Third Chances Is For Everyone

Audra loitered on the edge of the truck bed as she waited, her legs swinging like a pendulum, sending a pebble skittering across the gravel with a kick. Another gust drafted against her skin, prompting her to pull her coat tighter around her slender frame in rebellion against the cold.

There wasn't much else she could do. Her beloved teddy bear and personal effects were finally packed securely, and the electric bike was as secure as she could get it, even if packing them had been more difficult than she'd thought—her bionics were strong, but the rest of her body certainly wasn't.

She palmed the key fob idly as she caught her breath, turning it over in her hands again like it was a riddle she couldn't quite figure out, then he pressed a button, prompting the click of the lock and the hum of the electronics. The cool metal was oddly comforting in her palm, though she was still surprised that she'd been handed it all. For all Zephyr knew, she could've been a thief or worse.

Oh. Wait, she was a thief, wasn't she? Albeit an unintentional one.

Her stomach churned. She'd hand-waved freeloading stuff from the container, but now that someone was paying the literal price for her screw up, it felt way worse. To think that she would still be making life miserable for others, all because she hadn't used her damn head.

She'd read about this island in passing when researching where to go, but she'd never delved deeper than the basics of what the Bygone was—an artificial island made to handle recycling on an international level funded by several countries: the States, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea, among many others.

It was honestly a crime how stupid she was.

"Shit. The bad thoughts are back. Come on, think of something else."

She scanned the discarded materials that surrounded her in some poor attempt to distract herself.

Where did this junk come from—what stories could they tell?

There were probably countless tales of joy, sadness, and everything in between within these stacks of scraps, not to mention the thousands of different containers scattered throughout the yard.

In a way, it was just like home.

Maybe that was part of the reason that drew her here a week ago. All this junk was like her—here for a past reason that nobody else really knew about. Sure, it was a bit boring, but at least she didn't have to worry about being bothered or dealing with people trying to 'help her deal with her issues'. It was just her, the scrap, and the endless sky overhead to keep her company as she figured out what to do.

She sighed, her breath fogging in the cold air. She said that, but she still had no idea what was next for her. Perhaps she had been too naive in thinking that she could figure things out as she went along. After all, she had no money, no social skills, and no real friends or family left. She was a stranger in a foreign land, and now, with winter just about here, she wasn't sure if she could even survive the cold.

Though maybe that wouldn't be so bad. At least she wouldn't have to deal with the pain anymore.

"!" The sound of footsteps crunching gravel suddenly snapped her back to attention.

Zephyr was here, his dark grey hair tousled in the wind, and his silver eyes gleaming with a wizened expression that was difficult to read, despite the fact he was probably in his twenties.

"Seems like you've got everything loaded up," he said, nodding at the truck.

"Y-yeah," Audra replied, trying to keep her voice even.

"Alright, come on then, get in the passenger's seat. I'll drive you to wherever it is that you want to set up."

Audra just looked him up and down. She still didn't know what to think.

"…About that. Are you seriously going to just help me and expect nothing in return? This seems a bit too good to be true."

He sighed, resting his hand on the truck's roof. "The world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, but that doesn't mean there isn't good in it. Just consider it my way of welcoming you to the Bygone."

"…" Her parents had always told her not to get into vehicles with strangers when she was little. However, she'd already loaded up her stuff, hadn't she?

"Fine. But don't think that this means I owe you anything."

"You don't, and I won't hold anything over your head. Now, come on. Let's go find a spot for you to settle in. Time is ticking."

He got into the truck, and after another bit of indecision, she did the same, settling into the worn leather passenger seat as the interior lights started with a low murmur.

Soon they were driving through the maze-like paths of the scrapyard. Overall, the ride was quiet, and Audra found herself unable to do much other than spectate.

It wasn't too long until they'd found the exit and the truck rolled its way down the winding roads by the coast. It was a desolate, but clean view of the cold waters of the Pacific.

