THE CHASE - Connor x OC (I Am Sequel)

Chapter 58

I walked down the hall towards Markus's office preparing to tell him about my plan. He was already intimately familiar with it, but I just wanted his final approval before I announced it. I knocked on the door quite loudly just to ensure he heard.

"Ah, Charlotte! I was just thinking of you," Markus announced, opening the door. I swear he says that every time to every person. I'm starting to think he just says it to be nice...or he just really thinks that much. Both are possible. Working with him I've noticed that he's very lofty and in his head all the time.

"Really? Maybe it's because we have a meeting scheduled," I nodded sweetly. The words themselves were snarky, but my tone was soft.

"Yes. But I have a request to make," he nodded.

"Oh?" I asked confused. I silently wished to myself that it wasn't something major like changing the whole plan I had already set up.

"Announce this as well, alright?" He asked handing me a folder which had been sealed with a piece of tape. I took my nail along the tape and opened the folder to a sheet of paper which at the top read 'Jericho elections.'

"Elections?" I asked. He nodded.

"It's time I'm held accountable. I cannot maintain control over this entire population forever and the longer we go on without checks and balances, the more risk there is that our people will suffer. And what if I'm not their will? At the end of the day, I'm just as fallible," Markus spoke with that inherently convincing tone he had.

"With all due respect, are we ready to undertake a system like this?" I asked reading over the plans. "I mean, building a Congress, building an executive branch- this is practically calls for a constitution..."

Markus looked at me as though I had stated the obvious...and I realized I had.

"We're writing our own history right now, Charlotte. I'd like you to help orchestrate it. Hopefully the people will see your passion and intelligence enough to elect you into that role. But first...we have to give them that chance."

Sometimes I wish Markus didn't speak like an AP government textbook...but here we were anyway.

"This is a big announcement...are we prepped for the chaos?" I asked, taking a deep sigh.

"I am mentally. I think your justice department will be as well, so long as you take the lead over them. I have trust though that our citizens respect the both of us enough to let this happen."

"The both of us? I'm practically an outsider still. I don't live within the city walls," I began.

"Neither do most androids, Charlotte. This is the beginning of change. I'd hoped you would be more passionate about this than me," Markus frowned, clearly disappointed. His moral compass, in my opinion, sometimes took over his logical side. It's a good quality to have, but sometimes it makes things difficult for us as his peers.

"I am passionate about this. I understand this, wholeheartedly. Is this the time though? Is this the moment for this?" I asked, clearly shaken.

"Charlotte, the revolution was practically an entire lifetime ago. Look at how much things have changed," Markus smiled. "Think about how much Connor and you have gone through. Fuck, Charlotte. There's an android running Detroit PD. Two years ago that would've been unthinkable. But we, including you two, have done the work to prove that we are more than computers and machines. Now it's time that we prove we can do more than be different, we can be similar. We have to prove we have the same respect for justice, the same respect for our people as they do for theirs. The clearest way is to give them the freedom of choice."

I paused.

Convincing.

Markus had always been charismatic but nevertheless I was always shocked by the things he could say to get what he wanted.

"Consider this done, Markus," I answered. His smile grew large and he gave me a hug.

"I knew you'd see it!" He beamed. "So, do you have extra time before just skipping off to prepare? We could just have a chat!"

I chuckled. "I have time, Markus," I lied, but he didn't know that. How could I turn down a fireside chat with Markus? He brews great tea and great conversation.

"A cuppa for y'a?" Markus asked in a tiresomely fake British accent.

"Not to be rude, but I'm still sensitive about the British. I'll take a cup of lemon ginger though," I nodded.

Markus looked momentarily shocked at my joke but then chuckled and brewed the cup of tea. He handed it to me in a nice mug, and pulled out a chair for me in the back of his office. He took the seat opposite from me. His stance read 'rousing political discussion over tea' not 'calmly discussing life over tea' which were Markus's only two settings. Both I could expect to be here for at least half an hour, and both are extremely entertaining. It's just fun predicting which will be which before his first sentence even leaves his mouth.

"Did you happen to see the news about Representative Debby Grosswater? Oh, it was terrible. She voted against Detroit's Clean Water bill. I was like, that's so stupid! It's the only thing preventing the constituents of your own precinct from accessing Lake Superior water!"

I smiled. I was right.