Solomon's Place[Multi-scene]

The hulking black sedan came to a stop outside of the series of structures out in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. The engine cut out, and the lights off before a man excited the car and looked carefully around as he dropped a cigarette to the ground and ground it out on the broken pavement beneath him. He circled to the trunk of the car, rummaging around through his recent finds before coming up with some large packages that he'd collected specifically to bring here.

Ian locked up the car, then headed inside the main structure, one of the small group that held the answers to getting past Sol's elaborate and complex security system.

"Sol! It's me!" he called up into the cavernous interior, his son could be anywhere inside, it was easier to call out and announce his presence, then to try to hunt for him through the space. "I brought you some things."

He set the packages on an open expanse of counter and started to open them, separating items out. Some interesting bits of tech, but mostly food and personal items. Food was actually not that difficult of a thing to come by, but going outside was not easy for Sol to do and Ian brought him whatever he could find whenever he passed through, to make sure Sol was taken care of, in between all the work he did for so many others from all over the settlements and wastes around them.

Solomon's eyes flicked boredly between the screens before movement on one monitor caught his eye, he watched with a scrutinous eye until he recognized the vehicle and the man than stepped out of it, then his face lit up in a bright expression and he swung his chair around to start heading down into the bottom level of the structure.

He was always eager to see his father, the person he was closest to out of anyone in his very small circle. Sol had always been bound to a wheelchair, and adapting to survival in such a state was difficult, but Ian made it easier, and Sol looked forward to seeing him when he came through on his routes, "Dad! I'm coming down!" He was puffing a bit by the time he actually made it to the bottom, having been fairly high up, "It's good to see you Dad!"

He smiled as he rolled up next to him, immediately beginning to fiddle and look over the gizmos he'd brought, "where did you find these?" He looked over at him with a curious smile, "I haven't seen a piece quite like this yet!" He looked appreciative at the food Ian had brought to, "you always have the best timing, supplies were starting to run a bit sparse!" He chuckled, and then set down what he'd been looking over to pull Ian into a hug around his waist, "I missed you..."

Ian looked up quickly at the call from above, but waited to speak until they were closer so as to not have to shout up into the rafters.

"What were you doing all the way up there, set up something new there?" He asked curiously. Honestly, he didn't understand a good deal of what his son did or worked on, but it was important to him, so he tried to understand as best he could.

"Hey." He reprimanded mildly as Sol went immediately for the gadgets over the other supplies. "Look at those later. Eat something first."

He worried that Sol didn't take the best care of himself out here often on his own, he got so wrapped up in his own work and projects he could at times forget to eat or take care of himself. Part of him wanted to stay and look after Sol, but realized that neither would ultimately be happy with that setup in the long term. His concern grew as he mentioned supplies running low. "I'll bring you more next time." he promised as he returned the hug, most didn't know this place was here to make it part of their route, and Sol couldn't exactly go get his own.

"Picked up most of that tech from a couple of scavengers a couple days from here. He apparently gets himself way up to the tops of the machines and has started pulling that tech...probably not really common, might be why you haven't seen much of it." People went for the easy pickings, not everyone wanted to go after things that presented greater risk in the process.

Sol pointed up with a smile, "I've been getting those cameras you helped me install working." He looked thoughtful, "most of the monitors are displaying, I just need to rig up a few more connections to get the last few online, but they'll give me a good view from all sides, so it's harder to sneak up on me." He chuckled and looked thoughtful, "be good if I could set up some defenses...That's a bit tricky though." It was a bit ambitious even for him to attempt to set up something as potentially dangerous as that.

His stomach growled as if on cue when Ian urged him to eat, chuckling, "right...I suppose I haven't done that today..." He looked a might sheepish as he said that, glancing to the side with a soft chuckle, "I guess I get so busy I forget to do that kind of stuff..." He was very aware of how his father worried, he could try and make a better effort for him.

He looked thankful at the mention of him bringing more supplies, "thanks dad, I'll try and be a bit better at taking care of myself too." He nodded, then looked interested as Ian spoke, "really? They're getting braver, eh? About time." He smirked, looking a bit teasing, "sooner those scavengers get bold sooner I can get my hands on more stuff like this." He sighed, "I'm glad you came by...I was starting to go stir crazy..." He leaned back and frowned, "I mean don't get me wrong...I hate most people...But at least they're entertaining. I wish I could go...I dunno...Anywhere..." He was a shut in most of the time, but he still craved fresh air at times, it just wasn't safe for him to leave the well fortified place he called home.

