A/N: GUESS WHO FINISHED COLLEGE? It's me!

I'm so happy to not have any more exams, or classes, or clinical rotations! (For those who don't know, I went to school to be an x-ray tech!) I am now employed and have free time on my hands to write. Which I am so happy and thankful for. I missed writing so much. Hopefully I can get myself into a schedule for writing again. I remember chugging out chapters for my old Walking Dead story once a week. Let's see if I can do that.

Without further ado, PLEASE enjoy the newest chapter of Coming Home! (I do not own any of the songs Iris sings in this chapter, I just wanted her to feel like a disney princess, m'kay?)

"It should be completely dark out," Simon said. "Time to go."

"Sounds good." Iris nodded, snuffing the butt of a cigarette underneath her boot and pocketing it. "Let's do this."

"Iris," Markus interjected, "You can't come."

"Excuse me?"

Markus raised a hand cautiously and reasoned, "It would be better—I think—if you stayed in Jericho. Hold down the fort 'till we get back?"

Iris bit the inside of her cheek, contemplating. She didn't like the idea of being benched. And she especially didn't like the separation that came with staying behind. It was a risky mission; who knew what would happen?

What if anything bad happened? If they were caught, or hurt?

"You're human," Josh added. "You won't exactly keep up. We wouldn't be able to interface to communicate."

"Exactly." Markus nodded, and looked to Iris. He cracked a smirk. "Besides, you sounded like you were done exercising for the day."

Well, he wasn't wrong.

"Fine," she sighed. Her eyes looked up to Markus, her chocolate browns holding his gaze. "Just…" Her voice trailed off. She didn't know what to say.

"We shouldn't be too long, okay? It's not forever."

You don't know that. That was Iris's fear. They didn't know what they were walking into; it could be a gold-mine or a one-way ticket to CyberLife for dismantling.

"Please," Iris implored, her piercing gaze captivating him in a stare. "Stay safe. Come back as quick as you can."

"I will. Promise."

Another sigh escaped her, but she nodded. "Okay. See you when you get back."

The three androids passed by Iris and bounded up the stairs, feet pounding against the rusted metal of the boat. Markus trailed behind, slower in his ministrations. In passing the back of his hand brushed against Iris's and her fingers outstretched, crying to grab it.

But they didn't. He followed up the stairs, Iris focusing on his back until he and the others were out of sight.

She forced herself to take a deep breath. They know what they're doing. Mostly.

"I thought you agreed about infiltrating the CyberLife warehouse," a robotic voice filled the silence.

Iris's eyes found the android by the stairs, resting his back against a crate. His broken eyes—what would normally be the irises were black—curiously caught hers in a stare.

"I do," she shrugged. "I just… don't like being separated from Markus."

"You must really care for him."

"I wasn't lying earlier; he's my best friend." She slumped onto the ground beside the android, bending her knees so she could rest her arms atop them. "We've just… we've been through a lot these past few days. I'd rather be by his side grabbing the parts."

"So would I."

The words, though not spoken in malice, made Iris flinch. Here she was, complaining about her predicament, but they were in the same boat. Quite literally.

She twisted her head and looked to the android. "D'you have a name?"

"No," he replied, his voice—the sound of scratching metal against metal—making Iris internally wince. "I wasn't a family android. I worked for a company, before…"

Before some assholes tied you to a car.

Iris offered, "Well, I think everyone deserves a name. Is there one you like?"

His eyes stared into Jericho, not focusing on any particular part while he focused on an answer. "Perhaps… Aidan? I once saw it in an ad for a game before."

"Aidan it is," she smiled.

Aidan—or any of the androids, rather—weren't much for conversation. He eventually shut his eyes to conserve power, and most of the survivors on the ship weren't particularly keen on talking to a human. Iris couldn't blame them, but the heaping stone that caught in her throat when one shied away from her still hurt.

She stayed beside Aidan, precariously throwing the old tennis ball North had earlier. Thwick, catch, thwick, catch, thwick, catch.

The next catch of the ball, Iris could hear North's words floating in her ears. "Humans beat us. They break us, they rape us; throw us out when we're not useful. And one comes right into our home." Her hand stilled.

Maybe playing with the ball of the android that perceptively hated me the most isn't the best idea. So, dejectedly, Iris let the old ball roll from her palm and bounce to the ground, following it with her eyes as it bumped against one of the old CyberLife crates.

Damn Markus, she thought, setting her forehead against her bent knees. Letting me sit this one out. She hated not knowing how they were. She didn't even know how much time had passed; should she be getting worried? Were they gone too long?

Please be okay.

