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 do it is if you get to be in the act.”
“Don’t mess with me, Colt McAlister.”
“If you want it, you’re in.”
A wide smile broke across her face as she lunged and wrapped her arms around him. The momentum sent them both tumbling into the water. They laughed as they embraced, and the warmth of her lips against his cheek sent a tingling sensation down his spine.
“What about Oz and Danielle?” she asked, wrapping her arm around her surfboard.
Colt did the same. “Have you heard them sing?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Danielle would run the special effects, and Oz would be one of the Agents of CHAOS. Same goes for the rest of Phantom Squad.” Colt smiled. “Grandpa even agreed to tour with us. He said he won’t fly, but I have a feeling he might.”
“But what happens after that?” she asked. “I mean, the tour won’t last forever. Do you think they’re going to make you go back to the academy, or will you be able to go to college?”
“Grandpa says the president still wants me to become the Phantom Flyer full-time, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know if I’m cut out to be a superhero.”
“If anybody is, you are.” She poked the end of his nose with her finger, and he reached over and brushed the hair from her eyes.
“We’re not interrupting anything, are we?”
Colt turned to see Oz and Danielle paddling toward them on their surfboards.
“Not really,” Lily said. “We were just talking about the future.”
“So were we,” Oz said as Danielle rolled her eyes. “You know, you’re going to need an agent, McAlister. Someone to manage your endorsements and make sure you’re getting the big bucks for your appearance fees.”
“Let me guess,” Colt said. “You?”
“Why not?” Oz said. “I was thinking, the first thing we should do is make a video game.”
“Ridiculous, right?” Danielle said.
Colt shrugged. “I don’t know. I kinda like it.”
It was faint at first, but Colt could hear the sound of an engine. He looked up to see an XSR Interceptor speeding toward them.
“Friends of yours?” Oz asked.
“I don’t think so,” Colt said.
Oz looked over his shoulder. “There’s no way we can make it back to shore before they catch us.”
“Then we might as well find out what they want.” Colt pulled himself up on his surfboard and sat there waiting for the patrol vessel to approach. It was steel gray, and as it neared, the only marking Colt could see was an insignia that looked like a Thule skull and crossbones.
It didn’t take long before it pulled up next to them. There were two men on board, both wearing dark suits, tinted sunglasses, and white earpieces.
“My name is Agent Johnson,” the larger of the two said. “This is Agent McAndrew. We’re with the Department of Alien Affairs.”
“Yeah, we kind of figured that, what with the logo and everything,” Oz said.
Agent Johnson ignored him. “Director Montgomery expresses his deepest regret, as we understand you just arrived in San Diego last night, but I’m afraid we have need of your services.”
“What services?” Colt asked.
“We believe that a geneticist in Argentina is breeding Dog Men,” said Agent Johnson.
“No way,” Oz said, breaking into a wide smile.
“That’s supposed to be bad news, right?” Danielle said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Agent Johnson said.
“You’ll have to forgive him,” she said, patting Oz on the shoulder. “He’s not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.”
“Let me guess,” Colt said. “The DAA wants us to hunt them down?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“We’re in!” Oz said.
All eyes turned to Colt, who was staring at the water.
“Cadet McAlister?” Agent Johnson said.
Colt turned to the agent and smiled. “Yeah, we’re in.”
READING GROUP GUIDE
1. With Oz expelled from the CHAOS Military Academy, Colt feels more alone than ever. Do you have a best friend? Have the two of you ever been separated for an extended period of time? How did that make you feel?
2. Colt volunteers to sequester himself because he’s worried that he might hurt his friends. Have you ever had to sacrifice something that was important to you for the sake of someone else?
3. As Pierce taunts Jonas, dozens of cadets just stand there until Stacy and Colt intervene. Have you ever stood up to a bully on behalf of yourself or others?
4. Pierce acts like a jerk and yet Stacy defends him, insinuating that the pain in his life has caused him to act that way. Has anyone you’ve known experienced a depth of pain that could have changed their personality?
