"You're father?" Nora asked, squinting at the girl in front of her. The blonde girl nodded; she looked to be in her 20s with tan skin, freckles, and a body that radiated strength. Charlie nodded, watching Nora's face, "Yes, my father. His name is Miles Matheson." Nora let her breath out as she pushed away from the bar. "Yeah, yeah, I knew Miles," she said, her mind reeling. Across the bar, a portly man shouted for a refill; Nora gave Charlie an intense look and rushed over to refill the man's beer. She then ducked into the kitchen and announced she needed someone to cover the rest of her shift.

Once her backup had settled in, Nora walked around the bar to Charlie. "Charlotte, I think we should speak in private" she gave Charlie a small smile and tugged on her arm. Charlie finished her last bite of stew and followed Nora out of the Astoria. Nora led Charlie a few blocks away before entering a big brick building. It was sparse, clean, and filled with sunlight from old industrial windows. Going up several flights of stairs, Nora pushed open a sliding metal door and said, "make yourself comfortable." Charlie set her pack down and looked around the large flat. It had plenty of light, wooden furniture that seemed somewhat curated and a very good-looking blond man sleeping on the couch. Seeing Charlie's surprise, Nora said, "don't mind Bass; he got here last night and seems to be sleeping the day away."

Charlie had to work to avert her eyes from his form. He seemed tall, with curly hair and skin darkened by the sun. Even prone, Charlie could tell he was strong as his chest steadily rose with each breath. Looking a Nora, she said, "you wanted to talk? What do you know about Miles?" Nora suddenly looked tired and said, "take a seat. I will need to wake Bass up for this talk too. And we will need drinks." She walked over and nudged Bass with her foot, saying something Charlie couldn't make out from her chair at the table. Bass stirred and blinked at the blond at the table; even half asleep, he could tell she was a genuine beauty, not his type but still, a looker. Nora set three glasses on the table, jolting him from his musings. She poured whiskey into the glasses and said, "you both came looking for the same man, and I'm here to tell you why looking for him will get you nowhere."

Nora began, "It started after he got a letter from his brother. I'm not exactly sure what the letter said, but it deeply upset him." Charlie frowned. Her Dad had not mentioned writing Miles, but she hadn't given him a chance to say much on the matter. Nora continued, "Miles started to say worrying things about the Patriots. He would rant for hours about how the blackout was planned, that the Patriots did it to take over the United States" she shook her head as she poured another drink. Bass kept his face blank, not liking where this story was headed. The girl beside him seemed stressed - he wasn't sure what her connection was to Miles, but he was intrigued.

It took Nora the better part of an hour to finally share that after getting on everyone's last nerve, Miles disappeared into the night. Closing her eyes, she said, "he was screaming, saying that we would all wish we'd listened to him and that he wouldn't take this lying down." Charlie looked at the liquid in her cup. This would be her third drink today; she had never had more than one at a time before this afternoon. She downed the glass and reached out for a refill. Looking at Nora and then Bass, she said, "he wasn't crazy. The Patriots did plan the blackout; it was all plot to remake the world in their image." Hearing her words, Nora's mouth dropped, and Bass mumbled how he knew those khakis were assholes. Charlie turned to Bass and extended her hand. He shook her hand as she said, "I think we have a lot more to talk about, including that Miles was my father. Who were you to Miles?" she asked, trying not to get distracted by his extraordinarily blue and stormy eyes.

Shit. That was the first thought that went through Bass's brain as he shook Charlie's hand. "Matheson? Your mother's name is Rachel Matheson, isn't it?" he asked, fully knowing the answer was yes. He saw it now; this girl was a mini-Miles. Charlie nodded, waiting for an answer to her own question. Bass pushed his curls back, "I knew your Dad Ben and Miles from our childhood. We grew up next door to each other. Hell, I was there when your parents got married. I even babysat you once or twice." He saw Charlie's eyebrows shoot up; he smiled and added, "you've grown up a lot, Charolette." He poured everyone another round of drinks, Nora looked pale, but whiskey was the only cure he knew for the truth bombs that kept dropping on them.

Looking at Charlie again, Bass said, "I think you better start at the beginning of what you know. Nora and I will help fill in any blanks." Shaky, tired, and more than a little buzzed, Charlie told Bass and Nora everything she knew. Despite being cared for and seemingly loved her entire life, something about these two people put Charlie at ease. She had never felt more seen or safe than she did right now despite her whole world caving in around her. They sat there all day talking until Nora stepped away to cook dinner. Bass took the opportunity to check on Ted and ensure he was settling in at his rented stable. Charlie made up her bed on the second couch as Nora had directed. Her bones were weary, and all she wanted to do was cry. Tonight's talk made it clear her parents had destroyed the world, teamed up with the devil, and lied to her about everything, and there would be no fast and easy solution.

Crossing her legs under her, Charlie sat on the couch, looking out at the city as the sunset. Nora brought her a plate of rice with some sort of game meat. Nora patted her shoulder as she sat in a chair near the couch, joining Charlie in her silent reflection. As Bass came back inside, Nora said, "there is rice and rabbit in the kitchen; help yourself." After filling up his plate, Bass sat on his couch across from Charlie. Taking a few bites, he set his plate down. "Is my cooking that bad?" Nora asked with a small smile. Bass chuckled, "nah, I've just been thinking, and I know it won't be easy, but we need to find Miles and fight these Patriots." Charlie took a sharp breath and asked, "how do we find Miles? And why not fight without him?" Bass leaned back into the couch and said, "I can find Miles anywhere; he's my brother. We've survived some of the worst things the world can throw at a man and lived to tell the tale. We need him because he has had time to think of a plan; strategy is what Miles does best." Charlie had a million more questions but simply nodded; this was the start of something bigger. She would have plenty of time to ask her questions.