The Real World

by Jacob Long

  "Keep us updated," I reply. Barrett hesitates for a moment as if he wants to ask a question that he thinks I'll reject. "Very well. We'll keep in touch." I back away from the control console and look at RT. "You know I could be mistaken, but I think he was looking for more than just a good job and a pat on the back conversation," RT says. "Well, I didn't think I was even that nice," I say. "It sounds pretty serious over there," he replies. "It sounds like we have enough to deal with in one reality without overstretching ourselves out to try and fix the problems in another."

  I say the words and I mean them, and yet, something tells me that I should reconsider the Faction's mission, and it's not just RT. It's a feeling, like a second instinct, contradicting my first one. Still, I ignore it. “Look, Wolf Face has been on plenty of covert missions. He has the abilities of a predator from the animal kingdom.” The expression on RT's face indicates to me that he enjoys my sarcasm more than he wants to. “He's a much better pick for this than I am.” I walk back to the ladder. “I'll be up top if you need me.” I grab hold of the ladder rung in front of my face.

  "Are you going to fall asleep again up there?" he asks. "Maybe," I reply as I begin to ascend. "Well, don't fall off into the ocean," he says, smiling. "Don't tell me what to do," I say. I pause for a moment. I look to the side and spot the gear on the wall. I climb down and retrieve a strap. I give RT a sarcastic smirk, and I climb up the ladder. I make my way onto the top of the submarine, closing the hatch behind me. I tie one end of the strap to my belt and the other end to one of the handlebars that surround the hatch.

  I activate the video feed on my manica and press my comm button. "There. No worries, RT." I say showing him the connected strap. "Now I'll be safe." "Good to know," he replies, smiling. "Have a good night now, and don't stay up too late." "Good night," he replies. I cut off the feed and lay down a few feet from the hatch. As I gaze at the stars, (thinking about this mission that I don't want to go on), they remind me of another mission that I actually did want to go on. It was my first mission. I had just received some unfortunate news though so I was looking up at that night sky and breathing in some fresh air to calm myself down. Those aspects are all similar to the ones in this situation. It doesn't take long before I'm out.

  The Extreme World–Outskirts of Paradisum-2019

  The warm air feels nice against my face as I carefully peek out of the roof hatch. It's not the safest idea, but I should be fine out in the middle of nowhere. Besides, I need a breath of fresh air after hearing the news that we probably won't be able to rescue any slaves on this mission. I'm with the Commandos riding inside of a large military vehicle called the Armadillo. RT designed it, and many of us helped him build it. It's supposed to be the first of many of it's kind. RT and I have dreams of one-day having hundreds of these beasts rolling around Paradisum carrying our freedom fighters. I take one last deep breath and lower my head back down, closing the hatch behind me.

  Even though I could use the fresh air, it's still best not to be out there for very long. Our scanners haven't indicated any human signatures in the area, but in a world full of super-humans, we can't always rely on scanners. I sit down on the back bench next to RT who is tinkering with some device, as usual. Gabriel is driving with Sienna sitting in shotgun. Captain Matua is sitting on the bench behind them so that he can talk to all of us easily. I prefer to call him Fetu. Honestly, I think he prefers it as well so unless we're around other high ranking officers, that's what I and the other Commandos call him.

  We've been on this journey for a day now already. After bringing the submarine into the bay, we released the Armadillo into the water, and let it float to the surface using a remotely activated flotation device. After we removed the protective sheet, we began our journey. Now the Armadillo is taking us through the desert terrain of what used to be known as the California Baja Peninsula. When an Omega Bomb landed in northwestern Mexico, it caused an earthquake that caused most of the peninsula to slide into the ocean. The remaining piece of land was toxic for many years. When the Ministry expanded their territory, they didn't bother to occupy this small area.

