Aegis Incursion Read Online Free PDF Page A

risked their lives to provide refuge for numerous Jews in Germany, her future husband included. And just like Aari, Jag was close to his grandparents too.
    Tristan looked up from the television and hoisted a big bowl of popcorn over his head. “That would be me.”
    Jag’s two older siblings were relaxing on the couches. Tristan was lounging sideways with one leg dangling off the side of the cushions. He was still in his pajamas, indicating that he’d been a couch potato the entire day. His hair, which was usually done up James Dean style, was tousled. He was taller than Jag but both shared the same athletic build and a passion for parkour. The brothers were often found practicing the sport in the town’s many parks, unwittingly attracting curious onlookers.
    Sitting on the other couch was Jag’s twenty-two-year-old sister, Camilla, in sweatpants and t-shirt. Her hair was up in a messy bun but she still had makeup on, which meant that she’d only returned from work shortly before Jag and Aari arrived.
    Evidently, it was a lazy day at the Sanchez household.
    Jag vaulted over the back of the couch and landed beside his brother. “Have you been lazing here all day?”
    “Yeah. Oh, Mom called, by the way. She and Dad will be back after dinner, so we’re on our own in terms of food.” Tristan threw a piece of popcorn in the air and caught it in his mouth. When he saw Aari flop down on the carpet in front of the couch, he grinned and raised his hand. “Hey, little dude. What’s up?”
    Aari high-fived him. “Nothing much. Counting down the hours till the school year’s done.”
    “Just under twenty-four hours left.” Tristan reached out to offer some popcorn to Aari, who took a handful. “So how come you’re here?”
    “I just wanted to look over the route that we’re gonna take for the trip.”
    “Yeah . . . that.” Tristan shook his head in disbelief. “You need to explain that to me. How is it that after last year’s mishap, you five are allowed to drive all the way to California by yourselves? ”
    Jag and Aari glanced at each other but neither answered. Camilla looked over at the pair sympathetically, then said, “They need it, Tristan. They need to hang out and do stuff like they used to. This trip will help them.”
    Tristan shook his head again but let it go. He picked up the remote and switched the channel to a national news station. When he saw the headline on the screen, he frowned and turned up the volume.
    “ . . . Additional reports are coming in of more crop failures in parts of North Dakota, Kansas and Montana,” the news anchor was saying. “For further details, we now turn to our correspondent in Baldwin City, Kansas.”
    As the camera cut away to show a man with a microphone standing among burnt crops in a farmer’s field, Jag turned to the others, looking puzzled. “More crop failures? What’s going on?”
    Camilla shrugged. “Don’t know. I heard talk at work. Rumor has it that it’s some kind of strange new viral bug, but no one has come out to officially say anything. It’s not just wheat, either. Apparently corn and rice crops have been destroyed too.”
    “I hope Gran and Gramps are alright,” Tristan murmured. “They make their living off their crops . . . ”
    They continued to watch the news for a little while longer until Jag got to his feet. Taking the cue, Aari got up as well and the two excused themselves. Jag led the way to his room and threw the door open. The first thing that greeted them was a large map of the United States pinned against a wall decorated with posters of cars and musicians.
    Aari went up to the map. He used a finger to trace the route that the five had begun planning several weeks back. “I’m looking forward to this,” he said quietly.
    Jag went to stand beside him, arms folded. “Me too.”
    Aari happened to glance at Jag’s desk and saw a small stack of newspaper clippings pushed up against a corner. Curious, he reached over