Indentured Pervitude, Ch. 08
by Rachael DMM
Tom hefted Wendy's two suitcases onto the scale at the airline check-in counter. They then headed for security, each pulling along their own carry-ons. Wendy had assured him that everything he needed for the week they'd be away was packed in his one small bag. He didn't believe her, but he didn't complain about it. If she wanted to screw with him, there wasn't much he could do about it.
"I'm going to visit the ladies' room real quick," Wendy said as they passed a bathroom. "I'll meet you at the gate."
Tom just shrugged and got in the security line. It wasn't too bad, and it was only five minutes before he stepped into the body scanner. He held his arms up, and the machine whirred. He flinched when an alarm went off - a loud one!
Everyone's attention was drawn to him, and two TSA agents rushed forward to contain him inside the scanner. Other passengers backed away, looking frightened.
"Stay where you are," one of the agents ordered him, his hand resting on a holstered weapon.
"What's going on?" Tom squealed and looked around for his wife.
"Remain calm. Don't make any suspicious movements," the agent said in a steady voice.
Tom didn't know what type of movements might be considered suspicious, so he remained stock still, hands in the air. He noticed two large men in BitWize uniforms hurrying to the scene. The alarm siren was still going off and drawing even more attention.
"Cisero," one of the BitWize goons called to him. "Step this way, then down on your stomach!"
"Wait, what is going on? I'm just on my--"
A TSA guy grabbed him, roughly pulled him out of the scanner, and tried to get him to the ground. If he hadn't been the center of attention before, he certainly was now. His natural instinct was to resist being put down on the floor.
"Compliance, compliance, compliance!" the BitWize goon yelled, and everyone backed off suddenly. Before Tom could assess what was happening, his whole body seized up, pain ripped through his mind, and he felt himself falling. That was well beyond the little zap Wendy had given him, he thought as he hit the floor hard. He vaguely remembered wondering if he had chipped a tooth on the tile.
"Wha...fffiittshhaa...num...da...fooo..." His mouth and tongue weren't working. Or was it his brain that was too fried to form words? He could only catch snippets of people talking around him, but none of it made sense.
"Unauthorized travel attempt... unaccompanied O.P. in violation...seizure and containment... damned leech on society...want me to hit him again?"
Then he heard a familiar voice that seemed like it was a thousand miles away.
"Wait, stop, don't hurt him! He's mine - I didn't realize - it's not his fault - he didn't know! Don't hurt him, please!"
It was Wendy, he was pretty sure. He hoped it was...his vision was too blurry to make anything out. Please let it be her.
"He's with you? Let me see some ID," a gruff voice demanded.
"This is the first time we've ever traveled. Everything is okay - we're going on our honeymoon. I have all his papers right here, and my electronic title to his personhood here on my phone."
Things seemed to be getting sorted out. Tom still couldn't move, couldn't see, and couldn't get the taste of metal out of his mouth.
"He has to be with you at all times when transiting, ma'am, especially at security checkpoints. Unless you fill out an RTA and get it approved at least 24 hours in advance."
"I...I didn't know. This is all new to me. I'm so sorry."
"It should have all been explained to you when you took ownership. This is your first violation, but if it happens again you will be fined. If it happens again after that, your property will be subject to repossession." The alarm finally stopped and was replaced by the murmur of the surrounding crowd gawking at him lying there on the ground like a limp doll.
"Okay, I understand - there's so much to learn. You said something about an RTA?"
"Restricted Travel Authorization. It grants an O.P. limited freedom of movement without their owner being present. Difficult to get when traveling internationally. And...yup...your destination is Italy?"
"Yes, but I was just in the ladies' room - I had no idea it mattered..."
"Well, now you know. Enable."
Tom's sight snapped into focus, the ringing in his ears stopped, and he could move again. He sat up, took a deep breath, and felt his chest to make sure his heart was still beating. Wendy was there peppering his face with kisses, just to add to the humiliation he supposed.
"Your flight will start boarding in five minutes. Head left here, and it's about halfway down on the right. I would suggest you use the app and try to get an RTA submitted before you take off."