Author's Note: For some reason, I thought the tournament was called the 'Gran Serena,' not the Grand Serena. I'll go back and fix it soon. Sorry for any confusion that may have caused.
NEO World of Advent Chapter 13
For the first time in a solid week, Cipher found himself in the office. The phones rang at odd intervals with a customer at the end, usually armed with the belief that they were owed a cheaper machine for Cipher's shop not having been certified by Neo Arcadia. He couldn't help it if his designs weren't reviewed by the board of commerce; such patents often took years Cipher didn't have. As it were, some of his designs were in the process of review, but when they would be finished, Cipher had no idea.
Besides, he thought with no small amount of aggravation as a woman told him that an 'actually respectable' shop sold Sliders for a quarter of the price he did his. "Ma'am." Cipher said, holding back the ire he wanted to let burst forth, "That's a pawn shop. Everything you'll find there has been broken at least once in its lifetime. Everything we sell here is brand new. Yes, I assure you it's safe; I use them myself. No, ma'am, that doesn't mean - I use one of them myself. Not all of them."
The woman on the other end screeched about untruthful employees ('You just said they were brand new!') and demanded to talk to the manager. Cipher contemplated just hanging up, but even rude customers' money could make a difference. It was only when the irate woman started demanding to see 'someone competent' that Cipher told her that he'd give her over to the manager ('Hopefully someone whose parents raised him with a bit of common sense!'). Cipher beckoned Brandon over while muffling his end of the receiver. "Congratulations," he said darkly. "You've been promoted."
Brandon took the phone from him and pacified the irrational customer with a good deal more patience than what Cipher was capable of at the moment. He made his way to the back, where hopefully a cup of coffee would calm his frazzled nerves, rolling his eyes as Brandon attempted to explain that they would actually lose money if they sold a Slider at that rate. One week of freedom, Cipher thought bitterly, and you forget how crazy people are. Another dial tone sounded; it took Cipher a moment to realize it was his personal one.
"Hello?" Cipher checked the address - his home, nervously. Usually, the Advents he left at the apartment complex didn't call if it wasn't important. "Is anything wrong?"
"Uh yeah," Carla's voice came through from the other end. "Is vomit supposed to be green? Charles is having a fit."
Cipher pinched his nose. Charles had come down with a fit of violent food sickness last night; Cipher had hoped that the day off was all that was necessary. A hospital bill was the last thing they needed. "Go ahead and call the medics," he told her. "Have Wess stay with him; Shirley's in charge." He made a quick motion to the girl in question, Shirley quickly packing her things for an emergency trip back home.
"Are you sure," Carla asked. "You told us not to call for an ambulance unless it was an emergency."
"You're the one letting me know he's puking up radioactive vomit," Cipher said. "Just have Wess stay by him and let me know if he gets any worse. Get him to call the medics."
"Okay," Carla said. In the background, he heard her conversation: "Wess, call an ambulance!"
"Are you sure?" the reply came back.
"JUST DO IT," Carla yelled. There was a shuffling sound as she focused her voice towards Cipher. "He's busy; is there someone else or do you want me to hang up?"
"Just get Sarah to do it," Cipher told her. He wanted to scream; could anything go right today?
"SARAH!" Carla's unnaturally loud voice blared through Cipher's communicator; he suddenly felt as though holding it away from his ear might be a good idea. "GET DOWN HERE AND CALL AN AMBULANCE. NO, I'M OKAY, IT'S FOR CHARLES." Another shuffling sound. "They're on the way," she explained calmly.
"Thanks, Carla," Cipher said. "You're a lifesaver."
"He'll be okay, won't he? It was just some bad fish." Carla sounded worried.
"Yeah, he'll be okay," Cipher assured her. "The medics have dealt with much worse, I'm sure. Just make sure Matt doesn't take advantage of the chaos, alright? I don't want to come home and find the television missing."
"Alright. I'll let you know if… Hang on, Shirley's here. Should I go?"
