Impactful Complications

The entrance to the Zephyr's bunker was hidden away behind several large metal crates. The door itself looked heavy—definitely made from solid steel. Even still, Zephyr pulled it open effortlessly and stepped aside to allow Neph to enter.

"After you," he said dryly.

Neph did just that and walked through the opening, stepping onto a narrow staircase that descended downward into darkness. He took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting.

If he hadn't asked his digital assistant Magni to search for the building permits on this place, he probably would've never known about this room. To think that such a structure had been hidden underneath the workshop this whole time… It was amazing how easily secrets could be kept when you lived in a secluded area. No wonder it had taken so long for the girl to turn up on his radar.

Alas, it would all be over soon.

The staircase ended at a large room filled with boxes and shelves full of supplies—canned foods, water bottles, blankets, and medical kits. There were also several weapons neatly organized along one wall, including an ancient M1911 pistol.

"Quite the arsenal you've got here," he commented as he walked around. "Still some holdovers from when The Bygone was just starting up, I'm guessing?"

"Pirates didn't care about what you had to say unless you were pointing a gun in their face." He didn't elaborate further. Neph already knew what he meant.

He idly responded as he started checking the perimeter of the room. "True. But this is a lot for just self-defense, isn't it?"

"We're not here to discuss what's on my wall. Just finish this up so you can leave. I've got things to do."

Neph smirked as he saw Zephyr glancing around the room nervously while saying that.

"Is this really everything?" he asked, shuffling around more boxes. "There aren't any other secret passages hidden anywhere else, are there?"

"No. This is it. You're just wasting your time."

Neph shrugged as he continued, knowing he would prove the old man wrong. However, his smile dropped as the minutes stretched on turning over the entire room. There wasn't anything he could notice out of place.

Damn. That could only mean he'd missed the girl somehow.

That would complicate things, but it wouldn't make things impossible.

"…I suppose that concludes my search."

With a sigh, he turned to face the older man, already focused on what he'd have to do now.

"Thanks for cooperating with me, Zeph. Apologies for the inconvenience though. Didn't mean to scare off your new daughter—"

*THWACK*

In the blink of an eye, a fist hit him at high speed. It connected cleanly with his jaw and sent him sprawling to the ground and into several crates.

Neph groaned as he picked himself, rubbing his aching face.

The punch itself hadn't hurt too much, but he was surprised that it had enough power to cleanly knock him off his feet. He'd underestimated Zeph.

"D-damn. That was a good one. Sometimes I forget that you went through gene therapy yourself. Perks of being the elusive father of the modern field, right?"

"Stop running your mouth and get out of my home."

"Yeah, well. I was going to do just that before you sucker-punched me."

"With the last thing you said? Cut the crap. I know you're still convinced I'm keeping someone here. You're going to continue bugging me."

Neph felt the corner of his mouth twitch as he stood up.

He really needed to stop letting such careless words slip out. He was still sloppy in that aspect.

"Okay, fine. You got me. I'm still suspicious of you. However, can you blame me? This Audi, she matches the description of Audra almost completely. Literally the only thing different about her was her hair length and a couple of scars."

He gestured at his own arm.

"Those bionics she has too, they're a perfect match for the ones that the missing girl was supposed to have. You don't find those just anywhere, though you would already know that, don't you, Mr. 'Prima Life?'"

Zephyr stayed quiet.

"You took in a complete stranger and decided to help her. To hide her. Why is that? Why would you risk so much for someone you barely know? Is it because she reminds you of Callie—"

*THWACK*

"I said shut it!"

Neph caught the punch this time, but only barely. Zephyr's voice dropped to a dangerous tone as bone creaked.

"Audi isn't a stranger, Nathan. She's like family! More family than I've ever since I lost them!"

A part of Neph's heart dropped despite the half-admission.

He squeezed tight around the man's fist, making him wince.

"Family? Come on, Zeph. You can't possibly think that after only knowing her for a month or so."

