Chapter 13: Familiar Faces
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~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 3:19 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
A breath enters me as I exit my home and into the backyard I'm so familiar with. I'll be the first to admit I'm nervous to see my friends again. Nicole and Cassie were a big part of my life until I did what I did.
I'm surprised Nicole got in touch with me. Knowing the truth about me now is cause for conversation in her eyes. Not that I'm against it. I wouldn't delay any longer, but before I leave. I should ask her something.
I pull out my phone, standing in the middle of the backyard like an idiot. I open my text messages and start typing after I click on Nicole's name.
[Where exactly do you want to meet at OSU? I'm unfamiliar with the campus, so somewhere easily discernable would be nice.]
As I send the text, it's only a few seconds before I see the three little bubbles indicating she's typing a response.
[Do you know a place called Weatherford Hall?]
I can't say that I know the place. However, Google Maps exists. I open it on my phone and type in Oregon State University. Then, Weatherford Hall. After a second, I see a picture of the location. Now I know what I'm looking for.
[Yeah, I'll see you in a minute. That's not an exaggeration.]
Instead of waiting for a reply, my phone is soon in my pocket again. I don't know where Weatherford Hall is specifically on the campus, but flight allows a bird's eye view.
A part of me doesn't want to leave Mom alone with the government watching. She'll scream for me if she needs my help or if anything is happening. I'll hear her no matter where I am.
My eyes turn toward the sky, and I take a breath to level my head. Saving people isn't something hard for me, but the thought of talking to Nicole now that she knows is nerve-wracking.
The sense and feeling of weightlessness takes over as I lift off the ground. I know where I'm going. Now it's time to see some of my oldest friends.
KRRRRAAAABOOOOOOOOM!!!
The clouds break apart as I soar through them. I adjust and break through the stratosphere. Breaking away from the planet and entering space.
Allowing me to move at speeds I won't do in the lower atmosphere. I spread my arms and enjoy the freedom. Oceans of white puffy clouds are below me, and I'm approaching the destination. It's been almost a minute. I might be a little late.
I dive down and break through the troposphere, slowing down as I crack under the cloud cover. Below me is the city of Corvallis. The home of Oregon State University and The Oregon Beavers.
I'm sure I'd be a football fan if I were a normal person. Given my abilities and powers, sports aren't enjoyable since it's not a competition.
Since I'm over the city now, my speed slows to a stop. I float above the city of Corvallis, looking for the large Campus of OSU. It's not long before I see it, and I scan the area for the Weatherford Hall.
My eyes lock on it, and I begin my approach. As I fly through the air, the damp air and precipitation tell me it's gonna be a wet afternoon.
After a few seconds, I slow down to a stop above the Weatherford Hall. People are starting to see me and pointing at me. Pulling out their phones.
I look at one of the benches, and I see her.
~~~(POV: Nicole Deymer)~~~
~~~(Location: Oregon State University, Weatherford Hall, Bench, Corvallis, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 3:22 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 20 Years)~~~
My heart races as the seconds pass. He should be here any moment. I don't know what I'll say when I see him. It's been years since we last spoke to each other face to face. Cassie is about to get out of class, and she's supposed to meet us.
"Wow... I can't believe it..."
"What the fuck! Why's he here!!?"
"What's going on!?"
"It's the Alien!!"
People from around the area pull me from my thoughts. Everyone is starting to gather in groups together with their phones. Others are pointing to the sky as the conversations continue.
The racing of my heart thumps in my ears as I look toward the sky. The breath catches in my lungs as I lean back defensively.
Dannon slowly descends in my direction. After a moment, I stand up and hold my hands together. Not knowing what to do with them. After a second, he's floating about 20 feet from me and 15 feet off the ground.
"You haven't changed since the last day I saw you."
The sound of his voice is even and gentle. Yet, it still has a commanding and mature edge to it.
His words barely register as I watch him finish his approach. His left foot lands first, and he enters a calm walk five feet away from me. All I can do is stare at him with no words.
Now that he's standing across from me after all this time, I'm at a loss for words.
"Aren't you gonna say hi..."
There is a slightly teasing edge to his worried voice. I look him up and down as he waits for a response. He's wearing what I'd call typical farmboy clothes. That's what he was for the majority of my life.
I start shaking my head free from everything racing through it, and look around as people stare at me. Their phones are out recording the entire situation.
A breath enters me as I think about what to say.
"Um. You look good, Dannon. I'm glad that you're here."
My voice comes out meek and lacking energy. I'm still trying to find where to place myself after that entrance.
I step forward and open my arms for a hug. I'm half worried he won't do the same, but that's washed away as his arms open up. I sink into his form, and my eyes close. He rocks me side to side briefly, and my stress melts away.
He's so much taller now. He was around six feet tall when we graduated high school, but it seems he wasn't close to being done growing.
"I'm glad that you got ahold of me. It was out of the blue and wasn't something I thought would happen today. But it's good to see you."
It takes me a second longer than it should to break from the hug. After I do, I step back and tuck my hair behind my ears.
"When I saw you on the TV, I couldn't believe it. Cassie and I had talked about getting ahold of you."
My tone this time shows I'm happy to see him and that I'm not shaken anymore. That changes due to what occurs next.
As the seconds pass, more people are starting to gather. In the distance, you can see people running down streets and out of buildings toward us. More people will begin to show up as time goes on.
Instead of responding to me, Dannon looks around to the surrounding crowd. We're being boxed in as more people show up with their phones.
Dannon releases a sigh and walks to me. I stiffen slightly as we're only inches apart. He turns to his side and gently grabs me from the side.
"Hold on."
