The Glorious Becoming (Epic) by Stephen Lee

Author:Stephen, Lee [Stephen, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.
Published: 2012-03-26T04:00:00+00:00

21

THURSDAY, MARCH 15TH, 0012 NE

0205 HOURS

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

TWO DAYS LATER

THE NIGHT WAS still. Besides the gentle rustling of tree branches against Lilan’s bedroom window, barely a sound had been heard all through the nighttime. Though occasional mournful creaks emanated from the walls of the old house, they were far from enough to disturb the dark serenity by themselves.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

The old man squinted longingly beneath the covers of his bed—the cry of the comm on his nightstand slicing calculatedly through his slumber. Even as his body writhed from the interruption, his cognition was slow to resurface. Slower than usual.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

That scent. It was so familiar. The air hung with it—the comfort of old walls and wood floors, the reassuring fragrance of the only mattress he’d known for the past twenty years.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Eyes cracking open, Lilan stared groggily through the fog of reemergence. He looked at the comm, the flashing red light on its side assisting its constant wail.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Sitting upright, the mattress bending in the same overused way it always did, the old man stared at the comm through weathered eyes. This was as tired as he’d ever been.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep—

Grabbing the comm, he silenced its repetitive signal. He queued himself up. “Lilan.” His voice was deep and slow to assert.

“About damn time!” The voice was Hutchin’s. “Are you cognizant?”

Squinting hard, Lilan thought on the question. Was he cognizant? He wasn’t sure. That meant the answer was probably no. “Yeah.”

Hutchin paused deliberately. “I don’t buy it. Shake your senses and call me back—quickly. This is big.” Before an affirmation could be returned, the comm channel closed.

Lilan stared at the device in his hand, then surveyed his room. His eyes, fully adjusted to the darkness, settled on his oak dresser. How many times had he climbed out of bed and opened those drawers to dress for the day? He’d built that dresser fifty-some-odd years ago, with his father. It was made strong—made to last. Things weren’t made like that anymore. People weren’t made like that.

Pressing his hand against his forehead, Lilan gritted his teeth. Rolling out of bed and onto his feet, he shook his head and lifted his comm again. He called up General Hutchin.

“You awake now?” Hutchin asked.

“Yeah,” Lilan answered quickly. “What’s the op?”

Hutchin sounded eager. “Looks like you’re about to get your wish. Got a mission for you, and Strom’s been given the go-ahead to join. Get dressed and head to base. It’s time for your operatives to meet their new teammate.”

* * *

CATALINA SLAPPED A magazine into her assault rifle and sighted down the barrel. Behind her, Mark Peters and the rest of Charlie Squad threw on their gear. The hangar was bustling as the whole of Falcon Platoon readied their equipment. Two Vultures—one for Charlie and one for Delta—whined in preparation for launch.

“Lock and load, Falcons!” hollered Tacker as he walked through the hangar. The major was already fully geared, his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder as he marched toward Vulture-7.

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