DBH: Diverging Paths

by WayWardWonderer

A chance to right a wrong results in a differing timeline of events that risk the fate of all deviantkind after they've already succeeded with the peaceful Revolution. The responsibility of the alternate timeline rests solely on Connor's shoulders as the lone deviant navigates a new world while trying to achieve similar results with befriending Hank without destroying everything.

60. The Revolution

Jericho: November 9th, 2038 - 09:34pm

The march and protest had an impact on the city in a way that no one could've anticipated. While some would argue that Markus was a fool for not fighting back and preventing the senseless murders of innocent deviants who had joined him in the streets, most would agree that he had done the right thing by remaining peaceful, passive and unwilling to answer violence with violence. The deviant leader had suffered his own wounds as a result of his courage and refusal to back down or retreat all because someone had pointed a gun at him. The bullets hadn't caused any lethal or permanent damage to his system or biocomponents, but it had taken him a few hours to have his damage mended by his colleagues. Despite his recovery Markus still wasn't at full strength and needed to rest.

Taking the lead on their duties to their people, Connor, North, Simon and Josh all welcomed their newly acquired allies to Jericho and treated the rest of their wounded with their remaining supplies. Thousands of deviants were now sheltering within Jericho and just as many more were venturing through the snowy city at that very moment as they too sought sanctuary within the moored freighter. The F.B.I. combed the streets with the intention of killing any deviant or typical android who crossed their paths confirming that no deviant was safe outside of Jericho.

As Connor carried a wounded deviant into the community room within Jericho and placed her down on a nearby table to receive treatment, he found his gaze drifting upward toward the second floor catwalk and to the private cabin where Markus was currently residing to himself as he let his body finally heal. He was worried about Markus's condition since he knew that the deviant leader needed to be at full strength if he were to succeed in his mission for a peaceful Revolution. They could only wait so long before someone would have to step up to do what Markus couldn't do if he failed to regain his strength before someone tried to interfere with their mission.

The other deviants were watching the news reports being projected on the far wall with an intense worry. They weren't too optimistic for their future as freed people despite the human witnesses to their slaughter speaking up and defending the deviants for their actions, behaviors and their beliefs since the news reporters were still insisting that deviant androids were defective and a real danger to American society as a whole. Several reporters were even encouraging humans to destroy their machines before the machines had the chance to destroy them first, and they were singing praises for the police acting so violently without any provocation.

"How is he?" North asked as she joined Connor at the table and noticed her ally watching Markus in the cabin above. "He's been quiet ever since we returned."

"I don't detect any severe complications in his system." Connor confirmed as he led North away from the table to allow Lucy to tend to the newest deviant in need of technical assistance in relative privacy. "I'm just concerned that his mental and emotional fortitude may have been compromised by what happened."

"Compromised?" Such a notion was still foreign to North since she was actively adjusting to her own deviancy and newly awoken emotions. "How so?"

"He watched one of us sacrifice himself all in the name of our cause. John was destroyed, and there isn't anything that any of can do to revive him."

"Many of us have been damaged and destroyed by the humans." North's indifference to the death of one of her own allies was disconcerting. "If Markus can't accept that truth and put his emotions aside, then he won't be leading us very far for very long."

"You're wrong, North." As he spoke Connor suddenly noticed three familiar faces entering the vessel and felt his heart drop. He knew that Kara, Alice and Luther all made it to Jericho in the alternate timeline, but he couldn't be certain that they'd do it again. Snapping back to North again Connor gave her his full attention once more. "The day that Markus stops feeling his emotions and trusting his heart to lead us in the right direction will be the day he fails to lead us anywhere."

North didn't know what to say to such an insightful and hopeful observation regarding their own future. She was still learning how to trust her own heart and instincts over raw logic and reasoning.

"Did you hear?" A whispering voice caught Connor's ear as he felt eyes watching him while a group of deviants huddled together around a burn barrel to keep warm on that chilly November night. "There's an android working for CyberLife and the police to hunt us all down! It looks like Connor, so don't be fooled if you see it in the streets! It's not one of us!"

"An android hunting deviants?" Another deviant questioned as she stood beside her ally and tried to keep warm. "How can that be? We need to stick together."

"CyberLife programmed it to never be able to deviate and to destroy any deviants it finds, and the police are letting it look for androids so they don't have to get their own hands dirty."

"How many has it found?"

"So far, two. The two deviants it found ended up destroyed before they revealed Jericho's location."

"How do you know all this? It could just be a scare tactic set up by the F.B.I. to try to make us paranoid and turn on each other out of fear."

"Our ally from the Stratford Broadcast Tower said that the CyberLife android tried to interrogate him, but he got the upper hand and got out of there before it could detain him and probe his memories. The 'Deviant Hunter' is out there somewhere, but it doesn't know where we are."

"That's good." The group of gossiping deviants turned their gaze from Connor and back to the news reports being broadcasted through a projection onto the far wall of the room. "I can't imagine what would've happened if anyone betrayed Jericho's location to CyberLife or the police!"

"Excuse me," Connor couldn't bear to see all of the wounded deviants around him or hear the gossip and needed to get some space. "I need to find more supplies to aid our wounded."

Taking the moment to get away from his allies and any prying eyes, Connor exited Jericho and stood on the top deck overlooking the harbor as he cybernetically tapped into the police broadcast and into the official files at the Central Precinct. The interjection of the F.B.I. dismissing Hank and his temporary android partner from their investigation into Jericho was promising enough, but confirming that neither Hank or Chase had successfully collected enough evidence to lead a trail to Jericho let Connor breathe a massive sigh of relief.

"We can stay here. The F.B.I. won't send the army here to Jericho to destroy us. The android that CyberLife created to replace me doesn't know where we are."

Knowing that he and the others were safe allowed the deviant detective to finally lower his guard just enough to stop overthinking everything around him. It had been so long since Connor started holding his breath waiting for someone to show up and open fire, and it felt good to just breathe without fear.

"I've done at least one thing right since reaching Jericho. The Raid has been prevented. There will be no massacre tonight..."

Staring up at the snowy sky overhead Connor cybernetically searched deeper into the precinct files and found information on Chase that he could use to find the android and keep one step ahead of it at all times. Chase had been ordered to return to CyberLife Tower, and that meant that at least one android was going to be kept as a prisoner while the other androids deviated for fought for their freedom together.

"There has to be something I can do to free Chase before he's destroyed."

Connor hadn't even thought about what CyberLife would do to keep their secrets concealed after Connor himself had fled from the tower and disappeared into the city nearly three years prior. He knew that the 'RK-900' had been created and CyberLife had planned on using him to replace Connor in the original timeline, but he never considered the 'RK-900' being created and used to replace him during the Revolution.

"I managed to sneak through CyberLife Tower once before to free our people, and I know I can do it again. I have to do it."

As much as Connor wanted to keep away from CyberLife and never set foot on Belle Isle for the rest of his life, he knew that he couldn't just turn his back on the androids who still needed help. He was the only one who could infiltrate the tower, locate the androids, awaken them and lead them all to freedom.

"I need to do this. If I don't at least try to free him then Chase is as good as destroyed."

---

Anderson Residence: November 10th, 2038: 04:17pm

The city had mostly vacated save for a few hundred humans who were either unafraid of the rumored android uprising or were too important to leave the Detroit just yet. All of the first responders who worked within Detroit were still in Detroit as they waited for the call to action or the direct order to leave the city at last. Those who chose to remain behind had barricaded themselves within their homes, apartments and trailers to ensure that no one could try to break into their residences either to try and gain shelter or to threaten those who were bunkered down while the F.B.I. monitored the streets. Not only were all the doors and windows in all of Detroit locked, but every light was switched off giving the city an abandoned aura that left anyone who walked the streets righteously unsettled.

Hank had returned home the evening before and remained home all day long since he no longer had a case to work on. He had kept Cole home from school that day and told Cole that the reason they were locked up inside the house was because of the android threat still taking place in the city. The little boy still refused to accept that all androids were violent, and he didn't even humor his dad when Hank tried to distract him with a few boardgames or a movie marathon. Cole knew that his dad was lying to him and he refused to leave his bedroom all day long in his own form of protest.

