The following morning brought a task that James wasn't looking forward to. Convincing his grandparents to leave their home for a month was never going to be easy, but allowing them to stay in New York while Mr. Bethany went through with his coup would mean exposing them to an unacceptable level of danger.
The two elders had become increasingly reclusive since the Apocalypse, their once adventurous spirits tempered by the chaos that had reshaped the world. Their home had become their sanctuary, a place of safety amidst uncertainty.
James approached the conversation with resignation, knowing he'd have to work hard to convince them. He knew that the mere suggestion of travel would be met with resistance, but the stakes were too high for him not to try.
After breakfast, he found them in the living room. Larry read the newspaper while Rosa knitted by his side. The domestic scene belied James's tension as he broached the subject.
It's not like there is a good icebreaker for this kind of thing. Oh, look, somehow your twenty-year-old grandson will send you to a five-star resort for a month. There is no need to ask questions; everything is perfectly normal!
"Grandma, Grandpa, how would you feel about going on a vacation? Maybe somewhere nice and warm, away from the cold for a while?" James decided to be upfront from the start, trying to keep his tone light and enticing.
Rosa looked up from her knitting, her expression one of mild amusement. "A vacation? And why would we do that now, after all these years?"
Larry set aside the newspaper, his brow furrowing. "We haven't left this house for more than a day trip since... well, you know, the world went sideways. What's got into you, suggesting something like this now?"
"Exactly because of that!" He answered, trying to show some excitement. "You guys have been stuck here for too long. I have some contacts that made me a good offer, and you'd be perfectly safe since it's through the AA." That was one of the main reasons the tourism industry had faltered. Only the best hotels and resorts outside major cities could afford to have Awakeners on standby to guarantee the safety of their guests. Low-cost tourism, unfortunately, was a thing of the past.
"Now, dear, that sounds lovely, but we are too old. Even just leaving the house to get groceries is a hassle and a half!" His grandmother replied, laughing.
"But think about the opportunity this is!" James said, a bit of desperation creeping into his tone. He couldn't afford to let the two stay in New York, as he was sure they'd get caught up in the mess that was about to go down, especially without him there to protect them. "It won't happen again, and now you are still strong enough to enjoy it."
Unfortunately, James could see the walls going up, their comfort with the status quo a formidable barrier to his persuasion. He tried to appeal to their sense of adventure, reminiscing about the trips they used to take before the world changed, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The more he pushed, the more suspicious they became, their questions turning sharper, probing.
Realizing that subtlety and enticement would not work, James made a decision. He needed to tell them at least part of the truth.
This is going nowhere. They are stubborn like goats, and trying to push more would just seem suspicious. I can already sense they believe something weird is going on. I can't see any other way of getting them to agree than to tell them a bit of what's going on. Well, at least I'm not directly involved this time. That should make it easier to accept.
But first, he had to ensure their privacy. His sense of being watched had grown stronger since a few days ago when he had first found the spy working on the power lines, a persistent tickle at the back of his mind that he couldn't ignore.
Sighing, James took a moment to center himself and expand his psychic gaze. His metaphysical eyes immediately found the same man he had noticed days before, casually "checking" the plumbing of a nearby house. James's gaze hardened. The man's presence was no coincidence, and his Talent for controlling outgoing signals meant that any attempt to communicate electronically would be compromised.
Still, I don't think that guy can hear us talk. He shows no reaction to anything going on, and the only mana I can feel coming from him is spread in a cloud, capturing radio waves.
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That didn't mean he should take chances, however. Thus, James extended his psychic abilities, weaving a telekinetic bubble around the living room. The construct was subtle, designed not to alarm his grandparents or alert the man outside to its existence. It would serve as a barrier against eavesdropping.
"Grandma, Grandpa, there's something I need to tell you, and it's important that you listen and try to understand why I'm asking you to consider leaving for a while," James began, his voice carrying a seriousness that immediately captured their attention.
Rosa set aside her knitting, her expression turning concerned. "James, what's going on? Are you caught up in something dangerous?" She asked, inadvertently coming close to the heart of the matter.
Larry leaned forward, his demeanor protective. "Whatever it is, you can tell us. We're here for you."
Taking a deep breath, James explained the situation as best he could without revealing too much. He spoke of the dangers that had arisen since Miss Walker's disappearance, of powerful factions within the Awakener community that could pose a threat to them, and of Mr. Bethany's plan to ensure their safety.
"The world is changing again, or maybe it has never stopped changing and not necessarily for the better. There are people, powerful people, who wouldn't hesitate to use you to get to me, and me to get to him." James said, the weight of his responsibility bearing down on him.
