Reader's perspective

"We're short on blue blood & biocomponents." Josh paced as the others listened in. "Our wounded are shutting down & there's nothing we can do!"

"Now President Warren is saying you're all a threat to National security & you need to be exterminated. What do they think we are? Vermin?" (Y/N) snarled.

"Humans are conducting raids in all the big cities & they're taking androids to camps to destroy them!" North told.

"This is turning into a critical disaster, they're slaughtering your people!"

"It's all our fault..." Josh muttered, loud enough for everyone in the secluded room to hear.

"None of this would've happened if we'd just stayed quiet."

"Markus?" (Y/N) grasped the attention of the leader as he turned to face his comrades.

"We couldn't just suffer in silence, they're killing us! Nothing is gonna justify that."

A silence sat unsteady in the boat, Markus's head down as he contemplated his next move.

"What's the point of being free if no-one else is left alive?" Josh asked, causing Markus to turn back to them all once again.

"Humans enslaved us! I'll never regret standing up to that." He looked over at the only human standing with them. "No offense."

"None taken. Fighting with each other right now isn't going to solve anything. Besides, let's not forget who our real enemies are." (Y/N) was missing Hank more than anything right at that moment. She was so worried about him. How would he react if he knew what she was doing? What would he say? She couldn't stomach the fact that she was betraying her people to do the right thing. What about Blue? Was he still laying in his usual place, stretched out right in front of the door, awaiting her arrival?

"Remember we recruited you because we knew you were different, you see a people instead of a few objects & slaves." Josh looked at her with sympathy.

"Then why do I feel regret?" (Y/N) asked, confused. She motioned to herself. "Why do I not know who's side I'm on when I know I'm doing the damn right thing? Why are humans so fricking complicated?"

No-one had the answer.

"She's right." North broke the silence. "All that matters now is what we do next. Markus?"

He stared off into an abyss for a moment, after all, what would anyone do if they had to decide the fate of an entire community?

"Dialogue. It is the only way. I will go alone, try to talk to them one last time."

"Don't do this, Markus." North looked at her lover. "They'll kill you!"

"Maybe...but North, I have to try. If I don't come back, lay low as long as you can."

"I'm coming with you." (Y/N) straightened her posture.

"No, (Y/N). If you get hurt, who knows what the consequences will be. They may blame us, leading to an onslaught. We all need you to stay here."

She nodded, knowing the android's words weren't advice, but a warning for her as a friend.

"They need to realise how much they're hurting us. Find the right words & they'll listen." That was the last thing Josh said before exiting the room.

(Y/N) could feel the tension in the room as the couple looked at each other.

"I'll give you guys a moment." She nodded, exiting the room & looking out at the deviants seeking shelter. She wondered how she ended up in this situation, away from home, away from friends. What was Blue doing? Sitting at the door, anxiously awaiting her arrival that may never come? She checked her phone for the first time in the past few days, it had blown up with voice messages from Hank, even though he despised leaving them.

'(Y/N), you okay kid? I know you're fumed up after the incident, but it's been hours & I've checked your house only to find you weren't there. Just let me know where you are.'

'(Y/N), Connor says he saw you on the news with the deviants during the march. Is that true? Are you safe? Kid, please, I need an answer.'

'Connor knows where Jericho is, if you're there then you'll probably see him. We're off the case since it's now a 'civil war' or some shit. Just be safe, alright? God, just please.'

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she held the phone to her chest. She shouldn't of stormed off without warning. She should of at least told Hank, or Chris or anyone. There was still a miniscule bar of service, so she left him a quick response.

'Hi, this is Hank. Not here at the moment. You can leave a message if that's what turns you on but don't expect me to call back. Beep.' (Y/N) let out a tired laugh at her father figure's unimpressed voice-recorded message.

"H-Hank? It's (Y/N). Don't worry, I'm safe, I'm at Jericho. Sorry if I almost forced you into cardiac arrest 'cause I disappeared. I've realised you were right about Connor...Back at Gary's. Let's hope it's not too late to fix things. Be safe old man...You're the father I never had, but wish I did." Taking a sharp inhale, she pressed the 'end call' button on her phone, hoping that wasn't the last thing Hank would ever hear from her.

"Look after yourself...I don't wanna lose you." She heard North say before she heard the female android exit the room Markus was in. (Y/N) slipped through the door, going to speak with the leader.

"Scary future in front of us...isn't it?" She asked him, walking to his side & leaning against the broken control panel for the ship.

"Quite shocking that we may have to end it in war..."

"You know there's another way, Markus. I know my people, & one of their fluent languages is chaos & war. Let's not let Detroit fall into that. Hell, let's not let the world fall into that. We've broken enough promises, enough laws, enough people. We've broken enough already."

"For someone known to have a short temper, you can be surprisingly wise at times." Markus smirked.

"Hey!" She didn't yell, but instead furrowed her eyebrows playfully.

"I'm just joking with you."

"Glad to see someone enjoying our inevitable demise." She rolled her eyes.

There was a pause.

"What'll you do if we succeed?" She asked him.

"I haven't really thought that far ahead...Guess I'll just help my people roll with the punches."

'It's fine Connor, sometimes you've just gotta roll with the punches.' (Y/N) heard her own voice bounce around her head.

"What about you?"

"Me? I've got no clue whatsoever. I guess I'd have to start by explaining to Fowler where I've been all this time. Same thing with Hank, although I owe him an apology for scaring the shit out of him. I have a lot of walks with Blue to make up for. And as for Connor..." She trailed off, her voice muting.

"Are you ready to forgive him?"

Was she? Was she ready to forgive him? He was only thinking of the investigation at that moment, right? Maybe there was hope?

"Y-Yes...." She looked directly at Markus.

"Yes, I am."

"Have you told him yet?"

"You have no idea how much it hurts to love someone knowing they won't love you back." She shuffled uncomfortably, before looking back at the blue-green-eyed android. It wasn't just Connor she was talking about, when she was younger, her father was her hero, her idol – besides her mother, of course. But as (Y/N) got older & her 14th birthday rolled around, she realised just how cold he truly was.

"Stop the pattern, Markus." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Find a way to speak to them, show them you're all just as human as they are. Don't let this be our end, your end."

"You speak as if you're not one of them."

"If they don't agree to this then I won't be one of them."

"You should become a writer, you'd be a real hit."

"Meh, I've pondered the thought." She chuckled, Markus pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you, Markus. For helping me on such short notice, & for letting me help."
"We should be thanking you, now we have another ally."

"Don't get yourself killed, alright?"

"I'll do what I can."

A shadow-y figure rounded the corner, interrupting their conversation.

He was clearly armed, with eyes like daggers focused on the pair.

"I've been ordered to take you alive."