The atmosphere inside Jericho was always somber and quiet. A group of refugee androids just waiting in the dark to shut down and be forgotten. Most kept to themselves, too closed off in their own sadness to seek companionship with any of the other lost souls who found themselves here. It was a place Lynn was beginning to get used to, good thing or not. She entered the main hull of the abandoned freighter, again noting how the hopelessness hung in the air like a fog. No one had moved in her absence, most stood perfectly still in stand-by mode, others were too close to the end to move. She knelt down next to a particularly bad off android "Hey Steve, how you feelin' today?" he turned his sad eyes up towards her. Most of his synthetic skin had begun to malfunction, peeling away and revealing the damage some drunk idiots had caused. He seemed to perk up a little at her "Same as everyday Lynn. How was your trip?" His voice sounded more robotic, and glitched out every few words. "Same as always, full of daring escapes and I think I rescued a princess" She made a point to stop and talk to Steve occasionally. Most here didn't go near those who were badly damaged, too painful. They reminded them of what they would become eventually and that was too much sadness even for them.
Lynn however couldn't just turn away, there were many ways to help someone. Sometimes she could help by repairing them as much as she could, other times the most she could offer was a smile and a conversation. Steve half chuckled at her and she stood back up "I will see you in a while Steve, going to talk to Lucy". Lucy was something of an oddity to Lynn, but she respected her none the less. She had been an android meant to provide therapy, taking care of people going thru trauma and mental breaks. Now she took care of the people living here in Jericho. Her severely damaged skull and blacked out eyes only adding to the psychic theme Lucy had going for her. Contained in her own curtained off corner, Lucy stood by a fire. Her blank eyes staring, looking into the flames but seeing nothing. "Hi Lucy, I'm back" Lucy turned towards her with a warm and genuine smile. "Lynn, I'm glad you are safe" her voice again further enforced the mysticism Lucy held. It was a soft echo of a voice, almost wispy but it made you want to lean in and listen.
"I brought you something" Lynn pulled two bottles of blue blood from her bag and set them down next to Lucy's fire. The floor was covered in disconnected LED's, most of which Lynn had removed from deviants herself. She had been working to give what little hope she could to her people trapped in hiding. So far that was very little. "Thank you" her words always calming and gentle, Lynn smiled and turned to leave. Having dropped off her donation she wanted to get back to Sam, but Lucy's voice stopped her in her tracks "What happened today Lynn?". Lynn grasped for words "I…W-what do you mean? Nothing happened" Lucy walked to her, calm and knowing. She knew what would happen now, Lucy held out her hand in a silent demand for Lynn's. Reluctant but not one to deny her she placed her hand in Lucy's. She could almost feel her searching her memories, seeing her chase over the rooftops, saving Hank and her brief talk with Connor.
Not releasing her, Lucy closed her eyes to better concentrate "A deviant hunter, another lost soul. You chose to save the life of a human than to save yourself. Empathy and compassion, but also loneliness and desperation" Lucy looked at her again. She pulled Lynn closer as if whispering a secret "You are teetering on the edge Lynn, be careful you don't fall". Lucy had a way of leaving an impression, not always a pleasant one. She nodded, a bit confused and even more unsettled, and left the makeshift tent. Walking thru the big almost empty room she was intercepted by Simon, who pulled her into a tight hug "I'm fine Simon, not dead yet". Her and Simon had become fast friends since her arrival at Jericho, she enjoyed talking with him and he often sat with her, Josh and Sam. The four of them had become something of a small family, they helped look after Sam while she was away. He pulled back, holding her at arm's length "Going out alone is dangerous. We need the blue blood, but you shouldn't risk your safety to get it". She slipped out of his grasp and started walking towards the corner their group shared "Last time I checked there wasn't many other ways. Unless humans are into a new kind of charity. Can you say, "blue cross"?". She chuckled at her own joke, but he remained serious "Lynn you have to think of Sam. And me and Josh? What would we do if you didn't come back?".
