"This is suicide." North commented.
Despite that, she still stood beside Markus and waited for his move. Was this what it meant to be a leader? Convincing people to go against their gut and trust you instead? Markus hated how scared he was that she could be right.
Josh argued with her, telling her it was the best option. The two had spent hours like this already. When Markus interrupted to assure them of something he didn't fully believe himself, they quieted down. They were going through with this.
"There're androids here who could join us... The more we are, the stronger our message." Josh offered.
Markus took time to connect to each one. He asked them to march with him and told them about Jericho. He gave them the choice to go there or stay and march. Most stayed.
The androids hiding underground were let out, and Markus faced the open street, ready to show the world their determination. The humans would listen. They had to. Markus could feel his stress peaking at 87 percent. He started walking.
From the sides there were yells of support and hate. Some humans chanted along with the androids, others threw rocks and cursed them out. None of the androids reacted, they kept walking peacefully.
By the time they reached the intersection they numbered over 900. The media was there, but suddenly so were the troops. Riot shields blocked them in and helicopters hovered over their head.
"This is an illegal gathering. Disperse immediately or we will open fire."
"We're not looking for confrontation." Markus yelled loudly so the media could pick it up. "We've done no harm, we have no intention of doing any... But know that we are not going anywhere until we have secured our freedom."
Another warning followed.
"Markus, they're gonna kill us..." North pleaded. "We have to attack! There's more of us, we can take them!"
"If we attack, we'll start a war." Josh countered. "We have to show them we're not violent. We should just stand our ground, even if it means dying here."
Markus felt his stress raise. He was responsible. He looked up at the helicopter. It had 'Chanel 16 News' painted on the side of it. The world was watching. They had to try.
"We have to show them we won't back down. We stay right here."
Shots fired. Androids dropped. Markus could hear the grunts as the bullets tore through the small amount of protection the android's panels gave. His stress rose to 96 percent.
"DISPERSE! THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!"
Markus refused to move. He had no choice but to stand. The humans had to see that this was wrong. They had to realize that there was no cause for the senseless killing. Shots fired again and again. The street was strewn with the bodies of androids.
"Markus, please..." North whispered.
Markus was hit in the arm with the next volley. He hated himself for letting this happen. All the androids that were dead... It was his fault. He touched her hand gently, then stepped forward. He would give himself for this. Maybe the the others would get to live. He made it halfway to the guards before one of them shot. The bullet tore through his chest, knocking him back.
The pain was incredible. He could hear the android's running away. North was yelling his name. He hoped she made it out safely. He hoped she wouldn't hate humans even more for this. She deserved to be happy. A small team of soldiers approached him with their guns trained on him.
"You don't have to do this." He muttered. The men didn't respond.
Then John was there. He pushed the gun that was pointed at Markus away and punched another soldier in the face. It was three to one, though. There was no way he would make it. Markus was being hoisted to his feet by another android, and watched as the soldiers beat John down and executed him. Then he turned and ran.
Jericho was waiting for him. Several were injured, and some had been carried back just to shut down anyway. Josh and North took Markus to a corner where he could lay down and get treated. Grim faces worked silently to replace the parts that had been destroyed. Markus knew there weren't enough biocomponents for everyone, and hated the fact that he was taking from someone else.
"You did the right thing, Markus." One of the androids fixing him comforted. Her face softened, showing even a small smile. "Thank you."
Markus didn't understand how she could say such a thing. So many had died. So much had been lost. How could anyone thank him for that? She quietly finished her job the left to help elsewhere. Markus sat up, looking between North and Josh.
"The humans know we won't stop, Markus, and they know we aren't a threat." Josh said. "You saw the people who supported us. They know we want freedom."
Markus didn't say anything. He dared not voice his concerns. He just thought of John with the man standing over him pointing his gun at the poor android's bashed in head. How could anyone say that was going to bring peace? They were sheep to the slaughter, and Markus had led them there. It was all his fault.
Josh was called away to help the others with triage. Choosing which androids were going to be saved based on the resources they had. Even after days of planning, they still hadn't been able to get enough supplies in reserve for this mission. They should have waited longer. They should have planned it better.
"You almost died out there." North muttered, pulling Markus out of the depressing thought. "How could you do that, walking straight towards them, Markus?" She looked ready to cry again.
"I had to make sure everyone got back to Jericho safely. It was the only way."
"We need you, Markus. You can't let yourself die like that! You have to be more careful!"
"North." She stopped yelling and turned away.
She was shaken and scared, and he held her hand, requesting a link. He needed her to know why. She accepted, and he showed her the pain and fear he felt. He showed her how much he wished he had never started down this road. Then he showed her the hope he still held. The hope he had seen reflected in the other's eyes each time he talked to them. The hope that they would be free and happy, living among the humans.
"I can't let a war start. I have to keep these people safe as best I can." She shook her head, but let him continue. "I wish there was a better way. I wish no one would have to die. But fighting will only hurt more people. I can't... I can't ask them to do that."
She pulled her hand free and cupped his face. "I don't want you to die, Markus."
"I wish I could promise I won't."
The two sat in silence, allowing their thoughts to wander. Markus knew there would be a reaction from this, and he had a feeling it wasn't going to be good. He just hoped they could make it through. The death count was getting higher the longer this lasted. He just wanted it to be over.
