Bab 20: Opposition Appears
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~~~(POV: Eloise Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 17th, 7:12 AM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 38 years)~~~
Tuesdays are usually a good trading day for me, but the markets are too volatile today. I haven't taken a trade since last week. After all the announcements from the US government yesterday, it's had a clear impact on the markets.
Dannon's had an impact on the markets more than anything. When he started helping in Africa, stocks soared and fell like I've never seen before.
A sigh goes through my body as I pinch the bridge of my nose. I close the laptop and set it on the couch beside me. My eyes drift to the window, and it's not long before I'm up and looking out of it.
I see my son on Bullet as they're making their way back to the pens. He's wearing his working clothes and cowboy hat. It's hard to imagine that the little baby I was holding is a grown adult now.
Someone who races across the planet, helping those who need it. The day his ship crashed on the ranch, I knew he would change the world.
I walk away from the window and head for the front door. Grabbing my jacket and car keys. It's time for my monthly store trip to pick up groceries. We're running low on goods, and I could use an excuse to leave the house.
Ever since the military started acting as security around the property, I haven't been able to leave. Not that I've been forced to stay; I just felt like I wasn't supposed to. But I know Dannon will be there in a second if anything happens to me.
As I make my way to my car and get inside. Turning it on and giving it a minute to warm up, I pull out of my spot in the large driveway and start driving down the dirt road leading out of the property.
It doesn't take more than a minute to reach the exit, and as I approach the entrance to my ranch. Military and law enforcement see me coming. I have to slow down to a stop, and as I do. A man in officer attire approaches the vehicle.
I roll down my window to speak with him, and he takes off his hat and leans down to look into the car.
"Mornin' ma'am. I'm Colonel Zackery Mathews. I'm in charge of securing your property from any trespassers."
The man has a commanding and steady voice. He looks to be in his early fifties. I don't really know what to say, so being polite is the only thing that comes to mind.
"Nice to meet you, Colonel. I'm heading to town to pick up some groceries; mind telling your men to move aside?"
I speak in my sweet voice and show no hostility. However, the man adopts a more concerned look. I hope he doesn't start a problem cause I know for a fact Dannon is listening. The last thing I want to do is cause an issue with the military for my kid.
He looks toward a larger fabricated building across the street from the entrance. He holds his fingers on his right ear. I assume he's listening to someone on the other side.
After a few more seconds, he looks back at me.
"Sorry, ma'am. I'm under strict orders not to allow you to leave the property. Your absence from the ranch without proper protection poses a serious security ris-!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
He doesn't get a chance to finish telling me their reason for not letting me leave my property. I look in my rearview mirror, and my son gently lands behind the car.
The Colonel immediately stands up straight next to the car, and sweat beads begin forming. All of a sudden, Dannon is in front of the man. Towering over him with his large frame and great height.
The Colonel nearly falls down, but he's able to recompose himself. I watch my son's brilliant hazel eyes scan the military and law enforcement, blocking my exit from the ranch.
"She has protection. Let her through."
The words are slow and methodical. Chosen for not being a threat to the military and a way for me to leave without any hassle. Before the Colonel can say anything, the front doors to the fabricated building across the street open.
Out walks a younger gentleman around the age of 30. He's marching his way over and wearing a suit that suggests power. However, he's not wearing a form of identification.
On his approach, the Colonel steps aside. I see the older man roll his eyes slightly. He takes this chance to escape the situation and return from where I saw him approach my car.
I'm watching the 30-year-old stare at my son. He's around 5'10 and has to look up to my son.
"Mr. Mayer, please don't make this harder than it needs to be. Your Mother's safety is paramount to us, and it's safer if she remains on the ranch."
His words come out smoothly. There are no signs of intimidation or fear in him. He looks my son in his eyes, and I can see whoever this person is. They're not backing down from Dannon. I don't know if that's a wise decision on their end.
Dannon is kind and gentle, but I know there isn't anything in the world my son wouldn't do for me. That's dangerous in the eyes of many.
Instead of saying anything, Dannon steps forward. Making the man seem even smaller, but he doesn't shrink away in the slightest.
"As I said, she's protected. Step aside."
The man standing around five inches away from Dannon smirks. Its meaning remains hidden from me. I don't know anyone who'd smile like that when dealing with someone as powerful as my son.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous you'd be if someone were to harm or kidnap Ms. Mayer?"
Um...
This is changing into a topic that shouldn't be discussed at the ranch entrance. It's not a topic I want to talk about either.
The problem only grows as I watch Dannon turn his eyes away from the man. Looking at the soldiers and uniformed law enforcement in front of the car. As his eyes glide over everyone, you can see their nervousness.
Some of them have their hands tightly gripping their weapons. Not letting go for anything in the world.
Dannon looks back at the man, an expression of seriousness on him.
"Order them to move, or I'll move them for you."
That's when the man's confident and unfaltering disposition cracks. His smirk shakes just a little, and he squints his eyes slightly.
"Did you just threaten the lives of everyone here?"
My heart skips a beat, and a ball forms in my throat. I watch as Dannon's hand balls into a fist. He's about to say something, but I open my door and exit. Standing at the side of Dannon, holding his wrist.
His attention doesn't turn to me, but I know he's listening.
"It's okay, sweetie. I'll just turn the car arou-..."
"No."
The sudden rejection of my attempt to de-escalate the situation is thrown back at me. I don't know what Dannon is thinking.
"I've made myself perfectly clear. She's protected. Let her through, or I'll make a path for her."
This time, there is hostility and anger in his voice. My eyes bounce between him and the man. The reaction from the man is what worries me more. Instead of fear or retreat, all he does is smile.
He presses his finger on his ear, and I can only assume he's receiving orders now. I figure he's too young to be in charge, which means he's out here under orders from his boss, likely inside the fabricated building across the street.
