AN: This is it! Last chapter before the epilogue! Sorry it took so long! Started college again and became a manager at my job...I also got a girlfriend; so, with hanging out with them, I have zero time to write. Thank for coming on this journey with me and continueing to read!
2nd to last update, might as well keep with tradition:
"Talking"
Emphasis
Thinking
"Android brain talking"
.:internal workings like mission updates, scanning, and android googling:.
The moment had come. This was it. Cassian was joining Markus in the march against the camps and Connor would be walking straight into the den of their enemy. Neither would be safe and there was a very good chance both of them were about to die.
And they couldn't find another moment alone.
With the arrival of the new biocomponents, Cassian, the twins, and Nancy were working non-stop to get everyone on their feet, ready for the next morning. She didn't have time to think between procedures, let alone work through whatever this new thing she had with Connor was.
Nancy had a lot to say though and she was amazing at multitasking.
"Told ya so."
Cassian rolls her eyes as she replaces a woman's leg, "You didn't tell me anything. You implied."
"And what I implied happened, so...I win."
"I didn't know we were competing."
"You know me, Cass: I'm always competing."
"Uh huh…"
After almost three years in the same office with this woman, she really did know.
Another few hours passed in relative silence, the doctors only talking with their patients, reassuring them as they worked. In the next moment of reprieve, Nancy came to Cassian, a blue streak across her forehead.
"Seriously though, I am happy for you. Connor's a good kid, and it seems you both have the same propensity for trouble, so you have that going for you."
"You know how to be serious?"
"Cassian…"
"Thank you, Nancy…" Cassian said without a hint of sarcasm, "truly…I wouldn't be here without you and who knows where Connor would be..."
"Yes yes, I'm awesome," Nancy brushed aside Cassian's thanks like she always did, but there was a slight pink hue to her quite pale cheeks, "now let's not get too lovey dovey, I have a reputation as a stone cold bitch to keep up."
She rose from her seat as another android got the courage to get help from their team. She got to work as they settled down nervously.
"Wouldn't want anyone to think you're soft enough to have feelings." she called out to Nancy, the android in front of her seemingly surprised at her relationship with the human.
"You know me so well."
"Um...excuse me?"
The voice behind her sounded familiar. Cassian didn't look up from her latest patient .:ocular module missing. Got lucky though, had the bullet entered any farther left and she would be dead:.
Nancy took charge, "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm not. I have a question for...Cassian?"
Cassian turned to be face to face with a Tracie, the blue haired one.
"Oh…Hi."
"I have this one. You can go."
"Thank you, Nancy."
"You're starting to sound like a broken record."
Cassian answered with a low "you have something on your forehead," to the woman and stepped forward as Nancy swore and made the problem worse by wiping at her face.
"How can I help you?"
"I...I'm Zoe and this is Aria." she pointed at the short haired woman next to her, "You don't know us but-"
"I know you."
"What?" the short haired woman, Aria, I guess…, stepped forward, as if ready to fight if need be; given their history, Cassian couldn't blame her.
"Sorry." She apologized quickly, hands out slightly, "That was rude. I uh...let's step over here; it's a bit of a complicated story."
As she led them to a quiet side of the room, she met Connor's eyes; he was back in his brooding corner, but Markus and Simon had joined him to plan. His eyes held a question as they flickered from the women following her and back to her. She shrugged; she had no idea what this was about, but had an idea what prompted it.
"You love him, don't you?" Aria said as soon as they were alone, "the hunter."
She likes to get straight to the point huh?
"We saw you with him...it was...cute."
"uh…" Aria sounded like she was complimenting Cassian but boy was she was scary...
"Well do you?"
"I…yes" Fuck it. What use was there hiding it? "Yes I do." that she knew, the details were what escaped her.
"Does he know?" Zoe piped up from behind her much more straightforward girlfriend.
"I haven't told him in as many words but...is that what you wanted to ask me?"
"No. Well, mostly no; though it is linked."
