The White House was a hub of beehive activity as one would expect in the headquarters of the commander in chief. People in both military and business suits alike walked and roamed the great halls, each to perform their own unique function. There were a few rooms and spaces where the President and his family could retreat to if they wanted some time alone or to spend time as a family. But for the most part their "home" was occupied by over two hundred people at any one time.
President Chavez sternly led his party through the busy halls of the White House with a sense of command as a General would lead a platoon. The President had a commanding presence by nature that was nurtured by both his natural stance and build and his career as a military officer. The President, like his younger counterpart, stood a good six foot two, with a muscular build. The younger Jason had many of the same commanding qualities as his presidential double, stemming from him to being of military background. Both men fit the positions of power and respect that they occupied.
After racing through the halls, the five reach the Oval Office. Jason had all this time tried to conceal his face to avoid any unwanted attention. The Professor marveled at his surroundings and grinned as a child would in a candy store.
"Ahh the White House, it's everything I imagined it would be. Not as impressive as Buckingham Palace in Britain, but overall not bad." said Arturo pressing his hands together in delight.
The President smirked "Glad you like it Professor. Especially when you have two or three hundred people stomping through what is supposed to be your home everyday."
Arturo looks around whimsically "Yes I see what you mean."
The President grabs Jason and shoves him through the door of the Oval Office "Get in there, I don't want people noticing that there are two of me wandering around out here."
Jason offers some resistance before he enters "Hey watch it buddy, we may be identical copies of each other, but ya know. Ease up on the merchandise."
"Get in there will ya." says the President as he slams the door shut. "Alright Peterson, get at least two Agents on this door. Leave explicit instructions that no one is to enter and we are not to be disturbed."
Peterson immediately calls over two Agents and begins to relay the President's orders. He than turns back and addresses the older Jason "Alright Sir, you better get inside, I'll handle things out here.'
"Ok, but as soon as you get everything square I want you in there with me. You're my top guy, I'm gonna need you to help plan our next move." says the President.
Peterson gives a quick salute "Yes Sir, Mr. President."
President Chavez quickly hurries the Professor and Maria inside the Oval Office and follows them in, quickly shutting the door behind him. While inside they notice that Jason has taken the liberty of roaming the office and analyzing several of the President's awards and commendations.
The older Jason walks up to his younger double "Just what the hell do you think your doing, who asked you to take that off the wall?"
The Colonel ignores his older counterpart and continues reading the framed commendation he holds in his hand. A wide grin crosses his face as he looks back up to the President "I can't believe it, I made Brigadier General on this world, holy crap!"
The President yanks the framed commendation from Jason's hands "No, I made Brigadier General on this world." He looks down at the commendation and smiles "Yea, that must've been ten years ago. Promoted to Brigadier, retired five years later."
Jason nods "Right…and you got the Distinguished Service Cross Medal!" he says as he makes his way over to another wall displaying several ribbons, awards and medals the President had earned during his time in the Army.
"Yup, along with the Soldier's Medal Of Heroism and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Plus a few Bronze Stars and even a Legion Of Merit. Yea, those were the days…" the President says with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Damn talk about your freakin over achiever." says Jason with a laugh.
"Very impressive Sir. But you should also know, that our Jason Chavez is no slouch when it comes to impressive military achievements either." says Arturo.
The President crosses his arms "Really, I didn't even know you were in the military."
Jason gives his double an annoyed yet challenging tone "I'll have you know I'm a Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Air Force. With a Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Action Medal and a Gallant Unit Citation."
"Combat Action Medal, I thought you Air Force types were all fly boys." says the President with a mocking tone.
Jason steps forward in a hostile manner as if to defend his own honor "Listen you cocky bastard…"
"Oh for goodness sake, could we stop the mine is bigger than yours crap already! We've got more important things to worry about!" shouts Maria as she cuts Jason off.
Arturo grins "Very well said Miss Chavez."
The President seemingly ignores her outburst and continues his banter "Still Lieutenant Colonel is impressive for your age. Even if it is with the Chair Force."
This insult seems to enrage Jason even more as he again steps up to confront his older self, but stops in his tracks when the door of the Oval Office swings open and in walks Agent Peterson.
"Ok, were cool outside, nobody will be coming in." Peterson looks around, as his eyes probe the unfolding drama "Um, did I miss anything?"
"Yea, me about to kick his sorry ass." says Jason addressing the President.
"You wish fly boy." the older Jason fires back.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen…I suggest we focus on the problem at hand." interjects Arturo.
"Yea like the media jumping all over what just happened outside the police station." says Peterson as he hurriedly flicks on the television in front of the President's desk.
"What do you mean, there were no news cameras out there!" shouts Maria.
"No but there were security cameras mounted outside the station." says Peterson.
"How the devil did the Press get a hold of the security footage?" asks Arturo.
"On this world, the Press can do just about anything!" says the President.