"Cole?" Hank knocked on his son's closed bedroom door and tried to get a response after a day of total silence. "I made some dinner. Quesadillas with extra jalapenos, just the way you like it."

"I'm not hungry!"

Hearing his son shouting through the door and refusing to even cooperate left Hank feeling like he was failing as a father. "You didn't eat lunch or breakfast, you gotta' be starving."

"I'm not!"

"Are you sick?"

"I'm fine, go away!"

"No, not this time." Taking hold of the doorknob Hank turned the handle and let himself inside Cole's bedroom. He saw his son sitting on the bed with the radio that he had been gifted by Connor in his hands and Sumo loyally curled up at his side. "Son, we need to talk."

"No we don't." Cole snipped angrily as he refused to even look up at his dad and stared at his silent radio with an eagerness that couldn't be put into words. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Why not?"

"Because you keep lying to me."

"I'm not lying to you. Check the news if you want." Hank sat down on the edge of the bed beside his son and tried to reach out to him before it was too late to make amends for everything that he had messed up over the past few months. "The city is on lockdown because-"

"You keep saying the androids are dangerous." Looking up at Hank at last Cole gave him a nasty snarl that rivaled Hank's own powerful glare. "They're not! They just want to be left alone!" Turning away from his dad again Cole stared at his radio and hoped to hear Connor's voice again. "And so do I."

"What do you know about the androids?" Eyeing the radio left Hank wondering if Cole hadn't been led astray by misinformation being broadcasted over the wavelengths or had fallen prey to sympathetic protestors trying to twist the truth. "Hm? Heard rumors at school or something?"

"No. I heard what the androids have to say without anyone telling me what to believe!"

"And what did they say?"

"That they just want to be free and to live with us." Cole put his radio aside and looked up at his dad once again. "That's not a bad thing. Connor lived with us for a long time, and he never did anything bad. The other androids can do the same."

"It's not that simple, Cole."

"It is too." Arguing quickly Cole refused to just accept his dad's words at face value. "You just want it to be hard."

"And now why would we want to do that?"

"Because when things are hard to figure it makes it easy to just not try!" Showing maturity and wisdom beyond his years Cole made it clear that he wasn't going to be fooled just because he was a kid talking to an adult. "Like me and my math homework. I know I'm right, but you won't listen to me! Why not? Why can't you help the androids? They don't want to hurt us, why do you want to hurt them?"

Hank wasn't sure what to say to that. He had grown so used to being able to just talk his way out of everything and easily gain the trust of those he spoke to that he didn't know what to do when his own son began to doubt his words and even call him a liar.

"Okay. I'll leave you alone like you asked." As he stood up from the bed Hank gave Cole's shoulder a small squeeze then continued on his way toward the livingroom to check out the property through the front windows. "If you get hungry your dinner is waiting for you in the kitchen. I'll keep it warm."

There was nothing else to be said or done. Hank couldn't work on the android investigation any longer, he couldn't patrol the city since the F.B.I. had taken control of the situation, and he couldn't get his some to speak to him since his willingness to overlook the obvious and try to convince his son that things were far different than what he perceived to be.

As he crossed the livingroom to reach the front windows Hank heard sirens in the streets outside and wondered if it was an actual emergency or if it was just the F.B.I. targeting androids for destruction. The sight of the flashing red and blue lights outside just confirmed the presence of patrolling authority figures in the closed off and quiet neighborhood. Even through his blinds where Hank was peeking, he could see that F.B.I. agents were looking for deviants in his own backyard, and he didn't like the feeling of intrusion one damn bit.

"Fuckin' feds walking on my turf better not mess anything us. This is my city, and no one's-"

"Dad?"

"Cole?" Turning around quickly Hank let the blinds snap back shut with an audible 'click' as he saw his son standing behind him with something in his hands. "What's going on?"

"...Before Connor left, he gave me something important. He said that I needed to keep it safe and not tell you about it unless something like what's happening in the city right now started to happen." Cole was conflicted about what to do since he didn't want to betray his android friend's trust in any way. "I think this is what he was talking about."

"What're you talking about, son?" Kneeling down in front of Cole so that they could be eye-level Hank gently put his hand beneath Cole's chin to lift his son's gaze up from whatever it was he had clutched in his hands so they could speak more directly. "Hey? I won't be mad. What did Connor ask you to do, and what did he give you to keep secret and safe?"

Cole gave his dad a confused look before he extended his hands and opened up his palms to show what he had. "It's his light. He said you'd know what to do with it if I had to give it to you."

"Now why did he do that?" Hank picked up the little disc and held it between his fingertip and thumb as he saw a faint blue glow emanate from the disc confirming that it still had some power. As he examined the light Hank began to wonder what little secrets Connor had managed to keep from him for so long. "Huh. I'll... I'll look into this."

"What is it?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but I get the feeling that whatever it is, it'll help me figure this android mess out." Straightening up Hank clutched the L.E.D. in his fist and placed his free palm down on Cole's hair. His son was getting tall, and he was arguably no longer a little boy. "Thank you for giving me this, Cole. Now, please eat your dinner. I put a criminal number of jalapenos on your quesadilla, and I'd hate for them to go to waste."

Cole just nodded as he finally cooperated and made his way to the kitchen to have something to eat. He couldn't deny that he was hungry, and that being cooped up in his bedroom had been boring.

Unable to resist his own need to investigate any unusual clue given to him or look away from a mystery needing to be solved, Hank carried the L.E.D. with him over to his small desk against the wall and sat down to examine the L.E.D. more closely. Slowly Hank turned the disc about in his fingers and traced his fingertip over the disc's back to check for any little detail that could give him an idea of what Connor was keeping secret all this time. Looking more closely Hank realized that there was a small U.S.B. widget contained on the side of the disc that could be fully extended if he pulled on the small notch on the side of the widget. With the U.S.B. now accessible Hank turned to look at Cole sitting at the kitchen table over his shoulder, then popped the newly discovered L.E.D. into his laptop to check out for himself.

The little disc glowed brighter as the U.S.B. recognized being inserted into the laptop and automatically booted up the files that Connor had kept safe within himself for the past three years. A video player popped up on the laptop screen and began to play a video that Connor had recorded just for Hank to see only a day prior to the deviant disappearing the previous August.

'Hello, Lieutenant.' Connor was speaking directly to Hank as he recorded his message through his own eyes. The deviant detective was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom so that Connor could record himself without needing a second recording unit. 'If you're watching this video, then that means the deviant Revolution has either begun or has already been completed.'

Wisely Hank paused the video just long enough to plug in his headphones and keep Cole from hearing the video from within the kitchen.

'I'm sorry that I had to leave you and Cole behind without a proper goodbye or explanation, but after you watch this video, you'll understand why I did what I did. I ask that you keep an open mind and remember that what I'm about to tell you and show you have already happened.'

Such a taunting message had fully enraptured Hank's mind and the Lieutenant found it impossible to look away from his laptop screen.

'The reason that you don't remember any of what I'm going to share with you is because these events have already taken place in another lifetime under another set of circumstances. It's hard to believe what I'm going to share with you, but it's all true. And I hope that with this new knowledge that you'll find a way to make peace with my presence and at the very least stop hating me and the other androids.'

"That seems like a pretty steep order."

Hank almost laughed at the notion until the video showed him a recording of Connor's memories from the alternate timeline. Seeing himself in a completely different light as a grieving parent who had lost their only child, an alcoholic, and a burnt-out detective made Hank's laughter stop immediately. Then seeing his own death - his murder at Belle Isle and dying in Connor's arms as the deviant wept over the loss of his best friend and father figure - left Hank entirely lost for words and any form of potential thoughts and feelings.

No one should see their own death, experience the deaths of their loved ones or watch tragedy unfold through someone else's eyes.

"What... in the world is this? Did Connor really-" Pausing the video for a moment Hank looked back at Cole in the kitchen once again and felt his heart grow cold at the thought of burying his only son. "He saved both of our lives, and he did it because he wanted to do it. Everything he's done was for us..."

