1 Chapter 1

2017

Amrege Juvenile detention center

Atlanta Georgia 

3:12 am

In the lunch room of the juvenile detention center, 15 year old Jasiah King was fist fighting another teen, by the name of Keslan Connor, the other teenagers surrounded them cheering them on. Jasiah had peach skin, brown hair, and brown eyes. Keslan had blonde hair and brown eyes. The officers in the lobby were standing off to the side, acting like they weren't seeing anything. Jasiah ducked a punch from the kid, punched him in the stomach, then hit him across the face. The other kid staggered back, then punched Jasiah across the chin. Jasiah tackled the kid into the wall, and started punching his ribs. The teenagers making the circle cheered louder and got more rowdy. Jasiah grabbed the kids arm, and slammed him to the floor; another kid jumped from the crowd and attacked Jasiah. Jasiah headbutted the kid, grabbed him by the collar of his jumpsuit, and threw him against the wall. Another kid from the crowd swung at Jasiah,  Jasiah ducked and kicked him in the gut, grabbed the side of his head, and jammed it into the wall. Four other kids jumped in and jumped on Jasiah, taking him to the floor, punching and kicking him. The Sergeant came into the lobby, pointed his shotgun in the air, and shot it. Every kid in there jumped, and stopped all the commotion.

The Sergeant said, "Everyone back to your cells! Jasiah, Keslan, I got something for yall two." The Sergeant said as Jasiah and Keslan looked at each other.

A few minutes later, Jasiah and the boy he was fighting, Keslan, was tied up against a steel pole on their knees, in a room with one light, and two guards were beating them both with nightsticks. Jasiah and Keslan were bruised up and bloody all over. The guards pounded them in the chest and across the cheek. Jasiah spit blood on the floor, and Keslan was crying his eyes out. The guards stopped  beating them, and Jasiah was catching his breath. A door opened, and the Sergeant walked in. The Sergeant stood in front of the two boys, and kneeled down to their size.

He said, "I really hope you both learned your lesson. Because life isn't always lollipops and rainbows. In life there are choices, and in life there are consequences and rewards. You see, when life beats you up, don't give in to give up. You stand up, and you either gotta choose to fight back, or run away. Let this be a lesson, respect your parents. Because I read both of your files. You, Jasiah, have almost the worst file in this whole facility. Jasiah your in here for grand theft auto, attempted murder, tampering with evidence, assault, and weapons charges. You're going home tomorrow, don't go out there starting fights like you did today and I know you started the fight because we checked the camera's."

Jasiah replied, "Was it necessary to beat us like that? You're abusing your power."

"Oh kid I got all the power in here. I hate when kids come in here. So I decided to take things up a notch so smart kids full of potential like you could stay out of places like this. Your dad will not always be there to protect you. He's all you have."

4 years later

Washington D.C

9:15 am.

2021

Karen's Diner

General Dudnean taps his fingers on the wooden table as he sat across Jack Morrissey; Chairman of the "Blue Core" foundation, a billion dollar company who can override the military and special forces in 3 seconds (they're a private military). General Dudnean had brown and white hair, brown eyes, and a semi wrinkly face; Jack Morrissey was young in years, dark brown hair, and peach skin with a scar on his left eye.

"Let many days speak war, and many decisions make peace. With the collision causing a riot, I don't think I have any other choice but to send my best men," Jack implied.

"Foolish. I'm not even supposed to be meeting with you, but with the nation in a holster I had no other choice, me or the President; but for you to send a couple of untrained soldiers to the field to capture Austin is funny to me. That's like saying you know exactly where Marcus Levine is."

"Let me remind you, General; you work for the government am I right?"

"I work for the United States of America."

"What do you see everyday? Dead bodies, or armed civilians causing havoc in the middle of the street chanting God knows what?"

"Where are you getting at?"

"What I'm trying to say is, don't move slower than the sloth; its less painful that way. But to move fast as the bullet is right on time, but will hurt more. The faster I send my men to the field, the faster I hold up my end of the bargain. I deliver you Austin while you give the Intel on Samantha. I heard the Mozzies love their new leader."

"They're a rebel group, of course they find the likes and respect of anyone who threatens their dignity."

"So as you were."

"I was personally recruited."

"Yeah, with the whole millennium of treasure laid at your feet. You were bought, don't think I didn't do my own discovery on you. Can't trust everyone out here, you do understand there's a war brewing up."

"War or fight?"

"Well lemme see, Japanese forces and the Korean forces have held hands to take down America and Russia. So I call that a war."

"What of the rebels?"

"Well my friend, that's for you to tell me. All I know is that Samantha is the leader of the Mozzies. And, while there are plenty more rebel groups trying to take stands with pitchforks, she's more victorious."

"Abandoned her son and husband after a home invasion, killed 121 people, and ran the largest cartel 7 years ago in Cuba. I'd say she's had enough. That woman is in her near 40's, plus she's a warhead."

"She'd be a great recruit in getting Austin, don't ya think?"

"Believe me, it won't work."

"Sure. My company possesses thousands upon thousands of soldiers in facilities all across the world."

"So all those men, send them to Austin's compound and tell me how it goes. Tell me when you find something out about the whereabouts of Austin Shaw. Good day to you," General Dudnean said as he stood up from his chair, pushed his chair in, and began to walk away. Before the General could walk away from the table, Jack grabbed the generals arm roughly, and said, "Tell the President that once we have Austin, he should move in towards Baghdad."

A voice out of nowhere said, "Oh that won't be necessary." Jack and Dudnean looked over at the man who said it, it was dark skinned mane, in his mid 30's, semi bald, and at least 6'2, walking towards their table.

Jack let go of the general's arm and looked at the man, and said, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Staff Sergeant Brandon. I couldn't help but to hear the commotion over here."

"Commotion? Aye why don't you go back to whatever it is you came from?"

"I would, but the other kids wanted me to play by myself."

Jack and Sergeant Brandon looked at each other with intent. Jack nodded at Brandon in confirmation, stood up out of his chair, and started walking towards the diner door. Dudnean followed, and Brandon followed behind Dudnean. All three of them were outside the diner, while the sun blazed on their heads. 

Jack said to Brandon, "So what do you got?"

"Had me worried there, thought you forgot the code."

"Yeah, six tours to Afghanistan changes your train of thought."

"We got frames on a guy named Volk Alderman. Scientist for Haines Harrison. Which is a possible lead to Austin Shaw and also Samantha."

General Dudnean asks Brandon, "Who's Haines?"

"Just some rich guy running a loud mafia gang across the country. His men are like an army that could take up at least 115 football fields. Used to have a game show actually."

"How is he a lead?"

"Apparently, Haines is related to Shaw. If we could get to Haines, we can get to Shaw. But we can't get to Haines without getting to Volk."

Jack asked Brandon, "So do you have any clue or sumthin to help us find the guy?"

"I got word that he took a flight to New York. Apparently someone wants him to finish cooking the 3 - 4 ingredients."

"Which is?"

"A nuke."

"Horsepower on logical terms?"

"90,000 deep."

"Jesus."

"Which is why we need to take down Volk and his operation, and to get Intel on Haines. Haines is in on the ingredients. He feels he's charged to get rid of the quote on quote low lifes with the nukes. Which is going to be launched God knows when."

"What's the estimated time for him to arrive in New York ?"

"About 48 hours max. We're having our men prepped and ready. Rookies are forced to go on this tour, we must be prepared for anything."

"Have you talked to Solomon?"

"He's still held up in the federal prison in Kentucky."

"When's the last time you spoke to him? He knows more about Austin Shaw than anyone."

"He's also a drug cartel leader with a bad temper and goons in numbers of gnats."

"I'll have a visit with him while you and your men are tracking down Volk. We can't let things get void."

Dudnean asks Brandon, "Are the civilians of New York evacuating?"