"Okay. Have it your way, Mr. Mayer."
All the opposition and defiance the man was showing a moment ago disappears as he steps aside. He motions with his hand to let me through. All doing so with an expression showing nothing other than perfect calm.
Dannon turns back to me and looks me in the eyes. Giving me the impression I need to get in the car and drive. I do just that and hop in. Quickly pulling out of the entrance and starting my way down the road.
Looking in the mirror, I see another man exit the building. And walking across the street toward my son.
"I need to let him handle this..."
I focus on the road and try to ease my beating heart. Dannon is the one who should deal with these people. He doesn't have the experience, and I can't be the one getting in the way.
I just hope nothing bad happens.
~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 17th, 7:31 AM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
An older man exits the building across the street. He's wearing a suit similar to the man in front of me. They're all CIA, and from what I've been hearing. They're under orders to make sure nothing happens to Eloise Mayer.
All the while keeping tabs on me and my activities. This is really ruining my morning. The weekend can't come faster. I'm looking forward to taking Cassie and Nicole somewhere.
However, this crap is tanking my mood.
The man finishes crossing the street and stands next to the 30-year-old. He's wearing glasses, and his hair is completely grey.
"Mr. Mayer."
The man's voice is rough and gritty. Telling me he's experienced a lot in his life.
"I'll admit, my bosses won't be happy with you after what's happened here."
His bosses aren't my concern.
"My Mother is off limits. If I catch any of you or people you send on your behalf to invade her life or impede. There will be a problem."
He squints his eyes and stares me down. He's around 6'0, and doing his best to make me feel small. It'll never work.
"You have to cooperate with us, Mr. Mayer. You pose an imminent and present danger to the United States. Your Mother is a weakness people will try to exploit to get to you. We can be with her 24/7 and protect her from all dangers."
There isn't anywhere in the world my Mother can't go, and I can't be there in less than a second to save or protect her. I've never tested my speed limits, but I know this for a fact.
Lightspeed isn't out of reach for me.
Saying that I have to cooperate with them is a tactic to get me to engage in disadvantageous talks with them. All I've said this entire time is I can protect my Mom, and I'll move them out of the way if they don't themselves.
That's it.
That's hardly a threat to their lives. This entire charade is to get me to slip up so whoever is in charge of them can use it against me somehow.
I'm betting it's someone trying to get on the Dannon Mayer committee. It'll be a few months before its leaders are chosen, but that doesn't mean people aren't moving right now.
"As I've said before."
I watch the older man frown as I start to speak.
"She's protected."
He's about to say something else, but I lightly lift off the ground. Ignoring gravity and floating above them. My work clothes aren't intimidating like my Celaxian skinsuit. However, I'm not here to intimidate.
"Have a nice day, Special Agent Henry Adkins."
His eyes twitch just a little as I say his name.
"Oh, and I'd get that heart checked out soon if I were you."
That's when his eyes widen just a little, and he grits his teeth for a split second. The younger man beside him slips in his mask just a bit, too.
CRRRRRAAAAACCKKKK!!!
In an instant, I'm back at the house. Taking off my boots and getting out of my work clothes. It only takes a moment, and I'm in regular clothes.
Dealing with people like Mr. Adkins will be a part of my everyday life. People with agendas. He's just a foot soldier, but who he works for is someone that is targeting me.
For what purpose, only time will tell.
~~~(POV: Henry Adkins)~~~
~~~(Location: Fabricated Building, Outside Mayer Ranch, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 17th, 8:06 AM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 59 Years)~~~
Johnny is sitting across from me as he reads a report on what Eloise Mayer is doing right now. She's still grocery shopping.
He did well today. Confronting and opposing someone like Dannon isn't something any regular man has the balls for. His father would be proud. He carries the name of Jackson with honor, and when he replaces me soon. He'll be ready.
"Mr. Jackson."
Suddenly, one of our agents enters the room with papers in his hands. Grabbing the attention of my protege.
"The Contact wants a report."
That's all the man needs to say before he leaves. We've already discovered that Dannon has several abilities, what they are. We're still finding out his power. Among his unbelievable strength, speed, and flight.
We've found out he has incredible hearing. To the point, he can probably hear anything in the world, no matter where he is.
It's caused us out here near the property to take precautions. Our boss is called The Contact. That way, Dannon can't hear his name.
We don't send messages to our boss through verbal reports or calls. It's all on paper, carried in person through a secure chain. The only interaction is human.
My thoughts are interrupted as Johnny stares at me. Putting the paper on the table as he does.
"How did he know about your heart?"
It's suspected that Dannon has x-ray vision. He probably used it on everyone there and saw something going on. I've been having chest pains and issues lately, and I've been putting it off. Johnny is the only one I've talked with this about.
"He's an Alien, Johnny. How am I supposed to know?"
He's probably listening to us right now.
It's really concerning what he can do. I'm worried about what else we'll find out.
~~~(POV: Eloise Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Driving Car, Highway, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 17th, 1:26 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 38 Years)~~~
It's taken me way longer than usual to do my shopping, mainly because of all the hindrances people provide. More than I thought recognized me.
Being recorded and followed around with phones made things very difficult. Thankfully, the staff at the stores helped me keep people far enough away.
The extra security from the government doesn't seem so bad now.
All jokes aside, living my daily life outside the farm has changed...
I've been talking with old friends I had before Dannon entered my life or before his powers manifested. At a point in my life, I thought Dannon was normal and allowed him to be seen. But when his strength and invulnerability showed up, things changed.
I had to protect him, and by doing that. I made sure no one had a chance to see how different he was. They'd question more than just his abilities.
They'd ask where I got him.
It was best then, but I'm finding out I need friends. People that I know.
I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my friends. Hopefully, they feel the same.
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