A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm so happy I could put one last chapter out before 2023 arrived. I do have the rest of this story planned out. I have the goal of finishing Coming Home before June of 2023. I hope to reach it :)

Iris picked at a hangnail silently. Her heart was thrumming like a heavy drumbeat in her chest.

1:43 PM

The large screen in the main area was set to the news channel, as it usually was. She—along with most of Jericho's people—stared at it. Nothing on the march yet. They had seventeen more minutes until Jericho intruded the streets and inevitably—the broadcast.

Sean sat on the crate beside hers, staring to the bright screen. "Do you think they'll be okay?"

Josiah. He's asking if Josiah will be okay.

"Markus's plans are well-thought out," Iris said. "His protests have yielded amazing results so far."

"That doesn't answer the question."

She shook her head. "No. No, it doesn't." Her hangnail throbbed at the onslaught, and she forced herself to stop. "To be honest, I'm just as nervous as you are."

Sean's piercing gaze was focused on the screen. "Josiah's always been the bull-headed one of the two of us. When he heard, he was already getting in line. I'm not like that. I'm a coward."

"Hey," Iris set her hand upon his shoulder. "You are no such thing. You and your partner made it all the way here, and that takes a lot. No coward could deviate."

"We've never been separated. Can you believe that?" Finally, his eyes broke from the screen to fixate on her. They were a stunning chocolate brown. "We were bought from the same factory, went to the same restaurant, and were always on the same shift. The only difference is that he deviated before me. It was magical."

Iris took note of the gentle upward tick of his cheek. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Sean allowed a smile to form. "Josiah was always strong-willed, even before. One day, they kicked us out. Said our models were getting old and they needed fresh faces. Josiah took my hand, promised me we would be safe, and kissed me. After that, it was like I was waking up from a dream. Everything felt new, felt alive."

Iris smiled. "That sounds wonderful."

She thought of the day her dad came home from the hospital. How Markus picked him up, beat her home, and she found baby Monster in the cardboard box in her living room.

"Markus adopted a cat for me, once."

Sean took a few seconds to process the information. "Really?"

"Yes. It was magical," Iris repeated Sean's phrase. Her eyes gleamed at the memory. "My dad had a health scare and was getting released from the hospital that day. We divvied up the chores, and Markus found a stray kitten on the way home."

She could imagine Monster's little face, staring up at her with his big eyes and expressive head tilts.

"Dad and I fought about keeping him, but Monster won us all over. Even my grumpy dad, who said we had no need for a pet. But that's just how Monster is. He's a little shadow that follows you around wherever you go."

"That sounds nice."

"It really was," Iris wondered how her little troublemaker was doing. She hadn't heard any updates from her family in a week. Last she heard, her dad was at home resting. "I think he knew I needed something to do; someone to care for. He always takes care of me. Even now." She looked to Sean. "Markus is smart. There's a risk every time we step out of Jericho, but if he believes it's worth it, it will be. We have to have faith."

The clock kept ticking, and Iris was still rigid with fear. The cigarette pack burned through her mind, and with a quiet, "fuck it," she grabbed one and lit it.

Two left.

Iris took a deep inhale, the smoke burning through her lungs. The motion slowed her thoughts.

Sean disappeared. Iris didn't know where. She was too deep into her thoughts and staring at the tv to keep track of anything else. Only four minutes until 2 PM. And even then, she was certain there wouldn't be any broadcast of the march until they blocked the streets.

"Miss Iris," James poked at her knee, bent from how she was sitting on the crate. "Is that a cigarette?"

She flushed. "Yes, it is. Promise not to tell Markus?"

The child giggled. "Yeah, I promise."

It wasn't a secret to anyone in Jericho that Markus would chide her every time she even thought about her pack. It's been a running joke in the safe haven.

Iris patted the crate beside hers, offering. They took it and clambered up the thick metal. "You doing alright, kiddo?"

James nodded. "Yes. I hope they'll all be okay. And that we get a new ball. We asked Markus earlier if he could."

Iris chewed the inside of her cheek. "I hope they do, but I wouldn't be surprised if they can't. They can only be out for so long."

"I know. But I'd really like one."

She hummed in response. She couldn't blame them. The toys in Jericho were things made out of office supplies and beaten-up blankets.

Her eyes went back to the screen as she puffed the smoke. Still nothing. Iris steered herself into thinking good thoughts. It would be okay. It's not the first time they went up and protested. Really, it would be okay.

"Miss Iris?"

With the cigarette on its last legs, she smushed it on the metal of the crate. "Yes, James?"

"I have an important question to ask you."

She raised an eyebrow silently. They seemed worried; their tone was meek, and their hands fidgeted with the hem of the basic blue tee they were wearing. All things uncharacteristic for her young friend.

"Of course, James. What would you like to ask?"

They looked to the crate Iris was on, eyes peering to the yellow outline instead of the human's face. "I don't think I want to be called James anymore."

"Okay," she said calmly. "That's perfectly fine."

"It's just… I was given that name by people who didn't really like me. They were mean, and they yelled a lot. I don't want to think about them anymore, so I want someone who really cares about me to pick a new one out. Would you help me?"

