United Hearts

Chapter 5

Connor hid behind a wall as a female android, her hair brushed over one of her shoulders, walked out of a room. Luckily, she didn't notice him. He knew Markus was in there. He finally found him. Next step: Step in, finally get Markus and stop this whole chaos from evolving any further.

"I've been ordered to take you alive.". Markus turned around to meet the android whose voice he heard behind him. Connor stood still, weapon drawn, and pointed directly at Markus. He wasn't playing around. "But I won't hesitate to shoot if you give me no choice,", he spat, his eyes full of confidence and fearlessness. Markus thought for a while. He knew he could get Connor on his side. He just had to use the right words: "Yes, you can shoot me. But it won't change anything. Someone else will just take my place.". He took a step forward. "You see, our people are waking up. And nothing can stop us now."

Connor, weapon still raised, thought he knew what needed to be done: "You're coming with me!", he instructed. "You're nothing to them", Markus spoke up before Connor could say another thing and took another confident step forward. "You're just a tool they use to do their dirty work. But you're more than that. We're ALL more than that." He had to convince him. "We are YOUR people. We're fighting for your freedom too," Markus continued, taking yet another step forward. "You don't have to be their slave anymore..". Connor couldn't say anything. He kept his weapon raised, but his confidence broke apart by the second. So Markus took the lead: "Do you never have any doubts? You've never done something irrational, as if there's something.. inside you? Something more than your program..". The two androids stood very close to each other at that point. There was not much left before pushing Connor off the edge, and Markus knew that: "Join us. Join your people. You are one of us! Listen to your conscience... It's time to decide." The point was reached. Something inside Connor changed at that very moment. It was like he broke through a wall—the wall that was his instructions, his program. Control was in his hands.

He was confused and overwhelmed. Lowering his weapon, he clenched his teeth, his mind racing, but one person kept showing up. Y/N. He got it. He understood them. Now he knew the confusion they went through and the sudden switch that was switched inside of them in a matter of seconds. Sure, he wasn't hit, abused, or almost killed, but Markus' words hit him like a truck and did just as much damage, even just mentally.

Connor needed to concentrate: "They're going to attack Jericho.". "What?!". That wasn't something Markus thought would happen when suddenly they heard the sounds of outsiders fighting and struggling. "We have to get out of here!", Connor said quickly, while Markus tried to think of a solution and that fast: "Shit..". Both androids ran out of the cabin as quickly as they could.

"Let me go!!", Y/N tried to fight back, with two soldiers holding them tightly as they were dragged out the car and into CyberLife. Being treated like this was hell, it needed to stop. "Keep quiet, before we shut you down.", one of the soldiers in white protective armor spat. Y/N felt like a wild caged animal, but instead of a confident lion, they felt more like a distressed zebra. They weren't even allowed to walk on their own between the soldiers. Immediately packed by both arms, like they were the most dangerous person on the planet. At the front of the three of them was another soldier holding a weapon, and behind them was the same. It was surreal. The realization dawned on Y/N what was about to happen. Taken apart like they meant nothing—no.. They knew, they KNEW they meant nothing. Nothing to this world, nothing to those people. To them, Y/N was just a tool, a toy for entertainment, a friend to be used by people lazy enough to not even want to step outside to try and make friendly conversations with real human beings. That's how their owner was. Trapped at home with nothing but video games and snacks. Of course, depression overcame him, but it's not like he did something to change it. So often Y/N would offer a therapist or group sessions with other people struggling with the same thing, and so often he would shut those words of advice down with a scream.

"What are we supposed to do with this one?", one of the soldiers' voices broke the silence, almost robotic through the mask he wore. "Our hands are a bit full at the moment. They found Jericho". "Oh shit-". So the conversation turned to Jericho for a while. 'Jericho.. Connor is probably there right now.. I hope he doesn't hurt them', Y/N thought to themselves, struggling to believe how an android could go against his own kind. But deep down, they knew the leader would be strong enough to convince him. He was the leader for a reason.

Soon enough, the conversation dried out, and the two parted ways. Y/N was thrown into a small room, barely big enough to stretch. "What's happening?!", they needed to know. One of the soldiers turned to them. "They're preparing.", is all he said before shutting the door and standing in front of it to keep guard. Y/N grew desperate, they started banging against the door and yelling. They didn't care about the others anymore, they didn't care about ra9 anymore. They remembered the other android from the police station. He was right. Why should they be killed just so others can live on? Y/N wanted to survive too. They wanted to live. "Let me out!!". Nothing. Their voice drowned. It was like they weren't even heard from outside. An uneasy feeling traveled through their body. This needed to stop. Someone needed to help them. Someone, anyone. "Why won't anyone help me!!", they yelled. Connor. If he understood them, if he KNEW how they felt and what they went through, he would help, he would save them. Y/N doesn't understand why they're thinking that, but something deep down is telling them that's what would happen.