"We want to know if he is safe." Aria's gaze was unnerving, as if she was daring Cassian to say he wasn't.
"Who? Connor?"
"Last we saw of him, he held a gun on us."
Cassian once again forgot Connor was the deviant hunter; he was just Connor to her now. Her mouth worked before she could think, "Don't worry, I got him back for that."
Both of them look completely confused.
"Oh sorry...um." and she told them of her escape. She told them of her time in the tower, working with Nancy and the twins, and told them about meeting Connor. She told them about how he was a frequent guest in her office and couldn't for the life of him stay out of trouble. They listened intently, wanting to know about to android who could have killed them but let them go. Cassian ended with the memory she shared with him, of them.
"I think your words to him really affected him. When I saw him later that night, he was confused...I think you may have helped him become deviant...in the end."
"And he's safe?"
"I saw him fight humans to help my wounded android friend get away and he carried me out of Jericho...he's safe." more like tossed her out of Jericho, but Cassian decided now wouldn't be the time to tell them that.
Aria looked relieved, "Thank you."
"I'm glad I could help."
"You should tell him." Zoe was watching the planning session Connor was a part of, "you might not get another chance."
Cassian sighs, "It's not that easy…"
"Isn't it?" with that, Zoe led Aria away by the hand, leaving Cassian alone to think.
She caught Connor's eye again. He looked worried. She smiled hopefully reassuringly; he nodded and turned back to Markus. Simon looked back with a raised brow and a knowing smile...Cassian stuck her tongue out at him.
Walking back to Nancy, she passed by an android with short white hair, sitting with a small child. The girl was shivering.
"Is she alright?" Cassian's doctor instincts kicked in immediately, thinking of all the causes of shuddering in androids.
"She...she's human."
"Oh…" cold...that'd do it. Cassian crouched in front of the girl, "Here, take my hands."
With a nod from the woman, the girl placed her small hands in Cassian's relatively larger ones.
"You're warm…" the little girl's voice was quiet but strong; she would be alright.
"I have a large processor in a small frame...it's hard to cool down." she rubbed the small hands between her's to warm them up more, "it isn't a permanent solution, but you can be warm for a little bit, while I talk to your mom here." she was worried she overstepped some boundary there but with the way the little girl's face lit up, Cassian was sure it was ok.
"Thank you." the woman sounded so tired. Cassian was sure most people in this church could relate.
"No problem."
"You're the doctor right?"
Cassian shrugged, "One of them anyway. I'm Cassian."
"Kara. And this is Alice."
"Nice to meet you, Alice." The smile the girl gave her was shy but genuine...and so cute.
Returning the smile, Cassian turned to Kara, "Not to pry, but what's a human doing in android revolution?"
"Her dad…" Kara hugged Alice to her side as if she would disappear, "it was a bad situation, I took her away from that."
"Oh…" what do you say to that? "I'm glad you did...um do you plan on staying?"
Kara shook her head, "we have plans to get to Canada. A friend of ours is waiting for us."
"Probably a good idea. The city isn't going to be a good place for a young family for awhile."
if ever…
"What about you?"
"Me? Oh no, I'm staying. I don't have anywhere else to go and my family is all here. Besides, I'm the doctor remember? This whole place would fall apart without me," Cassian vaguely gestures in the direction of the planning group and winks at Alice, inciting a giggle like she had planned.
Kara's eyes locked on Connor, as most who knew about the deviant hunter did, with a far off look as she muttered, "He nearly chased us across a freeway…"
"That was you?"
Kara looks confused. Cassian mentally swore; she had got to stop confusing people with random statements like that.
"oh sorry, I knew him back at Cyberlife. I was his doctor. He said his human partner stopped him from chasing you. Saved me a lot of work," with a dopey grin, her eyes found him again, as they always seem to these past few hours, "I still need to thank his partner for that."
"Thank him for me, too; he stopped the hunter from following us. We got away because of him."
"I'll do that, if I get a chance."
"Is he your boyfriend?" asked Alice.
