Chapter 98: 88. A Weekend Journey

After the Capoeira Club's practice ended, Jay found Frank against the hallway wall with a book in his hand. Jay’s Super Capoeira friends passed by quietly, promising to stay in touch and arrange practice sessions through their group chat. They disappeared from focus, leaving the Gravity Dragon pair alone.

“Is that you, Luckrun? Or the other guy?” Frank asked without looking up from his book.

“It’s me, me. How was the other guy?”

“Too normal. If Kleo didn’t explain what was going on, we would’ve thought someone replaced you.”

Jay chuckled, finding that scary and amusing. He could only assume a combination of his Attribute growth, his freaky Class, his Affinity, and his inhumanity had made the functional sleepwalker possible.

Kleo could be puppeting him, but Jay trusted it was for his own good. No matter how devilish or monstrous Kleo could get, Jay would always trust her.

Kleo’s love flared through [Faerie Master], giving Jay warm feelings. Then he realized Frank was waiting for a response.

“Sorry for being a weirdo,” Jay mumbled.

The Dragon [Fighter] snorted. He rubbed his finger on the page number. Then he snapped the paperback shut and slipped it into his leather jacket.

“We have a plane waiting for us,” Frank said. “Private jet. It has everything you need. Beer for me. Rum for you.”

Jay perked up. “We’re going on a mission?”

Was it finally time for Jay to go Secret Spy Kids for real?

“Nah. You’re gonna talk to Malcolm’s family face to face. It’ll be a good lesson for you.” Frank made for the exit. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back by Sunday. Just in time for our godling’s return.”

“Just in time for you to rip her a new one after all that happened.” Jay sighed, falling in step beside Frank.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Frank said. “We’ll see how things go.”

Jay eyed him suspiciously. Frank’s been the opposite of himself. He’d been way more cool and collective. It was hard to get a read on him this way.

Frank smiled.

Jay cringed.

“Not everyone’s going to play along to your story, Jay,” Frank said as he led them out. “Some of us are gonna buck the reins here and there. Are you ready for that?”

“I’m not trying to reign or control anyone like you make it sound, Frank,” Jay grunted without thinking, feeling spooked.

He could lean on his Conviction. But that required absolute certainty. Frank had him imbalanced. And using Conviction while feeling unsure seemed like a bad recipe.

“You two,” Frank said, “are a match. Don’t disappoint us.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jay asked.

Frank said no more. They walked into the school parking lot where a jet-black and expensive sedan purred in wait. Senior Agent Cabana greeted them with highly professional courtesy. She served as their chauffeur opening and closing the doors for them as the boys slipped into the back passenger seats.

One quiet and smooth ride later, Agent Cabana rolled across the tarmac of a private airfield. A luxurious-looking private jet waited for them in the middle of the strip.

“On whose dime?” Jay hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. He’d never been on a plane before. Everything was happening so fast.

Jay tried to play cool.

“The CWG,” Agent Cabana explained. “They’d sent an operative into a deadly situation knowing he was unlikely to come back. They would prefer you not to paint them in such a negative light as you meet with the family.”

“They’re all the way in South Dakota,” Jay said.

“Then we better get going if we wanna be back by Sunday,” Frank shoved Jay up into the private jet.

Agent Cabana followed behind them, her tall high-heels clicking softly up the stairs.

Jay zipped straight to a cozy seat and buckled himself in. He ogled the sleek interior of browns, tans, and dark golds. The beige carpeting was fuzzy, too. He slid out of his slippers and rubbed his sock-clad feet over the fibers.

Oh. That felt good. Really good.

Frank sat across from him, returning to his book. Agent Cabana moved gracefully as the jet prepared for take-off. She filled a pale bucket with ice and slipped six beers inside. She took them to Frank’s side and dutifully uncapped his first bottle with a flicker of her fingers. Those bottles would normally need a bottle opener. She had decent Strength in her mysterious Agent of Change profile.

Agent Cabana caught Jay’s look and smiled, breaking the stony professionalism she’d built for herself since they met. She went back to the refreshments in the back and returned with a tray holding various bottles of rum.