"You don't know where you stand," a crackled, yet ethereal voice commented. Iris raised her head. Woah…

"You must be Lucy."

Iris tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. This android was unlike any she'd seen. She wore a tattered dress, though it's not the most distinguishing feature. Her eyes were completely black, the edges of her skin by the eyes swishing with the dark pigment. Lucy was missing most of her head, with wires and metal configurations that Iris couldn't begin to understand uncovered. "Pleasure to meet you."

Lucy's hands were folded delicately into each other, and she bowed slightly in greeting. "You are confused. Uncertain of your path in life."

Iris chuckled softly. "What gave it away?"

"You miss him dearly."

She raised an eyebrow at the comment. "What, Markus? I mean, yeah, but he hasn't been gone long, I'm sure he's—"

"Not him. He, who rests at home."

Iris stared at the android, confused. Lucy continued, "After suffering a debilitating heart attack, Carl Manfred remains at home with 24-hour, around-the-clock supervision of a medical android. His son received no fatal injuries. His daughter remains missing."

Iris paled at what sounded like a news report. Her heart managed a beat. Dad was okay; he was home and safe.

"He's asleep in his bed," Lucy added. "There's a cat resting on his lap. Carl is comfortable."

"There was a picture of him?"

She gave a short nod. "Your heart yearns to go home. To continue a simple life, to take care of someone you love dearly. You could live out the rest of your days in luxury if you so choose. But," she quips, "your heart yearns for more. For something, someone else."

"I made my choice already, don't you think? I followed him here."

Lucy shook her head. "This action can be undone. You still waver. What you choose in the coming days determines your path. Will you return to your life of comfort? Or will you stand by the side of your… friend?"

In the time it took Iris to blink, Lucy had already begun walking away. Was she even walking? Or gliding? Iris wouldn't be surprised by either. Lucy felt like a prophet on earth.

"Wait—" Iris called, hand outstretched. If Lucy heard, she made no efforts to acknowledge it. The android continued forward, behind the curtain where Markus met her.

Iris sucked her teeth, staring at the curtain. She hummed a soft, "What the hell?" What does one make out of a conversation like that?

Aidan's LED glowed softly, his eyes opening a crack to meet Iris's. "That's Lucy for you."

"Does she always speak in riddles?"

"That's what she was programmed for."

Iris couldn't tell if he was teasing or not, so she playfully bumped her shoulder against his. "Oh, shove it, Aidan. I thought you were asleep."

Was that a smile on his face? "No need for hostility, Iris. I'm simply answering your inquiry. I awoke to help."

"Pish, posh, mister."

She stuck out her tongue at him teasingly, and stood from her spot. Her legs were getting stiff from the position she was sitting in, and if she was honest she needed a change of scenery. "I think I'm gonna head for a walk, check out the rest of Jericho."

"Be careful if you're venturing on higher levels. Some structure is unsafe."

"I'll keep that in mind," She smiled, her nose crinkling with the movement. "Be back soon."

Taking Aidan's advice, Iris decided to head into the deeper parts of Jericho. The boat's interior was masked in darkness, and before she left the main section she lit a torch from a barrel—Markus and the others took the flashlight—before beginning her descent.

She didn't quite know what she was looking for; she just wanted to move. To let out her anxiety in what could hopefully be a successful mission. Maybe she could get some of Jericho in working order before they returned.

Trekking in the dark, Iris hummed to herself, "Into the Unknown, into the unknown!"

The acoustics of this boat is astounding.

"Into the un-KNO-OH-AHOOOWN!"

The caterwauling reverberated through the empty air, and Iris laughed. Fantastic.

"Okay, okay. What's my goal?" What would she do to keep her mind occupied? "Could try to start the heat! See how Jericho works." As she traveled through a three-way corridor past an unlit lamp, she paused and brought her torch up to the base, letting a small flame transfer into the glass's wick. Maybe try the lights, too. Should be in the same place, right?

Find the control room. Set up heating.

With the plan in mind she ventured further into the boat, torch held proud to light her way.

Clunk!

Iris stalled. She didn't make that sound.

Her eyes peered through the dark, searching. She didn't make the clank; either the boat was creaking—which, to be fair, could happen—or there was someone on her trail.

"Hello?" She called to the darkness. There was a chill in her spine, like at home when she could feel Monster's eyes but couldn't find him. "Who's there?"

The quick swish! that followed after came from behind her. Iris spun swiftly, holding out the torch for extra visibility. Looking through a three-way corridor, she searched for a figure on either side. "Please come out, I know you're there."

"S… sorry." Sounded young.

"Can you come out? So I can see you?"

"Okay."

