10:12pm- Jericho

Vera

Vera plastered herself against the wall of the Captain's cabin as soldiers rushed past yelling orders. A few shined their torches and guns through the broken windows, but she stayed crouched behind the wheel until they left.

This is where she found the body of an android.

He was lying under the desk, dusty and open-eyed. Three scratches sat over his right eye revealed the metal wiring underneath. The odd thing about him though, is that his hand sat in his lap unattached from the rest of his body. The 'skin' wasn't activated on the hand, and it began to glow as she reached for it.

"Hold it!"

She heard a gun click behind her. Raising her hands, she rose slowly and turned. A woman with bobbed red hair smiled smugly at her. A Templar band was wound tightly around the arm of her blue coat.

"Thanks for pointing it out for me, but I think I can take it from here." She moved forward but Vera stepped backwards. Towards the piece.

"You know I'm not just going to hand it to you. It belongs to the Assassins."

The woman gave her a mock simpering look.

"You almost gave it, and your life, to your boyfriend before now. What difference will it make?"

"A lot since this one isn't rigged to explode. You will never get your hands on something that can take away free will. Too easy for you. Sorry." Vera shrugged lightly.

The Templar snorted. "Then you'd better hit me with your best shot, bitch. You're not getting out of here alive whether you choose to give it to me or not."

"Cute. I love death threats. Gets me all powered up, you know."

The woman scowled, pushing the gun further forward. Vera smiled.

Just one more step…

She complied involuntarily. Vera knocked the gun out of her grasp before the Templar could react and punched her in the face.

But the Templar only reeled for a moment, whipping out her knife and slashing it through the air at the assassin.

Vera hurried backwards, careful not to collide with the servers behind her, then side-stepped as her enemy swooped the knife in an arc. She slammed the Templar's head against the desk and lunged for the piece.

But the woman was standing, clutching her head, coming after her as fast as she could. Then she feigned, diving for the gun and aiming it at Vera.

Vera moved her head to the left to dodge the bullet, pulling out her own gun and feeding the Templar two bullets to the chest.

She exhaled, relieved. Her heart battered against her ribs, and she glanced down at the piece in her hand. Laughing to herself, she cautiously left the cabin, making her way back into the freighter.

The guns were still beating through the androids left and right. The soldiers were everywhere, and Vera started to wonder if anyone had actually escaped.

She made her way back down the corridor, almost colliding with Connor, Markus, North and Josh.

"What are you doing here?" Connor demanded, eyes alight with worry.

"What do you mean? I came here with you!" Vera retorted.

"The bomb is about to explode, we have to get out of here!" Markus added sharply.

"What? What bomb? I have to find my friends…"

"There's no time," North snapped. "The bomb will explode in the hold and the ship will sink. There's an exit over there. We have to jump now!"

Vera glanced between the exit and the corridor behind her. Then at the piece. She rifled in her pocket.

"Here." She placed the silver coin firmly in Connor's hand, and then the piece of Eden. "Take this and keep it safe. I trust you."

Connor smiled slightly. "Be careful."

"I will. I'll see you down there."

"Stop!"

Soldiers were coming up the corridor, guns trained on Vera and the androids.

"Go!" Vera instructed. "Go before they catch you!" Then she rushed into the crowd of soldiers.

She slammed into the first two, killing them both at the same time. Then pushed the third's gun upwards. It went off, bringing down the ceiling dust. But she splayed her hands, and her blade pierced the soldier's stomach.

She carried on down the corridor, taking a left. It was darker down here now, but she could just make out a figure at the end, pressed up against the wall.

Vera had to stand over him to realise who it was. She gasped, feeling for a pulse. It was still there. But weak.

"Caleb? Wake up." She shook him a little, then roughly. "Please, wake up."

A couple of minutes later, his eyes fluttered open, and she laughed gratefully.

"Thank god. You scared me." She grinned. Then frowned. "We have to go. Right now. Where's Ruby?"

"Gone. She's gone," he whispered, so quiet she barely heard him. She put his arm around her neck. "Where are we going?"

"We're getting out. It'll be a jump, but we can make it." She paused, focusing on Caleb who she was half-dragging. "Where's Ruby gone, Caleb?"

"She left… Kara and Alice…"

"What happened to Luther? Caleb?"

His eyes were closing again, but they were almost at the hole in the wall. She pulled him with her right arm too, as they closed in on the jagged edge.

A leap of faith, but with an extra body attached…

Then they jumped.

The cold wind rushed past them. Only for a moment, before the boom that echoed throughout the night and vibrated the water beneath. The explosion closed off the cool air and brushed over them with excruciating heat. But they hit the water almost immediately, splattering into its freezing depths. It clung to Vera desperately as she pulled Caleb's body to the surface.

Straining, she pushed him onto the snowy dock and pulled herself up. The ship was sinking, and the soldiers were retreating. She looked up and caught sight of Perkins clambering into a helicopter. She scowled, trembling with anger and cold.

