Chapter 7: Liam

  “I will, Dr. Liam. I will find that answer for you.”

  It was definitely him.

  My lost child was finally here. Solari’s beautiful face showed up in the boy’s mind. He had no idea about me, didn’t he? By changing her last name and giving herself a new identity, she made it near impossible for me to track. But she must have known that it was time for him to come back. It was just that something was… different with him. It was like a part of him was dark and suppressed, hidden and locked away from me.

  “Good, Altair. By the way, you haven’t had a tour of the facility yet, right? I’ll get Amber and Edana to show you around,” I smiled, hiding what I was truly feeling.

  “Okay, Dr. Liam,” he nodded along, and I closed my eyes.

  Amber, are you free today?

  My mind tapped into hers.

  Yep, Daddy. What do you need?

  I need someone to take Altair on a tour. Would you be able to do it?

  Sure. I’m bringing Edana too.

  Of course. Can you also tell Messenger to come back in here? I need to talk to him.

  Yep. See you soon, Daddy, she cheerily replied, and my eyes opened again.

  “They’ll be coming shortly-”

  “Hey, we’re here for the tour! Let’s go, Altair!”

  Amber’s voice brightly and confidently shone through the door as she leaned against the door frame. Edana stiffly stood by her side, calmly ignoring yet perceiving Altair’s every breath like a seasoned hunter. Those two girls were totally different from each other, just like the polar opposites of-

  Focus, Liam. You aren’t here to admire your two wonderful children. You have work to do, my brain reminded me, and I sighed.

  “Thank you, Amber and Edana. Is Messenger with you?”

  “I’m here,” he waved.

  “Come in.”

  I tiredly gestured, and Altair was yanked away by the girls while Amber was chatting happily with him, answering the child’s questions efficiently and easily. Messenger, however, shut the door heavily and slumped on the couch, holding his head in his hands.

  “That kid never stops asking questions, Dr. Liam. How does Amber keep up with him?” he groaned, and I chuckled.

  “That is that child’s purpose in life, Messenger. Just like how yours was to snoop around and eavesdrop on people,” I stared at him, and he blushed.

  “That’s what a good spy does, though,” he whined, and I smiled.

  “Back to business. Messenger, when you rescued the boy, what did you notice? Was there anything abnormal?” I asked, and he turned serious.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Actually, Blue sent me to get a package, and it turned out to be Altair. He has Blue’s watch and that tattoo under his arm, so I guessed he had to be your son. I had my suspicions, but I didn’t want to assume until you asked for it, Dr. Liam,” he mused.

  “And your suspicions are?”

  I fingered the pen on the desk.

  “That Blue was hiding him from you and Frederick,” Messenger replied darkly.

  “I agree as well, Messenger. It finally makes sense now. With Blue hiding Solari and Altair, how were we supposed to find them? But there’s something more. Why did he suddenly bring Altair here now? Why not sooner?”

  I tapped the desk with my pen in thought.

  “Because he’s ready to live life in the ocean?” Messenger wondered aloud.

  No, that wouldn’t be the case. He was missing a part of him. He now felt like an ordinary child. If he was like that in the first place we wouldn’t have to be separated.

  This boy is my son. I couldn’t believe it. Solari’s child. My child. He was finally here.

  Altair. What a fitting name for my boy.

  I smiled to myself, feeling warmth seep back into my bones. It must be him; he bore the same tattoo as me. It might be the Institute’s insignia, but to me, it was a promise to Solari, of a future where our children could be free and happy. A place we could call our own.

  “Maybe. Watch over him for me, Messenger,” I said, standing up.

  “Of course, Dr. Liam.”

  He bowed and stood up along with me.

  “And get ready for another trip to Oceanus. I think we have to up our game,” I mentioned, looking out of the window.

  “What do you have in mind, Dr. Liam?” he darkly smiled.

  “We need to infiltrate their lab, specifically the one that Blue is in. It contains the information and data on their newest animal-machine hybrids, as well as their ‘Speaker’ project. We’re going to need it if we want to stand a chance in the upcoming battle,” I sighed, holding onto the window frame.

  “Of course, Dr. Liam. When do you want me to leave?”

  “Tomorrow, if there is no work for you at the City Office.”

  I turned to him.

  “Are you sure that going undercover against Meliora’s City Council is a good choice?”

  He looked at me intently.

  “We all know that there are moles in that Council. I should know; I created this city. It’s just that I can’t pinpoint who it is right now, and that puts us in a very difficult position. Are you okay working with your brother on this? You know that you’re going to have to tell him about this sooner or later. He might not be happy about this.”

  I stared back at him.

  “Well, I can’t say how he will react, but it’s better if he knows the truth. He wouldn’t like working for a bunch of liars and hypocrites.”

  Messenger flicked his untidy hair back.

  “You’re both going to be double agents - that would make Blue a triple agent then. Can I leave this to you to take care of the information dealing between Oceanus and Meliora?”

  “Leave it to me, Dr. Liam. I have been waiting for this assignment since forever,” he darkly grinned and left the room.

  Of course you have, Messenger. You have been waiting since the time Raine and Adrah passed away. But, please don’t let your revenge get the best of you, Messenger. I know that there is still the funny, carefree boy within you. Don’t let that version of you die because of this, too.

  Just like how yours did, Liam? That’s funny. You already know that your dream is hopeless. It will be as long as this war continues, the logical sense of my brain taunted.

  I slammed my fist into the worn wood wall. Everything always had to be this way. I entered the ocean to escape Frederick, the war, and the loss, but it always came running toward me in the end. My past couldn’t escape me, and I was still burdened by its tragic consequences.

  Please, let go of my family, Frederick. Do whatever you want with me, but don’t hurt my children. Don’t hurt my family again.

  It was time to go back to work. I couldn’t dwell on bitter grievances anymore.

  After all, my son is with me now.

  Solari, I promise to take care of our son just as well as you have.

  And soon, we could all be together again.

  As a family.