"He's my…" My what? "well he's a friend."
Alice didn't look convinced.
"I have to go but good luck getting to Canada."
"Thank you. Good luck on...whatever is being planned."
Cassian chuckles, "We'll probably need it."
With one last smile for Alice, Cassian was making her way back to the triage. There honestly wasn't much to do; they had helped most of the injured and Nancy and the twins had done good work while she was distracted. A few more non functioning limbs to replace and the doctors found themselves without anything to do.
"Go relax," Cassian told her crew, "you deserve it."
"Only if you listen to your own advice." Nancy slumped into a pew, "sit with me."
Cassian settled next to her friend, unsure of what needed to be done next.
"I suppose telling you not to go won't work?"
"No, it wont."
Nancy sighed, "Well I had to try. You nearly died once...i don't think i could handle it again."
"Don't worry. I won't die."
"You can't promise that…"
Nancy sounded broken. Her head fell forward into her hands, her shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs. Cassian threw her arms around her friend.
"I can't," she whispered, "but I'm going to. This isn't goodbye. Goodbyes are final. this is more of a...see you later when this is all over."
That got a snorted out of her friend, "You sound like an idiot."
"Well," Cassian eased back as Nancy sat up, "I learned from the best."
Nancy laughed through her tears and socked Cassian in the shoulder. Cassian giggled.
Wiping away her tears, Nancy sniffled, "See you later when this is all over."
"I'll call you."
"You'd better. You know my address. Come find me."
Cassian rose, "I will." with a last hug for Nancy, she wandered, unable to sit still; surely there was something for her to do…
"Cassian?"
She turned quickly, slightly spooked by the voice right behind her, to run into Connor's chest.
"Oh...hi there, I wasn't expecting- I take it you are done planning?"
He looked over to where Markus was once again sitting with Simon. "Yes. I believe we have a plan."
"Is it going to save the day?"
"I wouldn't go that far...but it might work."
"Might? Really selling it well there, Detective."
"I-well…" Connor trailed off as Cassian laughed. They stood in silence for a few minutes, just...looking at each other. Finally he found his words.
"Be careful, okay?"
"When am I ever not?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
Cassian grinned, "Hypocrite."
Connor rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Movement from the dias caught both of their eye; people were gathering to hear whatever plan had been thought up. Cassian was happy to see everyone on their feet...even if it probably wouldn't be for long.
"I guess we should go over there."
Connor turned to leave but Cassian took his hand.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying something out; just have to find the words I want…" she had the words, it was just saying them that was the problem…
"Cassian?"
His eyes on her made this harder than it needed to be.
"I love you."
There. She did it. Out loud.
Bravo me…
Connor's brow furrowed in confusion. Cassian was quick to add, "you don't have to say anything; I just realized that a little while ago and I wanted you to know, in case this all goes to-"
"Can I kiss you?"
Cassian swallows the rest of her words as she nods, eye wide.
The kiss was so light, she almost questioned that it was happening. It was clumsy and their noses bumped into each other, but holy fuck was it nice. When he finally pulled away, Cassian's face was so warm, she was sure she would develop the ability to blush from that alone.
Connor look sheepish, "I think that's how it works. This isn't really in my programming..."
Cassian, still trying to wrap her head around that that had just happened, didn't respond.
He quickly grew anxious once more, "I'm sorry if that wasn-"
"You'd better shut up and kiss me again before I go find a box to stand on and do it myself."
"So that was alright?"
"Yes, though I'm not sure my nose agrees…" Connor opened his mouth but she cut off his apologies, "don't worry, we're figuring this out, remember? This is one thing we'll just have to practice."
"Practice?" Connor looked amused, "Are you sure you're not just looking for an excus-"
"Are you going to kiss me? Or do I have to find that box?"
Connor wasted no more time complying.
They stayed in each other's arms till the call came for them to start their missions. There were several whistles, a lot of muttering, and even a small cheer when they were noticed in the corner.
