SIDE B | CHAPTER 5

April 30th, 2032

Color me surprised. I wasn't foolish to think that I couldn't be surprised by more things here in London, but I never expected medical care to be one of those things. They propped my arm inside a gigantic machine and left me there for an hour. I thought they were doing all kinds of crazy expensive tests I never would have been able to afford—but no. That was the SURGERY.

My arm's all fixed. They practically shooed me away after that. I can't explain it. Must be something to do with the powers they all have now. That part is still taking its time to settle with me. I had to wait outside while they finished looking Matt over. I remember feeling...so angry, when it all came down to it. So much death could have been prevented back home.

With this kind of technology...so much could have improved. It seemed to the general public they weren't aware how different things really were, but the Queen knew. Her letter was evidence of such. She knew the whole time and did nothing.

My anger subsided as my available options to deal with it dwindled. There was no reasonable way to bring this up with the Queen at this point in time. With Andrew here, certainly, I could trust that he could argue the point to the grave. Hell, even if Matt were passionate enough about it, but as we are now and so obviously relying on the fact that the Queen didn't shoot us down herself...too many things depended on variables not in our control. The absolute frustration of the deal we were given.

Matt eventually joined me. He seemed to be in higher spirits than when he entered.

"What's the news?" I asked.

"Full checkup. I'm not an android or anything like that."

"Well that's good to hear."

"But I'm like them. I've got Radical-9 in my system."

"Explains the shield magic you got there."

He looked at me with a perturbed look. "Guess you can call it magic. Might as well." He looked off to the side and I could see the whimsy fade from his face. "Also thought of something. Thought it was me dozing off or something, but I think I saw Andrew back home. He looked worried."

"When is he not?"

The grin stayed for longer on his face. "I guess I don't help that."

"I could say the same."

"You know, I've got more of a bad feeling about them back there. That so weird of me to think?"

"I'd say so, I have absolutely no clue how we're going to navigate this conversation with the Queen."

Matt shrugged. "We either die or we don't. It's not so difficult. Them though, a lot is uncertain."

Die or don't...I don't know how much I cared for the odds being put so bluntly.

"Well, I guess all we gotta do is press on. Got that button?"

"Yeah, right here." Matt said. "I was hesitant on giving it a go."

"Think it'll self destruct or something?"

"No, just...unsure. It could theoretically do anything."

"Just open the box already," I folded my hands into my pockets and leaned against the exterior of the hospital. The air around us was starting to get chilly—if there was one thing all these buildings lead to—it was pretty terrible gusts and gales.

"Well look at you go Mr. Optimist. We're gonna have to get you a cat when we get back. Maybe he can keep you warmer than that jacket."

As if his mention of it made me colder, I shivered. "Toss off. Just press it already."

"The British is getting to you," He clicked the button and it glowed a dull red hue.

The ground in front of them immediately opened up from both sides. It looked as if the sidewalk were peeling apart at the seams. Looking inside, I saw deep tracks that looked to continue far past where I could see. Rising up from the tracks looked...almost like a spaceship. Compact was certainly a word for it as much as cosmic was. Angular edges jutting—I felt if I brushed up against it I'd need to bandage myself immediately.

"Huh, guess Dinet was right. Surely couldn't miss this."

"Are we even going to fit in it?" I asked.

"Guess we got not much of a choice, do we?"

I scratched my head. "No, I guess not. Would be pretty foolhardy to pass up this opportunity."

The doors opened up from the top hinge. When Matt stepped in I quickly realized we were going to be packed inside tight like sardines.

"Hm, shame. Seems there's barely any room left," Matt said.

"Stop." I rolled my eyes. "Let's just go."

"Waiting for you," Matt said with a renewed vigor.

"Someone's excited."

"Just the air of a Saturday night, you know?"

"God, I can't even believe it's Saturday. It feels like a really bad Wednesday right now."

"Them's the breaks."

I bent down and slid into the seat next to Matt and the doors slid shut.

"Wonder where it's gonna take us?" I asked.

"I figure some clothing store or some such. I'm unfamiliar with the businesses here, but it seems the general sentiment of the large variety of stores and businesses is still here."

The doors swung shut and the vehicle started to lower back under the ground.

"Guess that explains why we haven't seen any cars on the road," Matt crossed his arms.

"Wonder what happens to the exhaust?"

"Assuming there is any..." Matt said.

"A fair point."

I gripped the side of the door when the car took off—there was almost no delay to reaching max speed. Lights strung up to the walls underground sped by in a blur. The car darted right which threw me against the door.

"Agh, shit." I called out as the car straightened itself and stopped on the time. "How do they expect people to ride in these?"

"They probably use their powers to keep themselves unhurt. Only thing I can think of. It's bullshit though," Matt was rubbing his right arm which had been shoved into my side.

