Chương 18: Public Figure

The automatic doors at Flint Bishop International Airport hissed open, the warm indoor air a welcome reprieve from the Michigan winter. Jonathan could smell commercial cleaner and coffee in the air. He followed Elijah inside, catching his reflection in the glass. After Jonathan received a particularly bad scar on his chin from one of the harpies, Elijah mentioned that he might want to shave. The scar disrupted the beard's appearance and made it look patchy.

When they got back to the hotel, he had felt a lot of frustration at the fact that despite the wound on his face healing, the hair where his beard had been did not. The missing hair made the beard look comical, and he'd been disappointed to shave. Even days later, seeing his clean-shaven face caught him off guard. The man staring back at him looked different in more ways than just his younger face. He was an inch taller and more muscular than he ever remembered being.

The clean-shaven face revealed a fresh, pink, and still newly healed scar along his chin. The clothes, at least, finally fit properly, thanks to Elijah. His clothes had become increasingly tight as his body adapted to the increasing stats. Jonathan suspected that the new clothes were also the young agent's attempt to cheer him up. After the reporters' ambush, he'd felt more and more down on himself for how he'd been handling things with David.

As soon as they had returned to the room, he called his son, though it went to voicemail. He turned his head to the side before hearing Elijah speak up, "Still getting used to it?"

"Every mirror is a surprise," Jonathan admitted while adjusting the collar of his new shirt.

"It's not as startling anymore, but it just doesn't look like me." Elijah nodded and guided them toward a separate entrance marked 'Special Clearance - Awakened Registration Required.'

"They've moved all Awakened screening to a dedicated area. Keeps things more organized, supposedly."

"I've got to imagine it's a safety nightmare. How do they even know if you're Awakened?"

"Apparently, there are people with the ability to scan or analyze others at each major airport checkpoint." The new security section occupied a recently renovated wing staffed by TSA agents wearing distinctive blue armbands. Specialized scanning equipment lined the walls, and surveillance cameras tracked every movement, emphasizing the complex task of screening Awakened. A small group of travelers clearly identifiable as Awakened waited in a loose line ahead of them.

"Identification and clearance papers," The first agent requested when they got to the check point. They kept a professional demeanor despite the unusual process.

"Please remove your coat, sir." Jonathan shrugged off his jacket and looked down at his arms, which had accumulated numerous scars. The scars on his arms felt much more noticeable than the ones on his chin. During one of his long post-Rift showers, he'd thought about getting tattoos to cover them before realizing that the art would likely be ruined on his very next Rift run. As he put his items in the bucket to slide through a scanner, he looked at the others on this side of the check-in.

They were presumably Awakened as well, and several sported their own scars or wore clothes that seemed odd compared to modern street clothes—like robes, armor pieces, or garments made of unfamiliar materials.

"Arms over your head, please," the second security guard said, waving him through the detector. He stepped through and as he waited for the scan to be complete, she asked, "Any active skills we should be aware of?"

"No," Jonathan replied before amending, "Not unless someone tries to start a fight." Elijah stepped in smoothly, providing paperwork for them both.

"Class designation and clearance forms, along with his current status with the Hunters Association." He easily handled the bureaucratic dance, steering them through the extra security measure with minimal fuss. A large screen mounted on the wall displayed scrolling guidelines for Awakened air travel. It would flash things like, 'No mana-charged items allowed,' 'No Active or Passive skill usage during flight,' or 'Maintain designated seating assignments.'

"Coffee?" Elijah suggested as they gathered their belongings.

"We've got about twenty minutes before boarding." Jonathan nodded absently as he watched another Awakened traveler go through the screening process. The whole scene felt surreal, like a scene from a sci-fi movie. He looked back through the checkpoint to the airport entry and saw some regular travelers looking over with curious or uneasy expressions. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Yet here we are.

New specialty security lines and regulations for super-powered individuals. The world was adapting quickly to its new reality, one societal process at a time.

"Coffee sounds good," he said, following Elijah toward the terminal. He noted that the Awakened side of the airport had far fewer available terminals. However, it made sense when he realized that only a few dozen people occupied the many rows of seats near each loading area.

"Might need it for whatever's waiting for us in New York. I'm serious when I tell you that I'm not signing anything. I'll just hear your boss out."

