As we approach Obama International Airport, there is a new set of camera crews waiting for me; they know the drill. Molly briefs me before I make any public comments and the rest of the possy begins to deboard the three Escalades that followed me. Molly starts talking as Fanto shuts the door. 

"Colman, your performance was great, but maybe next time we can do a little better? In the past, you have had fifteen people attack you and this morning was only two. The strategy of biting your sunglasses into a shank will get you viewers but the powder you blew was a bit boring. Next time, the Keepers asked for more blood. We are trying to get the Press to report that the two men who attacked you were from a training program in Russia so that we can boost ratings." 

"Wow, we have resorted to saying anything we wanted and ask that people take our word as fact?" I ask. 

"Colman, don’t be like that. You know your job you know mine. Let’s not forget that this is a team effort." 

"So this team effort involves me and who else? I only see myself in front of that camera. Did I miss someone? Did post-production crop someone out? Where is that other twenty-year-old that was born to die?" 

"Listen here. You know that I do not like this anymore than you do. I took this job because I wanted to protect you. There is no other reason for me to be here. I did not pick this life for you, and I know you did not pick this life for you. However, I am trying to make the best of this situation. So, let’s put a smile on that face of yours and get out there for those cameramen! They have been waiting for the last fifty minutes." 

"Okay. Where exactly am I going again today? Did you say something about Russia?" 

"Do you not listen to anything I say?" Molly exclaims. "That was my attempt at humor." 

I smile at her. 

"You are hopeless." 

"That’s my middle name baby," I say as I strap on my smile and open up the door to the clicks and flashes of the camera." 

-COLMAN! COLMAN! Over here! COLMAN! Over here, over here. Give us that smile, big guy! COLMAN! 

They scream my name repeatedly as I place my first boot outside. 

*Boot. Place. Set. One. Two. Three. Next. Pant. One. Two. Three. Arm. One. Two. Three. Four. Head.* 

The screams of the people at the tarmac fence make me smile even more widely. Three Siv girls in the front row faint while two more Siv girls, who look about my age, pull up their shirts. There are a few adult Sivs, who I assume were brought along by their daughters (or sons), I do not discriminate. They do not look happy to be here at all. Much to the dismay of Molly and the camera crews, I stroll over to the fence and notice that there is one girl in the back with her back turned to me. That never happens. People risk their lives to catch a glimpse of me and this girl is not turned in the right direction. Maybe she is blind? Yep, that is it. 

As I get closer to the fence, the screaming gets louder until it turns into a wail. My smile automatically gets larger which prompts for even more screaming. I reach the fence and Sivs frantically jab their arms through the chain-links wanting to touch me. Papers are shoved at me. The screaming is getting louder. Damn, that blind girl should have turned by now. I finish signing autographs, fill my pockets with all the numbers that were thrown on me, and kiss a Siv girl through the fence. The screaming became a high-pitched gurgling noise now which indicates my time to leave. 

"Thank you guys for all being here. I have the best fans in the world. Thank you for making me the Alpha I am today! I appreciate you all." 

Two more Siv girls pass out; the adult female Sivs are now reaching to take their clothes off as the adult male Sivs try to keep their Partner’s clothes on. A few girls start trying to climb the fence but are shocked by the fence’s electricity. They fall to the ground, but just like champs, they get back up screaming. I turn away and start heading back to address the reporters who are waiting for me. 

-COLMAN! How are you feeling today? Is today your Execution? We would all miss you! COLMAN! Where are you going? How was your Encounter this morning? Were you hurt? What is your favorite color? Who was the last Being you slept with? 

Generally, towards the ends of these questions, the reporters lose their inhibitions and start foaming at the mouth wanting to know the smallest details about me even though they can see everything already. I chuckle and give them a big smile and call on one of my camera crew. "

Yes, Venessa." 

"Colman, I was with you this morning when those two men attacked you at your apartment building. What crossed your mind that made you able to execute them? I imagine you were not fully awake yet." 

"Vanessa great question," I say, as I hear a sigh escape from all the others standing there. 

"You know I was thinking there is no way that I am going to let these two buffoons take me out in my apartment. I live in that building for Spike sake. My Execution was not going to be in my only place of refuge. I also had a great breakfast this morning so I was ready to go…" 

"What did you have?" she interrupts. 

"I had ten egg whites, scrambled with spinach, ham, and Mozzarella cheese. Then I had a bagel with salmon cream cheese. After that, I made myself a smoothie with spirulina, kale, egg yolks, bananas, strawberries, some coconut milk, protein powder, and apple juice." 

The reporters love when I describe what I eat. Food is still limited in The Country and many Sivs do not even have enough to eat. 

"Do you think you will have another Encounter today? The Country just passed a Regulation that Encounters can now happen in the air." 

"Yes, thank you, Vanessa, great follow-up question. First I have to say that I know my team so well, that I would know if someone was on my jet who was not supposed to be there. My private cabin is designed to keep me safe. This new Regulation will not pose any threat to me today." 

"Is there a second thing?" 

"What?" I say. 

"You said, ‘First I have to say…’" she repeats, "So I wanted to know if there was a second thing." 

"Oh yes there was a second thing. You look lovely today." With this, the conclave of reporters turn on Vanessa and start snapping pictures of her. 

Seconds later my EYE shows me a news report saying that sources have confirmed that Colman Cai is sleeping with one of his very own reporters. I silence the reporter’s immediate slew of questions and then reject the rumors that were made four seconds ago. The hands are back in the air, waving back and forth, waiting to get picked. I go through this process for another seven minutes and then call for the final question. I know Molly always preselects one reporter to ask the last question. I always try to pick someone who I doubt she would choose but she almost always stumps me. I call on an older Siv, thinking Molly could never have picked him, but then I get, 

"Colman. Rumors are circulating that the men who attacked you this morning were sent from Russia. Is this true?" I say glancing over at Molly only to see her smirking. 

"Great question. I cannot comment on these rumors seeing as I did not interact with these men for very long but what I can tell you is that if these men were from Russia, I have to ask Russia to step up your training program even though I thank you for a great warm-up." 

My crowd goes wild. 

"Thank you, everyone, I look forward to seeing you all when I get to my next destination. Cheers." 

With that, my morning press briefing is over and I am escorted up the steps of the jet and into my cabin. I give everyone a big wave as I duck my head inside. The first thing I look at are the windows. I require that my windows are washed before I board because I can observe so much of the world from behind the glass; they are a protection and a barrier to the outside world. My Escalade’s retreat from the taxiing area and head back toward the exit. My camera equipment is loaded into the cargo area and the rest of my security and camera team file into their section of the plane. Sivs live such a simple life. 

I look back to the tarmac exit to see a pin-shaped object flying from a distance and watch as it strikes the first car of the escort. It blows up just as it reaches the gate and I start laughing. How dumb are these people now and days? In the Pit, guns are not allowed, but RPG’s are permitted because EYEs can detect them within a mile radius. The jet starts to move and soon enough the plane is turned completely around so I can no longer see the massive ball of fire that encapsulated my old car. I lean back into my leather covered seat, close my eyes, and fold my hands into my lap. The pilot tells me that the plane is ready for take-off. He is an old friend and knows how much I like to look out the window when we take-off. One moment I am sitting still and then with a little power, I am racing along the earth, lifting into the air - Life is amazing. I thank the pilot and close my eyes again so I can get ready to seduce the Queen’s granddaughters. I hope Vassar’s teeth are in better shape than they were last time and hope the queen has a flame retardant wig.

Next Chapter: Chapter 4