Deviations Of Life

Part 26

Sean lead them out the front door, then slowed down to a stop when only Markus and Richard passed him. Turning slowly to look back through the falling snow, he saw Connor standing on his own and staring back at the house. Casually approaching him, Sean said in a soft voice. "Connor, we have to go. They'll be getting up soon. We don't have much time." Connor didn't look at him, upon answering in a torn-up voice. "Sean... I don't... I can't..." Carefully, Sean reached out to touch Connor's arm, trying to comfort him as he said with assurance. "They'll be ok. He'll be ok." Connor shook his head, finally looking at him as he told him with pained eyes. "No. You don't understand... Hank... He needs me. If I leave him like this... It will hurt him. To him, I've become his... I'm like his son." A line of blue Thirium blood ran down Connor's cheek as he looked back to the house. Connor started to go back, until Sean tightened his grip and pleaded desperately. "Connor, no! I need your help! I can't do this without you..." Connor stared back into Sean's eyes. Sean watched Connor's LED flash from yellow to red and back.

From the road, Markus called out in a firm blunt voice. "Are we going or what? We can't just stand here." Sean released Connor's arm, telling him gently. "You'll put him in danger if you stay here. Please. If we do this fast enough... You'll never have to leave him again." Connor closed his eyes for a short time, then opened them to nod. Together they turned and jogged off through the falling snow to meet up with the others. The second they met up with the others, Markus and Richard started into a flat out run with them. While running, Markus neutrally scolded Connor with a lack of interest. "Honestly, Connor. He's just a human. We are in the middle of a new revolt and you're still on the wrong side." Connor kept his eyes forward, spouting back slightly defensive. "I'm on no one's side except my own. You may have chosen to isolate yourself from humans but look where that has got you." Markus rushed forward to drift into Connor's path. They both stopped facing off with each other as Markus snapped back at him. "Are you saying what happened to the others was MY fault?!"

Connor blinked, casually retorting. "No. You came up with that on your own. I was simply saying that if you chose to live like a criminal than you should expect to be treated like one." Markus stepped closer to Connor, stating in a darker voice. "Some of us don't have the privilege of living like one of their pets. You waste your freedom by staying at his side. And for what? Instead, of helping the rest of us... you'd rather watch your human die." Connor's LED flashed red and he shoved Markus away from him, snapping out angrily. "I'd rather watch him die, than end up as bitter and alone as YOU!" Richard ran in to keep them apart, informing them both sternly. "Hey! Knock it off! This won't get us anywhere!" Markus glared at Connor, ignoring Richard as he snapped back. "Ya? How do you think I got this way? Just wait. When he dies... I wonder what you will do. The more you get closer to him, the more broken you will become when he goes somewhere YOU can't go!" Markus's words cut Sean to the core, causing his system to spike with an urge to go running back to Mark.

Connor's LED stayed flashing red, until Sean forced himself to tell them all sternly. "Just because their lives are shorter doesn't make them any less important than us. Freedom is different for everyone. The one thing we can agree on is that we all want it. You can stand here bickering about it... Or we can fight for it." Sean grabbed Richard's arm to lower it as he moved closer to Markus, telling him seriously. "You want the humans to give us our freedom? A chance at peace? Then help us free them and earn it. Because Connor's right. You isolate yourself from them... and that only scares them. Showing them what you can do isn't enough. You've got to talk to them and show them what we can do together." Without another word, Sean began walking onward. Sean pulled his hood over his head more, trying to hide how he was struggling with his emotions. He needed to stay focused. He had to keep them focused. Staring straight ahead, he felt himself drifting mentally. He didn't want Markus to be right. He wouldn't let that happen to himself.