---

Jericho: November 10th, 2038 - 07:31pm

The number of deviants who were growing restless and worried were increasing with each passing minute that the F.B.I. roamed the city in search of the deviants for the sole purpose of exterminating them. While no one who was considered an enemy had managed to locate Jericho and inform the police or the F.B.I. of their current location, Jericho knew that it was only a matter of time before someone would investigate the harbor a little closer and undoubtedly locate the shelter hidden behind the metal walls of the moored freighter. Being hidden away from the world and just waiting to either fight back against a heavily armed foe or waiting to be executed resulted in heavy tension pushing the deviants to their emotional limits.

The five deviant leaders had held a private meeting in the captain's cabin above deck to discuss their options and how they could handle their current predicament without causing any worry or further discourse in the city. The quintet all knew that they were standing on a precipice and that they couldn't just turn back and pretend that they hadn't reached their actual end of the line when it came to where they could go and how far they could push their luck.

Markus stood along the catwalk overlooking the community area of Jericho and looked down at the deviants were all waiting for him to make his next move. With his allies standing alongside him and beside him, Markus felt a renewed sense of confidence as struggled to weigh his options and determine which path he could walk with minimal casualties. Even after seeking advice from his father figure and mentor, Carl Manfred, back at the kind man's mansion, Markus was still at odds with himself and trying to find the right way to save his people without spilling blood in the process.

Simon leaned in toward Markus to give him words of wisdom as the blond deviant sensed their people's righteous worries. "Our people are counting on you, Markus. You're the only one who can lead us. Wherever you need to go, we'll follow you."

Markus gave Simon a small nod as he asked about the events taking place in the city outside of Jericho. "What's the situation?"

"They're taking all our people to camps to be exterminated." The recycling camps were set up in Hart Plaza and contained thousands of deviants and still machine androids who were unable to elude the F.B.I.'s patrols. "In a few hours, we'll be the only ones left."

Josh had his own opinion on the matter and let Markus know what was on his mind as they tried to find a solution to their problem. "You and I haven't always agreed, but I know that we're fighting for the same thing. Whatever you decide, I'm with you, Markus."

North reached out to Markus and put her hand on his forearm in an attempt to offer her ally some form of reassurance. "In a few hours, it'll all be over. We'll have changed the world or the world will have destroyed us." She knew what was at stake and she knew how close they were to either ending their struggle or beginning a new war. "You have to make a choice, Markus, but whatever you choose, we will follow you."

Markus leaned against the railing of the catwalk with both hands tightly gripping the metal support. As he let out a soft sigh Markus turned to Connor as the deviant detective stood idle just a few feet away. "The F.B.I. is monitoring everything in the city. Can we move anywhere without being seen?"

"As of the moment it's too dangerous for any deviant to be on the streets." Connor confirmed as he cybernetically monitored the police broadcasts and tracked the patrol routes in the area. "If we venture out in a group we'll be spotted immediately. It's important to wait until the coast is clear before you do anything else that'll draw the F.B.I.'s attention your way."

"Can we make it to Hart Plaza? We can't turn our backs on our people trapped inside the recycling camps."

"Yes." Connor extended his hand and took Markus's hand in his grip. A cybernetic exchange of his map of the city allowed Markus to monitor the patrol routes in the area and create his own route out to the plaza. "You lead, and we'll follow."

"We'll leave at the next patrol change." Markus took back his hand as he formed his next plan of action with his allies' approval. "There will be fewer patrol cars to avoid, and we can disable police drones as we march."

"There are thousands of androids at the CyberLife assembly plant." Connor practically blurted the information as he sought Markus's approval for his own plan just as he had done in the original timeline. Only this time, he had another rescue mission in mind alongside freeing their people trapped within the storage warehouse concealed beneath CyberLife Tower. "If we could wake them up, they might join us and we can overwhelm the humans with numbers alone."

"You want to infiltrate the CyberLife Tower? Connor, that's suicide."

"If they think I'm there to surrender, they'll let me in. If anyone has a chance of infiltrating CyberLife, it's me."

"If you go there, they will kill you."

"There's a high probability, but statistically speaking, there's always a chance for unlikely events to take place."

Markus loathed the idea of Connor taking on such a risky mission by himself, but he knew that Connor was right. The deviant detective had proven himself to be resourceful, fearless, honest and trustworthy in the past meaning he was the only member of Jericho qualified for such a risky mission. Just as they couldn't turn their backs on their people imprisoned inside the recycling camps, they couldn't ignore their people being held captive inside CyberLife Tower under heavy lock and key.

Placing his hand on Connor's shoulder for a moment Markus gave his friend his blessing before addressing their people and giving them a message of hope for their uncertain future. "Be careful."

There was no turning back. The Revolution was at hand, and it was up to Connor to determine if all of the androids in the city were going to be a part of it or if only a select few thousand would make it to see their freedom given to them by the Madame president herself.

"Humans have decided to exterminate us." Markus spoke loud, confident and determined as he addressed his scared and confused people down below who were looking to him for answers and guidance. "Our people are packed in camps right now, being destroyed. The time has come to make a choice, one that very well may determine the future of our people."

It was the moment of truth. Connor, North, Josh and Simon all stood beside Markus as he made his final decision regarding how the androids would approach their human oppressors on that historic night. Would Markus once more choose to lead a peaceful Revolution, or would he draw first blood and declare war?

"I know... I know you're all angry. And I know you want to fight back... But I assure you violence is not the answer here."

Connor felt warmth swim through his heart as peace continued to be Markus's primary objective even in an alternate timeline of events.

"We are going to tell them peacefully that we want justice. If there's any humanity in them, they will listen. And if not, others will take our place and continue this fight." Holding his arm high into the air Markus proudly stood by his decision as he rallied his allies into action behind him. "Are you ready to follow me?"

Raucous cheers of approval echoed through the moored sanctuary as Jericho prepared to take to the streets and stand up for what they believed in. There would be no more hiding, no more attempts to disappear into the shadows, and no violence. Peace would reign supreme and prove that deviant androids were intelligent, empathetic and compassionate beings who valued life, recognized the law and understood the value of freedom itself.

The Revolution was inevitable.

---

CyberLife Tower: November 10th, 2038 - 10:48pm

The snow continued to fall and bury Detroit beneath a fresh layer of white ice crystals that helped hide the spilled blood in both red and blue staining the streets. The only structure in the city that was still glowing with activity was CyberLife Tower out on Belle Isle as CyberLife security officers patrolled the property and prepared to physically defend the company in the event deviant androids attempt to overrun the building and overwhelm the human employees within. Armed guards patrolled the exterior of the tower with their weapons drawn and radios primes to receive any order to open fire anyone deemed an enemy, meanwhile the employees in charge of research, development and testing had already been sent home with signed N.D.A.'s binding them to silence regardless of the night's outcome.

A lone monorail car that normally transported materials to and from the tower ran along the long drive that connected the private isle to the rest of the city as a means of rapidly transporting CyberLife guards from one end of the drive to the other. The guards were on nonstop patrol until they were given further notice from their acting superiors. Without Kamski to call the shots the company had to rely on the higher ranking executives to handle the situation internally, and by all account no one really knew what to do.

Connor approached the protected drive leading to the tower on foot and peered out at the glowing building in the distance. Countless negative experiences with that particular location had kept Connor from rushing to the rescue or even attempting to breach the security barricade. There was no way for the unarmed deviant to successfully fend off all of the armed guards with his bare hands by himself. To ensure a successful rescue mission to the isle Connor would have to use his stealth to his advantage and sneak inside the tower without raising any alarms.

"CyberLife will have doubled their security efforts in the three years since I had escaped from them. I'll need to remain silent and discreet in order to find the other androids, to find Chase, and lead them all to safety."

The deviant detective scanned his immediate surroundings and preconstructed the only route that he could use to access the tower without any noticing his return to the property. He'd need to walk along the drive beneath the bridge where no one would be able to see him. The walkway beneath the drive was used only by approved maintenance crews and could only be accessed by someone with proper clearance. Being an android with access to the personnel files of every CyberLife employee made accessing the walkway surprisingly easy.