“What would the gentleman prefer?” she asked.

Jay pointed. The jet started rolling across the strip, shaking about as it tilted up. Everything that should’ve fallen over stayed completely still. Jay’s spatial-g sensed the jet’s movement applying g-forces on everything. He also felt something counteracting natural physics.

Agent Cabana stole his attention again as she sauntered with a mixed glass that suited his preferences. She had to hold the glass at an angle until it touched the little table attached to his seat. Then a flash of blue appeared from underneath the drink, nixing the g-forces despite the jet’s quick ascent.

“This plane is enchanted,” Jay said. “Are you enchanted, too?”

The Senior Agent smirked. “I have some good powers that handle a lot of issues for me. It suits my style.”

Jay nodded. “So, if you guys had magic this whole time, why are you putting an emphasis on Miss Kowalski?”

After Jay’s team defeated the Toyreveler, YoAnna granted the inert core to the Head Researcher lady working with the MPC. YoAnna and the MPC were interested in her findings.

“She has a different perspective that’ll suit our leader’s needs,” Agent Cabana explained. “Your agents are using what has been taught to us. While we have our specialties and smarts, we’re not as innovative compared to Kowalski, even if she's mundane.”

“Will we see her soon?”

The agent shook her head. “There have been setbacks, Highest Champion. But Kowalski believes these failures will propel her research further. All I can say is to give it more time.”

“Ah,” Jay said. “Say no more then.”

Agent Cabana sauntered away smoothly despite the g-forces and the jet’s sharp rise. She took a seat across from Frank, legs propped and crossed on a footrest.

She laid back leisurely.

This was a different side of her that Jay had never seen before. Too bad she counted as Frank’s mom. Or Jay would’ve considered the view with more of his primitive brain.

“You okay with all of this?” Jay asked Frank. “The trip, I mean.”

Frank shrugged. “It has multiple purposes. All of which are personal.”

“I know what’s at stake for me.” Jay narrowed his eyes on Frank. “What’s in it for you?”

Frank hesitated. The emotional-g sensor blipped with Frank’s brief discomfort.

“You’ll see,” the Dragon [Fighter] muttered.

Jay snorted, leaving Frank alone. For now.

Jay waited until the jet leveled out at cruising altitude. Then he enjoyed his refreshing rum punch. Ah, nice.

***

Three hours later, Jay stepped off the private jet and entered a new world that was still in his old one. For some reason, he had expected the flight to take longer. His 50 Intellect was no help since Jay had circumstantial beliefs that hadn’t been challenged all his life. Other than entering a pocket dimension, Jay had never left his small Central Florida city.

After 1,500 nautical miles, Jay looked up at a vast and starry night sky hanging over Custer, South Dakota. The air was strangely crisp and cool and without humidity. It was so dry Jay looked around like a disturbed animal. He searched for the humidity. But it was not too much of a thing this far north in the United States. Jay swatted at the air just in case, shivering from how windy and unburdened the air felt.

The gravity was weaker here, too.

His natural spatial-g had reduced from 600 feet to 550 feet. Jay reasoned that elevation was a huge factor. They had to be thousands of feet above sea level. Way farther up than Florida. It was funny how magic could bend and break physics. But the natural world could still influence magic in return.

“Kleo, come out and see this,” Jay said.

The little [Faerie] crawled out of his chest and sat on his shoulder.

“The sky is closer. And it’s easier to see the stars,” Kleo commented. “But gravity is a little weaker so far from the low earth. Or we are not strong enough to ignore these issues.”

Frank strode past them with Agent Cabana at his side. The [Fighter] nodded at the black SUV waiting for them. They sat comfortably for a short trip. When Jay touched the ground again, it was in front of a log cabin.

“Do you mind a little outdoor living?” Frank asked, grabbing a duffel bag from the back.

“No,” Jay answered as the senior agent grabbed bags for herself and Jay. He could sense everything he would like in one of the bags. The senior agent had done her research well.

They set up their sleeping quarters. Agent Cabana got the bed up in the rafters since it offered a private screen. Then she shooed the boys out.