"Yeah," Cipher said, "Let her know what's going on. Tell her to keep me informed; you're free to go."
"Thanks, Cy." Carla hung up.
Cipher let out a long growl of frustration, ignoring the cautious looks Kent and Brandon were giving each other. "Are you sure we can afford a hospital?" Kent asked carefully.
"I don't know," Cipher snapped. "But I'm not going to argue with you about making sure he's okay over a damn bill."
Kent's raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Just don't bite my head off."
"Sorry." Cipher's eye twitched as a phone rang in the now-empty cubicle belonging to Shirley.
"Do you want us to get that?" Brandon asked when it was clear that Cipher had no intention of answering it.
"No," Cipher told them. "Just close up for the day. There's nothing we can get done with just the three of us anyway. Kent, make sure nothing's using energy if it doesn't have to. Brandon, you sweep. No need to mop if we've only been here for a few hours."
"On it," Brandon said. "What then?"
"Just go home," Cipher told them. "I'm going to test something out in the meantime. Throw out whatever fish we have in storage."
"Got it," the two said. "Don't worry about us; just do what you have to do to cool off or something."
"Thanks," Cipher said. "I'll see you guys later." Cipher made his way to the back, where the general public were not allowed, unlocking a case with a passcode. It clicked open, revealing what appeared to be wrist and knee guards. They were white with dormant grey strips that Cipher knew would fill with energy upon being turned on. He put them on to see if they still fit, but soon removed them; their real purpose lay beyond mere accessories. He connected the ends of them outside, pressing a button as the compatible ends formed a bridge of green energy along its base, like the surface of a Slider.
This was his private design, the prototype for an extremely portable hoverboard- armor that turned into a vehicle. Obviously he would have to work out a few bugs and it would lack the control and power of a normal Slider, but the convenience was something else. Nothing like it was in production, Cipher knew. It was a completely new innovation, one he could charge whatever he wanted for and not be told that there was one just like it for half the price across the street.
Cipher tested the edges of the energy gingerly, taking care in case the edges were sharp. The energy used was the same kind used by the Neo Arcadian government to create sabers or other weapons; refining it to the point where it didn't take on a bladed edge had taken some effort. When they were ready for mass production, Cipher would make sure to buy the energy before it was crafted into a weapon, but scrounging for scraps was all he could afford right now.
Cipher made a slow but steady trip over the white and blue building where Neige had told him to meet if he ever needed further funds for the tourney. Anthem Broadcasting, it was called. She said she would likely be in her office anyway, and to not bother with an appointment if he had to see her. While it wasn't necessarily for the Grand Serena, hopefully Cipher could work something out for a small loan.
Once he came to a stop, the pieces of his new Slider fell apart, the energy that connected it dissipating with a hiss. Cipher examined the pieces critically, feeling them hot to the touch. He put them on anyway, rationalizing that they at least lasted long enough to get him where he was going. Stalling in one place might cause them to deactivate, a kink he'd have to fix later.
Inside, reporters talked amongst each other. Occasionally, Cipher could hear them talking about a controversial issue or griping about a certain politician they didn't like. It was strange, Cipher thought, how different jobs in the city were dominated by certain groups. The military, of course, was primarily reploid in nature, entertainment was a pretty even split, and the media seemed to be primarily human-oriented.
"Is that you, Cipher?" Neige came around the corner, a cup of something hot held in her hands as it waved steam across her face. "I thought I saw you drive by."
"Yeah," Cipher said. "I mean yes, I'm here. Could I talk to you about something?"
"Sure thing." Neige beckoned for him to follow her to his office. "So. What's up? Something go wrong with the tournament or is it something else? I thought you did pretty well in the preliminaries."
"No, nothing like that." Cipher dug out a picture of his Family for emotional impact. "One of my Family is sick. I'm pretty sure it's nothing serious, but I don't think we can pay the doctors this time around. Is there any way you could give me a loan of sorts? Just a small one; I'll pay it back as soon as physically possible."
