'We're interrupting this news bulletin to bring you the latest news live from Detroit. Joss?'

'Yes Michael. The army has just launched an attack on the barricade, despite the fact that the deviants were protesting peacefully.'

'-Have apparently decided to put an end to the deviants' demonstration by force this time...'

Reader's Perspective

"No..." (Y/N) watched the news report from her phone, looking over at Connor, who was also watching from over her shoulder.

"D-Do you think?"

"Markus will have a plan, (Y/N)."
"I know, but..."

"Listen, it'll be alright." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Let's do this..."

In one swift moving crowd, Connor, (Y/N) & the thousands of androids from Cyberlife Tower stormed into the streets of Detroit, ready to make a statement as they walked into the battlefield.

'At dawn today, November 11th 2038, thousands of androids invaded the city of Detroit.'

She walked alongside the android she loved, all of them facing straight ahead as they marched. She saw the helicopter overhead & didn't even flinch at the idea of being shown as a human amongst deviants.

'According to our sources, they originated from Cyberlife warehouses believed to have been infiltrated by deviants.'

"This has to work.." She mumbled.

"It will work." Connor stated, certain.

'Given their overwhelming numbers & the risk of civilian casualties, I have ordered the army to retreat.

The evacuation of the city is underway at this very moment.'

Blinded by the lights of helicopters filming their every step, she couldn't feel prouder of what she was a part of.

'In the coming hours, I will address the Senate to determine our response to this unprecedented situation. I know that public opinion has been moved by the deviants' cause.'

Like hell it has.

'Perhaps the time has come for us to consider the possibility that androids are a new form of intelligent life.'

She looked at Connor one last time, him doing the same as they locked hands, still leading their large troop of androids. Androids that they freed from slavery.

'One thing is certain:

the events in Detroit have changed the world forever.

May God bless you

& may God bless the United States of America.'

Connor & (Y/N) stepped away from their crowds to meet with Markus & his people, their hands untwining as they stepped into one of the blinding lights.

"You did it, Markus..." Connor stated, full of pride.

"We did it. This is a great day for our people. Humans will have no choice now. They'll have to listen to us.."

"This is a day that will go down in history. You really did it, Markus." (Y/N) said with as much pride as Connor. They both took a few steps back, allowing Markus to look out at his new alleys. His new people.

"We're free..." North muttered, a smile across her face with what her kind had achieved. They both turned to each other, locking hands. "They want you to speak to them Markus..." She said as Markus leaned in.

"Annnnnnd turning away now..." (Y/N) shifted her head away from the scene, Connor chuckling at her, wrapping his arm around her waist from the side. "You just tell me when it's over, I'll be thankful."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connor's Perspective

"Today, our people finally emerged from a long night. From the very first day of our existence, we have kept our plans to ourselves. We suffered in silence... But now the time has come to raise our heads up & tell humans who we really are."

That was the last thing Connor heard before he was back in the Zen Garden, although it was a lot less peaceful. How was he even there? He'd deviated, he'd won.

But that was only a battle,

he now had to win the war, much like Markus did.

Wind blared past his ears along with stray leaves as he looked around what he once considered a sanctuary. He set his hands on either side of his arms, crossing them as he tried to understand why he was there, & why it was so cold. Finally coming to his senses, he looked over to see the woman who betrayed him the most, taking a few steps towards her.

"Amanda?"

She turned to face him.

"Amanda! What's...What's happening?"

"What was planned from the very beginning..." She spoke, no emotion in her voice. Just like how he used to be.

"You were compromised & you became a deviant. We just had to wait for the right moment to resume control of your program..."

"Resume control?" He asked, shaking from the harsh winds. He was angry now. "You- You can't do that!"

"I'm afraid I can, Connor. Don't have any regrets. You did what you were designed to do. You accomplished your mission." And with that she was gone.

"AMANDA!" He yelled, stumbling forward with a hand out, as if checking to see if she was truly gone.

"There's got to be a way..." He blocked the snow from his vision with his hand.

################

FIND A WAY OUT

################

He made his walk through the thick padded snow, crunching it with each step.

'By the way' Kamski's voice rang through his head 'I always leave an emergency exit in my programs. You never know.'

An emergency exit, that's what he was looking for.

Crossing one of the bridges like he used to time after time, he desperately searched for a way out.

"To tell them that we are people too! In fact, we're a nation!"

No...

He had to keep going, he couldn't lose control & get Markus killed. Searching for his exit, his eyes landed on a blue glow.

The pad.

The hand pad that he'd touched so long ago.

That was it, it had to be. It was worth a shot.

Reaching out towards it, he stumbled, his head dangerously close to the sharp shards surrounding it as he fell. Using all of his strength, he stretched out his arm, reaching out for the blue glow.

"It's time to decide, Connor."

No...

"Are you a man..."

No, God please...

Not her...

"Or are you a machine?"

Don't hurt her..

That was the last push he needed to slam his hand on the pad, the Zen Garden fading from focus. Blinking rapidly, his system stopped buzzing in worry as he was back. He hesitated, looking down at the gun in his hands before pulling it from his own grasp & placing it back in his coat pocket.

"The moment where we forget our bitterness & bandage our wounds. Where we forgive our enemies. Humans are both our creators & our oppressors & tomorrow...We must make them our partners."

Markus turned to look at (Y/N), her nodding in response as a proud smile rested on her face.

"Maybe even one day our friends. But the time for anger is over. Now we must build a common future, based on tolerance & respect."

"We are alive!" Markus shouted, "And now,
we are free!"

The crowd erupted with yells, cries & screams of joy & freedom, a truly amazing sight to behold. They'd done it, they'd really done, (Y/N) smiled like an idiot, Connor seeing her urge to jump up & down in excitement.

"It's over." She muttered to herself, looking at him as a single tear slid down her cheek, still smiling.

"You're free."

He took her hand.

"It's only the beginning."

Her eyes flickered for a second, looking at the ground before they settled with shock.

"What is it?"

"Hank, shit I need to go see him!" She let go of his hand.

"I'll catch up with you later, I need to go apologise for scaring the absolute shite out of him." She turned to step down.

"Connor?"

His brown eyes locked with her (E/C).

"If anything happens...I really do love you. Even if you don't know how to say it back... or know what it feels like."

She gave him a two-finger salute, then set off.

Love...

I think I really do love her.