George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 2

< Part 1 >

I moved my feet as quickly as possible. I still couldn’t quite tell if this was a dream or reality, but as the President of the United States, it felt like this was what I should be doing.

“What’s the situation?”

“The World Trade Center has been attacked by two planes. Nothing more has been confirmed yet.”

“Anything else?”

“I’m sorry. There’s no other information yet.”

I was filled with mixed emotions as the burly black man, who seemed to lack nothing, apologized. ‘Is this what power is?’ And what is he apologizing for? This was an era when all sorts of sensational stories were rampant even in the news. I couldn’t guarantee that the information coming in would be real, so the only thing I could truly trust was my memory.

But is this memory real? Can it be applied as is to the reality that is happening now? If my judgment, my memory, is wrong, then what should I do?

But even if I use this knowledge, could the George W. Bush administration, which was called the worst administration in American history, get any worse?

“Head to the nearest airport!”

“Mr. President, I’m sorry, but Air Force One could also be in danger.”

I remembered this part clearly without relying on my knowledge because it was so famous. Originally, George W. Bush was going to head to the White House, but due to the persuasion and entreaties of his aides, he had no choice but to go to Barksdale Air Force Base.

I could have reluctantly gone to the airbase here. Logically, that would probably be the safest thing to do. At the same time, I wouldn’t be going against the flow of history.

But is that really the best option? Is that truly the best?

“Then call them.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re saying Air Force One might be dangerous, so it can’t be done.”

“That’s right.”

“Then call the Air Force. Is the closest one Barksdale Air Force Base? Anyway, call up all the F-15s or F-16s [American fighter jets].”

“M-Mr. President. With all due respect, Air Force One already has an escort of elite fighters.”

“Then what’s so dangerous! I am the President of the United States! I’m not a sewer rat trying to hide in a safe hole! Give me that damn fighter jet! I’ll fly it myself!”

Of course, it wasn’t the kind of behavior that a national leader should show in terms of common sense. The reason I could do this was that the people wanted a national leader who could show actions befitting such a powerful America. And the White House was safe because the terrorist attack would fail.

“P-President.”

The aide almost looked like he was about to cry.

‘Is this what power is?’ But the catharsis that comes from it was almost nonexistent. More than that, the familiar pressure weighing down on my shoulders made me move.

Is the identity of the pressure the conscience that I can reduce the number of victims because I know the future? Or is it a sense of responsibility to do something, anything?

It’s probably both.

“I am the President of the United States.”

“Understood, Mr. President. Then we will escort you to Air Force One.”

Feeling like it was roughly over, I could lean my stiff back against the chair. As Cadillac One [the presidential state car] is the presidential limousine, the ride was on a different level from ordinary cars.

Then I realized that my arm was heavy. It was a very luxurious-looking watch. I was so used to smartphones that I hadn’t worn a watch in years, so it felt unfamiliar.

‘I’ll have to get used to it now.’

Wait, a watch?

The watch showed 9:11.

The United States suffered four aviation terrorist attacks that day. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the first and second World Trade Centers, respectively, and American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. United Airlines Flight 93 did not reach its terrorist destination due to the rebellion of the passengers and crashed into a field near a coal mine in Pennsylvania with the cursed slogan of Allahu Akbar [God is the greatest, an Islamic phrase].

Among them, there was still some time left until United Airlines Flight 93 crashed and American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. Then wouldn’t it be possible to stop it?

“And contact the Capitol Building and the Pentagon and evacuate everyone.”

“Mr. President?”

“Don’t you understand yet? It’s a terrorist attack! A terrorist attack! The most dangerous places are the Capitol Building and the Pentagon! I’ll give you 20 minutes. Evacuate everyone within 20 minutes! Anyone who remains after 20 minutes will be fired by my authority! Got it!”

Even if they didn’t evacuate, the messenger of Islam would take their heads anyway, so it wasn’t wrong.

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Contact the Air Force.”

“What should I say?”

“If there are any aircraft that have lost contact, launch all fighter jets under my authority, no matter what it takes.”

And. That’s right.

“How the hell were the planes hijacked?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know, Mr. President.”

“Do you only know how to say sorry?”

“I’m sorry.”

I racked my brain to recall the news I had seen. I had no connection to outdoor activities except for manual labor, so I had lived by reading books and news since I was in school. As I buried my head in my hands, I vaguely remembered the general outline, as if my efforts had not been in vain, although it was not detailed.

Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, aviation laws were very lax, and even metal knives with a blade of 4 inches or less could be carried. It’s ridiculous by modern standards, but at the same time, it showed how much the 9/11 terrorist attacks instilled a sense of vigilance against terrorism in the United States.

But it wasn’t a gun or a bomb.

“Tell all airports. All passenger planes in the United States must change the cockpit door to ‘locked’. I will also exercise this under my authority.”

“Yes?”

The clock was pointing to 9:12. Every minute was precious, but half of that minute, 30 seconds, was wasted on that retort. ‘Is this even possible!?’

“Immediately!!!”

“Understood!”

It felt like I had really done everything I could. A sense of relief washed over me amidst the heavy responsibility, and I inadvertently turned my head to the car window. There, I saw the blotchy face of George W. Bush, who hadn’t left the newspapers for eight years, reflected.

