Chapter Text
The place was full of smoke. It filled your lungs, rushed through your veins all the way to your core. You were shaking, your moves uncontrolled, legs trembling and when the speakers turned louder, your movements became erratic. The club was crowded, bodies pushed against each other, and perhaps that was the reason why you didn’t pick up on the hand placed against the small of your back. The palm gently rubbed the sensitive skin which wasn’t covered by your top, the touch light and comforting. You turned around and locked eyes with an unmistakable gaze - blue and green - and immediately took a catious step back. The effect of the vodka weared off in a split second, and suddenly you were awfully aware of the man standing in front of you. Your fingers twitched.
“Marcus.” his name on your lips sounded foreign, the uncomfortable realization of who the hand belonged to got you stumbling with your words. “What are you doing here?”
He didn’t answer, but gestured to a brown haired woman dancing a few steps further, her skin glistening with sweat. She bobbed her head to the rythme of the song playing without care, her LED hidden by her messy strands stuck together.
“Her name is North. She wanted to go crazy before...” he didn’t finish his sentence.
“Before what?” the two of you were unmoving, staring at each other. “Before what, Marcus?”
The people around you didn’t take notice of his presence, probably because most of them only saw him without his skin. All that was broadcasted were replayed by the news channels again and again, analyzing and criticizing everything that was said.
“How’s Carl? Is he getting better?”
You let out a small sigh.
“Yes. The altercation with Leo took a tool on him but he’s getting better.”
“I am glad to hear that.” he took a quick glance at North. “You could help us.” he evaded your previous question. “You have access to everything that is in connection with CyberLife.
You shook your head in disbelief.
“No, I cannot. You brought this onto yourself. I am not a criminal nor an accomplice.” your voice was harsh, but you intended to make it clear to Markus: you couldn’t help him. There was a lot on your plate already. You had to make him understand that there was more at stake than your job. You were playing with your freedom. Your life.
“But you helped us before. You helped me, [Name].”
“Because you were important to Carl. Not because I set a high value on the revolution.”
He looked taken aback by your response.
“We need you.” his eyes darkened. “You are close to the fire.”
“And I won’t let it burn me.”
You were still, holding his gaze intently. He looked determined, ready to convince you by any means, and his face held endless secrets which you wanted to reveal. You wanted to shout, scream that even if you wanted to, the risk wasn’t worth it. You would be putting your life on the line, and the idea that you could loose everything you’ve worked for left a bad tasting bile in your throat.
“We need you.” he put an emphasis on the last word. “I need you.”
You stepped in front of him, closing the distance between you.
“And I want to stay alive.”
Were you selfish? Were you so full of yourself, so proud, that you confused good and evil? Was Marcus right, were you really needed to win this unaccounted for fight? The pang of guilt inside your chest was an awful echo, whispering that you were refusing to see reality.
“I understand.” he nodded. “The next time we’ll see each other, things are going to be…different.”
You didn’t say anything. You didn’t have to.
“I wish you the best, [Name].”
You couldn’t get your legs moving, instead, you watched his retreating form. His muscles created a perfectly orchestrated harmony which contradicted to his previous feather-like touch on your lower back.
Markus was getting ready for something. Something that could change the world.
All of the alcohol you drank left your body in a few seconds, and you felt your sobriety taking over the control of your body. You moved swiftly in the ocean of bodies sticking together and clawed your way out into the opened terrace. The smoking area was a few feet wide, fitting for a few people and you took a breath of the chilly night air. Your hands rammed through the pocket of your denim jacket tied around your waist and when you found the small box you took out a cigarette and lit it with one move.
Breathing in, you inhaled the bittersweet poison.
You wanted to have a shower, washing away your doubts.
Footage of the march was posted on every news outlet, every screen reflecting Marcus leading the crowd to a halt in front of the police, putting their hands up and pledging innocence and peace and getting shot one by one. The public opinion was sympathetic, supporting the deviants efforts for equality and justice, the way they protested for their rights and recognition appealed to people.
You wondered how far they would go for their preferred outcome.
