It was the next morning; I was drinking some coffee while reading the report Ava wrote about John Pilgrim and Anderson Schultz...
[Subject: Anderson Schultz
Anderson Schultz is a high-net-worth individual from Ohio with strong ties to ultraconservative Christian circles and legacy oil wealth. Publicly, he is a retired financier and philanthropist focused on clean water initiatives and faith-based lobbying. Privately, he is linked to shadow networks that manipulate public narratives to maintain ideological control and suppress opposition.
Currently, he is covertly using his resources to manage a political scandal involving his son, David Schultz, who is being groomed for office. Anderson is hiding John Pilgrim's wife and children in a black site safehouse in northern Vermont, with coordinates redacted from maps. The compound operates as a "faith rehabilitation center" and is guarded by armed contractors under non-disclosure agreements. All communications are via hardwired landlines to avoid surveillance. I am monitoring low-bandwidth utility readings from the site, confirming irregular movement patterns consistent with containment security.
[Subject: John Pilgrim
Real name: REDACTED
Approximate Age: Late 30s to early 40s
Former Affiliation: Aryan Brotherhood (confirmed exit)
Current Role: Enforcer for Anderson Schultz, operating under religious extremism.
John Pilgrim is a reformed white nationalist-turned-Christian fundamentalist whose devotion is more programmatic than spiritual. He is a tactician skilled in close-quarters combat, firearms, and wilderness tracking. His body bears scars from long-term incarceration and self-flagellation, indicators of guilt-centered psychological conditioning.
Pilgrim operates with precision but avoids unnecessary cruelty unless provoked. His motivations stem from survival and fear. His wife is reported to have a terminal illness, and his sons are under Schultz's control, used as leverage for his obedience.
"Ava, find out where Anderson is keeping John's family and inform me as soon as you learn where they're at, and also book a plane ticket to China again uhh this next Monday, yeah, since helping out Frank would be more profitable." I speak in a calm tone as I drink up all my coffee and lean back on the couch…
Hmm, I smile and look down at the ten rings on the table in front of me. It's been a day now. Last day I left the Ten Rings here, and then I took them again when I went to meet Abby…
This was not just because I wanted to keep my ten rings out of Jessica's eyes; this was also because I wanted to test something… And well, the test was a success. I could sense the Ten Rings when I was in college with my Chi; I felt like I could call them to me…
It's something like Thor's hammer, but, well, I have to focus my mind to do it. But this only makes me think more. As Gray Matter, I have had so many ideas. There is just one little problem: this world itself….
Should I first take everything that is powerful? in this world? Or should I test and experiment and come up with new things this world does not have?
This is a question that I just did not even think about before. I was just, well, doing both, but slowly. As I keep doing more and more, I realize I have to choose. because I can't keep doing both…
Ah, I need info. I need knowledge about this world, and then I could plan what to do and what not… Should I not help Frank out? I mean, there is no real reason to help him… It's not like he knows me and will come looking for me if I don't help him. There are actually zero reasons for me to help Frank. In fact, me helping Frank is a little risky; I might get the attention of someone else if I do something...
But if I do help Frank, then I push back going to the Ten Rings. I have already been pushing back going to the Ten Rings because, well, they're in China, and that's fucking far away! I don't have time to stay in that country for too long…
Ugh! Wait, what am I thinking? Gray Matter should have an answer to this planning problem…
"Hey, Ava, sleep mode." I speak calmly, and Ava shuts down for a few seconds, and then I twist the dial of the Omnitrix and stop when the small alien pops up, and I push down, and a second later I am smaller and sitting on the couch, and I frown...
Huh? This plan is shit! Why am I doing this?
One minute later…
I slap my back and turn back into a human and mutter, "My plan was so stupid before; I should stick to Gray Matter for all the thinking…" I stand up and walk to the table and switch Ava back on…
"Hey, Ava, don't book the ticket to China on the Monday… I am going there today." I stand up, casually grab the Ten Rings, put them on my wrists, and walk to the bedroom to change my clothes…
And Ava spoke, "Sir, what about college? Are you bunking today?" And I almost laughed at Ava's question. She was really asking me about college? right now?
"Yes, I am bunking college. Ava, don't worry, I'll go to college the next day for sure, ok? Anyway, I won't be taking a plane to go there, so don't worry. Ok, I won't be staying there for long, plus by the time I am back, make sure the white suit and clothes are ready, ok?" I speak in an amused tone as I change my clothes. I put on a white shirt and a jacket on top and some jeans. This should do for now. Plus, I will only be meeting Xu, so there is no need to wear all white for the vibes…
I stand up and walk outside the mansion and casually start to walk down the road while thinking, 'Hmm, I should build a fast plane or something just to get me from point A to point B. For sure, I can't just keep running from here to there…' I twist the watch dial and push it down…
XLR8…
A green flash covers me, and then there is nothing but a wind.
Whoosh!
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