She was thinking of Sam, she was thinking about all of them. Without her runs for supplies most would have shut down a long time ago. Nobody would say it out loud, but this way of life wasn't working. Something had to give, and she knew it wouldn't on its own. Most hoped and prayed for a change, but too afraid to make one. "I know Simon, but I'm back. Everything's ok." She really didn't want to talk about this, especially when she could see Sam now. He was weak, laying on the ground with Josh sitting next to him, but the sight of her made his face light up in a smile. With the help of Josh, he pulled himself up into a sitting position. He had been unable to use his legs shortly after coming to stay at Jericho. It had started as just a leak of thirium but quickly spread to effect other functions. One by one his body was shutting down the most damaged parts of himself. Pretty soon he wouldn't be able to move at all. She sat next to him and pulled him in for a long hug. She had only been gone for two days, but she had missed him. Without pulling away she spoke "How you feelin' kid?". It startled her when instead of an out loud response the message of "Same as always" came directly to her mind.
Androids could communicate like that, that wasn't strange, but Sam didn't usually speak to her this way. Especially here, there just wasn't a need. Lifting her eyes she met Josh's gaze, his sad look confirmed what she already knew. Sam had gotten worse again. He wasn't communicating this way because he wanted to, he had to. Sam could no longer speak. Lynn chocked back tears that were starting to form in her eyes, before pulling back and looking down at him. "That's good" her voice was strained from the unshed tears. She pulled her bag to her and pulled out the bottle of thirium she had saved for him "I got you something while I was gone. Drink up" She unscrew the top and handed it to him. He took the bottle but didn't drink "What's wrong?" he turned his sad eyes from her to one of the more broken androids, huddled against one of the stairwells. He didn't need to speak for her to understand what he meant. They needed it more than him, they deserved it too. "No, you drink. I already gave some to Lucy, no need to worry" he looked doubtful but drank half the bottle and handed her back the other half. She took it back murmuring about "stubborn kids".
Silence was the default for Jericho so when North, one of their fellow residents, came bursting thru the doors of the lookout platform everyone jumped to their feet. She leapt over the railing and over to their small group "Someone's here". Lynn and Josh exchanged a worried look while Simon stepped forward "Who? Another refugee?". North shook her head "I don't know, he came in the old entrance. This isn't someone Lynn sent here" Simon took a calming breath and stood a little taller "Let's be ready then". They didn't have to wait long, the creak of the walkway above them signaled the arrival someone new. They were walking slowly, exploring as they went. That's when the old rusted metal of the bridge, decided it couldn't take the strain of a body on it anymore. It groaned in protest and crumpled to pieces, sending a shower of debris down into the common area. Lynn could see the new arrival try to out run the collapse but not fast enough. It caught up and down they fell, hitting a metal beam hard on their way. A man landed with a deafening crash on the concrete ground.
Lynn's first response was to run and see if he was injured but Josh held her back. "He could still be dangerous" He was right of course, injured or not, he was still an unknown. A groan brought her attention from Josh to the fallen android on the floor. He was handsome, with dark skin and a dangerous look to him, he struggled to get to his feet. Simon and a few other curious androids stepped up to form a circle around him. He looked surprised to see Simon and the rest but not afraid, it was Simon that spoke first "Welcome to Jericho". The man turned to observe the room, his flashlight shining on everyone then back to Simon "Who are you?". It was Josh that stepped forward to answer this time, keeping Lynn next to him "Fugitives. Just like you" Lynn winced at his choice of wording for them. "My name is Josh" Lynn stepped up, ready to introduce herself as well "I'm Lynn" Simon and North followed suit.
Confusion consumed the strangers face as he looked the room up and down "This is Jericho?" He seemed unsatisfied with what he saw. He had clearly been expecting more, Lynn could understand. However, Josh stepped in to defend their meager home "It's a refuge for those who don't want to be slaves anymore". Again, the man looked concerned and confused, but also now a touch angry. As if he were insulted by the idea this could ever be considered freedom. "And hiding just to stay alive…That's freedom to you?" The words rang too true and hit too hard, Lynn turned away. She knew the feelings he was experiencing, she felt them herself so often. She walked away from the exchange towards Lucy's corner. Still hearing Josh and North defending their position to the stranger as she walked away. "Waiting in the dark for something to happen? That's not how I see freedom" Those words pierced thru Lynn, staggering her. They hit her in a personal way, she remembered her days of waiting in the dark of her work room. Waiting for something different but always getting more of the same.
