Chapitre 12: Chapter Twelve: Night of the Soul
DATE
NOV 10TH, 2038
TIME
PM 07:31:04
SNOW GENTLY FLUTTERED TO THE GROUND AND painted the ground a pure white. The calm atmosphere contradicted the hell that Natalie had just been through. Running for her life with hundreds of other androids was not something she wanted to add to her bucket list, yet she could check it off. Her hands were dug deep in her pockets as her sneakers crunched the snow underneath her feet. Had she been completely human, there was no doubt that she would be cold. She wiped her forehead and grimaced at the small amount of blood that was on her fingers. Her self-inflicted wound had healed up enough to stop gushing out blood, but there was still a small enough. Just not enough to cause any concern.
The cyborg stood in front of her godfather's house next to Markus who looked at the building with a longing gaze. Of course, they were there because Markus had one goal he needed to get done:
SEE CARL
Natalie turned to her friend as they stood in front of the large Manfred mansion. "Are you sure you want me here?"
Markus' mismatched eyes tore themselves away from his former home to face the woman. "Of course," the rebellion leader smiled, "he's your family, you should get to see him."
"All right," She chuckled before turning back to the house, "if you say so."
They approached the mansion hesitantly, "Alarm deactivated." The system said to them as the door slide open, "Welcome home, Markus."
Natalie and Markus shared a glance with each other before they entered the home. It was eerily quiet in the foyer as the sky started to turn an inky black as it became later. Each of them surveyed the room and realized that Carl couldn't have been downstairs, meaning he was in his room. Something caught Markus' eye and approached the desk that was to the left of the stairs and saw that there was a message left. Markus hit play on it.
"Hi, Dad..." The glitchy message started reveling that it was Leo Manfred, "I'm getting outta the hospital tomorrow... They told me that you stayed with me while I was asleep... I... um... I'm really sorry about everything that happened..." Natalie's eyebrows furrowed at that. Leo was in the hospital, she didn't know about that. Ethan told her that Markus and Leo had gotten into a fight, perhaps that's why he was being treated at the hospital. They watched the bandaged Leo as he took a deep sigh. "I'm gonna stop all that shit... It messes me up, it turns me into somebody I hate... Hey, I'd like to come by and see you tomorrow... If that's all right with you... I... I just wanna let you know... I'm... I'm proud to be your son..."
Natalie hummed in continuation, "it's about time he tried to clean up."
Markus turned to her with a raised eyebrow, "Do you think he'll be able to get sober?"
"I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders as they walked up the stairs. "Though it does seem like the impossible has become possible nowadays."
They walked onto the walkway towards Carl's room only to see the new android come out of the old man's room. Natalie didn't know his name and barely cared to find it out, as she and Markus walked over to him.
"Who are you?" He asked more towards Markus, "How did you get in?"
"I need to see Carl." Markus insisted and ignored the question.
The android shook his head, "Carl isn't seeing anyone. You need to leave. Ms. Natalie, you will have to wait to see him another time."
Natalie's eyes narrowed and she had half the mind to start yelling at the poor android. She almost did just that, if it wasn't for the hand that was placed on her shoulder. Her eyes met Markus', who tried to convey calmness to the young woman. Natalie begrudgingly stayed quiet at her friend's silent request.
Markus then walked over to the android as his artificial skin peeled back and placed it on the other androids arm. Obviously the leader of the android revolution was converting another trapped soul, to Natalie's astonishment. She had never seen Markus actually do this, hell, she had no idea that he could do something like this. This was definitely something that she wanted to look into.
"Please." Markus pleaded, "We need to see him. I need to see him."
"He's very weak..." The now freed android said, "I'm not sure he'll be able to talk to you..." He then stepped back to let the two enter Carl's room.
Once they entered, Markus was in horror of the state that Carl was in. Natalie wasn't surprised because she had visited Carl not too long ago, but it was still upsetting to see. The man she has looked up to her entire life, a father figure, reduced to this frail state caused her stomach to churn.
