Battle Beyond Reality

by Nick S. Thomas

  "You do realise what is at stake here, don't you?"

  "You made it quite clear...the freedom of me and mine. You've got down in the dirt, and this is my world. I'll fight for you, but don't expect me to think of you as anything more than the rest of us. The world is a cutthroat place. I know that, and so do you, or you wouldn't be the badass you are. So, accept that we all have to get our hands dirty, and that it isn't a bad thing."

  "I never wanted to ask this of you. In my eyes, you are a cowboy, but one of the good ones. What you did...well, you broke the rules. But you did it for the right reasons. We have these rules because they are necessary, even if they aren’t always convenient, but I know they don't always fit the situation. My bosses, they are dangling this threat of prison over you and your friends, and it makes me sick. But these are the days we live in, aren't they?”

  Axel looked weary. Not just from the exercise. He looked world-weary.

  “Why me? There has to be thousands of people who have more experience in the game.”

  “Because Duel Reality isn’t really a game. You are yourself. You can only move and do as you can in real life.”

  “Sure, but I don’t fight with swords.”

  “Recent evidence says otherwise. That body-cam footage that saved your ass, it also got a lot of people thinking. You are a hero in the eyes of the civilised world. You didn’t just save those kids, you kicked ass. The video gets played over and over, and what is clear to everybody, is that you are a fighter, and a damn good one.”

  He took a deep breath as he thought it over.

  “It’s a crappy idea, you know that? Sending a soldier to fight a virtual battle to try and beat a company that is holding you to ransom? It sucks, but it’s also dumb.”

  “Yes, it is, and I wish there were another way. But Mic Zenner is a powerful man, and if we don’t do something to rein back his company, the future could be bleak.”

  “When wasn’t it?”

  “Zenner is talking about a people’s revolution. But for all his talk, he doesn’t care about the people. He’s using them. This is getting out of hand, but we have a chance here. Beat him at his own game, and I know you can.”

  Axel was shaking his head. As terrible an idea as it was, he knew he was going to take it.

  “My team, they go free, full pardon, win or lose, you get me?” he stated firmly.

  “You have my word.”

  “And what does that even mean?”

  “It means that I will fight for you all with everything I have. I won’t let you get screwed. This is the UN, not some crummy business. We are nothing like GIS, your previous employer.”

  “Previous?”

  “Even if they’d have you back, you think you’d want to?”

  “It was a job,” he shrugged.

  “Really? The people who covered up ILAN possession of nuclear weapons, and who sent you on a suicide mission that broke international laws? That same employer.”

  “You got any decent jobs going?”

  “Yes, always.”

  “Yeah, well, if I make it through all this, maybe I’ll come calling.”

  “So, you’ll do it?”

  “What the hell, sure. Beats being stuck in this box.”

  “I wish there were another way, but this is a chance worth taking. I don’t think you fully understand how bad things have got back in the UAN. The new President is struggling to keep things together, and we cannot risk a collapse of the government there.”

  “All this started because The President of the UAN took up an offer to fight, and now you think another fight will solve it?”

  “I don’t like it either, but our hand is being forced. This is a gamble that is worth taking.”

  “Sure, because it’s only my life at stake. I win and you win. I die, and you can move on to the next idea to stop this madness.”

  “That isn’t how it is.”

  “Really?”

  She looked appalled, and he could see the honesty in her eyes.

  “You really believe in all this, don’t you?”

  “In making the world a better place, yes I do. I honestly believe this is the best option given the situation, and I believe in you. You’ve done so many bad things in your life, and broken so many laws, but never because you were a bad person. In your heart, I see a good person. I see a man who could as easily have been working alongside me, had things gone a little differently in his life.”

  His tone changed. This no longer felt like the dirty bribe he thought it was. It was heartening to hear what she had to say, and he relaxed. It was a relief to know that an end was in sight. One way or another, he was going to be free of the cell.

  “So, when does this fight happen?”

  “The date is set for the 5th, three days from now.”

  “How, I only just agreed to it?”

  “You were never going to say no,” she replied with a smile.

  “How can you know that?”

  “Because given a choice to fight for your freedom, and the freedom of your friends, you’d never back down from the fight.”

  It was hard to argue that. To him, it was a no brainer.

  “Who am I fighting?”

  “We’re still waiting to hear. Zenner has started a petition to let the people decide, and they love him for it, the illusion of choice. The fight is in New York, but your body won’t be displayed before a crowd like the Locke fight. People say that spoilt the illusion. So long as they know the effects of the fight are real, they don’t need to see it in real life.”

  “Yeah, wouldn’t want to deal with any real consequences. So where will it be held?”

  “The two of you will be plugged in at the Liberty Hospital, where you can receive the finest of care from any injuries you may take, and it will be overseen by independent overseers to ensure everything is fair.”

  “And you? Will you be there?”

  “Yes, I will.”