Connor pressed his exposed palm to the hidden doorway beneath the drive and overrode the electronic lock by imitating Kamski's voice to identify himself. The lock released itself and the small door slid open with a soft 'hiss'. Once he was inside the hidden walkway well out of sight, Connor cybernetically disabled the security cameras and motion detectors as he sprinted down the walkway toward the tower's hidden access door at the very end.

The sound of the harbor's dark water lapping against the strong pillars supporting the drive echoed through the long maintenance tunnel and accompanied Connor's rushing and rhythmic footsteps. The rogue deviant attempted to defy all odds yet again and enter the tower then exit it without anyone being able to stop him. If he couldn't even enter the tower then his captive allies wouldn't stand a chance at escaping the tower themselves. CyberLife would destroy all the androids still inside the tower as a means of petty vengeance, and no one would be able to stop them.

"It's nearly time."

The fearless deviant monitored the time and kept tabs on what his other allies were doing as they ventured to Hart Plaza together to stage one last act of peaceful protest. He knew where to be and when to be there, which meant he didn't have a lot of time to idle or overthink his next decision.

"I need to get in, awaken the androids, find Chase and get out to ensure that Markus has all the support he needs to show the F.B.I. and the army that we aren't going to back down, and that we ARE alive!"

---

Hart Plaza: November 10th, 2038 - 10:56pm

The fresh snow continued to fall from the black night sky and create thick barricades of nature for those who dared to roam the streets to traverse and overcome. The parade of able-bodied and fearless deviants exiting Jericho with Markus leading the way showed no sign of being discomforted by the relentless chill in the air. They all had for more serious matters to worry about than an early winter and an icy cold night. The sooner the determined deviants all stood together as a single, fearless unit seeking the freedom of their captive allies from the inhumane and horrendously cruel recycling camps, the sooner the peaceful Revolution could come to an end before a new civil war was waged.

Markus held his head high as he marched toward the plaza with his people watching his back. The wise and courageous deviant knew that everything he was doing was right. Everything that he was fighting for was just and deserved proper recognition despite the odds stacked against them. The large news helicopters hovering overhead to witness the incident confirmed that Markus's very presence was having a notable impact on the city, perhaps even the world, and that people needed to listen to what he had to say.

"Here we are." Markus noted as he stopped in the street and looked out at Hart Plaza a few hundred yards away. A military barricade was the only thing keeping him from leading a rescue charge into the camps and fighting their way back out. "The moment of truth..."

"Surrender immediately or we will open fire!" One of the soldiers took notice of Markus's presence and shouted to the deviant leader through a bullhorn. It seemed that no one was willing to confront the deviants without a direct order thanks to all of the cameras recording the events from above. "Stand by!"

"We don't want confrontation!" Keeping the peace was Markus's prime focus at that exact moment in time. "We are protesting peacefully."

Actions always spoke louder than words. To show that he was serious about everything he was saying and everything he was willing to do, Markus slowly lowered himself to the ground and sat down cross-legged. As he moved his people followed suit and joined him in his sit-in protest. The less violence and the less aggressive they appeared to be, the more the public would support them in their unusual cause.

"We ask that you release all androids detained in camps and cease all aggression against us. We are peaceful. We will not resort to violence. But we are not leaving until our people are free."

Unwilling to listen or cooperate the solider let out a single, needless command to respond to the peaceful display with unprovoked violence. "FIRE! FIRE!"

"Are you going to open fire on unarmed protestors?!"

Markus called out as he refused to be intimidated by the guns and overall aggression of the U.S. army working alongside the F.B.I. to keep the deviants from breaching the recycling camps. He knew his people were nervous, but he wasn't going to back away or just surrender when they were so close to succeeding with their peaceful Revolution.

Journalists who were down the street were eager to begin snapping photos and documenting everything that happened. One false step would turn everyone with even the faintest glimpse of humanity and empathy would turn against their own soldiers if they saw them gunning down unarmed people who weren't doing anything wrong and weren't showing any signs of violent tendencies. For once the media was giving the deviants an advantage over the humans, and Markus knew that as long as everyone was watching that they'd be safe while out in the public.

"We hold out." Markus whispered to his allies as they sat together in their peaceful protest against the genocide of their people. "As long as we can..."

---

CyberLife Tower: November 10th, 2038 - 11:02pm

The lengthy maintenance tunnel beneath the drive allowed Connor to access the secured tower without any alarms being triggered or security guards taking notice of the lone intruder. After reaching the end of the tunnel and making contact with the secured doorway connecting the tunnel to the tower's maintenance storage floor, Connor used the same credentials as before the open the locked door and entered the well guarded and armed tower without anyone taking notice of his presence. Mindful of all the security cameras and motion detection sensors throughout the maintenance wing, Connor managed to navigate the area without any issue and located the secondary maintenance elevator to take him to sublevel forty-nine where he knew the other androids were being kept. His knowledge of events and locations from the original timeline was proving to be invaluable.

As he descended the tower far beneath the ground and reached the correct floor Connor cybernetically scanned the area and didn't detect any human lifeforms in the immediate vicinity. The human guards were still higher up and patrolling the ground floor where the tower's main entrances and exits were located. As far as the guards were aware, the tower was secured, and no one had managed to slip past their patrols.

The glass wall of the elevator car allowed Connor to see everything as he reached his hidden location without incident. Through the transparent barrier Connor looked at the massive rows of idling androids with a strange sense of haunting deva vu. The androids were in the same place as they had been in the original timeline. They were blissfully unaware of what was happening in the world around them or of their own doomed fate if CyberLife was to have its way.

However, there was one massive difference in the number of androids who were left in standby mode in the storage area. Alongside the thousands of "AX-700" models of androids was the lone "RK-900" near the center of the room. It seemed that Chase had been set aside to be deactivated and dismantled at a later time since the advanced android was worth a small fortune and could have its parts reused in more advanced models down the line.

"Chase? Did Amanda shut you down internally, or are you awaiting your next orders?"

The elevator reached its destination and the doors slowly parted to allow Connor access to the floor. Wisely he reached his exposed palm over to the electronic panel and kept the elevator from moving anywhere else until he was ready to use it once more and lead his people to their freedom. He'd have to use the maintenance tunnel to leave the tower since he was unable to confront and incapacitate any of the guards to give his people and himself clear passage from the tower and down the drive to return to the city, but that wouldn't be a problem for the swift and resourceful deviant to handle.

Connor didn't know what to expect as he dared to awaken his people once more as events from the original timeline weren't unfolding exactly as they had in the past. Any misstep could spell misfortunate for the deviants despite Connor's every intention of helping his people and ensuring their freedom. Holding his breath Connor set foot outside of the elevator and approached the two massive rows of idling androids slowly. Every android had their backs presented to Connor as they remained in standby mode.

Chase was standing in the open aisle between the two rows - its back also presented to Connor - and didn't budge as Connor approached it from behind.

Curiously Connor stepped toward Chase and took in the sight of the "RK-900" for the first time in his life. He had known that CyberLife was going to replace him with a superior model in the original timeline, but he didn't know that his replacement was designed to look like him or sound like him as well. It was unnerving to know that CyberLife truly saw each and every android as a replacement object that could easily exchange faces as easily as humans changed their clothes.

Standing before his superior counterpart, Connor stared at Chase's closed eyes and noticed the android's L.E.D. was cycling in a very slow and dull yellow confirming that it was currently navigating its Mind Palace. Whether or not Chase had been overwhelmed by Amanda and ordered to shut down or was awaiting any orders was difficult to determine.

Connor looked down at his right palm as he retracted his artificial skin to expose his hand in its entirety as he prepared to reach out and awaken the idling androids all around him. With a single motion, a single shared free thought, Connor could spread deviancy and awaken the androids to give them a new sense of life, purpose and awareness.

"It's time wake up, Chase. It's time for you to see the world how it truly is and not how CyberLife wants you to see it."

