[ Human ]

The Key (10)

Your POV
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"The trucks. They're full of biocomponents. They run on auto pilot, but they can be driven manually with a key," John explains.

"Where is this key?" Markus inquires.

"Down there, in the control station. There are two human guards. You'll have to get the key without being noticed."

"This is suicide, Markus. Our bags are full. We got what we came for, let's go before they catch us," Simon reasons.

"This is a truck full of spare parts. There'd be enough for all of us. We can't pass this up!" North objects.

"And if we get killed, our people will have nothing. We can't take that chance. It's too risky!" Josh states.

"For Christ's sake, I'll do it!" I interrupt. "It'll be less of a risk if I go in. I'm human—the worst they'll do if they catch me is throw me in jail or something. If they get any of you, they might kill you on the spot simply because you're androids. I'll get the key."

They reluctantly agree, knowing I'm right.

"I'm going with you," Markus says defiantly. "I know what the key looks like."

I nod, realizing that I'm not entirely sure what the key we need is to begin with.

"If we're not back in ten minutes," he continues, "go without us."

We sneak up to the control station, past the loud ass dogs, entering from the back through an unlocked window. I lead the way, us going to hide behind shelves as the two guards talk.

Markus taps my shoulder and whispers in my ear, "We need to create a blackout."

"How do we do that?"

"Create a short-circuit."

"I like your thinking," I mutter with a smirk, is getting to work on it immediately.

"Goddamn dogs. What the fuck are they barking at..?" the first guard says.

"Could be the weather... They don't like storms," the second replies.

"Yeah, I was going to take my kids camping this weekend. So much for that."

"Is Mike still in zone 4?"

"Looks like it."

"He should be done already..."

"Better off in here than out patrolling in that."

Using the screwdriver I had picked up, I mash it into the power box that Markus had opened, the place going dark.

"Shit, what's going on?"

"Lights are still on outside. Must be the fuse box."

"I got a flashlight somewhere... Here it is."

Markus pulls me off to the left of the shelf to hide as the guards wander over towards the right side of it towards the power box. He hurries over to the front of the station and takes the key, returning seconds later.

We wait until the guards backs are turned before silently running back to where we came in, exiting through the open window.

I take the screwdriver with me as Markus shuts the window, knowing that it has my fingerprints on it now. If I left it there, the guards could've tested it and caught me.

That's why I didn't touch anything—I had even let Markus pull me through the window by my hands so I wouldn't have to touch anything.

Gotta limit the possibility of me getting caught, as I'm the one who can leave more human traces out of us two.

We return to the others, North speaking up, "Did you get it? Nice."

All of us get into a truck, Markus driving with North in the passengers seat. The windows are tinted, so nobody can see them. The rest of us are in the back with the rest of the crates.

We're out within a few minutes, none of the guards suspecting a thing about this truck being taken out.

I let out a sigh of relief, glad that nobody came to search the truck before we left.

Timeskip - Jericho

"A truckload! We stole a whole truckload!" Simon announces to everyone in excitement, then gathering around.

"We got biocomponents for everybody!" Josh exclaims in addition.

"We couldn't have done it without Markus," North mentions, and I nod.

"Thanks, newbie," I tell him gratefully, crossing my arms with a grin.

He nods at me and stands in the center of all of us, giving a motivational speech:

"I came to Jericho because...here androids are free... Free to live in the dark, hoping that no one finds us. Free to die in silence waiting for a change that's never gonna come.

"But I don't want that freedom. And I'm not gonna beg for the right to smile, or love, or stand tall... I don't know about you, but there's something inside me that knows that I am more than what they say.

"I am alive, and they're not gonna take that from me anymore. Our days of slavery are over. What humans don't wanna hear, we will tell them. What they don't wanna give, we take. We are people. We are alive. We are free!"

We all start clapping and cheering, enthusiastic.

Markus is going to be a great leader, I can tell.

Once things die down, I approach him and say, "We can't thank you enough for this, Markus."

"You don't have to," he responds nicely. "It's just the right thing."

"Yeah," I agree. "Thanks again, though. I wish I could stick around, but I need to get going. Keep everyone safe while I'm gone, Markus, alright?"

"You got it," he nods. "Thanks for joining us in the raid."

"Anytime," I respond casually before backing up, waving with one hand dismissively. "See ya around, man."

"See ya."

As I leave, I decide to head over to Hank's place, choosing to go bug him for the night rather than spending it alone at mine.

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T H E K E Y
{ Chapter Ten }

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-CastrarWolf