"So where are we going…?" She asked, breaking the silence that hung between them.

"Up to you. Just point wherever you want, and I'll drop you off and help you set up."

"I um, appreciate the drop off offer, but I can set up on my own."

"Considering how well your bike-Tetris game went, are you certain about that?"

Ugh, Tetris? Ancient gamer much?

"I'll have you know that I'm a decent camper. Done it over a dozen times before."

"Okay, I'll take you at your word. But it's going to get dark soon, and if you're not set up by the time the sun is down, things can get cold—like near zero cold."

"I told you, I'm fine. In fact, just drop me off here. I can find some driftwood for a fire to keep myself warm."

"Wait. Seriously? The beach?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"The tide is going to come in and soak everything overnight. That's not even mentioning how rainy things can get there."

"Then uh, just take me to some abandoned warehouse or whatever I can use."

Awkwardness settled between them as they leaned into a turn and Zephyr cleared his throat.

"Ok, I may have an idea that isn't doomed to immediate failure if you'll just hear me out. I have some extra space at my workshop. I'll be honest, it's not the most luxurious, but it'll keep you warm and dry, and it comes with electricity and water."

"Staying with you all alone…? I've read enough stories to know that this is the part where you tell me that there is a catch. What is it? You want my bionics as payment? My body?"

"WHAT THE HELL? No! Listen here, kid—"

"Already told you, my name is Audra. Not kid."

"Force of habit. Anyway, Audra. The only thing I expect in return is that you don't make a mess of the place. You're young enough to be my—"

Zephyr suddenly caught himself, and his expression flickered with an unreadable emotion.

"Your what?"

"Nothing. Just… look, if you don't want to take me up on the offer, that's fine, but think carefully. It's clear that you have no idea how to survive by yourself."

"T-that's not true! I've been doing good so far!"

"Was that why you were squatting in that container? Because you were doing good? Face it, I don't know what happened to you or why you're here, but you clearly need a place to stay, or at least until you figure things out."

Audra's hands clenched into fists. Despite how young Zephyr looked, he almost sounded like her dad.

"I'm not some charity case."

"My goodness, is your head this thick? I'm not trying to be a charity. I just don't want to let to freeze to death!"

The scenery passed them by in a blur of blues and greys as the heat settled between them.

"Sorry, I just… I don't know what to think anymore."

Zephyr sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"It's your choice. I won't force you to do anything. But if you're willing to trust me, I promise that you'll have a place to stay and warm meals."

Audra clenched her fists. She hated being like this—powerless, helpless—but that didn't change her current reality. It was either take Zephyr's offer or try and fend for herself out in the open, but considering the tiniest bit of insight Zephyr had already given her, she had a feeling she would just be setting herself up for suicide.

"…Okay." She relented. "But only for a little while until I can find somewhere else to go."

"Fine by me. I'm not going to be the one to kick you out. Third Chances is for everyone. Even me. Even you."

"What did you just say?"

"My shop's motto. Why? Something wrong with it?"

She considered her words before settling on something inoffensive.

"No, it's just… interesting I guess."

***

They drove for a while longer, and Audra propped her chin as the landscape shifted from empty fields of grass to a town-like cluster of buildings. Even beneath the moonlight, it was clear the houses here were rather strange in comparison to the States—somehow the wacky North-West had nothing on this. Like, they didn't match in architectural style at all, instead existing as an odd mishmash of old and new like they were straight out of a sci-fi film set.

"Do you live in the boonies or something…?"

"How dare you. I'll have you know that the place I live in is a perfectly respectable association."

"Sure doesn't look like it. What even are these houses? It's literally all domes."

"Oh, those? Most of them are prototypes. They were from some company trying to build moon habitats about three decades or so ago."

"…Seriously? Houses for moon habitats?"

"Yeah, they were all anyone could talk about back in 2081. Of course, there's only like ten habitats in total, and even that's a stretch. Eight are for research, one is a tourist trap, and the last one is a private estate that's not open to the public. Not exactly the cities in space that everyone wanted."