  Like everywhere else that the bombs hit, most of the animal life and vegetation was wiped out. What was left, mutated and became stronger. The area that we're traveling through now used to be a complete desert wasteland; now it's a tropical forest filled with mutated plants and animals. Fortunately, the plants and animals on Idem have not been mutated. They have been dangerous enough without that added effect. I'm not sure what to expect with the wildlife here. Although, I have heard some stories.

  "Approaching the target area," says Gabriel as he slows the vehicle down. Through the front window, I can see a wall. I follow alongside it to my left and see that it leads into the ocean. The Supreme Ministry has no outposts that reach this far. The closest one is about ninety miles away. They do have scanners out here that will send a signal to the outposts if they detect something. That is one of the reasons that they disbanded the previous missions to Paradisum.

  Fortunately for us, RT has developed a way to mask us from those scanners. So now, as long as no one sees us, we will be free to come and go as we please. Gabriel parks the vehicle a few feet away from the beach, leaving us hidden in the vegetation. We'll be moving on foot from here on out.

  “Everybody out. Keep your scanners on and always be aware of your surroundings,” Fetu instructs. “This is not a friendly forest. Check your supplies, and then double check them.” He is loud and commanding without being overbearing. “We move out in five.” Everyone piles out of the Armadillo.

  Fetu walks around to the rear and opens the back hatch. We all follow him, pulling out our gear. “Jayden,” Fetu places a giant hand on my shoulder. “Yes, Captain?” I reply. “I want you to know that the decision to abort the rescue part of the mission was not taken lightly. It's been twenty years since we've been here. We need to find out how everything runs before we make any plans. Don't worry. This is just the first of many missions.” He turns to walk away but stops and turns back to me, “Oh, and don't call me Captain out here. We're in the middle of nowhere.”

  Part of me is encouraged to hear the reassurance of our long-term plans. I have to admit though that part of me is not. I know that these missions will be for the greater good, and I want to free those slaves, I just wish that we could do it faster. I also want to be with Elena. I want to start a family with her eventually, but how can I do that knowing that the Ministry is out there. How can I go on missions, knowing that I would be leaving my family possibly forever? On the other hand, how could I let my brothers and sisters go out and fight this battle without me?

  I double check the supplies in my backpack and throw it over my shoulder. As I do so, I look out, and something catches my eye in the distance. I quickly snatch my headset and place it on, scanning the area. The others take note of my actions. " I think there's something's out there," I say, "northeast, two hundred yards." "I'm not picking up anything,” says RT standing beside me, checking his manica “It could have been an animal, but something about it was off.” I survey the area with the night vision on. “There!” I point through the forest. “Whatever it is, it's about thirty feet from the wall.” “Gabriel, go,” says Fetu. “Head straight for the wall.”

  Gabriel takes off sprinting. It still puts me in awe every time I see him run. When he was fourteen, Gabriel started developing abilities. After a few months, they really took off and soon he became the fastest runner on the island. His overall speed, strength, and athletic ability were enhanced as well. I'm glad that he didn't develop his abilities during our initiation fight. I quickly scan the area around us to make sure there are no other humanoid looking creatures waiting to ambush us. I look back to the wall. I see the unfriendly reach the wall and stab two spikes into it. He uses them to climb up.

  Gabriel is fast, but he may not be fast enough. The unfriendly is only a few feet from the top of the wall when I see Gabriel burst out of the trees. He comes out about fifteen yards
too far east. The trees must have obstructed his vision and thrown him off course. It's no matter though. He quickly makes up for lost time. The unfriendly lifts his first leg over the wall as Gabriel leaps into the air, and punches him, knocking him out. He catches him with one hand, and grabs hold of the wall with the other. He lays him on top of the wall. “All right, I caught him,” Gabriel says over the comm system. “Now, you guys come and carry him down the wall. Oh and watch out for the vines.”