The logs placed perfectly around an unlit fire pit looked inviting to both the Gravity [Freak] and the Dragon [Fighter]. Frank got the fire going. Jay took out drinks from a cooler. The two sat in comfortable silence as the senior agent grilled steak and veggies for them.

The meal and drinks were delicious. The night sky was wondrous. And the promise Jay must fulfill tomorrow felt heavy. But tomorrow arrived regardless.

Jay waited at the perimeter of Malcolm’s funeral. The old man had lived in a small community outside of Custer. And he’d been a friendly sort. So hundreds of people milled around his funeral. People he’d known, the extended relatives of the people he’d known, the many people he’d worked with, and extra from the growing global news of Malcolm’s involvement with the Champions and the Junkside monsters. The leak had turned out to be family.

Malcolm shared more than he should've with his family. With his death, the family dropped all pretenses of playing ignorant. Emily had caught on quickly, and despite her darkened mood, she ensured that their CWG and MPC contacts would bar the U.S. government from trying to strongarm Malcolm's family or hurt them. Unfortunately, that meant more stuff about the Champions would come out, but the former J-Prez was more concerned with Malcolm's people than the Champions' reputation.

It didn’t help that Jay, Frank, and Agent Cabana stood out to the crowd.

Jay and Frank were dark-skinned black folks. And Jay was quickly noticing he spoke differently compared to most people, even other black folks. Frank had described Jay's dialect and accent as a mix of Floridian, Southern, Latino, French, and Haitian Creole especially. It shifted depending on Jay's use of phrases, his mood, and who he was around. Frank spoke with a very neutral accent that was trained into him. The same went for Agent Cabana. The senior agent was a mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean. Other than a few of Malcolm’s colleagues from his governmental work, the people attending the funeral were majorly white. And spoke with a northern Midwestern accent.

Which was another first for Jay since Florida was a hotbed for multiculturalism. He regarded the midwestern folks curiously while they examined him cautiously. Not all of them were mean. A good amount were downright nice, almost too nice. But Jay's infamy, his glowing eyes of different colors, and his overall presence and demeanor expressed such freakiness that set older people on edge if they didn't know him. The younger crowd wanted to get up close to him.

Because of the publicity, and the news media chomping at the bit for an interview with a Champion, Jay didn’t speak at the funeral. The three waited on the fringes with a group of MPC agents serving as bodyguards. Which didn’t help them stay unnoticed. But that wasn’t the main point of being here, anyway.

To Jay’s misfortune, the reception wasn’t a close-knit affair. It was just like how the funeral was open to everyone and their second cousin’s great aunt's nosy friend. The ranch holding the reception had prepared a fair’s worth of food and children’s entertainment on a cool sunny afternoon. It didn’t seem like a man had died.

The undead kiddies would’ve loved it.

Would Malcolm’s family hold these festivities if they’d been told the truth? That Malcolm had been human sacrificed to call upon Gatanna’s assistance.

“This isn’t for you, Luckrun. This is for the family,” Frank grouched from Jay's right. “For this once, I’m going to recommend keeping an upbeat attitude.”

“Sorry,” Jay said.

The Champions and MPC agency escorts moved slowly through the ranch. Jay would occasionally pause to look at a stall, drawing out the time between him and meeting the family.

Then the moment of truth arrived.

The crowd around Malcolm’s direct descendants parted. Anyone daring to raise a phone to record got forcefully excused by the MPC escorts unless they were family. Then Jay found himself in a small space by himself, ahead of Frank and Agent Cabana.

Madison waited ahead.

Malcolm’s eldest daughter was the acting matriarch holding the Campbell family together. They had a big family with four dozen members standing behind Madison, a horse rancher and well-off woman with four kids hugging her closely. She looked at Jay like an alien had touched down right in front of her. Jay stared at her in wonder as the tension in the air built up gradually.

“This is odd,” Jay said. “I’d never left Florida before. Not even Central Florida. But Malcolm’s bravery brought us here, anyway.” Even stranger was how the words came out smoothly despite the anxiety and nervousness that had compounded inside of Jay up to this point. “He’s a fool of an old man, sorry to say. I told him to hang back when danger showed up. But he couldn’t sit back. He was more concerned for me and the other magical kids than himself. His bravery saved our lives. His sacrifice makes me realize the power I have isn’t just for me. It’s to protect what counts.”