"We had that taken care of yesterday sir. Didn't want them getting caught up in the cross fires. President Mason called that order yesterday morning."

"Thank God, that's one measurement we don't have to deal with. I hate casualty reports."

"Don't we all?"

"What is the seismic impact in Japan? Any news from the informant?"

"Kersey saw nothing. More bags and more rags as he said. Nobody hooked on the rifles down there but the wounded numbers appeared to be outstanding."

"Better be right mate. Kersey is a well known killer, can't believe the President trusts him."

"He's an enemy of Austin Shaw, making us friends. And he helped us kill Alsheed Rahmad years ago."

"Yeah, with a bunch of other bad guys involved in this war that we have to get rid of."

"When I took a tour with my squad to Afghanistan, Kersey was posing as a rookie reporter for the soldiers of Alsheed Rahmad. His mission was given orders from the Russian President: to sabotage the mainframe of Alsheed's surveillance on the White House. He did what he was commanded to do with a little bit of our help. We were outnumbered, a lot of us died, but Kersey proved to be trusted. General, I believe Kersey can be trusted."

"Yeah well, let's see how he does. All the nations according to states are at war right now, due to the fall of liberty. President Mason's daughter is on her way back from Korea."

"Who's welcoming her?"

Jack said, "I will."

Brandon replied, "We'll aren't you lonely?"

"Chill alright I got enough money to check your files."

"Here we go again."

Dudnean interrupted, "Enough. Jack goes to the airport and retrieves the President's Daughter Kacey. Brandon, head back to base to debrief the rookies coming in a few hours. I'm going to the White House."

Brandon replied, "Make it rain."

Assembly Of Congress 

Building Unknown

Washington D.C

Four hundred people filled the room, sitting in chairs dressed firmly with the expense of their high priced tags uncut. President Mason stood in the middle of the room at the podium, while the hundreds of "important" people sat in the chairs ready for him to speak. President Mason had brown hair, peach skin, and was in his mid 30's, with brown eyes and clean face shave.

President Mason said to the Congress, "The Modern term for difficulty is action with words, and action with words are attempted with the principalities of warfare. Korea, Japan, Britain, China, us, and all the nations and countries around the world gear up for the impossible. Their lives are what's important and their fear is what's vanity. I have had sources say we are not prepared for this war. Japan fired rockets at Britain, giving up the code for so called 'Allied Nations'. Each day, the body count of each nation grows, we must have an alternative solution."

An old man part of the Congress in the crowd said, "This is outrageous Mr. President, the monstrosity of Austin Shaw overbears-"

A lady in the crowd with blonde hair interrupted, "Were not a sovereign mosier as less than a target. Shaw wants us dead, and the nations to fall at his feet." All the members of Congress in the room started getting into an argument and getting into a riot with their words. President Mason motions the crowd of Congress with his hands repeatedly. Finally he yelled, "Please!" The Congress got silent.

President Mason continued, "As of this day forward and ever, we will not lose to Shaw and his army. He is originated from Russia, but his whereabouts are unknown. The Russian President is nowhere to be found either, but we all know him and Shaw like each other. All the nations are at war and are happy with the dead bodies that appear in their morgue applications. New York as we know it is about to be a warzone due to an informants participation in certain treaties. Our nation knows the rules of engagement, but with Shaws terror and killing civilians out in the open, we are already engaged. We got word that the Mozzies and the Axis Allegiance has mounted as allies during this war. And we all know about Samantha King."

A person in the crowd asked President Mason, "Where is Samantha?"

"That...we don't know. But I assure you, we will find her and put a stop to her. She was meant to be an ally before by helping us with the Korean mafia across the border of the Pacific Ocean a few years back. We got a lead that Volk Alderman is a scientist for Haines Harrison, Haines is another billionaire who unfortunately is an enemy of us and side's with Austin Shaw, his half brother. Volk Alderman is on his way to New York to develop an ingredient weapon that could wipe out 3 states in 168 seconds. We're sending squads down there to comprehend Volk, and to put him to sleep. Any questions?"

A brown and blonde headed girl with glasses in the crowd asked, "Yes Mr. President, um, how many squads are you sending to New York? And have we started to evacuate the citizens out of that region?"

"General Dudnean updated me that we have started to evacuate them earlier this morning. We have scouts planted in buildings in New York, and so far we have not received any activity. Volk must be on the way there."

"Wait a minute, I heard something about a manufacturing plant in Paris, and had a lot of enemy activity down there but no ones been killed or shot at."

"What source did you get that from young lady?"

"My name is Cindy Lockheart. I'm a reporter for the Washington times. And I was kind of um, getting information from a contact in Paris and Shanghai diner and both Intel was exact," Cindy was 22 years old, blonde with black glasses for vision instead of contacts, and light brown eyes.

"Meet with General Massey after this meeting."

"Yes sir."

President Mason turned his attention back to the whole Congress, "Any more questions?"

An African American man with black shades and shaved head asked the President, "What will be the code for the regions maisonette operation?"

"We'll get the preliminary reports on that eventually. But for now our focus is on Volk and the ingredient. Russian President Dmitri caused defiant results on our treaty. We are now enemies."

"What about the Mozzies? And Samantha?"

"Does anyone in this room have any more Intel on her?'

The Congress looked around at each other looking for answers, then a man with his hood on in the back of the room said, "She's moving north. She has a son currently enlisted in the army by the name of Jasiah King. She was watching Jasiah while her husband was in Iraq, and she allegedly abandoned him, he was only a little boy. Jasiah is now 19 years old, enlisted 3 months ago currently at home with his father."

"So what your saying is, we question Jasiah about his mother Samantha?"

"Trust me, he doesn't know his mother's a well known terrorist."

"And who are you?"

"My name's Cage. Sorry I didn't get the invitation to this….ceremony," Cage had a shaved head, blue eyes, and strong jaw.

"You sound like you work for Shaw."

"Oh God no. I'm a curious guy Mr. President, looking for answers and cures for this war just like you."

"How do you know about Jasiah?"

"Well thanks on the Intel from my partner Cindy Lockheart, we got Intel on a bunch of things, and you guys and your suited up congressmen overlooked our research. Of course, Mr. President, you knew nothing about us because some men in your government blocked our voice from your ears. This was the only way to get you to listen to us."

"After this meeting, confront us for debrief; including your partner Cindy."

"Yes sir," Cage said looking at Cindy with a grin, Cindy grinned back.

President Mason said to the whole congress, "What matters is what's important, and what's important is what matters. Killing Austin Shaw is not going to end this war. I know that for a fact. Bringing the nations together in peace is the only way to win. Even though that will be a hard task, no one said shooting a gun was easy. An attack could come unexpectedly, my advice to you all, is to mount up well in the defenses of your home, or travel. But good luck traveling, because the war is everywhere around the world now. May God have mercy on our souls, and may God guide us into true knowledge. Amen."

Houston Texas

Home of Jasiah's Dad Mark

"Dad," Jasiah said trying to wake his father Mark up. Jasiah had brown eyes, brown hair, and a barely visible shave, and was 5 foot 11. Jasiah was now 19 years old.

Jasiah said again, "Dad!"

Mark woke up, with his eyes red and large, looking straight into the eyes of Jasiah.

Mark said, "What?"

"You already know whats going to happen."

"Why now?"

"Come on, let's get tough before I head out to base."

"Alright. Fine."

"I'll be outside old man."

A few minutes later, Jasiah and Mark were outside with coats on, with sniper rifles in their hand, kneeling on one knee shooting at logs from a distance. Jasiah aimed quietly with his rifle, took a deep breath, and shot. The bullet smacked right through the wood and Mark started clapping.

Mark said, "Well done. How's the army treating you?"

"Dad I just got there. All we been doing is training, haven't even been on the field at all."

"Don't worry, you'll be out there soon. And with everything goin' on with the world right now at war, you being a rookie will definitely get you on the field."