"I love you." Cassian breathed, not wanting to let go, "You'd better come back."
"I plan to." whatever smart ass comment Cassian had was cut off by his next words, "I love you, too."
Watching Connor leave, alone, was one of the hardest things Cassian had ever done. She watched until he had long since disappeared into the snow, as the procession of androids meandered out behind her.
The march started much the same their first one; Markus led Jericho through the city, towards the heavily fortified camps, as more and more androids joined them, til their numbers swelled to unthinkable numbers.
This time there was no chanting, no calls for action, there was only silent marching.
"Here we are." Markus stood at the front of the march, resolute, "Moment of truth"
A voice called out over a megaphone, "Surrender immediately or we will open fire!"
The sound of clicking pulled Cassian's eye from the wall of humans and guns to the multitude of reporters and cameras to the side.
She mumbled, "the revolution will be televised eh?" which earned her an elbow in her side from Logan.
Markus stopped, and so the rest of them did, "We don't want confrontation. We are protesting peacefully"
The voice came again, "surrender now or we will open fire!"
"What makes them think we will after the first dozen times they yelled at us?" this time Astrid elbowed her. "Will you guys stop it?"
"then stop being a smart ass."
Armored trucks pulled in behind them to block off retreat, nearly running over a few of the crowd and cutting off the front of the group from the rest.
fuck...
"There's no turning back now…"
"Was there ever?" Cassian and the rest of the leaders share a look before Markus spoke again, his voice echoing across the empty space.
"We are here to demand the immediate liberation of all androids in camps across the country." he stepped forward as he continues, "we are not leaving until our people are free."
Cassian out paced her sisters, keeping just a few steps behind and to the right of Markus.
"FIRE!"
It felt so like the last time they faced down guns. It felt so long ago, but it was only yesterday. Cassian walk just as she had then, with purpose, despite the pain around her. Her need to help and her need to continue the path warred in her mind until she achieves what might have been the first android migraine.
"FIRE!"
"Logan!"
Cassian's steps faltered at Astrid's scream.
No…
"I'm ok. Keep going."
"I've got them. Go."
Stepping between a firing squad and her family, Cassian kept walking.
Markus stopped halfway through no mans land, blue dripping down his dark coat. Taking a deep breath, he sat; the rest of the androids followed suit after a moment, sitting down in near unison.
"Are you going to open fire at unarmed protesters?!" Markus asked incredulously. Words that needed to be said, needed to be heard, even when they all knew the answer.
The answer was scattered among the bodies of their people in the snow, the answer was in the heated barrels of the soldier's guns, in the blue splattered on the ground, in the blood flowing down his own back.
Cassian wondered if she was going to get shot on national television again.
There was a beat of silence before the demanding voice surprised her, "all teams hold your fire!"
Cassian didn't question it; she was running as soon as the guns lowered. Sliding to a halt on the ice next to Logan, she fumbled for her medical kit.
"Go." she told Astrid, "get who ever is alive and hurt and bring them to me."
Astrid didn't protest. She just numbly wandered around, recruiting others to search with her.
"Markus," North's voice drifted over to Cassian, "what do we do now?"
"we hold out…" Cassian could feel Markus's eyes on her back, "as long as we can…"
The barricade went up around her; walls were built, lines shored up, they had even found a roof to put over the quickly growing medical area. Cassian wasn't paying much attention. Her focus was singular: Logan would survive this. They weren't the only patient, but they were the most severe; the others were either lightly wounded or already dead. Cassian briefly thought of calling for Simon to drag Markus over for a check up, but quickly filed that away for later as her hands work. Markus was standing; he'd be fine for now.
Logan was not fine; a shot to the chest had come dangerously close to their thirium pump and they were losing a worrying amount of blood.
"Leave me." Logan's voice was weak. They tried to sit up but Cassian forced them down; how easy that was worried her more and she worked faster.
"You'll be fine." she didn't even look up from her sister's chest.
"Cass, you don't know th-"
"if I say you'll be fine, you'll be fucking fine!"
