Free Babel Found by Matthew James Page A

of the new backup plans Kane had set up after the last disaster in D.C. Hank, Nicole, Kane, and Ben had chased the mastermind behind the attacks through the city, causing a good amount of damage along the way.
    They produced an immeasurable amount of wreckage as they sped through the Mall at high speeds, shooting at each other the entire time. Once they reached Frost’s target, Union Station, a weapon was set off, killing hundreds of people, turning them to ash.
    The new precaution was if something like that happened again.
    Todd looked back over to Abe. Or worse.
    He glanced at his watch knowing it would take a couple of minutes for his help to get airborne and here.
    “I may not have that much time.”
    A chime indicated that he was getting an incoming call. The code name was all that he needed.
    “Connect call,” he said, immediately hearing the whirling sound of wind through the other end.
    “Ben?” he asked, trying to concentrate on the call, while still retreating from the incoming goliath.
    “Todd, thank God!” Ben said, his voice cutting in and out.
    He’d tried calling Ben earlier, but the call was rejected. Apparently, Ben was a little busy too.
    The static was strange unto itself since they were communicating over one of the most high-tech communication devices on the planet. Nothing short of being underground—something Todd was working on—could interrupt their calls. It’s not until he heard the telltale sign of a tornado whistling like a freight train in the background, that he figured out what was muffling Ben’s voice.
    “Um, is that a tornado?” Todd asked, moving faster now.
    “It sure is!” Ben said, having to shout over the sound. “We had a visitor at the site and then one thing led to another… A twister formed directly over us. At least half a dozen men are down, not to mention the state of the excavation itself. It’s a complete loss here.”
    Todd’s eyes went wide. “What of Daniel?”
    “I…I’m not sure, but I had just left him underground in the tunnels. As long as they still have air, they should be fine until we can come back for them.”
    Todd clenched both his fists, not believing what he was hearing. What are the odds that Ben is undergoing a similarly outrageous event there as he was here in D.C.? He wasn’t about to relay that, but Ben beat him to it.
    “What’s going on in Washington?” Ben asked, obviously unaware of Todd’s predicament.
    “Remember what Coaxoch did to the Great Goddess’ pyramid?” Todd asked, knowing Ben would instantly understand the reference. It was the pyramid that would eventually form into the colossal stone giant that almost pancaked Hank, Nicole, Kane, and Olivia.
    “You’re kidding me?” Ben said in disbelief. “What—”
    “I’ll give you a hint…” Todd said, wanting to turn and run, but unable to. “Big guy, top hat, never told a lie, was a fictional vampire hunter.”
    “Oh, no…”
    Todd completely agreed with Ben. This was without a doubt a worst possible scenario. That statue was not only ninety years old, but it was a symbol the capital couldn’t replace.
    “It’s not coming after you, is it?” Ben asked, concerned.
    “I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
    As he finished his response he saw the stone eyes of Abraham Lincoln turn towards him and stop in its tracks. It just stood there, still as a…well…a statue.
    “Oh, damn.”
    “What is it?” Ben asked through another bout of swirling wind.
    “Abe’s looking at me, Ben.”
    “Run, Todd. Run and don’t stop.”
    He was about to respond when a whup, whup, whup broke out in the air above him. His hair billowed around his head as he looked up and saw his guardian angel a hundred feet directly overhead.
    “What’s that sound?” Ben asked.
    Todd allowed himself to smile slightly. “Help from above.”
    Designated, Aegis-One, the Navy-built AH-1Z Viper hovered directly above its marked target: Todd Jenkins. His glasses’ GPS beacon would be easy