I'll get you for this!

Then she carried Caleb away.

Ruby

Ruby peered around the edge of the container watching for soldiers. But there wasn't any this side of the freighter. Not now they had other targets running from the other side.

"Come on, we've gotta get out of here," she muttered to Kara and Alice who clung to one another.

They ran as fast as they could away from Jericho. Away from the screams and gunshots. Away from the fear and the place that was once their safe haven.

But they didn't look back. Not now. They couldn't. Ruby couldn't. She'd left her friends behind, but she knew they could take care of themselves. Alice and Kara needed her more.

Right?

Their footsteps sunk into the deep snow as they ran further into the city until a huge explosion almost knocked them over.

They turned, watching the flames reach over the buildings, the night sky vibrant with the after effect.

"Shit!" Ruby cursed under her breath.

"Was that… Jericho?" Kara asked shakily.

"I'm pretty sure it was…" She shook her head. "I hope they knew what they were doing."

But Kara wasn't listening. She was staring down at the sidewalk, eyes moving slightly like she was reading something. Alice tugged on her hand.

"Is everything ok, Kara?"

"Hm?" Kara's head snapped up. "Yes. Yes, everything's fine. It… it was Markus. He said to meet at this abandoned church."

Ruby placed her hand on Kara's arm. "It's ok. Everything is ok now. Let's go, we should get off the streets and into hiding."

So Kara led the way to the abandoned church where all the androids were waiting. Hiding. They had to stop a few times to hide themselves before they finally got there.

It was a huge church, but the inside was a lot bigger as most of the seating had been ripped out. Some of the glass in the windows were smashed but ivy wound its way through the holes to replace it. The roof was missing a few beams so that they had a view of the starry night sky, even if no one felt like stargazing tonight.

Ruby craned her neck over the few hundred androids. No Luther. No Vera or Caleb.

Where the hell are they? I hope nothing horrible happened to them…

Then she spotted Connor in the corner. He looked downcast. His arms were wound tightly around himself and he was staring intently at the floor. She made her way over.

"Connor? Have you seen Vera?"

"What?" He cleared his throat. "Uh, no. I haven't seen her since she went back for her friend."

Ruby's heart leapt. "What?! She went back for Caleb? He didn't get out? Did they both get out before the explosion? I need to go back."

Connor stopped her with a shake of his head. He spoke gruffly.

"It's no use. They probably got out but if they didn't then…" He sighed. "It's my fault! They used me and I was too stupid to see it!"

"It's not your fault, Connor. But you still solved the case, right?" She turned to walk away.

"Wait! Vera did give me this." He pulled out the android hand. The piece of Eden. Ruby frowned.

"Is that the piece?" She gasped as she held it. It glowed in her hand. "Thanks for keeping it safe."

"No problem. Markus has said we'll reconvene tomorrow just in case there are more stragglers from Jericho."

Ruby glanced between the door and Kara and Alice. She handed back the piece.

"I'm going back to see if they got out. They could be in trouble," she added quickly as Connor frowned, opening his mouth to speak. He nodded, watching her carefully.

"Find Vera…"

"I will." Then she left. Back out into the city of chaos…

Ruby ran back through the eerily quiet streets of Detroit. Hoping she was going back the right way towards Jericho.

There was no way of knowing she was going the right way. The army had left, and Jericho was sinking.

But she finally saw the water and the tail end of the freighter slipping into the night sky. Taking a deep breath, she hurried towards it, using the one last hope she had left to make herself go faster.

The freighter groaned loudly as the waves crushed it beneath them. The ship was so large that it would probably hit the floor before the waves could take it completely. Ruby let out a small cry as she reached the docks. It was gone. So many androids had perished. And with it their safe place.

Ruby looked around desperately. She hadn't seen her friends on the way here, so they had to be somewhere around, hiding. Unless…

No! No, I won't think like that. They would have got out of there…

"Ruby?" A small voice called her near a red container.

She followed the voice cautiously, worried what she might find. The cold wind rushed through her, and she shivered.

Her eyes landed on Vera first, and then on the body in her lap.

Caleb…

Vera was pale, her bloodied hands turning blue beneath. Her black hair was sodden, sticking to her forehead and her neck. Ruby fell to her knees beside her, not minding the cold, wet concrete as it slammed into her kneecaps.

Caleb was pale and blue, the freezing water still soaked his clothes. His eyelashes bore fresh snowflakes on them. Ruby's lips trembled as her heart cracked. Her chest suddenly felt heavy. Everything felt heavy.

"What happened?" Ruby whispered, not taking her eyes from Caleb's copper hair. "I never thought I'd miss his grey eyes until now," she added absent-mindedly.

"He was shot. I…I don't know how long for before I found him, but I had to drag him to the exit. We had to jump into the river…" Vera muttered, sniffing.

Ruby's head snapped up. "We have to get you out of those clothes before you freeze!"

