Five minutes passed quickly. Markus stood in front of the other androids and faced the camp before them. The other androids filed into ranks behind him, all of them waiting for him to give the signal.
"We waited for you to give our people their freedom. This is the last chance you have to end this peacefully." He yelled towards the camp. The press behind the gate looked on. "Order your men to evacuate the camp so we can tend to the androids inside!"
No response came. Markus walked slowly forward. The androids followed. The soldiers raised their guns.
"Stop approaching, or we will open fire." One of the soldiers ordered. Perkins was nowhere to be seen.
Markus stopped and looked back at North. She nodded solemnly. He looked at Connor. Connor met his eyes, then looked forward. Move onward. He hoped Markus got the silent urge. Whether or not he did, he took another step. Then another. By the third step, bullets were flying. At first, Markus kept walking, then his steps increased in speed. By the time the soldiers were reloading he was running, all the androids at his back.
The soldiers were overrun the second the androids hit the barricade. The guns were taken and soldiers were knocked out. Connor grabbed Markus' arm and pulled him forward. He only stopped when they had reached a point of cover.
"What are you doing?" Markus asked.
"We need to press hard and fast. I'll keep you safe, so just follow my lead, got it?"
North was next to them seconds later. "Markus the gunners are dropping a lot of us."
"Shoot above their heads. It'll keep them ducking for cover without hurting anyone." Connor replied. "Tell the others."
She looked between Connor and Markus, then nodded and ran back.
"Lead on, Connor."
-----------------------------------------------------
Connor pulled a pistol out of his waistband and ran out from behind cover. Markus couldn't help wondering how long he had had that. He definitely hadn't picked it up from one of the soldiers. Markus grit his teeth, following Connor. The android didn't back down as he shot one soldier in the shoulder, threw the gun at another, jumped the barrier and knocked himself into a third. Markus followed after him, grabbing a fourth's gun and wrestling it away from him.
Before long, other androids were surrounding the people. Connor disentangled himself and Markus from the fight and pushed on. This cycle was repeated several more times until the soldiers were on the run. They were in the camp by now. There was a large set of cages set up in the center. Skinless, naked androids were inside. Some were cowering, others were standing in lines.
Connor pushed him forward without even acknowledging the shameful sight in front of him. He just kept going, shooting the droids and chasing soldiers out. He was cold and collected. Focused. Efficient. He disabled soldiers with quick blows. Markus couldn't help but watch. It was a completely form of combat he hadn't seen before. It was mechanical and heartless. Even without any deaths, it was terrible to see.
It was effective, though. The soldiers ran from Connor, regrouping outside the camp. Connor and Markus cleared the rest of the camp from any stragglers and set up guards at the entrances. Wounded soldiers were carried out by disarmed ones, and before long the cage doors were opened and clothing was given to the terrified androids inside.
They had secured the camp. Markus couldn't help being glad. The androids looked more lively at their victory here, and he was noticing that the CyberLife androids were mingling in with the Jericho ones. They had made it. They had won.
