While the rest of the rust belt took hold of its new occupants, Greater Ottawa got to work helping settle the newly arriving Japanese, Australians, and Russians. With the recall of both teams and the use of the construction variant of the O.P-D.S.A, the massive undertaking of getting the various sides ready for their new neighbors was a challenge the Ottawans came prepared for. The Ghost had been out early in the morning using the armor to drive rebar into place. Once people began showing up, he moved to repairing housing on the Southside. As he worked for the next few hours, he made his way down Fourth Avenue. As he finished the last house, he walked over to see his childhood home. He set his toolbox down and walked up to the side door. To his surprise, the door was unlocked.
As he made his way inside, he checked the basement first. He pushed open the laundry room doors to see an empty space. That was the same for the whole basement. He climbed the steps after hearing something coming from upstairs. Quietly, he cleared the far room which used to be his sisters, then his parents room and bathroom. As he emerged, the sound of splintering wood had him freeze in place. It suddenly changed to the sound of rummaging, forcing him to walk the hallway towards the room he'd once called his own. As he put on the gauntlets, he shoved the door open to see a man rummaging in a hole where there had once been hardwood flooring.
"Stand up... Hands where I can see them."
The man complied. The Ghost kept his distance, trying to figure out who it was.
"Drop any weapons you have. So much as flinch, and you're a dead man."
The man set a pistol and rifle on the ground, and kicked them to the Ghost. "Now, turn around. Nice and slow."
As the man turned slowly, the Ghost recognized the boots, jeans and belt the man had on. The Ghost clung to the shadow of the doorway, motioning for the man to remove his ski-mask. Once the mask hit the floor the Ghost stepped forwards into the light.
Both of the men held their stare for a long moment. The silence held the air still, as if the very moment was frozen in time.
"...Dad?"
The Ghost pulled down his mask slightly, just enough for the man to nod his head slowly.
"You survived...."
"You of all people should've known I would. What are you doing here?"
"I left a cache under the floorboards when I remodeled your bedroom from the tenants mom and I had here last."
The Ghost peaked into the hole. He was telling the truth, this was something his father would do. However, his train of thought was interrupted by a familiar voice calling out.
"Hey! Are you there?"
"Yea, in my old bedroom, grandpa.
As the elderly man walked into the bedroom, three generations of their family were now together.
"Scott... I thought..."
"I'll give you two some space." Said the Ghost leaving the room. They called after him, but to no avail. He kicked in the garage side door, and rested his body against the empty workbenches. He squeezed his hand as tightly as he could, but finding no comfort in the pain. He punched through the wooden top of the workbench as Archie made his way into the garage.
"What's the problem? Your dad is alive."
"Yes, and I'm glad he is."
"Then what's wrong?"
"I don't know how to tell him I burnt his house down."
Scott was listening outside the door. He shook his head as he entered the garage. "It's just a house. At least you're both still alive."
"What about...."
"Mom and I got separated in Lynchburg. We were on our way to visit your sister's college when the chaos erupted. I couldn't find her. I waited nearby, but after waiting, I assumed she'd come back here. I only just got into town today."
The Ghost's eyes narrowed for a second before hearing the construction crews getting closer. "We should get back to it."
"I've got extra tools in the trunk of my car."
The Ghost went outside and grabbed his toolbox. He walked over to his father and set it down in front of him. "We're fixing up houses. Grandpa will fill you in on everything you've missed... Everything I've put into place."
As the Ghost climbed into his S10, he drove a few blocks away before parking. He tossed off his mask, opened the door and threw up. The amount of raw emotions in that moment, seeing his dad alive, were just too much for him to stomach all at once. He grabbed a rag from his center counsel and wiped his mouth off. He gargled some water and spit it out, returning to his journey back into town.
"Give him time." Started Archie. "He's put this town on his shoulders, like he did with people back in highschool."
"What do I have to know? He said there were some things I missed?"
Archie proceeds to walk his son through everything that has happened, is happening, the fact the Ghost, his son, was leading the entire city, the Coalition of Greater Ottawa, the three alliances...
"He really picked up that kind of tab?"
"He did more than pick it up. Scott, he paid it in full. Once we're done for the day, I'll drop you off down at where he's staying now."
The two got back to work getting houses ready for the refugees. Meanwhile, the Ghost was in his office at the Committee Building. He put his signature on several documents as a record of "Glen Campbell's Southern Nights", playing in the background. Hours seemingly flew by as the mountain of paperwork dwindled down to a few sheets. As he signed another paper, the Secretary walked in.
"Sir?"
"Yes?" He said looking up from the paperwork.
"It's almost time for your announcement."
"Announcement? Oh, yes, right. Thank you Miss Furar. I'll be down in a moment."
As she closed the door, the Ghost went into his private bathroom and brushed his teeth. He locked eyes with himself in the mirror.
"Him being alive changes nothing. I have too much riding on all of this to let emotions try and crush me. Afterall, I am the better Atlas."
As he rinsed the sink and toothbrush, he made his way down the stairs to greet the crowd of people gathered before the Committee Council Building. He stepped up to the podium and took a deep breath.
"Good Evening Greater Ottawa!" He said as he waved to everyone. "Everyone did very impressive work today, over the course of the last week... So I am here to announce that within the next forty-eight hours, Greater Ottawa will host its own version of the World's Fair! All of you have seen more than some of you wished to. Some of you lost people during the Battle of Corpus Christi, showed your loyalty and admiration to Brittany and myself when after our kidnapping, fought harder and with more courage than the rest of the world combined as we took on the New World Order for the second time, and Rothschild's Chimera for the first time. I may be your leader, but it is all of you who chose to fight this battle. Fight harder than any other Americans in our history. I will not let you down. As a reward for your efforts, a week's bonus pay and the Greater Ottawa World's Fair are yours. I salute all of our brave men and women I've had the honor of fighting beside, and I raise my fist in defiance of the New World Order with and for you, my people!"
The Ghost raised his fist above his head as the Greater Ottawans cheered and clapped. As he stepped off the platform, he walked to the Reddick Mansion, where his dad and grandpa were awaiting him.
"That was a good speech there, buddy!"
"You've always had this kind of potential in you. I'm proud to see you put it to use."
The Ghost nodded and opened the door.
"Shall we have dinner?"
As the doors shut, it marked the start of something fresh for the people for Greater Ottawa, something they'd yet to see.