"I mean the only reason why I even went to the army was to get away from trouble and school."

"Figured that out when you enlisted. What about after?"

"I don't know. Probably coach basketball or something, or become a lawyer."

"My job as your father is to encourage you to do things that are morally positive."

"Of course. Have you heard anything about Mom?"

"Ahh. Don't know where she is son. I'm telling you."

"Okay."

"It's not your fault with what happened."

"Oh really? Me sitting on the floor bleeding with smoke all in the house while my mom runs out the front door not to be seen? Yeah I believe you."

"Trust me, she loves you."

"I haven't seen her in 10 years. I'm 19 years old. And her face still is permanent in my head and the image of her running out a bloody house."

"Did you like..pray about it or something?"

"Like you always tell me? I tried, but nothing happened. What is it with you and prayer?"

"Prayer is talking with God, and you know me growing up in a Christian home supported us in alot of ways according to God's plan. You have to have faith and trust God in prayer."

"Tell you what, when it's the right time, I'll be the most devoted Christian the world has ever seen. And that's a promise to you and to God."

"Better now than ever they say."

"Okay."

"So anything interesting come about at base?"

"Well, besides the news wailing about the war and showing pictures of the destruction of the places and such, nothing really."

"You scared?."

"Ehh. Kinda. You know everytime I pick up a gun it's like, it's a whole different feeling ."

 "I had that same feeling when I was in the force. But once you step out on that battlefield, your mind will change."

"Alot of mental commission eh?"

"Tons."

"What was it like?"

"They were my brothers. In arms is where we fought and on the battlefield is where we stood, and honor is where we rested. Lost alot of brothers day after day, and bloodshed was a trend. But when we finally won, it still was never a silent moment."

"I bet. Sorry."

"No need to be sorry, just know, when you go out on that battlefield you protect your brothers and sisters, you know the female soldiers as well. You watch them as you watch yourself. You protect them, their your family."

"I will sir. I will. I promise."

"Any interests?"

"There's a girl named Leah, she's also a rookie like me ya know. I mean you don't know but, she came in the plane the same time I did when I was enlisted."

"She cute?"

"Ya know, she has brown hair, soft lookin skin, brown eyes, she's beautiful. I haven't talked to her at all."

"Well, never be scared to talk to a female, you don't know how they feel about you until you talk to them. A female is only interested in a man when she begins to smile in a conversation. Notice that key point. It never fails."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Its funny."

"What is?"

"Love. It has a way of defining certain actions and also has a way of telling the truth. In my case, love was always there I just didn't know how to grasp it truly. Until I met your mother."

"How did you guys meet?"

"Me and my team rescued her from the hands of a well known terrorist. I was in my 20's as well as she, and well then you appeared."

"What was going on in that time?"

"Alsheed Rahmad. Cooperation tactical friend of Osama Bin Laden. Killed many American soldiers in their region which was in Iraq. And if it wasn't for the rookie undercover reporter Kersey, we wouldn't have found Alsheed. My best friend was Jeff Brandon. He's a Sergeant by the name of Sergeant Brandon."

"I know him...how bad was it?"

"More sad then bad I'd say."

"That's above it."

"We had no choice but to kill Alsheed, that's what the President ordered at that time."

"Was he the only threat at the time?"

"No. There were too many people involved. Mercenaries, billionaires, crooked Congressmen, mafia gang leaders, Russia, Baghdad, and Japan. We were allied with Russia at that time, but now EVERYONE is against each other."

"What did billionaires have to do with a war?"

"Believe it or not, billionaires have access to alot of things that even the President of the United States can't get into because his jacket is engaged. And when the jacket's engaged, the flannel is exposed. Billionaires have access to weapons the United states can't get ahold of, and billionaires get access with trained assasins the United States can't find on the black market."

"The black market is imminent though."

"Your right. But the President has orders, orders not to use the black market because of identity and political issues."

"What I heard about this war, is that this might be world war three. All the nations are armed for a fight. Shooting first and shooting back. So far, there's been 100 thousand total deaths in the past 2 weeks. And this war started 2 weeks ago. Japan and Germany had a fallout battle, Germany won. A Russian navy ship was seized and engaged by the Chinese, the Chinese sunk 22 of their ships that day leaving thousands of casualties."

"And I hear there are mafia involved? And militia and mercenaries, and even more billionaires."

"And Shaw. Austin Shaw."

"Son of William Shaw, the loyalist in Great Britain who ran a group of rebels for the cause of freedom demonstrations. He led 500 people to their death against British capital building but he still won. But that war was a demonstration that anything could happen and changes can and will be made. He was killed by Alsheed Rahmad when William decided to disguise himself as an American solider."

"Why would he do that?"

"Publicly stunt, propaganda protagonists; a warning to the government. Next thing you know it backfired on him. But son, I just wanted to let you know, that if anything happens to me, just know I love you. And that everything I've ever done for you was out of love even the beatings."

"Dad.."

"Promise me, that you'll follow the path of righteousness and follow after God. Please son."

"Alright."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

"And don't just start doing it after the war, do it now. We don't know what kind of day today or tomorrow will bring. Okay?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Oh I forgot, there's something in the house I wanted you to have, I'll be right back," Mark said jogging back to the house. As Mark was jogging, Jasiah turned back around, pulled his rifle up, and started aiming at other objects in the woods. Jasiah started shooting one bullet at a time at branches and logs. There was a loud silence, and the wind breezed throughout the woods. Jasiah's heart beated rapidly every breath he took. Seconds later, a deer galloped aggressively past Jasiah, knocking him on his back. The deer jumped over a rock, and kept going. Then the birds in the air were all headed the same way the deer was going. And the wind was getting fiercer. Jasiah looked at the birds and deer confused, then looked at the sky once again. He stood to his feet and looked around, suddenly, a horn blew, an alarm that sounded throughout the whole Texas area. Jasiah said, "No…." The alarm continued to go off, and out of nowhere there was screams from all over, Jasiah could hear it all the way from the woods. 

Jasiah turned around to the house and yelled, "Dad!" Jasiah started running towards the house, and suddenly a missile hit between Jasiah and the house. Dirt and ash blew in the air, and Jasiah flew way back and his back hit a tree. His face ate the dirt as he coughed loudly. Missiles were falling from the sky all over the Houston neighborhood, houses were exploding, cars were swerving and falling off the road, trees were crashing and flying, and civilians were running around screaming their lungs in the air. 

Jasiah said, "Dad..dad..Dad!!" Jasiah got up from the ground and started running towards the house again. Missiles were hitting around him smacking the trees out of its roots. Dirt sprouted out into the air as Jasiah dodged them, running through the woods. He continued to run and run and jump over puddles and rocks. A little girl started screaming, she was high in a tree along, and her German shepherd dog was on the ground barking up at her. Jasiah immediately turned his attention to the little girl and dog, and ran towards them. The destruction was getting heavier throughout Houston, and cars were skirmishing with damage. 

"I gotcha!" Jasiah said stopping at the tree the little girl was in. The dog moved out the way, as Jasiah stretched his hands out in a way to catch the girl. Jasiah yelled, "Jump! Were gonna take you to your mom!" The little girl shook her head in fear, the destruction was getting worse as the missiles were continually striking the ground and making it rumble. Finally the little girl jumped and fell into Jasiah's hands. The dog barked and followed Jasiah as Jasiah was running through the woods carrying the little girl. Jasiah noticed and saw the road, and saw a woman walked helplessly in the street wounded. It was the mom of the little girl. Jasiah saw her and began to dash to the mother of the little girl. "Where's my dad?" That's the thought that raced through Jasiah's 19 year old brain. He almost fell as a missile flew past his head and hit a car, blowing it into the sky. There was about 16 helicopters in the sky, and unknown armed mercenaries parachuting from the sky. Jasiah, carrying the little girl, was getting closer to the road, the mother was weak and a speeding truck was ramming at her. The dog barked and started running to the mother. The dog jumped over rocks as well. The truck was a few seconds closer to the mother, the dog jumped and tackled the mom out the way of the truck onto the ground as the truck sped fast by like a bullet train. The dog licked the mom In the face, and the mom was in pain. Jasiah was on the road and ran to the mother of the little girl, he grabbed her by the hand, and started pulling her out of the road. The dog barked as he followed. Jasiah approached a door and kicked it open. He allowed the dog to go in first as she shut the door with his foot. Jasiah put the little girl down and she ran to her mom. They hugged tight, and the mom was kissing the little girl on the forehead.

