Chapter 338: System Ascendant
The steady hum of the aircraft engines provided a comforting backdrop as we settled in for the long flight home. Despite my weakened state, I found myself curious about how long it would take us to reach home.
"Anthony," I called out, my voice still carrying that frustrating weakness that reminded me of my current limitations. "How long till we reach home?"
He glanced at his watch and did some quick mental calculations. "Eight and a half hours, assuming normal flight path and no delays."
My heart sank a little. "My System comes back online in ten hours. That’s going to be... problematic."
The implications were obvious to Evelyn and Anthony. Landing while still System-disabled would mean facing reporters, supporters, and political opponents while physically compromised. Even if I could manage to hide the weakness for a short time, any extended public appearance would be a disaster.
Evelyn, still sitting beside me, tilted her head thoughtfully. "What if we took a longer route? You know there’s going to be an audience waiting, and it would be difficult to make you look physically fine if you’re still dealing with the aftereffects."
Anthony’s expression immediately shifted to his problem-solving mode. "That... actually makes perfect sense. Let me talk to the pilot."
He disappeared into the cockpit, and I could hear muffled conversation through the door. After a few minutes, he returned with a satisfied expression.
"I told him you wanted to rest for a bit before landing since you know there will be extensive media coverage," Anthony explained. "He completely understood. He’s adjusting our route to take a northern arc, which will extend the total flight time to ten hours and thirty minutes."
"Perfect," I said, feeling genuine relief for the first time since the voting had concluded. "That gives me a thirty-minute buffer to readjust before we have to deal with the real world again."
With the immediate logistical concern resolved, I found myself actually able to enjoy the flight. The private jet was comfortable, the company was excellent, and for the first time in days, I didn’t have to worry about maintaining a public facade or navigating complex political dynamics.
Anthony proved to be surprisingly entertaining when he wasn’t in full professional mode. His spy training had given him access to some genuinely fascinating stories, though he didn’t care to compromise anything that might be operational security. Evelyn, meanwhile, had developed a dry sense of humor about her blindness that kept us all laughing despite the unusual circumstances.