A/N: Here we are again. Who is the mystery man? Well, you'll find out. This time, hopefully, we'll get back to the games.

...

"Now, tell me why you're looking for me…." I said maliciously. Who was this guy and why was he looking for me?

"Is that any way to greet family? Nephew, I taught you better manners than this." Wait….Uncle? What the fuck?

"Who are you really? I don't believe you, tell me something that only my father knew." I said as I loosened my grip and turned him around to face him. When I did, I could already see the resemblance to my father, he looks like his brother, but I can't place him.

He looked at me and smiled, a genuine smile, "I remember your father meeting your mother, Claire, even though he cheated on his wife with her, I still remember the day you were born."

I clenched my fists as I looked him in the eyes, desperately searching for a lie. When I couldn't find any, I released a breath I didn't think I was holding. "The problem is I don't want to believe you, but when the truth is said, it hurts Uncle." I'm still paranoid, so, me stressing about it, means I'm trying to accept it, but I'm still skeptical. "After all this time, why does he care now? He never cared about me, he never spent time with me, so why should I care? Better question: Why are you here?"

Uncle Drew, yes I remember his name but I don't ever speak it explained, "He has always cared for you, but him being busy and pulled into multiple projects spread him too thin. He only wanted to get to know the son he never got to see. Your adoptive mother was actually my wife, your Aunt. We never told you because we wanted you to have a semblance of a normal life."

Claire put a message on the console screen, so I flicked my gaze and my jaw dropped. It said, 'It's true, I never did get to see you, and Drew here, helped me raise you when I couldn't.'

My face hardened, then I pulled my contact out of my eye, showing my Uncle what happened. "You see this, Uncle? You see what my former squad did to me?" He didn't answer.

"If you truly know me, then you know the pain and suffering I went through, that Serena went through. I lost my eye Uncle, and it was given back to me years later. Where the fuck were you hmm? Helping my dear old dad? What about this?" Pointing to the room around me, "What about Claire? She's an AI who knows me, and expressed her motherly tendencies, when did she do that? Where were you when I needed you?" I took a deep breath, Wraith put her hand on my forearm and I unclenched my fists that I didn't know I was clenching. "And how do I know this isn't some ploy? What insurance do I have that this isn't some hallucination? WELL?!"

Uncle didn't say anything but instead hugged me. He whispered, "I've been looking for you for years, I wanted to see the boy I tried to raise be the man I wanted him to be. I came looking for you. Your father doesn't know I'm out here. I intercepted the notification that this placed was entered by a Hammond. So I came straight here. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you. I can only ask for forgiveness. I know it's a long road, but I'm willing to do what it takes to be a part of your life. If you'll let me. Austin, I'm only asking for a chance, that's all. I'm sorry you had to suffer through all those things." I looked at him in confusion. "Austin, I knew you were a spy, but I didn't want to see you killed. I couldn't imagine you being killed, it would break your father's heart." He sighed out. I can't really stay mad at him, but he wasn't there.

The joke was there, so in order for me to lighten the mood, "You're saying my dad had a heart?" I smirked.

Uncle Drew chuckled, "He does son," He then turned around and typed something into the console. "Those should be the files you are looking for, grab them when the transfer is complete. I know you are in the middle of the Apex Games, which the ring is closing soon, so I'd suggest you take your girlfriend and go."

Heat rose to my cheeks while Wraith chuckled, "She's not my girlfriend."

"Not yet. I hope to see you soon Nephew." He whispered

"Maybe you will. We'll see." I said softly back.

With that, Uncle Drew walked out of the room, leaving Wraith, Claire, and I standing in the room. "Well, that was an unexpected feels trip. I didn't even get parents permission to go along for the ride."

Even though I'm joking, Wraith can sense the hurt and sorrow in my voice, "Austin it will be better, right now, we should grab the files and head back. Okay? When we win, you know what we'll be doing." She smiled that smile at the end and I knew I was in for it.

Trying to hide the blush in my cheeks I faced her, "Shouldn't you be excited that you might finally have some answers?"

"I am, but it doesn't seem like the moment to be excited, especially with all this." She said as she waved her hand around the room, "going on, I didn't want to ruin the moment."

Claire now spoke up, [Touching moment, but the file transfer is complete. There are no tracers or trackers on the files. Take it and go you two. I'll be fine.]

Turning to face the console, I took out the drive and stashed it, "I'll come to visit you someday soon." I whispered, not loud enough for Wraith to hear, but the console lit up with, 'I know.'

Wraith and I left the facility, her with answers, and me with a heavy heart. I didn't ask for this, but I was glad to have some form of closure. I may have to visit my father and confront him if I can even get close to him. I assume most people don't know my relation to him.

"So, Wraith, how many squads are left? Should we be worried?" I asked since, after all this, my mind is scattered.

"There are 4 squads left, 11 people, and the ring is closing in 30 seconds. We have to make it back up before anyone notices our disappearance." She stated with authority and confidence.

Wraith had to use another portal to get us to the cliff side and before she left, I made sure she had her gloves on to climb. The portal was made and I went through it. It was still as trippy as the first time, but this time, one of the 'clones' was close enough for me to reach out and touch. I almost was able to make out her face but the 'clone' went away and I stepped out of the portal reaching for the rocks. It took a second of freefall, but I gripped it tightly. I looked down, had I been a fraction of a second too slow, I would have fallen far, and that does not seem pleasant. I made haste to climb up, not wasting any time trying to get back inside the safety of the ring. I don't need to feel that prickling pain. When I got to the top, Wraith pulled me up and nodded in thanks for the gloves. I knew she would need them. I half-smiled, my heart is still heavy from the info dump.

"Didn't you detonate the Thermite on the door? I thought you would have already?" I asked, walking to a building that was still somehow untouched.

"Since that's where your mom is, I decided not to damage her, and that will fade with some time, maybe a week or two." She explained.

I pondered my thoughts and the one thing that stuck was how my Uncle said 'girlfriend'. Sure I like Wraith, but am I that obvious? I thought I was doing a pretty good job at hiding it.

"You aren't though, I see the way you look at me, and I can hear your thoughts." She said, out of nowhere. How? "You forget when I enter the Void, I have the ability to hear people's most forefront thoughts. Your mind is the closest and the one I wanna listen to." She said with a small blush. I chuckled at her embarrassment, thinking about how cute and downright adorable she looked. She then scolded me for thinking of her that way. I thought it was the truth. Once you get to know her, she isn't that bad.

"I'm not that bad Spring," Wraith said with obvious sarcasm.

"I mean, you can be, but it's grown on me. I can get used to it." I muttered back. She slapped my chest playfully and started to laugh. That's a sound I can't wait to hear more of, well, there is one particular sound I want to hear, but that's later.

She hit me harder in the chest, scolding me, and catching me by surprise and I had to filter my laughter. Even on the battlefield, I was still as playful as I once was and I missed that. I used to be so energetic, but then everything happened, "Get your mind out of the gutter Spring, we have a match to win."

I nodded and started to move from window to window when a shot rang out. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor, bleeding from the abdomen. I can't seem to catch a break here.