"I can give you a loan," Neige agreed. Cipher felt a wave of relief until she added to her statement. "But I don't want your money. Most Advent Families struggle to get by as it is. There is something that you can help me with though."
"What is it?" Cipher asked. "If it's that interview you were talking about earlier, I don't mind anymore."
"No it's not that," Neige said. "Well, maybe later depending on how this goes. Cipher, are you aware that Zero and Ciel, the leaders of the Resistance, had children?"
"Yes," Cipher said slowly, "But I don't see what that has anything to do with me."
"Well I do," Neige said matter-of-factly. "Just do me this one favor and take a genealogy exam and I'll forward enough Zenny to provide for your Family for a couple of years. Just one little test."
"That's illegal," Cipher said. "Neo Arcadia forbids any sort of paternity test for Advents in a registered Family."
"I often find that what's illegal or unethical isn't always immoral," Neige said. "They told you your parents were dead, but are you really content with just their word?"
"What do you want from me?" Cipher demanded. "I'm just a mechanic. What's so important about a genealogy exam and what do the leaders of the Resistance have to do with it?"
"Sit down," Neige told him; he had risen without meaning to. Cipher grudgingly lowered himself into his chair. "I know the news keeps talking about their kid of theirs- Cero, and the one Umera kidnapped, but they also had another in incubation. They even named him."
"So?" Cipher felt an uncomfortable prickling of his skin, an old hope rising to the surface. "Who cares? They're dead."
"We never found them," Neige corrected Cipher. "A lot of folks know that their firstborn was to be named Light, after one of Ciel's ancestors. But the other one, his name was Cipher."
Cipher swallowed a hard knot in his throat. "That doesn't mean anything though."
"Really?" Neige pulled out a small mirror. "Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Advents take after their human parents, you know. I happen to be familiar with a blonde woman with eyes just like yours." Neige sighed. "I know it's a lot to take in."
"What if you're wrong," Cipher asked. "There's no way. How would I be named Cipher if they didn't know who I was?"
"I have my theories," Neige said. "The government has been pretty shady about the whole 'Advent' thing ever since Umera showed us his true colors. Do you remember anything about who named you?"
"They told me someone left a card with my name on it," Cipher said. "I just thought my parents decided they didn't want me halfway through my incubation. What, do you think it was Umera who dropped me off?"
"I've seen weirder things happen. Show me your oversol," Neige said. "You promised me you would keep me updated." She clasped her hands together tightly, expectantly.
Cipher allowed his hands to become a blackish-grey. Soon, his wrists were covered in a red sheen and Neige told him to stop. "I always thought that was what Cero's would look like," she said in wonder. "Cipher, you could have a family. A real one. Not the one Neo Arcadia assigned you."
"I do have a real family." Cipher stood up, ignoring how hollow he sounded. "I can't do it, Neige. I'm sorry."
"Cipher," Neige said, "Think about what you're doing. You could have parents. A brother. They've been looking everywhere for you. I've been looking everywhere for you. I promised them I'd let them know if I found you."
"Well you haven't found him," Cipher said. "Sorry, but I have to go. I have to go check on Charles."
"Just promise me you'll think on it, will you?" Neige's words were uncomfortably familiar in the space of the small room.
"I will," Cipher said. "But I really have to go."
Cipher made his way outside, unsurprised when he found himself at the gate of the Forge what felt like moments later. His hands were already on Joan's contact info as he pressed 'call.' The phone rang for a bit as sounds of grating metal could be heard in the background. "Hang on," she told him. "Let me get someplace quieter. What's up?"
Cipher opened his mouth, but he found himself incapable of making a sound. "You're outside," Joan said, apparently having seen his location on her communicator. "I'll be right out, okay? Stay right there."
A minute later, Joan was at the gate, her brows scrunched together in worry as she saw Cipher. "What's wrong?" She led him to a nearby bench. "Come on, talk to me. I can't help if I don't know what's going on."
"I went to Neige," Cipher said through a sob. The tears had at last come in the form of an uncontrollable, choking sob. "She thinks…" He wiped his face with his sleeve. "She thinks my family's alive."