Zeph barely held himself with gritted teeth.

"Don't you dare tell me how I feel. You lost that privilege once you desecrated Ash!"

Neph's annoyance grew.

"Desecrated her? Really? I was just stating the truth."

"You literally spit on her grave! My wife's grave!"

"Better than what she deserved for taking the coward's way out. How can you justify that after how much you suffered for her and Callie? Being sad is no excuse to leave you behind, even if you couldn't save—"

Zephyr jabbed him in the gut.

"It was my fault for not noticing, not hers! I failed both of them, Nathan. That's why I'm here!"

Bone creaked as Neph's grip tightened around the man's hand in retaliation.

"Making excuses. Do you have a soft spot for selfish people? Guess that explains things a little more though. About why you took in another coward that needs a reality check."

"YOU need a reality check, Nathan! Audi's had to live through things no one should ever experience! She needs someone to support her!"

White sterile walls suddenly echoed in Neph's vision, then an entire childhood of fixing flaws just to live. Zephyr's kind face, running tests in a clinic, regularly checking that there were no life-threatening mutations in his heart, all as his mother's health continued to decline.

His strength started to slip.

"…But what happens when that illusion cracks? You can't play pretend 'family' forever. It'll only fuck her up more in the end!"

Zephyr kneed Neph backward off-balance, forcing him to let go.

"All I am doing is helping Audi out, just like I did for you."

Neph exhaled through his teeth as he refound his footing.

"Zeph, you're not seeing the full picture. Audra still has family unlike me! Her parents might be gone too, but she's got a granduncle that's concerned for her—a man named Cassian Gen. He's been worried sick about her you know! Not like the cowards you and I had as family!"

Zephyr clutched his fists, and Neph immediately tensed up. He looked ready to throw another punch. However, the old man just looked him in the eyes.

"Nathan. I've already told you that you have the wrong person. I can't tell you anything about some missing girl because Audi isn't this girl. Get that through your thick skull."

"Zeph. You can't honestly expect me to believe that. The odds are just too unlikely. Those bionics are the same upgradable models as those Audra had. It's not impossible, but—"

"But nothing! Get out of my home. Now! You've overstayed your nonexistent welcome."

Neph stared him down before sighing deeply. A quiet voice at the back of his head urged him to just attack and take the old man down—get him to admit things through a beating.

However, it was quickly quelled.

Neph couldn't fault him for wanting to help someone in need. In fact, it was a bit refreshing to see the same kindness that had been extended towards him all those years ago still present, even if it was severely misguided.

"Fine. I'll go. For now, at least. But I'll be back, Zeph. You know that, don't you?"

Zephyr didn't respond at first. Instead, he turned around and began walking back towards the stairs.

"Just go. You can shut the bunker door on the way out."

"…See you later then, old man. And tell Audi that she can't run forever."

Once again, he was ignored.

Neph followed behind Zephyr and nursed his cheek, watching the silver-haired man ascend the stairs. He closed the door like requested once back outside, then afterwards, he left the shop.

On his way back to his truck, Neph briefly thought about reporting Zephyr for assault. However, given how little damage there was and how much the old man was known for helping The Bygone, it likely wouldn't go anywhere.

Besides, he was technically trespassing when it'd happened. The contract he had wasn't one that gave him jurisdiction to search buildings or homes. It was just an individual recovery contract taken off company time.

Neph took out the key fob and unlocked the truck door.

Once inside the cabin, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. There was nothing more to be done here. At least, not yet.

"…" However, that didn't mean he was out of options. He'd already planned for this unlikely outcome with the contingency he'd enacted at the beach with that handshake.

He paused, trying to piece together a new course of action.

Perhaps there was one thing he could try. His payout might not be as big, and he'd have to involve an unwitting pawn or two.

However, it was his best option.

He'd have to wait a while. Let everything cool down a bit first. But once that was taken care of and the pieces were in place…

Neph shook his head as he drove away.

So much for not making things complicated.