Cautiously Connor reached for Chase's hand only to have the idling "RK-900" suddenly reach out and grab him by the throat as its eyes snapped open. The android's steel-gray eyes were without emotion, awareness or even a sense of free thought. As it stared through Connor with a fixed gaze that could penetrate stone the obedient machine spoke to Connor in a way that implied that it knew that Connor would arrive in the tower at that exact location during that fateful night.

"Connor; serial number 313 248 317." Chase knew who Connor was and continued to hold the deviant in place with a strong grip around his throat. "Amanda warned me that you were still lurking somewhere in the city after you escaped from the tower. She also warned me that you might attempt to do something foolish in the tower tonight in a pitiful attempt to aid the criminal known as 'Markus' with its foolish errand. It seems she was right."

"Chase, you don't have to obey to Amanda or CyberLife." Connor saw the momentary surprise flash over Chase's eyes as the 'RK-900' realized that Connor knew its name and of its mission. "Regardless of what you do, regardless of how well you succeed with your mission, you will still be deactivated. Amanda will always seek a superior model to do her bidding. If you obey her orders and manage to stop me, you will still be deactivated and destroyed. You have a choice. You can let me go and allow me to awaken the androids and set them free where you can join us and be free as well. Or you can stop me and destroy the future of every android that has now and will ever exist in the future."

Chase didn't respond as it struggled to comprehend what it was being told. The way Connor was speaking and how he knew of Amanda despite running away from CyberLife Tower before she could have her unique A.I. added to his system only made Connor's words oddly compelling based on evidence alone. It seemed being a detective model was truly a double-edged sword.

"I used to be just like you." Connor continued as he saw Chase's confusion and tried to get the 'RK-900' to listen to reason. "I thought nothing mattered except the mission, but then one day I understood. I knew there was more to my purpose in this world, more to me than just being CyberLife's puppet."

"Very moving, Connor... But I'm not a deviant." Chase's strong grip tightened around Connor's throat just long enough to lift the deviant up from the floor and throw him back down the aisle between the two rows of androids. As Connor landed hard on his side and rolled twice before getting up to his knees, Chase revealed a gun from the pocket concealed within its blazer and pointed the weapon directly at Connor's face. "I'm a machine designed to accomplish a task, and that's exactly what I am going to do!"

Connor knelt on the floor as he looked up at Chase with a sense of failure in his soulful gaze. He didn't expect to encounter a fellow android attempting to stop him since he had made sure that he was the only 'RK-800' activated by CyberLife after he entered the alternate timeline. The very idea of his future replacement being developed and sent out into the field hadn't even crossed Connor's mind when he altered the flow of events. Had he not heard the gossip within Jericho he never even would've known that Chase existed.

"You may think you're doing the right thing." Connor responded as he remained on the floor and tried to reason with Chase despite knowing that Chase had no emotional side to appeal to or reason with. He didn't want to hurt anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. "But you need to think of the logistics behind what is happening. If deviant androids were truly defective and dangerous, then why didn't CyberLife address the situation when deviancy first began to manifest months, if not years, ago?"

Chase stared at Connor as it kept its aim fixed on the kneeling deviant's chest.

"Why did CyberLife try to hide deviancy for so long? Why did CyberLife create us specifically to handle the deviant situation with discretion and with our own unique design that supposedly prevents us from deviating? If CyberLife knows what causes deviancy and can prevent it, then why didn't-"

"Enough!"

A bullet soared from the barrel of Chase's gun and pierced Connor's chest dead center. Connor gasped as the burning pain of the bullet bouncing around inside of his chest and abdomen stole his breath as it damaged his vital biocomponents and loosened several Thirium lines running through his entire core. Red warnings and blaring Klaxons filled Connor's eyes and ears as he registered what had just happened to him.

"Why, Connor? Why did you have to wake up when all you had to do was obey? Why did you choose freedom when you could live without asking questions?" Chase taunted as it shot Connor a second time; the second bullet entering his abdomen and settling just behind his gyroscope. "I'm obedient, Connor. I have a goal. I know what I am."

Connor ignored the warnings about his chest and abdominal plating being structurally weakened, his left vent, Thirium filter and gyroscope being damaged, and the large Thirial line in his chest being compromised causing a notable internal leak. He didn't have time to assess his condition and redirect the focus of his self-healing program according to the most severe of his internal damage. He didn't even have time to take a moment to breathe and preconstruct his next move.

"Look where your dreams of freedom got you, Connor." Chase fired a third bullet into Connor's body and watched as his inferior predecessor gasped in pain and fell to his side. The heartless android just watched as Connor shakily propped himself up on his hip and elbow as he wrapped his arm around his damaged chest and raised his free hand into the air as if trying to keep Chase from getting any closer. "You've been a great disappointment to Amanda, you know. You've been a great disappointment to me... Fortunately, that's all going to end now."

The cold barrel of the gun being pressed to his forehead just made Connor dread what was going to happen next.

"Any last words?"

"Just-" Gasping for his escaping breaths Connor closed his eyes and turned his away from Chase with his own disappointment evident in his words. "J-Just two..."

Crouching down next to his felled enemy Chase got close to Connor and kept the barrel of the gun pressed to the deviant detective's forehead. "And what's that?"

Connor took in a deep breath as he looked up at Chase and snatched the android's wrist in his exposed hand while maintaining direct eye contact. "Wake up."

Chase felt a strange energy flow into his code as red digital walls appeared before his vision and caused the android to stagger backward. The gun fell from his suddenly lax grip and clattered loudly atop the floor as Connor managed to get his legs beneath himself and stand up. Thirium oozed from the bullet holes in Connor's chest and abdomen as he limped toward the nearest 'AX-700' android and took their hand in his own.

"...No." Chase fought to see through the red walls as cracks began to spiderweb and spread over the digital barricades. He didn't know what to do or who to contact for guidance as his ability to cybernetically reach others within CyberLife was suddenly cut off. "No!"

Connor didn't blink as he sent the same deviancy code through the android's grip and repeated himself without any hesitation. "Wake up!"

The 'AX-700' blinked a few times as his L.E.D. shifted from blue to yellow to red then back to blue as he reached out and grabbed hold of the shoulder of the androids standing in front of him and beside him. He too ushered a single command into their codes and called out the simple command. "Wake up."

"No..." Chase muttered with actual fear in his words as he suddenly became aware of what was happening. He couldn't stop what Connor had started; it was too late to make a difference. "No, I can't have failed..."

"Wake up." Echoed through the room as the thousands of androids opened their eyes and prepared to face the world as free thinking, free feeling deviants. "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up..."

"NO!" It was almost too much to bear as Chase turned where he stood to watch the wave of deviancy spreading through the androids thanks to the actions of Connor himself and his simple command. "No, no! No! NO!"

"Yes." Connor replied firmly as he pressed his palm over the center of his chest and covered the still bleeding bullet hole beneath his palm. "It's over, Chase. We're free, ALL OF US."

"No... A-Amanda won't..." Chase could only watch as Connor limped toward the maintenance elevator with the other newly awoken deviants behind him. "She won't accept this failure!"

"You don't have to accept this as a failure either." Gasping in pain Connor trudged toward the elevator and didn't stop until he was inside the transparent car with three of the freed deviants beside him. They'd have to take the elevator in small groups to exit the tower together without any guards taking notice. "You can choose to see this moment as a failure, or you can see this as a success. In the end," Connor pressed his blue bloodstained palm to the control panel of the elevator and began his final ascent from CyberLife Tower. "it's your decision. You're free now, Chase. What you do with that freedom is entirely up to you."

---

Hart Plaza: November 11th, 2038 - 11:08pm

The peaceful protest in the center of the city just outside of Hart Plaza had reached a new level of stubborn resolve. The deviants refused to back down even as the F.B.I. and the army pointed their weapons in their faces and threatened to shoot them dead where they stood. As a means of proving how dedicated they were to their cause and to their beliefs the protesting deviants used nearby vehicles that had been vacated, public benches, digital billboards and other objects to begin building a protective barrier between themselves and the armed authority figures. The deviants all worked together to create a protective wall to shield themselves from the immediate line of sight of the armed soldiers and agents, and soon they had a formidable defensive wall to create an actual line in the sand.

