Aegis Incursion Read Online Free PDF Page B

father took a sip from his glass. He was tall and athletically-built, much like his two sons. With his charming smile and easygoing ways, he didn’t look fifty and certainly didn’t give off the impression that he was a scientist working at a biomedical firm.
    Roberto nodded in the teenagers’ direction as they threw the football around and called out to each other. “It’s nice to see them hanging out like that.”
    With another laugh, Samuel said, “Remember how we used to goof around? Our kids may be tame by comparison, but they’re certainly an adventurous lot.”
    “Yeah, they’re a good bunch. Proud of them all.”
    “How’s Jag been?”
    “No calls from the school about getting into fights for the last seven months, so it’s been getting better. Guess he’s finally learning to keep his temper in check.”
    “Good to hear.”
    Samuel helped himself to a drink then leaned back and observed the property quietly. Life with the Air Force was good. The base near Great Falls, closed for a few decades, had been reopened and that was where the Tylers now resided.
    As he sipped his drink, his thoughts rewound to the previous summer. He was still baffled by everything, from their surviving the crash to the five’s disappearance and sudden reappearance. It had been difficult when the media and various investigators kept questioning and probing the friends for months after their return. None of them had ever wanted to be in the spotlight, and the persistence of the press made them dislike the idea even more.
    Kody’s memory loss had been difficult for the Tyler family, and Samuel knew it was the same for the other four families. It was not an illness and they didn’t treat it as one, but it was hard to believe that the five couldn’t remember a single detail about all those weeks they’d been missing. Upon their arrival back home, Kody had spent more time than ever focusing on schoolwork and aviation—he’d been learning to fly since he was twelve and was working on obtaining his Private Pilot’s License—and Samuel figured that was his son’s way of regaining some normality in his life.
    “Penny for your thoughts?” Roberto asked.
    “Ah . . . just the kids and everything they’ve been through. The scorn they had to put up with at school and the harassment by the media.”
    Roberto snorted. “Downright irritating, that’s what they were. Wouldn’t leave a group of kids alone. It’s sickening.”
    “It’s newsworthy, I guess.”
    “All they want is ratings and they’ll go after it like bloodhounds. Respect for privacy means nothing to most of them.”
    “No argument there,” Samuel sighed. He passed his hand over his short afro, a haircut that his three sons wore as well. Roshon and George both had his dark brown eyes, whereas Kody’s were green like the boys’ mother. As he downed the rest of his drink, he said, “So, Rob, about this upcoming trip . . . To be frank with you, I’m still worried about letting them go off on their own.”
    Roberto smiled understandingly. “I know. We all are.” He motioned toward the other parents who were caught up in their own conversation at the other end of the table. “This is definitely not an easy decision for any of us, but we all know that the five haven’t been quite the same since their return. We’ve raised great kids and it pains me to see them this way. They need the space to find themselves again, and I’m praying that this trip will provide them the healing and the strength to be as they were before.”
    “I know, and that’s my hope too. I’m still concerned because they’ll be on their own for two weeks, and Jag’s only had his full driver’s license for a few months.”
    “I understand your concern, but they’re responsible kids. I can vouch for Jag’s road skills. And it’s not just with cars—he’s proven that he’s very capable with machines, like at his grandparents’ farm. And the entire trip follows along one