The hum of the aircraft engines was steady, almost soothing, as the plane cut through the clouds over the Atlantic. Jasen sat in his seat with his hood pulled over his head, a mask covering the lower half of his face, camera-distortion lens glasses hiding his amber eyes. To anyone else, he was just another quiet loner kid flying economy.
To him, he was just hoping Cerberus wouldn't shoot down a plane on Earth just to get to him. This was the first time he had felt so vulnerable. The plane was comfortable, but he knew his biotics wouldn't be able to protect him from falling, a few thousand feet in the air. And if they did he didn't want to test it.
The girl right next to him was eating her inflight meal, while listening and bumping to some rock song. The girl he just met was odd, and he didn't know if he could trust her yet.
It has been one week since Jasen escaped that Cerberus facility. One week since he emerged from the sea and ran through the streets of London like a hunted animal.
Now he was leaving that continent entirely.
Jasen leaned his head back and closed his eyes, letting the memories from that week surface. The first night in London had been easier then he thought, but it still had more surprises, that not even he could have predicted.
As the rain soaked through his facility uniform, his muscles pumped with adrenaline from hours of nonstop movement and swimming. In his past life he was American so he knew next to nothing about London. He'd followed instinct more than logic, slipping through alleyways until he found shelter.
He found an abandoned warehouse tucked between rusted rail lines and a shuttered canal. After finding a open window on the second floor, he jumped off a trash can and made the leap with ease.
Inside as he explored he'd discovered it wasn't just a warehouse.
It had once been a clothing distributor. Shelves were overturned, boxes torn open, but there were still racks of untouched apparel of all kinds. Shoes, clothes, a few coats, and accessories. Nothing name brand, probably for a large distributor. They stacked toward the back. These clothes were more to Jasen's original style, that he use to dress back in his old life..
Jasen stripped out of the white facility uniform without hesitation, he threw them into a fire barrel he started. He should have threw them away sooner, they could have had a tracking device in them, but he didn't want to be naked running around. That would bring more attention then he was already gonna have.
Within minutes he'd changed into black cargo pants, a forest-green long-sleeve shirt, and worn black Converse high-tops. Stylish and simple.
He'd just reached for a dark hoodie when his ears picked it up. Several footsteps, and voices. From seventeen heartbeats and heat signatures.
The loading dock door screeched open, street light spilling in as a group of what looked like teens filtered inside. Boys and girls. Mixed ethnicities, and minds from what he could feel. Too loud for professionals so not Cerberus. Jasen liked these odds already. If things went left he felt like he could take them.
From they way moved and how they were dressed. They were just a bunch of kids, probably trouble makers.
Jasen stayed still, and watch them approach.
A blond boy stepped forward, swagger heavy in his stance. His face that was calm a moment ago went to one of irritation.
"Oi. Who the bloody hell are you, and why are you on our turf?"
Jasen didn't say anything as they began to surround him. Jasen's face was calm, cold, he barely paid attention to the boy. He could tell one of them carried a blaster pistol on them. His focus was more on that person.
Another voice followed, sharper, It was a female. Tanned skinned, wearing a crop top shirt, had piercings between her nose, ears, and tongue.
"You deaf, pretty boy? This is our spot, and Jackson's talking to you."
Jasen counted again. Ten boys. Seven girls. Six of them had knives as they pulled them out. One of the girls concealed a blaster pistol.
"I don't want trouble," Jasen said calmly. " I just needed clothes. I'll be gone."
The blond boy laughed and pointed his knife. "Too late for that. Strip off the clothes and get on your knee's, then maybe I'll let you live."
Jasen sighed.
He noticed the pile of loose bricks just a few feet close by. "One last chance," Jasen said evenly. "I don't want trouble, just let me walk away, and their won't be any trouble."
The blonde boy sloppily snapped forward with his knife. "I'm in charge here, not you, so shut up and do as I say. I was being nice, but now I'm gonna mess up that pretty face of yours. That way you know not to come back on our turf."
Jasen had enough of this kid.
The world slowed as Jasen activated his Adrenaline rush. Jasen moved faster then they could respond. No biotics, just pure physical might. If they were adults Jasen would be a little concerned, but he could handle these brats.
Jasen grabbed a brick. He caught the boy's wrist , snapped the blade clean in half with his thumb, and drove a short, clean jab strike into the boy's chin. The body hit the floor before the others even processed what they'd seen.
Jasen was already moving again, brick in hand.
He fought efficiently to disarm them, they were kids, and he didn't want to hurt them to much. Just teach them a lesson. Jasen didn't hit them hard enough to break anything, but that was hard, he is used to fighting machines or adults with armor. So holding back against regular kids is a little harder, but Jasen adapted. Gut strikes with a open palm. Chin checks, while using the brick to disarm the knife users.
Knees and Elbows to the bigger kids. Every one of his strikes calculated, every strike ending a threat. Jasen hit the boys and girls equally. In less than thirty seconds, bodies littered the floor.
Only one remained standing.