Ian shook his head. "You're a genius that can get dead tech working again and make this place...but you can't set an alarm to remind yourself to eat dinner?" He was fussing, they both knew it, but he did worry. He couldn't help it. His son was almost all the family he had, and he dreaded someday coming here and finding something terrible had happened and no one had been here to help.

"I am sorry, I got delayed by weather and couldn't get out here on my usual day. I was sitting there driving myself crazy, feeling so stuck there."

He frowned a little, it did not happen every time, but this was also not the only time that Sol had talked about being lonely, about wanting to go out, but unhappily unable. "Maybe we should consider the options of having someone else here with you." He suggested slowly after a minute. "Out of the people you know...can you think of anyone you might not mind having around more?"

Solomon opened his mouth to retort, then closed it and smiled a little sheepishly, "yeah...You're right..." He laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair with a guilty expression, "I guess I get so engrossed in...Well but you know that..." He knew his dad was good at fussing, and he appreciated it more than he'd let on, not everyone had someone in their life to care for them the way Ian cared for him, "I wanna be annoyed at your fussing..." He mumbled, then added with an amused grin, "but I'm kind of glad to have someone to fuss over me..." He chuckled as he began to look through the supplies Ian had brought along.

"s'okay Dad, I understand...Weather's been a bit wild hasn't it?" His eyes lit up and he smiled back at him, "I've been trying to get this weather tracker rigged, speaking of, It's a pretty damn high tech Doppler it looks like." He looked up at him, "if I can figure out a convenient way to power it I intended to give it to you!" He shrugged and looked thoughtful, "you travel so much, might be nice to know what to expect or what's coming, hm?" He worried about Ian too after all, it could be dangerous out there, and anytime Ian was late showing up Solomon felt a pit of fear until he finally did.

He glanced up at him, then back down with a thoughtful expression, "I...Suppose...It would be nice." He kept his gaze turned away as he spoke, "I uh...Well it's getting harder to get myself in and out of bed...Out of this chair in general." He chewed his lip, "used to be able to at least make it that far...Think my legs are losing more mobility..." He glanced up at him with a tilt of his head, "uhm...Well you are mom are the only two people I don't hate..." He half laughed at this and looked down, "but I dunno if she'd want to be stuck here with me...And I know you wouldn't be happy stuck in one place." It was a thought, but he'd feel terrible keeping either of them stuck here.

"You can be annoyed with me all you like. Just know it won't stop me worrying about you." Ian half smiled, he'd given up trying to pretend he didn't care or worry as much as he did when the world as they knew it ended, and they found themselves thrust into this new world.

"Well, it's winter. Everything always gets crazy in the winter, we pretty much just have to buckle up and hold on until it passes." He smiled again, looking touched at the offer of Sol's tech that he was working on. "Do you think you can get something like that working? That'd be great, I'd appreciate that." It would make a difference, it was also nice to know he was thought of.

The smile was quick to fade again though as Sol talked about both his mother, and his current condition. Ian wasn't even totally sure where Amanda was these days, or if she knew where Sol was. He imagined she cared though, she'd always been a devoted mother and he had a hard time imagining she wouldn't be here for him if she knew.

"Let me see what I can do. You need someone here with you, you really do. I'll feel better, I'm sure you'll feel better...let me do what I can." He at least had a rough idea where to start trying to find Amanda, he had to at least try.

Solomon smiled at him and nodded, giving him a cheeky expression, "I wouldn't try even if I thought I could." He leaned back in his chair and sighed, "not everyone has someone like you to look out for them, I'm lucky." He smirked, "doesn't mean I have to always admit it, but I can't deny it either." They weren't that different in that respect he supposed, but then that had always been the case.

He nodded and tapped his chin, "I think so, I have all the parts, I just need to find a way to power it that isn't more trouble for you than it's worth." He hummed thoughtfully, "an external battery maybe. You would have to charge it, but I could probably rig one up that held a fairly long charge." He chuckled, "I'll tinker with it some more later, it's a fun project if anything else." Anything to make the job easier, to take even just a little of the worry off his shoulders.

"I...I do..." He finally admitted, looking down, "I've been doing okay being independent for a while but...It's getting harder to get around when I need to not be stuck in this chair...And I am lonely..." He smiled up at him with furrowed brows, "I just feel a little guilty trapping her here like I am..."

"Is there some way you can hook it into running off the engine or car battery when it's running?" He asked. "Rig it up through the cigarette lighter or tape deck or something? Then it might not need external batteries. Once you get a little closer, we can go hook it up to the car, test it out." he offered.

"I can't promise anything." He warned. "But I'm going to do what I can. I'm sure she misses you too." Wherever she was. If she was even still alive.