5. There’s a time when Colt isn’t sure about his feelings for Lily and Stacy, but in the end he picks Lily. Do you think it’s possible for sixteen-year-olds to be in love? Why or why not?
6. Jonas has a secret that he’s not willing to share with his new friends because he’s afraid that they’ll reject him if they know the truth.
7. Colt understood that there was a good chance that he wouldn’t survive his last mission. What cause would you die for?
8. Colt thinks that creating a traveling air show starring the Phantom Flyer will only create false hope. Is false hope better than no hope at all?
9. The Thule are defeated, but it’s only a matter of days before Colt is enlisted to fight another battle. Do you think that peace is attainable, or is life filled with one challenge after another?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s a rare thing to find someone who believes in you even when you lose faith in yourself . . .
Somewhere along the way I started listening to a distant voice that told me that I wasn’t a very good writer. At first I was able to ignore it, but the seeds of doubt took root. I started believing lies, like I didn’t belong. That I wasn’t worthy. And that I didn’t have a story worth telling.
I gave up on myself, but God brought people into my life who stood by me. I’d like to start by acknowledging them . . .
• Amanda Bostic, thank you for your patience and guidance. They have been a blessing in my life.
• Allen Arnold, you are a gentle shepherd and I appreciate all that you’ve done for me.
• Lee Hough, your prayers and your counsel helped bring calm in the storm.
• Kelly Lewis, you are a rock and the love of my life. Thank you for not giving up on me.
Thank you to my daughters, Bailey, Olivia, and Lauren, who fill my heart to overflowing every time I see your faces. Thank you to my parents, Brian Lewis and Annette Landgren, for the encouragement. Thank you to my in-laws (not a typo), Marlin and Shirley Broek, for the endless prayers. Thank you to the Crawford family for always believing in me. Thank you to Mike Reynolds for the same.
Thank you to Daisy Hutton and the entire Thomas Nelson Publishing team. It’s an amazing organization from top to bottom. I appreciate your faith in this series.
Thank you to LB Norton, who is simply amazing in every sense of the word. You are a blast to work with!
Thank you to the amazing artists who contributed to the CHAOS series: Danny Araya, Mike Dubisch, Phil Hester, Reza ilyasa, Kyle Latino, Enrique Rivera, George Sellas, and Hoi Mon Tham.
Thank you to my Arizona friends who have been an amazing support system over the years . . . Faith “The Book Babe” Hochhalter, Brandi Stewart, Melanie Callahan, Michelle Aron, Daanon DeCock, Rebecca Paulson, Shannon and Bill Bailey, Jim Blasingame, Lisa Schell, Donna Powers, Lisa Bowen, Tim Loge, John and Sarah Morris, Joe and Freddie Boudrie, Bobbi Ackerman-Hedberg, Karen Knight, Barb Mackey, Denise Gary, Jean Beaird, Fran Bard, Mary Wong, Tuni Flancer, Jade Corn, and everyone at Changing Hands Bookstore and the Phoenix-area Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
Thank you to Tara Mylett and the amazing schools of Corpus Christi, Texas. Thank you to Traci Potter and Kitty Hawk Elementary School in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Thank you to Kelly Albaugh and Great Bridge Intermediate in Chesapeake, Virginia. Thank you to Mary Wollmering and Holy Spirit School in St. Paul, Minnesota. Thank you to Nancy Schwartz and all of the Johnston, Iowa, school district. Thank you to Lynne Reid and Alexander Dawson School in Las Vegas, Nevada. And thank you to all the other amazing schools and bookstores that have done so much to spread the word about this series. Thank you as well to everyone who has purchased one of the books I’ve written. You’ve truly helped make my dream of being an author come true.
And special thanks to Kathryn Mackel for all the work you put into making this story come to life. I couldn’t have done it without you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jon S. Lewis is the coauthor of the Grey Griffins trilogy and the Grey Griffins Clockwork Chronicles. He also writes for the DC COMICS family of publishers. He resides with his family in Arizona.