"What?" I hollered back as I headed to the door, making it to the living room just as she responded.

"I know you didn't just what me, Chris."

I grinned at my mom as I flopped down on the couch across from her. It was dumb, but I couldn't help myself. I put a questioning tone in my voice.

"What?"

"Chris." A hint of warning was in hers, but I was committed now.

"What?"

I dodged a throw pillow that lived up to his name as I started to laugh and my Mom finally broke a smile.

"You are not funny, boy. Did you watch the speech?"

"How did anybody vote for that tool?"

"Cause he bought the election, like every other politician in the country. You'll figure it out when you're older. " She shook her head and tried to refocus the conversation. "Registration... tell me what you're thinking. "

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"I'm thinking hell no."

"Language"

"Sorry, I'm thinking heck no. What possible incentive would there be to narc yourself out like that?"

"It's not that simple, Chris. I think maybe you should do it. "

I just stared at my mom, utterly floored by her statement. Mom wasn't a tin foil hat, keep an eye out for black helicopters type, but she wasn't exactly your average soccer mom either. Mom's opinion of the top 1% that ran the country had been mentioned often and at a high volume. I couldn't believe she wanted me to toe the line.

"Are you messing with me right now? Sign up to get shipped to a ghetto?"

"Where do you think we live right now, son?" She waved her hand in the air like she was reading the last comment. "Give me some credit. Every 18 year old got offered the chance at the trials. Those with scary powers are gonna have the governed over their shoulder from now on, that's a given. How hard do you think they are gonna look at people who don't register?"

Without waiting for me to answer she continued on with the next question. "People who register and list some crappy power, how hard are they gonna get looked at? I think flying under the radar is going to be impossible, but blending into the middle of the pack won't be. "

"Yeah, cause the government is good at stuff like keeping track of people. That's why we don't have illegal aliens or drug dealers in the neighborhood. Have you been outside lately,mom?"

"Don't make me have to whip your ass, Chris. It's late and I'm tired. You're confusing can't and won't. Pop a couple brigades of the US army weapons free in the border then go house to house. They haven't done it here because they don't like the optics, but they've locked down other countries. If they pull the stops out, you would get caught. "

She sighed and suddenly my mom looked way older than she usually did. I was so used to seeing her a certain way, the tired old woman across from me could have been a completely different person. I hesitated, unsure if what to say, and she picked things back up.

"As much as I hate to say it, you're pretty much an adult now. At least adult adjacent. Part of adulting is making hard decisions and I'll support you the best I can, but it's up to you. Just, think it through. This trial stuff.. i don't know. I'm worried about you. I love you, Chris. "

"Love you too, mom."

"