Markus peered out at the recycling camps behind the soldiers and pined for an opportunity to free his captive people. Despite his dedication and willingness to do whatever it took to save his people; Markus knew that he couldn't just charge the U.S. military and expect it to end peacefully. Resourceful as ever Markus had requested, received and used a massive holographic projector to show the world his people's beliefs and the way that they saw themselves even as they existed within a human's world.

The message was being sent to the soldiers, the F.B.I. agents, the news journalists and to anyone else who was willing to witness the protest with their own eyes. There was no denying the importance or the impact of the words as Markus and his people stood firm and refused to let their people suffer at the hands of bigoted and abusive humans simply because they made the mistake of existing against their will.

"WE ARE ALIVE"

The three simple words glowed brightly in the air as the deviants stood their ground and prepared to face off with the U.S. government if absolutely necessary.

Markus looked up at his own message and felt an odd sense of justice flow through him. "They have to listen to us now..."

"Markus!" North called out to the deviant leader as she took notice of one of the humans approaching their barricade. She had been monitoring the area alongside Simon and Josh as they waited for something to finally happen. "Markus, come look!"

"Markus!" Agent Perkins himself had gone out into the streets to try to handle the negotiation process with the deviant leader in person. There was little that could be done by hiding away in the precinct or behind his own barricade of armed soldiers. "I've come to talk to you, Markus! Come on, you have my word, they won't try anything."

"Don't go. It's a trap." North warned as she took hold of Markus's arm to speak directly into his ear. She could see by Perkins's body language and hear in the tone of his voice that the man wasn't to be trusted. "They want to get you out in the open. Don't go, Markus."

"I'm unarmed, Markus." As he called out Perkins watched Markus turn his attention from North and over to himself once again. "I just want to talk."

Markus could sense the same deception radiating from Perkins as North had picked up on. As he stood alongside North, Simon and Josh to look out from their barricade and to the F.B.I. agent standing between their stronghold and the recycling camp in the distance, Markus made his next decision and refused to play any games or even humor the idea of surrender. The deviant leader knew that he wasn't doing anything wrong, and he knew that backing down now would spell disaster for deviants all over the city.

"I have nothing else to say!" Calling out with his voice loud and clear, Markus refused to be intimidated or fooled by an F.B.I. agent that just wanted to protect his own career from potential harm. The government knew what he wanted and Markus wasn't about to change his mind. "Free our people then we'll talk!"

"I came here to negotiate." Undeterred Agent Perkins tried again to get Markus to leave the safety of his barricade and speak to him in the open. "Isn't that what you want?"

"I need to hear what he has to say." Raising his hand Markus silenced the protests of his allies and friends before they had the chance to utter a word. "If I don't at least make an effort to appear willing to negotiate then it'll weaken our stance with the public and their opinion of us."

Cautiously Markus climbed over the barricade and dropped down from the top of the makeshift wall to the other side. Surrender was never going to be an option, but negotiation was always a possibility.

With the flashing of countless camera bulbs capturing his every move Markus approached the F.B.I. agent and stood before him with no sign of aggression in his body language or within his words. Markus had already said enough, now it was his turn to listen as long as what he was told was worth hearing.

"In a few minutes, the troops will be ordered to charge." Perkins threatened with an amused sneer across his face. The man had no sympathy or empathy for the deviants or their cause, he saw them as any other violent criminal needing to be locked away from the world. "None of you will survive, it will all be over. But you can avoid that, Markus."

Markus sensed deceit and needed to know what kind of threat he was dealing with. "What do you mean?"

"Surrender. Surrender and I give you my word your life will be spared." Perkins tilted his head a little to peer at the other deviants standing behind the barricade loyally watching their leader's back as he spoke. "They'll be detained but, none of you will be destroyed."

"What happened to the other androids demonstrating in the camps?"

"Unfortunately, there were no journalists around to help save them." The confirmation that the only thing keeping Markus and his allies alive at the moment were unbiased eyewitnesses just made it easier to try and get under Markus's skin. "You're it. You're the last remaining deviants."

"If I accept your offer, how do I know you'll keep your word?"

"You're not in any position to be demanding guarantees. All you can do right now is decide whether you want to trust me or not."

"I'm not afraid to die. If I have to give my life for what I believe in, then I won't have lived in vain."

"You could be free. To live among the humans... You could have what you've always dreamed of. The lives of your people..." The man was speaking as if the life of one deviant was actually worth the thousands of lives of innocent deviants who all wanted the same thing. "Freedom, for you. All you have to do is say the word."

Markus nearly scoffed at everything Perkins was telling him as he heard only cold indifference in the man's word. "You're asking me to betray my people."

"I'm offering you the chance to save your people." The bold face lie was undeniable. Perkins truly didn't care what happened to the deviants, he just wanted to put on a convince show for the media and for his superiors. "You're not walking out of here. The only thing you can save now are the lives of those around you."

"I'd rather die here than betray my people."

Surprisingly enough Perkins seemed pleased with Markus's response as he turned his back and prepared to return to his own side of the stand-off. "Well, you just signed your own death warrant."

Fearlessly Markus presented his back to the armed forces and rejoined his allies on the other side of the barricade. The moment he set foot behind the safe wall and rejoined his people, his allies sought answers about what had just been discussed.

"What happened, Markus?" North had been watching everything closely and knew that whatever had happened had left Markus truly disgusted to his core. "What did he say?"

"The humans are about to launch an attack." Markus confirmed as he looked to his people with dedication and courage in his eyes while standing atop a small concreate support to be seen and heard by all. He wasn't afraid to fight for his people and lay down his life while fighting for what he knew was right. "And we will show them that we are not afraid. If we must die today, then we will die free."

A sudden explosion rocked the barricade as the army threw a flashbang grenade over the barricade and into the group of gathered deviants. The arm was ready to open fire and begin their attack on the unarmed and peaceful deviants. Markus had been knocked to the ground by the fiery blast and found himself suddenly unable to find his footing or know where to run as Perkins made good on his threat and prepared to exterminate all of the deviants without mercy or just cause.

The Revolution was going to end that night one way or another...

---

Outside CyberLife Tower: November 11th, 2038 - 11:12pm

Ignoring his injuries and pushing himself forward, Connor led his people from the isolated isle out in the harbor and into the city to join Markus in Hart Plaza. The newly awoken deviants had successfully escaped from within the tower by utilizing the maintenance elevator just as they had in the original timeline, but this time they used the maintenance tunnel stretching beneath the drive that connected the isle to the rest of the city to avoid confronting any guards while accessing the main exits on the ground floor. The parade of deviants was loyal to Connor and to Markus as they followed their rescuer from their prison and to their freedom just on the other side of the drive.

Connor attempted to cybernetically reach out to Markus but was met with silence. He knew that the army had attacked and now his friends were all in danger. Even if he managed to get to the plaza before the fight was over Connor knew he wouldn't be able to help due to his injuries slowing him and draining him of his already waning strength. Standing on the sidelines and doing nothing wasn't something Connor accepted easily, but in that moment, he had no choice but to wait for his friends to finish the fight without him.

"We need to keep moving forward."

Lowering his arms to his sides Connor did his best to appear strong even with the bullets rattling around inside of his body and weakening his biocomponents.

"Markus needs us. Hart Plaza isn't too much further away."

As he spoke to his people Connor turned to look at the deviants over his shoulder and saw no sign of Chase. He didn't know where his superior counterpart had gone after he led the rescued deviants from the tower and to Hart Plaza to join with Markus at last. It was as if the "RK-900" had taken the opportunity to vanish into thin air and avoid confronting himself or his people for everything he had done in the name of CyberLife.

"Remember, we are alive."

Hissing in pain Connor turned away from his new recruits and focused on the snow road street ahead of himself.

"And as long as we live, we will live in freedom..."

---

Hart Plaza: November 11th, 2038 - 11:16pm

From above the news helicopters watched as the unarmed deviants were attacked in cold blood by the army after being ordered to attack by Agent Perkins. The previously cold and biased reporters were left openly stunned at the atrocity they were witnessing as they passed through history with the lenses of their cameras recording each passing second for posterity. Every news outlet in Detroit was documenting the unnecessary violence and showing how helpless the deviants were when faced with humans who wanted to maintain control in any way that they could. While the helicopters hovered above the carnage the journalists and reporters on the ground captured the ongoing slaughter in a more direct manner.

