Jericho {Detroit: Become Human}

{Jericho} - Chapter 2

Jackie stayed behind in the manor while Markus, North, Simon, and Josh went to go get the supplies for the androids. 

She sat on the couch as she swung her legs, reading a book in her lap. Jackie watched the androids roam the house until she decided to walk around a bit herself. 

She went upstairs as she thought of Achilles. She remembered his death clear as day, although she thought he was sleeping. 

(Flashback)

"Grandpa! Grandpa, come play chess with me!" A younger Jackie called as she ran up the stairs with her teddy bear held tightly in her arms.

"Grandpa!" Not having any luck in finding Achilles upstairs, she ran back down the stairs and into the living room. 

"There you are, Grandpa! Play chess with me!" Jackie said as she found Achilles, sleeping in his chair with his hat over his head. 

Or so she thought.

"Grandpa! Grandpa?" She raised her small hand to Achilles' arm and shook him. When she did that, Achilles' head tilted downwards while his hat fell onto his lap. 

"Grandpa?" Jackie repeated. "Grandpa, wake up. Play with me, Grandpa. Grandpa?"

The little girl continued to shake her grandfather awake, but it was useless for the old man has left this world.

(End of Flashback)

"I'm stupid... for thinking he was sleeping." Jackie told herself as she hugged her teddy bear to her chest; It was a birthday gift Achilles had given her. 

But now, it was just a reminder of her grandfather. With the stuffed animal in her arms, she knew she could never forget Achilles. 

Jackie went into the old man's bedroom, memories of her and her grandfather flooding her mind. She attempted to walk towards the bed until she tripped over the carpet.

She gave a small scream as she went down, then whimpered when she made impact with the floor. "Ow..." The child mumbled as small tears came to her eyes. 

As they opened, she spotted a chest of some kind lying beneath the bed. Jackie reached towards the chest, grabbed it, then pulled it out from under the mattress. 

"What is this?" The little girl asked. She opened the lid of the chest and saw money in there. There had to be $50 to $100 million dollars in there. 

"Wow..." Jackie whispered. "A truckload!" She heard Simon announce. "We stole a whole truckload!"

"We got biocomponents for everybody!" Josh chimed in. Jackie left the chest on the bed and grabbed her teddy bear, quickly running down the stairs. 

"You guys are back!" She cheered in both relief and happiness. She hugged Simon's waist, in which he gently hugged her back. 

"We couldn't have done it without Markus." North said. Jackie looked at him as he took a couple steps forward. 

She went over to him and hugged his waist as well, expressing her gratitude. Markus hesitantly placed his hands around her shoulders, seemingly hugging her back.

Jackie broke away from the hug and smiled at him.

"I came to Jericho because... here, androids are free. Free to live in the dark, hoping that no one finds us. Free to die in silence, waiting for a change that's never gonna come. But I don't want that freedom. And I'm not gonna beg for the right to smile, or love, or stand tall," Markus announced.

"I don't know about you, but there's something inside me that knows 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 wanna hear, we will tell them. What they don't wanna give, we take. We are people, we are alive... WE ARE FREE!"

Jackie looked around as the androids triumphed, agreeing with Markus' speech. "Simon..." She said, getting slightly frightened.

"Don't be afraid, Jackie," The android assured the child. "You have nothing to worry about."

"I don't mind what Markus does. I just don't want to be alone again. Please... will you stay with me?" Jackie asked.

Simon kneeled down to the girl's height before hugging her. "I'll still be here." He said. "Will North still be with us, too? And Josh?" She asked.

"They're not gonna leave either." Simon answered. "No one's leaving you, Jackie." Markus said as he stepped forward, making the two of them look at him. "Do you promise?" She asked. 

"I promise." He said. To make sure she could trust him, she held out her pinkie finger. Markus extended his hand and entwined his pinkie with hers, making Jackie smile.

"While you were out, I found a chest with money in it," Jackie mentioned. "Will it be enough to fix Jericho?"

"How much is in there?" Josh asked. "A lot. It's upstairs in Grandpa's bedroom." She said, leading him upstairs. 

North, Josh, and Simon followed behind them until they reached Achilles' room. Jackie picked up the chest she had left on the bed and handed it to Markus. 

"How much is in there?" North asked. Markus analyzed the money before giving his answer.

"$100 million. Maybe even more."

"That's probably more than enough to fix the manor," North said. "Nice find, Jackie."

She praised the child by gently petting her head, making Jackie smile. "So... I did good?" She asked. "You did great." Markus said, smiling back.