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~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 4:43 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
The ranch is in view as I slow down. I look toward the front of the property in my descent and see the media gathering. Along with who I assume are ordinary people. As I land in the backyard, I can't help looking toward the horse pen.
It's been a few days since I took Bullet out for a ride, and I could use some time to clear my head. I make my way to the house first. Once inside, I see Mom sitting on the couch.
She's watching TV. More specifically, the news channels. Every station likely has a reporter at the front of the property. I didn't look for who is here and who isn't.
"Mom."
She jumps out of her skin as I stand behind the couch she's sitting on. She spins her head and looks at me with a red face. Half smiling and half upset.
"Jesus, Dannon! You scared the shit out of me!"
Her hand finds its way over her heart. Trying to ease the racing of it. After a couple seconds, she taps the seat next to her on the couch. Indicating for me to sit down.
"Actually, I was coming in here to tell you that I'm taking Bullet out for a stroll. It's been a while since we stretched his legs."
Bullet is my best friend aside from my Mom, and he's a horse. A farm animal that helps me take care of the chores. I've had him since I was a teenager, and he's in the prime of his life. Not taking him for walks is a waste.
Mom smiles at the slightly excited tone in my voice. I can't help it. I'm always able to clear my head by doing work around the farm.
"Go ahead. Before you go, are Nicole and Cassie alright? I'm assuming you just dropped them off and came straight back."
She's right. I didn't stick around for more than a couple of minutes after I brought them back to OSU. I wanted to get back to the farm in case anything happens here. Nicole and Cassie know how to get ahold of me if they need anything.
"Yeah, they're safe. They wanted me to stick around and show me their dorms, but I didn't want to leave the ranch with so many people outside the perimeter."
The only thing Mom seems to hear is Nicole and Cassie wanting to show me their dorms. A smile that I've never seen on her appears, and she turns to look at the TV again.
"You've got a lot to learn about women still... Anyway, go have fun with Bullet. I'm sure he's as excited as you are."
I don't know exactly what she's getting at as she says that... Either way, I turn around and leave out the door I came through. The world crawls to a standstill, and everything is frozen as I walk toward the pens.
To anyone but me, it would seem like I've disappeared. Super speed has its advantages, and this is one. As I make it to the pens, the world returns to normal. After a couple of steps, Bullet sticks his head out of his pen at the end.
Seeing that it's me, his own expressions of excitement make a showing. He starts smacking his lips and nodding his head as I approach.
"I know, I know. It's been a couple days, bud. Don't worry, we'll spend a good long while checking the property and making sure nothing needs taking care of."
I open his pen, and he walks out. Instantly making his way to the area, I keep the saddles. He's been waiting for a long time, by his standards. It only takes me a second to saddle him up. I lightly float off the ground and get on the saddle.
As I do, he immediately starts moving to the exit of the pens. The moment we're in the open fields, that's when he knows that he can start running.
I need some time to clear my head, and this is a perfect opportunity.
~~~(POV: Eloise Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 6:25 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 38 Years)~~~
My eyes drift to the clock in the corner of the living room. Showing it's almost 6:30 at night. Dannon and Bullet have been gone for almost an hour and a half. It doesn't normally take that long for them to do rounds.
Then again, Dannon does chores in the morning. The fact is he's just getting some time away from everything. Not that I blame him. I want to hop into my car and drive. Get away.
"The military is forcing us to vacate from the property line, Helena. We're being escorted away at gunpoint."
Ken, the field reporter for CNN outside at the ranch entrance, is giving live updates. It looks like the military has become fed up with them, too. Not only are media officials being escorted away, but so are regular people who are here.
I can't help thinking that I should be the one working with the media and military. Dannon is the one who'll have to race around the world, helping people. Sure, I've already got a job with day trading.
But this could be a way I'm actually useful to my boy in this incredibly hard time. Then again, I have no experience in any of this.
I don't know how to talk to the media or government on an official basis. Naedra could help with all this. If I asked her, she'd be able to help me. Before I ask her for help, I'll have to ask and see if Dannon is okay with it.
Dannon needs to be okay with me helping him. If he doesn't want me to do this, then I'll have to respect that.
"Okay, we're getting reports that camera equipment is being confiscated and being forcefully removed from the perimeter. I'm being told that people need to move a minimum of five miles away."
This time, it switches from Ken to Helena. I'll admit, how flustered they are is a little funny. It's not every day the media gets treated this way.
I hear the back door open, and I turn to see that it's Dannon. He comes in, and his clothes are a little dirty.
"Looks like you had some fun."
The amused and teasing tone in my voice causes him to smile. Before he says anything, he disappears and reappears on the seat beside me. Dressed in completely different clothes. I teasingly smack his shoulder, thanks to him showing off.
"I take it you've been watching the news channels now that the public knows who I am."
His words are more of an observation than it is a question. I've been surfing the channels since he left with Nicole and Cassie.
"Yep, checking to see if anything happens. Nothing serious, but you never know."
I'm honestly worried that people will try to break into the property. That's being taken care of at the moment. However, that might not be something we have the privilege to forever.
"Nothing happening that I need to help with?"
This time, it's a genuine question. The answer to that question is hard, but I know of a perfect way to put it.
"That depends on what you want to help with, sweetie."
My tone is soft and disarming. I don't want him getting his head twisted and confused, thinking certain things he doesn't need to worry about.
"What do you mean..."