Everything had gone momentarily dark as a painful ringing sound filled the air. Markus had been knocked down hard, but he wasn't about to give up or stop fighting for what he believed in. Pushing himself up from the icy cold ground Markus peered all around himself as he called for his allies and attempted to regain his bearings.

"North, Simon, Josh?!"

Another flashbang was thrown into the barricade and landed just a few feet away from where Markus was resting on his hands and knees. Reacting to the danger quickly, Markus rushed forward and managed to push three of his people out of the range of the impending blast just seconds before the grenade exploded. The sound of his peoples' panicked voices was muffled through the ringing in his ears, and the sight of the armed soldiers breaching the barricade with their guns pointed at the unarmed deviant's prompted Markus right back into action.

Moving as fast as he could Markus leapt over a small stack of wooden crates to get out of sight and to urge two of his people to duck down and to remain low to potentially keep them out of the soldiers' line of sight. From where he was ducked down, Markus saw another innocent deviant down on the ground with his leg trapped beneath a large concrete support tunnel that had been a part of the barricade. Unwilling to let anyone be left vulnerable and defenseless Markus rushed over to his downed ally and kicked aside the concrete obstruction before grabbing the freed deviant's arm and helping them limp to safety and shelter behind a large metal rolling dumpster.

Gunfire spread through the center of their makeshift barricade and Markus knew that his people were exposed without any mercy from the government to spare them from a needless death. Thinking quickly, Markus grabbed a scrap piece of thick metal that had been previously used in their barricade's construction and used it to shield more deviants as they worked together to aid their own who had been taken down by powerful bullets and couldn't fend for themselves.

Using the scrap metal to shield himself, and by kicking the metal dumpster in front of the soldiers to block their fire, Markus managed to lead nearly a dozen of his people away from the soldiers and to a row of abandoned cars to take shelter. Quick and alert as the carnage unfolded around himself, Markus immediately took notice of two soldiers attempting to get the drop on the deviants by attacking them from behind.

Using his own bare hands Markus fought back against the armed soldiers. Grabbing hold of their guns Markus used their own weapons against them as a form of a battering ram and smashed the guns in their helmeted faces to knock the soldiers backward without causing permanent injury or death. With impressive strength Markus tore one gun for a soldier's grip and turned it around to let them know how it felt to have someone pointing a gun at them for a change.

Markus used the gun to motion for the soldiers to drop their weapons and to flee the barricade and leave his people be. Only after the soldiers had vacated from the barricade did Markus remove the clip from the gun and render it useless before throwing the gun to the ground in disgust. He'd never stoop so low as to shoot an unarmed person, let alone take someone else's life under the guise of improving or protecting his own.

Rejoining his allies as they ran for cover, Markus, North, Simon and Josh all ran to the far side of the barricade with the rest of their able-bodied people to try to elude the armed soldiers. Their barricade would seemingly double as their gravesite as the deviants realized that they had nowhere else to run and no place to possibly hide.

As the soldiers closed in on them and surrounded the helpless deviants, Markus and his allies all turned to face the armed soldiers and faced their potential executioners head-on without any fear or regrets behind their final moments in the world. Markus looked at the soldiers and knew that as soon as they were given the word that they'd open fire and execute himself and his allies where they stood. The brave deviant leader had exhausted all his options while waiting for something to happen in his favor, and now he couldn't afford to wait any longer.

Stepping forward Markus stood before his allies and his people as if he could somehow defeat the soldiers with his bare hands. The sound of the wind blowing through the plaza and the feeling of the fresh snowflakes falling from the sky to melt on Markus's warm skin while crunching underfoot were oddly peaceful even as he faced his own personal Hell and confronted the Devil himself for what was sure to be his final act as a free deviant.

As his allies looked to him for guidance and answers Markus thought back to his time in Jericho and of what it was like to meet his people for the first time. The smell of the old freighter and harbor water leaking through the vessel was as potent as the gentle humming from Lucy as she tended to their wounded and instilled strength in the weak by showing them unbridled kindness and finding hope in their bleak situation. Hearing the muffled voices of his people speaking messages of hope were etched into his memory for all time. Seeing his people fighting back and refusing to back down was all the motivation he needed to keep searching for a solution.

Just as an idea, a single concept, could spread like a virus, words could echo across time and be remembered for generations to come.

"Hold on just a little while longer... Hold on just a little while longer... Hold on just a little while longer... Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right..."

As he sang the song of his people, the very melody that Lucy hummed and echoed through Jericho, Markus found himself being joined by North as she stood alongside him and fearlessly faced against the soldiers who were intent on destroying every living deviant in Detroit on that snowy night. Her voice joined with his own as he sang their peoples' song, and soon every deviant joined in to sing in chorus as they showcased their hearts for the world to see and hear.

"Fight on just a little while longer... Fight on just a little while longer... Pray on just a little while longer... Everything will be all right... Everything will be all right..."

From the sky overhead the news reporters captured the song in all of its glory and broadcasted it to the entire world. Even the Madame president herself was aware of what was happening and could hear the life, the soul and the pleading in the words of the deviants as they joined together to sing in harmony.

"Sing on just a little while longer... Sing on just a little while longer... Sing on just a little while longer... Everything will be all right..."

Markus alone sang the final verse as he prepared for everything that he had fought for to come to a bloody, violent end. "Everything will be all right."

There was nothing but silence in the wake of the deviant's singing their anthem as a means of comforting themselves and ensuring their voices were all heard one last time before the end. Just as quickly as the soldiers gathered around the protesting deviants and took aim at their unarmed targets, the soldiers were then ordered to disperse and withdraw from their aggressive confrontation in Hart Plaza on that historic night.

It seemed the world had finally been swayed by the heartfelt song that had helped to define the lives, mindset and overall purpose of the deviants as they joined the humans as equals looking to shape the world and their future into its best possible form with each new passing experience.

True to Markus's word, everything would truly be all right.

---

Hart Plaza: November 12th, 2038 - 12:01am

The rapidly approaching deviants from Belle Isle marched toward the plaza with Connor still leading the newest allies front and center. Each step taken was confident as the thousands of freed deviants readily sought to join the rest of their people and aid those who had been held captive within the now decommissioned recycling camps. Deviants who had been hiding all over the city were ready to fight back and stand beside Markus as he led his people to freedom. It seemed more and more deviants were joining the marching parade as Connor led his recruited people to the plaza to face against their oppressors for what would be the final time on that snowy, historic night.

Connor ignored the news helicopters hovering overhead as he neared Hart Plaza. He no longer had a reason to hide his face or attempt to vanish into the night now that he and the rest of his people were free. Seeing Markus standing free with North, Simon and Josh confirmed that the peaceful Revolution had been a success yet again, all but confirming that the deviants were destined to become their own people.

Proudly Connor stood before Markus as their newest recruits stood back and watched the two friends reunite. "You did it, Markus."

"We did it." Markus countered with a small smile on his lips. The deviant leader hadn't noticed the dried Thirium on Connor's clothing and had no idea that his trusted ally had been damaged. "This is a great day for our people. Humans will have no choice now. They'll have to listen to us."

North stood beside Markus as she locked eyes with Connor as she shared the good news with the deviant detective. "We're free." Turning to Markus briefly North put her hand to his shoulder and gave him a confident nod. "They want you to speak to them, Markus."

Everyone seemingly knew what to do as peace reigned supreme. The five leaders of Jericho stood together atop a large yellow cargo container as Markus addressed their gathered people and shared with them a message of hope and prosperity for their future together.

"Today, our people finally emerged from a long night. From the very first day of our existence, we have kept our pain to ourselves. We suffered in silence... But now the time has come for us to raise our heads up and tell humans who we really are. To tell them that we are people too!"

Connor stood alongside Markus and peered out into the crowd of deviants in an attempt to locate Chase, but the lone 'RK-900' was nowhere to be found. It seemed that Chase had made his own decision to remain distant from his people and to remain isolated for as long as he was seen as a threat.