A tear rolled down her cheek and she pushed her way into Lucy's room, sniffing and wiping the tears away. "Lucy, we have a new arrival" She smirked at Lynn "I know, I'm blind not deaf". Lynn took a step back with a look for mock shock and a hand to her chest "Lucy? Was that a joke?". She shook her head at Lynn's childish antics but quickly returned to serious again "Come and sit, something is troubling you". Lynn took a seat on a crate next to the fire and took a deep breath, for someone who was blind Lucy always saw right thru her. "Lucy, I feel lost. I'm grateful for the safety we have here in Jericho, especially for Sam, but…." Lynn thought of Sam and how powerless she was to help him. How much had been taken from him, when he deserved to just be a kid "It's not enough to survive, if you're not really living". No response came from Lucy, it seemed she was content to let Lynn voice her frustration in silence.
Lynn fell forward, her arms resting on her knees and her head in her hands, feeling more lost and anxious than she had in weeks. A rustle of the curtain made Lynn lift her head to see the new arrival stepping carefully into the room. Lucy stood, hands folded, in front of the fire, looking intimidating and mystical. "Are you Lucy?" She looked towards him, giving him no response. It seemed like Lucy was sizing him up before she gave a simple answer of "Sit down". He watched her as he entered further into the room, keeping a distance like she was a vicious animal ready to strike. It would have been comical to watch this man look so cautious of Lucy, if she had been in a different state of mind. "Show me" Lucy gave the request and he lifted the side of his shirt, drawing Lynn's attention to the blue stain on it. Lynn could feel Lucy's eyes turn to her, she stood and walked over to observe the wound more closely. She didn't want to make him any more uncomfortable than he already seemed to be, nodding her head towards the gash on his side she asked, "May I?". A curt nod, and she leaned in to look. It wasn't bad, a flesh wound but she could help to stop the bleeding. Given more supplies she could do better but for now cauterizing it would have to suffice. "I can stop the bleeding" She grabbed a hot metal pole from the fire, keeping an eye on him incase she needed to stop. He didn't waver, granted androids didn't feel pain, but there was no doubt in his eyes.
Finished she returned the pole to its home and picked up one of the two bottles she had brought earlier. Holding it out to him she saw a flicker of hesitation, his eyes darted to the opening flap of the curtain. Beyond the entrance you could still see Steve leaning against his wall. The look on his face was the same look Sam had earlier, the look that said someone needs this more than I do. "My name's Lynn" her statement broke him out of his thoughts and brought his attention back up to her "Markus". He drank down the contents of the bottle and stood, eyes going from Lucy to Lynn. His attempt to back away halted by Lucy holding out her hand expectantly "Give me your hand". He silently debated while he slowly lifted his hand, Lucy however quickly captured his with both of hers. The synthetic skin on both of their hands peeled away, and a moment passed as Lucy analyzed him. The colors on Lucy's face shifted and swirled like mist and her black eyes snapped open "You had it all, and you lost it all" Markus's face became stern and his spin stiffened. Lucy continued on "You've seen hell and now hell lives in you. Your heart is troubled". Lucy closed her eyes again, speaking as if she were reciting a prophecy "A part of shadow and a part of light. Which will prevail?". She took a step closer, urging him to look directly at her "Your choices will shape our destiny". He pulled back, taking his hand out of Lucy's grasp. Lynn looked on at the exchange in shock, Lucy had seen something in him, something important. His eyes darted back to Lynn before retreating from the room.
Lynn looked to Lucy, but it seemed she was in no place to discuss what she had seen. She followed Markus's lead and reentered the main area where Markus and Simon were discussing something. She was shaken by what had happened back there but had always been curious and now was no time to stop that. She approached them, inserting herself into the conversation in time to hear Markus "We can steal what we need without fighting". Lynn almost couldn't believe what she had heard. He was encouraging them to take action. Josh began to protest that they would just get themselves killed but Lynn stepped forward "Josh, think of Sam.". He glanced over his shoulder at the prone figure on the ground "We both know Sam won't last much longer, if we don't do something. And neither will many of the others". Lynn steeled her nerves and turned towards Markus "Whatever you're planning, I'm in. I can't keeping waiting" North and Simon were quick to agree as well. Josh with some hesitation turned towards her "Ok, I'm in. For Sam, and our people" She took his hand and squeezed it, reassuring him. "Ok Markus, what's the plan?"
NOTES: I am so sorry for the wait, my computer died and deleted all of my data with it. I had to retype this whole chapter again. I promise more Connor interaction in the next chapter as well. I already have it planned out. Thank you to anybody knew joining, I really appreciate everyone that has taken the time to read.