A girl. The only one who didn't move the entire time, and the one who hid the pistol. Jasen watched her carefully, but felt no hostility from her. Either she was insane, psychopathic, or just didn't care.
Jasen stepped closer to her, only a few feet away. His brick ready to move quick then she could draw the gun.
"Why'd you stop?" she asked, voice tight but steady.
"Because your the only one who didn't try to attack me," Jasen replied. "And why you didn't pull your blaster."
She exhaled slowly.
"So you noticed that huh. Well Jackson the blonde kid over there, and the others… they did this to themselves."
Jasen glanced around at the groaning teens.
"You all a gang or something?"
She snorted and chuckled. "No. they are just a bunch of wannabes. They tried playing tough, and met the real deal a little earlier. It didn't go well for them."
"You said they. Are you not part of their gang?"
The girl shook her head. " No, I just know them from the streets, I hang out with them from time to time. Sometimes I come here and look through the clothes and take what I want."
Jasen nodded once. "You got name?"
The girl pulled back her hood. What came to light under the warehouse lights. Was a girl with light brown skin. Long black curly hair. She had several nose and ear piercings. And light green eyes that were stunning.
"Names Victoria. What about you stranger?"
He didn't answer her question. He just analyzed her. Her composure. Attitude, the calm gaze in her eyes. It's like she knew he wasn't going to attack her.
" Where's the closest airport?" Jasen asked.
Victoria raised an eyebrow ."Heathrow," she answered. "Why?"
"I'm leaving London."
A smile smile appeared on her face." Oh yeah stranger. With what money, and not to mention you just stole clothes from here, so I doubt you have a passport either" she said dryly.
Jasen didn't answer. He pulled on the hood and walked past her into the rain.
Victoria looked at the teens around her , closed her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. She then followed Jasen.
She found Jasen at a nearby atm hacking it with a omni tool. "Nice, it's hard to find a street kids with that tech unless they steal it or barter something good for it."
Jasen didn't pay much attention to her, he was focused on hacking the atm, and within 45 seconds, pound bills spilled out.
Jasen grabbed them, put them in his bag and moved on to look for the next one. The girl continued to follow him, as he moved throughout the blocks. Jasen managed to gather five thousand pounds. He knew he could have taken more, but didn't want to set off to many alarms. He managed hack the atm's no problem, but if several ATM'S in one area all went empty, it will bring more eyes around him.
Now I need to forge a fake ID, and convert some of the currency. His next stop he knew would have to be Vancouver. So the Canadian dollar, and credits, but without a bank account, having credits is pointless.
Cash will get me far on Earth Jasen thought, but he needs credits for traveling in space. Especially if he changes his mind about the military. Jasen's original plan was to Join the Military. Then decide what to do from there. The Alliance isn't the only route, until he know if Shepard exist in this world and in what background will determine his choice. Especially if Shepard is a man or woman.
It's 2166 so there is time to figure out what to do next, the military is the best option so far to get off planet. Not to mention the training and skills there will be useful. Jasen didn't think he could be a high ranking officer in the military let alone a Spectre, not that he couldn't try. He had until 2172 when he turns 18 to decide, but first he has to handle this girl that's been following him.
Jasen turned around and stopped walking. The rain had stopped, and the two looked at each other. They were both same height, and quite tall for their ages.
"Why do you keep following me, don't you have better things to do?"
Victoria shrugged her shoulders. "Nope, I have nothing but time. And you seem very interesting mate. I see you have all that money, which is good, not many street kids or adults, can hack quickly as you do and not get caught. You even know not to take all the money in the whole area, which is a rookie move."
Jasen knew this girl was going somewhere and wished she just say it already. "Is their a point to what your saying or do you want something?"
Then the girl with her hands in her pockets leaned in close. " You have cash and can hack, which is good and all, but without a proper passport, your not getting on a plane. Not to mention it takes a true expert to hack and create a thorough digital passport. You got skills but your girl here got the contacts."
Jasen knew what the girl was saying had some truth to it. It's not that Jasen couldn't hack his way to make a good fake ID, but a good one would take longer then he wanted to be in the London. But why is she following me?
"What do you want?"
The girl gestured and turned her back to Jasen. A smile could be seen on her face. "Follow me, we can talk at my place."
As Jasen followed Victoria London's underground economy revealed itself quickly.
With Victoria guiding him through alley markets and back-channel tech stalls, Jasen learned how deep the city's shadow veins ran. Cash trades. Fake credentials. Unregistered travel routes in Europe.
"Your omni tool is good, but these people will help you get places it can't." Victoria led him to a building in the alley market, it was a large old school sprawling place. Plenty of room that Jasen noticed several other people lived here.
Victoria opened one door, and brought him in to her home, It was Spartan like , but was still colorful in a way. "Take a seat over there." Victoria gestured to a arm chair, while she flopped in a bean bag chair.
Jasen didn't sense any or pick up any traces of other people in the unit. Victoria noticed how guarded Jasen seemed.
"Hey no need to be guarded. If I wanted to hurt you I wouldn't have followed you all around, and invite you back to my place."
Jasen gaze narrowed. "You say your place but this place looks barely used. No decorations, or pictures or even a bag of clothes. So if anything this place is your escape or your always on the move. Even your accent seems made up, it's good , but not natural good, so your hiding something."
Victoria gaze focused on Jasen. "Wow you some detective like Sherlock Holmes? First off I never said I was from London, and I never said I live here. I crash here. but your forgetting something."
"What's that?" Jasen Asked.
"You never told me your name?"
Jasen sighed. But he didn't know if he would use his old name or what he decide go by a new name in this world. He didn't know yet, but right now he had bigger concerns.
"I don't have one, so call me whatever you like."
Victoria lifted an eyebrow. "You don't have a name. Really?"
Jasen Shrugged.
"Well I need to call you something. Plus everyone has a name."
Jasen sighed again. "Just call me 13, ok."
Victoria nodded a little taken back. "You want your name to be a number? Well it's your life mate. But to get back on subject I can get you in contact with a guy I know who can forge fake ID's, It will cost 5 thousand pounds minimum, 10 thousand for a rush job."
"What's the average time for both?" Jasen asked.
"A regular one for one person could take two weeks , a rush job can take one week."
Jasen knew the rushed order is what he needed, but ten thousand pounds will leave him broke, not that he couldn't get more cash. But he can't keep carrying it all over the place with him, he needed to find a way to get a fake account to funnel his credits through.
Jasen then stood and told Victoria to lead the way. When the two made their way to Victoria's contact, Jasen him gave him the five thousand from that night saying it was a down payment for a rush job, he will have the rest by seventh day.
After that Jasen and Victoria went to work, Victoria showed him the city area , from the banks, gang spots, and more. ATMs fell one by one under Jasen's precise hacks.
Jasen then tested his might against the local gangs. Jasen didn't go against any big ones, just two bid thugs. To Victoria's surprise, she didn't think he was tough enough to take on fully grown adults.
"Are you sure your just a twelve year old kid?"
Jasen only shrugged as he took their stored cash and funds. In a matter of three days. Several gangs in London were beaten by a hooded nobody. No one saw his face, but rumors when around it was a kid that could take blaster fire and shake it off. Some people thought it was a new type of shield.
Jasen didn't pay attention to the rumors. He went in crushed the gang, and took their money, he reported them to the police, with drugs, weapons in the open. Jasen just beat and robbed them before the cops showed up.
He made sure to not show his biotic abilities, and used his physical abilities, along with anything he could get his hands on. He still didn't use the blaster he stole from the facility officer.
By the fifth day, he had fifth teen thousand pounds. He knew that was more then enough. With enough funds to keep him steady for a few months, if not years.
Jasen paid for the fake passport, and waited the other two days. He went to a library to studied this worlds history while waiting. He found this worlds history was so similar yet vastly different.
Social Media didn't take off like it did in his world, but it did have a part in this world. Food spots, travel tips, and keeping in contact with love ones and friends. The corruption of the government and corporations is still present, and the first 100 years of the 2000's dealt with it in steady highs and lows. But different presidents, and leaders. It seemed like North Korea collapsed after a revolt and turned into the People's Republic of Korea. Japan reestablished it military. The biggest surprise is that a huge migration a people left Earth when the chance was available.
Jasen wasn't surprised. Earth after technological boom, would have people leaving to have a new life, and especially to meet or sleep with aliens, or make money. Some cases all three.
This all bothered him, but time mattered more than paranoia. On the day of departure, he disguised himself carefully. A Hoodie and mask. He bought some distortion lenses from a local hacker. From what Korgath told him his omni tool won't get picked up so he didn't worry about that. He didn't say good bye to Victoria. He just left a letter with some cash as thank you.
When he got to the airport he paid a for a one way ticket. When they scanned is passport everything was okay.
Good he thought. Now all I got to do is just get on the plane and make it to Vancouver. Right as he made it to his seat. Victoria showed up at the seat next to his.
"Why are you here?" Jasen asked flatly as they sat down.
Victoria smiled, while jamming to music. "Because you're interesting. And I wanted to travel anyway." She said as she flexed her own omni tool.
"So I was your excuse."
"Exactly. Well among other things. A girl has to have her own secrets."
He stared ahead. "But you know nothing about me or my plans?"
"I know right. You seem like trouble, but I can also see your hurt and lonely. So I'm gonna keep you company for awhile." she said cheerfully.
Jasen closed his eyes. "If you screw me over, I'll kill you."
"Yes, Yes, stranger danger I understand, but you won't have that problem with me. But I swear, you really are troublesome. You know that right."
"I've been trouble since the day I was born."
Victoria leaned back in her seat, grinning.
"Good. Makes life less boring."
The plane surged forward, lifting off the runway as London shrank beneath them.
Jasen felt it then. Not relief or peace. But a possibility. For the first time, the path ahead was unknown, but at least it wasn't in a cage of someone else design for him.
This Fool stepped forward, unaware of how deep the rabbit whole truly ran. But in order to survive the future threats, he decided he would walk forward all the same. No matter where his path led him. The Fool will survive and keep moving forward.