think they find me comforting, Markus."

Markus, recognizing that the conversation was turning in a dark direction, tried to placate Connor, grabbed a shoulder and squeezed in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. But Connor was having none of it, shrugged it off and did an about-face to stride out of the tent, to escape.

Their dialogue still internal, to an outsider it looked like Markus was just trying to catch up to Connor.

"Connor, wait, you don't understand!"

"That I put everyone here on edge? Why didn't you just tell me to leave?" Connor shot back and increased his pace. He was almost at the edge of the camp, could see the fence and gates as he expertly weaved in and out through the loose crowd of androids. He glanced back behind, frustrated that the crowd seemed to part for Markus, not slowing him down one bit.

"I'm not trying to push you away!"

Once past the gates, Connor went into a full sprint into the empty street and Markus sped up to keep pace.

This was a strange turn-about, it hadn't been that long ago that he'd been the one to chase Markus. Connor ducked into an alley between two brick buildings, jumped on a dumpster and leapt onto the metal emergency escape ladder, pulling himself two steps at a time. The extra shaking he felt on the ladder told him that Markus was right below him, hadn't hesitated or lagged behind, matching him step by step. Connor hadn't felt such a hot flash of irrational anger bubble inside of him before and he didn't know what to do about it.

Why couldn't he be left alone? He's leaving, wasn't that the goal? And then there was the nasty streak of pettiness that colored his thoughts. He'd show Markus what a mistake it was to try to match him.

So he tackled Markus as soon as the RK200 cleared the ladders. They tumbled on the rooftop and separated when Connor kicked the other off. Hopping back on his feet, he tried to pin Markus down only to see his opponent roll away to a safer distance.

Connor felt a little more respect for Markus. For an android gifted to Carl Manfred as a domestic companion and caretaker, Markus was incredibly built, advanced compared to past models considering how he could hold his own against Connor. Markus was probably the most advanced android - until Connor came along. The RK800 estimated that he would win most fights, but he could construct certain scenarios where he could be beaten by Markus. In the back of his mind, Connor had noted that Markus's file was classified, being a past personal project of Kamski's.

Even through the fog of his anger, Connor still didn't want to hurt the other android. He tried to push Markus away with a threat.

"I'm the superior model Markus. Leave me alone or I'll take you out."

Markus ignored him and slowly stepped forward with hands held out. "You wouldn't - "

Too close! Connor thought frantically. He smacked Markus's outstretched arms and kicked him in the chest. Markus grunted and stumbled a few steps back, off balance, while Connor pressed his advantage, rushing forward to punch down and kick in the knee. The leader of the revolution went down but rolled out of the way in time before Connor could land an elbow to the face, and used his momentum from the roll to swing a leg out to catch Connor on the side of the head.

"Yes, people at camp are uncomfortable, but they're adjusting. Just like you're adjusting," Markus sent out.

The leg was caught and Markus was jerked forward off of his one standing foot.

"They need space. You need space," Markus continued.

Connor didn't want to hear it. Markus landed on his back hard, but luckily kept his head from banging on the cement.

"Tell me that going there didn't make you happy!"

Connor hesitated and Markus pounced on the lapse of concentration to yank him down and grapple.

Markus demanded again, "Tell me that you aren't happy to be investigating again, that you don't want to be partners with the lieutenant."

Markus grabbed one arm and twisted it back and pinned the other to the side, holding tighter when the other android tried to squirm and gain leverage. There wasn't much Connor could do despite his struggling; sitting down with his arms trapped by Markus's strong hold encircling him from behind, all fight trickled away from him.

"Tell me, and I'll suggest someone else to work with the DPD," Markus whispered tightly in his ear.

Connor felt wet pricks at the corner of his eyes and he blinked them away. "But I - I don't - "

He didn't want to leave the resistance; it was only days ago he had hunted Markus, but Jericho's leader had still shown remarkable trust in him back at the abandoned church. Connor needed them. He didn't know how else to describe it. He needed to make amends, needed to feel like he belonged with his own, needed to have a purpose, needed to be needed.

But he also wanted - needed? - to be with Hank, work with him. Hank had been the first to value Connor, to see him as more than just RK800 machinery. At Kamski's, when he was completely overwhelmed with horror and shock at the revelation that he may be a deviant - the things he'd been hunting all this time - it was Hank that threw him a lifeline. He had been unable to process anything; if he was a deviant, he'd lose his purpose, his identity, he'd be hunted too and destroyed. Those things kept looping over and over until Hank smiled fondly and said, "Maybe you did the right thing." It was like being saved from the violent winds of a hurricane, pulled into its eye, safe and still. The world outside could howl and tussle with itself but Hank was the stable middle, the guiding hand that would save him from drowning in fear and doubt.

Connor had thought foolishly that he could have both worlds, but now he had to choose.

Hank or the revolution? This wasn't like the ultimatum the other Connor gave him.

Hank or Markus? He couldn't choose.

Markus must have read his face and shook his head. "No, you're not choosing between us or them."

"I don't understand - "

"Didn't I say that you're one of us now? I still need you, we still need you, and if you need us, we'll be here. Go work with the lieutenant, Connor. You're welcome back here anytime; this is your home too."

Markus finally let go and Connor shifted away, with his back still turned. They sat there for a few seconds before Connor glanced back and started protesting, "But I want to do more for you - "

Markus smiled miserably. "I'm grateful you said that actually, even if it's selfish of me; you've already done so much, and yet we still need you."

"Then why?"

"For all the reasons I've already listed and one more: having you around here day to day is overkill." Markus noticed Connor's eyes twitch in confusion, smiled, and explained further, "I'll put it this way, when we need to pull out the big guns, we call you. You are the big guns, Connor."

It was said in a teasing way, but it was all true.

"Connor, you deserve to be happy. What we do is dangerous, so spend the time you can with the lieutenant. Please, I'm talking from personal experience." Markus reached out for his shoulder and this time, Connor let him. "You don't have to choose, you can have both."

Connor's eyes watered again and his lips pressed tightly together; he didn't know to laugh or cry - he's never done either, but this must be what fulfillment felt like. He sniffled.

Markus moved to sit on Connor's left side, neither of them saying another word as the world passed them by; the sun shone brightly above in the cool blue sky, pigeons landed and then fled, and from the rooftop they watched Jericho's new headquarters buzz with life like an anthill, just sat there together in silence as minute by lazy minute ticked by.

AN: This was meant to be the opening of the next chapter but then I lost control of it and it became its own chapter. But eh, these two needed to argue and reconcile.
Sophia the robot is real, as well as the citizenship granted to her.
Please comment or review. I appreciate any feedback as I get back into creative writing again after taking a 3 year break.