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.

He got so lost in his cluttered emotions that when something struck him between the shoulder blades, he stiffened. He took no damage, but it unnerved him to be hit from behind. Turning around slowly, he watched both Markus and Richard point in unison to Connor. Connor smirked, forming snow in his hands. Sean raised an eyebrow, asking Connor curiously. "Why did you hit me?" Connor's grin brightened as he replied truthfully. "I don't know. I saw Hank do it in a home video. It made them happy... and I wondered if it would work on us." Markus shook his head, grumbling out. "Get a grip on yourself, Connor." Sean watched Connor toss up the ball of snow and snap out as he caught it. "Oh, I'll get a grip!" Connor adjusted his arm and threw the snowball at Markus this time. The ball exploded across the back of Markus's head, causing him to stop dead as his LED flickered yellow. Connor adjust his jacket, chuckling out smugly. "How's that? Did I knock some sense into you?" Richard snorted as Markus turned to face Connor with a dark glare.

Sean tried to suppress his own smirk as he watched a bit of snow fall off Markus. Markus turned his icy glare on them, asking sternly. "You think this is funny?" Sean shrugged innocently, while Richard bent down to gather up some snow. Markus pointed a finger at Richard, snapping out. "No! Richard, stop! Don't encourage him!" Richard formed his snowball and threw it at Sean's chest. Sean jumped back, glancing down at his wet sweater with shock. He couldn't believe Richard hit him and not Markus or Connor! Pushing his hood back, Sean looked at Richard, chuckling out. "Oh, it's on!" Sean dropped to grab snow, causing Richard and Connor to dash for some too. Markus stomped his foot, practically shouting out. "What the hell are you doing?! You're acting like a bunch of hu-" Markus was cut off by Sean throwing a snowball at his neck and giggling out. "Oh, lighten up, Markus! Don't be such a calculator!" Richard tried to hit Connor, who jumped away to avoid it and rolled to his knees to throw his own snowball back.

Richard took the snowball to the shoulder but told Markus with a chuckle. "Ya! You old... Dial-up modem!" Everyone laughed, even Markus. After a heavy sigh, Markus gathered up some snow and chased after Richard, shouting out. "I'll get you back for that!" Within seconds they were racing around the open snowy field by the road, locked into an intense snowball fight. Sean was thankful that Kamski's house was far enough away from them, but at the same time was having fun. They were all getting very good at dodging and teaming up with others to target one of them. Richard leapt away from Markus, dashing right into a trap set by Sean and Connor. In unison, Sean and Connor jumped over a small stream and released their snowballs at Richard. Richard took both to the face, falling back onto his back as both Connor and Sean hit the ground and bolted after Markus. Markus snatched up snow and took off with a curse. Over their internal communication, Connor told Sean. "Stay on his ass and herd him to me!"

Sean nodded, internally responding. "I'm on it!" Connor slowed down and took off in a different direction, but Sean stayed right on Markus's tail. Occasionally, throwing snowballs to try and steer Markus in the direction he wanted. Markus caught on and changed course just before Connor could hit him. So, Connor resorted to jumping into Markus. Tackling him into the snow, Conner smashed the snowball against his neck. Sean cheered, then stopped as Connor turned toward him, bouncing a fresh snowball in his hand. Squealing, Sean shot off across the field. He had to give Connor credit. Compared to Markus and Richard, Connor was fast. Sean tried to lose Connor, but Connor rolled and jumped obstacles just as easily as him. Sean circled back to head toward Richard. Leaping over the stream, Richard playfully reached out to catch him. Sean slammed into him with a burst of giggles, then fell to his knees as Connor hit him in the back with a snowball. They had only been playing a little while, but it had done wonders on their personalities. It was the first time that they had actually had fun together.

