Chapter Text
Simon had seen the newcomer before, in the early morning, through dark alleyways and the winding streets of Ferndale, ground just kissed by Michigan’s early winter frost. The ones that could venture out, did, likely wary of the stranger in the dark coat who sought out each of Jericho’s passpoints with frightening accuracy. This caution primarily stemmed from the fact that this newcomer didn’t appear to be any model of android that they currently knew of, as well as the snippets of news reports caught in the wind, speaking of the Detroit Police Department’s new asset from Cyberlife.
The newcomer was now wandering through the abandoned construction site between buildings, stopping in front of each collection of symbols leading him closer to Jericho. From Simon’s vantage point through a broken window high enough above to stay out of sight, he seemed to be scanning for a path up. The newcomer had been in his sights for a little while, first just to gauge his intentions. Now, Simon was starting to root for him, watching to see if he figured out how to get into the old parking lot on the third floor. Not a lot of deviants made it to Jericho, but this one seemed to be holding up fine.
“Don’t even think about it.” North raised an eyebrow at Simon a few steps farther away, leaning against a support pillar. She glanced noncommittally out the window, observing the newcomer with him. “We can’t risk showing ourselves right now.”
“I wasn’t going to,” Simon returned thoughtfully, watching as the newcomer moved, beginning to climb up onto a rusty platform. “It wouldn’t matter, anyway, he’s pretty much there already.”
“We don’t even know if he’s really an android.” North frowned slightly as the newcomer stepped swiftly along the wall, pulling up onto another platform higher above.
“What human moves like that?” Simon glanced back briefly, his gaze returning just as the newcomer leapt for the broken fire escape leading up into the parking lot. “He would have paused by now. Or fallen.”
“You think that’s that new detective?” North still sounded skeptical, though that was probably for the best, in case her theory was correct. “It’s what most of us are thinking.”
“He isn’t dressed like an android,” Simon murmured, taking a step back from the window as the newcomer climbed up into the distant parking lot, turning to survey the landscape before heading inside. “And he doesn’t have an LED. They’re police, not the CIA.”
“Maybe that’s what they’re expecting us to think.” North pushed off the support pillar, stepping closer to the window.
“What’re the chances they even know about Jericho?” Simon watched the newcomer weave in and out of sight between the pillars in the dim parking lot, falling silent for a second as he wandered around, seemingly trying to piece together the final symbol.
“Slim,” North responded absentmindedly as the newcomer finally stepped out of sight after a few back and forth paces. “Well, he looks harmless enough.”
“That one’s tricky,” Simon remarked thoughtfully. “He’ll figure it out.”
“He’s not a hamster,” North returned with a light laugh, prompting a sheepish huff of amusement from Simon as she stepped away into the building.
Simon lingered for a moment, looking out over the empty construction site, tinged in warm hues by the afternoon sun, before following.
The sun had just about begun creeping into the horizon when Markus reached the bridge overlooking the large, rusted ship docked by the river. The faded letters printed on the side of the freighter read “JERICHO,” though he hadn’t found what he was looking for quite yet. This supposed haven was a final hail mary, but he didn’t know what to expect. He wasn’t so naïve as to seek consolidation or pity from this little crack in the humans’ Earth that permitted androids to be alive, of course, but some part of him wished for just a drop of hope. Beneath it all was the uncertainty, the fear that this secret society had been hunted down and purged ages ago, he would enter this ship and be left with nothing but himself.
The first step Markus took upon rusted metal sent creaking shudders through the thin structure bridging between Jericho and the dock, and he retreated back onto concrete in time to watch it all crumble into a clattering heap farther below. With the clear path gone, he glanced around and found an alternative in the abandoned crane branching up and over a rusted cavity in the ship.
The metal of the crane seemed much more solid beneath his fingers as he climbed the ladder, with the occasional distant clatter in the wind. The sinking sun cast a golden glow over a canvas of fading blue, contrasting with the rising cold that came with the evening. The ground below was a distant image from the path on the crane, the dark maw of the ship less than welcoming. As he stepped before the end of the narrow path through the sky, Markus felt that bloom of trepidation that had become so familiar lately. He wouldn’t quite say he was afraid of heights, he had never had the capacity to be afraid before until now. He recognized this apprehension to stem from human survival instinct, which he wasn’t sure was entirely intentional on Cyberlife’s part. Made in their own image, he supposed. It was fitting.
Was he really going to jump from this? Just under the faint impression of there being water below? He supposed he didn’t have many other choices.