Ah.

Jay understood why Frank had brought him here now. It was so he could remind himself that a hero of comedy would face adversity, would face horror, and still look out for the people he helped. He would still find a way to be good despite the challenges. This was a very powerful lesson. Even if it was a hard one to face.

Because the family’s reactions ranged differently. Some were angry. Some were proud. Madison was on the verge of tears.

“I told him not to go,” she rasped, voice strained. “And you come to our home speaking of bravery and sacrifice. Excuse me, mister, but I rather that you and your horrid Champions keep on without hurting us simple folks. And making a big joke out of it.”

You are reading story The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy at novel35.com

Jay hesitated on what to say next. His confidence dispersed like smoke. He glanced back at Frank and Agent Cabana for help. They offered him nothing.

“I just want you to know he fought monsters and died a hero,” Jay fumbled.

“Get out,” Madison spat. “We don’t need heroes. We only need family. And you took mine!”

***

Jay didn’t drink for the rest of their time in South Dakota. They got on the private jet Sunday morning and landed in Odessa, Texas two hours later. Jay knew right away this trip stopped being for him. It became a trip for Frank.

Another black governmental SUV drove them from the airfield and through Odessa. They got off the main roads and took the side streets. Almost instantly, they crossed from okayish city blocks to the ghetto. Then the SUV stopped in front of a Baptist church.

“You think YoAnna would be upset if we entered an earthly church?” Jay asked.

“I don’t care,” Frank said plainly.

“Noted.”

A smaller group of escorts waited in front of the church. Agent Cabana stayed a few feet behind the boys. Frank led the way as Jay fell into the [Fighter’s] shadow.

The moment Jay crossed the threshold of the church, he felt a touch slower. And weaker, too. Kleo hissed quietly from inside Jay's chest. She squirmed around, her claws nicking at the walls of her home. Jay begged Kleo through [Faerie Master] for her to endure. Apparently, entering a church didn't agree with them, especially Kleo. His familiar sat still inside Jay's chest but remained badgered.

Jay, Frank, and Agent Cabana slipped into the pews at the back of the church. It looked better on the inside than on the outside. The sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows painted the white walls with myriad colors.

Their entrance didn’t go unnoticed.

The pastor paused mid-sermon. The look he gave Jay, Frank, and Agent Cabana influenced the congregation to turn and examine the new faces. But nothing more came from it as the pastor greeted them kindly and recontinued his sermon. Jay grew more accustomed to the weight pressed on him. He checked his meta-g for an explanation. He got back the answer small magic. But there was no further explanation.

The pastor glanced at the odd trio in the back occasionally. He might’ve picked up on the otherness that the trio exuded. But this seemingly random pitstop gave no forewarning of the Champions and Agent of Change's true identities. It would be easy for them to go overlooked even if they were odd.

Jay was grateful for the anonymity this time.

When the Sunday program finished, Frank stood tall. Nervousness, anxiety, and fear flared in his emotional-g.

Jay followed Frank’s eyes and saw the object of the [Fighter’s] attention was one of the choir singers. She was dressed like the cosplay of an anime character going to a magical church. The extra large and tilted pink hat sold it.

She stared back at Frank, ignoring the pastor’s call for her.

The choir woman stepped shakily down the stage steps. She picked up a little girl who called her mommy and sat the child on her hip without stopping. She stumbled to a halt in front of Frank, clutching her daughter close.

“Lil bro?” the woman rasped, her eyes watering.

“Hey, dork,” Frank greeted with a rare grin that looked radiant on him.

***

Jay looked out the window as the private jet landed back down in Central Florida. It was already nighttime.

Frank remained a man of his word. They were back home Sunday evening. YoAnna hadn’t resurfaced yet.

Once the jet came to a stop, Jay smiled at the sound of little Frannie’s cheers. Francesca’s daughter kept up a brave front even though she was scared of flying away from all she’d known. But the child was eager to stay with her uncle and the Champions. She reminded Jay of himself after leaving all he’d known to see South Dakota. He hoped Frank’s niece had a better and more permanent stay in Florida.