  “You think we’re gonna get a fair fight?”

  “I sure hope so. I’ll be there to do everything I can to make that happen.”

  “And you trust Zenner to hold up his end of the bargain?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. He’s got some designs on how he wants to shape this world, and I don’t know why or for who.”

  “So that’s a no. Well, shit.”

  “You are a soldier. All you can do is keep fighting.”

  “I can do that.”

  * * *

  2nd August, 2071, 6.56pm

  The White House

  Washington, D.C., United American Nations

  The news echoed around the room, as it always seemed to at the moment. The President and Piper Hughes were gripped to it, not because they were excited to see the stories unfold, but at the mercy of them. They both felt helpless and lost as they watched Zenner address a crowd on a stage where a rock band had been playing moments before. Fire effects flashed behind him as the crowd went wild. He was a rock star to them.

  “It’s madness, all of it. I am the President of the UAN, and I can do nothing to stop this. How can people not see how crazy this is? The UN is sending a champion to fight in a game to decide the outcome of all this? We look completely impotent.”

  “That’s because we are, but this isn’t on you, Sir.”

  “Whoever’s fault it is doesn’t really matter anymore, does it? Zenner has the people behind him. He is dangerous and unpredictable. These petitions of his could lead to the break down of our entire government. He seems hungry for power, what if he called a petition to make himself President?”

  “Legally, he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, but in practice, I have no idea what would happen. But one thing is for sure, we can’t let him go on like this.”

  “He can’t be acting alone.”

  “Sir, before President Simmons was killed, I was warned by an old friend in the CIA. Warned there was a lot more to Zenner and Terminal, and that the petitions were part of something larger.”

&nbs
p; “And you told the President this? What did he do with this information?”

  “It was just before his fight. He said it didn’t make any difference. The people had decided what they wanted, and that nothing else mattered.”

  “Of course it matters. It all matters.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Their attention was drawn to Zenner as he drew close to announcing the names of the fighters.

  “We live in an age where disputes can be settled, not by the deaths of thousands or even millions, but in sport. The United Nations wants to see an end to Terminal and any other apps like it. I say that is a disservice to humanity. We need not be sheltered by what these governments and organisations feel is safe and correct for us. We forge our own way. They exist to represent us, and our will, and it should never be the other way around!”

  The crowd erupted in support.

  “His arguments are compelling, Sir.”

  “It is easy to appease a crowd like that by giving them what they want, or what they think they want. Something no nation’s leader can ever honestly do.”

  “Then we must find other ways to fight this.”

  “We already have,” said Roberts as Zenner prepared to introduce the UN fighter.

  “I give you, the UN champion, a man who needs no introduction, a combat veteran who has made a name for himself in the heroic rescue of American citizens from ILAN rebels. A man who singlehandedly defeated an entire room of well-armed fighters. Not in the virtual world, but in the real world! I give you, Axel Ward!”

  Axel paced out onto the stage beside him. He was wearing a clean set of fatigues, but with no insignia of any kind. A massive projection behind them played the footage from the rescue mission, and the crowd screamed with excitement.

  “And now I give you, the people’s champion, your champion. We let you, the citizens of the UAN, decide who would fight for you. Who would stand up for your right to the entertainment that you know and love. I give you, a titan of Duel Reality, a man undefeated in his entire professional career. I give you, Luca Hayes!”

  The giant of a man strode onto the stage, much to the surprise of Axel, clearly as much in the dark as to who he was facing as the audience had been. Luca was a head taller than him, his chest and shoulders so huge he looked twice the man Axel was. Yet to everyone’s surprise, he was wearing a well-tailored suit. He ignored the other two men on the stage and raced to the front to address his audience. He stopped and looked out across the vast audience with an angry look. Nobody could quite work out what he was up to, but his arms crossed in front of his body, grabbed either side of his suit jacket and shirt, and ripped them off his body. He let out a roar as he threw the rags into the crowd, holding up his arms to let the audience marvel at his tremendous physique.

  The crowd once again erupted in applause, yelling Luca’s name with even more excitement than they had shown previously. Luca kept roaring as his arms went up and down, riling up the crowd further. It went on for a full minute before he finally went back to Zenner, pushing past him to stand square on to Axel. His bulging pectoral muscles millimetres from Axel’s face, the steroid pumped up fighter towered over him and continued to growl.

  “We’re in for a fight for the ages!” Zenner shouted.

  The President turned the screen off.

  “This is a freak show. How did things come to this? How can we ever come back from it when it’s what people seem to want?”

  “But is it? Zenner has lied and cheated his way to get to where he is. How many people really support him? I’d not put anything past him.”

  “And yet he is still there. Winning and untouchable.”

  “We may not be able to beat him at his own game, but you know what voters hate more than anything? Liars. Prove that Zenner is a fraud, and we might just find a way to fight him yet.”

  “Your contact? They know more about what is going on that any of us. Reach out to them. Get us something.”