 Jasiah said, "Alright, head north to the underground shelter, keep your heads down, there's mercs droppin in, I don't know what they'll do, but my first guess is that they'll be shooting at the civis. I gotta reach my dad."

The mom of the little girl said, "Thank you Jasiah."

Jasiah nodded, and started running to the back door. Tall buildings were crashing to the ground, cars were crashing and exploding and swerving, and houses were raided by mercenaries dressed in red and black camo. Jasiah bashed through the back door, and was outside in the backyard, gunfire and the screams of terror and pain is all he heard.

Jasiah yelled, "No!" He ran up the road, as cars sped wildly past him and mercenaries parachuting to the ground. A car smacked a mercenary dead to the ground, and his gun slid across the road. Jasiah started running to the gun, and a car headed towards him at full speed. Jasiah rolled on the ground, dodging the car, and the car started flipping violently into a house. Jasiah reached and grabbed the M16 assault rifle, stood up, and kept running up the road. Houses were being bombed left from right, smoke was everywhere, and dirt crushed the air. 

"Dad!!!" Jasiah yelled as he continued running up the destroyed road. Local police in the area were having a shootout with the mercenaries in the street. Bullets smacked the glass windows and rubber tires, and one cop after another was getting shot down by the mercs and their assault rifles. Jasiah saw the shootout and ran to it, being a soldier in the army had his mind to realize that law enforcement are his brothers from another mother. Bullets hit near Jasiah's feet, and Jasiah ran to take cover behind a black car. Glass shattered everywhere while the rifle ammo penetrated the cars. Jasiah held his gun firmly, his coat still on, and his face was bloody and dirty. A female cop was behind a cop car bleeding from her hip holding her glock, while her partner was shooting at the mercenaries. Jasiah sat up, and started releasing shots towards the enemy. Jasiah's bullets killed two mercenaries, and another merc shot at Jasiah, Jasiah ducked back into cover as the enemies bullets banged off the side of the car and windows. Jasiah moved to the other end of the car, leaned over to aim at the enemy, and started shooting. Three mercenaries shot at Jasiah, but their bullets only hit the car once again. Another missile hit the middle of the road, and seven cars expanded elsewhere in flames and smoke.  

Jasiah yelled to the cops, "Keep your heads down!" A merc started shooting at him.

The female cop yelled back, "Cover me!" The cop sat up in pain and tossed a grenade over at the mercs. Jasiah stood up and started shooting again. Mercenaries shot back at Jasiah and the cops, and their bullets hit everywhere besides their targets. The grenade detonated, and blew up four mercenaries along with a car. Jasiah kept his head down as he moved beside the woman cop. He ducked down as bullets smacked his way in rage. Suddenly, a fighter jet zoomed by in the sky. Jasiah's eyes followed it, the woman cop asked him, "You with the military?!"

"Y-Yeah! Got any ideas?!"

"Only one but its stupid. We need to evacuate the civilians off the road, I need a medic, and I'm running low on ammunition."

"Okay. Okay, um."

"How old are you kid?!"

"I'm Nineteen."

"You'll get through this kid, help me take care of the rest of these guys on the street!" 

More bullets smacked around their position, Jasiah sat up, aimed at the mercs, and began shooting, taking down three bad guys before ducking back to the cover. 

Jasiah said to the woman cop, "How'd you know I was going somewhere specific?"

"Instinct. Now let's go!"

Jasiah and the cop stood up and started walking forward while shooting at the same time, taking down enemy after enemy. The bad guys shot back, but Jasiah and the cop still walked while shooting in the midst of gunfire. 

"Clear!" Jasiah yelled.

The cop answered, "Okay! Now let's-."

Jasiah and the cop looked forward and saw an enemy tank rolling forward down the road.

The cop said, "We'll that's something you don't see everyday."

"Yeah my nerves ache. We gotta move, now!"

The tank was about to fire, but a rocket hit straight into the tank from the left, and the tank was destroyed.  Jasiah and the cop looked to the left the rocket was fired from, and there was a man on a roof holding a rocket launcher.

Jasiah yelled to him, "Keslan!!" 

Keslan yelled back, "Jasiah!" Leslan dropped the rocket launcher, and picked up his rifle. He slid down to the edge of the roof, and dropped to ground; he started running to Jasiah and the woman cop. 

Keslan said to Jasiah, "Jasiah do you have any clue what's going on?" Keslan had dark blonde hair that was in the form of a pretty boy that flips his hair every 5 seconds, brown eyes, and had on a black shirt. Keslan and Jasiah has been friends since they left the juvenile detention center. Keslan enlisted in the army the same exact time Jasiah did. Trouble always found Keslan and Jasiah during school years, been in and out of camps and disciplinary schools, and getting into fights and getting involved with the wrong people who have no goals. They weren't blood, but they were brothers. 

Jasiah responded to Keslan, "Your guess is as good as mine. Look, I have to find my dad, and we have to get to the airport in an hour to head to base, 1400 regiment 60th will be waiting for us. Meet me there, patch her up, and get her to safety."

"Promise you'll be at the airport?!"

"While there's still missiles falling and gunfire sounding off, I promise. You just hold up your end of the bargain."

"Okay. Now move!"

Missiles still dropped from the sky and landed hard on the ground. Only 10% of the road wasn't destroyed, and citizens were running out of harm's way with a scream from their mouths. While Jasiah was running up the road, he yelled to the civilians who were also running, "Go! Go! Go! Get out of here!"

Mercenaries were parachuting down from the sky, while shooting down below. Jasiah aimed up, and began shooting at the fallin mercs. He killed four of them as they fell drastically to the ground. Four missiles sped over Jasiah's head and they all hit a transfer truck, blowing it in the air. Jasiah rolled out the way as pieces from the truck hit the ground. Keslan and the woman cop were still running down the street opposite of Jasiah. Jasiah kept running, and saw eleven cops standing side by side staring ahead of them. There were at least twenty mercenaries standing side by side ahead of them, armed and bloodthirsty. Jasiah stood beside one of the veteran cops, and said, "What's going on?"

"Armageddon. Mind helping us?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"If you cover me. My dad's house is just right there. But these guys are blocking my way."

"Surprised that house is still intact."

"Me too. Something is not right. Seems like the missiles are manually guided."

"From a device perhaps?"

"Goodness gracious, I guess, I don't know just help me get across," Jasiah said, running forward while shooting at the mercs. The other cops charged with him and began shooting. The mercenaries shot back and they all charged towards the cops and Jasiah; both sides charging towards each other. They got closer and closer, feet driving against the road. Bullets and gunfire was traded back and forth. Jasiah once again gave shots to the enemy, the mercs shot back. Two missiles hit the road away from the cops, and a car blew up high in the sky. All over the city, missiles continued to fall everywhere. 23,000 wounded, 34,000 dead. The mercs and the cops collided and began fighting and shooting each other. Jasiah smacked a merc in the face with his gun, turned around and shot down a bad guy. It was an all out war. Cops and mercs were smacking, punching, shooting, and tossing each other everywhere. Jasiah jumped over a car and kicked an enemy in the face, then a mercenary swings a fist at him, he ducks, punches the bad guy in the face, grabs the side of his head with one hand, then bashes it against the car window. 