Jay hung back beside Agent Cabana as Frank led his little slice of family out of the private jet. Frank wore a smile that Jay hadn’t known could exist on the most serious and darkened Champion of YoAnna’s pantheon.

Jay drifted behind the Strongholds in wonder as a dozen agents worked together to transfer their stuff from the plane to a waiting van. Francesca hadn’t let Frank finish before she said yes to moving down to Florida, honestly.

They didn’t have much. The move would be an easy one.

“We can’t make everyone happy,” Agent Cabana said. “Many will hate us, in fact. If all else fails, try to fight for these smaller moments.”

“Because the pantheon is family?” Jay asked.

“Maybe it can be. Maybe it won’t always. I won’t suggest limiting it to just that.” She tilted her head slightly, flashing a small smile before going back to her usual stony expressions. “Just consider what you’ve experienced this weekend. There is a lesson here. Or many. It is up to you to decide what you derive from these stories, Highest Champion.”

For this once, Jay was hesitant to decide on anything. His meta-g had fabricated a folder filled with themes that seemed suitable on paper.

He had experienced the hateful pain of people he'd never known existed outside of TV. He entered a Texan church for the first time and felt a mysterious force suppressing him. He realized the natural laws could affect his magical abilities, and he saw Frank get vulnerable in front of his family he hadn't seen in years or had never seen until now in Frannie's case. There was a lot for Jay to examine from this trip. Some more closely than others. But he would rather take his time considering it all.

Jay didn’t want instant answers through meta-g. He sat on them instead as the group left the airfield and drove to YoAnna’s outer mansion. When they stopped on the gravel rocks at the base of a small hill, Jay found that Francesca and her daughter weren’t the only souls moving in tonight.

“Ladies,” Jay said softly in greeting to Team Divine.

“You can also refer to us as the Allens if you wish,” Hailey informed with pitch-perfect political niceness.

“All of you switched to your father’s name?” Jay asked.

“We’ve been working toward this for years,” Hailey explained. “We had all of the documents prepared. We were just waiting until after school when we would’ve earned some of our inheritance.” Hailey waved at the comfortably muggy air. “School’s no longer a concern. Father’s inheritance is ours whenever we want it. And sharing one name fastens our unity as sisters which nothing can break.”

That last bit had an edge to it. They still hadn’t forgiven him for what he’d told them Monday. He could see it in Casey’s cold glare, Macy’s standoffish energy, and Emily’s unwillingness to look at him. Only Hailey could swallow whatever opinion she had of Jay and speak with a smile.

Would this stay a thing after YoAnna resurfaced? Did it matter? Jay was kind of done worrying himself over the Divines. Or the Allens. Or whatever.

“Okay.” Jay turned around and helped the Strongholds get settled into YoAnna’s mansion. The godling’s guardians scared Francesca with their frank alienness, but they drew bubbly laughs out of Frannie.

The sound of a laughing toddler drew Allen Sisters’ attention. The sisters kept their distance either out of respect or the unwillingness to associate with Jay outside of official pantheon business.

“How many people are going to live here?” Francesca asked.

“All of the Champions,” Frank answered. “Some of the families. There are private villas out in the woods beyond the gymnasium. This part of the estate is just for guests.”

Francesca gawked at the giant foyer with spiraling staircases and the biggest chandelier Jay had ever seen. YoAnna’s guardians moved to and fro, cleaning, moving luggage, serving snacks or drinks on platters, and making themselves available to serve at anyone’s beck and call.

They had a slightly dark purplish skin tone. Their ears were sharp like elves. But little pointy teeth poked out from behind their bottom lips. And no matter how much Jay tried, he couldn’t [Identify] them. This might be from YoAnna’s design or because the servants had powers higher than Jay’s.

Francesca was gobsmacked each time one greeted her respectfully.

“This place is big enough for all of these people?” Francesca asked.

“Big enough for us and our monsters and more,” Frank said.

“That isn’t fake news!” Francesca squealed.