News reports fly across the screen as black and white footage spill over every news station. Continuous loops of the President running out into the street and shooting back at his attackers, play out across every news station.
…Here you see amazing footage taken outside the San Fransisco Police Precinct of President Chavez firing wildly at his assailants that allegedly executed a drive by as the President and several other people exited the police station. Now exactly what the President was doing at the station, remains unclear at this time. But here we see our commander in chief running towards the scene of the crashed vehicle of his attackers after firing off several rounds in retaliation. A few seconds later, we can also see in the grainy footage, another man that closely resembles the President, also run across the camera's lens. It is now being speculated that this is the very same man captured by police in today's earlier shoot out downtown. The very same man that was caught on our news cameras, as he was hauled off. Right now it is chaos as people demand to know, just what in the world is going on. Is there an imposter that is impersonating our President roaming the streets, and is the real President a crazed vigilante or heroic avenger for his actions outside the police station? says a local news anchor.
"They say they got the guy that was driving the car in police custody, but no other details have been given." says Peterson.
"Nice goin, action hero." says Jason to the President.
"Oh shut the hell up! I suppose a fly boy like you would've ran away! Or is that how your military handles combat situations in your universe?" retorts the older Jason.
"Guys, enough! We have to figure out what were gonna do, instead of arguing amongst each other!" shouts Maria.
"Mr. President, at the scene I heard you shout something about damn Maples. Am I to understand the men who shot at you were Canadian operatives?" asks the Professor.
The older Jason just collapses into his chair behind his desk "Who else."
"Look pretty boy, you wanna explain to us just why the hell would Canada want the U.S. President dead?" stammers Jason.
"Sir, I do believe the Colonel has a point. Now if we are to understand the situation , we need to know the history of your two countries. Now what exactly is behind the hostilities between Canada and the United States in this universe?" asks the Professor.
"Alaskan oil, that's what." says Peterson.
"The Maples are so pissed off that the U.S. conned them out of the Alaskan purchase. When they got wind of the vast oil reserve up there, they became the U.S.'s most bitter enemy." says the President.
"You see, the Canadian government was totally unaware of the oil fields that lay underneath the expanse of Alaska. To them it was just more worthless tundra. When our Geologists discovered the oil reserves, our government began scheming to buy the land from Canada. The higher ups cooked up a cover story of wanting to use the property for an airbase that was nearer to our theater in the Pacific. With that Canada sold us Alaska for less than dirt cheap." says Peterson.
"Legislation passed fifteen years ago to make Alaska an official state and that's what leaked the oil secret." says the President, his head in his hands.
"Good Lord, your telling me that Alaska only became a state some fifteen years ago? Why in our universes, Alaska was purchased by the U.S. in 1867 from Russia. Why the oil reserves there have been widely known about for some time." says Arturo.
President Chavez looks back up to Arturo, a confused looks on his face "Who the hell is Russia?"
Meanwhile outside, Gabrielle and her daughter Cassie are strolling outside through the halls of the White House. The two women are gossiping about as mothers and daughters often do. The two of them none the wiser about the events that have just transpired involving the President and the inter dimensional travelers.
"Mom you think Daddy, might be back by now?" asks Cassie.
"Let's stop by the office and check." says Gabby.
The pair turn a corner and a few minutes later are walking up to the front door of the Oval Office. They stop and surprised to it flanked by two Secret Service Agents. Gabrielle slowly walks up to one of the agents.
"Excuse me agents, is my husband inside?" asks Gabby sweetly.
"Um, yes ma'am…" says one of the agents.
"Well than could I see him please." Gabby answers back.
"That's a negative Mrs. Chavez, your husband has left strict orders not to be disturbed." says the second agent.
"Um excuse us…she wants to see her husband and I wanna see my father. What's going on here anyway?" asks Cassie impatiently.
"We are sorry miss, but the President left us orders he was not to be disturbed by anyone." says the first agent.
"Yea like hell…" says Gabby as she moves toward the door.
The agents try to stop her, but the fiery and feisty beauty shoves her way past them and through the door.
"Jason what the hell is going on here, I…" Gabby starts to stammer.
"So sorry Sir, we tried to stop her." says the second agent.
"Get the hell off my mother!" Cassie angrily shouts and she pushes the agents off her mother.
"Cassie…what are you doing here baby?" says the President.
"Hello Daddy, what's going on?" says Cassie
"Yes what is going on here Jay?" shouts Gabby before she stops cold and spots the younger Jason standing next to her husband.
The President notices this and the look of disbelief that crosses both his wife than his daughter's face "Now hold on baby, I can explain!"
The Colonel narrows his eyes as he quickly walks up to the First Lady, utter disbelief on his own face "Gabrielle, dear God is that you?"
"I don't believe it…" says Gabby as her eyes slowly roll back and she faints, falls back and is caught by the Professor.
Arturo gently lays the First Lady on the couch and looks back at the younger Jason "Well it seems the plot thickens."