Cassian didn't know if it was her words, her anger, or her tears that finally convinced Logan to lay back and let her work, but she didn't question it. Her small hands finally stemmed the flow of thirium from the large hole as Hadley stood by with a patch, ready to place it as soon as Cassian told her.
"You should be helping the others."
"You're right, so quit distracting me so I can finish patching you up and move on to them."
"Sorry..."
"If it makes you feel better, Astrid is collecting more patients from around the barricade."
"It does."
"Good. Now, shut up."
She was smoothing out the patch on their chest when the flashbang when off. She hadn't been looking in that direction, so only her peripheral vision was corrupted, but the "bang" side of the damn thing blew out her hearing for a second. She and Hadley were quick to act when the soldiers poured over the barricade. It had only taken a nod between them; Cassian had never seen Hadley so serious before. They both stepping in front of their patients, hands up, glaring out at the soldiers who surrounded them.
"Hold fire." came a voice, the commander of this squad apparently. Not of the whole operation, though, it would seem. Shots rang out all around them, soldiers firing indiscriminately into the crowd...so why weren't these ones?
"Well. There's a face I never thought I would see again."
Commander Miller walked to the front of the group, gun out but not pointed. Cassian hadn't seen him since he had punched her in the office. She had heard his job was made obsolete when Connor came on line and finally got out into the field. Other than that, she hadn't given him much thought; she now assumed he must of quit and joined the army.
There was no time to reminisce; she had a job to do and would rather not get shot again, if she could help it.
"Attacking the injured and non-combatants goes against the Geneva conventions." Cassian's tone was strong, unflinching…She didn't know where this was coming from; it seemed all her reading to pass the time was paying off, "The conventions do not state that the victims have to be human. Do you really want to possibly commit a war crime when we are not a threat to you?" her voice softens, "Commander Miller please, don't make your men do this."
"what are you doing?" Logan's voice sounded stronger than before. That was good.
"I don't know! But they haven't shot us yet, so I think it's working…."
A fidgety man to the commander's right raised his gun, leveling it on Cassian, "Fuck this! Its just a fucking robot."
Shit… she had spoken too soon.
"Stand down."
"But-"
Cassian was just as surprised as the man.
"I said stand down!"
The soldier grit his teeth, swore, and lowered his gun with a glare; not at the androids as one would have thought but at Commander Miller.
"Thank you…"
"Don't thank me yet." Miller almost sounded apologetic, "We still have orders to bring you to the camp."
"You've seen what they do to us there. Why do it?"
"Just doing my job."
"So were many who do bad things throughout history, doesn't absolve them. If you think it's wrong, then stop."
"It's not the easy…"
"Isn't it?" Cassian lowered her hands, some of the troops flinched but most stood their ground, "We're doing the hard job, as always. I've been shot twice, today...This has to end. Here. It is that easy."
Miller glanced around at the chaos with thoughtful eyes, "Perhaps it is…"
The squad held them there, unable to move but safe from further harm, for now.
Cassian's body didn't move but her eyes followed the destruction of her people. She couldn't find Astrid in the rush of bodies until a small group was backed against one wall of the barricade. Markus and the others were there with her.
"Astrid!"
Cassian flinched as the soldiers tried to look around her at her yelling sister; Logan couldn't take the sight of guns being pointed at their twin any longer.
Astrid, for her part, didn't turn away from the guns; her jaw set stubbornly, her hand clasping North's tight, she was ready for whatever happened.
What happened was singing.
Marcus stepped forward and began to sing about freedom. When it started, Cassian wondered if the flashbang had truly messed with her hearing; it was out of place and odd...it was beautiful.
"Hold on just a little whole longer."
Cassian gulped, her eyes flickering from Commander Miller to Markus.
"Everything's going to be alright."
Typical Markus optimism…
But as North stepped forward and joined him, as the soldiers lowered their guns in confusion or awe, Cassian couldn't help but feel hopeful.