You switched off the television, going to back to the papers on your desk waiting to be looked over. You also had to take care of the androids hidden in the storage room. You had their passports but you needed to call Rose to talk her into taking them in for the night. Her house was a secured shelter, one of its kind, and you were utterly grateful for her generosity. Offering a safe place to the lost was more than a crime. It was a death warrant.
Marcus and the rest of Jericho was on the verge of starting a never ending war between rebellious machines and close minded humans. The latter were unsure, fearing for their own survival and safety. Detroit was less of a city and more of a paradise of progress with endless possibilities but to some, developing meant risking their comfort, their normality.
You opened the top drawer of your desk and took out the small envelope. It was time to give instructions to the three androids you were hiding.
It was late and the tower was already empty. The halls were silent, your steps seemed louder than ever, and the three passports you were holding were burning your hands. You stepped into your laboratory, and opened the storage room’s door. It revealed the three androids standing inside with a small hiss.
“I’m here to get you out.” you said quietly. “First you need to go to this location. There’s a woman called Rose, you can stay the night there and leave the next morning to cross the border. Here.” you pulled out the envelope. “Three bus tickets and your passports. Try to evade any detection and scans.”
The three of them nodded in appreciation.
“I’m going to have to put you in this crate. It was used to contain new androids who were yet to be activated. There is enough space for you. We have to go through security and you can’t just waltz out of here on your own.” seeing their expressions, you added. “You will be safe, but you have to trust me.”
They glanced at each other and looked back at you.
“Alright.” said one of them.
“Let’s do this.” you motioned to the huge box, signaling for them to get in.
The stepped inside with uncertainty on their faces.
You didn’t encourage them, instead, you patiently waited until they got in. Their eyes were filled with panic, fear, you realized, and you casted them a smile before you shut the door.
You moved the crate with a pallet truck and rolled it out to the elevator. The tower was silent, the soft noise of the wheels was a harsh scream in the void. You pushed the large, metal box into the lift abd waited till it closed to identify yourself with your voice.
“[Name] detected. Alarm deactivated.”
When you got to the parking garage you moved the crate through the cement floor and gently pushed it onto the truck of your Ford. It landed with a gentle puff, and after you got into the driver seat you started the car with shaking hands.
There you were. Doing what almost got you killed a year ago.
Rose’s house was a idyllic cottage outside Detroit. She secretly supported the deviants’ movement with a place to stay and helped androids by smuggling them to Canada, a safe country to start over.
She was kind. Too kind in your eyes.
You drove the three androids to her home and called out James’ name to find the older woman. Her son was different from her in many aspects, he despised what his mother was doing and voiced his concerns every time you were present. You understood him in a way: it was dangerous and full of obstacles. No one wanted to get involved is this mess but Rose was certain that it was the right thing to do and you didn’t have the heart to plainly doubt her.
“James!” your high pitched voice ranged out in the snowy field. “James!”
“I’m here!” came the reply from the glass house behind the home.
You followed the noise and found the teenager inside. He was holding and axe and you smiled at him before looking around.
“I’m trying not find Rose. Is she here?” you asked.
“She’s in the kitchen.” he answered skittishly. “Why are you looking for her?”
“I have three androids with me. They need to cross the border to Canada.” you knew what he thought before his reaction.
He looked down nervously and then glanced back at you.
“There was a policeman here earlier.” he said. “He asked…questions. We need to be careful.”
You nodded in understanding.
“I promise you everything will go smoothly.” you assured him gently. “Be safe, James.” you added.
Rose was standing in front of the stove, stirring something in a metal pot. Her hand on her hip was her signature stand and you couldn’t help the smile forming on your lips.
“Hey, Rose. Long time no see.” she turned around and when she realized who was talking smiled widely at you. You knew her for a long time, longer than you dared to look back in time. Much like you, she was unlike anyone else, appearing to be an ordinary citizen hiding her true self to deceive others.
“How can I help you? I haven’t seen you in months!” she squeaked.
“I got three androids on the loose with me. Can you help them get across the border?”
The looped smile of hers calmed your rampaging nerves.
“Of course.”
“They are in the car.” your expression was shaded by worry. “I’ll tell them to come in.”
You stepped outside and took a deep breath for the first time after hours. You finally felt like you could breathe again.