On the news, the woman reporter said on live t.v, "Texas as we know it, has fallen. Over 50,000 dead and over 40,000 wounded. The missiles seem to be from the sky, approximately 347 missiles have hit Texas in the last 25 minutes, and no intel reports where these missiles are actually coming from. Sources are saying to find underground shelter ...or run. May God have mercy upon us, and bring an end to whoever is causing this terror."

Jasiah slid behind cover, behind a destroyed car, sat up and started shooting at mercs on the roofs of houses. The mercs shot back, and Jasiah bent down fast back into cover as bullets smacked around him. He took a deep breath, stood up and released the last of his bullets into the chest of an enemy. He tossed his rifle away and ran up the road as missiles still hit the concrete and dirt. He jumped over dead bodies, almost reaching the house. He was in the front yard of the house, ran to the door, then crashed into it with his shoulder. The door busted down and he looked into the eyes of two men. Mark was on the floor with his hands tied behind his back, and a man was pointing a gun at his head. It was Austin Shaw. Shaw had grayish brown hair, light brown eyes, and was about 55 years old.

Shaw said to Jasiah, "17 dash 30 niner, delta echo 2, 2. Caution 1, black hawk has been killed."

Out of nowhere, Jasiah fell on his knees as his head was ringing and the memories from his childhood began reappearing. 

Jasiah said to Shaw, "Let ...hi-him… go."

"Remember IVY?"

"Don't."

"Seeing you managed to make it up here without a bullet hole in your body I'd say that training is paying off."

"What do you want?"

"A new recruit. You see the economy is full of drug dealers, killers, assassins, billionaires, rebels, tyrants, patriots, governmental people, and terrorists. Which category do you fall in?"

"Let my dad leave, it has nothing to do with him."

"Oh it has everything to do with him. Patriotism is only declared within sacrifice. If no promises are kept, no feelings would be hurt; that's the type of world we live in. Where people can racketeer off a hotdog stand and make millions just for protecting some cold freezer food. Your dad Mark here, claims he's a patriot. I don't see not an ounce of patriot in him. He's not ready to put a decapitated world into a series of stitches and blood without the use of a bandaid. Jasiah, join me, or you father dies. Choice is yours."

Mark looked at Jasiah and said, "Go son, get to safety….it's finished here."

Jasiah responded, "No! No...Shaw, please."

Shaw replied, "Jasiah. All you have to do, is rig the military planes waiting for you and your friend Keslan at the airport."

"I can't do that Shaw. You know I can't!"

"Yes you can. You were in the ivy program when you were 7 years old. They taught you how to survive."

"That was 12 years ago."

"Your mother is exceptionally smart. She placed you in that program to help you live, love, defend, and attack."

"Where is she?!!" 

"Oh I don't know. I haven't seen her in 2 days. But if you want to see your mother again, you'll do as I say, I can take you to her."

Mark saw the curious look on Jasiah's face and said,"Jasiah no, He may be right but don't do this. Do what's right!"

Shaw looked at Mark and said, "Shut up!" Still pointing the gun at his head.

Jasiah said to Shaw, "Put the gun down... and we can talk."

"I don't think so. I came, so someone has to die."

Keslan busts through the back door and points his assault rifle at Shaw. 

Keslan said, "How ya like these odds?"

Shaw replied, "Put the gun down or Mark dies."

Keslan said to Jasiah, "Jasiah I can't. I just can't do it."

Shaw said to Jasiah, "It's on you Jasiah. Make the right choice kid. Teenagers these days with a gun and don't know what to do with it."

Jasiah and Mark locked eyes, and Jasiah nodded. Missiles were still dropping everywhere outside and gunshots burned the air. 

Jasiah said to Shaw, "What's going on here?"

"You think this is my doing? Bombing a bunch of civilians and killing thousands of people? If that was your guess, then your right."

"Why do this?"

"It's called patriotism and evolution. Not everybody is from Harvard or Ivy League to know that. What I do is for a reason, and for a reason a bullet is met, the needs of the century is at hand. I guess you don't watch the news, but this is already declared by the president, that this is World War 3."

Jasiah's face looked lifeless. Outside the house downtown, military choppers were shooting down at the mercenaries and it's tanks. Enemy tanks shot up towards the choppers as well, Texas was a warzone.

Shaw said to Jasiah, "Your a smart kid that makes dumb decisions. Been in and out of juvie since the age of 13. Twenty seven total times. Been in hundreds of fights and recently just got out of jail and your only 19 years old."

"So what? I don't care, no one owns me. I make my own decisions, the way I see that makes sorta kinda good sense in my mind."

"Why risk your life for the nation? Better yet the world? The man who puts a stop to this war saves the world, but he who fails to deliver this world, hands it over to evil."

Keslan said to Mark, "Mark, get up."

Shaw said, "Uh uh. Don't move. Or you'll die."

Shaw grunted and shot at Keslan with his pistol. Keslan ducked and moved behind a counter for cover as Shaws bullets smashed the cups. Jasiah charged at Shaw, but Shaw pointed his gun at Mark and shot him. Mark was hit in the left side of his chest, and he laid out on the floor. Jasiah turned his attention to Mark and slid to him to take care of him. Shaw was still shooting at Keslan, and Keslan was keeping his head down. More mercenaries entered the house and began shooting, Jasiah grabbed his dad by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into another room. Jasiah closes the door and puts his hand on Mark's chest, which was drawing out tons of blood. Keslan was behind the kitchen counter reloading his rifle, he yelled, "Let's talk about this!" The mercs were still shooting, Keslan was crawling through the kitchen floor still behind cover. He saw a knife on the floor, and started crawling to it. He laid his rifle beside him, grabbed the knife, stood up and tossed it inside a fire extinguisher that laid on the floor beside Shaw. The smoke inside it bursted out everywhere and the whole room was unseeable. Keslan bent back down, picked up his rifle, aimed at the bad guys, and started shooting. Jasiah had tears running down his eyes as he gripped his father's dying hands.

Jasiah said to Mark, "Dad...dad I'm sorry, for everything. Please don't - please don't leave."

Mark replied, "I know this is your first time seeing someone go son, but whatever you do, please don't forget God. Stay in the word, trust him, obey him, love him, and you will win because God is already victorious. I did my very best to take care of you, sure we had our bad times but we are always a family and I love you. When you see your mother…. tell her I said I love her. And about that girl Leah that you like, make your move. I love you son…" Mark breathed his last breath, and his head tilted to the side. With his eyes open and his mouth halfway closed, he was gone. Jasiah felt Mark's hand loosened like string, Jasiah gripped Mark's hand once more, and laid it down on the floor. Jasiah wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up. He stood there for a couple of seconds, and turned around to the doors. Shaw put his two fingers to his ear and spoke saying, "Blow it." Suddenly there was a shake in the ground, and an Alarm buzzed throughout the city. Shaw and his men ran out the house just in that moment. Jasiah opened the door and ran over to Keslan and sat beside him behind the counter.

Jasiah said, "He's gone."

"Its my fault man. I'm sorry."

"No it's not. I know Shaw, he was going to kill him anyway."

"So what's the plan?"

"We gotta get in contact with someone on command, and also get to the helipad which I was obviously going to do."

"How? The ground's still shaking and it's a freakin war zone out there."

The ground shook more, and there was a large explosion in the sky. Brown and red dust raced throughout Texas, and planes were automatically crashing from the impact. Jasiah and Keslan got to their feet and began running towards the door and out of the house.

Jasiah yelled, "He set off a nuke!"

Keslan yelled back, "We gotta go, now!"

The ground outside was splitting, and houses were crumbling along with the trees. Jasiah and Keslan was running up the road, dodging the incoming missiles. While they were running, bullets raced their way from mercenaries. Jasiah and Keslan got to cover behind a flipped over car.

