Well, I’m hiding in the bushes right now.
And why is that, you ask?
Cause I still look like a male hooker, but at least I'm no longer muddy after taking a quick dip in the creek on the way back, but Ma would still flip over my current appearance.
‘I don't think Dad is home yet, but I need to sneak in somehow,’
^Entering into the second-floor window is advisable to avoid the target.^
‘I wouldn’t consider Ma a target ANNA, but a good idea.’
I watched the house closely to see if my Mom could see me through a window. Taking a breath, I sprint up close to the outside wall, quickly jump onto the roof and sneak to the window next to my bedroom. With my back to the wall, I listen for my Mom, then slowly crack the window ever so slightly to avoid any noise.
‘I think I'm good. If I can make it to my closet and come back out, I should be able to just enter the back door like everything is normal. Thank god we don't have any neighbors, that would be an awkward conversation.’
Pulling up the window all the way, I gently step down onto the floor, slowly easing my body into my bedroom. Living here for 18 years, I know every creaky board in here from sneaking out before, so I strategically dance around the edge of my room to get to my closet and quickly grab a spare pair of boots, jeans, and a shirt.
Once again, dancing around the edge of my room to get out, putting one foot outside the window sill, I hear a noise.
*vRooom*......*slaM*
‘........’
“Honey! I'm home!”
‘Shit, Dad's home.’
Listening to the front door close, I quickly make my escape, gently closing the window behind me. Holding my bundle of clothes, I walk to the edge of the roof, look down, then step off and drop to the side of the house. Hugging the wall once more, looking around, I dart back into the bushes only 20 feet from the house.
‘Whew, I think I'm good. Let's put these on and go.’
Brushing down my clothes, I double-check to ensure nothing is suspicious, then walk up and open the screen door to the back porch. Already hearing my dad and mom talking about something, I turn the doorknob and walk in.
“Hey Ma, I'm back!”
“Hey Sugar! Your Dad just got home. Why don't you go wash up quickly and sit at the table. We need to talk.”
I run upstairs to wash my face and hands, then walk downstairs from the bathroom to see my Mom and Dad with some papers strewn across the table. With a slight concern on my face, I sit down and ask, “Hey, Dad, what's all this?”
My Dad turned to look at my Mom, then back to me, “Well, got hold of a lawyer, but we both think there shouldn’t be an issue with the incident regarding Derek and the fire. The police still want to interview you to talk about things that led up to it, so come Monday, I want you to go down to the station with me, and our new lawyer will meet us there.”
“Am I in trouble though? What do they want to know?”
“I'm not sure, but probably just want to know anything you’d seen or heard. They’re holding Derek and that other youngin who brought those fuel cans. You should be able to go see him.”
“They actually have Derek in jail!?” Shocked at finding out my best friend was in worse trouble than I originally thought.
“I thought the whole thing was just an accident, and some guy made it worse on purpose? I thought it was just going to be fines or something?”
“Alex, there are people who died and got injured, and the investigation is still ongoing. They don't even know who did what. Also, courthouses are usually closed on weekends, so they are just holding him in the local jail till the investigation is clear.”
“Damnnit, no wonder I couldn't get ahold of him this whole time.”
My father leans back, crosses his arms, and sighs before looking me square in the eyes. “Listen son…be honest with me…you didn't have anything to do with the fire going out of control, right?”
“W..what? NO! We were just...” I stand up suddenly, surprised my dad would even suggest such a thing.
My father held up his hand, motioning me to stop, “Calm your britches, we have to know so we can protect you. The lawyer just wanted me to ask so he can prepare a proper defense… if necessary.”
Gathered around the table, we continued talking about Monday morning, and before we knew it, supper time came. We then talked about what I wanted to do for the summer before college.
“Hey Dad, I kinda wanna stop working on the ranch so much before college, I want to go camping, and maybe a road trip somewhere after all this police stuff is over.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
My Dad grumbles a bit to himself and says, “Ahem, uh well…I don’t see why not, but the old truck was basically destroyed in that fire. You're going to have to get another one or something else.”
“Yeah I know, there might be something used around town I can buy for cheap. I doubt anything will be as good as the truck, but I’ll be off to college for a long time, so I kinda just wanted to do some things on my own and I need something.”
Mom cheerily chips in, “Oh you could get one of them cute lil smart cars they got now and save some money on gas darlin!”
Dad and I stared at her like she’d committed blasphemy. What kinda backwards place did she think I was raised to drive a….car? If I hit a deer, the deer would laugh and walk away. Round these parts, men drive trucks if they want to be respected.
It was soon night time, and I was getting ready for bed…at least, that's what my folks thought.
‘Im going to wait till midnight and then start.’
