by Jon S. Lewis
“Maybe.” Grandpa McAlister’s eyes brimmed with tears. “War is a terrible thing. All those books . . . all the movies they’ve made. And now video games? They’ve tried to make it glamorous, but it’s not. We weren’t heroes, Colt. The boys who died over in Europe and the Pacific? They were the heroes. We were just lucky enough to survive. No, if you ask me, there are no winners when it comes to war, and there’s no glory in taking another life.”
As he turned to Colt, a single tear escaped, streaming down the stubble on his cheek. “The best you can do is pray that you’re fighting for a righteous cause, but it’ll change you. Once you’ve killed someone, you’ll never be the same.” He paused, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes before he blew his nose. “I fought so your folks . . . you and your brothers . . . for Dani and Oz . . . I fought so none of you ever had to . . . so this world would be safe from monsters like Koenig and his like . . . and here we’ve come full circle.”
Colt sat there, letting the words sink in. “Now what?” he finally asked.
Grandpa McAlister folded the handkerchief and stuffed it back into his pocket. “Senator Bishop called a few minutes ago. He wants you to transfer to CHAOS Military Academy as soon as you’re up to snuff.”
“But I just got here.”
“I know,” Grandpa said. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but we’re running out of time. The brass in Washington seem to think that you’re going to be the one to pull us out of this mess, and they won’t take no for an answer.”
“I still don’t get it,” Colt said as he eased back into the chair. “Why me?”
“We all have a calling, and as much as I hate to say it, this might be yours.”
“It’s not that I’m scared to die,” Colt said, trying to process his feelings. “It’s just that . . . I don’t know. I don’t want to leave you alone. Or maybe I don’t want to be alone. I guess I just want my old life back.”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” Grandpa McAlister said as more footage of strange aliens flashed on the television screen.
“I guess,” Colt said. “What about Oz?”
“He’s going with you.”
“But not Danielle?”
Grandpa McAlister sighed.
“I can’t leave without her,” Colt said. “Not now . . . not like this. What if they can’t remove the biochip?”
“CHAOS is bringing in a team of surgeons. They’re the best in the world at what they do, and that’s all we can ask for.” Grandpa McAlister reached over to touch Colt on the arm. “She’ll be fine.”
Colt hoped that his grandfather was right, but how could he be certain? For all they knew, Koenig could have ordered an explosive device implanted with the biochip. What if it detonated when someone tried to remove it? He closed his eyes. Exhaustion was making him paranoid.
“Look,” Colt said before yawning. “If they want me to go to the academy, they have to take Danielle, or I’m not going.”
“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way,” Grandpa McAlister said. “I know it’s not fair, son, but your country needs you . . . the entire planet needs you.”
Colt wasn’t sure that he was ready to save the world, much less pack his things and move again—at least not this soon. He knew he’d probably go away for college, but that was two years away. Then he remembered Lily, and how amazing it felt whenever she was near. She was—at least it seemed—the only person who could really understand what he was going through, and now he was supposed to leave her too?
“If I refuse?”
Grandpa McAlister offered a tired smile. “You won’t.”
READING GROUP GUIDE
Colt’s life was turned upside down when his parents were murdered. Has your life ever been turned upside down? What happened and how did you cope?
Change can be a painful experience. Colt had to leave his friends behind and transfer to a new school in a different state. Have you ever transferred to a new school? What was the biggest challenge? What was the greatest benefit?
When Colt first meets Lily, she has a boyfriend. When it comes to dating, do you believe that ‘all is fair in love and war,’ or should he have backed off?
Colt gets embarrassed when Lily sees his father’s Phantom Flyer Ring. What do you hide from people because you fear they’ll judge you? What is the worst thing that could happen if you would share it?
Grandpa McAlister was part of a special unit in World War II that was sent to assassinate Adolph Hitler. What interesting stories are there in your family history?
At Lily’s adoption party, Danielle cautions Colt it wasn’t wise for him to be alone with Lily because people will infer something happened even if nothing did. Do you stop to think about how your actions appear to other people?
Many people believe there is intelligent life on other planets. Do you? Why or why not?
In the book, Trident Biotech developed biochips that help regulate seizures and control Parkinson’s disease. There are robots that can record memories, flying motorcycles with wings that fold up, and people zipping through the sky in jetpacks. Do you think any of that will be possible in the near future? What is the most outlandish technology you can dream up? Do you think it will ever exist?
Colt wasn’t qualified to face down Aldrich Koenig and the Thule, but he was willing to risk his life to save Danielle. What do you think is more important when it comes to achieving the impossible: skill, experience, or a willingness to risk everything?
COLT’S NEXT
ADVENTURE IS BEYOND
YOUR IMAGINATION . . .
AND YOUR
CLEARANCE LEVEL
The next interplanetary threat to our world will
occur January 2012 with the release of the
second C.H.A.O.S. novel.
That’s all we can say for now. In fact, C.H.A.O.S.
won’t even allow us to reveal the title of the
next novel yet.
To gain clearance for insider information as soon as
it is declassified, visit ChaosNovels.com