“I wanna see the giant gator lady,” Frannie begged.

Frank laughed with a rickety joy. A laugh that was held together by duct tape and prayers. It was fragile happiness Jay wanted nothing more than to support.

Jay gave the Allens a sharp look when they drew too close, their eyes on the cute and bubbly toddler. They could have their sisterly bond and revel in it as much as they wanted. Jay wouldn’t allow them to insert themselves when Frank’s familial foundations weren’t set yet.

Jay’s glare did the trick. The Allens kept their distance even if it rankled them. No love was lost there.

“Highest Champion,” called a female servant. “Your mother wishes for your immediate presence. It is time for your hair wash.”

Jay tried not to smile from Casey’s annoyance flaring up.

“Did Derek move in?” Jay asked. “Amanda, too?”

The latter was more doubtful. He’d seen less of her the past week.

“Yes, and yes.” The servant beamed.

Jay grinned. Those two were in his orbit of relevance now. He didn’t want them to leave. He might have to be more gentle and appreciative toward them, though.

“Senior Agent Cabana?” Jay called.

“Yes, Highest Champion?”

Jay waited for Casey’s annoyance to rise and simmer right on cue. He was starting to get a kick out of it.

“Get something nice for Derek and Amanda, would you? I want them to feel appreciated.”

“For Derek, I could do so immediately. I’m still unsure of the CWG operative. She hadn’t gone through enough of our checks. Are you sure she’s pantheon worthy?”

“Yes.”

Agent Cabana strutted off at a fast clip to fulfill Jay’s request.

The [Freak] left Frank to guide his sister to the docking station for mini-carts. They could ride those all the way to their specific villa. But it looked like Frank wanted to walk his sister down while carrying his niece in his arm. The Strongholds deserved the time together.

Jay took to the air.

His villa was the farthest. But it had a lakeside view, which was pretty nice. When he landed quietly on the back porch awning, he found Derek grilling some hotdogs. Amanda was nursing a light beer with her feet propped on the railing facing the lake. The night sky wasn’t as pretty and close up compared to the one over Custer, but it was good enough.

“Hey,” Jay greeted.

“Jay, that’s you up there?” Derek asked. “Of course it is. Wanna come down, brah?”

“Of course.”

Jay floated down to the deck. He waved at Amanda as she glared at him from over her beer.

“Frick you,” Amanda said.

Jay’s grin brightened.

“She wouldn’t tell me what kept her onboard,” Derek said.

“Money,” Jay said. “And a good heart.”

Even though his higher functional self had gone to sleep, the lesser version stayed on task with certain priorities with Kleo’s help. Lesser Jay and Kleo had called in Senior Agent Cabana to push the CWG to keep Amanda involved. The CWG had to make a special proposal no other agent would get.

They wrote Amanda a large check. Only a small percentage went to her directly. The rest got donated to causes she cared deeply about. Such as one that helped kidnapped children. The type of children that could’ve ended up like Frank, stolen and thrown into a child soldier program hoping to be part of YoAnna’s Champions. Or fight them.

These themes kind of tied together without Jay even trying. He had been sleepwalking, after all.

“The food’s almost ready if you want a bite.” Derek nudged around some of the meat. “I got no doubts the estate servants are better cooks, but I like to do these things myself.”

“I won’t stop you,” Jay said with raised hands.

Derek pointed his spatula indoors. “Miss Luckrun is waiting.”

Jay smiled, sensing his mom sitting alone in their giant living room.

The decorations, furniture, and appliances included everything that mattered to the Luckruns. Anime. Fantasy. Action movies. Music. Lots and lots of video games. And a badass bar with gold and purple aesthetics.

Kleo crawled from Jay’s chest to his shoulder. She greeted Derek and Amanda before Jay entered their new home. Mom looked happy as punch just like Jay had sensed. In her hand was a coconut rum drink while she inclined on the sofa.

YoAnna was enjoying the same.

“Hello, Jay.”

You can find story with these keywords: The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy, Read The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy, The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy novel, The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy book, The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy story, The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy full, The Gravity Freak of Dungeons and Monsters: System Portal Fantasy Latest Chapter