Rosa's hands trembled slightly, but her voice was steady. "And you believe going away for a while will keep us safe?"
"Yes, I do. I will be going away for a while, too; it's a precaution to ensure that we're all out of reach until things settle down," James assured them, hoping to convey the situation's urgency without inciting panic.
Larry's jaw set, a determined glint in his eye. "And what about you, boy? What will you be doing while we're hiding away?"
"I'll be training, getting stronger. Some people have agreed to help me and my friends, but I can only focus on that if I know you're safe," James replied, his resolve firm.
The conversation continued, with James answering their questions and addressing their concerns as best he could. The initial resistance from his grandparents softened as they began to understand the gravity of the situation. The decision to leave was not made lightly, but in the end, the promise of safety outweighed their reluctance to leave their home.
I'm so glad they are reasonable people. I might have had to kidnap them if they said no.
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As the first light of dawn crept over the city, James stood at the window of his grandparents' home, watching intently as a sleek, black Marriott VIP van pulled up to the curb. The sight filled him with a complex mix of emotions - relief that his grandparents would soon be out of immediate danger, anxiety about the looming threats they all faced, and a deep, unsettling sense of solitude. He watched as Rosa and Larry Summers, with their modest bags, were greeted by the driver, a C-rank Awakener whose calm demeanor belied his significant power. James had been assured that his grandparents' safety was the driver's utmost priority, and as the van glided away from the curb, he allowed himself a moment of cautious optimism.
Ensuring his grandparents were safely en route out of the city was the first step in a much larger plan. Once the van had turned the corner and disappeared from view, James took a deep breath, steeling himself for the days ahead. His path led him towards a designated meeting point given to him by Mr. Bethany, a nondescript location in central Brooklyn that held the promise of new beginnings and formidable challenges.
James made his way through the city with deliberate care, weaving through the streets in a pattern designed to look casual to any onlookers that was anything but. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and plans, each step taking him further from the life he had known and deeper into the unknown. The journey felt longer than it was, but he was more than ready to get started when he got to the meeting point, where he could feel two known signatures.
There, an ice cream van awaited him, its nondescript exterior blending seamlessly with the cityscape. James hesitated for just a moment before opening the door and stepping inside.
There, he found Lauren and an old acquaintance, Mr. Julian, the monstrously powerful Awakener who had guided Team 0 through their first rank up. The air inside the refrigerated compartment was cool and crisp, and the atmosphere was charged with an unspoken tension.
Mr. Bethany told us we would have teachers to lead us, but I didn't expect he'd get one of the most powerful people in the States. Damn, that old man is much sneakier than I expected, and I knew he was planning a coup. It's the mustache, I think. It makes him look jolly and friendly.
Mr. Julian, dressed as always in understated clothes resembling a farmer’s, greeted the two with a nod. "James, Lauren," he began, his voice carrying the weight of years and experience, "Marcus is an old friend of mine, as you might imagine. Though I shall not partake in the political maneuvers he has planned, as my loyalties are... complex, I have agreed to take care of you two for the next month."
'Political maneuvers' is a nice way of saying he's trying to seize power, but I guess it's all about having an excuse if things go tits up. I'm surprised Mr. Julian is wasting time training us. Not many would be able to oppose him if he made his stance known. But that might be part of why he's not… Taking over the New York AA is one thing, but they still need to get the main offices to accept the change in management. Those fogeys cannot do much about it as long as it's not an overtly violent operation, since the organization operates on a federal structure. Still, any hint of improper behavior - beyond the arm-wrenching behind the scenes in these situations - would allow them to reject the change in power. This whole situation is so complex it’s still confusing me, and I put a ton of points in MIND.
Despite his turbulent thoughts, James listened intently, absorbing every word. The opportunity to train under someone as renowned as Mr. Julian was both an honor and a daunting prospect, considering how grueling the training had been the last time.
"I will train you to become decent enough Awakeners that you won't need to be shuttled off the next time something important happens," Mr. Julian continued, his gaze piercing, getting to the heart of the matter while the van pulled away from the city. "This won't be easy, nor will it be without risk. But I promise you, by the end of this month, you will be far stronger than you are now."
James and Lauren exchanged glances. They both would have liked having their teammates with them, but the necessity of more specialized training and avoiding notice meant they'd been divided into two groups. Still, considering who would be training them, James didn't feel they had lost out.
I have a strong feeling this month will make the last training session look like a kid's play, but the promise to make us strong enough to finally participate in these operations is too tempting.