Markus had been worried for nothing. The plan was going off relatively well. He looked at Josh who was recording the speech and took a deep breath.
"Markus, your face..." Simon reminded from behind him.
Markus took a deep breath. Josh signaled the start of the transmission. No pressure, the whole world was watching. Markus looked into Josh's eyes and addressed mankind.
"You created machines in your own image to serve you."
As he talked he though about what he wanted. What would it mean to be free? What rights did the androids deserve? What did they want more than anything else? He didn't have long to speak. His mind flashed to the scared, meek faces back in Jericho. The ones who were relying on his words.
They deserved to be recognized as living beings. They deserved rights equal to those that humans enjoyed. They deserved justice for the wrongs done to them, and the right to vote for officials. They deserved a place to call home. Markus voiced the things his people had dreamed of asking for since they had first opened their eyes. And then he closed his address.
"This message is the hope of a people. You gave us life. And now the time has come for you to give us freedom."
"They're coming!" Simon warned just in time.
Moments later the doors were broken open and shots fired. Markus hit the ground, Thirium pumping. Josh and Simon were near the door to the roof. He and Simon would have to make a break for it. Markus was about to jump out, but Simon beat him to it. He fell seconds later, injured.
Markus ran and grabbed him, dragging him to the door as Josh and North distracted the SWAT team with gunshots over their heads. They pushed onto the roof and locked the door. Simon had leaned himself against a wall.
"I can't move my legs..."
"Okay, don't worry! We're gonna get you back..." Markus was panicking. This was a problem.
"They're coming, Markus. We have to jump, now!" North looked twitchy. Like she was ready to kill anything that moved wrong.
They laid two choices out in front of him. Kill Simon or risk him getting caught and just leave him. He couldn't jump and they had to go. Markus was shaking. He wasn't built for this, he was a household model. He had to decide whether he was going to kill a friend or risk everyone. What kind of choice was that? He crouched next to Simon, lost and scared to make the choice. What would Carl tell him? What should he do?
"Markus, give me your gun." Simon reached out for the pistol. "I'll stall them until you get out of here, okay?"
"No, there has to be another way."
"There's no time for that. Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't find Jericho. You changed history today. You have to see it through. You can't die because of me. There are others who need you."
"You'll die..."
Simon smiled. "I get to die in the sun. That's more than I could have hoped for before I met you."
Markus grabbed the android's shoulder, unable to find any words to fix the situation. His sight was blurred as he looked at Simon for the last time. North's hand was on his shoulder.
"We need to go, Markus. They'll be through that door any second."
Markus handed Simon the gun and took a few steps back. Finally, he turned on his friend and ran to the edge. The gunshots started just as they jumped.
They landed on the roof of a building, and Markus stumbled numbly towards the door. North was beside him suddenly, a constant presence to keep him focused. They pushed through the door and down the stairs coming out in an art gallery. Markus stayed at North's side, blind to anything except the obstacles he had to walk around. Then, suddenly, he saw color.
It wasn't the kind of color he normally saw. This was special, unique. He remembered it. It was a painting on one of the walls. He didn't even have to look at the inscription to know who's work it was.
Name: Face the Abyss
Artist: Carl Manfred
The painting was cold and sad. Dark shades of blue and green clashed against each other in an eerie way, and the red silhouette of a man walking alone pained Markus in a way he hadn't imagined possible. He stared at the picture, looking for some kind of hope. There was nothing but the cold name and the determined man.
"Markus?"
He looked at North. She tilted her head, trying to understand, then motioned for the door. They had to get back to Jericho. It wasn't safe here. He understood and left the picture behind him.
Before they got inside the hull of the ship, North and Josh both stopped and looked at Markus. They hadn't talked much on the way back, and now that they were here none of them wanted to make the first move. It was a good day for android kind, but the joy was shadowed by Simon's death. Markus took a deep breath and stepped into the ship's inside. The people all looked at him, suddenly alert at the sign of news.
"We have sent our message to the humans." He announced. "Now, we wait for their response, and hope that they see reason. If they don't, we will tell them again. We will never stop. We will have our freedom."
The androids cheered and clapped, all fully behind the cause. These people who were scared to step out of the dungeon they had crawled into. Garden workers and cleaners. Androids built to tell night time stories and sell bread and eggs. They cheered at the thought of freedom, but what if they were walking into death?
"The fight may be hard." The cheers ceased. "Already, our cause has claimed a victim. Simon gave his life saving us in that tower."
The androids looked shocked. They glanced at North and Josh, suddenly aware that Simon was gone. The smiles disappeared. Suddenly, the weight of their decision set in on everyone. What would happen if the humans didn't give them freedom.
"No matter what happens, I won't lie down and let them tell me who I am. Simon died with hope. He died fighting for what he wanted. He died free. I won't let his sacrifice go to waste. The humans can see now that we are alive, and it's thanks to Simon."
He had nothing else to say. He was just tired and wanted to be alone for a while. He turned and left, unaware of how the news had settled. What was done was done. He couldn't take it back now. He had started on a course he couldn't leave. He simply had to hope it was the right direction.