"Fight on just a little while longer."
Astrid stepped up next to North.
"Everything's gonna be alright.
The crowd of soldiers seemed to shrink back as the androids stepped forward; not to raise a hand but to raise their voices.
"Sing on just a little while longer."
Cassian joined Markus in a whisper for the last line, a small tear leaking down her face.
"Everything's gonna be alright…"
The world was silent as the androids and soldiers waited for someone to make the first move; snow drifted down on the scene serenely.
That moment lasted a breath.
It felt like a lifetime.
"Pull back!"
What?
Without another word, the soldiers began to leave, the snow crunching under their boots as they stepped over the bodies of felled androids...androids they had killed.
Miller turned without a look back but he paused next to a woman sitting against the wall, hands to a hole in her leg. He offered his hand, which she took hesitantly.
Cassian watched as the human carried the android woman to her.
Settling her down in the medical area, he turned to Cassian, "Were you deviant when I…"
Her brows shot up and her voice took on a sardonic tone, "Do you mean 'was I Alive when you punched me?'"
Miller nodded.
"Yes I was. I had been for a year."
"I'm sorry. Not just because you were...Alive at the time; I'm sorry I did it. You were very brave to survive in there and I was an idiot."
That surprised Cassian (and all the androids in the medical area, behind her, who could hear them.) She looked at Hadley for help but the woman had already started helping their newcomer.
Looking back to the human, Cassian's mouth found their words, "Apology accepted. You were grieving. Its understandable."
"But that doesn't excuse it."
Cassian couldn't believe she was having this conversation right now but it was unlikely she was going to see Commander Miller again, so it was now or never. She hummed in agreement, "You're right, it doesn't. And I wasn't trying to. You apologized and I accepted; make it up to me by not doing it again."
Miller opened his mouth, probably to argue more, but Cassian cut across him, "you'd better go before your men think we kidnapped you and this whole thing starts over again."
Miller stayed a moment longer, before nodding to Cassian, and leaving with his men.
Cassian turned to find all eyes on her.
"Well that happened."
"That it did, Logan, that it did."
What caused the humans to retreat wasn't their singing, –though that did help to disorient them–but a large group of Cyberlife Androids marching their way. Just the sight of them made the army leave and the androids cheer, but Cassian only had eyes for one Android; right at the front, confidently leading their reinforcements, walked Connor. A little worse for wear but over all, he looked ok.
She ignored her urge to run to him, instead focusing on the injured again and watching proudly as Connor and Markus met, combining their forces. It was only after Marcus had left that she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Hey–" she didn't have the weight to knock him over but he did stumble, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist, "Cassian?"
"You're alive…" she mumbled into his chest, her face buried in his jacket.
"I am, aren't I?"
She looked up at his mystified tone, a grin on her face, "yes, you are and you saved us."
He didn't answer, instead opting to kiss her...which was quickly becoming his favorite thing to do.
Things happened quickly after that. The humans left entirely–the reporters were the last to go, snapping as many pictures as they could–any android that was injured was treated, and a stage made out of the bus that had trapped the singing androids was put up for Markus to address his people.
Somehow Cassian ended up on top of the bus with Marcus and the others. There were so many people looking at them as she stood, tiny, amongst her friends. She took Connor's hand without looking at him as they waited.
Markus sure did like speeches. Maybe that was why he was their leader and she was just the doctor. Of course, Cassian did not envy his position; it seemed tiresome and often thankless. Better him than her. She would have fucked it up by now; he had the charisma and the determination to lead, down a peaceful path no less...given her track record with violence, Cassian was sure she would have led them into a real war on accident.
Cassian sighed, pushing the thought from her mind and looked at the man at her side and froze.
Something was wrong.
Connor's eye took on a far off look and his hand slipped from hers to reach for his gun. Cassian's eyes flick around, looking for the threat. Not seeing one, she turned to him once more.
"What's wrong?"
He didn't answer, his eyes locked on Markus.
"Connor?"