Keslan yelled, "I didn't sign up for this!"

Jasiah replied, "Yes you did!"

Jasiah turned, aimed, and fired. Mercenaries got to cover as well, and shot back. Bullets were being traded back and forth and banging off car doors. Keslan stood up and started shooting, killing an enemy. Keslan ducked back down into cover reloading his gun. Jasiah sat his rifle down and took his coat off. He had on a white shirt, but it was dirty from the blood and dirt he encountered. Jasiah picked his gun back up, tapped Keslan on the shoulder, and they both stood up and ran towards the mercenaries. Channel News helicopters were high in the sky reporting these events taking place in the city. The woman reporter in the helicopter reported, "It has been a catastrophic war here in Austin, just moments ago, a nuke was set off in the city, and the ground has become like fallen dominoes, missiles are still falling from the sky, and casualties are rising!"

Jasiah and Keslan were both taking cover behind a truck. Keslan saw the news helicopter in the sky and said to  Jasiah, "They must hate their life."

Jasiah replied, "Let's just focus on getting to the helipad! Come on!" Jasiah and Keslan stood up and started shooting together. The mercenaries sprayed bullets back with their bullets, bullets smacked everywhere including the ground and houses and windows and cars. Keslan ran forward and slid behind a blue steel dumpster. Jasiah runs forward as well and keeps shooting. The mercenaries took cover, and reloaded their guns, Keslan did the same. At the helipad, there were 7 choppers waiting on Keslan and Jasiah. Jasiah and Keslan were running up the street, while the ground was cracking and buildings and houses were falling over. 

Keslan yelled, "Stay together!!" 

They both dropped their guns because of the ground cracking apart. Jasiah spotted a car and they both ran to it. They made it to the car, Jasiah opened the door and hopped in. Keslan hopped in also while Jasiah was hot wiring the car. The engine started up, Jasiah sat up in the seat, pressed his foot on the gas and they went forward. The car took off, and it started swerving uncontrollably because of the missiles pile driving the road and ground. 

Keslan yelled again saying, "Go! Go! Go!"

Jasiah yelled back, "I'm trying!" Jasiah continued to drive, dodging bullets and missiles, and punching through warzones and fallen trees. Jasiah was going at least 104 miles an hour, he didn't seem to care, he was just trying to figure out if the helipad was destroyed or not. Above in the sky, an enemy fighter jet was smoking and was falling down towards a house and crashed into it, blowing the house into pieces of flames and smoke. Jasiah's phone started to ring, and he ignored it for a few seconds, then eventually answered the phone a few seconds later.

Jasiah answered, "Who's this?"

The woman on the other side of the phone said, "This is Sergeant Rachelle looking for a Jasiah King and Keslan Burke."

"I'm Jasiah King, and uh Keslan is with me."

"Okay, here's what I need you guys to do because we are running out of time and losing hundreds of men down here. Find a radio so we can easily communicate. It's getting dark out here, and what we need is for you and Keslan to jam the communications of the enemy in the lofty building a few minutes away form your current position, do that, then head to the airport. Good luck, Rachelle out."

Keslan looked at Jasiah and asked, "So..what did she say?"

"Unfortunately, we have to go to a lofty building and jam the enemies comms. Then we head to the airport instead of the helipad."

"Why didn't she just get some other men to do it?"

"I have no clue. She's a weirdo dude."

"Okay look, how much ammo you got?"

"Not enough. You?"

"Seven rounds left. You have any clue where your going?"

"Yessir."

"WATCH OUT!" Keslan yelled as a missile was heading straight for their vehicle. Jasiah panicked and turned the wheel to the right, dodging the missile. The missile hit the ground, bursting road pieces in the air. 

Colonel Rachelle got back on the radio and said to Jasiah, "Your gonna link up with Private Leah Price, apparently she's in the area visiting family. We've contacted her and she will meet you guys at the Garrison Harris Museum on North Avenue. She's waiting, Rachelle out."

Jasiah looked at Keslan and said, "Leah's here."

"I know I heard."

"I thought she'd be somewhere else."

"I thought you was dead before I saw you at your house. Now were both shook."

"Any idea on what's going on?"

"Terrorist attack. Bomb shell eleven can't hold on long enough."

"Bomb shell eleven?"

"Suicide Squad. Duh."

"Okay. Um, it's bout dark out here. We gotta hurry, we're almost at the museum."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"Since you trusted anyone."

"Ha. I trust you."

"Take a right up here, and the museum will be at the corner of the street. E.T.A seven minutes tops to our destination."

Jasiah turned the car to the right, and continued driving on the road.

The sky was completely dark, and gunfire and explosions were still making a racket throughout Texas. There wasn't a place where there wasn't violence in that area. At the Museum, Leah Price was strolling the hallways holding her assault rifle. She had dark brown hair, and brown eyes. She was wearing a black bullet proof vest over a white tank top which was dirty all over; she also had black combat pants on with combat boots. Yeah she went rogue. Leah still walked down the hallways of the museum, and there was nothing but a few dead bodies laying around and artifacts broken into pieces. Leah inspected the area, and bent down beside an artifact. The artifact was dark brown, and it was circular with four leaves grinning out of it. She picked it up and started looking at it closely. It had wires on the back of it, all white and black wires formed like a bow.

"Whoa," She said to herself. Suddenly there was a few voices in the distance at the other entrance of the museum. She quickly turned her face in the direction of the Russian accents. It was about five Russian mercenaries, dressed the same as the Texas invaders. 

There were talking about something called "Galzer"; Leah listeed into their conversation, and figured they were talking about what she had in her hand. Before they could spot her, she was still holding the artifact and left that area and headed towards another part of the museum.

One of the mercenaries said to the other in their accent, "Are you sure it's here?"

"Of course its here, Shaw would never lie to us. But I don't trust Volk."

"Think anyone's here?"

"Don't be an idiot aye? You think someone is still gonna be shacked up somewhere after they witnessed armageddon?"

"Ah what could you know?"

"Where did Shaw say the artifact was?"

"Near the Plutonium Platex, over there," The Mercenary pointed. The enemy soldiers walked over the Plutonium Platex area, and digged around, kicking the lifeless bodies out the way, and throwing objects out of their way. Leah watched them from a distance, holding the artifact in her hand, and her rifle in the other. 

One of the mercs said, "It's not here."

Another merc answered him saying, "But Volk said he had video surveillance of the place. Tell him."

The Merc pulled out his walkie talkie, put his mouth to it, and said, "Aye Volk."

Volk responded, "Did you find it?"

"It's….It's not here. I thought you had eyes on this place during this raid?"

"Wait hold up, I'm gonna go back and check the feed. I'm not sitting here staring at this screen this whole time."

At an unknown location, Volk with his blonde short hair and shave and glasses, and chubby body looked at the monitor, and started reviewing the camera feed for the museum. He looked and looked, until he found when Leah was looking through the items and taking the artifact. 

Volk got back on the walkie talkie and said, "It appears that we have a minor problem. There's a girl in the museum. She left that area seconds before you guys even walked into the building. Find her. She couldn't have gone far."

"Confirmed, were looking now."

The soldiers gripped their guns and started searching the area. Leah, panicking, moved to a different location, looking for a blind spot. She figured the camera's were watching her every move. That's one of the first things they tought the newbies in the armed forces: "Always suspect someone is watching you in the day of war, good or bad, be attentive to engagement." Leah turned into another hallway quietly, she saw the mercs from behind a plant, one of the leaders were ordering some of his men to guard all the exits. Leah thought, "The only way I'm gonna get outta here is if I kill them." Leah took a deep breath, placed the artifact safely on the ground, hiding it, and starting moving away from it. The Mercs back was turned, and she started running towards them. She started shooting, killing two of them. The other three mercs shot at her, and she dove behind a bronze table, for cover. Bullets smacked off the bronze table, and Leah laid her rifle on the ground and pulled out her knife. The mercenaries ran toward her position, but she wasn't there. They looked around confused, until a knife flew into one of the bad guys back. He yelled in pain, turned around, and saw no one. The other two mercs started shooting randomly, making glass shatter cluelessly. They stopped shooting, and was turning their heads around.

