It was late by the time they finally reached Jericho. Daniel claimed to know the location by heart, but both of the brothers found out that he had a shit memory 20 minutes into the drive.

"It's right over there." He'd say, while Connor passed a rock he swears he's seen 50 times on that drive alone, "Try turning on the next street."

Connor was only driving because of his crippling paranoia, which made him think that he'd only be safe if he was the one in control of the car. But, far enough in, he wished he could give up the wheel and have someone else take over- even if it risked getting into a major car accident.

Nines was asleep through half the thing. Connor was tempted to leave him like that, even after they'd someday find the ship the deviants used as a base. But as they got closer, Daniel woke him up by accident.

"There!" He shouted, "It's just over there!"

"Are we there yet?" Nines mumbled shortly after.

"If it isn't, I'm going to drive into a tree."

Nine's eyes snapped open, "Can you do it when I'm not in the car?"

"Nah-"

"Stop the car."

Connor pulled over, and turned the car off.

They made it.

"Finally. I feel like I've aged 20 years."

"We made it, didn't we?"

"After 20 long years." Nines agreed, stretching a little.

"50 and single- why am I not surprised?"

"Its because we spent it in a car."

Connor put his hand on the handle.

"Wait."

"What?" He asked, obviously frustrated with having to stay in that stupid car longer than he had to.

"What are we going to do?"

He looked out the window.

"I think we need to split up."

"Connor, that's insane-"

"We'll cover more ground." He assured, "Just... look around outside."

"What are we looking for?"

He swallowed.

"Leo. We need to get him to change his strategy. If any of you find him- don't approach until we're all together."

"This is a bad idea."

Connor didn't want to admit that this was just another impulsive decision. He frowned.

"You didn't have to come."

"You aren't going alone."

He sighed.

"Okay- does everyone have a phone on them?"

They all patted themselves down.

"Check."

"Yeah, I got it," Daniel muttered.

"If something happens, contact someone else."

"Got it."

"All right. Let's go."

Then everything went to shit.

___________

Connor made sure they split up, since the boat was big enough. While Nines would check the far end and Daniel would check the center, Connor walked towards the closest part of the boat.

At first, nothing but the sound of his own footsteps could be heard. But then, as he walked closer to a specific spot, voices could be heard.

"I won't hesitate if you give me no choice."

Connor knew that voice.

He slipped into the room, gun pointed directly at his victim.

"Drop it, Hank."

The android scoffed, breaking eye contact only for a few seconds.

"Lieutenant. Why am I not surprised?"

Hank also had a gun, but was pointing it at Markus instead of Leo. Could he not find him either?

"It's illegal for you to use a gun. I suggest you drop it."

"It's illegal to help these... deviants. But I don't see you backing down anytime soon."

"I'm not a machine taking orders.'

"I thought you weren't supposed to talk to androids like that anymore?"

"Put it down. Now."

Hank lunged at Markus, and Connor finally shot his gun.

___________

"Simon..?"

Daniel was looking for any excuse to go inside after he decided to wear something that would not protect him from the cold. When he saw someone that he swore looked like Simon, he headed inside.

He realized a little too late that it was not his brother, and just another android.

"Hello?" He asked, turning when Daniel tapped his shoulder.

Fuck.

"Oh- I thought you were... someone else. I'm sorry."

He tilted his head, "Are you a friend of Markus?"

Technically. He's met him once, and it didn't and with them fighting.

"Yeah."

The android breathed out a sigh.

"Sorry if I come off... weird. I'm just uneasy around people."

"Me too, man. There's nothing to worry about."

The android smiled, "I'm glad to hear it. But I'm sure you aren't here just to talk to me."

"No, that's... I'm just here." He promised. "To help, I mean."

"In that case, can you give me a hand?"

The android offered the box in his hands, and Daniel accepted it quickly.

"Of course. Just lead the way."

__________

Nines was the one that found Leo, hiding with a group of androids that all seemed to be stressed. When he saw them, he hid behind a few boxes, and listened in on the conversation.

"We lost Camille." One snapped.

"Shut up, Adam."

Nines knew that voice. The one that was playing everywhere on TV.

The leader of Jericho.

"Shut up? She- she was apart of this group. And now she's gone, left for dead."

"That's only because you didn't kill her."

"Gavin, stop. Let me handle this."

"You wouldn't have either."

"I would've in a heartbeat if it meant protecting our people."

"Then why didn't you?"

"Shut up." He scoffed.

"You're all talk- a coward."

"I could've shot her right between the eyes!"

"But when the opportunity was given to you- you didn't! Don't criticize me for something you couldn't do either!"

"You fucking prick-"

"Hypocrite!"

"That's enough!"

They were interrupted by the sound of a gunshot. Nines perked up as well, but did nothing to give away his position.

"The fuck was that?"

"Does someone have a gun?"

"Not from what I know."

"Fuck- we have to warn the others."

"I'll find out what it is. You two tell everyone to get somewhere safe. Jericho is on lockdown until further notice."

"You got it."

Footsteps retreated.

Nines ran out soon after.

__________

Hank was dead.

Again.

"You... saved my life."