Dannon needs to seriously consider what he'll help with and not help with. He hasn't told me anything regarding that. I'm sure he's thought about it, but he hasn't shared anything with me yet.
"What I mean, sweetie, is the limit you set yourself too. You haven't talked to me about whether or not you'll interfere in wars and conflicts. In politics."
I watch as his expression gets more serious the longer I talk. Explaining to him that there is a lot I don't know about what he's considered doing.
"If you'll fight crime or not. Are you only going to help when natural disasters occur or if anyone calls out for help?"
His eyes turn away from me and look off into the carpet. Just from seeing that, I know he's thought about this alone, which is perfectly fine. I just need to know what he's thinking so I can help him the best way I can.
He scratches the back of his and sighs. Indicating that he's already come to a decision. I know my son and his quirks.
"I've been thinking about that a lot, and what I've come to is rather simple."
I lean in closer unconsciously. Eager to hear what he plans to do.
"Until people get used to the idea of me, I'll only be helping with natural disasters and disaster recovery. I don't know if interfering in wars and politics is something I'll ever do, Mom."
He takes on a softer expression... One with solemness filling his features.
"Unless innocent people are being slaughtered... If they call out for my help... Then that's when I'd interfere."
As he slowly speaks and explains himself, I can't help tearing up a little. Cause I know everything he's said will come to pass. There will be people in war zones who will cry out for him.
People will beg for his help. Beg him to save their lives. When that happens in a place of war and terror, I can't help being afraid of the repercussions. But it's about the innocent, and Dannon won't ignore them.
My son will help the people who call for him. The ones who really need it.
That much, I know.
"You can ask me for anything if you ever need help; you got that?"
He slowly nods his head with a small smile. His arm finds its way around my shoulders for a one-arm sideways hug.
"Thanks for always being there for me, Mom."
He kisses the side of my head and stands up. Heading in the kitchen for some food. My attention turns back to the TV, and this time, I pick up the remote and turn it off.
Time for a break with all this.
~~~(POV: Cassandra Freidman)~~~
~~~(Location: Oregon State University, Dorm Room B7, Corvallis, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: April 27th, 7:21 PM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
All my thoughts are dwelling on what I saw today. After so long, seeing Dannon again brought all those old feelings up to the surface. I'm sure Nicole has the same happen to her. She and her boyfriend must be talking right now.
Oliver and Nicole have a really good relationship, and I couldn't say if she'd break up with him. If there were anyone in the world to break up for, it'd be Dannon.
"Is it really okay..."
I've been thinking about calling Dannon and asking him for a date. But I've been waiting to see what Nicole does. If she decides to stay with Oliver, then I'll pursue my feelings for Dannon. If she breaks up with Oliver, I'll step away.
It sucks cause I don't have anyone else to talk with about this. I can't talk to Nicole about this, and I certainly can't with Dannon. If I talked with any of our mutual friends, they'd know that I was talking about Dannon.
"I need to get my mind off this. There isn't much to do on a Wednesday night... Maybe just going to a bar will get my mind off it."
Instead of sulking on my bed, I get up and leave. A destination already in mind. As I'm walking on the campus, people are staring at me. Watching me.
That's when the reality that my connection with Dannon will mean my life is never the same again. I don't want to be followed by the media. I don't want my life ruined by fame.
I'm not some girl who feeds off attention. I only have an Instagram cause my friends have it. A part of me thinks I should take a page out of Dannon's book and go off-grid. He doesn't have any form of social media.
As I'm walking down the street, I can see a couple of cars slowly following me. The cameramen in their cars give them away. I see my favorite bar up ahead, and I enter with haste.
It's rather empty today, and that's good. I can get drunk in peace without having some pervert hit on me for 30 minutes.
Okay, that's a little harsh. A lot of guys aren't pervs. I'm just not in the mood to deal with anyone right now.
~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~
~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~
~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 1st, 7:31 AM PST, 2022)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~
It's a beautiful Sunday morning on this day in Spring. The air would be considered cold and bitter, but the sun is shining regardless. That's the weather here in Oregon. It's the weather I love since it creates perfect mornings like that.
Walking along the fence line and checking out the herd of cows is one of my more important chores. Bullet is happily trotting along.
Four days have passed since I revealed myself to the world, and it's been three days since the media and public linked the Alien to Dannon Mayer.
I turn to look at the porch in the distance, and Mom is sipping her coffee.
These last few days have been more peaceful than I thought it'd be. But today is a day that I haven't been looking forward to. I'm supposed to meet with General Julian D. Winters. At 11:00 AM today.
We'll be meeting at the FBI Mobile Command Center, that's located 25 miles from the ranch. It's been their base of operations since they made first contact with me.
Bullet and I finish our rounds of the property, and we make it back to the pens. After filling Bullets feeding trough, I return to the house. Mom is already back inside, likely still waking up. I focus on the living room, where she's on her laptop.
I see the familiar graphs of the stock market. Since it's Sunday, the markets are closed. She's likey preparing for tomorrow's market.
She sees me and closes the laptop.
"I'm happy to see you happy, sweetie. Mind telling me what's got you so smiley today?"
The curious edge in Mom's voice makes me chuckle as I sit down on the couch next to her. I put my feet up on the coffee table. Picking up the remote and turning on the TV.
"Just glad that we've had peace and quiet for the last few days. I thought it'd disappear, but I'm happy it's lasted this long."
Mom feels the same way I do about how important our privacy is. The government and military have been keeping people away on our behalf for us.
But I don't know how long that'll last.