“Don’t.” The voice was a faint call, coming from the other end of the crane behind Markus, a quiet baritone that he initially dismissed as an error in his scavenged audio processor.
“Hey, don’t do that,” the voice called out again, louder this time. Markus took his eyes off the platform long enough to glance back, taking care to maintain his balance. The first thing he noted about the person at the end of the crane was the faint blue glow of an LED at the right temple. From the distance, he noted a shock of blond hair, faded letters on dark clothing spelling out “Detroit University,” and kind eyes he wasn’t sure were pale blue or gray, on regal features.
Markus turned back toward the end of the platform, though he remained where he was. Faint footsteps sounded out behind him, and when he looked back again, the stranger was carefully stepping toward him along the length of the narrow platform.
“I need to find Jericho.” Markus stood still as the stranger approached, the vast expanse of sky surrounding the crane almost dizzying when his vision wasn’t locked onto where he was standing.
“Looks like you’ve already found it.” The stranger’s voice held a vaguely cordial note, outlined in attentive caution, as he nodded toward the faded name printed on the far side of the freighter. He took a few more measured steps, now nearly standing behind Markus. “How’s your balance?”
“It’s fine,” Markus responded neutrally, still half turned toward the stranger, too wary to move. “Are you…?”
“Awake? Deviant?” The stranger offered amicably, taking another step toward him. He was just about right behind him now, the crane creaking ominously as the wind picked up for a moment. “You’re looking for others like yourself. Is that right?”
“There are others?” Markus searched the stranger’s face for an answer. His eyes, at a closer look, were an icy blue, brightened by the warm glow of dusk.
“Not many, but… enough,” the stranger murmured in response, offering the beginnings of a reassuring smile.
At the stranger’s confirmation, Markus felt a faint tinge of hope blooming within him. He glanced briefly to the rusted cavity of the ship, down into its darkened depths where he caught a glimpse of a dull glimmer he presumed was water.
“I wouldn’t take the long way down,” the stranger warned, noticing where his gaze traveled. “The ballast tanks freeze over early. It’d trap you under, if the fall doesn’t kill you first.”
“It’s barely winter,” Markus muttered doubtfully, glancing back at the stranger, though he showed no signs of planning to jump.
“It’s been a cold year.” The stranger’s eyes held an attentive yet serious quality now, as if trying to coax him off the platform. “Breaking the ice can create a whirlpool, and it’d get harder to swim the longer your biocomponents are exposed to the cold.”
Markus didn’t reply, though a hint of apprehension flashed through his expression. The stranger watched as he glanced back at the ship with a faint uncertainty.
“A whirlpool is when the water swirls—”
“I know what a whirlpool is,” Markus interjected quietly, still surveying the depths of the ship.
“Alright.” The stranger’s voice remained in that reassuring tone of voice. “It’s just, you seem like you were… more of an indoor android, is all.”
Markus remained silent, the platform in his vision steadying him when a breeze picked up again.
“Take my hand.” When Markus glanced up, the stranger had a hand held out to him across the short distance between them on the crane. “Come on.”
Markus hesitated for a brief moment before reaching for the stranger’s hand, grasping it firmly before he finally stepped around to face him on the platform. The stranger nodded encouragingly with a faint mutter of “okay,” taking a step back and guiding Markus with him as the wind swirled through the bars of the platform.
“I’m Simon,” the blond murmured, the jewel bright blue of his eyes keeping Markus’ focus as he turned slightly, carefully leading him back toward the more stable end of the crane.
“My name’s Markus.” His expression still appeared faintly troubled, his grip on Simon’s hand conveying his uneasiness, as well as his reluctance to look down.
“I’d say there are more pleasant conditions to meet in.” Simon offered a slight smile to accompany his jest, receiving an anxious huff of laughter from Markus as they continued, beginning to near the stable end of the crane.
With his focus on where Simon was leading him, Markus didn’t notice the metal pipe hanging in their path until Simon moved around it. His hand almost fell away before Markus grabbed for it in a panic, simultaneously maneuvering around the obstacle. His heel slipped against the edge of the platform, the metal shuddering precariously in protest as his balance tipped, his side banging against it as he fell. A shout of “no” tore from him, filled with such visceral panic that he initially didn’t register that it came from him. His grip on Simon’s hand tightened to a vise, the stab of fear that shot through him the moment his balance waned like the unpleasant prick of a dozen pins.
Simon nearly went down with him, just barely bracing himself against the platform in time to hold onto Markus as he dangled off the edge of the crane, over solid concrete too far below. His other hand moved to grab Markus’ arm, trying to help pull him back up.