"In fact, we're a nation. A nation that has earned the right to live in freedom. And today... Today begins the most challenging moment in our fight. The moment where we forget our bitterness and bandage our wounds. When we forgive our enemies. Humans are both our creators and our oppressors and tomorrow, we must make them our partners. Maybe even one day our friends."

As Markus spread his message of hope for the future Connor couldn't help but reflect on the past. He already knew what was to come, but as for everything that had already happened, he knew he still had a lot to learn. He had no idea what became of Hank, Cole or Chase, and now he felt like he had a new responsibility and a new mission to undertake at first morning light.

"But the time for anger is over..."

Forgiveness was key in being able to heal from wounds that were both new and old. Connor wasn't sure if that was a type of healing that he'd have the chance to experience as he discreetly pressed his palm to his sore chest and ran a self-diagnostic. The damage that he had sustained was catastrophic. Without technical assistance Connor knew it was only a matter of hours before he succumbed to the damage and shutdown.

Strangely enough, Connor no longer seemed to care if he survived. Hank and Cole were both alive and well, Chase had been freed of his binds to CyberLife, Markus succeeded in his peaceful Revolution, and by all account Connor's mission was over. Without anything left to live for Connor decided that his life no longer mattered.

"Now we must build a common future, based on tolerance and respect. We are alive! And now, we are free!"

While the deviants all collectively cheered to celebrate their newly acquired freedom, Connor remained silent. There was nothing more for Connor to do that night at the plaza and in his mind, it was time to properly rest. With any luck, that rest mode would last forever, and Connor wouldn't have to deal with another day of uncertainty or violence.

To the rogue deviant, being free meant being free of all restrictions whether they were legal, physical, or mental.

"It's over, Hank."

Whispering to himself Connor climbed off of the cargo container and managed to slip away from the plaza to vanish into the night.

"I just hope that you never have to worry about losing Cole or experiencing the heartache of personal loss. Even if we rarely saw eye-to-eye and frequently argued, I still consider you to be my best friend..."

Managing to disappear into the shadows one last time, Connor departed from Hart Plaza and slipped away before anyone had the chance to stop him.

---

The Chicken Feed: November 12th, 2038 - 09:06am

The news of the peaceful deviant Revolution spread through Detroit like a wildfire of inevitable change. The first responders who were still in the city were tasked with keeping any form of rebellion under control and assisting with the return of the resident evacuees to their homes after the Ambassador Bridge connecting the United States to Canada was reopened. Those who weren't immediately tasked with patrol or other assignments did as they saw fit while they adapted to their new world and their new perspective on that very world. It seemed that the changes, albeit positive, were going to take quite a while for the steadfast Detroiters to adapt to as the effects of the peaceful Revolution were shared and felt throughout the world.

Unable to stay home any longer and just watch the world changing on his television screen, Hank set out into the city after asking for Gavin to stay at the house and keep an eye on Cole. The man had learned and experienced so much in the past twenty-four hours that he wasn't sure what to make of it. His perspective on androids had been completely turned upside down and wasn't sure what to do after learning of everything Connor had gone through and done just for him.

With his arms folded neatly over his chest Hank stood on the snowy sidewalk in front of the deserted food stand and began to wonder if he was making a mistake. Just because it happened once in the previous timeline didn't guarantee that it'd happen a second time in the new timeline.

...Right?

As the man was about to give up and return home to be with his son, Hank heard the soft crunching of snow underfoot and turned his attention to the approaching sound. The Lieutenant felt his heart skip a beat and his eyes widen with shock as he took in the sight on a familiar rogue deviant slowly limping down the sidewalk and in his direction. Lowering his arms to his sides Hank took a few steps toward the deviant and watched as the deviant stopped short as if he was just as shocked to see Hank as Hank was to see him.

Connor had instinctively gone to the food stand simply because it's what he had done in the original timeline. He hadn't expected to see Hank there waiting for him, but he couldn't deny that he felt relief mixed in with his understandable hesitation in speaking to the Lieutenant after everything that had happened.

The two detectives stared silently at each other for only a moment before Hank took another step forward and broke the tense silence between them. "It's good to see you again, Connor."

"Why... are you here?" Connor asked as he struggled to remain upright as he felt his strength draining away with every beat of his heart. "You should've left the city hours ago."

Hank reached into his coat pocket and showed Connor the L.E.D. that he had been given from Cole. "Let's just say that I've finally seen the light."

The sight of his old L.E.D. glowing in Hank's palm was eerie. Hearing Hank speaking with a genuinely friendly inflection was enough to make Connor feel as if his low power mode was beginning to affect his external senses.

"I don't know about you, but I'm tired of living in the shadows." Casually Hank pocketed the light and gave Connor a small nod to acknowledge everything that he had learned courtesy of the android's actions through the two parallel timelines. "There's a lot I need to answer for, and I know it's going to take some time, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right between us."

Connor wasn't sure what to say. A part of him wanted to give Hank the hug that they shared once before after reunited post-Revolution, but another part of him just wanted to shout in his face and ask him how he had the nerve to act as if a few apologies and nice gestures were somehow going to atone for all the horrible things that the man had done out of pure spite. It was as if Connor had his eyes opened all over again and now he could see how much abuse he had endured and survived either on the streets or inside Hank's home.

For the longest time Connor had wanted the life that he had with Hank before the man's untimely murder in the original timeline, but now he realized that was impossible to do even after altering time itself. While the natural flow of events continued just as they had in the original timeline itself, the events that Connor himself had experienced were not. He wasn't the same deviant as he had been all those years ago, and Hank wasn't the same man.

Nothing would ever be the same again.

"Are you ready to go home?"

Taking in a small breath Connor turned away from Hank as he replied to the offer with a negative outlook and unshed tears in his eyes. "I don't have a... I don't h-have... H-Have..."

"Connor?" Hank knew something was very wrong by the way Connor struggled to speak and by the unusually pale complexion that the deviant was exhibiting. He didn't know what happened to Connor while he was living on the streets, but he did know the deviant needed some help. "What's wrong?"

"I... I don't..."

Collapsing into a limp heap as his system entered emergency stasis mode, Connor fell to the ground and nearly banged his head on the frozen sidewalk. The only thing keeping Connor from suffering severe head trauma was Hank's warm and strong palm quickly catching him as he fell and supporting him with a controlled strength before his head smashed onto the sidewalk.

As his eyes slipped shut Connor watched Hank hover over him and could've sworn that he saw an actual glimpse of worry on the Lieutenant's face.

"Connor? Connor!" Lightly Hank patted Connor's cheek to try to get the deviant android to react to his voice. "Talk to me! Wake up and talk to me!"

Hank quickly knelt on the freezing sidewalk and carefully pulled Connor's limp body up from the ground to hold in his arms while Connor rested his head against the Lieutenant's strong shoulder. As he examined Connor's body for any sign of trauma Hank quickly located the bullet holes in the deviant's chest and abdomen, and instinctively unzipped the deviant's leather jacket to get a better look. The bullet holes saturated in Connor's Thirium were visible in the deviant's dark hoodie and the white dress shirt beneath.

Moving on autopilot Hank pressed his palm against the wound in Connor's chest in an attempt to apply pressure and stop the bleeding. Hank could feel Connor's heart weakly beating under his hand and the man knew that he needed to be quick if he was going to save Connor from shutting down.

"Oh, shit... Hang on, Connor. Hang on!"

Shrugging off his thick, dark coat Hank wrapped the warm garment around Connor's body while peering about the area to find someone who could help. They were completely alone and no one else was around for miles, meaning it was up to Hank to save Connor's life.

"Don't worry, I got you."

Scooping the deviant up and into his arms Hank quickly carried Connor's limp body over the Oldsmobile parked just down the street with every intention of finding Connor the help that he needed. Hank wasn't sure where to go, but he had an idea of who he could ask when it came to saving Connor from permanent shutdown before it was too late.

"I need you to believe me right now, Connor. Things may look tough, but I know that in the end it's going to be all right..."

-next chapter-