"And you know...if she comes, if she chooses to be here with you...you're not trapping her. She's making a choice for herself. Don't feel guilty about that." Although part of him felt guilty that his own choice had not been to stay.

Solomon's smile brightened and he nodded, "Yes! I can probably rig up a car port, It'll take a few modifications..." He chuckled and put a hand to his chin, "it wasn't made to be powered in such a way, but it should be an easy fix!" He leaned back and looked thoughtful, "I bet I can have it ready to test out next time you make it out this way!" He sounded confident in this, already planning out how he would rig it up in his head.

He looked down and nodded, giving Ian a gentle smile, "I know, I hope you can, I...I really miss her." They'd been together when communications world wide went down, and he hadn't heard from her since then, Ian hadn't either, "thank you for trying though, Dad..." He smiled up at him and leaned against his side a little bit from his chair, it was a childish gesture, but he was still attached to Ian, "and...Listen...I know you well enough to know your thinking." He looked up at him, "if you stayed...We'd be stranded." He took his hand and smiled, "you may not stay, but you still take care of me, I've never felt abandoned or left behind because I know you'll always come back, okay?"

He glanced down, "but I do need someone here...I thought I could do this mostly on my own but I can't..." He'd needed a lot of caring for before everything went to hell, living mostly with his father, who'd been more able to care for him and his condition with his medical background, "I love you Dad, don't forget that."

Ian couldn't help but sigh a little. "Honestly, none of this stuff was meant to be ran any of the way we're running most of it." He'd never imagined this the sort of world he'd end up in, he hadn't even been a fan of apocalypse or dystopian type stories, not finding it an entertaining concept. Now, here he was living in one.

"I miss her too." He admitted when they started talking about Amanda, things hadn't worked out for their marriage, but that didn't mean he didn't still miss her as a friend in his life, especially these last years when he didn't know if she was even still alive anymore. "And I know...I know there's no real right answer to any of this...no matter what we do it has it's downsides. But we still always ask ourselves...are we doing enough. Are we doing it right?" He sighed again, sounding a bit tired.

"And you shouldn't have to do it all alone either. That's a lot to put on anyone." He rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "I love you too. I know none of this is what any of us would have planned for our futures, I just want to do the best by you that we can, even with everything the way it is."

Solomon sighed and nodded, looking thoughtful as he began to gather up the supplies Ian had brought to him and store them in their respective cubbies and cabinets, "I had so many plans for my future..." He snorted softly, "now I'm a hermit stranded in the middle of fucking nowhere." He sounded half bitter, not at Ian or being stuck here, "I wanted to be someone...Now I'm just...Nobody." He looked at Ian, "I'm just a name that people say may or may not exist...I dunno..." He sighed, looking down, "if I wasn't stuck in a stupid chair maybe I'd be someone..." It felt like a prison within a prison, trapped in a chair, trapped in a tin can.

At Ian's next words he glanced at him and smiled, taking his hand and tugging him to the small sitting area he'd set up, "you do plenty, Dad." He put a hand over the one resting on his shoulder, squeezing it, "if it wasn't for you I'd be dead, you do the best you can and that's a hell of a lot more than a lot of dads do." He gave him a serious expression, "you could have dumped me off and never looked back, but you didn't. You never gave up taking care of me." He looked down with a soft smile, "sure I may not have a bright future ahead...But it'll be happy because of you and the things you do for me."

===

It had taken a few weeks, but once Ian put his mind fully to tracking down Amanda, he was able to do so surprisingly easily.

She rode beside Ian in the black sedan, watching the landscape around and trying to remember any details or interesting landmarks, planting an image of the place firmly in her mind. When the world came apart, people seemed to split three ways. There were those that leapt at the chance to give into their more cruel and base natures, rioters, raiders, thieves and criminal sorts. There were those that couldn't cope with this much of a shift in their reality, these sorts of changes. Those that were still alive shambled around doing what they could but they didn't really live. They barely survived. And then there were those that took the situation and did their best with it, surviving and looking to others as best they could. She'd found strength deep in herself that she'd never known she had, until she needed it. And she'd managed to thrive in this world.

Yet, she had missed her family, who seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, she'd worried, Sol's health had not been great, she tried not to think of the worst case scenarios. When Ian had found her, had told her of the situation, she hadn't hesitated. And a couple grueling days drive later, she found herself here, getting out of the car and looking up at the imposing structures around her.

"Impressive place he's got here." He'd always been smart, provided he was able to get past his physical problems, she had no trouble believing he'd do well with anything that required his brains. The pair headed inside, she kept herself alert for any possible threats or danger as they did.