Read Beyond Armageddon: Book 02 - Empire for Free Online

a key that was always around his neck but only visible when he needed it.

                Those memories served as a library of knowledge and with that knowledge Trevor gained the courage and self-confidence to become the leader mankind needed.

                Yet he did not completely understand the gift. Among those genetic memories came the know-how to fly the “Eagle” ships stolen from the Redcoat aliens. That information should not be accessible to him, not through his network of human memories; human genes.

                It seemed the more Trevor learned about the new world the more mysteries he found.

                In any case, as his Eagle approached the mansion, the deceleration woke Stone. With no windows inside the passenger compartment, he activated a view screen to look outside the craft.

    Each time he saw ‘home’ he felt relieved; a part of him feared finding nothing but ruins overrun by hostiles; a fear that was a part of the responsibility he carried on his shoulders.

                Surrounded by a tall black iron fence, the mansion sat isolated except for two neighbors: a silent A-frame on one side, a small white church fifty yards in the other direction.

                  A driveway climbed a slight grade toward the east-facing main house through a perfectly manicured lawn dotted with ornamental trees. A six-car garage with apartments on top rested in the northern quadrant of the grounds. Other, smaller buildings hid among the trees on the back half of the lot in the shadow of a mountain, including a barn that had been the original home for Trevor’s first army of dogs.

                Standing two stories tall, the architecture suggested Victorian roots but lacked heavy gothic flavor. Thick pillars lined a big front porch while a second-floor balcony overlooked the front grounds with a breathtaking view of the lake.

                The Eagle airship slowed to a stop in mid air and then descended onto a concrete helicopter pad built in the front yard.

    –

     
                Trevor pulled the sheets to his son’s chin. It was August, it was warm, but tucking Jorge in always meant literally tucking him in. No doubt Jorgie would soon toss and twist those sheets but Trevor followed the routine step by step.

                “Tell me again, how fast did the Hivvans run?”

                Trevor smiled at his boy’s desire to know about the world he would someday inherit. For such a young child he held an unusual grasp of the situation.

                “They ran like a boy from a Jaw-Wolf,” he tickled JB’s nose. “Maybe even faster.”

    “That’s pretty fast,” JB giggled. “I’m glad you’re home, father. Mommy is glad you’re home, too.”

                Trevor kissed his boy on the forehead.

                “Could you wrap bunny up?” JB asked before his father left.

                ‘Bunny’ was a fuzzy yellow rabbit given to the boy by Jon Brewer last Easter. JB had a small white and red blanket that always stayed with Bunny; the plush rabbit’s version of the covers Trevor pulled tight over his son at night.

                Bunny always went to bed with JB and often times accompanied the boy on long trips. Most important, however, Bunny required wrapping, too.

                When he finished, Trevor handed the bundle to his son who accepted it with a warm hug. Daddy then pulled those bed sheets snug again to his son’s chin.

                “Sweet dreams, Jorge.”

                Jorge, with his eyes closed, repeated, “…like a boy from a Jaw-Wolf…”

                Trevor turned off the lamp on the nightstand and tip toed into the hallway. Ashley stood there with crossed arms.

                “Like a boy from a Jaw-Wolf? Are you trying to give him