Domination (A C.H.A.O.S. Novel) - By Jon Lewis Page 0,67

ran for Colt, but it was too late. He took his backpack and threw it over the chasm, while at the same time Danielle hit the Enter button on the portal cube.

“What are you waiting for?” Colt felt the claws of a Thule rake across his back as he watched Danielle jump through the portal. The Thule raised its hand to strike again, but Colt ducked and caught it in the nerve cluster just below its jaw.

Oz went through the portal next, but when Colt turned he saw Rhane getting attacked by one of Koenig’s soldiers. “Go!” Rhane shouted. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Colt hesitated, then turned and ran just as the first of the explosions erupted. There was another and another. The ceiling cracked overhead and massive chunks of cement fell, shattering as they hit the ground.

“Come on!” Colt shouted.

He jumped toward the portal, and as he turned one last time he watched Rhane break free and try to follow, only to be overwhelmed by the Defense Corps soldiers. There was another explosion, followed by a flash of light. Colt was thrown through the air, and the last thing he remembered before he blacked out was that he hit something hard.

: :

CHAPTER 48 : :

It was over.

At least that’s what the president said during his State of the Union address. Koenig was dead and the Defense Corps all but destroyed, but that didn’t mean it was over—not completely, anyway. Still, the Intergalactic Defense Academy decided to give their cadets a monthlong sabbatical, and Grandpa decided to treat the surviving members of Phantom Squad to a week on the beach in San Diego.

Colt sat on his surfboard a hundred yards from shore while Lily sat next to him, the water calm as the sun rose behind them. He desperately wanted to enjoy the moment. He should have been happy. He had not only accomplished the mission, but he was back home with the girl of his dreams. And yet in the stillness of the morning his thoughts continued to drift to his parents. Captain Starling. Pierce. So many losses. So much heartache.

“What are you thinking about?” Lily asked.

Colt smiled. “Did you know that the last time I was out here I got attacked by a sea monster?”

“Are you trying to freak me out?”

“I thought it was seaweed or something, but before I knew what was happening a tentacle wrapped around my ankle and pulled me under. But don’t worry. I won’t let it get you.” He looked over at Lily as she sat on her surfboard in a black wet suit with hot pink sleeves. She was beautiful, even without makeup. Her lips were full, her blue eyes even bluer against the water, and her long blond hair, wet from the sea spray, was swept back over her head.

“Sorry,” he said. “It’s just that it seems like a lifetime ago.”

“It was,” Lily said. “You were a different person then. So was I. But we’ve changed. The world has changed.”

“No kidding.” Colt looked toward the shore, where Glyph and Jonas were building a sand sculpture. It was eight in the morning on a weekday, but they were already drawing a crowd of onlookers as they crafted an incredibly lifelike dragon that looked like it was going to be the size of a fishing boat by the time they finished.

“I really like your friends,” she said, reaching out to take Colt’s hand.

“Yeah. They’re great.”

“And I’m sorry about what happened to Pierce.”

“Thanks,” Colt said.

“So now what?” Lily said. “I mean, you saved the world. Where do you go from here?”

“I don’t know,” Colt said. “The DAA still wants to put together a touring Phantom Flyer show.”

“Are you going to do it?”

“I’m not sure,” Colt said. “I mean, to be honest all I want to do right now is sleep, but I kind of feel like I owe it to Captain Starling. After all, it was his idea.”

“He was the flight instructor?”

“Yeah.” Colt closed his eyes as an image of Captain Starling dead in the tunnels flashed in his mind. “His nephews are Phantom Flyer fans, and I was thinking that since he didn’t have any kids of his own, I could try and get them a part in the show.”

“I always knew you were one of the good guys.”

“I guess.” Colt watched a pelican soar overhead. “You know, they’re talking about having musical acts too. I guess they reached out to Switchfoot and Casting Crowns.”

“Are you serious?”

“I told them the only way I’d