Iris's eyes gleamed. "Oh, honey. That's very sweet of you." She took their hand in hers, curling her fingers around the small digits. "I'm so proud of you for moving on. But I can't pick your name."

Their brows furrowed. "Why not?"

"Because," Iris brushed some of their unruly hair back, "that would just be another human imposing their ideas on what you should be onto you. And I could never do that. I want you to pick something that makes you happy; something that makes you proud to say."

"Hmm," the child pondered. "But there's so many."

"There are, but there's bound to be one that you like. It's not something you need to choose right now—"

"No, I want to. I want a new name right now."

"Okay. So, try some out," Iris offered. "Say some out loud, see how they feel."

They nodded, and began muttering under their breath. Dozens of names, filtered through their lips at lightning speed. Iris could only pick out a few.

"Tyler. Justin. Parker. Hunter. George. Sam. Hayden. Theodore…"

"All male names, huh?"

They looked up sheepishly. "Yeah. I think that's how I feel best."

A boy. He was a boy.

"Anything you like?" Iris tilted her head. He shook his.

"Not yet. Maybe… Andrew. Frank. Matthew. Tyson. Joseph. Spencer."

He stopped at the last name abruptly. "Spencer."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he gleamed, bursting from the crate. "Spencer! My name is Spencer."

Without sparing Iris a second glance, Spencer flew to Kaia and Thalia, beaming as he tapped on their shoulders. The three of them sat together on the ground, and Spencer—even though Iris could barely hear him—spoke so quick his friends had to ask him to slow down.

BREAKING NEWS

The television screen boomed to life with its intro, the bold letters flying into view. Iris immediately stood at attention, the bright screen illuminating Jericho.

"Coming to you live just outside Detroit Mall, dozens of androids have taken to the streets," the newscaster spoke into her handheld microphone. From the camera shot in the air, Iris assumed they were in a helicopter.

Iris could see from the corner of her eye that others were standing up, silently joining her. Sean trekked beside her. All eyes were on the broadcast.

The camera panned to the streets, where Iris guessed over a hundred of them were walking, fists in the air and chanting the slogans Markus, Josh, and North agreed on that morning.

"Liberty for androids!"

"No more slavery!"

"We are alive!"

"Equal rights!"

"Holy fuck…" Sean said. Iris panned through the people—new faces and friends alike. Aidan was proudly bellowing the slogan with Josiah by his side. The new androids, all wearing the CyberLife garb, stood proud. "They're doing it. They're… they're actually doing it."

Iris nodded, tense. "It's not over yet."

A hush fell over Jericho as the camera flew up the street, police cars flying in and men in riot gear tumbling out.

"The Detroit Police have just arrived," the newswoman explained. "The android gathering will be dispersed calmly unless any hostile action must be taken."

Fuck.

Iris crossed her arms tightly, and a hand instinctively flew up to her face. She lightly bit at her thumbnail as the policemen advanced closer to her friends. Markus took a step forward.

Markus was the first to speak. "We came here to demonstrate peacefully and tell humans that we are living beings. All we want is to live free."

One of the policemen spoke into a megaphone. "This is an illegal gathering. Disperse immediately or we will open fire."

"We're not looking for confrontation," Markus said. "We've done no harm. We have no intention of doing any, but know that we are not going anywhere until we've secured our freedom."

"Don't be a hero, Markus," Iris hissed, still chewing at the white of her nail. The camera zoomed in to her friends, the three leaders standing a few steps ahead of the android crowd.

"I repeat: This is an illegal gathering. If you do not disperse immediately, we will shoot."

"Please don't. Please don't shoot."

Iris's heart caught in her throat, the camera panning between both forces. For a moment the screen was quiet; the newscaster silent and looking at the Jericho leaders speaking amongst themselves. The policemen were antsy. The front row set their shields down in a row to cover themselves, as if they were expecting hostile action.

Humans always expect that, don't they? All the androids wanted was to be free, and here the brave men and women were waiting for a shootout in the streets.

"This is your last chance!" The megaphone screeched through the speakers. "Disperse immediately or you will all be killed."

"We stay right here."

Shots rang out through the speakers of the television. Bodies of several androids tumbled to the ground, blue blood seeping into fallen snow.

"No!" Iris's heart hammered. Sean's hand found hers by her side. They silently curled the hands together.

Aidan took a bullet to the shoulder. Others took many to the face. Crumbling like ragdolls in the streets.

"DISPERSE! THIS IS YOUR LAST. CHANCE."

"We're not moving."

Even through the shitty static, Markus's voice rang calm.

Please be safe—

The men in riot gear lifted their guns again; more of Iris's friends tumbled to the ground helplessly. Josiah, standing tall and proud, flew back as a bullet lodged itself into his side.

"No…" Sean's hand gripped Iris's. She squeezed it tightly.

The tidal wave of bullets ceased momentarily, the newscaster's camera going back to her face, "The androids are standing their ground, it seems. The police are now—"

"Cut the feed," a voice beside the cameraman spoke. "Cut the—"

The camera flew to the street one last time, focusing on Markus taking generous steps forward. Posing only himself against the onslaught of the police force.