Markus reached with his free hand, regaining the sliver of composure needed for him to grab onto the side of the platform. His attempt ended when the momentum of his struggling sent deep tremors through the metal, and he lost his grip, plunging farther down. A jolt of primal terror shot through him as he saw Simon’s hands slip for the briefest moment before grabbing hold of his wrist again.
A different kind of fear overtook him, nothing like the dread he had felt when he watched Leo hit the ground too hard, or when he reactivated in pieces in the middle of a dump. This new feeling hit him swift and sharp, widening the yawning chasm beneath him and strengthening the wind blowing through the empty space around him. It felt like he knew for sure that Simon wouldn’t pull him up, that he would lose hold and shatter onto concrete. This fear tore a hoarse scream from him, his voicebox having never been put under this much strain, laced with a deep set terror as he reached for the bars of the platform again and missed, swinging over the chasm.
“Help! Please, someone help me!”
“Hey! Hey, listen to me.” Simon’s LED was flickering, from blue to yellow, to red, then yellow again. The colors were disorienting, as was everything else. “I’ve got you. I won’t let go, now steady and pull yourself up.”
Markus looked back up to the pale blue of Simon’s eyes, the kind urgency in them that brought his focus back from mindless fear. He let himself dangle for a moment, let the swinging die down with the wind, before reaching for the platform again. This time, his hand gripped the side of it, and he finally hauled himself back onto the crane with Simon’s help. He stayed on his knees, trying to look anywhere but back down at the ground far under them.
“Come on, get up.” Simon’s voice held a reassuring note, though retained that insistence as he held Markus’ hand tighter than before. “I’ll lead you back, just focus on me and watch where you step.”
The way back was only a few feet, but felt much longer with the emptiness that waited below, and the crane’s creaking under the wind. The moment Markus stepped onto solid land again, he stumbled away from the arm of the crane, releasing Simon’s hand to lean against the central structure. The panic began to fade, leaving only the disorienting string of data flooding through his systems, sensory and survival. Before he could fully process what had happened, the creaking of the crane’s ladder interrupted whatever gesture of gratitude or apology he had, followed by urgent footsteps heading in their direction.
“Ferndale Police! Step back and put your hands behind your head.”
Markus felt a stab of dread through him, about to turn toward the voice until the officer stepped past him, gun pointed at Simon, who warily complied. A PC200 trailed behind, standing by for new orders.
“Sir, are you injured?” The officer called back to Markus, keeping her gun trained on Simon. She likely deduced already from Simon’s LED that he was an android, but Markus must have appeared human enough. It took a second for Markus to realize this, before shaking off his confusion and answering.
“No— no, I’m alright,” he began, taking a step toward them as he glanced briefly at Simon. “Wait, he’s—”
“It didn’t harm you or try to attack you?” The officer showed no signs of backing down yet, eyes still locked onto Simon as the immediate threat.
“No, nothing like that. H—... it’s with me.” Markus took another step, attempting to deescalate the situation. “I was near the edge, and I slipped.”
The officer looked back, her expression faintly unconvinced.
“I was out on a run and I climbed up here to, uh, see the sunset,” he offered with an apologetic smile. “It was just an accident, and my android pulled me back up.”
The officer remained silent for a moment, glancing between Markus and Simon before slowly lowering her gun. Simon simply watched, seeming to relax despite his carefully kept blank expression.
“Yeah, alright. Just a misunderstanding then.” She holstered her weapon and stepped back, returning Markus’ gesture with a tight smile of her own. “Sorry about the trouble, but with all the rogue android incidents lately, you can never be too careful, y’know?”
“Of course.” Markus maintained a polite demeanor, nodding cordially.
“Just, uh… stay away from construction sites next time, alright?” The officer stepped past him toward the ladder on the other side, briefly muttering something into her radio before glancing at the police android beside her. “C’mon, Dave, you can head down.”
As she waited for Dave to climb down the ladder, she briefly glanced back at Markus, who heard her murmur something along the lines of, “Weird fuckin’ choice to bring your housekeeper on a run” as she turned away.
When the officer finally disappeared into a parking lot underneath the crane, Markus felt a tinge of relief, turning back toward Simon.
“Thanks,” Simon muttered, stepping beside him. His next words were accompanied with a hint of geniality, and a glance back at the arm of the crane. “Guess we’re kind of even, huh?”
“Well, you arguably did a lot more work than I did, but yeah, I guess we are,” Markus made an attempt at humor, chuckling lightly as Simon gave him a smile and a pat on the shoulder.
“Let’s get you to Jericho.”