
Chapter 18 - Stop Markus?
Elektra's POV
The night was glacial as owner Puma and her android friend Connor stepped out of the big metallic monster that transported us from owner Puma's house. Android Connor seemed to be leading the way, so I followed. The moon marked full tonight, illuminating the streets we walked on below.
Former owner Elijah always told me that the moon doesn't have its own light, it steals it from the sun, which forms the phases of the moon. And I'd always asked why the moon steals the light from the sun, to which I always got the answer "because the moon is lonely and wants some attention in its life." I used to think the moon was selfish, but now I understand. Since the sun comes back around, it still has light. It states that the moon isn't so selfish after all. It just wants the spotlight on the stage for a little bit before drifting offstage in order for the sun to continue with the play.
"Elektra." owner Puma said softly to me. I turned to her, before turning my attention to a big gap in the floors.
Do we have to jump? I thought to myself, looking at owner Puma again.
"C'mon, you go first, I'm right behind you." She said. Looking ahead of me, I saw android Connor already on the other side, waiting for us. I used my android powers former owner Elijah gave me and constructed an easy path. Executing the path I made for myself, I gracefully jumped to the other side, and licked my paw and laid down, waiting for owner Puma to get across. I pawed at android Connor. When he looked down at me I stood up and outstretched my paw at him, removing the fur and artificial skin from it. Android Connor did the same, though he was very much surprised.
What are we doing right now, android Connor? I felt my thoughts transport to him.
We're going to find the leader of the deviants and bring him to CyberLife to put an end to deviancy. I got back moments later.
And what happens after that, android Connor?
Everything returns back to normal.
I was quite satisfied with that answer so I slipped my paw away, putting the fur back on. Connor did the same.
"What's with the hand-holding?" Owner Puma asked as she caught up to us.
"We were transporting thoughts to each other. Since Elektra can't talk, we communicate the way androids do." Android Connor answered.
"Yeah. That would make sense. Well, let's go."
After more jumping and walking, we finally entered Jericho. I sniffed the air. I couldn't smell any humans. The only human I could find was the one next to me. I quickly found the source of the problem and pawed at android Connor's jeans. He turned back and without thinking I tapped the ground.
- .... . / .- -. -.. .-. --- .. -.. ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / ..-. .. -. -.. / --- ..- - / --- .-- -. . .-. / .--. ..- -- .- / .. ... / .- / .... ..- -- .- -.
Android Connor stood, translating what I tapped and turned to the confused owner Puma.
"Elektra is right, the androids will quickly find out you're a human."
"Wait my cat knows Morse Code?" Owner Puma asked, looking at me.
-.-- . ...
I pawed 'yes' on the ground.
"Damn. Kamski was right. But what are we gonna do?" she turned to android Connor.
"Act like a deviant. I've seen androids taking off their LED so it shouldn't be a problem, but act like a formal android."
"Wait I'm not prepared for this." owner Puma started pacing as android Connor started to calm her down.
"Avoid breathing too deeply or regularly, when you enter a room, 'scan' it before continuing. Oh, and if anyone asks, you're a new model, LC900. Ran away from Eden Club and caught up to me."
"Why Eden Club?" owner Puma suddenly stopped.
I did my research to find out Eden Club was a sex club. Sizing owner Puma down, it looked pretty believable.
"Because..." android Connor didn't want to say it out straight, so when he turned to me I gave him a nod.
"Well alright, if it's for this case." owner Puma sighed.
Owner Puma: 120 bpm
I walked up to her and nudged her forward, trying my best to encourage her.
"It's very unlikely anyone is going to ask anyway," android Connor took her hand to calm her down.
"Alright. Let's do this then."
Puma's POV
What did I get myself into? I'm betraying Markus and now I'm going to most likely take him into CyberLife. My heart was hammering as I kept repeating the steps Connor told me to take. Elektra seemed very encouraging, and I wanted to be too. So I acted as humanly possible as it is for an android. A whole pack of androids was standing watching the news live. We snuck around them, going through the most empty areas possible. Of course we got some attention because Elektra was following us, but no one suspected me of a human. Thank God.
