The Real World

by Jacob Long

  The first stop is the Senator's driver's house. That will be Real Jayden's pivotal role. After knocking out and tying up the actual driver, we set up Real Jayden to look like him. "We have to take his car," says Real Jayden. "Why is that?" I ask. He looks at me for a moment before responding. "Because something bad always happens to the cars in these situations, and I don't want to see anything happen to that Lambo." "This car is pretty nice as well," Callum says, gesturing to the driver's shiny black luxury car. "Yes, but it's not a Lambo," Real Jayden replies. "I'm going to have to go with Real Jayden on this one," Xyla says. "All right, fine," I reply. "No worries. We'll take his car. Let's go." Real Jayden gets in the driver's seat since he has the most experience with the vehicles and traffic laws in this world. Xyla hops in on the shotgun side, and Callum and I take the back seat once again.

  We make our way to the house of an air traffic control supervisor. Xyla will have the privilege of playing this part. "Are you sure you're up for this?" Callum asks her as he places the supervisor on the bed. The supervisor on duty for this shift happens to be a man. So that is who Xyla will be impersonating. "We don't have many other options," she replies. "I'm the best choice to be the eyes and ears. Besides, how hard could it be?" She says as we walk back outside and to the car. We have two more stops before reaching the airport. Callum and I will be impersonating airport security guards. We give them a heavy dose of tranquilizer (same as the first two). It's enough to keep them in dreamland for nine hours.

  A unique concoction developed by a scientist in Xyla's world. It also wipes out their memory of the last few hours before taking it. "I'm surprised R.T. hasn't come up with one like this yet," I say as I hold down the comm button on my earpiece. "I've been a little busy developing other things," he says. "I know, I know," I reply. "I just like to keep your humility in check." "Thanks, pal." Instead of going to the private section, Real Jayden drops us off at the regular entrance. We arrive three hours before the Senator's jet is scheduled to get there.

  Three hours may seem like a long time, but it will be worth it for us to get acquainted with the operations of the airport. And it's also a lot easier to keep those unconscious bodies at their houses rather than trying to find somewhere to hide them here. While Xyla heads off to air traffic control, and Callum and I head to security, Real Jayden is driving away from the airport. He'll have the riveting job of sitting and waiting for the next two hours until it's time to roll the car around.

  As we make our way to the private landing area, I spot someone that looks familiar. I can't help but take a closer look. Behind one of the blue service desks, is a man talking to one of the customer service agents. It's Lieutenant McElroy, the man who took the Mason family back to the bunkers during the Battle of Idem. He's only a few feet away, so I approach him. "It's good to see you, sir," I say as I realize the mistake that I've made. "Uh, yeah," he replies. "It's good to see you too."

  Lost in thought, it takes me a moment before I realize that this man must be the Real World version of McElroy. “Hey, Jayden,” Callum taps me on the shoulder. “What's wrong with you? We have to go.” I snap out of my trance. “Oh, right.” I don't know how much more of this place I can handle. I've never been on a mission that my mind could so easily compromise. All I can think is that I really hope that I don't run into the Real World version of Elena. At that point, I may become completely incapacitated.

  15

  Once Callum and I arrive and settle in at our post, I'll check in with everyone else. I'll check with Xyla first, although I'm more worried about Real Jayden. It's not that I don't think he's capable. I get the feeling that he hasn't done a lot of things like this before. To be honest, he probably hasn't done anything like this before. I press my comm button, "Callum and I are in position. Xyla, what's your status?" A few seconds pass. "Everything looks great up here," she whispers. I'm guessing, she needed to move to an area with fewer ears surrounding her. "Good to hear it," I reply.

  "Real Jayden, what's your status?" I didn't realize it before, but now I feel like calling him Real Jayden implies that I am some kind of fake Jayden. No response. "Jayden, are you there?" I ask. Still no response. Now I am starting to wonder if the Ministry tracked him down. "Guys, turn down your audio," I say to Xyla and Callum. "Jayden!" I yell into the comm system. "What? Yeah, sorry. I'm here. I'm good," he replies. “What's going on over there?” I demand.

  “Sorry, I just dozed off for a bit. I heard you talking but your voice was so soothing, I thought I might have been dreaming,” he replies. “Ha ha, yeah sure,” I reply. “Don't try to fix this with flattery. We need you to be alert.” “Why don't you stop by the gas station and get some coffee?” Xyla suggests. “Ugh, no thanks. I don't like coffee. An energy drink sounds good though.” “Pick me up some snacks while you're there.” Callum chimes in. He looks at me. “Gas stations here are packed full of different foods.” I feel a grumble in my stomach. I can hear it too. “You should drop by one of those fast food restaurants on your way here as well, and get us all some food,” I say. “That is a perfect idea,” says Xyla. I agree,” Callum replies. “Yeah, yeah. Okay, okay. I can do that. Right now, I'm going to get that energy drink though. We still have over two hours before I get back there so you might want to grab a snack from a vending machine or something.” “Fair enough,” I reply.

  I scan the airport with my eyes. It is mostly busy except for the area that Callum and I are in. There is one private jet in the refueling area. It must have landed recently. Another jet is due to land in a few minutes, so there is just enough time to grab a quick snack inside. This is an excellent opportunity to get familiar with the rest of the airport. In case we need to change our escape plan.

  I hear the loud whoosh of one of the larger planes flying over my head. It's hard to believe that my world might be like this if things were different. It's strange to think that all of these distinctions were caused possibly by the alteration of one event that occurred a long time ago. What happened or didn't happen in this world that made it so that Carlisle and Fulloway couldn't create the Supreme Ministry and take over? And what's the point of all of these different worlds existing?

  That question is a little too big for the mission at hand. Right now, I need to focus on capturing this Senator Leroy guy and using him to discover the Ministry's weaknesses. They must have at least one, even if it seems as though they don't. I walk up to a vending machine and press my comm button. "Callum, do you want anything?"

  Two hours later, the vending machine candy bar is only a memory, and my stomach is starting to growl at me again. Soon it won't matter though. The senator's jet is almost here, and it will provide a welcome distraction. It will be good for my stomach and for Callum who has been tapping his leg and bobbing his head every few seconds. He kind of looks like he is listening to music when he does it. It's honestly driving me insane. I keep telling myself to not look over at him, but I'm bored as well, so I keep seeing it happen.

  While waiting for the plane, I've thought about anything and everything. My mind wanders to all of the possibilities of this world. Of course, right away, I think again about how Elena might be alive in this world. And if she is alive, where is she? Part of me wants to find her, and part of me knows that it would be too difficult to see her. Especially since she wouldn't know who I am. "Incoming," says a female voice over the comm system. "The senator is five minutes out." The voice is that of Mara, a desk agent from Xyla's homeworld. Essentially, Xyla has an RT inside of her ears, just like I do. Mara sees everything that Xyla sees. We thought that it would be better if she informed us over the comm system so that Xyla wouldn't have to talk to us in a room full of air traffic controllers.

  "All right, Plain Jayden now is a good time to pull the car around," I say. "Haha, good one," Real Jayden replies. "I'm about to pull in. Getting past the gate was ridiculous though. It's like they only let meatheads work security at this joint." I smile and shake my head. I never thought I was capable of having all of this banter wit
h myself. I walk over to the pickup point where Callum is already waiting. Of course, he doesn't look like Callum.

  "Be ready for anything. I'm sure the Ministry has precautions set up for situations like this." "This guy's going down. He's gotta pay for what he's done." He doesn't look like Callum. The voice is different, and yet, he still sounds like Callum. He has a vengeful heart which is where we find common ground. I try not to show it, but I still have a slight distaste for the guy. It's hard for me to forgive the things that he said back on Idem.

  Once the senator gets here, it's our job to make sure that he and his two bodyguards get in the car with Real Jayden. Once they drive away, Callum will sneak away and run to the vehicle exit checkpoint. Once there, the security guards will open the doors of the car in order to check it. While they do that, Callum will sneak in. After Real Jayden drives off, Callum will administer the tranquilizer to Senator Leroy and his bodyguard. In the meantime, I will grab a second car, pick up Xyla and then we will all meet up at the rendezvous point on the pier.

  Real Jayden pulls the car up, and I look up to see the Senator's jet making its approach only a few hundred yards away. My eyes fixate on the spinning wheels as the jet lands on the ground of the runway. I have to pull myself back into focus. We have a mission. The aircraft comes to a stop in front of Callum and I. Behind us is a small group of reporters and photographers who want to get a comment from the Senator about the latest updates in his campaign for the presidency. The jet opens up, and one of the bodyguards walks out followed by Leroy, himself.

  The clicking of camera buttons begins. The second bodyguard follows right behind the Senator. Leroy responds to the attention well, smiling and waving. He appears to have genuine appreciation and respect for the people who are not only here right now, but the people who will watch his arrival on the news. It's up to Callum and I and two other security personnel to stand in between the press and Leroy. It's not the easiest of jobs. Callum and I both shoot each other a look as if to say that it would be a lot easier if we could just knock them all out.

  We get to the car, and I open the door for the Senator. It looks like everything is about to workout until I get a strange sensation in my mind. The first bodyguard. He knows that something is off. He puts his left hand on the Senator's shoulder. The first bodyguard is a big guy, about six foot four inches tall, and probably weighing over three hundred pounds. All of it, solid muscle. Before I had my abilities, he would have been a very formidable opponent. Of course, I'm not sure the extent of my abilities right now, but it looks like we might find out. And sure enough, my instincts tell me not to trust him, and I'm the lucky guy standing right behind this behemoth of a bodyguard as he throws his right elbow back toward my face.

  Fortunately, I'm paying attention, so I duck down and hit him in the stomach with my right hook. He crumples over slightly but not enough. He's obviously a superhuman. "Get him in the car!" I yell to Callum as the giant bodyguard throws another punch at me. I catch it and use it to throw him over my shoulder and away from the vehicle. It must be normal for him to use his sheer mass and strength in a fight. This is where fighting technique will have to come into play. Some super strength doesn't hurt either. His body flies through the air and thwacks against the side of the jet and leaves a massive dent.

  He falls to the ground and appears to be unconscious. Callum moves quickly, exchanging blows with the other bodyguard. He transforms into his wolf form while blocking, kicking, and punching. The other guy is good, but Callum bests him, knocking him to the ground. I think I underestimated Callum before. Maybe it was because he had been captured. Honestly, after those moves, I'm surprised that the soldiers at the factory were able to take him down. I guess that's just a reminder that even the best can get taken down. There are many variables at play.

  Callum runs to the car and shoves Leroy inside. The smaller bodyguard gets back up and runs to the vehicle as well. I shoot a burst of flame and knock him into the passenger side door. He falls, unconscious. "Go now!" I yell both at the car and into my comm system. Real Jayden takes off, leaving tire marks on the pavement. They're going to need some assistance in getting out of here. I run over to the smaller bodyguard, throw him over my shoulder, and sprint toward the gate.

  "What's going on down there?" Xyla says through the comm system. I don't have time to answer her right away. The car will soon reach the gate, and I'm about one hundred yards behind it. I flank left and shoot a concentrated stream of fire. As soon as the heat weakens the gate and melts down the tire spikes, I absorb the fire back into my body. The car busts right through without losing any speed. With my free hand, I activate my comm system. "We're going to have to go with Plan B. Meet me at the parking lot." "Got it. I'll be there in two," Xyla replies. "All right. We're almost there," says Real Jayden.

  I didn't want to have to go with Plan B. Although; it is much more exciting than Plan A. There's no time for me to run all the way to the parking lot, although, it's been a while since I have flown. In fact, I haven't flown at all since I've been in this dimension. Oh, well. There's no time for a test flight. If I crash, I'll simply land on this bodyguard that I've got draped across my shoulder. Thankfully, all goes well as the flame jettisons me into the air and over to the parking lot.

  I realize that I still look like the security guard, so I deactivate my imitation device. As I come to a landing, I see Real Jayden racing around to evade the two airport security cars that are in pursuit. "This is not good!" he says over the comm system. "Where do you want me to stop?" "Xyla, where are you at?" I say into the comm system. "I'm approaching the southwest corner." I look over to see her burst into the parking lot, riding a bullet bike. "Let's meet over there," I say as I make my quick descent. Xyla and I take cover behind a large truck.

  The bodyguard starts to stir. “Can I have one of your anesthetics?" I hold out my hand to her, and she hands me one of her super powerful anesthetic devices. It packs quite the punch for being half the size of a pen. I administer the medication to the bodyguard, and he falls back into dreamland. I turn my attention back to Xyla. "I'm going to create a key for that car over there," I point to the fast looking silver vehicle that is across the way. "I need you to change the program on your imitation device and give it to this bozo." I pat the unconscious head of Leroy's smaller bodyguard.

  "Okay, no problem," she replies. "But we might need some more time." "You're right." I press my comm button. "Jayden, we need you to keep them occupied while we steal these wheels," I say as I calibrate the hologram device. "Yeah, no problem. Easy stuff. I think we're going to have some more company soon though. Callum can hear sirens."

  "Perfect." The word doubles as both a sarcastic response to Real Jayden and as a reaction to the hologram device completing its creation of the car key. I turn to Xyla. "Are you ready-" The bodyguard now looks like Senator Leroy. "Nice work," I say to her. "Thanks," she says with a smile. I hear sirens and press my comm button. "We're ready for you now, Jayden." The car speeds toward us from down the lot.

  “Get as close as you can to the silver car on the right!” I yell. I pick up the senator's decoy. Real Jayden barely manages to avoid crashing into the silver car. Xyla and I immediately get up and run over to get in between the two vehicles. Real Jayden smiles at the sporty silver car. “Nice choice. Nice choice.” As Xyla gets in the driver's seat, I open the rear passenger door and secure the senator's decoy into his seat belt. I close the car door and hand the key to Xyla. Callum secures the now unconscious senator in the back of the luxury car and gets in on the passenger side. “What's the plan?” Real Jayden asks me.

  "I'm going to fly up top and look for the best way out of the city," I say to both Xyla and Real Jayden. "I'll give you guys directions from there. Until then, drive fast and don't let them catch you." I shoot them each a smirk before launching into the air. Immediately I can see the police closing in on them, so I meltdown a few tires before flying high enough to map out an escape plan. There is only one way out of the airp
ort and circling back around would only give the police more time to barricade the area. I have to think of something now because soon the exit of the parking lot will be blocked off as well. At this point, I start to feel the fatigue really hit me. I should be coming up with ideas, but I can't seem to focus. Luckily, I have help from the other side.

  "Jayden, the overpass on your right," RT says over the comm system. I look over and get an idea. An idea that I'm assuming is the same as the one that RT has. "Disintegration?" I ask. "Disintegration indeed," he replies. "That'll work, my friend. Real Jayden, Xyla," I say as I redirect my attention. "Exit the parking lot and take a right. Follow the exit signs and get onto the overpass. Stop before you reach the bottom of the other side. RT, can you jam all communications besides this one?" "I'll see what I can do," he responds confidently. I see Xyla and then Real Jayden exit the parking lot in their respective cars as I glide toward the overpass.

  “RT, where have you been this whole time?” I ask. “I didn't think there was much I could do during that whole fiasco," he replies. "So I figured I would chime in when I had something useful to contribute." "Yeah, well, perfect chiming, my friend," I say. "Oh, no. You're using puns," he replies. You're either in a really good mood or your blood sugar must be running low." "Probably going to have to go with the latter on that one." I fly down close to the road. There are now four police cars in pursuit. They are too close, so I melt down their tires just before they reach the overpass.