Unplugged: The Beautiful World (#3, Unplugged Trilogy)

Epilogue (12 Years Later)

The oddly-shaped Denver skyline stretches into the sky before me; majestic domes, crystalline monoliths, and sleek railroad tracks distort the rising sun's rays that reach for my balcony like eager fingers. Even in the winter, it's hot out here. Jack always endearingly reminds me of how odd it is for the President of the United States to refuse standard living quarters, but what can I say? I love my apartment. It's perfectly cozy in a humble, introvertive way.
    And the view. God, is it gorgeous. The way I can wake up every morning and sip hot tea as I watch the rebuilding of our nation's new capitol -- forgetting momentarily about the burdens of being the leader at it's helm -- is priceless. I wouldn't trade the comforts of my home for anything.
    And today's the first day I'm leaving it.
    I sigh and take a seat on the plush deck chair set by the edge of the balcony. Looking down at the citizens from ten stories up, I can pretend they're ants. Or tiny figurines.
Ever since I passed the "Unplug Act" six years ago, RScreens had been outlawed for good. The people who insisted upon their use were stripped from their title in office. The citizens of America, though having to work extra hard to rebuild the war-torn country, are happier than ever. And so are the Hidden Allies.
    I run a hand through my long hair, tangled as it is from just having woken up.
    Twelve years ago, when my double gave up her life for the resistance and revealed the truth to the Hidden Allies, everything changed. The Elite's empire crumbled from the inside, and every last one of the Workers were either killed by the Reptilians or later found and locked behind bars by my new administration. After the Elite fell, I publicly stepped into my place as active leader of the country and negotiated with the Hidden Allies. I promised them peace and prosperity. I asked them if humans and Hidden Allies could try once more to live side-by-side. Though they were hesitant to the idea at first and declared that they'd rather remain underground in their caves, they've contributed enormous amounts to the rebuilding of the nation's cities over the past few years. I've finally managed to gain their trust. And as the director of all human/Reptilian negotiations, that's all that counts.
    I hear my front door open and close.
    "Well, don't you look lovely today," a tenor-pitched voice calls out from the entryway. I spin around to see Jack, my personal assistant of eight years. He's my age, with close-cropped brown hair and a pleasant, stubbly face. A playful smirk plays over his mouth and I roll my eyes, rising and stepping into my bedroom/reading room.
    "Liar," I groan. Then I scrunch my brow. "Hey, what are you doing in here anyways? I told you to only use the key in emergencies."
    "It is an emergency." He taps his wristwatch. "It's 8:00."
    "Shit!" I smack my forehead and launch myself across the room, reaching for my clothes and tearing off my pajamas in the process. I hardly give pause: working in the government, Jack's seen much more scandalous things than me in my bra.
    "The private jet's waiting atop the lofts," he continues seamlessly. "Dwayne's expecting us by 10:00."
    Finally in dress slacks, a blouse, a warm jacket, and suitable shoes, I sweep up my overnight luggage in my hands and head towards the door.
    "Goodbye, Ariel!" I call out. My golden-furred cat is nowhere to be found. Probably sleeping on top of the stove again, I think crossly. Jack pants to keep up with me as I barrel through the hallways of my loft building, traveling towards the nearest elevator bank.
    "Jet's up top?" I ask as soon as I enter the lift. Jack nods and discreetly wipes the sweat from his brow.
    "How do you have so much stamina?" He gasps. I smile stiffly.
    "You have no idea ... "

* * *

    Most of the ride in the jet is a boring affair. Only when Jack interrupts me in the middle of my novel does it get interesting.
    "I've got to talk with you, Ms. Price." I nod softly and set down my book. "What is it, Jack?"
    He grimaces worriedly and I sit straighter in my chair.
    "Is it the Reptilians?" I ask anxiously.
    "No, no, not that. It's Jeremy. Jeremy Perkins."
    "Yes? What about him?" I lean forward and lower my voice to a serious whisper. Jeremy had been one of the first Elite to be imprisoned after the Hidden Allies picked off our opposition. Only bad news can come from this. "Has he died?"
    "No." Jack shakes his head. "He's escaped." My breath catches in my throat.
    "What?"
    "The New York guard are on it right away, Ms. Price," he stammers. "They're sure he'll be found soon. I mean, how far could he have gotten?"
    "Did this happen just now?"
    "I got the message a minute ago, so I'm assuming so." I nod my head, deep in thought. If the New York guard are on it, there shouldn't be a problem. They're the best group of minds I have at my disposal. Jeremy will be found easily.
Right?
    "But let's not worry about that." Jack smoothly changes the subject like he always does when things get too serious. "Are you prepared for the meeting?" I groan, inwardly and out loud.
    Dwayne Callaghan, the state supervisor of New York, had invited me out to participate in a board meeting involving city planning concepts, new job opportunities, educational plans, etc..
Basically, he wants to get my input on how the city of New York moves forward. I understand his intentions; for the majority of my life I've been deeply concerned with what happens there. But for the last eleven years, my every waking hour has been dedicated to distancing myself from that place as much as possible. And now I'm going back there again. Already, I can feel the dull stinging of old wounds.
    "Aww, c'mon," Jack says, reading my expression. "It can't be that bad. Aren't you visiting with old friends?" I nod, trying to claw myself out of the pit of self-pity. Oscar and Leah got married three years ago. And with me being, well, me, I hadn't had the ability to clear my schedule in order to attend their wedding. I wonder how many other things have changed in their lives over the past twelve years.
    Give me credit, it's not like I didn't try to reach out to my friends at all. We've talked shortly over the years, but I've always been so busy. Running a country is hard work. And finding time to relax afterwards is harder still.
    For the remainder of the flight, I close my eyes and try to catch a cat nap. Some time later, Jack shakes me awake.
    "Hey, we're here," he mutters, dark eyes sparkling. Yawning, I sit up and lean towards the window. The view of the familiar skyline, Pillar and all, sends chills down my arms. My heart beats faster than it did before.
    "No kidding," I whisper. Everything's amazing. Everything's different. The sky's viewable without any fog. Small birds wheel around below the clouds. The water of the Atlantic Ocean is as clear as glass, and large groves of bright green vegetation peek out from small clearings in between the towering skyscrapers. It's odd seeing the city streets as anything other than rubble-covered disasters. I bet it's due to the Hidden Allies' Earth-preserving technologies. Where they once used their minds for evil, they now act on the behalf of nature.
     The jet touches down above the Pillar, and my ever-present pair of bodyguards shield me as I step onto the roof. It's very cold here, as I assumed it might be in the wintertime. Waiting for me by an open door, flanked by his own legion of guards, is Dwayne Callaghan. He opens his burly arms in a welcoming, sweeping gesture.
    "Enna Price. How glad I am to see you."