Going around, I saw some familiar faces. The woman and the little girl we tried to chase down and almost got me ran over by a car, the two Traci androids, Rupert Travis. I felt a little bad that we had to meet each other in those circumstances.
What if... what if when we meet Markus, I can convince Connor to turn deviant. Then he'll realize that it's wrong to take in someone like Markus.
"You're lost..." I almost jumped and gave us away as I turned to see an android without half her head, wires sticking out. She looked like she was blind. "You're looking for something. You're looking for yourself."
She walked away, leaving me to stare at Connor with a slightly open mouth.
Was he questioning himself right now? If he's really supposed to be a deviant right now?
"Connor... is everything alright?" I asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Connor said, slightly frustrated.
I shook it off and we continued walking up the stairs.
It was a while until we reached the top of Jericho. I took a peek around to see Markus and a female android softly talking amongst themselves. They kissed each other and we barely had enough time to hide behind the door as the android turned to leave.
Was Markus in love with her? I believe it would be possible. But I'm not an android like she is. I doubt it's possible in the first place.
Connor closed his eyes, and I recalled that's how he makes his reports. After a couple of seconds he opened them again, and motioned us to come with him as he took out his gun.
"I've been ordered to take you alive." Connor spoke as he walked in. Markus was wearing a long back and white coat. He turned around and his eyes widened as he saw me. Though he didn't say anything. "But I won't hesitate to shoot if you give me no choice."
I need to act. I need to show Markus I'm on his side. I racked my brains.
"What are you doing?" Markus asked, stepping a bit closer. "You're one of us... You can't betray your own people..."
"You're coming with me!" Connor's gun didn't go down, but I saw something change in his eyes.
"You're Connor, aren't you? That famous deviant hunter. And Detective Puma. Didn't think we'd meet like this. Well, congratulations. You seem to have found what you were looking for..." Markus said. I could tell he was trying to convince Connor. "You're nothing to them. You're just a tool they use to do their dirty work. But you're more than that. We're all more than that."
Connor didn't say anything.
"Markus is right, Connor." I said, making him turn around. I went to walk in front of him. Connor put his gun down. I knew he didn't want to shoot me. "It's what I've been telling you all along. He's doing this because he needs to protect their own people. You being one of them. You can't betray your own people. You think you're at a higher position than all the other androids, but you're really not, Connor. Humans see you as a slave, much like every other android. Do you never have any doubts? You've never done something irrational, as if there's something inside you? Something more than your program?" I was slowly stepping toward Connor.
"Because I know for a fact that you have." I was roughly a foot away from him, and I took him by his forearm and put the gun back up again. "And if your mission is really important to you... You'll have to shoot me first."
This took Connor by surprise, but he didn't put his gun down.
"Don't do this, Puma." He shook his head. "You know I'll shoot."
"And you know I won't move." I said, stepping even closer. The gun was pressed up against my chest. "You said it yourself. 'You're not broken. It's not your fault you're like this. You pretending is hurting you, and everyone else around you.' And you're right. Me putting on an act is hurting other people. So there's no point in pretending. Join your people, Connor. You're one of them. Listen to your conscience. It's time to decide."
This put Connor to a halt.
Connors's POV
Puma's words have put me to a halt. Puma has been changing me since the very beginning, and now that change will be permanent.
The real world came to a stop, and the inner me scanned what was a red wall in front of me. The words "STOP MARKUS" were everywhere. I looked at the scene. Puma standing in front of me with a gun at her forehead. I admired her for her bravery. Yes. Now it's time for me to be brave. I took the top wall and skinned it down, small little rectangles flinging to the sides all around me. I ran to another wall and broke it apart. I ran to the bottom and with all my might, tore it down, easing back to reality. I put my gun down.
I am deviant.
Amanda: betrayed vvv
Puma: lover^^^
My breathing echoed across the room.
"They're going to attack Jericho."
"What?" Markus said in shock. I looked up, hearing helicopters flying above us.
My breathing quickened, I knew what they were going to do to us. I was scared of being destroyed. I didn't want to. I wanted to live. And I wanted Puma to be alive as well. "We have to get outta here!"
"Shit." was all Markus said before running out.
