The Unveiling - Modern Magic: Book 1

Chapter 28

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Chapter 28 – Uncertain Future

"Get it right up ye, Scabby bassa!" I had never heard my grandfather curse before, or at least I assumed he was cursing given the situation and his tone. He stood and began pacing. The video on the tablet had switched over to local news anchors discussing the announcement. "That's the Gov'nor back where yer from?" I nodded. My brain was whirling too quickly for me to be able to speak coherently yet. "He's off 'is head if he thinks that'll blow through wit'out someone screamin' bloody murder!" I let him burn through his frustration. I had already had my share back in April.

As Alistair continued pacing, I focused back on the tablet screen. A local news anchor was discussing Governor Andrews's speech. Apparently there was already a set of bullet points for the key bits of information that were revealed. Even though the font and color were the same, the point marked 'Increased Security for Government Buildings' might as well have been glowing neon green with giant red arrows pointed at it. What did that mean? Other than the obvious, of course - the purpose was clearly to identify and block Magi access to those buildings. I blinked, remembering the speech. It was more than just blocking access, he all but said he was going to detain them without charge or intention of a trial. With the far-reaching and general power of the Patriot Act, he could accomplish this by claiming their connection to 'Likely Terrorist Groups'.

I clenched my hands, feeling the frustration of seeing terrible things on the horizon without knowing what I could do to stop them. My grandfather finally finished pacing and sat down next to me again. "We gotta call your mum. This is gonna change things." I nodded, already focusing my mind on how to bring up this problem over an unsecured phone call.

Alistair dialed my mom's number and it was barely two rings before I heard her voice. "Hello?"

"Hi mom, it's me and grandpa. We got your link to that article. I bet dad's really busy now with all the reporters wanting updates of the research program, huh?" I tried to work in the idea of the press and official conferences to show her that I had connected the dots from her innocuous news article.

"He is! But of course the Governor is a lot more of the focus of the questions for now. I'm sure that will bounce around a little depending on how things go from here, but your father does seem a bit more stressed than usual." She picked up my hint.

My grandfather leaned forward slightly as he spoke into the phone, set to speaker. "Tell 'im to be careful or he'll put 'imself in an early grave. Lad's gotta learn to loosen up every now an' then."

My mom laughed good-naturedly. "Of course, of course. He's just determined and hard-working. You know the type, Dad." I wondered if she had the chance to tell him everything or not, but I couldn't find a good way to carefully bring it up over the phone.

"It really sounds like Boston is going to be a busy place soon!" I tried to get an idea of the timetable for the implementation of the new security protocols in a round-about way.

"Yes, I think it will. I've heard there are so many reporters from national new agencies running around that traffic has been horrendous. I don't think I've ever been happier to work from home!" She was giving me an opportunity, so I took it.

"You know... I've really liked the quiet up here, and I really don't have any plans for the fall. Would you mind if I stayed up here and did some research about Grad School programs for the spring?" To any outside listener - or any computer program sifting for key phrases - it would sound like a perfectly reasonable request.

"Hmm... I don't know. I know we've missed you here, but if there are no set plans for the fall, there really wouldn't be a lot you could do before the spring anyway." My mom paused like a pro, just like if she were considering whether or not to let her only son stay away from home for another four months. "Let me talk to your father about it when he gets home from work. We don't have to decide right this second."

I smiled, it made perfect sense. To make a big decision like that without talking to my dad would have been strange. I was sure she would be pushing for him to agree with it though. "Yeah, of course. No rush. Tell dad to relax every now and then!" I looked over at Alistair for confirmation as I continued. "We just have some errands to run today, so we'll go through those this morning and be home the rest of the afternoon. Just call whenever dad is home from work."

"Of course, honey. I'm glad you're having a good time up there. Dad? He's not being a burden at all?"

Alistair laughed openly. "Are ye kiddin'? He's halved the turn-around time on most o'the work I get at the Marina. The Lad's gotten pretty useful at choppin' wood too; most o'the logs he chops are useable as firewood now." He nudged me playfully as I laughed along. "It will be no burden at all to have 'im up here for another few months. So don't you go worryin' about that."

The conversation fell back into the normal update of how things had gone since the last call. I found that I wasn't as hesitant about staying in Vancouver for double the originally planned time. Not having Diana to go back to was probably a huge factor, or maybe it was the idea of seeing her again that was keeping me from wanting to go back. I was working towards being over the breakup, so it was still rough sometimes.

My grandfather and I ran our normal errands and were back home before 2pm our time, definitely before my dad would be home from work. I found myself sitting next to Alistair on the couch, staring at his cell phone sitting on the table. "What's the worst case scenario?" I already had a good idea, but I found myself needing another opinion. Genetic memories are wonderful for teaching us to avoid errors of the past, but they were practically useless in guessing what will happen in the future.

"Worst case?" He paused, maybe not wanting to voice his own worries, similar to me. "Lad, the world isn't ready for somethin' like this. Maybe it'll never be. Whether or not that's the case... this was the worst possible way ta show we exist." I nodded, that being my assessment as well. "So, in a worst case... hunting? Maybe exile to our own personal island - prob'ly Antarctica." He chuckled lightly, but I could tell that idea wasn't entirely implausible.

"What do we do... if the worst case ends up being reality?" I really knew there were only two options, but I couldn't figure out which one was right.

"I donnae know about you or any other Magi out there, but I'm gonna fight. 'Do not go gentle into that good night', right Lad?" There was a spark in my grandfather's eyes. I believed him, and I laughed lightly, shaking my head as I jumped to the next pertinent line from that poem.

"'Rage, rage against the dying of the light'? I can see the draw for that." I could see the appeal, but I wasn't sure whether or not I would choose it - if faced with that choice. "I guess I just hope it somehow doesn't come to that." I felt my mind wandering to what possible events could alter our future.

Alistair's heavy hand rested on my shoulder. I looked over into warm, smiling eyes. "It's no shame to not wanna fight, Lad. It doesn't make you weak or less o'a man. Just donncha let that desire get so stuck that you don act when it's needed." I nodded. I guess a part of me had worried about not doing my part to protect Magi as a whole. I couldn't even remember ever thinking of all Magi like that. Sure, I cared about my family, my friends, and there were some connections to other Progenitor lines that had gone back generations, but ALL Magi? I might have to start thinking in those terms soon.

Any further conversation was halted when my grandfather's cell phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was time to call home again.

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A/N:  "The Unveiling" has an actual cover now!  I posted a note on my page about the wonderful artist, Tanya Provines.  It was a great experience working with her through her creative process, and I'm definitely considering working with her again for Books 2 and 3 of the Modern Magic trilogy!