"I see." Joan was remarkably calm about the whole thing, Cipher thought. She held his head against her chest as she sighed. "I kind of figured this would happen."
"You did?" Cipher was confused. "Did Neige tell you?"
"Nah," she said. "But when she started taking an interest in you, I kind of knew. I always suspected… She was talking about Zero and Ciel, wasn't she?"
Cipher nodded, surprised when he felt foreign tears on his face. "I'm so sorry Cipher," she said. "I think I always knew. I was just so relieved. I thought I was alone, then you showed up, this handsome and smart and kind and blonde Advent. They never said Zero's kids died and here you were, a perfect fit. I was so scared they would take you away." Her body wracked with guilt. "I was just the orphan of some washed up general and you were so brilliant. Every day I was afraid someone would see that." There was a silence. "I was afraid you would see that."
Joan looked terrified, as though she expected Cipher to scream at her, tell her what an awful friend she was. She flinched when Cipher's head rose from her chest. "Cipher?" she asked. "I'm-"
Her words were silenced as he held her close. This was Joan, he reminded himself. His oldest friend. His best friend, even if life hadn't gone the way they planned it. "I'm not angry," Cipher said. "I think I knew as well. We were both just too scared to say anything."
"You're not mad?" Joan let out a hopeful gasp.
"No," Cipher said. "You were just a kid, same as me. If the whole world couldn't see it, I don't see why you had to do something." He sighed. "But what if she's wrong, Jo? What if you are? What if I am? I can't be their son. I'm not that special."
"You are," Joan told him. "You're the most special person I've ever met. You can do all these brainy things like manage a schedule or make sure the kids drink the milk before it goes bad or make new Sliders. I know I can't do that."
"You're pretty amazing yourself," Cipher said. "Don't you dare go thinking like you're not. There's a reason why they picked you to Head the Forge. I'm still wondering why the rest of my Family isn't scarred after living with me for years."
Joan chuckled. "I guess I am pretty great. Hey," she said, "Even if by some awful coincidence you're not their son, you'd still have me. But if you are," she added, "I want autographs. I have a limited edition figurine of Zero I want signed. None of this electronic signature bull either."
"I'll get you all the autographs if that's the case," Cipher promised her. "I wonder how I'm going to explain this to the rest of the Family."
"You could just not tell them," Joan said, adding "At first" when Cipher gave her a look. "All I'm saying is, Carla's birthday is coming up and Zero would make one hell of a surprise birthday visitor."
"Matt would probably try to steal one of his weapons," Cipher mused. "Do you think Zero could handle him?"
"I dunno," Joan joked. "That boy is pretty sneaky. Hey, here's a thought: what if you let Neige do that interview with you? You could just be sitting at home, watching the news, when all of a sudden you're the headliner. I bet that would impress him."
Cipher laughed. "I could be Zero and Matt wouldn't be impressed. I'm pretty sure Shirley would die of shock though. She has one of those limited edition figurines, too. It's in mint condition, as she keeps reminding us."
"What's the use of an action figure if you don't ever use it?" Joan bemoaned. "Everyone's all about the 'in the box' models, but what happens when you buy it? Do you just stare at it forever?"
"I guess?" Cipher shrugged. "I could ask Shirley; she doesn't even let us look at it."
Joan smiled. "I guess it'd be kind of cool if you were his son. I think Cero even has an action figure modeled after him. Do you think that would extend to you? And um, maybe your friends if you ask nicely enough?"
The two of them spent the afternoon producing all the crazy scenarios in which Cipher could uncover his being Zero and Ciel's son. It was the only way they could make sense of it, Cipher figured, by making light of such an unbearably weighty situation. But that's life sometimes. Just so long as you had someone to help make sense of the train wreck it is, you'd be fine Cipher supposed. Maybe that's what family really was.
Someone who could make you laugh even when everything went wrong. And maybe, maybe they could help make it right.