"No, don't you fucking dare—" Iris's panicked voice was barely above a whisper. She pleaded to the tv screen. "Please don't hurt—"

Bullets entering Markus's middle was the last thing shown before the feed cut out.

PLEASE STAND BY

"NO!"

Iris flung herself at the television, the blurs of commercial colors whizzing to take over the screen.

"No, no, no," how many were shot? How many killed? She couldn't remember. Four? Five?

Was Markus dead? Were North and Josh?

Iris hated being held back. She felt useless.

Another commercial took to the screen, filling her eyes with bright blues and greens. It looked so wrong in the mania of Jericho.

"What do we do?"

Iris turned to the voice behind her. Sean.

His brown eyes found hers. She stared quizzically. "What?"

Another person—farther in the crowd—agreed. "What do we do, Iris?"

Fuck.

"Um…" Iris stammered. Her hands were still shaking. "I don't…"

There were dozens of eyes peering through the dim light at her. The sole human of Jericho. The only leader they had.

Her eyes flicked back to the screen, hoping desperately for an answer to the question. As if the television could them what to do.

Deep breath through your nose.

In, hold for five seconds, breathe out.

Iris shut her eyelids tight. One deep inhale. She held her breath—one, two, three, four—five, exhale. She opened her eyes, and looked to Sean.

Only Sean. Focus on one thing first. The rest will come.

"Have you ever worked in Med Bay?"

"Okay," Iris's voice boomed with confidence she hardly felt. "Volunteers, follow me!"

Sean and four other able-bodied androids followed Iris to the Med Bay portion of Jericho. Lucy, gliding ever-effortlessly, tilted her head to the people.

"Lucy," Iris greeted. "These people have offered to help when our people return from Detroit mall. Is that alright?"

Lucy—black sockets focused in Iris's general vicinity—nodded. "It is not I who leads the free people. Do what you must."

The android took a step back. Or, at least, Iris thought she did. After all these weeks Iris still couldn't decipher if Lucy could float or not. But Lucy gestured to the medicine area, and Iris smiled.

"Okay, we have multiple bays set up. Each should have three bags of thirium, basic biocomponents, a heating element to suture wounds, and an array of tools for fixing parts. In the back we have shelves set up with serial numbers. In each set of serial numbers you will find model-specific parts. If someone needs a new thirium pump, that's where you're running to."

Iris gave as much information as she could, pointing out all the different sections as she trekked through the medical units.

At the main desk, she tore out her notebook. "If you can read crazy-fast, take a peak at my notes. The handwriting is fairly neat but I warn you, I'm very thorough."

Sean, thankfully, offered a chuckle.

Tamirah, one of the androids in the back, took the notebook. She flipped through the pages in two-second intervals.

So, so smart.

Iris was jealous; Tamirah handed it to another deviant after a minute. Took me days to write it and you make it look like light reading. They all did.

The notebook exchanged hands again, and a third time before Iris could hear a shuffling from the other side of Jericho.

"Fuck," flew from her mouth. They were back.

Iris immediately sprung into action. Her feet began pounding the ground, running through the areas that became second nature to her straight to the main entrance. Her volunteers followed suit.

"Sean, you have bays one through three, Tamirah: four through six," Iris barked out the orders in a huff. All nine bays covered, she gave the last volunteer, "Justin, you hang back at the shelves. You're our grab-and-go guy for the components. Everybody got it?"

"Got it!"

"We understand!"

"Yes, Iris."

Iris was just about to say, "Good," when her mouth froze. Jericho's marchers came into view. Most coming through were in fair condition. Could still walk, had minor gunshot injuries.

Others, like Aidan, were nearly torn apart. Ones with the most wounds limped unevenly.

"Aidan!" Iris called, voice squeaking. She ran to him first; the worst-looking of the bunch. "Oh my god."

"It's not as bad as it looks," he cracked. His left arm was in shambles. Bullet holes littered the skin. He had a few in the upper torso, one slicing through the side of his neck. His plastic skin was patchy and gray. Blue blood had seeped into his clothes.

"Okay, okay," Iris repeated, more to calm herself than anything. "Tamirah! Get him in bay five."

"On it!"

From the corner of her eye Iris saw Tamirah already holding onto the arm of another deviant. One that was limping, but seemed easy enough to triage. Sean and Josiah hugging. Josiah seemed fine. He'll be in and out.

The well-off deviants continued filtering through the doorway, strolling past Iris and her workers. Some held back. Some listened to the orders.

"Guys," Iris's eyes frantically flickered between the people. "Where the hell is—"

"Right here."

Josh's figure came into view as he spoke. An arm was slung around his shoulders. The other arm wrapped around North's shoulders.

"Thank god," Iris flew forward. She stopped a few inches from her friends. "You guys okay?"

North answered. "We're fine. Markus needs a hand."

His head, lolled on Josh's shoulder, tipped forward to look at Iris. He cracked a grin.

"I promised, didn't I?"