"Find her," one of the bad guys said. 

Leah started shooting at them, killing two of them while the other was shooting at her back. She moved to the right, walking and shooting at the same time. The bad guy got behind a wall, blinked a few times, turned and aimed at Leah, and fired. Leah rolled on the ground dodging the bullets. She sat up and shot him down. She stood up breathing heavily, as she was walking back to where she put the artifact. While she was walking, a mercenary ran towards her from the side and tackled her to the ground as her rifle slid across the floor. He got on top of her and tried to punch her, she caught his fist, and kicked him off of her. She rolled over and got on her feet, and the enemy did as well. He began swinging at her, she dodged them all. She punched the man in the face, then the stomach. The man puts his hands around her throat and pins her against the wall. She struggles to get loose as she begins losing her air fast. She kicks her legs, but the enemy doesn't budge. Suddenly, Jasiah comes out of nowhere and hits the enemy merc in the head with his rifle. He falls to the ground, and holds his bleeding head. Jasiah pulls out his pistol, aims at the bad guy, and shoots four bullets into the enemies chest. Leah looked at Jasiah and said, "Thanks."

Jasiah replies, "No- no problem. No problem at all."

Keslan shoves Jasiah a little bit and whispers, "Bro, make your move she totally digs you."

Jasiah gives an awkward laugh and asks Leah, "Do you know what's going on?"

"I wish. I just saw armed men fall from the sky and kill innocent people. I wanna know who these people are and who they work for."

"They work for Shaw."

"How do you know?"

"He...He came into my house, me and my dad was in there. He killed my dad in cold blood. All these men are behind him. Every last one of them."

"So Shaws no where to be found and we're stuck here surrounded by trained killers."

"We have to cut off their communication."

"Yeah but there's a problem. Rachelle thought we could take down their whole communications by shooting down one little satellite tower. They have one their using in New York. The tower in New York is providing communications for here."

"Their gonna attack new york… "

"Exactly."

Keslan said, "Wait how did you figure out-"

Leah interrupted, "How their using communications from New York? I over heard them talking."

"Makes sense."

Rachelle on the radio said, "Leah what's your status?"

Leah replied, "Jasiah and Keslan are with me. I ran into a little trouble in the museum but it's all good now. These mercs...were looking for the Galzar device."

"Destroy it."

"Wait hold on what's it do?""

"Destroy it. That's an order."

Leah looks at Jasiah and nods her head in the direction of the so called "artifact".  Jasiah nodded and started to walk over there. He gets there, picks up the device laid it in front of his feet, and crushed it into pieces with his right foot. 

Leah said to Rachelle, "There it's destroyed. Look the tower their communicating off of isn't the one here. Cause that's one already been bombed. They're using the one in New York. Which means their planning an attack."

"Okay. Get to the Hanes Hotel a couple blocks north of you. Get to the roof, we'll pick you guys up from there, we need to gear up for New York. And be advised theres high impact from our radars and sensitive activity from the waters, take caution there might be an earthquake or storm. Rachelle out."

Jasiah said to Leah, "How do we know that building isn't already crawling with hostiles?"

"How do we don't know is the question."

"Earthquake...It felt like an earthquake the moment Shaw was in my face."

"You hear that?" 

"What?"

"The missiles...they stopped."

"Yeah but the shooting is still not being quiet. We have to move now if we wanna live."

Keslan responds to Jasiah, "That sounded extra corny. Lead the way. Or should we let Leah take lead?"

Leah said,"We're all rookies. Let's just go."

"How far of a walk is it?"

"About 30 minutes. We'll make it."

"In time or alive?"

"Both. If we just stick together."

Jasiah, Leah, and Keslan begin to walk out the museum and out a door leading outside. They walked on the destroyed road, trying not to fall into any "road holes." 

Jasiah said to Leah, "So Leah, what made you join the forces?

"Life. You?"

"Ah. Had no choice in where I was headed. It was either the grave or another shot at living. I chose the latter."

"Smart guy huh?"

"Ha. I wouldn't say all that but I had alot of therapy."

"You think it helped?"

"What? The therapy? No. It just made me worse."

"Worse as in?"

"Nothing."

"No tell me."

"That story is suitable only at dinner. Just me and you."

Leah chuckled, as Keslan smiled.

Leah looked ahead, pointed, and said, "Guys look."

Jasiah and Keslan looked where Leah was pointing, and there was a fifteen foot tall wave of waters rushing through the area. Bummer.

Jasiah said, "Tsunami. The missiles must've hit the dam."

Keslan replied, "We gotta get to high ground."

A bullet smacked against the ground near Jasiah, and there was eight mercenaries running and shooting. Jasiah, Leah, and Keslan took cover behind a car and stayed there as the bullets banged around them. Leah and Jasiah sat up together, and started shooting at bad guys. Gunfire was being traded back and forth, Keslan moved from behind the car to look and spot higher ground. 

Keslan yelled, "There! Let's go!"

Jasiah, Leah, and Keslan got up and began running to the building as they were shooting at hostiles at the same time, taking them down. The waves of rushing water were coming in fast, and Jasiah and Leah and Keslan were already near the building. Fire was rushing through the area, a tall building to the west of them began to screech as it was falling over. The whole building was falling over towards the ground.

Leah yelled, "Hurry inside! Go go!"

It crashed to the ground, making a loud BANG all throughout Texas. Jasiah and Leah kicked open the front doors of the building down together. They run in, and mercenaries were already in the building. Jasiah and Leah and Keslan release bullets at them, the whole room was getting punched by bullets. Keslan shut the front doors and watched the water waves rise. The floor was filling with water, so they had to hurry to the roof. Mercenaries filled the building, and the only way out was the roof. They were on the first floor, and a few mercs were on that floor, shooting at Jasiah and his team. Jasiah got to cover behind a desk, Leah took cover behind a table, and Keslan took cover behind a wall. The mercs were shooting up the whole dark room, Jasiah kept his head down. He noticed the waters were growing a little higher in the room.

Jasiah yelled, "Push through! We only got one shot at this!" Jasiah stood up, aimed, and started firing. Killing two bad guys before moving up some. The only lights that filled the room was the gunfire. Leah snuck through the water in the room, while she was shooting at her marked targets. Mercs were shooting while retreating, trying to run up the stairs. Keslan got under water, avoiding the bullets that were hurling his way. 

Leah yelled, "Their retreating. It's took dark in here they won't be able to see us."

Jasiah replied,"They'll just be shooting out of impulse like their doing on every floor. But still, we can't walk past them without killing a few. Alright, stick together or go separate; whichever does best for you, do it as long as it keeps you alive and to the roof. Understood? Gonna be easy to get lost in here, use the lights from the gunfire to make it to the steps. Go!" 

The first floor was completely filled with water, six more floors to go. Jasiah, Keslan, and Leah ran up the steps, peddling each foot on each step, and made it to the top. The mercs in the room were shooting at each other and fighting , not knowing who is who. It was like that on every floor of the building. The ground started shaking, and the building rumbled. On the second floor, everyone was shooting at each other, Jasiah and Leah moved through it, shooting down the confused  bad guys who were in their way. Keslan kicked an enemy into a wall, turned around and shot down a few men. The tsunami grew larger at twenty four feet, waters throughout Texas raced, destroying everything. Jasiah was kicked into a room as he fell on the floor. He coughed as the gunfire in the other rooms were louder than ever. Leah starred running up some steps while Kelsan was on top of a bad guy punching him in the face multiple times. Jasiah gets up, and starts running to the staircase. Buildings outside were falling over to the ground or blowing up, planes and jets in the sky were battling, shooting missiles at each other while getting shot down. Jasiah slides behind a printer as bullets were kicking everywhere. The Mercs saw him, and kept shooting. The water in the building was rising quickly, they had little time left before they became overrun. 

