Chapter 2: Jumpers

“Beware the puffers,” Kalaf said, striding ahead of Jacob down a dimly lit street. The faint glow of streetlights cast long, uneven shadows over the cracked pavement, while the fluorescent hum of Mega City’s distant skyline pulsed above them like an artificial aurora. The air was thick with a blend of engine oil, damp concrete, and something faintly metallic—a scent Jacob imagined was unique to this futuristic slum. He glanced around, trying to make sense of the place.

“Puffers?” he echoed distractedly, still taking in his surroundings. His gaze drifted upward to the towering bridges and intricate framework of walls that crisscrossed overhead. “Where are we, exactly? Is this some kind of undercity?”

Kalaf chuckled, her peach-colored hair swaying slightly as she clasped her hands behind her head. Her gait was casual, as though she’d walked these streets a thousand times. “Not gonna ask about puffers first? Priorities, man,” she teased.

Jacob blinked, realizing he hadn’t responded to her earlier warning. “Oh, right. Puffers. What’s the deal with them?”

“New drug,” she explained, her tone growing a touch more serious. “Real nasty stuff. Makes people lose their minds, go berserk. You see someone acting rabid down here, chances are they’re puffed up. Best steer clear.”

Jacob’s stomach twisted uneasily. The idea of navigating a futuristic slum was daunting enough without the added danger of crazed drug addicts. “Great. Just what I needed. Where exactly are we, though?”

Kalaf yawned, her voice tinged with impatience as she answered. “We’re in the underbelly. Bottom rung of Mega City. Above us are the mid-layers, where folks like to pretend they’re better off, and way up top is the Skyline District—where the rich assholes live. They eat gold and piss on the rest of us. You know the type.”

Jacob opened his mouth to speak but stopped short when Kalaf interrupted. “And before you ask why we’re here, just wait. You’ll see when we meet the Jumpers.”

They turned down an alleyway, its narrow confines lined with graffiti and the faint stench of rotting food. A man with sunken cheeks and three visible teeth eyed them greedily from a shadowed corner, but Kalaf didn’t even glance his way. Her confidence was unnerving, and Jacob found himself hurrying to keep pace.

“Jumpers?” Jacob finally asked. “What’s that? Some kind of gang?”

Kalaf groaned dramatically. “You’ve got more questions than a toddler. Jumpers are… well, you’ll meet them soon enough. Squad of elites. That’s all you need to know for now.”

“Hey, excuse me for wanting a little clarity,” Jacob retorted. “I just died, woke up in a timeline I don’t understand, and now you’re dragging me to join a group I didn’t sign up for.”

She smirked, glancing sideways at him. Without her oversized cloak concealing most of her features, Jacob noticed how her golden eyes glimmered faintly, giving her an almost otherworldly aura. “Not the future,” she corrected. “Universe 0. Where it all started. Your universe is just one of many that branched off. Think of this place as… the hub.”

Jacob frowned. “So, what’s the plan? What’s the goal here?”

“Simple,” Kalaf said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “We bring back free will.”

He staggered, taken aback by the weight of her words. “Free will?”

She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her golden eyes locked onto his, and for the first time, her playful demeanor vanished entirely. “We kill God,” she said matter-of-factly.

Jacob’s breath hitched. “You can’t be serious,” he stammered.

“Dead serious,” she replied, though a sly grin tugged at her lips. “Relax. We’re a long way from that. Baby steps, Jacob.”

They resumed walking, the awkward silence stretching between them. Jacob’s thoughts raced. As a Christian, he couldn’t even comprehend the notion of killing God, though her explanation suggested something more… metaphorical. Or was it literal? The lines blurred in his mind, and he couldn’t decide which possibility unsettled him more.

They arrived at a towering, decrepit hotel. Its exterior was a patchwork of decay: shattered windows, haphazard repairs made with wood and duct tape, and a crooked sign that read “Wailing Wastes.” It looked more like a condemned building than a place anyone would willingly enter.

“Home sweet home,” Kalaf muttered, pushing open the rusted door.

Inside, the transformation was staggering. Polished floors gleamed under soft lighting, and slow jazz played faintly in the background. A young woman in an impeccably tailored suit greeted them from behind a sleek counter. Kalaf exchanged a casual handshake—no, a dap—before leading Jacob upstairs.