Markus rushed over to Carl's bedside and grabbed his hand to hold. "Carl... No..." Natalie stood behind Markus and placed a hand on his shoulder for support. She knew that it was tough to deal with emotions, she had a tough time dealing with them herself. So having to deal with a negative feeling like sorrow after only just realizing what they are, must be horrible.
The old man opened his ancient eyes and stared at the android and cyborg. "Markus! Natalie!"
Markus jumped at his greeting, glad that he was okay enough to speak, "Hey..."
"I was hoping you'd come..." He turned his gaze to his pseudo-daughter, "both of you."
Natalie smiled slightly as Markus continued to talk. "I've missed you so much, Carl..." The android felt like he was going to start crying, "You don't know how much I've missed you..."
"What's wrong, Markus?"
Markus shook his head in frustration, "I just wanted my people to be free, but... Instead, I've led all of them to disaster... Carl, I'm trying to find answers, but everything around me is falling apart..."
"World is ruled by fear, Markus... Fear of others... Fear of the future... It's like me...too old... It's time for it to end." Markus sighed at that and stood up to pace. Natalie watched him with sad eyes. Markus appeared to be so lost at the moment.
"Oh, what should I do?" Markus asked with a heavy sigh, "Carl, they're killing my people... I don't want to answer violence with violence, but tell me, what choice do they give?"
"Being alive is making choices... between love and hate, between holding out your hand or closing it as a fist..." Carl said wisely. "I don't have any easy answers, Markus... You have to accept the world as it is... or fight to change it." Markus walked back over to take a seat at Carl's bedside again, "You're my son, Markus... Our blood isn't the same color... but I know a part of me is in you... When the world falls into darkness, some men have the courage to lead it out... You're one of those men... Face the abyss... but don't let it consume you." He patted Markus's hand lovingly before Markus nodded his head and stood up. The rebellion leader then left the room, leaving just the ill man and the cyborg. "Natalie."
She quickly took Markus' spot that was now vacant. "Hey, Carl. Hanging in there, right?"
The old man chuckled, "of course, my dear." He surveyed Natalie with the same fatherly look he had been giving Markus. "You're just as troubled as Markus, aren't you."
"Well, I'm not leading a rebellion like he is." She chuckled humorlessly.
He shook his head, "that doesn't mean your troubles are less important."
The image of the damaged female android popped into her head, "It's just... something someone said..." She pursed her lips in contemplation for a moment, "I don't know what to do right now. I mean, I'm not considered human anymore, but at the same time, I'm not an android. I... I don't know where I stand."
"You have to choose for yourself, Natalie," Carl hummed, "you can't let anyone else dictate who you are."
Natalie huffed, "I know that, but... I can still hear their voices."
Carl nodded his head as he understood what she meant. He knew that she was referring to her family. The words that they said to her had cut so deep into her that they left scars. He knew that she wasn't completely healed from what they had said to her, the abuse that they dealt to her, but he also knew that she was strong. Especially now.
"Then tell them differently," he suggested with a small shrug. "Show them that you are stronger now, tell them your decision."
Natalie considered it for a moment. Tell them? Show them? Why? She let the idea simmer in her mind for a little bit. Going to them was something that she never thought of doing after they told her to go away. But as she considered it... Maybe it was something to consider doing.
---
After reluctantly leaving Carl's home, Natalie quickly made her way to her parents' home. Now, Natalie glared at the house in front of her. The middle-class house looked to be in perfect condition with it being perfectly clean and proper. Natalie despised how perfect it looked when she knew that it was anything but.
Her anxiety almost got the better of her as she stared at her former home. However, she kept her head high and approached the pristine home with determination burning in her eyes. There was no way she was going to back down now.
