"Is that... Daddy?"
Clayton glances out of the window from his mother's shoulders, catching a faint glimpse of his father within the crowd of people outside the gas station.
Hannah and Gemini were equally panicked, after having to witness the events that just took place. First the hitman, then the missiles…
"Okay he caught him thank goodness… Now how the hell are we getting out of this now that Brett is here?"
Gemini slunk into a corner of the gas station. Where she couldn't be seen from the windows and urged Hannah and Clayton to follow.
"Hold on, I have an idea!"
Hannah whispers to Gemini.
She walks over to the cat lady, and hands her a note. On the note, she wrote down her contact information.
"If anything happens, I'll make sure to find you guys…"
"But for now, just get out of here!"
"Wait, what are you planning? You're putting yourself right where we don't want to be!"
Gem whispers back.
"Don't worry, as much as he doesn't like to admit it, Brett's got a soft spot for his son."
She waves Gemini off, as she exits the gas station with her son.
"... People of Petrichor..."
Brett addresses the crowd. He begins with a deep, demanding tone. His eyes fixated on the news report cameras.
"Can you see him? Clayton?"
Hannah tries lifting Clayton above the heads of the people in the crowd.
"Umm..."
The small boy shifts around on his mom's shoulders. Barely getting a glimpse of Brett past the cameras and heads of those taller than his mom.
"The city is under attack by a terrorist organization."
He says, with a shift in his neck tie.
"They will try to harm this city. They will try to spread lies amongst you all..."
"But worry not. Syphon Industries is not new to threats like this. And, with the help of law enforcement, we will-"
He pauses his sentence for a bit, as he catches a glimpse of his son's face from within the crowd.
"Dad! Dad! I see him!"
Clayton waves with both hands.
"..."
He clears his throat,
"Ahem, my apologies... Anyways."
His tone raises a bit higher, as if to distract the crowd from anyone else speaking.
"Do not fear. This terrorist group will be put to an end. Now, everyone please go back home, you never know when they'll attack next!"
The crowd disperses... Some paparazzi and reporters stay behind. Attempting to storm Dr. Syphon with various questions.
– SYPHON MANOR –
"What were you two thinking?!"
Brett said with clear frustration, bringing the two into the main living room. A massive space nearly triple the size of Hannah's apartment entirely. He has a nasty glare on his face. Any ounce of his patience was gone entirely.
"Letting the world know he's my son? Do you not understand how dangerous that is?!"
Clayton was wandering around, his eyes were wide with curiosity as he began touching the most expensive looking decorative pieces.
"Brett, my whole door got blown off its hinges! You need to be more careful where your business gets led to..."
She crosses her arms, refusing to make eye contact with the man.
In all honesty, her eyes were wandering around the estate as well. It was made obvious that an unreasonable amount of money went into this place.
"Tch... Not my fault you're friends with a fugitive. Which, oh yeah, let's talk about that. Where the hell is Lexo?"
"How would I know!? He ran right off after you scared the damn boy half to death!"
"All this nonsense, and now my apartment is wrecked!"
She sighs heavily,
"... Looks like me and Clayton need a place to stay while it gets fixed up."
She gives Dr. Syphon a mean side eye. One that was reminiscent of her... Rebellious teenage years.
"..."
He meets her gaze with a gaze of his own... But ultimately relents, knowing he's not winning in a battle of stubbornness with this woman.
"Then stay here and stay out of my way."
Something was wrong. Hannah seemed confused. Even though she presumably got what she wanted.
"Wait."
"You're not even going to welcome us? Show us around? Stay a while? What's so important that you just never have time for anything like that...?"
She walks up to him, and gently grabs his torso.
"Why can't you spare us even the slightest thought?"
Clayton found his way into the main conference room. Within it, he laid eyes on a large spherical construct in the center of the oval table.
"Woah... Rocket ship..."
"Listen, you don't have an ounce of an idea on what I have to deal with every day! You two would only… Get in the way…"
Brett hesitates a little. His hitmen can hunt down Lexo. One deserted him, but he couldn't give less of a care. They're disposable to him. For a despicable businessman with gallons of blood on his hands however, a bit of guilt does itch at the back of his brain. How he treats Hannah and Clayton, the family he started before he got the fame and riches?
Even he felt a little remorse. Beyond that cold, unforgiving facade.
"... I'll show you around, Hannah. Follow me. Clayton, you too-"
"Where is he?"
He looked around. He was too preoccupied arguing with Hannah to notice he just left.
"Always wandering off..."
He touches the dome model near the top. Part of it collapses inwards, and he could see inside of the obsidian sphere. It was a direct replica of Petrichor City... However, military vehicles plagued the streets, and wires from all over the dome all led to one building... Syphon Industries.
"... Rocket... Ship...?"
He looked confused.
"Clayton! Clay, honey!"
His mom's voice calls from around the ceased doorway.
"Oh, there you are..."
She enters the room, with Brett following behind her.
"Clayton, don't wander off like that! I'll be giving you and your mom a to-"
He notices what Clayton was messing with.
"Hannah. Make sure you keep a better eye on him if you're going to be staying here."
Brett speaks through clenched teeth.
The boy's face was filled with a mixture of confusion, and concern. Though honestly, he had no idea what he was looking at.
"Aww, come here Clay."
Hannah picks him up, tossing him onto her waist.