  The rest of us double check our supplies. We make our way through the dangerous mutated forest. I lead the way with Sienna behind me and RT behind her. Fetu takes the up the rear. Regretfully, we receive confirmation that Gabriel wasn't kidding about the vines when Fetu yells, "RT, behind you!" Before he can react, the vine wraps around his foot and lifts him up into the air. I activate the laser on my manica and turn around. Before I can get a clear shot, another vine wraps around my arm. As I cut the vine with the laser from my other manica, I notice that the vines have Sienna and Fetu as well. As I slice myself free, I feel something wrap around my leg and pull it out from beneath me. My face smacks against the leafy cushioned ground, and...

  6

  The Extreme World-Somewhere in the Pacific-2020

  I sit up, breathing heavily. I touch my face, checking for any sign of injury. It's fine. I gaze around the area. I see a strap attaching me to a handlebar, and it takes me a second before I remember that I'm on top of the Faction's submarine. I look down at my shirt to see that I'm drenched in ocean water or sweat. It's probably a combination of both. It's been a little while since I had one of those dreams. I thought they were over. I was kind of hoping they were over. I didn't even get to see Elena in that one. I resolve to tell Doc about these dreams when I get back. I get up in search of hydration. I wonder what time it is.

  When I get in the sub, I see that it's just after four o'clock in the morning. I don't feel like going back to sleep, so I shower to get rid of the salt water and body odor smell. After that, I review the files that the Faction gave us about the other dimensions. I haven't checked it out much because I don't want RT to get excited about me looking at it. RT wakes up at about six, and this morning goes pretty much the same as the last few. RT and I check to make sure the navigation system is operating efficiently. We workout hit the showers, and we have breakfast. After that, it's a whole lot of nothing.

  So, in order to keep ourselves entertained, we tend to invent new sports using whatever is in the sub and try to stay out of the control room while we're playing them. The cafeteria is the ideal place for our athletic endeavors to take place. This afternoon's game is called Trash Ball. It involves two brooms, two dustpans, and one crumpled up piece of paper. We both agreed that crumpled up paper would be the best type of trash to knock around the room.

  We came to that conclusion after a few trial games. We have to stay behind the dividing line if we are defending. If the defender knocks the trash ball away from the offender, then it becomes his, and the original offender has to go back to his side to defend his goal. It's not that great of a game, but.. it helps the time pass by. I stand about two feet behind the dividing line, broom handle firmly grasped with the yellow bristles brushing up against the crinkled paper ball. My gaze is set on RT as he stands at the dividing lane, waiting for me to make my move.

  Taking the ball with me, I move right, then left, I fake right and take a shot. The trash ball bounces off the corner of RT's dustpan. "Ah!" I turn my head in shame. RT quickly retrieves the ball and is setting up his shot when the sub's computer announces on the speakers: "Incoming Message from Myles Barrett." RT and I give each other a quick look. He takes his shot as I call, "time out!" It goes in. "Oh man. Too bad that doesn't count," I tease. "Uh, yeah. It does. Now let's go see what our follicle challenged friend has to say this time," RT quips.

  We climb up the steps and into the control room. "Fine, but I'm still ahead by one point," I say as I activate the comm system. "That was a quick mission, Barrett. Is everything okay?" "Actually, no. It's not." He replies. "Callum has been captured. We need to rescue him, and we need to do it soon. He can handle torture without giving information, and he has a neural implant that defends his mind against telepathic invasion, but if they bring in Fulloway, it won't matter. She's too powerful for the chip to hold up," Barrett says. "You said that chip would hold up!" I reply furiously. "Yes, it holds up against all telepaths except for those as powerful as Fulloway! We didn't have any reason to believe that she would be there, but Callum found out that she is headed there for an update on their progress," he replies.

  "You knew that she could travel there any time she wanted! What if she finds out where we are?" "Callum doesn't even know where your island is! None of the Faction does remember?" "Well you may not believe me, but I don't want them to find the Faction's territory either. I told you this was too soon. We are too small. We're not ready!" "Jayden!" RT butts in. "Callum is already over there, and he needs help now." I stare at RT for a moment, as I regain my composure. I press the comm button. "All right. I'll go. I'll retrieve your man and bring him home. And when I finish that, it's over. Is that agreed?" There is brief silence on the other end of the radio and then, "Agreed."

  The journey to the Faction's Teleportation Island is half a day away on the sub, so we set it on autopilot, and we take the Tempest over there, flying as low to the water as possible. RT is in the pilot's seat which leaves me staring out of the window wondering about a different life. The reflection of the sun hitting the ocean gleams brightly right before the fog moves in. I've just activated the Tawhiri system so that we won't get seen by any Ministry ships that may be out this way. Now as I stare into the fog, I start to feel sleepy. I begin to imagine Elena's sweet face. I focus on her eyes. I stare deeply into the green.

  7

  The Extreme World–Outskirts of Paradisum–2019

  As I pull myself away from the green, it is revealed to be shrubs and foliage. I'm back in the forest, on the outskirts of Paradisum. Honestly, why does this keep happening? RT and Sienna are fighting off the vines to no avail. The vines nearly overpower Fetu as well until he begins ripping them in a furious rage. Each consecutive vine is easier for him to break free from. Once his arms are free, he rips out his machete and starts slicing. He sprints toward the vines holding Sienna and chops them clean. He sheathes his weapon and catches her. We all have lasers on our manica, but Fetu enjoys a little bit of old school as well. And with him wielding it, any short range weapon becomes much deadlier.

  Sienna and Fetu form a duo. Fetu lifts her onto his shoulders and protects both of them from oncoming vines as she uses her lasers to set RT and me free. I get to the ground and look ahead, using my scanners. "The clearing is about twenty yards, this way," I point. "Let's make a run for it! I let Fetu and Sienna pass me as I ready my manica I follow them, cutting vines as I go. I can hear RT, and Fetu not far behind. The clearing is only ten feet away now. I'm so close when I spot something in my peripheral. The vine flies in at me faster than I can react and wraps around my left manica. It squeezes tightly as it pulls me into the air. I struggle to concentrate my laser as the vine crushes my arm.

  Fetu leaps into the air and cuts it off of me. I land softly onto the ground. The remaining vine is still stuck tightly onto my manica My arm is screaming at me in pain. I focus the laser from my right manica, and use it to remove the rest of the vine. "Come on," Fetu says, "We're almost out of it." RT has already gone ahead. Fetu and I move quickly to catch up with everyone in the clearing. I ignore the throbbing in my arm as it screams at me in pain. I step out of the forest and spot something straight ahead. It's not moving. It looks like a body. I look up to see Gabriel, still sitting on the wall. The unfriendly is not with him. I walk up to see the unfriendly lying dead on the ground.

  "He just jumped," Gabriel explains as he comes down from the wall. "He's an exile," says Fetu as he walks up to the prostrate body. "They usually stick together. It's unusual that he is completely alone." he continue
s. I'm sitting on a rock as RT and Sienna tend to my arm.

  Each of the Commandos has a great deal of medical knowledge, but RT and Sienna were chosen by Fetu to be the team medics. So they have received more instruction in this field than the rest of us. Although, I think RT may have preferred not to, to make it easier to get over his crush for Sienna. As any great friend would, I assured him that the crush was going to stay alive as long as they still worked together, and he didn't have someone else. Now that I'm thinking of it in my head, it sounds blunter than I wanted it to be.

  "He did shield himself from our scanners though," reminds Sienna as she breaks the manica off of my arm. I wince, and she notices. "It's not that bad." I turn to RT. "I see what you mean. She does have that healers touch," I say. I figure by saying I can insult her with sarcasm and reveal RT's high opinion of her without making things awkward. It's a win-win. I mean, Gabriel is my friend too, but RT was my friend first, and he has liked Sienna for a long time, so I have to go with team RT on this one. "Yes, and even now, my scanners can't pick him up," RT adds. Fetu walks up to the prostrate body and searches around. He pulls an electronic attachment from off the exiles belt and holds it up in the air. "I'm willing to bet that this is the problem." RT walks up and examines the device.