Henry Dreams: Intake Day
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on May 19, 2016 at 07:52 AM
“Do you think I should buy more beer? Maybe some coolers?” Henry stared into the cavern of his refrigerator. It was already filled with food and beverages.
“No, Henry,” came the unseen reply. The voice was feminine, weary and patient. “You’re the only one who drinks. Well, really drinks. Adrian is a teetotaller. Cara drinks just to be social. Dan nurses his beers all night. I don’t think alcohol even affects Farady. Archard is a spirits man… an expensive spirits man. More than we can afford. Even if Simone drank like a fish I think we’re covered.” There was a thoughtful pause. “I don’t know much about Simone. Do you think she will even come?”
Henry leaned around the door to face his wife. She wore her usual bemused look over her work clothes “What? And miss out on all this? Simone can be a bit aloof but she’ll come.”
“Henry White! Have you been eating right now?”
“Well you did say we had more than enough.” He smiled good naturedly while looking for somewhere to degrease his fingers.
Sharon poked Henry’s paunch. “Stay out of there.” With a softer expression she pecked Henry’s cheek. “I gotta go. The lab needs me. Don’t forget to drop the kids off before work this time.”
Henry gave his promise but Sharon wasn’t having it. “I mean it Henry. No teleporting Moon Monkeys. No getting operatives to do it for you. And use the car. The family car.” She emphasised the word “family”.
“Right, right.” He forced a smile. “Just like a regular family.” Sharon never forgave the Moon Monkey incident. It was just once. Everything would have been fine if Nicolas wasn’t “port-puking” and had to report to the nurse’s station. What a time to discover that his son got teleportation disorientation. What a mess… figuratively and literally.
As Henry marched up the stairs he idly wondered, not for the first time, if other hero families had these sorts of discussions. Did Captain Thunder ever have to ground Bolt? (Hey, that was funny. Maybe he could use it later). Did Johnny Rocket ever argue with his daughter “Johnni” about not going out to fight crime dressed in “that” costume? Maybe he should warn Adrian and Cara about what lay ahead of them. Then again they already had their own problems with their kid Jennifer manifesting powers at such a young age. Fortunately Henry and Sharon White had avoided those challenges so far. As near as anyone could tell their kids were completely normal. Despite being at breakthrough age, Tracey, Monique and Nicolas had no detectable powers.
“Kids! We’re going soon.” He bellowed without response. He waited.
“We’re using the car.” Still silence.
“The normal one.” Time passed.
“I’m wearing a regular suit and tie.”
Finally he received grunts of acknowledgement.
Shortly he was reversing the car from his suburban home. “So….” He ventured, not for the first time. “Anyone got anything dangerous planned?”
There was a chorus of teenaged exasperated responses of “No.” Henry sighed. His kids were great but sometimes he just wished that at least one of them was superhuman. It would be best if powers just manifested without accident or incident. That would be best. After all Henry couldn’t just go around dropping hairdryers into people’s baths (and Sharon gave him such a glare the one time he joked about doing it).
Upon arrival at school the children practically fled the car. Henry suddenly felt very alone. He was different from everyone else in his family. Unique. He was super. They were not. He wasn’t sure if it was due to his part Japanese heritage (Japan had a big spike in supers after World War 2) or just a fluke of genetics. It didn’t really matter why or how it happened. The reality was that Henry was different. Not better but different.
Henry wanted to make a difference. He wanted to help people. He never cared much for fame or glory. What he wanted, really wanted, was acceptance. His career as a public hero was all well and good but it had kept him away from his then young wife and family… and then there were all the injuries. Admittedly “White Light” (as he was known) was relatively popular and Henry’s scrapbook had highlights but he never quite fit in. But Henry’s heroic hobby just drove a further wedge between his wife and himself. His superhuman compatriots were not as fulfilling as he had hoped. Henry had “laser eyes” – a very specific skill set and one that was not often appreciated by his peers.
It was Outreach that really gave Henry his place in the world. He pulled the car into the morning traffic. In the distance he could just make out his destination: the glittering form of the Spire.
When Outreach had commenced operations Henry saw a long desired opportunity and he joined up. Sharon hadn’t known what to make of Henry going “professional”. It was the final straw in an already strained marriage. The trial separation was hard on them both. AEGIS Outreach did great things for Henry. It gave him confidence in his life and helped him keep focussed on what was important. In Outreach he made super friends who accepted him, respected him and wanted him to be part of the team. He wasn’t looked down on. Sharon and Henry reconciled and now Henry had two families: his biological one and AEGIS Outreach.
Today Henry would expand that family. Today was the day that Henry could select (or be assigned) a young team to mentor and liaise with. Today was Intake Day.
A broad grin was firmly in place as he locked his car in the secure garage. He pulled his “comm” from his jacket pocket.
“Control. This is ident Whiskey Lima Six One Three One. Please acknowledge.” He spoke clearly. Each word was well articulated and distinct.
The earpiece speaker loudly responded. “This is Control. Morning Special Agent White. Pickup for one at the usual place?”
“Yes please Control.”
Henry waited impatiently. Today’s the day.
And afterward there would be steak and potato salad!
Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on May 19, 2016 at 07:52 AM
“Do you think I should buy more beer? Maybe some coolers?” Henry stared into the cavern of his refrigerator. It was already filled with food and beverages.
“No, Henry,” came the unseen reply. The voice was feminine, weary and patient. “You’re the only one who drinks. Well, really drinks. Adrian is a teetotaller. Cara drinks just to be social. Dan nurses his beers all night. I don’t think alcohol even affects Farady. Archard is a spirits man… an expensive spirits man. More than we can afford. Even if Simone drank like a fish I think we’re covered.” There was a thoughtful pause. “I don’t know much about Simone. Do you think she will even come?”
Henry leaned around the door to face his wife. She wore her usual bemused look over her work clothes “What? And miss out on all this? Simone can be a bit aloof but she’ll come.”
“Henry White! Have you been eating right now?”
“Well you did say we had more than enough.” He smiled good naturedly while looking for somewhere to degrease his fingers.
Sharon poked Henry’s paunch. “Stay out of there.” With a softer expression she pecked Henry’s cheek. “I gotta go. The lab needs me. Don’t forget to drop the kids off before work this time.”
Henry gave his promise but Sharon wasn’t having it. “I mean it Henry. No teleporting Moon Monkeys. No getting operatives to do it for you. And use the car. The family car.” She emphasised the word “family”.
“Right, right.” He forced a smile. “Just like a regular family.” Sharon never forgave the Moon Monkey incident. It was just once. Everything would have been fine if Nicolas wasn’t “port-puking” and had to report to the nurse’s station. What a time to discover that his son got teleportation disorientation. What a mess… figuratively and literally.
As Henry marched up the stairs he idly wondered, not for the first time, if other hero families had these sorts of discussions. Did Captain Thunder ever have to ground Bolt? (Hey, that was funny. Maybe he could use it later). Did Johnny Rocket ever argue with his daughter “Johnni” about not going out to fight crime dressed in “that” costume? Maybe he should warn Adrian and Cara about what lay ahead of them. Then again they already had their own problems with their kid Jennifer manifesting powers at such a young age. Fortunately Henry and Sharon White had avoided those challenges so far. As near as anyone could tell their kids were completely normal. Despite being at breakthrough age, Tracey, Monique and Nicolas had no detectable powers.
“Kids! We’re going soon.” He bellowed without response. He waited.
“We’re using the car.” Still silence.
“The normal one.” Time passed.
“I’m wearing a regular suit and tie.”
Finally he received grunts of acknowledgement.
Shortly he was reversing the car from his suburban home. “So….” He ventured, not for the first time. “Anyone got anything dangerous planned?”
There was a chorus of teenaged exasperated responses of “No.” Henry sighed. His kids were great but sometimes he just wished that at least one of them was superhuman. It would be best if powers just manifested without accident or incident. That would be best. After all Henry couldn’t just go around dropping hairdryers into people’s baths (and Sharon gave him such a glare the one time he joked about doing it).
Upon arrival at school the children practically fled the car. Henry suddenly felt very alone. He was different from everyone else in his family. Unique. He was super. They were not. He wasn’t sure if it was due to his part Japanese heritage (Japan had a big spike in supers after World War 2) or just a fluke of genetics. It didn’t really matter why or how it happened. The reality was that Henry was different. Not better but different.
Henry wanted to make a difference. He wanted to help people. He never cared much for fame or glory. What he wanted, really wanted, was acceptance. His career as a public hero was all well and good but it had kept him away from his then young wife and family… and then there were all the injuries. Admittedly “White Light” (as he was known) was relatively popular and Henry’s scrapbook had highlights but he never quite fit in. But Henry’s heroic hobby just drove a further wedge between his wife and himself. His superhuman compatriots were not as fulfilling as he had hoped. Henry had “laser eyes” – a very specific skill set and one that was not often appreciated by his peers.
It was Outreach that really gave Henry his place in the world. He pulled the car into the morning traffic. In the distance he could just make out his destination: the glittering form of the Spire.
When Outreach had commenced operations Henry saw a long desired opportunity and he joined up. Sharon hadn’t known what to make of Henry going “professional”. It was the final straw in an already strained marriage. The trial separation was hard on them both. AEGIS Outreach did great things for Henry. It gave him confidence in his life and helped him keep focussed on what was important. In Outreach he made super friends who accepted him, respected him and wanted him to be part of the team. He wasn’t looked down on. Sharon and Henry reconciled and now Henry had two families: his biological one and AEGIS Outreach.
Today Henry would expand that family. Today was the day that Henry could select (or be assigned) a young team to mentor and liaise with. Today was Intake Day.
A broad grin was firmly in place as he locked his car in the secure garage. He pulled his “comm” from his jacket pocket.
“Control. This is ident Whiskey Lima Six One Three One. Please acknowledge.” He spoke clearly. Each word was well articulated and distinct.
The earpiece speaker loudly responded. “This is Control. Morning Special Agent White. Pickup for one at the usual place?”
“Yes please Control.”
Henry waited impatiently. Today’s the day.
And afterward there would be steak and potato salad!
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