She approached the house and stepped up to the front door. For a moment, she hesitated but made up her mind and rang the doorbell. Natalie was able to hear some shuffling and footsteps on the other side of the door. There were also some muffled words from voices that Natalie had grown to fear and despise. Of course, the whispers started to come back now.
"Abomination."
"...not my daughter..."
"...Should be dead!"
The door then swung open. Natalie found her self staring at a young blonde woman. Her hair seemed to shine with the dim light and reminded Natalie of gold. Her eyes, which were a light green, surveyed her closely as recognition crossed her soft features. Even though the woman was twenty-three-years-old, Natalie could see that she could easily pass for a teenager.
"Natalie?" Penelope Tyler asked in confusion and awe.
They disowned Tyler pursed her lips at her half-sister, "Hey, Penny. Long time no see."
Penelope only continued to stare at Natalie for a moment with her lips parted in surprise. Neither of them had seen each other in three years and they didn't really leave off on good terms. Much like the rest of the family, Penelope had decided that Natalie was an abomination. She had agreed that Natalie should have died during her accident instead of "coming back for the dead". Penelope even went as far as to stop talking to Ethan, her twin brother, after he decided to stick with Natalie.
A moment passed as the two continued to stare at each other. Penelope could see how Natalie hadn't changed much since they last saw each other, and Natalie could see how Penelope had grown taller and her hair had become longer. Before either of the sisters could say anything else to each other, some more footsteps came bounding towards the door.
A head of auburn hair and wide hazel eyes poked out from behind Penelope. The toothy white smile that was plastered on the man's face suddenly froze once he caught sight of his older sister. George Tyler's jaw slowly dropped in shock. He certainly wasn't expecting to see Natalie every again, especially after what they had all done to her. Considering he was only eighteen when he last saw her, the twenty-one year old was ecstatic to see Natalie.
"Nat!" He shouted before pushing passed Penelope and embracing his half-sister in a tight hug, to her surprise.
Natalie became stiff at the sudden hug. She didn't think that they would greet her like this. At the least, she thought they'd just shut the door in her face. Yet she patted George's back awkwardly while glancing at her sister in confusion.
She chuckled lightly, "you know, I wasn't expecting this sort of greeting, Georgie."
He finally let of her and shook his head vigorously, "look, I know, I know. We were terrible to you after the accident, but we know now. Well, Pen and I do, anyway. We know that it was a horrible situation that you were in and with us pushing you away definitely didn't help. I mean, we can't excuse what we did, 'cause we still did it and-"
Penelope placed a hand on George's shoulder to stop his rambling, "Calm down, Georgie."
"Right, right, sorry..."
Penelope then turned to Natalie as her shock subsided enough to allow her to speak. "We were terrible to you, Nat. We should have been there for you, and we know that now."
"Well," Natalie sighed and dug her hands into her jean pockets, "thanks, I guess."
"Why are you here?" George asked.
Natalie was about to answer when more people came over to the door. Specifically, their parents came up to the door. Marian Wilson-Tyler was the first to appear at the door with wide eyes at the sight of her oldest child. The woman who Natalie had once called her mother had brown hair that matched the oldest daughters. Her green eyes were wide in shock at the sight of Natalie. They had only just spoken a day or so ago on the phone but they hadn't seen each other face to face since Natalie packed up her things and left.
The next was Ronald Tyler. The man that Natalie had come to despise since he had disowned her from the family. There was a time when Natalie could say that she did love having Ronald as a step-father. He did care for her despite the fact that he wasn't her biological father. Ronald took care of her when she was little, was there to see her at band concerts, supported her at award ceremonies, and was proud of her at her graduations. Yet now, as he glared at her from the doorway, that man was gone.
"Get out of here," Ronald said with a dangerous tone in his voice.
Natalie raised an eyebrow at him, "hi to you too."
"Why are you here, Natalie?" Marian sneered.
The twenty-nine-year-old just clicked her tongue, "I'm here to tell you that I don't care anymore."