"Wonder if we could bring this kind of technology westward," I began. "without all the extra pain involved."

"If all goes well we'll see a growth for both countries."

"If all goes well is assuming a lot…"

"I'm aware."

The car zoomed off faster than it did before. It turned three times and I felt each one against the door, cringing as the discomfort grew with each one. Finally, after a few more minutes we came to a dead stop.

The car began to rise, the dark of the sky appearing above as the ground opened up. The car breached the surface and continued to rise until it stopped fully. The ground closed up enough to allow us to step out as the two doors opened up automatically. I looked over to Matt's side and saw the familiar figure of Dinet. He looked like he had been waiting for quite some time at the spot where he stood.

"Well there you are! Figured you would have shown up sooner or later—I know you Americans like to stay up with the moon," he joked. "Jokes aside, I'm glad you're here. I've admittedly been distracted all day planning my getaway trip. So by extension I've been excited to help you."

"Glad to know we're working for a greater purpose," Matt said, rubbing his arm again.

"Oh your jokes sting me so," Dinet grinned. "But no worry, I know you have your own reasons so I dare not take offense. Come, though. We waste the moonlight."

He swayed away toward the entrance of the building behind him.

"We'll, I guess we're not getting anywhere by staying out here," I said. Matt followed me in and immediately the inside assaulted me from all senses. It was...brighter than any store I'd ever been in. Vibrant didn't even begin to explain it. And the smell—I almost choked on the intense odor. Somewhere between leather and sweat sat the funkiest smell that nearly knocked me over. When I adjusted I saw an overly boisterous woman standing directly in front of me looking like I had the last offering of food in a room sealed for a thousand years.

Dinet appeared just behind her holding an impressive mound of clothes in each of his hands. "Here, I had the perfect idea for the both of you and Marshie here got us stocked by the dozen if we needed."

I raised my hands defensively, "I am sure we don't need anything by the dozen, that is way too much. Whatever you think would be best is more than fine."

"You're gonna shine in these."

"So long as the physical shine is kept to a minimum," Matt said, "We're still trying to seem professional."

"Already ahead of you," Dinet turned, revealing a suit top hanging off the others, it was a dark blue pressed neatly.

"Think that could pair nicely with those bottoms there," Matt pointed out.

Dinet looked at the set in his hands and smiled. "Now you're talking my language. Just what I was thinking. Come on, let's get you over here, I guesstimated your sizes, so let's do a little trial run-through.

He handed me a stack of clothes one on top of another. Overwhelmed, I took them to the changing room in the corner of the store and stepped inside. Dinet had picked out a gray two piece suit and a complimentary undershirt which I admit looked nicer on me than those I had been previously wearing.

Dinet told "Marshie" that he had them both covered.

"Now, I've done all I can to support the cause," Dinet said, staring us up and down as we came out. "You both have to promise you're gonna do your absolute best to put us right as rain. See if you can negotiate for international travel maybe."

"Yeah, we plan to discuss a myriad of topics," Matt said.

"So official. Of course you have your own way of going about things. Don't let me intrude."

"No intrusion," I shook my head. "Really, you've been a big help. We'll definitely see if we can find something to get you what you're looking for."

Dinet began laughing, "Oh don't you worry, you will."

Confidence upon confidence. I wondered if I was ever going to feel enough to present myself like that. We left the clothery looking almost sharper than the vehicle we arrived in. We decided that we'd take the fishbowl when it next passed around to our final destination for the night.

We took our seats and ignored the same gaze judging our freeloading off the Globubus. I almost expected to see Dinet come back on the bus and our last few hours to repeat.

The longer we stayed here the more it seemed like it was intended we die aboard the plane. We have no hotel reservations, no money to get any—having to rely on the kindness of a stranger. All of it led to the horrible conclusion that we were probably riding straight to our deaths.

"You anxious too?" Matt asked.

I looked over to him. He had his right leg crossed over his left and anxious perfectly described his posture. "Yeah, feeling like we're dressed for the slaughter, personally."

"Honestly, felt like that ever since reading that letter. Always had the sinister undertone I didn't care much for."

"Do you have any plans?"

"Nope, I've pretty much accepted things are going one way or the other."

"Right..." I thought.

"Just because I think so doesn't mean you have to. You still have friends back home to return to."

"If you desire it, you can too."

Matt was silent in response. The fishbowl continued its journey—much faster than their previous journey on account of the increased public plugged in.

I rested my head back as I looked up at the top of the fishbowl—the stretched reflections of the other riders were all around my own stretched image. It almost looked like one of those funhouse mirrors—and in another life I could imagine looking into one of those mirrors at some carnival where things were normal. Where happiness could survive.

The shadow of the castle loomed over us as the fishbowl got closer. On the wall was a display showing the current path we were taking. It looked like we'd need to get off at the next stop. I returned to staring up at my reflection and thinking on brighter worlds.