Confidence and infinite reassurance lace the energy of the two words that come from him.
As those words leave him, we gently and calmly lift off the ground. Ignoring gravity as we do, I instantly wrap myself around him. Thinking I'll fall is the only thing going through my head. All he does is chuckle.
The reactions from below vary in range. My eyes are wide as we start getting higher. As my vision races across the ground and the people below, I spot Cassie slowly walking down one of the roads.
The crowd below us is trying to keep up. Doing their best to follow from below.
"Hey, there's Cassie. Let's pick her up and go somewhere we can all talk."
I do my best to tell him rushedly that our other friend is here. My fear of falling at this height causes the words to come out a little jumbled. In the end, he gets the message as we turn directions.
I lift my arm for a brief second to point at the girl so he knows where she's at specifically. She's encouraged me and helped me through everything. I'm not leaving her behind here.
~~~(POV: Cassandra Freidman)~~~
~~~(Location: Oregon State University, Walking, Corvallis, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 3:26 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
The commotion from the students and faculty must mean Dannon's here. Likely already at Weatherford Hall. That's where Nicole told me to be when Dannon got here. My class just ended, and everyone is running.
I'm pretty sure the whole campus is going to where Dannon and Nicole are. I turn the corner and look at the large open grass area. Hundreds of people are already in a massive crowd.
My heart skips a beat in my chest as I watch a form lift from the center of the crowd. I focus a little more and see that it's Dannon flying above the crowd with Nicole attached to his side.
The large crowd starts moving below him, like a shadow. For a second, I almost think I'll miss my chance to see and talk to him again. But he instantly adjusts his course and approaches me in a small burst of speed.
"AAAHHH!!!"
A small scream from Nicole echoes around the area at the speed. I nearly fall down as he gently lands in front of me.
Nicole is holding on for dear life, and the rushing footsteps of the crowd behind him tell me there isn't much time. Instead of saying anything, I leap into his free arm. Snuggling closer to him, and he secures me in his grasp.
BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"SLOW DOWN, YA JACKASS!!!!!"
Nicole and I have different reactions to the instant and loud bursts of speed. Our hair is blown back as we soar through the air.
KAAAABOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!
"RAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
This time, we have the same reaction. I open my eyes and look at the ground. It's zooming past us, and everything is a blur. I lift my head, and there is no resistance from the air. It's like I'm being protected in Dannon's arms.
A whole planet is looking for this guy... And he's just wearing a smile as we scream our heads off... But after a few seconds, the fear leaves Nicole and me. We look at each other.
I don't know where we're at specifically, but he's taking us somewhere.
~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 3:30 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
My home comes into view after a minute or two of flying. I slow down and level out with my feet first. Landing softly and without issue. Nicole and Cassie let go of me as soon as we're on safe ground. I do the same for them.
They fall to the ground, breathing heavily. That was perhaps a little too much for their first time flying like that, but they were protected from anything harmful.
Before I can say anything to the two of them, the door to the back porch opens. Mom walks out, and she sees the two girls on the ground. Each of them has a hard time standing. She rushes in our direction and has a severe expression on her face.
"God, Dannon! You could've been easier with them... Going that fast for their first flight isn't an easy challenge."
Her voice is scolding and judgemental as she takes a knee between the two girls and helps them stand up.
"You may be used to moving at Mach speeds, but regular people aren't."
The tone in my Mom's voice tells me I messed up here, and that's something I don't do very often. My hand finds its way to the back of my head as I rub it awkwardly.
"Sorry, I figured getting away from that area was the best for us. Now, we're somewhere we can talk without issue."
All Mom does is roll her eyes in disapproval as she helps the two girls. I make my way over to them and give each an arm to hold onto. We start walking to the house, and as we do. Cassie and Nicole start getting better.
Once inside and on the couches, I look at their clothes. They're in rain gear, and I can't help feeling like an idiot. I really didn't take into account anything before taking off.
Both of them struggle to get out of the clothes, and after they do. They look at me not with anger, frustration, or anything negative.
Just looking at me as I stand in front of them.
Mom returns from the kitchen with warmed-up coffee for the two of them. Taking a seat on the chair adjacent to the couch. I don't want to make anyone more upset than they are, so I float off the ground and cross my legs.
Relaxing as they all stare at me.
"What?"
My voice has genuine confusion as I see the stares coming from them. Nicole and Cassie are on the more stunned and amused side.
Mom pinches the bridge of her nose as she takes a breath.
"I'm sorry he did that with you two. When he said he was leaving to handle something, I wasn't expecting him to bring people home."
Mom takes a breath to level herself out and looks at the two girls with a softer expression.
"It's good to see both of you again. I was worried Dannon wouldn't connect with anyone from his past after the truth came out."
I feel that I'll be spending a lot of time for the rest of today explaining and answering many questions from my two oldest friends.
Not that it's a bad thing.
~~~(POV: Julian D. Winters)~~~
~~~(Location: FBI Mobile Command Center, 25 Miles From Mayer Ranch, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 3:38 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 53 Years)~~~
My closest officers and the FBI agents we're working with watch the several TVs in the Mobile Command Center. Dannon Mayer paid a visit to Corvallis and OSU. Picking up two girls by the names of Nicole Deymer and Cassandra Freidman.
The media has made the connection thanks to this and people from their old high school who are at OSU right now.
"The Alien entity involved in the Antarctic Incident and Australian bushfires has been identified."
The reporter for CNN has a voice filled with excitement and eagerness. A picture of Dannon appears next to him.
"This is Dannon Mayer. The man from another world."
Now, the whole world knows of Dannon Mayer.
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