They all stared at her in confusion. "About what?" George asked as Ronald pushed him and Penelope behind him.
"Your opinions," Natalie said cooly, "I can see that Penny and Georgie have realized how cruel you all were to me three years ago. Yet you two," she pointed at her mother and step-father, "are just as bigoted as you were then."
Ronald snarled at her, "why you-"
"Oh shut up!" Natalie barked as anger started to consume her. Surprised by her sudden outburst, Ronald stayed quiet. "I don't care what you think of me anymore. I don't care if you've decided I'm no longer apart of the family, because I've found a new one. One who cares for me as me. They aren't going to judge me for something that was out of control and value my life, unlike you people."
The four Tyler's in the doorway stared at her in shock. "Is that all you have to say?" Marian asked while licking her lips in uncertainty.
"I have plenty more to say," Natalie told her with a smirk, "but I don't have much time to say it. We're in the middle of a revolution after all. I just thought it was time to let go of this... hatred I had for you guys. I need to move on, without you. Just know that I did love you all at one point. Not so much anymore."
The four others shared glances with each other. Ronald was obviously furious with Natalie's appearance which was evident from the way his nostrils flared and his face started to turn red. Marian was conflicted as she stared at Natalie with something akin to regret in her eyes. Penelope was obviously upset with herself and how she treated Natalie as tears started to build up in the corners of her eyes. George looked to be somewhat happy with Natalie. He was proud of her for standing up for herself but at the same time, sad that he had helped cause her so much pain.
Satisfied with how her family had taken her words, Natalie clicked her tongue. "Now, I've got places to be. Stay safe, or not, I don't care. Probably won't see you ever again!"
She hopped off the stairs and started to make her way back to the taxi she had left on the street. She took one last glance at her former family still in the door. She raised her hand and wiggled her fingers at them with a sarcastic smile before climbing into her ride and letting it take her away.
Natalie sighed and rested her head on the back of the seat. She let out a long breath in relief now that she was able to do that. She tried to keep a cool facade up in front of them, but on the inside, she was nervous beyond belief. However, the thought of her siblings willing to be civil with her, wanting to seem to make it up to her, was a happy thought. Ethan came to her mind and would be excited to tell him what she had done. Also, the fact that Penelope and George seemed to want to reconnect with her meant that they would reconnect with him.
She always felt bad that Ethan had ostracized himself from the family to stick with her. He had voluntarily shunned their family to be there for her and left his twin sister behind. He was strong enough to do it, she knew. However, he wouldn't forget the sorrowful looks he had whenever he mentioned Penny or George. He missed their younger siblings, that was obvious. And now she would be ecstatic to tell him that it seemed like they could patch things up with their siblings.
Though she couldn't let that distract her. She had to head to where Markus and Connor was with the rest of the deviants. She may not be completely android, but she also wasn't completely human. She had to choose a side, and she's quite sure she had.
---
The androids who remained from the attack at Jericho were all gathered in an abandoned church. Everyone was solemn at the moment now that their situation has seemed to become worse than it already was. Sprits were low at the moment but Markus was going to do what he could to try and rouse up his people and make sure that they are ready to fight for their independence.
In one of the back corners of the room, Natalie was huddled up with Conner. He made sure to keep her close to him ever since she had gotten back. Connor wasn't entirely sure where she had gone, but from the air of confidence that clung to her, he could tell that it was a good thing she did. He wanted to know where she had gone, of course, but he'd let her tell him when she felt like it. Connor didn't need to push her on something she may not want to talk about.
"It's not your fault, you know." Natalie tore him out of his thoughts with a small smile, "the police would have found us eventually."
Connor sighed, "I lead them straight to them, Natalie. It is my fault."
She shook her head, "no. It's no one's fault okay. I'm not going to let you blame yourself for this. If anything, I could have tried to prevent this, I am a CyberLIfe engineer I could have-"
"No!" Connor exclaimed, "there's no way that you could have caused this."