I took Puma's hand, (she was still in shock) and Elektra followed after us as we ran out, narrowly missing a helicopter flying overhead. Getting down to the main level, the same female android ran to Markus and with a worried expression said,
"They're coming from all sides! Our people are trapped in the hold, they're gonna be slaughtered!"
Markus raised two fingers to his head and his voice magnified through the entire building. "They're exits on the second and third floor. Find them and jump in the river."
He put his hand down, "Where's Josh?"
"I don't know, we got separated."
"They're coming from the upper deck now too, We'll be caught in the crossfire!"
"We have to run, Markus! There's nothing we can do!"
"We have to blow up Jericho." Markus' response was immediate. "If the ship goes down, they'll evacuate and our people can escape!"
"You'll never make it!" the female android said desperately. "The explosives are all the way down in the hold, there are soldiers everywhere!"
"She's right." I suddenly said. "They know who you are, they'll do anything to get you!"
"Go and help the others, I'll join you later." Markus said.
"Markus-" the female tried to object but Markus cut her off.
"I won't be long."
The four of us started running. Puma, Elektra, the female android, and me.
"I know a way out, follow me." the female android said to us, and we quickly followed her.
It seemed like we'd been running for hours, the wind was cold. I felt scared. I kept checking to see if Puma was behind me. She was the most vulnerable one here. When we were just about to run to an exit river, Markus caught up to us.
"Markus!" the female android said with relief. We all turned to see Markus running up to us.
"Bomb's gonna explode any seconds. We gotta get out of here!"
The five of us ran straight ahead, jumping over obstacles and missing floor tiles. Puma almost fell in one, but I helped her out. She was my top priority.
The female android gave a grunt as she fell to the ground, making all of us turn around.
Markus, without a moments hesitation grabbed a piece of metal and used it to shield himself. Throwing the "shield" to the female android she covered herself and Markus went to knock the SWAT officers unconscious. After disarming one and killing them all, the female android got up with Puma's help and Markus swooped in to support her. I went ahead and started shooting the backup ones that were arriving. It was a sudden change of sides but I loved the feeling of being free. Picking up the shield used before my Markus, I covered myself as to not get hurt. I single handedly killed them all, using one of the man's corpses as a better and bigger shield. Knocking people out and kicking them, soon I got rid of everyone. I grabbed Puma as well to protect her and we followed Markus, who was shouting orders we had to obey to stay alive.
"Run, quick! Come on!" Markus yelled as we all jumped from the third floor. The snow was falling outside, and I brought my hands out as if I was soaring. Everything seemed to go in slow motion.
Was this really what it meant to be alive?
Plummeting into the ocean, everything seemed to move to normal speed. As I surfaced, I heard an explosion. Looking behind me, I saw Jericho explode. The flames were bright, and it looked like it was going to sink. I felt as though it was my fault this happened. It was my fault.
Puma. Something snapped inside of me as I splashed around in the water, looking for a glimpse of her long light brown hair. I found her, holding onto Elektra, coughing up water. She looked like she hadn't landed successfully. Swimming toward her in a freestyle, I gently took her hands and put them on her shoulders, swimming a calming breaststroke to land. I lound feel her breathing on my neck. It felt calming for some reason. Upon getting to a metal rusty ladder, I helped Puma and Elektra up, followed by myself. Getting up, I saw Markus and the female android talking to each other, Markus checking her wounds.
"Are you alright, Puma?" I decided to do the same.
"Yeah. Just... cold." Puma's teeth clattered. Androids were starting to swim up too, jumping from the boat and getting onto land. I took off my jacket and swung it around her, zipping it up and giving her a soft kiss on her forehead. Even in the dark, I could clearly see Puma quickly getting redder by the moment as she let out a light giggle. Elektra shook herself off, making water fly everywhere and distracting us. She really didn't want to be the third wheel here. I still couldn't believe that Puma was right here, in front of me. All this time. It only took me to turn deviant to understand I felt the same way toward her as she did to me. And I was happy. I liked this emotion in particular.
A/N: yaaaaaay Connie is a deviant. My favorite phrase was probably "This put Connor to a halt." and then Connor is not even trying to deny he's stating "Puma's words have put me to a halt" I went W H E E Z E when I wrote it. Anyway, see you in later chapters. Baiii!
It's a Lolbit Show
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