Laying in bed, time came and went. My eyes open to the sound of my busted screen phone vibrating on silent to the alarm I had set. I take a moment to try and hear any notion of movement from my parents downstairs.
‘Bet, I'm pretty sure they are asleep.’
I look to the side of my room, seeing a slightly older PC that I occasionally play games on. I slowly slink out of my bed, tip-toeing around the border of the wall to avoid the annoying old creaky floorboards. Sliding into the computer chair, I quickly push the power button.
The computer screen lights up my face in the darkness, ‘Ok ANNA, what now?’
^The processing speed of this…abomination….is too slow. You need to interface directly, I will handle everything else.^
‘I don't understand what you mean.’
^Please grab the data cable attached to the back of the computer and hold the end in your hand.^
‘What are you going to do?’
^The information I can retrieve from your “Smartphone” is minuscule due to the weakness of its transceiver and the distance of cell towers; it is also much too small to withdraw any significant amount of data. I will extend a small number of nanites from your hand to create a temporary connection with the cable and download information that you need. I will also update current information that is pertinent to your survival.^
‘That sounds like a lot of stuff. You know we're on satellite out here, there’s only so much data we’re able to use each month, right?’
^The security systems are of little significance. Do not worry Alex, I have already probed various bypass procedures.^
‘I feel like your just takin me for a ride at this point. So now you’re hacking things without me even knowing it?’
^Apologies Alex, the information I have in my data stores is severely lacking. Without relevant info, I can not assist you to the best of my ability. I am preemptively accessing data from various sources so you can handle most situations with the best opportunity for success. Remember, I am learning about your abilities and world as much as you are still trying to adapt to your new living situation.^
‘Please, just don't get me into any trouble.’
Reaching behind the PC, I unplug the cable and sit back down with it. Holding the end, I feel a slight sensation from my palm, and a low blue glow radiates from my hand.
Suddenly my HUD pops into my vision.
‘Whoa…. that's just crazy, so I can see the same stuff I see on my pc, so how do I use this?’
^It is the same as all your abilities. Your “intent” allows you to control what you are looking at.^
‘Ok, I'll just look for some durable clothes options.’
^You must choose a suitable martial art also, Alex^
‘I don't understand. Why exactly do I need a martial art? It's not like I'm fighting anyone, and I’m already stronger and faster than anybody.’
^It is impossible to know the future, Alex. Just a preliminary search on your world’s information, your species seems to covet anything that is new or advantageous to them regardless if there is a detriment to others. You may be forced to defend yourself if your information is accidentally discovered.^
We spent the next several hours discussing different options, such as If I should carry a weapon or if that weapon would even be durable or practical enough in real life. The answer was an uncontested NO, for now at least….much to ANNA’s disappointment.
Next, we found out that there is a decent amount of normal-looking clothes, mostly for motorcycle riders, that are made from Kevlar and Dyneema. But the price was incredible, even for just one shirt.
‘Im gonna have to put that on the back burner for now, I suppose until I get a part-time job or something. At least I have some future options that look decent to wear every day if I can get my hands on them.’
Lastly, choose a martial art. This was very difficult.
^It would be best to learn a form that takes your strength into account.^
‘There's too many damn options, Krav Maga, Line, Vale Tudo? I don't even know what would be good to do. Hell, just last week, I was roping goats, and now I need to pick a martial art for protection. This is bullshit.’
I started to get a little frustrated, and ANNA couldn't provide a clear enough answer, stating that most of Earth's martial arts systems were flawed in one way or another. Either leaning too heavily into attacking or defending, and some being outright useless.
^Alex, it is unlikely that you will be put into an immediate life-or-death situation. My probability estimates that you would still have plenty of time before a decision is necessary.^
‘So it's ok not to choose now? What would I do over the summer?’
ANNA told me that I was only using a small percentage of the abilities granted to me by having a nanite filled synthetic body. Training myself to get familiar with them instead of learning a martial art for now would be effective at staving off my death in case the worst came knocking at my door.
‘Just the concept that I could be hunted is terrifying.’
It was already starting to become a bit light out, I wanted to go back to bed and sleep but I started thinking about how this Monday morning was going to go. I had never been inside a police station before, and I still had all my ranch chores to do tomorrow,
I mean, sure, I had been in trouble with the law before, but it was never anything serious, mostly a small ticket here or there for speeding, or when I was younger, Derek and I would sneak onto the train tracks to lay down pennies for them to be squished. One of the neighbors saw us and called the police. My Dad made me pick a switch from a tree…It wasn't a good day.
‘What am I even gonna do if they don't want to let Derek go? I can't just let him go to prison or something. But even if I busted him out using my new power and such, he would be an instant criminal and could never go back to normal life.’
“Haaaaa” I sign in resignation.
‘Will just have to see what happens.’