Out the left hallway came the child from earlier. It was much easier to distinguish their features, now that they were so close to Iris. The human's eyes softened. "Hi there, kiddo. What're you doing?"

The kid's eyes—green, almost like Markus's—found hers. Her heart hurt at the fear she found in the wide pupils. "You're the first human I've seen in months. I just wanted to know what you were doing."

The child gave a half-hearted shrug, the blanket wrapped around their shoulders following the movement. Their eyes broke from Iris's gaze, instead focusing on some scraped metal lying in a heap. She couldn't tell whether the child had more fear or hate in the creases of their forehead. Either way, they were discontent.

"I see," Iris replied. She tried not to stare at the scratches on their cheek. Might be some road rash. They could've been in a fight before they came to Jericho.

"Well, I have a mission." She continued. With kind ease she knelt on one knee, holding the torch out. The close flames cast shadows between the two. "See, it's pretty cold here. I was hoping to get the heat going before the others came back. Maybe even try to get some lights. Do you think you could help?"

"If you want to find the control room, it's back that way," they jutted their chin to the left hallway. "Up a flight of stairs."

Iris smiled endearingly. "Sounds like you'd be a great asset in my mission. I could use a hand if you'd like to help."

"I don't help humans."

The reply sent a jab of ice into Iris's chest. The smile faltered, but not for long before she set it back.

"I understand. If I was in your place, I wouldn't want to, either."

She really couldn't blame them. They were hurt by her kind before; they had battle scars to prove it. So, instead of letting her heart full of ice fester, she stood. "I'm going to keep trying to find that control room. Do you want to head back to the group?"

They shook their head.

"Okay. Well, you're free, kiddo. Do whatever you'd like."

The child stared at Iris with curious eyes. She felt scrutinized, unsure to stay or go. Instead, she said, "My name is Iris. Do you have a name?"

Again, the child shrugged. "Not really. I was called James, with my old family."

"James, huh?" It was as good a name as any.

They nodded. "Mama and papa really wanted a boy. They said when they would have a real son that's what they'd call it."

Iris didn't know how to respond. "Well, James is a good name."

"Not good enough," James's eyes flew downcast, and Iris frowned. Now, that, she understood. Sadness. Pain. Being cast aside for a "real" baby must've hurt. Not being wanted always left the worst scars.

"Your old family sound like jerks, James. You're with much cooler people now."

The jab at their old family brought a smile to their face. "Heh. That's true. Josh is really nice."

"Exactly. Josh is the coolest." She smirked. "And if you don't want that name, choose another. You can choose whatever you want."

Choice. Free will. If they had it, flaunt it.

"So, to the left and up the stairs?" Iris jerked her neck to the left corridor.

James nodded. "It's a big room with lots of equipment. Can't miss it."

"Have you tried it before?" She meandered through the hall, steps slow to keep conversation with James.

"I've walked there, but never tried anything. I'm too short to reach the panel."

"Gotcha. Well, thank you for the directions, James. I appreciate it." She stopped, giving them a smile. "I'll see you with the others when I'm done."

"Well…" James faltered. Internally, Iris raised an eyebrow. "I guess I could keep you company. Make sure you don't get lost. It's a big ship, and I know it better than you do."

"I can get lost easy. If you want to stay, the choice is yours."

James nodded. "I'll stay. Keep watch on you."

Iris barely held back a snort. "Of course. It's a very important job." With James in tow, she took the left and began the journey to the control room, the only sound being the echoes of their footsteps. The door that lead to the stairs was only a few paces away, a large hatch in the middle acting as a doorknob.

"Actually…" James stalled.

"Yes?"

"Could you…" They looked to the ground sheepishly. "Could you sing again? It's too quiet."

Iris's smile grew at the request. "Of course. I'll pick a nicer song this time."

With one hand, she turned the hatch of the door for the stairway, and began another song.

"Where the north wind, meets the sea.

There's a river, full of memory…"

"I wish I took my science classes more seriously now."

"You don't understand it?"

Iris looked at the panel before her, the buttons and unlit switches far more intimidating than she'd like to admit. "Uh, no. It's not really my expertise. You really didn't play around with it last time?"

"The panel's too high for me."

"Well, shit…" She hummed under her breath, then paled. No swearing in front of a child! "Uh, maybe we can find a manual or something?"

The two went to work—James in control of the torch because they wanted to be useful—searching through the cabinets and desk drawers for any indication of a guide book for the enormous boat. Great. Nothing.

"Found something!"

Oh, James, you freaking RULE!