Jasiah yelled, "Forget about these guys! We gotta hurry!" Jasiah got from behind the printer, and moved forward along with Leah and Keslan. 

The extraction plane was hovering above the building they were in, with the back entrance open so they can just hop in. The plane was big enough to fit twenty people in there, even if their standing up. Colonel Rachelle was in that plane, standing at the back, looking down at the horrific sight. Rachelle got on the radio to contact Jasiah and said, "Jasiah, where are you guys?"

A few seconds later, Jasiah responded yelling, "Ugh! There's water filling this whole building while there's targets scattered throughout here also! Where are you guys?!"

"We're here, on the roof. Waiting for you. We already have the back hatch open so all you gotta do is jump in. Is your team intact?"

"We're all here! Get ready, were about to come out on the roof!"

Rachelle looked at the pilot and yelled, "Lower down on the roof! Now!"

The pilot responded, "Roger that, descending."

The plane started to descend, aiming it's back side towards the roof so the hatch will be visible. Jasiah, Leah, and Keslan bust through a door and finally reached the roof as water was right behind them. The whole building was tilting over, ready to fall to the ground like the other ones. Jasiah, Leah, and Keslan run to the plane as fast as they could; the whole the building was falling, and they jumped. Jasiah and Keslan got both feet in the plane, but Leah only grabbed the ledge of the plane ramp and she was hanging on for dear life. Jasiah turned around fast and went to help her. She fell off the ledge of the ramp but Jasiah grabbed her arm quickly, saving her life. 

Jasiah yelled to her, "Don't let go I got you!" Leah hung onto Jasiah tight, Jasiah grunted and used all his strength to pull her into the plane. He pulled her inside and she fell on top of him and they were both laying down on the floor. She still laid on top of him and smiled at him, Jasiah grinned back at her. She rolled off of him and they both started to stand up. Keslan and Rachelle were sitting in the seats smiling at Jasiah. Jasiah already knew what they were thinking and laughed softly and said, "Shut up."

The plane began to fly away from the devastation, getting out of harm's way. The building finally crashed to the ground, causing dust and smoke to burst into the sky and screech into devastation. In the plane, Jasiah looked down at the disaster. He was bloody and dirty, needing a change of clothes. Leah was sitting in one of the chairs catching her breath, and Keslan looked like he was about to puke on one knee. Jasiah stood up and sat in a chair. Rachelle walked over to him and sat beside him.

Rachelle said to Jasiah, "I knew your dad."

"I barely know you. How do you know him?"

"When he rescued his wife from a well known terrorist, I was with her. I was only a little girl back then. Your mother wasn't the only person Mark saved that day."

"He's gone now."

"Your buddy Keslan told us he was. My condolences."

"Not your fault. Not anyone's fault but Shaw's. He came to my house and shot Mark in cold blood. Keslan shot Shaw in the shoulder but he lived and escaped. He could be long gone now, the impact of the missiles and destruction got worse later on in the day."

"Your saying you think he's still alive?"

"I don't think, I know. Something had to have went down with my dad and Shaw. I know my dad was computer tech, but what could Shaw want to have any conflict with someone like that for?"

"Mark was tech, in the forces. Something must've happened when he served. Look, we got word that Shaw and Haines are creating a tech weapon."

"President Mason wants you there. He knew Mark as well. Mark was a hero."

"Who are the informants?"

"Rebel reporters Cindy Lockheart and Cage Ryley."

"I heard of them. What they a news crew or something?"

"No more than that. They have us convinced that they know more about Shaws operation than anybody. And they know the other people involved in this."

"Sounds neat."

"Hey, you handled yourself well out there. You and your team."

"Did what I could in the first stages of World War 3."

"Get some rest," Rachelle said as she stood up and walked to the cockpit. 

Keslan looked at Jasiah and said, "Dude, you have a little bit of blood on your face."

"Thanks."

"And some dirt."

"Thanks for the beauty tip."

Leah said to Jasiah, "Not bad out there."

Jasiah responded, "Not so bad yourself. I gotta feeling this isn't gonna be the last near death experience."

"Your right."

Keslan said to Rachelle, "Rachelle where we headed?"

"For now, before we reach base, we're gonna drop you and Leah off at a safehouse near the Pentagon. Me and your friend Jasiah have some business to take care of at the Pentagon anyway. Seeing if we can put an end to this war before it gets out of hand again like it did today."

"How long until we get there?"

"About 4 hours or 5. Get some rest, for now."

"That's a good idea. I think I might just do that," Keslan said leaning back in the seat of his chair and closed his eyes. 

An hour later, Jasiah was trying to sleep but the flashbacks of Texas haunted him.  He sought no use of trying to sleep, so he opened his eyes. He saw Keslan still sleep snoring, Rachelle sleeping across chairs, but Leah was awake looking at a photo.

Jasiah said to her, "Can't sleep?"

She looked at him, then replied, "Nope. Obviously I can see you cant."

"Not at all. You doing okay?"

Leah stood up from the seat, walked over to Jasiah, and sat beside him and gave him the picture she was looking at. Jasiah inspected the picture for a few seconds. 

Jasiah said, "Who's this?"

"My mother. We took that picture together right before the attack. She said she wanted something to remember me by while I'm out fighting."

"She…. didn't make it out, did she?"

"....No. She was killed. It was... horrific. My mom would sit up there and tell me about Jesus and God and stuff and I'm trying to figure out why he took my mother from me."

"I think that too. I would question my Christianity. Its gotta be more than just 'it's apart of life'. I'm scared Leah."

"Of what?"

"Everything. Before I joined the forces, I robbed people. I hurt people. I lied to the people I loved. I've been shot at, betrayed so many times and everytime I work hard for something I feel like it was in vain. The army rangers was the only outlet I went to."

"What do you really want Jasiah?"

"Freedom. To feel accepted. To feel like I'm worth something to someone. You?"

"Revenge. Shaw must die along with all the other bad people involved in this war."

"Not if I get to him first," Jasiah said as Leah laughed. 

Leah said, "So how long you known Keslan?"

"Since we were kids. We're not blood, but we're brothers. We joined the force together, seeking the same thing."

"Aww how cute."

"Haha shut up," Jasiah grinned.

"Got any kids?"

"I'm nineteen, trust me I've made alot of dumb choices but having early babies isn't one of them. I'm scared of children too."

"Your such a wuss."

"Noooo. Your the wuss."

"Just cause were the same age doesn't mean-"

"We both can go in the Pentagon?"

"Oh so your rubbing it in my face now?"

"You catch on way too fast. Better hope I don't mention your treacherous words to the President."

"Better hope I don't accidently shoot you in the middle of war."

"Haha your kidding...right? I mean...I was definitely kidding...Leah."

"Calm down it was a joke. I think."

"Ha, I'm starting to question your mentality and thought process. So, how you think the team is gonna be?"

"Well, we barely even met our squadron, so I would say they would be nonchalant."

"Nervous maybe?"

"That's overrated."

"Ah."

 "Where did you learn to shoot?"

"Had many experiences with weapons, and my dad taught me everything I needed to know. Apparently he's a war hero. And the President knew him, and that's why he wants me at the Pentagon."

"And what about your mother?"

"She left. She's just gone. I don't know where she is, maybe this war will help me find her."

"You'll find her."

"Eh."

"Get some sleep. Well at least try rookie."

"Yeah why do you keep calling me a rookie and you're a rookie as well?"

"Because I took ballet."

"That doesn't mean anything, Michael Jordan took ballet and now he's retired."

"Go to sleep kid."

"Ah whatever."