Connor pointed his gun at Markus, but the other approached. Once he was close enough, he pointed the gun away from himself, and Connor let him.

"I didn't come here for you." He snapped.

"Why did you come here?"

A hand on his shoulder.

"I-"

"Connor!"

They both turned. Nines stood at the doorway, breathing heavily.

"Nines?"

"I heard a gunshot. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure-"

"I'm fine."

When he finally noticed Hank, his expression softened.

"Oh-"

The ground below them rumbled, and he paused.

"What the hell was that?"

Nines peaked out, eyes widened.

"They're going to attack Jerchio." He muttered.

"What?"

"We have to get out of here."

They jogged out. Markus first, Nines last to make sure that Connor was out as well.

They ran into North soon after. She seemed surprised at first, but quickly brushed it off.

"They're coming from all sides! Everyone's trapped in the hold, they're going to be slaughtered!"

"There are exits on the second and third floor. If they can find them, they can jump into the river."

"How will they know that?"

"Is everyone okay?"

They all jumped. Leo appeared out of nowhere, and seemed to be more concerned than the last time he saw him.

"Peachy," Connor muttered.

"Leo, there are exits on the second and third floor. Can you tell all the androids that?"

Leo put his fingers up to his temple, and paused for a few seconds.

"Done." He finally said.

"Go find a way out. We'll meet up with you later."

At first, Connor thought it was Daniel jogging up to them. But, after remembering that Daniel came up here wearing pajamas, he realized that it was Simon. Josh was right behind him, thankfully unharmed.

"They're coming from the upper deck now too. We'll be caught in the crossfire." He explained hastily.

"We have to run Markus, there's nothing else we can do," Josh added.

A pause.

"We have to... blow up Jerchio."

All of the attention snapped on to Leo.

"What?"

"If the ship goes down, they'll evacuate, and our people can escape!"

"You'll never make it. The explosives are all the way down in the hold, there are soldiers everywhere-!"

"She's right." Connor interrupted, "They know who you are. They'll do anything to get you."

"Go and help the others, I'll join you later." Leo snapped.

"Leo-"

"I won't be long!"

"Be careful."

Leo nodded, and ran.

"We have to get to the exits."

"Wait."

Connor counted everyone off. North, Josh, Simon, Markus, Nines-

"Where the fuck is Daniel?"

Nines went pale.

"I thought he was with you."

"You lost him?"

"I didn't see either of you after we split up. I waited 20 minutes before going inside-"

"You. Lost. Him?" He repeated.

"I didn't mean to!"

"For fuck's sake!"

"You can't pin it on me!"

"I couldn't physically look after him!"

"Boys, we're running out of time." North reminded them.

"I'm not leaving without Daniel."

"I'm not leaving without Connor."

"Neither of you should get involved. You could get in serious trouble."

"I just need to find Daniel. I'll be back, I swear."

Before anyone could protest further, Connor ran in the opposite direction in search of his dumbass roommate.

Markus followed him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, though never slowed down.

"I'm coming with you."

"You don't have to."

"But I want to."

The trip was chaotic. Connor couldn't call out to Daniel, and that seemed to make everything harder. They ran through rusty corridors, avoiding the ones with gunshots echoing down them, which made it so that they didn't casually bump into any soldiers.

At one point, while running across a bridge, the floor gave out beneath him. Markus managed to grab his arm before he fell down to the floor below.

"Fuck." He snapped.

"You have to be careful." Markus explained,  helping him back on to the platform, "This ship is old- and easily breakable."

"I have to find Daniel." His eyes narrowed, "Can you see anything?"

Markus paused, his blue eye moving around while the green one remained completely still.

He pointed towards the way they were headed before the bridge broke.

"Over there, through the wall. We have to-"

Connor wasted no time in jumping across. The floor creaked,

"Connor!"

"Come on!"

Markus, with a frustrated huff, jumped across as well.

It led to a room. Inside held two people, an android and a familiar human-

"Daniel!"

His head snapped up.

"Connor! Where the hell have you been?"

"Where have I been? Why the fuck are you this far in when you were supposed to stay outside?"

"I made a new friend."

He was close to another blond android, cowering in fear.

"We have to get out of here. Now."

"We're going to get shot..." the android muttered.

"Come on..." Daniel muttered, helping him stand.

"There's an exit not too far from here." Marks informed, "Come on."

While running through another corridor, they jumped into North, Simon, and Josh.

"Simon."

"Daniel!"

"Markus-"

"The bomb's going to explode at any second. We have to get out of here." Connor snapped.

"There's an exit just up ahead."

They all ran. Connor lagged behind, keeping an eye on everyone, making see that they all made it.

They made it to a hole that led to the outside.

"Into the water!"

North took a running start before jumping into the water. Simon followed, then Josh, then Daniel, then Nines-

"Connor, what are you doing?"

It was just him and Markus.

And they were running out of time.

"I can't swim."

"Are you serious?"

"And I'm afraid of heights." He winced, and looked down, "I can find another way down-"

"No time."

Markus grabbed Connor's arm. Despite a desperate attempt to wiggle out of it, he was dragged along, and they jumped together.

They got the water just as Jericho burst into flames.