Touching his hand, in a rush Cassian was trapped in the garden again...at least she thought it was the garden. It was cold, windy, and dark; a sharp contrast to the blue skies and cherry blossoms from last time.
"Connor!"
He had to be here...
"Cassian?" Connor's voice came from somewhere to the right, carried by the wind.
Cassian struggled forward, hunched against the gail. She found him by almost running into him. For not the first time that day, she found herself in his arms as she nearly fell over.
"What's going on?"
"I...I don't know." They both had to yell to be heard, "Amanda locked me out of my system. I can't get out!"
"Amanda? How…" oh shit… "you took your gun out."
"What?"
"Out there...we have to get you out of here! She's going to kill Markus!"
"You need to go; get out and stop me!"
"I'm not leaving you in here with her!"
"But-"
Cassian took hold of the lapels of Connor's jacket, pulling him to her level, eye to eye, "I'm not leaving you."
The deja vu was so strong. The wind was the same, cold and just as piercing, it was as if they were getting another chance at that night; to stay together and help each other when Cyberlife tried to tear them apart. He remained locked in her gaze before-
"the backdoor!"
"What?" the emotional whiplash from the turn the conversation took stunned her for a second.
"Kamski said he always put a backdoor…"
Huh...maybe Kamski did say something useful..."Ok...where?"
Connor took her hand; a glowing pedestal appeared in her mind.
"I think that's it."
Cassian had only been in here once and it was a very confusing time but she thinks remembers seeing that...she just had to get her bearings.
"I think it's this way." She hoped.
They supported each other against the wind, each gust threatening to blow them over; their feet slid on the ice, pushed by the gale. It was impossible to figure out which way they were going; they were moving off of instinct and half remembered visits. The thought that they might be going the wrong way crossed Cassian's mind more than once. She shoved it from her mind; it was too late to go any other way.
She tripped over the lip of the water when the reached land. Connor kept her upright.
His body was moving slower, as if it knew what they were doing. By the time they saw the glow of the pedestal through the snow, Cassian was nearly dragging him. Finally they stood before it, Connor leaning heavily on her.
"Whatever happens, you must stop me."
She wanted to tell him it would all be fine, that this would work and he would stop himself. She wanted to rage at the unfairness of it all; they were free, why must Connor go through this final test. She wanted to curse Amanda and Cyberlife until she ran out of swears. She wanted to cry...but she settled on only two words before the end of this trial:
"I will."
They shared one frantic, frozen kiss before Connor placed his hand on the pedestal and Cassian was thrown from his mind into the world.
She almost felt too warm in the outside air. No wind and only the barest of snowfalls was a drastic change from the blizzard in Connor mind. Cassian's eyes dart to Connor, who's arm was lowered, gun in hand; his eyes were on her.
"You're back." She collapsed against him, exhausted and relieved.
Connor dropped his gun to hold her, arms wrapped around her shoulders. The sound drew some eyes, but luckily no one noticed the weapon on the ground. They only saw their doctor crying tears of relief in the arms of the man she loved, as their leader spoke of hope and their future.
AN: there we go! A bit short after the monsters that the last 2 chapters had been but I like how it turned out.
I'll be honest...I am kinda pulling the war crime stuff out of my ass...i only have cursory knowledge of the Geneva conventions and only did a little research...could be they do state that the victims have to be human somewhere…
I was afraid I wasn't going to get Kara and Alice into this fic; which would of been sad, cause I love their story.
Thank you again for keeping with me for this, next chapter is going to be the epilogue!
Reviews!
GayMexicanBatman: i love reading new reviews, but its always warms my heart to see return customers. And hearing you are writing someone's favorite fic is very nice =) i love their little family too; i honestly didn't have that planned and it just kinda….happened...i am 100% not complaining because they are very fun to write and i am a sucker for found families. As for Nancy and Hank...well, you'll just have to stick around for the epilogue ;P
QuirkyMurderSuspect: I love Marcus but the boy is melodramatic af!