"Awesome! Can I see it please?" Iris grinned. James handed her the book—thick, hard cover filled with thin pages. When she set it upon an empty section of the panel and flipped through her eyes burned at the insanely tiny printing with only the flicker of the torch. The pictures helped, though.

"Okay, let's see…" She mused. "First things first: let's see if we can get this sucker on!"

Get Jericho running, get the heat on. Should be easy enough. Right?

James shimmied the blanket around their shoulders with a free hand, watching her think. "Says here that… this section, I think? Should be the main terminal…" Her hand hovered over the left, determining which lever exactly would work. What more harm could she do, right? Jericho was already falling apart, what's the worst that could happen?

Well, she was sure she could manage a lot of damage, but didn't want to entertain the thought.

"Here goes nothing!" Iris flipped a lever, wincing in preparation.

The mechanical whir reverberated through the panel, and Iris pumped a fist in the air. The lights in the room clicked on, bulbs bright white. The engine in front of the panel—separated from the room by a large wall of glass—chugged proud, grey smoke billowing from its pipes.

"Oh, hel—heck yes! We RULE, James! We did that!"

Iris felt a pride swell in her chest; she couldn't believe she actually got the boat on. Her eyes gleamed when they met James; the kid was smiling too.

Good. They deserved to be happy.

Iris held a hand out to them; an offering for a high five. They laughed—a gentle, quiet huff—and finished the motion. Hell yeah!

"Alright, the heat."

Iris searched through the pages—this time much easier in the bright lights—and found the heating system's section. She couldn't understand much of it but managed to identify the levers in a section of the control panel to ones in the book.

"Alright, here goes!" Iris flipped the switch, expecting some response from the motion like before. Maybe some sparks, or a bang, or some loud whirring—but nothing followed. "Ah, man."

"No heat?" James looked to her, hopeful eyes dimming.

"Don't think so, kiddo." She flipped it back and forth, wrist cracking with the whip of motion. Dead. "But we got the lights, at least! Some progress."

James nodded silently in agreement.

"Let's head back to the others, then. I think that's enough excitement for one night."

At least on her end. Hopefully Markus and the trio would be back soon.

"A truckload!" Simon announced. "We stole a whole truckload!"

If Aidan's components were correct, it was about half past ten when the androids returned; about a dozen new ones decked out in CyberLife gear trailing behind Simon and the rest. Oh? New recruits?

Iris's gaze met Markus's in the bright lights and flickering fire from the barrels, both smiling proud for their night's accomplishments.

"We got biocomponents for everybody!" Josh exclaimed jovially.

North was even smiling. "And we couldn't have done it without Markus."

Markus offered a shrug in return, not wanting full credit. Iris wondered; if he could blush, would he? She'd bet money on yes.

"I came to Jericho, because… here, androids are free." He said. His eyes trained at the crowd around him, old friends and new staring as he continued. "Free to live in the dark, hoping that no one finds us. Free to die in silence, waiting for a day that's never going to come. But I don't want that freedom."

His voice sounded so clear, so certain. Iris was impressed.

"I'm not gonna beg for the right to smile." His eyes flickered to Iris's for a moment, and she nodded encouragingly. He continued, "Or love. Or stand tall. I don't know about you, but there's something inside me that knows," his voice boomed with certainty, "that I am more than what they say."

"I am alive! And they're not gonna take that from me anymore. Our days of slavery are over. What humans don't want to hear—we will tell them. What they don't want to give, we take. We are people. We are alive. We… Are free!"

The crowd of androids erupt into cheer, and Iris grinned. She gave a few booming claps to match the excitement, but silently pulled away from the crowd as they moved in towards Markus.

Guess she'd have to give him space. For now.

Instead she searched for the truck, a few androids already hopping into the back and handing out new biocomponents and bottles of blue blood. Iris could cry. These people had another chance at life because of Markus's bravery. Or stupidity. We'll see, she thought with a grin.

Her eyes scanned through the dozens of crates, looking for one that matched with Aidan's serial number. He was a regular park service model, so it wasn't too much trouble. The weight of the crate was too much for just her, though, and Simon ended up holding the other side to bring it close enough.

"What'd you need, Aidan?" Iris crouched to the crate and flipped the top open. "It's an all-you-can-eat buffet."

He let out a gentle laugh. "I'll take one of everything, Iris."

"Then go to town! We have more than enough." Her eyes flicked to Josh's by the truck. "Any chance we have some for the kid models? I'm sure James could use a new part or two."

"Think so," he replied with a grin. "C'mon."

The pair grabbed a crate and set it beside the bonfire where Iris first saw them. James eyed the sterile-white box in concern.

