Chapitre 11: Chapter Eleven: Crossroads
DATE
NOV 9TH, 2038
TIME
PM 09:39:24
"ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU'LL BE ALL right?" Connor asked as he and Natalie stood just outside of the entrance to the hub of Jericho. The two of them were bundled up in thick coats and beanies now that they were outside. It wasn't like either of them could really get cold, but they had to act up the part as normal humans in order to get through the city. If they were caught by the police, there was no telling what would happen to either of them.
Connor had guided her to where Jericho was after they stopped by her apartment. She let Connor borrow some of Ethan's clothes so that way he would blend in easier on the streets. It wasn't like he was going to miss one of his old t-shirts, jeans or coat that he never wore. Of course, the man had been sleeping when Natalie and Connor arrived at the apartment and then left. That made it much easier for them to leave and find Jericho as fast as they could. Ethan certainly would have put up a fight about Natalie being involved in all of this. The last thing Natalie needed to add to her long list of worries is her younger brother fussing over her.
Natalie shook her head at the worry that he was exhibiting. She wasn't sure why he insisted on completing his mission. To her, she thought that Connor was already a deviant or at least on his way to being one. He needed that one last push to really send him off the edge. Perhaps this will be it, she hoped. "I'm a cyborg, I can pass as android here." She placed her hand in his to try and give him some reassurance. "No need to worry."
There was no way that Connor was just going to stop worrying considering what he was there to do. If he carried out his mission and the other deviants became violent towards him, there was a large possibility they would go after her as well. Her association with him would make her a target, and he didn't want to see her get hurt in any way. He pushed the thought away for the time being so he could focus on the task at hand. Though he didn't let go of her hand as they walked further into the ship.
Connor and Natalie then entered the ship's hull to be faced with dozens of deviants. Natalie wasn't able to tell how many exactly there were on the ship, but there were a lot. There were a few screens set up broadcasting the live news reports that were covering the story. The entire country must be watching what was happening.
Natalie gulped as she and Connor moved further into the room. There was constant, uneasy chatter among the androids as they watched the screens and listened to what was happening outside. They walked through the gaggles of androids to try and get to the upper floor. Connor had to find the leader of the group, Markus. Finding the leader and neutralizing it was his main mission right now. Of course, Natalie was there with him and considering she was against his directive, she wasn't sure what she'd do.
She wanted to see these deviants survive through these trying times but at the same time, she wanted to help Connor. If he didn't do his work, there was a possibility of him being shut down for it. Natalie definitely didn't want that to happen.
Suddenly, a damaged android then grabbed Connor's shoulder who turned to face her. "You're lost. You're looking for something..." The android said, "You're looking for yourself..." The android, Lucy, then caught sight of the woman on Connor's other side. "And you are conflicted, stuck between worlds and falling apart."
Connor and Natalie shared a confused glance with each other at the android's words. They couldn't deny the way this strange android was easily able to read through them after only just looking at them. Connor brushed her hand off of his shoulder before the two headed up the stairs(hand-in-hand) to keep searching for Markus.
---
In the captain's cabin of the abandoned ship, Natalie and Connor were able to find the leader of the deviant group. Markus was with a few other androids that Natalie figured out the names of. North, Josh, and Markus argued about how they would go about their plan of action against humans. Natalie could tell that Josh was the pacifist of the group and would much rather have a peace plan. Meanwhile, North wanted to fight against humans and ignite a war that would only end in plenty of lives being lost on both sides. Natalie didn't like North that much from the way she wanted to cause violence. She was appalled to hear that she even had a dirty bomb to use against humans!
There was no way that humans would ever support any sort of help for the deviants if they tried to use something as destructive as a bomb. At the moment, Natalie had no respect for her. They obviously were stuck in the middle of a terrible situation, but turning to violence would only make things worse. She was glad that Markus shared the same idea and refused to use it.
As Natalie listened in on their conversation, Connor closed his eyes to reappear in the Zen Garden. He faced Amanda who stared at him with the same blank expression as usual, "Well done, Connor." she commented, "You succeeded in locating Jericho and finding their leader. Now deal with Markus. We need it alive."
He reopened his eyes and found himself with a new objective:
STOP MARKUS
He pulled out a gun and rounded the corner of the wall to head into the cabin where Markus sat in contemplation. Natalie followed after him with hurried steps and honestly didn't know what to do. Should she intervein? Should she let this happen? She certainly couldn't let Connor shoot someone she considered a friend!
"I've been ordered to take you alive," Connor started as he and Natalie stared at the leader's back, "but I won't hesitate to shoot if you give me no choice."
Markus turned to find a gun pointed at him by the android investigator he had heard so much about. Not only that but one of his friends, his human friend, stood behind the android with a conflicted expression on her face. "What are you doing?" He asked while taking one small step forward. "You are one of us... You can't betray your own people..."
Connor bit the inside of his cheek, "Don't force me to neutralize you."
"We are your people. We're fighting for your freedom too! You don't have to be their slave anymore..." Connor didn't say anything, instead, a conflicted expression consumed his face. Natalie watched him from the doorway and had her fingers crossed. If Connor wasn't a deviant already, she knew that this was the turning point for him. Not only had he displayed emotions while around her and Hank, but he seemed to be having doubts, something an android shouldn't have. Markus continued on at Connor's silence, "We are your people. We're fighting for your freedom too! You don't have to be their slave anymore..." Connor couldn't say anything and stayed silent. "Do you never have any doubts? You've never done something irrational, as if there's something inside you?.. Something more than your program."
Connor said nothing again and almost had half the mind to glance back at Natalie. Yes, he did think that there was something else inside of him, more than just his stupid program. He made irrational decisions that went against his mission which all involved Natalie... Natalie. Just her name caused an imbalance in his programming. "Join us. Join your people. You are one of us. Listen to your conscience... It's time to decide."