The hallway at the top of the stairs was narrow, lined with ornate red carpeting that led to a set of imposing double doors. Kalaf pushed them open with a flourish, revealing a sprawling lounge.

The room was a blend of futuristic technology and vintage charm. A curved red couch dominated the center, facing a holographic TV that displayed Mega City’s newsfeed. To the right, a massive computer setup glowed with pink and blue wires snaking across the floor, while a crystal orb sat perched atop the desk like some kind of cybernetic scrying tool. The back of the room housed a modest kitchen, complete with checkered tiles and a refrigerator that hummed quietly. A large tinted window loomed behind the kitchen, its surface reflecting the room while obscuring whatever lay beyond.

“You done gawking?” Kalaf teased as she shed her cloak and plopped onto a beanbag chair. She now wore a black tank top that revealed toned arms, her peach-colored hair cascading freely over her shoulders.

Jacob blinked, realizing he’d been staring. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. This place is just…”

“Cool? Amazing? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?” she offered with a smirk.

“All of the above,” he admitted. “What’s a place like this doing in the slums?”

“Dude, this is below average for Mega City,” she said, rolling her eyes. “If you ever see an apartment in the skyline district, your mind would explode.”

“Again?”

“Again.”

He chuckled, finding something to joke about. Still, he got a chill as she mentioned it. That got him thinking again, as his smile quickly faded. She must’ve saw this, as she patted him on the shoulder, moving towards the kitchen and opening the fridge. “Make yourself at home. Jumpers should be here soon. Out on a mission right now- It’s pretty late though, so it shouldn’t take much longer.” She said as her head was hallway in the fridge.

Jacob sat down heavily on the oddly shaped couch, its uneven cushions sagging unpredictably under his weight. The design was alien—both figuratively and perhaps literally—a chaotic swirl of colors and fabrics that seemed stitched together as an afterthought. He slung an arm over the back, his fingers idly tracing the jagged texture, but his mind was elsewhere. He sighed deeply, his thoughts swirling like a tempest.

He thought of his mom. Her smile, her laughter, the warmth of their small but familiar home. Now, that home was likely gone. He had seen his own death in his timeline—or, at least, what felt like his death. That other Jacob’s brain blown out in a split second, leaving nothing but grief for the people he loved. His mother’s face swam in his mind, crumpled in sorrow as she received the news. He winced, his hand tightening on the couch’s edge.

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His earlier wonder at Mega City, the vibrant sprawl of futuristic skyscrapers and glowing streets, had faded into a cold realization. He was trapped here, timelines and universes away from anything he cared about. It wasn’t exhilarating anymore; it was terrifying. The thought clawed at his mind, dark and consuming: Was this going to break me? Was I going to end up like the puffers on the streets, numbing the despair with cheap highs, only to eventually…

The door burst open with a thunderous bang, jolting Jacob from his spiraling thoughts. He sat upright as a wave of voices and chaos flooded the room.

“You stupid fucking bitch!” screamed a shorter girl as she stormed in, her voice sharp enough to cut steel. Her skin was a canvas of tattoos, and her long, hot-pink hair seemed to bristle with her fury. She was lugging an oversized weapon that looked utterly impractical—a gun nearly three times her size, with a barrel as thick as Jacob’s forearm and the words ‘NOVABOMB’ etched along its side.

“Ohhh, not today,” a taller woman retorted, her voice dripping with exasperation. She strode in after her, wearing a bartender’s outfit of all things, complete with a crisp black vest and bow tie. Her neatly tied bun of cobalt-blue hair bobbed as she walked, the massive sniper rifle strapped to her side glinting ominously in the light. “You are NOT playing victim, Kaela! You shot the fucking hostage! How do you shoot the HOSTAGE?!”

Kaela, the pink-haired girl, stomped her foot like an angry child. “I didn’t know!” she stammered, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s always Kaela’s fault! Put the blame on Kaela! God!!” Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and stormed off, slamming a door down the hall so hard it rattled the walls.

The blue-haired woman, who Jacob now knew as Carline, sighed heavily and muttered, “Every damn time,” before shaking her head and walking toward the hallway.

Jacob barely had time to process this chaos before more people began filing in. First came a man with sleek purple hair and matching violet eyes. He wore black gloves and had an air of perpetual smugness, proven true when he quipped, “Well, maybe the hostage was into that kind of thing? Kink shaming is a no-no, Carline.”

“Shut up, Junpei,” she snapped, not even sparing him a glance. He smirked and wandered off toward a large monitor mounted near the couch.

Behind him came a massive, broad-shouldered man with dark skin and a grizzled beard speckled with gray. His thick arms looked like they could crush steel, and as he scratched his chin, Jacob noticed a row of gold teeth glinting in his grin.

Next was a lean man with jet-black hair and piercing green eyes—eerily similar to Jacob’s own—and a katana strapped across his back. He moved with a quiet precision, like a predator assessing the room.

Finally, a girl with a sharp wolfcut and striking red eyes entered, her twin pistols strapped low on her hips. She held the door open as a peculiar machine wheeled in behind her. It was a robot—if you could call it that. Its head resembled an anime girl, unnervingly lifelike, while its body was a jumble of scrap metal and exposed wires. The contrast was unsettling, as if someone had fused a doll with a trash compactor.

Jacob waved awkwardly at the robot. It turned its unblinking gaze toward him, and for a moment, he swore he saw malice in its eyes. Then, without warning, it began to blare an alarm.

{ “INTRUDER. INTRUDER. INTRUDER. DELETE. DELETE. DELETE.” }

Three massive machine guns erupted from its sides, whirring as they locked onto Jacob. His stomach plummeted, and he scrambled back, falling off the couch with a thud.

“DO SOMETHING!” he yelled, his voice cracking as the guns began to hum ominously, charging up.

The katana-wielding man scratched his head, looking entirely too casual. “Uh, I didn’t build it.”

“Goddammit,” Brodyn, the bearded giant, grunted. With a single, fluid motion, he stepped forward and slammed a massive fist onto the robot’s head with a loud CLANG. The machine toppled over, its guns retracting as it hit the floor.

Jacob stared, his breath heaving, as the robot emitted a bizarre whirring sound. Then, inexplicably, it began to spray liquid onto the floor.

{ “PEEING. PEEING. PEEING.” }

Brodyn threw his hands up in exasperation. “Oh, for the love of—Dani!” he bellowed.

The wolfcut girl, Dani, rushed out of her room, kneeling beside the robot as if tending to a wounded comrade. “What did you do?” she demanded, her red eyes blazing as she glared at Brodyn.

“It was about to shoot the new guy!” he defended. “I had to stop it!”

Dani shook her head, muttering soothingly to the robot. “It’s okay, Jill. They won’t hurt you anymore.” She dragged the robot back into her room, cooing reassurances as its head lolled pitifully.

Jacob stood there, utterly dumbfounded.

The katana man, who had been watching the whole scene with detached amusement, tipped the brown hat he was wearing. “Uh… yo. New guy, right?”

Jacob nodded, too stunned to form words.

Canrad tipped his hat and strolled off, leaving Jacob alone with the towering man who had been standing silently beside him. The large figure shrugged off his jacket, revealing broad shoulders and a muscular frame that seemed almost too massive for the room. He dropped into a beanbag chair with a sigh, the furniture groaning under his weight. Then, with a heavy hand, he reached out toward Jacob.

“What’s your name, little man?” His voice was deep and gravelly, carrying a weight of authority.

“Uh, Jacob.” Jacob hesitated but took the offered hand. The handshake was crushing, and he had to clench his teeth to keep from yelping. As soon as it ended, he shook his hand out, trying to soothe the pain.

The man let out a booming laugh that echoed through the room. “Jacob? Hah!” He turned his head toward the kitchen, where kalaf leaned casually against the counter, a mysterious drink in hand. “Kal! Where’d you find this guy?”

She didn’t even look up, sipping from her straw. “Universe 83361.”

Another hearty laugh erupted from the man. Jacob sat awkwardly, feeling small between the giant’s presence and Kalaf’s cool demeanor. The air seemed charged with an energy he didn’t quite understand.

“Well, Jacob,” the man said, his tone softening just a little. He clapped a hand on Jacob’s shoulder, the weight of it making him flinch. “Welcome to the Jumpers, my man! Got a lot to learn, but don’t worry. I’m Brodyn, leader of the crew. I know this ain’t the grandest introduction, but it’s been a rough night. Get some rest, and you’ll meet everyone properly tomorrow.”

Jacob nodded, unsure what else to do. He tried to keep his face neutral, but his mind was racing. “So, uh, Jumpers… what does that mean exactly? What do you guys do?”

Brodyn’s expression shifted, his smile thinning into something more serious. “We’re mercenaries,” he said, his voice firm. “Vigilantes. Anti-heroes. You name it, we’ve been called it. The Jumpers fight against the corruption choking this city, save who we can, and aim to tear down the system that lets it all happen.”

Jacob’s stomach churned. Mercenaries? Vigilantes? The terms didn’t sit right with him. Weren’t vigilantes just criminals with a cause? He tried to mask his unease with a weak smile. “O-oh… Alright. Cool.”

Brodyn frowned slightly, giving Jacob another hearty pat on the shoulder. “You’ll get the hang of it, bud. Training starts tomorrow after you see the doc. For now, get some sleep. You’ll need it.”

Without another word, Brodyn stood and lumbered off toward a hallway. Jacob sat in silence, the weight of everything pressing down on him. The only sounds were the faint slurping from Kal and the futuristic beeps and whirs of Junpei, who was engrossed in a holographic computer a few feet away.

Jacob took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. This was his life now. There was no going back. No escape. He had to face whatever came next.

“Yo, Brodyn!” Kal called out, her voice cutting through the quiet. She set her drink down and straightened up. Brodyn stopped, his head poking out from the hallway.

“Mission was a bust?” she asked.

He nodded, scratching his beard. “Heard the argument. Kaeas shot the hostage. We had to dip before a synthie found us.”

Kal shook her head and waved him off. As he disappeared down the hall, she turned and walked toward a large window. Placing her hand on the glass, it began to glow, then slid open to reveal a breathtaking view of the city.

Jacob couldn’t help but follow, his curiosity overriding his hesitation. The skyline beyond the window was like nothing he’d ever seen. Vehicles zipped through the air, glowing trails of light marking their paths. Towering skyscrapers adorned with holographic advertisements stretched endlessly into the heavens. The city pulsed with life, a dazzling display of neon colors and technological marvels.

Kal stepped out onto a ledge just wide enough to sit on, her back against the open frame. She gazed out at the city, the faint wind tugging at her hair. Jacob stood awkwardly by the window, torn between awe and the desire to join her.

“Thought you said we were in the slums?” he finally asked, leaning against the wall beside the window.

“We are,” she replied without looking at him. “I bought a window to a condo in the skyline district. Lets me hang here and look at the lights.”

“You can buy windows?”

Kal smirked faintly. “You can buy anything in Mega City. As long as you’ve got the pops.”

Jacob nodded, though he didn’t fully understand. He wanted to ask more but held back, unsure if she’d entertain his curiosity. As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.

“Close the window for me, will ya?”

He hesitated but stepped forward, pressing his hand against the glass as she had. The window slid shut, its black tint returning to block out the city lights. The cold night air vanished, replaced by the sterile atmosphere of the room.

Jacob sighed and glanced at Junpei, who was still engrossed in the holographic interface. Deciding he’d had enough for one night, he wandered down the hall. The door without a nametag caught his eye, and he pushed it open.

The room was modest but welcoming. Neon lights traced the edges of the walls, casting a soft glow. A small bed was tucked beneath an empty bookshelf, and a window above the bed offered a glimpse of the city’s middle layers. To his right, a small bathroom completed the space.

He walked into his bed, practically crumpling onto it. He looked up at the window, up at the light above. This was all so overwhelming. He truly didn’t have much thoughts, but at the same time had all the thoughts, questions and curiosity in the world. He both missed his old life and wanted to know everything about this new one as well.

The warmth bathed him. Comfort washed over him. He closed his eyes, thinking about everything. The things he would do, the things he wish he coudve done. His regrets, his success. All of it. His writing. The characters, his worldbuilding.

Thoughts became comfort too. And soon after, he was fast asleep.