The TALONS Files: the chronicles of telepathic agent Ryan Dart

Hangin' With Mom and Dad

It was a sunny Friday afternoon, as Ryan sat on his parent's patio set atop their deck. The wooden railed platform overlooked the backyard. He was currently mowing down a grilled bratwurst, trying to ignore his mother's worried and aggravated face. "So you're not even finished with your training, and you've been suspended for six months?"

Ryan swallowed down his food. "I know how it sounds, but the higher-ups are actually pretty impressed with me. So, they're stationing me in a neutral location for six months." Ryan wanted to tell her that he had saved the world, that he probably defeated the baddest guy on the planet. Yet, instead, he allowed her to think that he was simply a deviant student. It killed him inside.

"Where are you going to be?" His mother's face held a concerned and wary expression, as if she feared the answer.

"A retirement community in Florida."

"This is after your schooling?"

"Yeah, I'll move there in September."

His father cut in. "If they're moving you to Florida for the winter, they can't be that mad at you. It sounds like they're giving you a vacation before you get started."

This stirred excitement in Ryan. "I know, it's and hour and a half from Daytona Beach. It's just as close to Disney World and Universal Studios"

His mother wore a face of trepidation. "Just be careful. Your condition has been cured. I don't want it to come back again. Or you to get in worse trouble than you already are in."

Ryan nodded.

His mother started again. "How's the money holding out?"

With all the money he had spent on Damon's experiments, Ryan hadn't saved money before the mission. Yet, considering TALONS was now employing Damon's technologies in all vehicles, and also buying the handy watches, the hoodies were still being discussed, the Agency reimbursed all the money Ryan had invested. So, he had a healthy bank account. "Nearly twenty thousand. This agency pays for my boarding, food and when I go on company trips. Everything's covered."

His father eyed his potato salad as he exhaled in a soft voice, filled with enthusiasm. "You better buckle down then."

Ryan grabbed a second Brat, stabbing the slightly charred and crusty skin with a fork. As he place it on a slightly undersized bun, he heard the long drone of a car horn. Not a second later, Gunner's voice stole through the air. "Ryan, we're going to go to Walmart, care to join us?!"

His mother laughed, as she delighted at the sound of a car full of teenager's begging for Ryan's company. "They could come and have a brat."

Ryan threw some ketchup and onions on his meat and then stood. "Maybe next time." He said as he rose to leave.

"See you Sunday then?" His mother asked.

Ryan flashed a confused expression.

His mother feigned an appalled face, good humor underlying it. "You don't know what Sunday is?" She knew her son wasn't the best with holidays and events.

Ryan swallowed, with everything that was going on in his life, he really hadn't a clue.

His father chimed in. "It might be Mother's Day."

"Oh yeah. Definitely." Ryan said. He took a monster bite of his brat and marched around the house, towards the street where Gunner's Toyota Celica was waiting.