Free Revolution of the Gods: The Battle for Sol Book One by W.R. Hobbs

considered reluctance, wondering what he was getting himself into, Ben replied, “Yes.”

Mandela Parkway
    A fter they turned right and walked down the middle of Mandela Parkway, Ben could no longer remain patient. “Why are you seeking this man?”
    “Let us find him first and I will explain more to you then,” Cadan replied, watching a drone fly by overhead.
    The two of them walked for a few more minutes until they reached the site of the central command building. As they passed by, Cadan looked at the arcs positioned properly in place now.
    “Section 23 is just a little further,” Ben said.
    By the time they reached the corner of 28th Street, the city blocks were becoming more densely populated with ragged white tents and stained plywood huts becoming more prominent. In front of the dilapidated West End Commons Townhomes stood a rickety collection of tents stretching across the entire road and down one city block.
    Cadan and Ben entered the miniature tent city, each scanning down the chaotic fissures on his respective side. They were almost in the center of this dingy white sea when Ben said, “There!” He pointed to a man that fit Simeon’s description.
    Cadan quickly pushed Ben’s arm back down.
    “Assume you are always being watched,” he reminded his new friend.
    Ben felt a bit embarrassed for he knew this basic assumption all too well after three years of living in the Oakland ROC.
    The man that was the focus of their attention was sitting, reading a book which made him stand out markedly in the surrounding frenzied environment. His hair was no longer neatly kept and his beard was beginning to run wild, but the scar on his left cheek was still unmistakable.
    A shadow extended across the page Simeon was reading. When he looked up and recognized Cadan, a broad smile separated his bushy beard.
    “My trip was somewhat delayed,” he chuckled, standing to shake his old friend’s hand.
    “What do you think… are you ready to check out of this place?” Cadan responded clasping Simeon’s hand.

CHAPTER 11
Dugway Facility
    D eep under Dugway Proving Ground, Bracken and Dr. Hauer were sitting in the general’s office. They had exchanged information for over two hours. And while both of them shared some very astonishing revelations, it was Hauer’s side of the conversation that was the most shocking.
    Once the doctor concluded his last explanation, Bracken sat motionless in complete disbelief. A chill was coursing through his body making him fell numb all over. He could feel his face become ashen as he absorbed Hauer’s words.
    “General, I would not have made this disclosure if I did not believe you could be an integral part in preventing what is to come,” the doctor added, attempting to calm the general.
    Bracken snapped out of his blank stare and shook his head slightly as if he were rearranging his thoughts back to a logical order. He looked down and opened his desk drawer to retrieve a solitary stale Marlboro cigarette that had been lying in the back of a tray for over two years.
    “I kept this in here for years as a way to trick my mind that I had not given it up forever,” Bracken admitted. He grabbed a lighter in the same tray, lit the cigarette and continued, “Out of all the troubling recent changes in our world I have managed to allow that trick to work….till now.”
    “It is a nasty habit General but one that can be overlooked at the moment,” Hauer conveyed in a forgiving tone. Pulling Bracken back to task he asked, “In light of our recently discovered mutual goal, what do you propose we do next general?”
    Bracken’s color had returned to his face and it was a deeper shade of red at this point. His shock rapidly transformed to anger as he deliberated Hauer’s question.
    “I need you to explain what you’ve told me to my unit leaders. We need to prepare for a briefing by 2200 hours. That will give me enough time to coordinate the other officers and develop a new strategy.