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Charlie had thought of what he wanted in a new world. Safety from the other versions of his dad, safety in general… A world where it would be easy to start over in, where their money was still good. Somewhere they could put this nightmare behind them and be happy. The world chosen is one where both Daniela’s and Jason’s entire family died when they were still in grade school. One in a house fire, the other in a car accident. 10 years later technology boomed.
When the small family of three stepped through the door, they came upon a forest overlooking the city. The city was higher tech than Charlie or Daniela had seen, but not as high tech as the one Jason and Amanda had visited. While in the forest they camped out until Jason was sure the drugs are out of their system then they walk to the futuristic Chicago. They are greeted by a robot. “What is your business here?”
Jason speaks up, “we want to start over.”
“Refugees, identification?” the robot asks.
“We have none…” Daniela informs the robot.
“Name and date of birth. I will need a blood sample as well.” The robot is unfazed by this information.
“Jason Dessen” then processes to give his birthdate. The robot sticks him, fills all the paperwork out, the hands Jason all the identification items he needs. Jason then processes to stand off to the side waiting for his wife and son.
“Name and date of birth.” The robot repeats.
“Dani Dessen, Jason Dessen’s wife.” then tell it her birthday. The robot draws a bit of blood, inputs all the information then prints out the identification items for her. She goes to stand next to Jason. As they wait for their son.
“Name and date of birth.” Droned the robot.
“Charlie Dessen, they are my parents…” Charlie then recites his date of birth. The robot takes his blood and gives him, his identification items. “Welcome to Chicago. Please head to a placement center to receive your job or school.” Then it turns to the next people in line.
“Thank you.” They chorus.
The trio heads to the nearest placement center where they meet another robot. That tells them to drink the vial and then the robot can place them based on their knowledge and skill level. They look at each other before doing as asked. “Calculating please wait.” The new robot says.
“We would like to be placed together; we are a family unit.” Jason speaks up.
“Adding parameters, any others?” asks the new robot.
“English speaking.” Charlie added.
“Parameter set. There is a physicist, artist and school with job openings for a teenage in London, England. Do you three accept?” the robot monotoned.
The three share a quick nonverbal conversation, before speaking as one, “Yes.”
The new robot prints their conformation out and directs them to the airport.
When they get to the airport, they are greeted by a real human being… at least they think she is. “May I see your placement conformation papers? Do you have no luggage?”
“Here are our papers, and no, we decided to wait to buy anything until we are in the country of our placement.” Dani hands over the documents.
“Ah, that makes sense. Thank you. I have three tickets to London, England. The plane leaves in 3 hours.” The lady informs them.
“Thank you for all your help.” Jason pays. Then they head through security which takes 2 hours, they eat at one of the cafes in the airport and then board the plane.
They arrive in England exhausted. After some walking, they pay for a hotel room; clean up, eat then sleep. The next morning is Friday and after eating and cleaning back up; they go register Charlie for classes and show the conformation papers to their workplaces. All three locations are close to each other. They all start that Monday, so the rest of Friday and the weekend is used to set up a checking and savings account, shopping for the bare minimum. They also put a down payment on a fully furnished flat within walking distance of their jobs and Charlie’s school.
They settle into their new lives, their new world. It’s a bit of a learning curve especially in the history department for them, but they are making it work. The nightmare of before is not forgotten, but it does fade, and they are happy.
Meanwhile in the world they left behind…
The Jasons (all but one) left this world behind them. Some could not handle not being chosen. Others couldn’t handle being in a world without their wife and son. All these Jasons still had the drug that could take them someplace else…. There was one Jason that didn’t have the drug, and he was the only Jason that managed to get home with Amanda in tow.
So, after all the other Jasons had left, this Jason and Amanda tried to damage the box, then they caused the abandoned surrounding area to collapse. If the box was undamaged enough to work this would cause anyone from being able to get out.
Jason and Amanda left the area and headed back to the brownstone. They took stock of their situation and found that the easiest solution would be to forge divorce papers and custody papers… Jason would just tell the truth, Daniela chose a different man and took their son with her when she left. They also got the ball rolling to give Amanda an identity in this world. They discovered that when the family had fled, they had drained then closed the checking and savings accounts. So, after taking what he wanted from his things, and taking a single memento of Daniela and Charlie’s things. They sold the rest, including the brownstone. They found a small fully furnished apartment closer to his work, they lived there until his teaching contract was up. Amanda also worked but only as a temp.
During that time, over and over he was left to answer the same questions from everyone that knew the family. He was also questioned by the police quite a bit because the police were so confused. There were so many dead Jason Dessen but there was also an alive one?! There was an arrest record, but video evidence shows him nowhere near the diner where he was arrested…. Really the police were very confused when it came to Jason Dessen.
When the contract was up, they looked at their options again. Amanda saw how much strain Jason was under because they stayed. She searched for another job for him; finding one was easy with a reputation like Jason’s. They packed up what they wanted and moved as far away from Chicago and still be in the United States as you can be. They settle down, and Jason mostly stops wondering about what the other Jasons and his family were doing. Afterall, the world is infinity.