"You talk about this all like you were there in the 80s."

"Yeah? I was about forty back then."

Auda squinted. Forty? Zephyr looked about the same age as an average college student, smooth-shaven and everything, with the only dated thing about him being his sense of fashion—like seriously, a black leather jacket?

"That's total bull crap. That would make you around 77 years old."

"Pretty much. I was born in 2040. You can call me an old man and everything if you'd like."

"Do you think I'm stupid…?"

"Why do say that?"

"Because you can't actually expect me to believe that blatant lie. Like, have you seen yourself in a mirror? Assuming that you really are that old, how come you look so young?"

"That's the thing with the Bygone. There's tons of weird stuff from all around the world that ends up here. Just count me as one of them."

"Nice non-answer." She deadpanned at him, drumming her fingers on the armrest. "Now try explaining it again, but with an actual reason this time."

"It's a long story."

"Well I'm not going anywhere. Just lay it on me and I'll happily humor you. Like, did you get anti-aging treatments somehow? Is that what you want me to believe?"

"Maybe, and that's all up to you."

"How though? All those treatments do is stop aging and maybe reverse it a tiny bit."

"Eh, technically, the results depend on the type of therapy you get. Biogenetic rejuvenation can do much more than skin-deep."

"Pft, is that an intellectual challenge I sense? I'll have you know that I'm rather informed when it comes to these things."

"Really now?"

"Yeah, like I know those kinds of biogenetic therapies weren't even invented until 2100 or something. That's only 17 years ago!"

She smugly basked in trapping Zephyr in his lie. Obviously, biogenetics wasn't her expertise, but her curiosity had taught her more than enough to best most.

Unfortunately, Zephyr ruined the moment with a chuckle, as if he was humoring a toddler with an out-of-date encyclopedia.

"W-what's so funny?"

"Just some corrections for you. The tech has actually been public since 2091. Plus, you're forgetting that the development of technology typically predates its public release by years or decades."

"Yeah, okay, but still, even if anti-aging therapy was theoretically in development when you were young, no company would just give that away. How would you get access to it?"

"…Can't really say. It's a secret."

"Of course it's a secret. What? Were you some kind of criminal or something? Ran an underground lab?"

"How about we drop the questions? We're almost at the shop."

Audra crossed her arms to amplify her displeasure and pout.

"Y'know, I'm still not buying your explanation."

"You don't have to buy anything. You don't even have the money for it."

"…Did you just make a joke?"

"Perhaps. Lighten up a bit, will you? Life's too short to be so serious all the time. Especially with how young you are."

"Whatever."

She stewed until a weathered building crept into view over a hill. It was a two-story, cube-like structure with a small sunflower garden out front, painted walls made of concrete, windows framed with a sleek, silverish metal, and a slanted roof covered in solar panels.

The truck rolled to a stop in the building's driveway.

"This is it," Zephyr said. "My humble abode."

"Humble is definitely the right word to describe this."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"N-nothing."

"Well, in any case, can you help me unload the truck?"

She begrudgingly tore her gaze from the quaint building and nodded, grabbing one of her bags and slinging it over her shoulder.

From there, they worked together in silence, carrying her belongings and the handful of other things he had picked from the scrapyard into what she assumed was the house's workshop.

It was a spacious, well-lit room, with rows upon rows of shelves filled with various items. Multiple power tools and other equipment lined one wall, and a long wooden workbench dominated the center of the space with a large square of hazard-tape on the floor next to it. At the far end of the room was a door that seemed to open into the rest of the house—overall, cluttered yet strangely organized.

"Well, welcome home. Or at least for now."

"Yeah… thanks."

"Don't mention it. Anyway, lemme just give you a quick tour. Come on."

The way he just got straight to the point was definitely something, but Audra just nodded, cautiously looking around the place as she followed the uniquely strange man.

At least it was better than the container so far.