  Chapter 17

  5th August, 2071, 8.51am

  Regents Tower Hotel, New York

  United American Nations

  Axel was sitting on a plush sofa in an expensive suite on the top floor of one of the city’s finest hotels. It was completely alien to him. It was also silent, the finest soundproofing keeping the bustle of the city at bay. He didn’t like it at all. He liked to hear the sound of the world going by, a reminder that he was still alive.

  “Incoming call,” a voice called out.

  He had no idea who would be contacting him, but anything would be welcome to break the silence.

  “Accept.”

  A projection flashed to life before him, and he was amazed to see his team. They were sitting around Victor’s hospital bed, and the wounded man looked in good health and spirits.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. They let you out?”

  “We can’t exactly leave, but it’s an improvement,” replied Ava.

  “So, you’re gonna fight Luca Hayes, that is badass,” said Victor in amazement.

  “Right, the guy’s a legend, remember that fight we saw?”

  “Yeah, that’s really helpful, Juan.”

  “You’re fighting in Terminal, you know what that means, right?”

  There was a look of genuine concern on Ava’s face.

  “Sure.”

  “You’re fighting for life and death, you get that?”

  “Yeah, and still less dangerous than our last mission.”

  “Do you think you can beat him? Luca? He’s a monster.”

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough, Victor, won’t we?”

  “You know what’s at stake here, right? More than just your life?”

  “Yeah, Juan, I think I get it by now.”

  “But you’re fighting to end Terminal. Do you even want to do that?”

  “Honestly, I couldn’t give a shit about Terminal, but this is the only way we don’t get to spend a lifetime behind bars.”

  The buzzer of his hotel room rang.

  “Hey, guys, I gotta go, but it was nice to hear from you all.”

  “Good luck, and Axel?” Ava asked.

  “Yep?”

  “Don’t lose.”

  “You bet.”

  He ended the call.

  “Come!”

  The door opened, and Mic Zenner stood in the doorway.

  “I trust your accommodation has been satisfactory.” He stepped in, with four security guards staying outside.

  “Not exactly my kind of thing, but thanks, I guess.” Axel stood up to greet the eccentric entrepreneur.

  “Axel Ward, let’s get something straight. I made a simple and fair offer to the UN. That they could fight for what they wanted. That if they could win, I would accept defeat and end Terminal. But let’s face it. Nobody wants to see that happen. Do you?”

  “I don’t give a damn.”

  “But you do care about your friends, and getting them set free?”

  He nodded.

  “It is a difficult and unfair position that your team has been put in. You did a great and noble thing, and a lot of people love you for it, especially since the release of that body-cam footage. Now, I don’t want to see an end to Terminal, but neither do I want to see you die trying to stop us. Do you see what I am saying?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “There could be numerous opportunities for a man with your skills to make a great deal of money and success in Terminal duels. I’d love to work with you on the other side of this. Good luck with the fight.”

  He left the room leaving Axel in deep thought. He knew exactly what was being asked of him. To put up a good fight, but not good enough, to take a dive.

  Would it be so bad?

  It was more complications to think about in an already troubled mind. He was caught in a complex web of deceit, and he didn’t like it. This wasn’t the life he had worked and trained for. He had some tough decisions ahead of him, and a few hours left to make them.

  * * *

 
Arlington, Virginia, United American Nations

  Six different news channels were playing on screens before Zippo as Hud towered over Nui.

  "That was my contact in the White House."

  "Okay?" Hud asked

  "Honestly, it's not good."

  "How so?"

  "If Luca wins this fight, it undermines everything."

  "Where do you think this is going?"

  "Revolution, I'd say. Powers are at play here that we barely understand. But what I do know is that they have to be stopped."

  "I'm with you, but how can we do anything about it?"

  "Piper believes there is nothing we can say or do to change anything, but we might be able to convince those that can."

  "What are you saying?"

  "That the country needs to hear what we know from someone they like and trust, and someone willing to do the right thing."

  "And who the hell would that be?"

  "There's one person I know that people would listen to, and I think is on our side."

  "And who is that?"

  "The only famous champion of Terminal who hasn't stuck with the programme."

  "Luna Lee, you think you can use her to shut this down?" Zippo asked.

  "Yes, I think it's worth a shot."

  "And you think she would be on side."

  "I've read a bit about her state of mind, Hud, and yes. She understands the evils of Terminal, even if she doesn't understand what is going on in the background."

  "She's one person, though, so how much difference can she make?"

  "In the right place, and at the right time, all the difference in the world."

  Nui went for her coat.

  "Where are you going?"

  "Luna is in New York. It’s perfect. I've already had Piper make contact. Luna has agreed to meet with us."

  "Us?" Zippo asked.

  "That's right. You're coming, too."

  "Why? She shouldn't be going anywhere."

  "We need her, Hud. We have a hell of a job ahead of us. We've got a few hours before this fight."