Before too long, they gathered themselves up to keep going. The sun was starting to come up and they were a bit behind now. The tension had eased between them quite a bit though. It had put them in a team playing mood. Farther down the road, Sean skidded to a halt and told the others through an internal link. "Wait! I'm picking up an incoming vehicle. Its coordinates system is heading to Kamski's house." Over the Com-link, Richard told them all as he jogged to a stop. "I see it. RK900s. Two of them." Markus tapped Connor's arm, quickly telling them. "We've got to stop them. I've got a plan. We need to split up." Connor nodded, before both Markus and Connor ran to opposite sides of the road. Dropping down into the snow, they covered themselves up quickly until they couldn't be seen. Richard grabbed Sean's arm and pulled him close, uttering out with a smirk. "Let's bait them in, shall we?" Sean sighed, whining out with an innocent pout. "Why am I the bait? They want Markus and Connor too."

Over the Com-link, almost all three of them said in perfect unison. "Because you run the fastest." Sean rolled his eyes. That didn't feel like much of a compliment. The cop car approached and slowed to a stop a few feet away. Sean tugged against Richard's grip, trying to get away. The RK900s opened the doors and stepped out. One of them asking stiffly. "What is going on?" Richard pulled Sean closer to him, causing Sean to stagger to his knees at his feet. Acting as stiff as them, Richard told them promptly. "It's alright. Stand down. I've captured the Deviant as ordered. Are you my vehicle transport back to CyberLife?" The RK900s looked at each other for a moment. Drawing their weapons, they stepped out toward them, nonchalantly retorting. "Negative. Our mission is to capture and contain the two Deviant subjects in Jericho Two. Your mission is accomplished. Hand him over. Thank you for your cooperation." Richard let a smirk cross his face, innocently telling them. "No. Thank you."

While the RK900s stood confused, Richard hefted Sean up with one arm and threw him at the androids. Sean snatched one android around the neck and kicked the other into the snowbank by the edge of the road. Swinging around the android, he forced it to arch its back as he tried to snap its neck. The android grabbed Sean's arms, about to get the upper hand from his strength... until Richard jammed his fist into the android's chest and removed its heart component. The android gasped, falling to its knees as it tried to get the part back. Richard crushed the part in his hand, dropping it before punching the android hard enough in the face to kill it. From the snow mound, Markus was fighting with the other RK900 in the snow. Richard gave Sean a nod, then rushed to help Markus. Connor bolted from the snowbank, toward the car as a voice repeatedly asked. "Team Four? Team Four, respond. Why has your car feed gone dark?" Connor dropped into the seat of the car, snatching the CB to answer calmly. "This is Team Four. Mission accomplished. We are heading to Jericho Two now. Feed is down due to the snowfall. We'll clear it when we get back to H.Q., over."

Sean peeked over the hood to see what was covering the police car's camera and grinned. How long had the quarter been blocking the camera lens? Over the CB, the woman asked them more seriously. "Team Four. Confirm. You have the Deviant listed as S34N in your possession?" Connor looked to Sean with a smirk, responding quickly. "Affirmative, Over." The woman's voice came back with a sudden dark undertone, upon saying too casually. "Good. Team Four. Wait at your current spot for further instructions." Connor lowered the CB receiver slowly, uttering out at the same time as Sean. "Oh shit!" Bolting from the car, they dashed for the snow mound beside the road. Landing beside a startled Markus and Richard with the dead android between them. Connor grabbed Markus by the back of the neck and pulled him down into the snow and Sean did the same with Richard. From the road, a soft whirling hum broke through the silence, before something shot the police car. The car exploded into firey bits, the shrapnel barely flying clear of them.

Sean peeked up over the edge of the road to see a drone trying to scan the remains of the car, and the body of the police android. Its scanning light turned from red to green, making a pleasant confirmation sound and quickly flying off. Connor lifted his head, looking at Sean with a rattled expression. No one said anything or even moved, until Richard grimly mumbled out. "We'll... I guess, this means we're walking." Markus lifted his head to look directly at Sean as he asked. "About that... Why didn't we take my car?" Connor pushed himself up onto his feet, answering for him. "Because the cameras saw that car leave the city with your friends in it. Plus, it's safer to go on foot. We'll see things coming at us better." Markus stiffly got to his feet, grumbling out. "Like you saw that damn drone, Connor?" Sean helped Richard to his feet, chuckling out. "Hey... We're still alive, aren't we? Come on. We've got to keep moving." To Be Continued...