Natalie smirked, "Then I guess it's neither of our faults, hmm?"
The two were silent for a moment as they stared into each other's eyes. Natalie leaned against the banister behind her while Connor stood in front of her with his arms crossed. She pursed her lips and look away from him, already seeing the scolding in his eyes. He hasn't been a deviant for more than two hours and he's already showing so many different emotions.
Connor uncrossed his arms and brushed the hair from Natalie's forehead to see the cut she had given herself. "You always get yourself hurt somehow, don't you?"
Natalie chuckled, "guess I'm just a little bit reckless."
"A little?"
The two of them laughed with each other. Though Connor couldn't help himself but be worried for her. Natalie usually placed herself in dangerous situations if it meant she helped someone or got what she needed from it. She has proven multiple times that she was able to get hurt during many different chases or fights. However, she also proved that she could take care of herself to an extent. Yes, she got hurt but it wasn't like she was getting herself badly damaged in any way. Though Connor did wonder what exactly would happen if she damaged the remaining human parts of her to an unrepairable state. He wouldn't want her to be stripped completely of what connected her to her humanity, no matter how much she may want to deny that her humanity meant nothing to her.
Natalie could see the conflict on his brow and his mind started to wander to certain topics. They were no doubt topics that they needed to discuss right now, from her perspective. They needed to focus on the situation at hand, which was this revolution. She sighed through her nose and took his hand into hers.
"I'm going to talk to a few of the others, see if there's something I can do, alright?" She asked him. Connor tilted his head for a moment of contemplation before nodding his head. As much as he wanted to keep Natalie by his side the entire time, he figured she would want to go off on her own for a bit. Besides he had something he wanted to talk to Markus about.
Natalie smiled at him one last time before walking over to the crowd of androids around them. She caught sight of the familiar android that she had been running for her life with and walked over to her. "You're North, right? I think I remember Markus saying you're name." Natalie smiled and tried to make polite conversation. After all, if she was going to side with androids, she would need to make friends with them which she could easily do.
"I don't know why you're here," North said in confusion and disgust. "A human helping androids. What do you gain from this?"
Natalie couldn't help herself but chuckle in disbelief, "Nothing. Except maybe helping people like me, helping the oppressed, finding my life's purpose."
"Like you? You can't be like us, human."
The cyborg just stared at her and the disgust that laced North's eyes. She had seen that look plenty of times from her own family. Humans despise androids in a similar way that androids despise humans. Each group hated the other because of what they were able to do and weren't able to understand. Androids wanted nothing more than freedom, which humans couldn't understand because they see androids as just plain old robots. Humans wanted to keep life simple which included creating androids to help with that. In turn, humans viewed androids as appliances and now that they are evolving, the humans are terrified of change. Overall, humans and androids were far more alike than what some would like to believe.
Natalie's lips twitched in amusement as she walked closer to North, "yes. Well, when I say like me, we're not entirely the same, are we?" Her eyes surveyed the tense figure of the female android. "I can tell you, I'm not human. At least not anymore." North looked up at her in shock before it was consumed by skepticism. "I don't feel like telling you everything. I've only just met you and I'm tired of explaining myself. However, I will say that I'm not a human nor an android. But that doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter what I am, but who I'm willing to support, and I can assure you, I'm wholeheartedly on your side, North." North stared at her in surprise at the small speech that she had made and couldn't come up with anything to say. "I'm just trying to make friends, North."
As Natalie turned away from North, she caught sight of two androids that were familiar. The two appeared to be a mother and daughter, which were the AX400 and the YK500 that she had chased a few days ago. Natalie rubbed at her forehead as she remembered the cut she got from the mother and grimaced lightly. However, Natalie was glad to see that the two of them were able to survive this long and were safe. She hesitated for a moment before walking over to the pair.