"I know, don't worry. It's been made clear that you are just coming as a guest, and this is specifically being recorded as the Hunters Association asking you for a favor. No one is going to try and twist your arm."

"Alright…" The small coffee shop in the Awakened terminal was surprisingly well stocked, though Jonathan noticed the barista's hands trembled slightly as she took their order. He figured she was nervous being around Awakened, especially with all the recent news stories highlighting the dangers they could pose. He pretended not to notice and kept his own movements as casual as possible. They found seats near their gate, away from the main crowd but with a clear view of the mounted TVs.

Jonathan tested the chair carefully, worried that the plastic seat might not support his weight. The airport furniture wasn't known for its durability or comfortability even before he had gained thirty more pounds of muscle.

"At least these are better than the ones in the Portland airport," he said while settling in with his coffee.

"It's the little things," Elijah agreed before looking at the nearest screen. The news cycled through general morning coverage. They saw another Rift appear in the mid-west, debates about Awakened registration or containment, and some shaky phone footage of various encounters. Then, a familiar scene appeared.

"The controversial figure known as the 'Crimson Warrior' remains at large," the anchor announced.

"though sources suggest he may be cooperating with the authorities, we advise extreme caution when approaching this Awakened individual." One of the younger men across the aisle did a double-take, looking between Jonathan and one of the screens mounted over his shoulder. The whispers started almost immediately, and they were close enough that most could be overheard.

"Wait, is that him?"

"No way, that guy's got no beard…"

"Look at the size of him…"

"Your media nickname's catching on," Elijah murmured, hiding a smile behind his coffee cup. Jonathan sighed.

"Couldn't they have picked something less dramatic? I'm not some comic book character."

"You kind of are. Monsters started appearing on Earth, threatening collapse and causing the government to scramble. There have been several Rift breaks across the country already- and here you are, single-handedly closing Rifts without asking for a single thing in return." More heads were turning, then. Jonathan saw phones being discreetly pointed in their direction, and he groaned aloud. He kept his eyes on his coffee and thought back to the voicemail he'd left for David.

Since his phone had broken several days before, he'd used Elijah's phone and was hoping to get a call back before they boarded the plane. Oblivious to his thoughts, Elijah teased, "The beard really was a good disguise. Though I have to say, you look a lot younger without it. Maybe that's just the Vitality at work, though?"

"I certainly feel younger." Jonathan stretched out his left leg, appreciating how his hip and knee didn't ache the same way that they had for the last few years. He watched another group of passengers whisper and point in his direction.

"You know, after the reporter ambush, I've been thinking about what you said- about working with the Hunters Association." Elijah perked up but kept his tone casual.

"Oh? I was wondering what made you suddenly agree to meet with Director Matthews."

"If having some official backing means I can prevent more families from going through what we did…" Jonathan trailed off, then added, "But I need to know who I'm dealing with and what I'm about to walk into in this meeting."

"Director Matthews is a former military intelligence officer," Elijah said while setting his coffee cup down on the small side table attached to his chair.

"He understands operators like you. He's been pushing for a practical approach to organizing Awakened. He wants to form effective teams and focus on results rather than all the bureaucracy. He's been your biggest advocate as far as I know."

"How so?"

"He sees the value in what you've been doing and respects your power. While others worry about precedent or public image, the Director wants to support Awakened, who can get the job done and reward them." Elijah checked his watch.

"Speaking of which, they're going to start boarding soon for Dulles." They approached the gate where a woman wearing the now-familiar blue arm band stood checking documentation. Her eyes glowed briefly as she scanned each passenger. Another Awakened.

"Final security check," she announced as a small group began to line up to board the flight.

"Remember, no active or passive skill use during the flight. Any violation will result in immediate action upon landing." It took another ten minutes to board, and Jonathan was pleasantly surprised to find that the entire plane was only going to take roughly seven individuals to Washington, DC. He was even more pleased when he noticed that the seats seemed to have more leg room.

As the plane began its final preparations for takeoff, Elijah leaned over to say, "You know, I think you'll appreciate Director Matthews' approach. He's been fighting to give Awakened more operational freedom, especially those with combat experience." Jonathan gave him a flat look.

"You're doing it again. Stop being a damn salesman. I can tell you respect the man, but you're not going to bring me over to his cause before I get to look him in the eyes." Elijah held up his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright. Last thing though, before we land, there's something you should know about Deputy Director Sullivan…"