"See this?" Iris pointed to the serial number on the side. "That matches your serial number. You could have new parts, if something isn't working right."

James scooted closer to it, and a hand gingerly grabbed the top. With a push—and some help from Josh—they managed to open the crate. James grabbed a part off the top. Component #2041.

"Do you… need help putting it in?" Iris looked to the part, caution in her voice. She didn't want to overstep.

James looked up, a glint in their eyes. "You aren't like the others, are you?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means…" They set the component—a small, white circular piece that Iris had zero clue about—into her hand. "You care about us. You're not like my old family."

"Last I checked, I thought we both agreed your old family was full of jerks." She smiled to them.

"I just thought all humans were just like them."

"Well, I like to think that everyone, human and android alike, are all different." Iris sat on the ground beside James, flipping the component between her palms. "Your blood is blue. Mine is red. But those differences don't make any of us undeserving of love. Or kindness. Or—well, you get the idea."

"Yeah. I do."

James pointed to the component. "That helps regulate my simulated breathing. It goes into a port in my back. I would like it, if you helped me."

The grin on Iris grew, and both set to work on changing out the component. It was fairly easy with two people working on it. Once James was all set, Iris went to work on helping Aidan. New audio regulator—his voice was smooth as honey in its natural tone.

"Who else needs help?" She asked. Josh whisked her away to a new android.

An AC900. A simple detachment and reattachment on a left limb.

And an AJ700, thirium pump. Seven seconds; out and in.

Then a GT100. Extra thirium for its system.

The next one needed help setting an optical component. Iris grabbed the necessary component from a CyberLife container and stood, ignoring the pain set in her lower back.

She turned, component still in hand, and found herself face-to-face with Markus.

"Oh!" Iris barely sputtered. "Hey there, new protector of Jericho."

Markus gave her a smile. "Hey yourself, nurse Jackie. I'll take that from you."

"What? No, I can handle this. The SR300 over there just needs help resetting her right optical unit, and then the—"

"Iris?"

She pressed her lips in a thin line. "Yes, Markus?"

"What time is it?"

"I, uh…"

His hands unfurled hers around the component. "It's 3:53 AM."

Iris blinked. "Oh. Guess, ah, that would explain the heavy eyelids and crook in my back."

With a gentle grasp, Markus set the component atop the CyberLife container behind her, setting his hands back to hers. "How about you get some rest? I think you've done plenty tonight."

Iris shook her head. "No, they still need—"

Markus's grip on her hands tightened. "There are seventeen androids in pristine condition now, thanks to your help. You got the lights on in this place. And gave them some warmth and comfort. You have done plenty for them. Please take care of you."

She couldn't argue with that. Since she had stopped her rush to help, she could already feel exhaustion setting in. If she held still long enough, Iris could feel her limbs growing heavier by the second. How long had she been awake?

"You may have a point," she offered weakly.

Markus let out a low chuckle. "C'mon," he let her hands drop and set a hand around her waist, ushering her close to a lit barrel. "Take a nap. You'll feel better in the morning. Or, later today, I guess would be more accurate."

Iris let herself laugh weakly. The warmth did feel better. And she could already feel her eyes beginning to droop. She settled her weight on the floor and scooted close to the barrel in an attempt to mooch off its surrounding heat.

"Should've brought a blanket," she murmured. The barrel offered comfort, but it wasn't a strong enough spread. The cool metal of the ground wasn't exactly comforting, either. "And a pillow."

Beggars can't be choosers. It'll have to do.

Iris was pulling her knees to her chest—fetal position equaled more heat, right?—when she felt a shift by her shoulder. And another body settling in behind her.

Iris flopped onto her other side and stared as Markus scooped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"No," she lightly protested. "You don't need sleep. You could still help them."

As she spoke his arm shifted Iris's weight so her head would be resting against his chest, able to hear the thirium pump beat in her ear. "I may not be your android anymore, but I'm still your friend. There's nowhere else I'd rather be." His other arm settled itself around her waist.

He was so warm.

"Markus…" If Iris wanted to fight, Markus effectively shut her down. The feel of his arm around her waist, his thirium pump beating beneath her, the scratch of his stubble against the top of her head already put her at ease. And he was so, so warm. "… Fine…"

The grip around her waist tightened. "Better?"

She set her arm around his middle and slumped one of her legs between his, effectively setting her body weight in an even distribution between the floor and Markus. The arm around her shoulders shifted, effectively cradling the back of her head.

Iris let out a low hum into his chest. "Perfect."

"Then sleep," Markus said, staring down to her mess of hair sprawling around his chest. "I'll still be here when you wake up."

"Promise?"

Without a second thought he leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Promise."