Alice noticed the woman walking over to them first. She looked at her with wide eyes before recognition flashed through her. "You're the lady who was chasing us..."
Kara looked at the woman who approached after Alice's words and instantly recognized her as well. Being a protective and cautious mother, she tucked Alice closer to her in order to try and create some distance between them.
Natalie raised her hands in a gesture that said she was no threat to either of them. "I was," Natalie said sheepishly, "Sorry about that. I wasn't going to let them hurt either of you though. I wouldn't let them arrest a mother and child."
Kara watched her for a moment, "And why are you here now?"
"To help any way I can," Natalie smiled kindly. "Freedom and acceptance are all you want from humans, right? Well, so do I."
While Natalie tried to make conversation, Markus approached the former deviant hunter whose eyes were glued to her back as she spoke with a few other androids. Noticing that the leader of the deviants was walking over to him, Connor turned his eyes down to the ground in shame.
"It's my fault," Connor started as he leaned against the banister, "the humans managed to locate Jericho... I was stupid... I should've guessed they were using me." He stood up straight to face the leader, "I'm sorry, Markus... I can understand if you decide not to trust me..."
"You're one of us, now." Markus strongly told him, "Your place is with your people."
Connor was silent for a moment as Markus turned to walk away before he spoke up again, "There are thousands of androids at the CyberLife assembly plant. If we could wake them up, they might join us and shift the balance of power..."
He knew that he had to make up for what he had done. He had damned this revolution and most likely caused the deaths of hundreds of androids because he led the authorities to the androids. He needed to prove that he wasn't a bad person.
Markus turned back on his heels to stare at the android with wide eyes, "You wanna infiltrate the CyberLife Tower? Connor, that's suicide..."
"They trust me, they'll let me in." He instead, "If anyone has a chance of infiltrating CyberLife, it's me."
Markus considered it for a moment, "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..."
"Will Natalie go with you?"
Connor shook his head, "I want to keep her safe. Going to the tower is dangerous, I can't let her be put in a situation like that again." The thought of placing Natalie in another environment like the one they just escaped from was horrible. She may have been able to get out of there, but she was hurt regardless. He didn't want to
"You care for her, don't you?" Markus asked with calculating eyes. He felt a wave of protectiveness wash over him. He didn't want Natalie to get hurt. Being involved in this sort of thing meant that she was certainly going to get hurt at some point, but he wanted to try and limit any risky situations she was placed in.
Connor nodded his head. He did care for her. He was still trying to figure out his new emotions, but he did know that he cared deeply for the engineer. Connor wasn't sure when he started to, but he had a feeling that it was before he became a deviant. For some reason, he knew that he needed to prove that to Markus. Connor was aware that Markus and Natalie were close to each other. Connor wanted Markus' approval in some way to say that he was good enough for the engineer.
Markus surveyed Connor one last time before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful..."
The other android could see how grateful Markus was that Connor was trying to keep Natalie safe. At the thought of her, Connor looked over to see her speaking quietly to the pair of androids that they had been hunting earlier in the week. He watched as Natalie tried to make the little girl smile and laugh while talking with Kara with reassurance in her eyes. Connor admired her for a moment and knew that he wouldn't get to say good-bye to her face to face. If he did, Natalie would not leave his side, no matter how much he insisted that he goes alone. So instead, he settled for watching her for a moment before slipping out of the abandoned church to start on his mission to the CyberLife tower.
After speaking to a few other androids, Markus walked up the steps of the stage to address his people. "Humans have decided to exterminate us..." Everyone became quiet as they all focused on their leader, "Our people are packed in camps right now, being destroyed... Time has come to make a choice, one that very well may determine the future of our people. I know... I know you're all angry. And I know you wanna fight back... But I assure you violence is not the answer here. We are gonna 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. Are you ready to follow me?"
His words of encouragement and hope inspired them all as they yelled out their agreement. "Markus!" The androids started to cheer and shout, "YEAH! YES!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone