Prologue
"Wallings, sign this and you're free to go." CO Stevens told me.
I looked over the paperwork. Everything was in order. So, I signed it and handed it back. He in turned handed me my bus ticket.
"Man Wallings, we're going to miss you. So, whatcha gonna do? Where you gonna go?"
"Dunno boss man. My family made it known that they don't want me around. Got no friends in the free world. I guess I'm coming up from ground zero."
"Well, anyways, I wish you luck Wallings. If you come back you both know there are people ready to beat you down."
We both laughed and then shook hands.
"Take care wallings"
"I will"
"I know"
Then I walked through the Golden Gates which, were actually just some brass railings.
Saw the front door for the first time since incarceration and walked through. Looked at the guard tower and then the street. I repeated this ritual about three times. Then I made a mad dash like an escaped prisoner. Thought popped in my head that if I waited too long they might just try to drag me back in. Not sure why. Maybe it was my close custody time. All I know is that my tenure as prisoner 1228631 was now over, and I intended to keep it that way.
Saw the front door for the first time since incarceration and walked through. Looked at the guard tower and then the street. I repeated this ritual about three times. Then I made a mad dash like an escaped prisoner. Thought popped in my head that if I waited too long they might just try to drag me back in. Not sure why. Maybe it was my close custody time. All I know is that my tenure as prisoner 1228631 was now over, and I intended to keep it that way.
--
1 month later
Place: Dallas, Texas, United States, Earth
POV: Jace Wallings
Saw this lady lurking around. She had helped me quite a bit. So; I tried to catch her alone. Rude to interrupt and all. Took me about a month, but I finally did.
"Well Kristen, I gotta thank you."
"What happened?
"Well.... I got locked up for two years. I made it out alive though."
"You know you were chosen as a Regulator, right?"
"Say what?
"Jace, I only know that..."
"Quit bullshitting me woman."
"Jace"
"No. Playing with that shit is what got me in trouble the first time. Fuck that shit. You're fuckin' insane. I appreciate the help; but, this ends here."
I got out of there as soon as I could. then about 6 months later I spotted a woman getting mugged. I shouted for him to stop and he ran. He disappeared. Saw the tell tale rune hidden in the picture and smelled the fresh paint. I knew the portal well.
"Awe shit." I said to myself as I reactivated the portal and crossed into Anglasia. Damn near got hit by a hovercraft; but, I finally caught him tackling him to the ground. Being that the Art Skipper community is close knit, the look on his face was priceless.
"Citizens, stay where you are!" Two men jump out of a hovercraft with swords and crossbow trained on us" Present your identifications citizens."
The thief presented his. Of course, just getting out of prison and not planning on ever visiting Anglasia again; I didn't have mine.
"Citizen, you do realize that crossing over without identification or authorization is a serious offense. Prepare for retinal scan."
My first thought was damn. Another stint and this one I actually did. They scanned my retina and checked the screen.
"Brother Wallings." The one on the left stated with a grin on his face. "Or is it better termed Runner Walling?" At that they both chuckled. "How I see it you have two choices. You can either be on your way to Headquarters to report to training, or face a tribunal for unauthorized entry. Your choice."
"Not much of a choice I see" I responded back.
"Good to see that you see it our way. Now Brother Wallings, why were you in pursuit?"
"He mugged a lady in Earth. I was trying to get her purse back."Ah, I see. Wanna lift?" The one on the right asked.
"Sure, why not."
The one on the left looked at the perp, "Hands behind your back"
Then we took off to my training; prisoner in tow.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Intoduction
Hi, I'm Jace Wallings. More specifically, I'm Jace Wallings, General over the Criminal Justice Division of the Anglasia Armed Forces. I did not choose this, nor did I even in the remotest ask for this. However; people many millennial older than me decided it was and so it came to be. Don't ask me why.
Yes, this is a story about me and my exploits. However; it's much more than that. It's also about a family coming together. About being honorable even in circumstances you did not choose; and the surprises along the way. About accepting limitations as well as strength; as well as finding out that our original judgement of people and situations are often much different than reality.
It's my story. It's your story. So read it with an open mind. You might just find that you and the people in this story are not as different than they first appear.