Connor's hold on his gun wavered for a moment as he fought against his programming. He tore down every grind and the straight line that stood in the way of his own decisions and soon enough he was free. His mind was his own and he was no longer controlled by his missions. He turned the gun away from Markus as Natalie came up to his side. He looked over to her with a new light in his eyes that Natalie was excited to see. He was alive!
I AM DEVIANT
Though the moment was cut short when Connor remembered an important detail. "They're going to attack Jericho..."
"What?.." Markus asked in alarm.
They were able to hear the distinct sound of helicopters swarming the airspace above the decaying ship. Units from the FBI were starting to storm into the ship in order to kill every and all androids within it. Sirens sounded from the dock as gunshots started to ring the air.
"We have to get outta here!" Connor exclaimed as he grabbed Natalie's hand before the three of them started to dash out of the cabin.
Markus cursed, "Shit..."
---
As the three of them ran down one of the rusted corridors, North came running around a corner to them. "They're coming from all sides!" She said, "Our people are trapped in the hold, they're gonna be slaughtered!"
Markus made a quick decision and placed his finger on his temple to relay a message to every other android on the ship. "There are exits on the second and third floor. Find them and jump in the river!" He turned to North, "Where is Josh?"
She shook her head, "I don't know, we got separated."
Natalie's anxiety started to grow exponentially higher as she started to make her own observations. "They're coming from the upper deck now too. We'll be caught in the crossfire!"
Markus's lover started to beg him not that she knew they were in serious trouble. "We have to run, Markus! There's nothing we can do!"
Though the leader of this revolution ws not going to let anything deter him from trying to save his people. "We have to blow up Jericho. If the ship goes down, they'll evacuate and our people can escape!"
"You'll never make it!" She exclaimed, "The explosives are all the way down in the hold, there are soldiers everywhere!"
Connor pitched in his own opinion, "She's right! They know who you are. They'll do anything to get you!"
"Go and help the others." He instructed the trio. "I'll join you later." There was going to be no talking him out of this decision, they knew that now.
"Markus..." North tried to disagree but was cut off by his determine rebuttal.
"I won't be long." With one last meaningful look, Natalie, Connor, and North started to run down the corridor as Markus ran the other direction.
---
The trio ran through the corridors to try and get to the exits that Markus had spoken about. They ran as fast as they could due to the fact they could hear soldiers coming up from behind them, fast.
They rounded a corner only to find the backs of about four soldiers facing them. They quickly hid behind the wall for cover. Connor peaked "We won't be able to get past them."
North shuddered, "We're trapped."
Natalie's stomach ached as she realized that they truly were screwed. Though her eyes widened at a reckless and, possibly, idiotic thought popped into her mind. "I have an idea," Natalie rushed out as she grabbed a scrap piece of metal and raised it to her forehead. Before either of the androids could say anything, she used the sharp metal to cut her skin, the skin that was still human. A considerable amount of blood started to gush from the self-inflicted wound as she turned to the androids. "I can buy you time and distract them. You guys go around them, got it."
Connor protested, "Natalie, no-"
"I'll be okay." With that, she dashed around the corner to face the soldiers. "Help! I'm human! Please!" The soldiers snapped in her direction with their guns raised and one of them fired at her. She ducked out of the way and avoided the bullet which easily brought their attention to the red blood dripping down half of her face, "Stop, please. I'm a CyberLife engineer!"
They rushed over to her and looked over her injured head that obviously showed she was a human and not an android. As they paid attention to her, the androids tried to sneak past them as quickly as they could.
"Stay close to us." One of the soldiers ordered the supposed human. Natalie nodded her head as she kept a close eye on the two androids who were easily able to get past the soldiers. Once she made sure that Connor and North were safe, Natalie backed away from the soldiers and dashed away to safety.
She rounded another corner and ran straight into Connor's arms, who had been waiting for her to come back. For reasons that he had yet to understand, he held her close for a moment and savored the fact that he was able to hold her. His artificial heart was rapidly beating in his chest at the anxiety that flooded his system after she had put herself into harm's way.
"Don't do that again," he chastised her before they turned to run again.
Natalie gave out a strained yet relieved laugh, "Sure thing, Connor!"
---
"Markus!" North exclaimed as the deviant himself approached them from behind. He had set up the bomb in the hull of the ship to explode and they had limited time to get out before it exploded. He noticed that Josh was with Natalie, Connor, and North and was relieved to see that he had found them.
"Bomb's gonna explode any second." He explained to them, "We gotta get out of here!"
They started to run once again and jumped over holes and other obstacles that were in their way. Almost home free, North was suddenly shot in the leg and collapsed to the ground. Markus instantly turned and ran towards her to try and save her.
"Fire at will!"
Bullets started to rain from the group of soldiers as Markus dodged them and approached his fallen lover. He grabbed a large piece of stray metal and used it as a shield before tossing it to North for protection. He rolled over to her and jumped up at the soldiers to initiate hand to hand combat. He punched and dodged the soldiers before grabbing one of their guns and shooting one of them as North dealt with the other one.
More soldiers started to come running down the corridor at them, "Contact! Contact! Hostiles engaged!"
"Over there!" Markus shouted as he grabbed North by her waist to help her walk, "Run!"
"Go! Now!" A soldier shouted before Connor raised his gun and started to shoot at them to give Markus and North some cover. With expert and calculated moves, he used the shield to protect himself before attack the last few soldiers and killing every one of them by shooting them.
"Run, quick!" Markus ushered them to the edge of the hole in the ship. "Come on!" The group then jumped out of the ship and into the freezing water below to safety.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone