The Real World

by Jacob Long

  I scan the area from side to side. The buildings are enormous. It looks similar to New York City but I've only seen it in pictures. These buildings, however, seem a lot newer. Then I realize that this has to be it. In the distance, I spot a giant statue. The Statue of Liberty. I've always had a strong desire to see it. Of course, it is occupied by Paradisum in an area that I never did recon in. I always wondered why the Supreme Ministry didn't just destroy the statue. After all, it represented freedom, and freedom is what they stood to destroy. Most of the older islanders weren't really sure either. They thought that perhaps it was there to taunt and torment the slaves in the city.

  However, my grandfather, Bartholomew Lancaster told me a different story. He said that perhaps Carlisle and Fulloway didn't think that what they were doing was wrong. Maybe to them, the Statue of Liberty represented what they were trying to do. That has always been a very hard concept for me to follow. I asked him how they could think that when they enslaved thousands, brainwashed millions, and murdered others who stood in their way. He said that in their minds, the slaves were being punished for their crimes. And that Carlisle and Fulloway don't think of their methods as brainwashing, they think of them as a way to help others realize their vision for a better world. He said that they are wrong, but they think that they are right. I didn't fully understand him at the time but I knew better than to doubt him.

  My grandfather was about twelve years old when our civilization first began on the first island. He was one of the few people I knew that could tell me about the world outside of the island. He would always end a story by saying that he was young but there was a lot going on. He absorbed as much information as he could. And that I should do the same. I continue to look around at the majestic structures.

  The New York that I saw in pictures was from the late 1930's. Many of these buildings appear to be a lot nicer than the ones that I remember seeing. Some of them are definitely the same, however, there are a lot of changes. There seems to be a lot more purple as well. This can't be Paradisum. This city doesn't have the right structure. As I begin to float down closer toward the buildings, I see what looks like a large transportation vehicle hovering over a docking bay.

  The side of the vehicle reads; LANCASTER ENTERPRISES. "What world is this?" I ask the shape-shifter whose head is still in the grasp of my hand. He doesn't respond. I get the feeling that he will be stubborn until the bitter end. I'm just about to see if I can pry some information out of him when I notice a billboard with a well-dressed woman speaking from behind a desk. The caption reads; PRESIDENT McELROY SIGNS OFF ON INVESTIGATION OF THE IDPA.

  It can't be. On this world, McElroy is president of the U.N? Good for him. At least he met a nice fate in one world. And the IDPA, now I'm thinking that this is Xyla's world where the U.N. governs most of the earth's population as one nation. “This is where he is? This is where Leroy fled to?” The shape-shifter doesn't answer. He doesn't have to. He attacks with all of his might. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting any more fight out of this guy.

  I feel a similar surge of energy as before, my mind reeling in pain. As I push back, a huge flash of blinding light appears and New York is gone. There is only darkness. The shape-shifter appears out of the nothingness, floating in the empty space. Then a copy of him appears. The copies multiply themselves until I am surrounded by numerous copies of the shape-shifter.

  "Jayden Lancaster!" he yells, his voice echoing around me. "My name is Brogan, loyal Lieutenant to the Supreme Ministry. You truly are a powerful force. It's unfortunate that your power is misguided. We are not your enemies. Carlisle is truly sorry for the events that transpired on your first island." Hearing this sets me off. Carlisle is 'sorry' for what happened? It was all his fault. He didn't even dare to go there and do it himself.

  My energy had all but faded away. Now, it's rapidly coming back. Bolts of psychic energy extend from the glow around my body. The bolts strike each of the copies of the shape-shifter and he screams out in pain. The echoing sound pierces my mind, vibrating throughout. "We are only trying to save humanity from itself!" He yells as he produces images of Paradisum and it's many soldiers and resources into my mind. This only makes me angrier. As a last ditch effort to attack me, he shows me the image of Elena, floating in the sky. His psychic copies explode into the nothingness as I tap into more of my telepathic power.

  I come out of my mind and back into the physical world. I open my eyes and let go of Brogan's head. He no longer looks like the Senator. He is in his true form. The physical transformation must have occurred about when the telepathic one did. RT places his hand on my shoulder. “Jayden, are you okay?” I step back to look at everyone. “Jayden, what is it?” Mayor Matua asks. “We can't do this,” I reply, shaking my head.

  19

  They all look at me as if I'm crazy. If they would only consider what we're going up against, they would see that I'm the only one who is thinking straight. “We don't have the manpower to stop them,” I say. “We're at war,” Xyla says. “We have to do everything that we can.” “You're at war. Idem is at peace.” I turn to the Mayor. “Or at least they were. Until we became foolish. Did you forget that we're going up against tens of thousands of soldiers? I'm already the cause of losing so many lives.” Mayor Matua steps forward, intimidating as ever. “The responsibility for our civilization to engage in war is that of the ISF and me. Do not presume for one instant that I would take it lightly.”

  I'm not backing down from my words. I step forward. "There is no war!" The muscles in my neck and jaw are tight. "There will only be more slaughter." I feel my chest expanding rapidly as I breathe in and out. I shake my head. "And I won't watch it again." The Mayor stares me down carefully considering his next words.

  Xyla strives to break the tension. "Don't you understand that if we only avoid them, sooner or later they'll come for us, and destroy us?" Her words hit me as logical, yet I can't be sure what logic is anymore. My eyes stay locked with Matua's. My rage is at its limit. Normally by now, I would have punched a wall just to extinguish my anger. Not this time though. This time, I'm keeping everything inside until... Mayor Matua reaches his hand out and places it over my heart. He speaks slowly but with great strength and conviction.

  “You really think it was your fault, don't you?... I was the one who consulted with your father, and Elena's father, and I made a decision. A decision to instigate those missions. A decision to stand up against tyranny. A decision to progress toward freeing the brainwashed and enslaved citizens of Paradisum. I know that you have lost so much... If I could take that pain away from you... I surely would.”

  As he nods, teardrops run down his cheeks. One from each of his eyes. "I would give my own life just to see that happen. Just to have our people back. Your and Elena's families were vital to this civilization. And without them and the many other families that were lost, our civilization has been dying. The truth is, we are no longer safe. We are on the brink of extinction. At this point, however, our doom is rapidly catching up with us. There is no benefit in doing nothing. I won't lie to you, son. There is little doubt that we will lose more of our people.

  If I could, I would go back and prevent this spy from infiltrating our island, but I don't regret making the call to have those missions. There is a greater purpose at stake and this is our last stand. This is what we must do in order to have hope for future generations. If we don't do what we can, then the future of humanity is lost to the reign of the Ministry." I can't deny the truth of his words. I can't fight them. I can't fight this man.

  He is too great of a man. I don't have to have my new found psychic abilities to tell that he is just like me. That he feels responsible for the loss of everyone on the first island. The only thing that I can do is place my hand on his shoulder. “I'm sorry, sir. I lost sight of what it means to be human.” He takes his hand off from my heart and puts both of them on my shoulders. “No, my son.” He hugs me. “We are all still learning what it means to be human.”

&nb
sp; After trying to wake the shape-shifter, we realize that he is dead. Doc along with RT perform an autopsy and discover that he is brain dead. The rest of his body is in perfect, functioning condition, but for some reason, his mind is not there. They also determine that he was taking a special serum to keep himself transformed into the Senator even while unconscious. Apparently, it doesn't work while he's dead. To make matters worse, I can't remember what I saw while inside of his mind. After burning the body, the Mayor, Barrett, Xyla, RT, Real Jayden and I discuss our next move.

  "What if Jayden went back in there to try and find some information," Real Jayden suggests. "Reading the mind of a brain-dead victim is very risky, even for experienced telepaths. He could potentially get stuck in there with him. Besides, if he can't remember what happened last time, whose to say he will remember this time." Doc replies. "By the way," Doc turns to stare at me with unnerving curiosity. Since when did you become a telepath? That sure is a strange evolution of your abilities."

  “I'm not really sure,” I reply. “I've only had a few minor unusual experiences. I thought they were just instinct before this happened.” “Instinct... Hmm... Let's discuss this further when everyone else leaves.” Doc says. “Right now, I'd like to point out that it seems the Ministry is pumping out an awful lot of telepaths of their own these days. I thought that was an area they were having a lot of trouble with.” “You're right, Doc,” RT replies. “They've always wanted to make sure that they maintain complete control and that Consuls Carlisle and Fulloway have the final say. I wonder how they fixed the issues.”

  "I might have an answer to this one," Xyla states thoughtfully. "Compared to the Real World, genetic research on my world is far advanced. It would appear that we may be ahead of your world as well. Even though we don't have super-humans on the same scale as you, our research may prove to be very beneficial to the Ministry." Then I remember. "Yes, your world. That's what I saw when I was in Brogan's mind. That's his name, the shape-shifter." "How do you know that it was my world?" "The IDPA... purple everywhere- like the purple on your suit."

  “It could be a world that is similar to hers,” Doc suggests. “Yes, that is very likely.” RT states. “There could potentially be thousands of worlds similar to Xyla's with similar advancements in genetic research. But Barrett did say that the Ministry was frequenting a third world other than the Real one and this Extreme one.” Everyone looks to Barrett whose been silent for a while. He looks at Xyla. “We'll have to visit Dr. Hamilton and review the information that we have, but I'm willing to bet that it's the same world as yours.”

  There is a brief silence before Matua speaks. “All right, Xyla, Barrett, we're going to go and talk to Dr. Hamilton. Everyone else, meet us at the Capitol in two hours. I suggest that you get some rest." The Mayor looks from me to Doc. "I need to know if you're well enough for this operation?" "I can do it, sir." "That's good to hear. I want to hear it from him as well." Everyone walks out of the room leaving the Doc and me alone.

  "Take a seat, Jayden." He gestures to the only patient table in the room that is not occupied by a dead guy. I hesitate. "Please, I assure you. No one has ever gone brain dead by talking to me- yet." He smiles. I walk over and sit on the table. "In all seriousness, we need to discuss some things. Before you took off on a highly stressful mission to what is being referred to as the 'Real World,' we were talking about what would be best for you." "Well, you did say that I should get out and take a break from the usual day to day." He smiles again. "Yes, I did."

  He asks me about the instinctive experiences that I've been having that may be telepathic in nature, and I tell him. I tell him about talking to Xyla for the first time and instantly knowing that I could trust her. I also tell him about the arrival of the fake Leroy at the airport, and how I could tell that the big bodyguard was onto us right away.

  “That's really quite fascinating. Let's try something. All right. I'm going to think of a memory of mine that I know you don't know about and I want you to tell me what it is. If you can.” “I don't know, Doc.” “We'll give it one minute.” He sets the timer on his manica That should be enough time for both of us to concentrate on the memory.” He presses the timer button. I take a deep breath. At first, I see nothing. “Just relax. A telepath doesn't have to search for what's right in front of his or her face. You must simply be open to living in the moment. Observe what is going on around you in the psychic world. Try closing your eyes to help your concentration.”

  As I close my eyes, I take another deep breath in and, I am transported. All around me are tall trees. A few feet in front of me is a campfire. It reminds me of the times that I would go camping with my family or with Elena. This is Doc's memory though. What happens here? Why does he remember this? Then I see him. He's just a little boy about five years old. His mom walks up carrying a camping oven back to the campsite. She kisses his head before setting the oven down. His dad walks up carrying wood for the fire. He sets it down and notices little Doc observing him. His dad gives him a wink and motions for him to come over.

  His timer goes off with a buzzing sound and I open my eyes. "You were camping with your parents." "Incredible. A development like this is unprecedented. The Ministry has worked for decades just to be able to combine basic abilities. Somehow, you have acquired so many without human intervention. I wish we had time to conduct more tests. He pauses for a moment. Have you been trying that breathing exercise?" "I'll be honest with you, Doc. I completely forgot about it. I've been a little bit busy." He chuckles lightly. "Yes. Indeed, you have... and I'll be honest with you, Jayden. Mayor Matua and I are worried that you may not be ready for the mission that lies ahead. You're a great soldier... and having a great soldier is what we need now more than ever... but right now, being a soldier might not be the best thing for you...”

  “It's like you said,” I reply. “We don't have time to conduct tests. There is no time to create an ideal situation. I'm an imperfect soldier fighting in a disastrous war... It's a good thing that I'm not fighting this war alone. We are a team, and we will work together as a team. I can't let them do this without me, I will give everything I have to see this through...” He looks at me, hesitantly. “And I promise that if you sign me off, I'll do your ridiculous breathing exercises every day.” He smiles but shoots me a look. “They're not ridiculous,” I say. “You're right.” He stands up and holds out his hand. We shake and hug. “You are strong, Jayden. Always remember that.”

  That night, RT, Xyla, Callum, Barrett and I get together to formulate a plan. We determine that we will need to investigate the IDPA and my doppelganger in Xyla's world. Xyla informs us that Lancaster Enterprises is the developer of the teleportation technology in her world. Hopefully, at least one of these will lead to us finding Senator Leroy and the Ministry. We plan to pose as friends of my doppelganger so, after the meeting, RT, Callum, and I begin to research as much as we can about the three friends.

  RT has been buried in his manica monitor almost the whole time, gathering information for our mission. Now he looks up at me, the color lost from his face. “Is everything all right?” I ask him. He looks at me in silence for a moment... “Jayden, it's going to be hard for you to not get distracted in this world...” he says. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?” “There is something that you need to prepare for now, because later will be too late.” “Okay, what is it?” “I'm sorry, but... in Xyla's world, you're doppelganger is married to Elena.

  20

  RT, Xyla, Callum, Barrett and I travel back to the Faction's second island. We take the Tempest and a fighter jet that we salvaged during the battle of the first island. We leave Real Jayden on Idem under the watchful protection of Sienna, the ISF, and half of the Faction soldiers. He's not too excited about being left out. However, he takes it pretty well. The other half of the Faction soldiers set out to the second island using the submarine. Nina will lead them.

  Once we get there, Xyla uses her suit to open up a portal to Xyla's homeworld. She comes
back with tech for upgrading the Quantum Spectrum. RT does a poor job of concealing his excitement. Once we install the upgrades, we won't have to travel back every time that we want to teleport to another dimension. The Quantum Spectrum will still open the gateway. Of course, since we don't the Ministry to find a trace back to Idem, we will make the jump to another world only after, we are a reasonable distance away.

  The image on the other side of the portal is eerily similar to the one over here. “We will be stepping into one of the IDPA Teleportation Rooms. Naturally, this is where all of our agents travel to and from other worlds. As you can see, we have a similar set up to your room here.” The room looks similar, but the one in her world appears to be much smaller. With years of inter-dimensional traveling experience under their belts, I'm sure that they have figured out many ways of accomplishing more with less equipment.