a safe return.
Trevor suspected that the mysterious Old Man might have something to do with it, but he would not answer any questions on the matter.
As for those people who had 'rode the ark,' they showed no signs of physical trauma and no impact from the lost time between vanishing and appearing.
Ashley reappeared pregnant with Trevor’s child, having conceived just prior to the commencement of hostilities. On May fifteenth of the following year she gave birth to Jorge Benjamin Stone.
During her absence-the year he spent with Nina-Trevor came to realize he never truly loved his fiancee. Yet he understood he had yet another role to play, the role of father. He could not abandon Ashley; he could not abandon his child.
And oh, what an exceptional child.
Trevor found out exactly how exceptional from an unexpected source, a previously unknown half-brother who trespassed into the mansion one scary evening.
No shock that night came as more horrific than the accusation Ashley’s pregnancy started Armageddon. In addition, his crazy half-brother said that Trevor's ability to communicate with dogs came from a unique combination of genes in his body. He also suggested that Jorgie held some secret-perhaps a key-to Armageddon.
Cursory medical exams revealed JB’s brain included far more neurotransmitters than the typical human. No one could even guess what that meant.
Trevor pulled his arm from Ashley’s shoulder to catch the front door their son flung open. They followed JB inside where phones rang, couriers shuffled through the halls, and the always-obedient K9 'Grenadiers' sat and lay at guard positions.
Ashley did not know about Nina. Those who did know were forbidden to speak of it.
When Ashley returned from her trip through time, she found her fiance a changed man. Instead of clumsy and misguided Richard, she met Trevor. Cold, distant, and focused. She did not need to know of Nina to know she no longer held his heart.
Nonetheless, in this new world she found a new role, too; the strong and quiet companion to the Emperor.
While they never married, they shared the same bed and sometimes shared their bodies. Even then-even in the midst of passion-they mainly felt alone.
As Trevor often told himself, there were worse fates. In a world that confined him to the prison of his mission, living with the beautiful Ashley was the least of his sorrows.
'Full council meeting today?' She asked as they passed what used to be a dining room but had long ago morphed into Lori Brewer’s office.
'No, just military. Dante and Eva are in Washington in front of Evan’s sub-committees.'
'You mean the Senate’s sub-committees.'
'That’s what I said, didn’t I?'
'Freudian slip. Well, enjoy your meeting,' Ashley gave him a peck on the cheek.
'Oh, I’m sure it will be a laugh a minute.'
– Several days each week the den changed from playroom to classroom for a half-dozen children of officers and administrators, including Catherine Brewer and Jorge Stone.
With a backpack slung over his shoulder, JB paused outside the door when he saw 'Reverend' Johnny, a stocky black man on his way to the military meeting in the basement.
'Greetings and salutations young Jorge,' Johnny boomed and grinned.
JB replied, 'Good morning Mister Reverend Johnny, sir.'
The sound of children chattering carried out from the makeshift classroom.
'Today is a school day? When I was your age, Saturday was a day for shenanigans.'
'Wow, that must have been a long, long time ago.'
'Why yes, Master Stone, it was most certainly a long time ago. Now you run along and mind your manners with your teacher.'
Jorge took one step toward the den but stopped. He turned to Johnny again with his eyes cast down and his head tilted, as if struggling with a thought.
'Do tell, JB, is there something else today?'
The young boy found the solution he sought. He told the Reverend, 'My father will need you. You can see things more clearly sometimes.'
'I do not comprehend your meaning, Master Stone.'
'You should be with my father when he goes. He’ll need you.'
'Goes? When your father goes where?'
Jorgie’s answer came nonchalant as if- duh — everyone knows what I am talking about.
'Away.'
JB walked into class leaving Reverend Johnny standing in the hallway, perplexed.
– Trevor convened his military council at the conference table in the basement. There sat General Jon Brewer; his wife, Lori, who was Chief Administrator; Omar Nehru; Omar’s wife, Anita, who served as 'Chief Analyst Hostile Information and Tracking'; Brett Stanton; Gordon Knox, Director of Intelligence; General Jerry Shepherd of Army Group Center; General Thomas Prescott of Army Group South and, of course, Reverend Johnny who held the position of 'Chief Analyst Hostile Biotechnology.'
Ironically, they waited for General Hoth, the last person anyone expected to be late.
Lori Brewer hung up a phone and reported, 'A shuttle from Army Group North landed on the pad upstairs. General Fink is making his way down here.'
'Fink?' Stone said. 'Where is Hoth?'
Lori shrugged. 'How the Hell am I supposed to know?'
Moments later Casey Fink descended the stairs into the basement. Jon Brewer intercepted him before he could reach the table and grilled him as to Hoth's disposition. Fink responded with a whisper in Jon's ear while handing him a note. A moment later Jon came to Trevor's side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
'Could I speak to you for a moment?'
Brewer led Trevor to a corner and carried on a hushed conversation. The others at the table shared concerned glances but otherwise waited.
After several minutes, the two men returned to the table but something was wrong with Trevor; his eyes glazed over and he sort of stumbled as he walked, almost zombie-like.
'Okay, um,' Stone coughed and started the meeting. Instead of making eye contact with the others as he always did, Trevor stared at his hands clasped in front of him on the table top. 'Let’s go around and get updates from everyone. Let's, um, Shep, let’s start with you.'
Instead of reporting, Shepherd said, 'Seems to me we should be waiting for Hoth, right?'
Jon answered for Trevor, 'He’s not coming. Casey here is standing in for Hoth today.'
'That's rather unusual, isn't it?' Shep did not really ask, he more demanded.
Trevor conceded, 'General Hoth did not want to leave his post at this time. He did not want to, um, leave because he has a group of missing soldiers out there.'
The room waited for more.
Trevor swallowed hard and finally looked up.
'The Dark Wolves failed to report in from a mission. They are considered M.I.A.'
Trevor turned his eyes to Shepherd. Nina was like a daughter to him. Trevor understood that Shep deserved an answer.
'Nina Forest is missing.'
– The runes emitted a vibration of energy, like static electricity filling the cavern. The nature of that energy-in fact everything about the runes-befuddled Omar, Reverend Johnny, and everyone else who tried to understand the strange objects.
Made of something resembling rock, the two jagged pillars stood six feet tall on a shared base, each crowned by a silver orb permanently stamped with the handprints of Jon Brewer.
Symbols were etched into the columns, seemingly placed randomly and resembling just about every form of alphabet Earth had ever known, yet remaining undecipherable.