"I'm fine. We… we have to help Caleb first."

"What do you mean?"

"Get him to a hospital or something. There's got to be one open. I'm sure they'll get him back on his feet. But we have to hurry."

Ruby frowned. "Vera…" She placed her hand over Vera's. But the latter snatched it away.

"No! I'm fine, Ruby, but Caleb needs help. Someone's help. Anyone's help."

"Vera, stop!" Ruby paused, closing her eyes for a moment. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. But we have to get you into dry clothes. Caleb… he's gone, Vera."

Vera's green eyes slowly met Ruby's blue ones.

"What? But I got him out of the ship in time… He spoke to me!"

"You know he is. It's not your fault. You did everything you could… But now I have to stop it from happening to you. I can't lose you too."

Vera giggled slowly, then it turned into a laugh. Ruby frowned. And it deepened the louder Vera became.

"Stop." Ruby shook her roughly. It gripped her. Scared her. The unhinged laugh that radiated from Vera, she'd only heard once. "Let's get you up, and I'll… help Caleb, okay?"

Vera stopped laughing and nodded. She started to stumble away when she turned back to her friend who was staring at Caleb.

"You loved him, didn't you?"

Ruby didn't look up, but she nodded carefully, too afraid to open her mouth.

Yes I did…

November 10th- The Church

11:33am

Vera

Vera stared at the platform that Markus sat on, head in his hands. He'd spoken to them half an hour ago but had sat there thinking since. The piece of Eden sat in her lap, wrapped in her jacket that was now dry. The coat that had been given to her was heavy on her shoulders, and she shrugged in its layers.

Throughout the night, more deviants had joined them. Some bleeding, some without limbs and some just in desperate need to hide. They all needed guidance and advice. They looked to Markus. And he was crushing under the pressure. He told them he'd have a decision on their next step this evening. Vera was beginning to worry about what that would be.

Her eyes landed on Connor who was still keeping his distance from everyone else. He had handed her the piece without speaking, although his eyes were full of grief and guilt.

She sighed now, getting up to speak to him. Ruby gave her a sad smile.

"Connor?" Vera greeted the android quietly. He slowly looked up. "Are you okay? Or is that a stupid question?"

He shook his head. "No. It's not a stupid question… Hank might say it was." He chuckled dryly, then sobered. "I caused this. I just can't wrap my head around it."

Vera raised her eyebrows. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. I'm just as to blame, although I didn't think they would follow us."

"They didn't trust me. That I could do it on my own. Perkins had to stick his nose in!" Connor's voice became angrier as he spoke. But Vera laughed.

"You've been spending way too much time with Hank." Connor frowned at her questioningly, but she shook her head. "Perkins will get what's coming to him, don't worry. Why don't you go and see Hank?"

Connor looked crestfallen. "No. He would be disappointed."

"In you? I think he'd be delighted that you became deviant, Connor. You chose your better side." She walked away, leaving him to think about what she'd said.

Vera went back to the seat where Ruby sat with Kara and Alice. She sat down heavily and turned to them.

"Is the last bus leaving today?"

Kara nodded. "There's one last bus tonight."

"Then we'll make sure you're on it," Ruby said firmly.

8:01pm

Ruby

Markus stood on the platform ready to speak to his people. He looked tired. Sad. But determined. Everyone gathered around to listen intently to his final decision.

"Humans have decided to exterminate us. Our people are packed in camps right now, being destroyed… The time has come to make a choice. One that may very well determine the future of our people!" He paused, taking a deep breath. "I know… I know you're all angry. And I know you wanna fight back. But I assure you violence is not the answer here. We're gonna tell them peacefully that we want justice. If there's any humanity in them they will listen. If not, others will take our place and continue this fight. Are you ready to follow me?"

A dull roar echoed around the church as they cheered him. Ruby smiled involuntarily. Fighting violence with violence is futile. This was really the only option.

The church became much livelier then. Now the deviants had a purpose, something to strive for in their fight for freedom, they moved quickly. They were happier, even if it was for a few brief moments.

Androids were patched up and ready to walk again with what blue blood and spare parts they were able to salvage. An hour or so later, they were ready to move on.

Vera came over to Ruby, frowning.

"Connor's going to infiltrate the Cyberlife tower to free the androids in storage…"

"Won't they know? That he's deviant now?"

"I doubt it, but you never know." Vera bit her lip thoughtfully. "I trust Connor. I know he'll have a plan."

Ruby shrugged. "I hope so." Then she gestured to Kara and Alice. "We have to get them to the bus. It'll be leaving soon. We should leave now."

"I'm not going with you."

Ruby blinked. "What? Why?"

"I have to get the piece to the Council. Someone is going to meet me across town. Once they're on the bus, we'll meet back up and go from there. I have something I need to do in downtown Detroit." She splayed her fingers then closed them into a fist, so her hidden blade made a brief appearance.

But Ruby understood. "Who?" She asked quietly.

"Perkins…"