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821 - Henry Michael
🕑 Added 2025-01-01 23:40:07 +0000 UTC“Are you sure about that?” a youthful-looking individual asked his friend with a concerned tone.
“Yeah, I can’t join you on this tour because of the resources needed to accommodate my existence there,” Henry replied, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of them. The screen displayed an announcement for an upcoming tour organized for children under the House of Hope program, scheduled to take place in about a week.
The individual questioning him was one of the few close friends Henry had made in his life. They had first met a few years ago when Henry accompanied his brother on a visit to one of the buildings under the House of Hope program. Their bond had grown stronger ever since, making the friend's disappointment over Henry’s decision even more palpable.
After that initial introduction, Henry had maintained regular visits with the friends he had made, and Aron had even ensured that Henry attended the same school as them to provide him with as normal a childhood as possible.
“But isn’t the solar system one of the safest places for you to be? And we’re not even going near its edges,” Paul asked, clearly unwilling to enjoy the tour without Henry.
“Paul, do you know the scale of effort it takes just for me to move from one city to another, even on Earth?” Henry responded, mirroring his brother’s tendency to answer a question with another question.
“I think… at least a few bodyguards? Though I’ve never actually seen any,” Paul replied, wracking his brain to recall if he had ever noticed security personnel other than the driver accompanying Henry during the countless times they’d hung out together with their other friends.
Upon hearing Paul’s response, Henry chuckled softly before raising a finger and pointing toward the sky. Paul instinctively followed his gesture, expecting to see something of significance, but was met with nothing more than the familiar expanse of the sky. Confused, he turned his gaze back to Henry, silently asking for an explanation.
“We’ve got a satellite currently monitoring us and keeping track of everything happening within this city,” Henry began with a small smile. “It’s under the control of an AI, filtering and ensuring there’s nothing around us that could pose a threat. And while I can’t tell you exactly who because even I don’t know they are, a few of the people nearby are part of my security detail, and they’re all highly trained awakeners.”
As Henry spoke about the close security measures, his irises briefly shimmered gold before returning to their usual hue.
“Every security force in this city is on high alert, ready to respond the moment the monitoring system detects anything unusual. And this…” he said, lifting his wrist to show a sleek device resembling a watch, “…is a personal shield. It activates instantly if there’s a perceived danger to my life and can withstand heavy attacks long enough for the close security team to intervene and neutralize the threat.”
Henry paused for a moment, glancing at the device with a wry smile. “And that’s just the security I’ve managed to uncover by going through the financial records tied to me. I’d bet good money it’s not even ten percent of the measures my brother has in place. Honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised if there are stealth ships shadowing me wherever I go.”
Paul, now fully grasping the sheer scale of the security measures surrounding his friend, felt a chill run down his spine. Goosebumps spread across his skin as he replayed in his mind all the foolish escapades he and their friend group had engaged in over the years. The realization that every one of those moments had likely been recorded—and potentially observed—by Henry’s ever-vigilant security detail left him uneasy. What unnerved him even more was how Henry, fully aware of this constant surveillance, seemed utterly unbothered by it.
Noticing Paul’s growing discomfort, Henry chuckled softly and said, “Don’t worry about them. As long as we’re not committing any crimes, they’ll just turn a blind eye to whatever we’re doing.” His tone was light and reassuring, an attempt to calm his friend, who now looked slightly paranoid.
As Paul gradually calmed down, his thoughts returned to the original topic. He realized that if such heavy security measures were necessary to ensure Henry’s safety on Earth—arguably the safest place in the empire—then the resources and effort required to protect him during an off-planet tour, especially so soon after the war, would be unimaginable.
“Hah,” Paul sighed, finally understanding. Then, he asked, “I see. How about we plan to visit somewhere on Earth that day instead?”
Henry raised an eyebrow, surprised by his friend’s suggestion. “Why are you giving up a great opportunity to tour the solar system just because I can’t come?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Paul shrugged and replied, “We can explore the solar system when you’re able to join us. Until then, how about we stick to Earth and make the most of it?” He smiled, placing a hand on Henry’s shoulder.
However, as soon as he did, Paul froze, glancing nervously around, clearly worried about whether someone from Henry’s extensive security detail might suddenly appear to chastise him—or worse, break his hand.
Henry burst out laughing at Paul’s reaction, finding his paranoia both amusing and endearing. “Relax, Paul. They’re not going to hurt you for being friendly!” he teased, shaking his head.
………………..
In the Universal Simulation, Aron sat at his desk, analyzing data when Nova's voice interrupted his focus. She updated him on a conversation between Henry and his friend Paul and the decision Henry had made.
Aron sat silently for a moment, processing the information Nova had shared. Finally, he broke the silence, asking, “Do you think it is appropriate for me to join them?”
Nova’s surprise was evident in her tone.
{You want to go on the tour to convince him to follow you?}
Aron chuckled, recognizing how unusual his idea sounded. “You think it’s excessive too, right?”
{It is,} Nova replied bluntly. {All you need to do is explain to him that the security expenditure isn’t as significant as he believes, at least while he’s within the solar system. Besides, your presence would turn a simple tour into a spectacle. It would shift the focus away from the children, possibly putting undue pressure on them and disrupting the purpose of the event. They’re meant to make memories, not deal with the attention your presence would inevitably bring.}
Aron exhaled, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll need to have a talk with him about this.”
He leaned back in his chair, his mind already piecing together how best to approach the conversation. While technically not wiretapping, the idea of an AI monitoring and flagging private conversations for his attention was a sensitive matter. Although it was a necessary tool for ensuring Henry’s safety, it came with a responsibility to tread lightly when acting on that information.
{I’ll let you know when he’s back,} Nova reassured him.
“Thanks,” Aron said, offering a faint smile before turning his focus back to his research.
Comments
GripenSupremacy
Thank you for all the time we spent reading your chapters and for all the happy moments it brought us. TYFTC and happy new year
Jade
First!! THANK YOU FOR THE FIRST CHAPTER OF 2025!!!!