‘It’s really George W. Bush.’

I touched my face. And then I could be sure. It wasn’t just some dream. More people would die while I was wavering between reality and dream. As the President of the United States. And as someone who knows the future, the immense responsibility and sense of reality were enough to give me a conclusion.

I had become George W. Bush.

* * *

“This is United 93. Pittsburgh Control, please repeat.”

「This is Pittsburgh. United 93. Close the cockpit door immediately. An order has been issued from above for all passenger planes to set the door to locked. This is to prevent terrorist acts that are currently occurring locally.」

The captain felt his heart shrink completely when he heard those words.

‘Terrorists on my plane?’

That could never happen. But terrorists can be stopped at the airport gate, not on the plane.

The captain, having made his decision, quickly activated the operating stick attached to the bottom of the cockpit.

“Set to locked.”

「Confirmed.」

“It can never happen.”

But that alone didn’t calm his mind. He had received all sorts of training to be appointed as captain, so his strong mindset began to become uneasy. Normally, he would have just thought that the higher-ups were being a bit picky, but wasn’t the World Trade Center attacked a little while ago?

‘Just try to come. Terrorists. I’ll send you to God with my fists.’

He couldn’t do anything about guns or knives, but just pretending to be strong gradually calmed his mind.

But that resolution didn’t last long. Only about 10 minutes after finding peace of mind, he suddenly heard Arabic in a flustered tone and the sound of knocking on the door?

“Captain?”

The captain’s face turned pale.

“Enter the hijack code immediately. Quickly. I’ll take responsibility.”

Even if that Arabic was a misunderstanding, it didn’t matter.

“Open the door!”

No, it was definitely not a misunderstanding!

The English with an Arabic accent coming from beyond the cockpit’s steel door was definitely not a misunderstanding. Otherwise, why would an Arab, not a flight attendant, be knocking on the cockpit door?

“Co-pilot. If you’ve entered the code, go block the door.”

“Yes?”

“That’s not a very strong door. You know that! Quickly!”

They could use bombs or guns, but if they used them, it would explode in the middle of the plane, whether it exploded in the middle or in the center. Above all, if this cockpit were to be occupied, there was a high possibility that not just one or two people, but everyone would die.

“Control tower. Damn it! Mayday! Mayday! I’m going to make an emergency landing at the airport! Grant permission immediately!”

「Permission granted!」

The captain was certain that the control tower had become a scene of chaos.

“Co-pilot! If you have a last will, say it first!”

“Yes?”

“Even if you die, your last will will remain on the black box!”

While the co-pilot calmly left his last will to his wife and daughters while pulling on the doorknob the size of a finger, the captain felt sweat on the palm of his hand holding the control stick for the first time in a long time. The last time he had sweated after becoming a captain was after his first flight. He didn’t know when he was a co-pilot, but after becoming a captain, he realized that his sense of responsibility had increased as much as the amount in his bank account had increased.

Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t feel responsible when he was a co-pilot. The problem was that after becoming a captain, he realized that his sense of responsibility had increased as much as the amount in his bank account had increased.

‘Oh, God. Please.’

The louder the noise of knocking on the cockpit door, the slower time seemed to pass. If time could have weight, it would probably weigh a ton.

“I’m done. Aren’t you going to leave a last will, Captain?”

The co-pilot asked with a gloomy face, but the captain didn’t have the mental capacity to do so. He was barely maintaining his sanity, but his tense body was constantly sweating from the unprecedented situation of a hijacking.

“I’m not leaving one!”

Soon, a city appeared through the hazy clouds, and in the center was the runway of Pittsburgh Airport.

‘The angle is not good.’

So what? The captain’s seat is not a free seat.

“Pittsburgh Control. I’m going to execute an emergency landing.”

「United 93. Everything is ready.」

Having heard those words, the captain calmly scanned the runway with his eyes once. It was a very clean runway. That meant that the ground was getting closer, but it also meant that the end was approaching. Seeing that, confidence welled up.

So he had to say those words before the end came.

“Control tower. Please convey my gratitude to the higher-ups.”

「What?」

“If it weren’t for the higher-ups, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far.”

It was true. If the door hadn’t been locked, he would either be fighting hand-to-hand with the terrorists or already committing a suicide bombing somewhere.

「Tell that to the President yourself while you’re alive.」

“The President?”

「This order was directly issued by the President.」

“I see.”

The captain lowered the landing gear.

Now is the time for the end.

“Here I go!”

Succeed! Succeed!

* * *

“Mr. President.”

Did it succeed?

“United 93 has made an emergency landing in Pittsburgh.”

‘Yes!’

Knowledge could also change history! At one time, I thought, ‘What if I know but can’t stop it?’ but that didn’t happen. There was no such thing as the power of history that is often said in alternate history novels!

“But….”

However, my heart sank at the following words. Why, what else is left? Was there really such a thing as the power of history?

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me the terrorists detonated a bomb or something?”

The aide smiled kindly at my serious expression.

“It’s not bad news. The passengers caught the terrorists. I think we’ll need a lot of Presidential Medals of Freedom.”

“Ha! I’ll give them as many as they want.”

With those words, I boarded Air Force One.