John’s Hot Take - Part 1

John sat in the co-pilot seat of a modest commercial aircraft. Nothing like the biplane or the massive military transport from before. This was a regular commercial airliner.

John had finished changing into his black flight suit after the first hour and slept the rest of the time. However, as if his body knew where it was, he had woken up five minutes ago and was still rubbing the crust out of his eyes.

Noreen flew steadily beside him. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“What am I supposed to say? A little too late to say 'no',” John said. He shook his head. “But I've got to try. If I don't, who will? And to think, not too long ago I was living the dream of stopping crime behind a desk.”

“Can you really do it?” Noreen asked.

“Do what?” John said, glancing over at her.

“You’ll have to kill your sister… right?”

John paused and looked away and scratched the back of his head. “Probably,” he said. “I’m still going to have to get rid of her. She’s shown she doesn’t care about me, just like my brother. I’m tired of all of it. I just want this to end.”

Noreen nodded. “I get it. This is kinda crazy though. I don’t wish this decision on anyone, but it has to happen. Lea told me you killed your brother. You'll be the last one left...”

John stood. “We’re getting close, right?”

“Yes, but you only have one shot to land on the island's volcano.”

“Why? Can’t you just circle around?”

“I could, but if I do, your sister will realize what’s going on and probably shoot us down.”

John sucked his teeth. “So it has to look like we’re just flying by.”

“Exactly. And once you’re gone, you’re on your own. This plane doesn’t have a hook to extract you. You'll have to call me if you want me to circle back.”

“Yeah, no pressure.”

As they approached the island, John’s eyes widened.

“What the hell?” he said. “That volcano’s active. How could her tracker be coming from inside it?”

Right then, the massive hangar door opened on the volcano’s side. A small aircraft flew out of it.

“Well, there’s your answer,” said Noreen. “And your entry point.”

John turned to head out, but Noreen quickly grabbed his wrist.

“You need to time this right. Leave too late, you’ll miss it. Leave too early, and you won’t glide into the entry.”

"I'll try not to decorate the side."

“One more thing,” she said with a deadpan face. “Bring my cousin back. I don't want her coming back with scratches. You got that?”

“Neither do I.”

He stepped to the cabin door. He readied himself. He put on his gliding gear and parachute. He checked it over to make sure it hadn't been tampered with. Then he spoke in his mind:

Focus.

<<<>>>

[FOCUS activated.]

<<<>>>

FOCUS, run through my gear.

<<<>>>

[Acknowledged.]

[Decoys, Grapple Belt, Handgun, Knockout Dart Pen (with darts), Climbing Gloves.]

<<<>>>

You don't count yourself as gear?

<<<>>>

[... No.]

<<<>>>

Are you sure?

<<<>>>

[Yes.]

<<<>>>

Is that a hint of frustrated emotion I hear from a soulless AI robot?

<<<>>>

[I do not have the ability to emote.]

[We do not have time to waste on frivolous questions.]

[We should continue.]

<<<>>>

Alright then, let's!

<<<>>>

[Continuing mission…]

[Primary Objectives: Acquire codes. Destroy satellite.]

[New Objectives: Stop Jade. Rescue Mango.]

<<<>>>

You’re not going to say ‘Mission Start’?

<<<>>>

[No. The mission is still ongoing.]

[This is currently the longest active runtime.]

<<<>>>

Is there any reward for this?

<<<>>>

[Yes.]

[Reward: Level up in most prominent skill. Also, saving your job, countless lives, and the woman you love.]

<<<>>>

Just another Tuesday.

<<<>>>

[Today is Wednesday.]

<<<>>>

John rolled his eyes. I wonder if I can teach you to fully understand sarcasm.

<<<>>>

[I do not wish to learn it.]

<<<>>>

John opened the cabin door. The wind howled outside as the plane ascended. On the overhead, Noreen’s voice came through:

“Now or never. Good luck, John.”

He took a deep breath, pulled out a pair of goggles, and stretched his legs. His nervous habit is catching up with him again. He tried to calm himself. Now was not the time for nervousness. He had to stay locked in. Oddly, he remembered his father’s advice.

“Focus on what I want, and it’ll happen…” he told himself.

He leapt from the plane.

The wind smashed into him like a truck. His body felt the shock wave at all of his weak points. In his arms, his ribs, his legs. In that moment, he realized he wasn’t healed. But he focused through the pain. Luckily for him, it was mostly sore. He could work through the soreness.

The hangar door was beginning to close.

John extended his arms, and his GL-suit wings snapped open. The airflow caught them, and he began gliding. He angled himself toward the entry point.

Everything was lined up. Finally, he will have a smooth entry to-

BAM!

A flock of birds slammed into him. Some dumb ducks coming from god-know-where going to where-ever-the-fuck. Their feathers clung to his suit, and he batted them off.

John spun out of control. No, no, no! he thought as he fought to stabilize. He corrected himself, but now he was off-course. The hangar was three-fourths closed. He tilted to the right, lining himself up. But something was wrong. With his arms out, he was too slow. If he closed them, he’d speed up, but lose some control.

Focus, he thought.

<<<>>>

[FOCUS: Activated.]

<<<>>>

Activate skill: Analyze. Flight Path!

<<<>>>

[Acknowledged]

[Analyzing...]

<<<>>>

The FOCUS then showed his flight path.

If I reduce drag and speed up by closing my limbs, what’s the probability I make it?

<<<>>>

[Estimated success: 50%.]

<<<>>>

Better than usual. He folded his limbs and accelerated.

<<<>>>

[Approaching...]

<<<>>>

The hangar door was closing fast.

<<<>>>

[Alert: You are under and off course for parachute deployment.]

<<<>>>

“What?!” John said out loud.

<<<>>>

[Trajectory aligns.]

[ETA matches.]

[Altitude insufficient.]

<<<>>>

“Should I put my arms back out and lift up?” he asked.

<<<>>>

[Negative.]

[If you ascend, you will not reach the entrance in time.]

<<<>>>

“Then what do you suggest?” he said urgently.

<<<>>>

[... I do not know.]

<<<>>>

John’s mind started to spiral as panic crept in. He ran through every possible idea he could grasp in the few remaining seconds.

He pulled out his gun and aimed it downward.

<<<>>>

[Note: The gun will not generate sufficient kickback to increase elevation.]

<<<>>>

John sucked his teeth and holstered the weapon. So much for that plan. What’s the exact distance I’ll be under by?

<<<>>>

[Estimated clearance deficit: five feet.]

<<<>>>

What if I don’t deploy my parachute?

<<<>>>

[Warning: Option is not advised.]

[The absence of deceleration will likely result in lethal impact.]

<<<>>>

But will I make it inside?

<<<>>>

[Yes.]

<<<>>>

What gadgets do I have?

<<<>>>

[Inventory: Grapple belt. Sidearm. Inflatable decoys (x3). Blow darts. Climbing gloves.]

<<<>>>

John inhaled deeply.

How much time do I have until impact?

<<<>>>

[Estimated entry in... 10, 9, 8...]

<<<>>>

John’s mind raced. He was on the edge of splattering across the runway like a thrown watermelon. No time to brake. If he slowed down now, he wouldn’t make it through the entrance at all. And failure wasn’t an option.

<<<>>>

[...6. 5. 4...]

<<<>>>

His pulse slowed. His world narrowed to seconds.

<<<>>>

[3. 2. 1...]

<<<>>>

Right as he slipped through the narrowing hangar door, John yanked out one of his inflatable decoy discs and slammed the silver button on it. It exploded outward, inflating instantly. He braced for impact.

THUMP!

His body bounced violently off the first inflatable, and it burst on impact. The explosion launched him into the air like a rag doll. Mid-spin, he triggered a second disc and thrust it beneath him.

BAM!

He slammed into it, bounced again, and the inflatable burst and deflated instantly.

John’s body rolled forward at high speed and crashed into a concrete wall hard.

He lay still for a moment, dazed and aching, waiting to feel broken bones or warm blood pool into his clothes. But there was nothing. Slowly, his eyes opened. He was still breathing.

He exhaled a deep breath. “Thank God.”

Then, his survival instincts snapped back. He jumped to his feet, scanning the dark hangar with his weapon drawn.

Silence. No guards. He was alone for now.

John looked over at the two ruined inflatable decoys.

Focus, how many of those decoys do I have left?

<<<>>>

[One inflatable decoy remaining.]

<<<>>>

John clicked his tongue. “Guess I’m saving that for later.”

He peeled off his GL-suit and removed his goggles. Then, crossing to the opposite side of the hangar, he suddenly heard the low roar of an engine. He ducked into a crevasse.

A plane emerged from the left and rolled toward the now-opening hangar door.

John slapped his forehead. “So it was going to open again? FOCUS, you made me think I was going to miss my shot! I could've just slowed down.”

<<<>>>

[To then be hit by an oncoming plane.]

[A truly brilliant strategy.]

<<<>>>

John sighed. “For an AI that doesn’t understand sarcasm… you do seem to be good at it.”

He reached into a pouch on his black spy suit and pulled out a small silver tin. Opening it revealed a clear putty.

Focus, he thought. Activate Face-changer.

<<<>>>

[Skill: Face Changer (2) activated.]

<<<>>>

He smeared the putty over his face, pressing it in with both hands. The AI took over, subtly manipulating his micro-facial muscles.

John felt his features begin to shift.

He pulled out his phone and checked the reflection on the black screen. His face was dry, smooth, and, most importantly, unfamiliar.

<<<>>>

[Face change complete.]

<<<>>>

John knew it would only fool strangers. If he ran into Mango, Laz, or Jade, it wouldn't hold. But for now, it'll do.

“Hey, who are you?” a voice called out from down near the hangar where the plane had just exited.

John looked over and saw a man in a high-vis vest holding two orange glowing wands. He was clearly a flight marshal, the kind who guides planes into position.

John smiled and waved at him, casually walking forward deeper into the cave.

Ahead, a massive aircraft hangar opened up before him, filled with multiple planes and bustling activity. Technicians and workers hurried back and forth, loading cargo into different aircraft.

“Hey,” John called out, “I’m glad I found you. There’s a serious issue I need to report to the base.”

The marshal frowned. “What’s that?”

Before the man could react, John reached into his pocket, pulled out his blow dart pen, and pressed the button on the back. A dart shot out with a soft hiss and struck the worker directly in the forehead.

“Oh, damn...” the man said, stumbling back before collapsing to the ground, instantly sedated.

John quickly dragged the unconscious man back into the darkness. He looked around. Luckily, no one had noticed. Swiftly, he stripped the worker and changed into his high-vis vest and uniform, then stuffed the body under his discarded GL-suit. It would buy him some time.

Now fully disguised, John stepped deeper into the hangar and merged with the flow of activity. The hangar was massive. It was almost like a mini-airport underground. Crews were rushing around, stacking cargo, prepping flights, and checking manifests.

John spotted a stairwell off to the side and began heading toward it. But before he could reach it, a voice stopped him.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

He turned to see another man in a high-vis vest. The man was eyeing him suspiciously.

“We’ve got another plane heading out,” the man said.

John quickly handed him the orange glow sticks. “I have to use the bathroom,” he replied smoothly.

“You new or something? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“Of course I am,” John replied. “Or else I wouldn’t need to ask where the bathroom is.”

The man squinted. “You didn’t ask me where it was.”

John froze. He’d tripped over his own lie. “Sorry,” John said with a forced chuckle. “I’m just nervous. I’ve never worked at a place this exclusive before.”

The man studied John’s face for a moment, then gave him a friendly pat on the back. “All good, dude. Go up the stairs, head to the right. There’s a map in the stairwell if you get lost.”

“Thanks,” John replied with a nod. “I’ll be back quickly.”

As he made his way up the stairs, John pressed the small earpiece in his ear.

“Noreen, do you read me?” he whispered. “Noreen, I’m in.”

Static.

He sighed. Of course, Jade had some kind of radio jammer active. He removed the earpiece and pocketed it. He was on his own now, but at least he was inside.