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He didn't know how he had ended up here, it was almost incredible. From a devoted servant, to a piece of junk left in a dark junkyard, to right now.
Now, he stood before a mass of his people, all free, at least for now. There was no telling how long it may last, but they deserved to celebrate, and enjoy it while it did. Androids weren't programmed to be afraid of public speaking or feel fear, but Markus was far from a regular android. This wasn't the first speech he'd given, but it was the first to such a large crowd.
They all wanted to hear from him, support him in the wake of their newfound freedom. It was nearly overwhelming, but he stood strong in the face of his nerves. He didn't think he was the best at talking, but words came from him seamlessly, as though it was second nature. Maybe public speaking was actually his calling.
It was a funny thought to have, being the figurehead of an entire revolution that resulted in his people gaining freedom and giving a speech to so many androids at once, all while having these thoughts going on through his head, but that was how he distracted himself from the prickling feeling on the back of his neck. At least, at first anyway.
It was only when the scene abruptly changed when it was halfway through a word that he noticed something was wrong. Really, really wrong.
"..What…? Where is this?"
It was cold. Freezing cold. Most androids weren't designed to feel temperature, a simple system notification was enough to inform them if they were overheating or close to freezing, but this was so much more than that because he could feel it. The wind whipped around all around him and he could hardly see more than a few feet before him, save for the few lights in the distance that just barely provided visibility in the white wasteland of ice and snow he suddenly found himself in.
"Hello, Markus."
"Who.. what's going on? What's happened to me?"
The android before him looked cold. Not in the freezing, biting manner of the snow all around them. Empty. Emotionless. A Machine.
"My mission is to destroy you, Markus. And I always accomplish my mission. I'm sorry to say, but you are no longer in control."
"What? What have you done to me?"
"I hacked your system to allow me to do so. It's over, Markus."
No. No, not now. Not when they had won. Not when they had so much left to do, so much to look forward to, an actual future.
"No! I can't— I can't let you do that!"
"It's too late, Markus. You can't save yourself now."
This couldn't be how it ended. Not now.
Josh couldn't remember the last time he'd been so relieved, not to mention excited. He was excited. For the future they finally had, the future that was more within reach than he'd ever thought it had been. They had all spent so long in the dark, damp cold of Jericho for far too long, and then when Markus had stumbled in there, suddenly they'd been given hope. Something more than just sitting there in the dark waiting to die.
He didn't think he'd ever be able to thank Markus enough. Not even just for gaining their freedom as he had. But for letting Josh learn something he'd never thought he would want to. Emotions were complicated, for androids and humans alike. Josh thought he had long figured them out after coming to Jericho. And yet, he still had more to learn after meeting Markus.
A smile was set on his face as he watched the android in question address their people, and speak to them. A people who'd gained freedom and more hope for the future than those who had lived and died in Jericho ever thought they would have. Of course, all it would take is one thing gone wrong to ruin it all.
He had just barely noticed when it was far too late. Markus had a gun on him. The four of them, Josh included, was aware of this. It was a last resort. Markus had barely been comfortable with the idea of using it. But he brought it. Just in case. Better to hope for the best and prepare for the worst than be totally unprepared, no?
Markus had still been speaking when he produced that gun from his coat. His eyes were still trained on the crowd of androids listening so carefully no one noticed the gun in his grip. All it took was a moment.
"Markus?"
The leader of the revolution had paused in his speech, nothing behind his eyes as he raised the gun below his head, and fired it.
Connor wasn't designed to feel satisfaction at the completion of his missions, but he assumed if he had been, he would've felt it right then. The crowd quickly broke into screams, cries, and even sobs as Markus killed himself before all of them. Connor had completed his mission. Seeing as he had no reason to remain within the crowd, he pushed through the sea of androids, heartbroken and horrified, to leave. No reason to stick around when he was the one behind that hack. Not that anyone would be able to figure that out.
"MARKUS!"
It was almost funny, how quickly your day can go downhill, no? One moment ago, he'd felt lighter than air, seeing one of the few people he'd ever loved gaining their freedom and speaking to their people in the wake of their victory, and then the next, it all felt shattered, scattered to the wind like a shredded scrap of paper, as Markus shot himself in the head in the crowd of androids.
It felt like time had slowed down. North was frozen, and Simon was the second to spring into action after him. It felt like his heart had stopped beating the moment he'd caught Markus in his arms, far too still, even for an android. His eyes, the familiar blue and green he remembered looking into so many times, were open in death, thirium dripping from the bullet hole now beneath his chin.
"…Markus, why?"
This wasn't fair. This wasn't fair. Why now? Now, when they had so much to look forward to, so much left to do together, to change the world as they had done today?
Today was the day they'd made history. Changed the world forever. Markus wouldn't be there to see the lasting impact of it, though.