8.Revolutionaries

Marcus makes his first public appearance in an android body and meets with his revolutionary allies Kal, Denu, Gina, and Vinnie on Poseidon. After they pressure him to support overthrowing the Council, Marcus attempts to convince the Council to allow floating cities, but they refuse and retaliate by dispersing his allies and shutting down their resources. Marcus discovers the Council has planted surveillance bugs and begins organizing resistance infrastructure.

Marcus overcomes his anxiety about his first physical appearance and visits Kal's apartment, where he meets with Denu, Gina, and Vinnie—members of a group frustrated with the Council's totalitarian policies. Vinnie reports the Council has refused to consider policy changes or schedule elections, dismissing public discontent as fear-mongering. Gina pushes Marcus toward revolution, but he insists on attempting peaceful change first by presenting his flying cities project to the Council. In a subsequent meeting with Councilors Benben, Murray, and Brennan, Marcus argues that forcing citizens to live and work where assigned violates both morality and prior agreements, but the Council dismisses his proposal and ends the meeting. Retaliating against Marcus's challenge, the Council relocates Gina and Denu, reallocates resources, and changes printer schedules. Marcus suspects the Council is monitoring communications and travels to West Mat Four to join Kal. Using small roamers, they sweep Kal's apartment and discover three listening devices planted by the Council. Marcus distributes encrypted SCUT-based communication devices to his allies and deploys roamers for surveillance. Recognizing they have crossed into outright resistance, Marcus and Kal acknowledge they are now officially revolutionaries.