THE MOMENT
Otis knew how to go with the flow. He didn't always understand what was going on, but he was wise enough to know that he didn't have to. The world changed, seemingly overnight, and the U.S. had devolved into warring city-states. Before it happened, he never would've thought it might happen as easily as it did, but that was a lesson he'd learned early in life. No matter the situation, life just has to go on.
He was a young man of 27 when the change happened, and now, a week later, he was sitting alone in a white office, waiting. In between the two moments he'd been drafted, medically approved, and psychologically evaluated. Things were moving fast, and he didn't spend too much time on any one step to think about it too deeply. Except for now. He'd been waiting almost 15 minutes and had plenty of time to think. He'd been moving with a group at each step. It wasn't always the same group, but each appointment he visited involved a crowded waiting room. Then, just now, after his psych eval, he was deliberately singled out and taken to a different, quiet room to wait.
He didn't know what to expect when the door opened. As ready as he was for almost any possibility, he was surprised to see a teenage girl with pink twin braids wearing a white suit walk in carrying a white scabbard storing a sword. The fact that she didn't look quite 20 yet was the least unexpected detail about the entire situation. Why did she have a sword? Was she going to give it to him? As far as he knew, all the conflicts happening between city-states used contemporary weapons.
"Hello, Mr. Stretch, my name's Justice, and I represent Sharp Development," she smiled as she walked to the only other chair in the room. It was behind the white desk Otis had been sitting in front of. She placed the sword on her lap as she sat. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions." She set a clear glass card on the desk between them. "So, I'll let you start. What do you absolutely need to know as we get started?"
"Is that sword for me?" If she hadn't walked in with a sword, he would've definitely had more important questions to ask. He was curious about what was going on. He wanted to know why he was singled out, and most of all, he really didn't want to hurt anyone. Why had the country just suddenly changed? But, it did look like a very interesting sword. He was finding it difficult to think of anything else but the red '57' engraved on the sheath. It drew his attention like a red laser pointer.
"No, I'm sorry. You'll have to forgive me, I'm using this appointment for dual purposes," she said. As she answered, a young girl walked into the room, literally from nowhere. A black portal opened next to the desk and a 10-year-old girl with dusty blonde hair emerged. She ignored Otis, and held her hand out as Justice gave her the sword.
"Two-day limit," Justice replied. The girl eagerly nodded with a smile.
"No problem. Thanks! Don't tell anyone!" The girl waved and dashed out through the portal again. It closed behind her leaving Otis and Justice alone again.
"I won't," Justice giggled quietly to herself, but Otis heard her. He didn't say anything right away, he was still coping with the fact that the sword was gone. It was right there, within reach. He could've easily won the war for Langdon if he had it.
"What's your favorite number?" Justice asked him suddenly.
"34," Otis answered instantly, and it was like a fog lifting. That was an odd question, and it had been a strange couple of seconds. But, it wasn't the first time he was asked about his favorite number. The first time was during the psych eval.
"Sorry about that, but now you can think a little clearer, I'm sure," Justice smiled. "So, what would you like to know?"
"What's the deal with 34?" he asked. "When did I get a favorite number, and how do you people know about it?" Until he was asked the first time, he never even considered the thought of a 'favorite number'. But, he'd been asked twice in the same day. It was entirely unexpected both times, and he still gave the exact same answer. It couldn't have been a coincidence.
"Oh, that's a good one," Justice nodded. "You'll honestly pick up most of the finer points during your orientation, and we haven't technically started that yet," she smiled. "But, I'll start you thinking in the right direction. Sharp Development...," she brought her hand to her crisp white suit to indicate her employers. "... is a multiversal corporation. Infinite alternate Earths exist, and we service hundreds of billions of them."
"I'm listening...," Otis nodded. He didn't know what to believe yet and chose to hold off on believing anything until he had more information. He did just see a portal.
"In the multiverse, there are beings known as 'Unique Souls'. They are the only version of themselves in existence, with no doppelgangers anywhere. They're usually, but not always, extraordinarily powerful. I am one, and so are you, as evidenced by your favorite number. You are Unique Soul #34, El Soldado, or the Soldier. You don't know it yet, but you're the perfect soldier. You've got super strength, super regeneration, and super quick-thinking," she said.
"Is that right?" Otis asked. He doubted everything she said, but at the moment, he was in her care until the next step. And he wanted to continue the process as quickly as possible to get out of her office. "So.. I can go win this war myself?"
"You could," Justice nodded. "That's why we're removing you from the pool of combatants. It's unfair for the others."
"What? You mean, I'm not going to go fight for Langdon?"
"You won't be allowed to fight for anyone on this Earth," Justice shook her head.
"Allowed? We're at war." It wasn't like Otis to get too worked up, but he liked his hometown. If he could help them win, he wanted to.
"Wars have rules," Justice shook her head with a smile. "Especially this one. The company invested too much into setting things in motion to let one side win instantly. If it's any consolation, we've removed other Unique Souls we've discovered from the Earth too. It's not just you, and not just your side affected."
"Wait.. Sharp Development set this up? How? Why??" Otis asked.
"Yes," Justice nodded. “Quite easily, if expensive. The ‘why’ is a little nuanced, but we couldn’t have come this far without the cooperation of your government. Sharp Development has come to an agreement with them, and they willingly encouraged the war. And, we get to find, and remove, any interesting Souls we come across.”
“Remove?” Otis started to wonder if he should be worried.
“From the battlefield, or in this case, your Earth. Sharp Development invites you to see the multiverse and choose a new life for yourself,” she smiled.