King reached into the small pouch on his belt and removed an auto injector. It was similar to the serum the team had used on the Ridleys to rob them of their Hydra-induced regenerative abilities. But King’s version of the serum had started off as a potion Alexander had left for him in a Herculean Society base in Greenland. King had ordered some of his scientists working for the Society to analyze it and make small adjustments to it. If he injected it into himself, it would once again alter his DNA. It would remove the regenerative abilities Alexander had granted him by slipping herbs into his tea all those years ago. It would also remove his immortality.
He had lived a long, long time. He was ready to settle down with his family — his fiancée and his adopted daughter. He was ready to live a normal lifespan, and when the time came, he was ready to die.
He placed the injector against his skin, the metal warm from the hot sun beating down on him for the last several hours. He looked at the metal around the glass vial as it glinted in the sun. Over 2800 years. He wondered if he would still have the memories and experiences of those years, once his genetic code was rewritten, or whether, like his healing abilities, all that would fade as well.
He activated the high-pressure injector, and then it snapped loudly, driving the serum into his body. He expected to feel something, even though his techs had told him he would not.
All he felt was the slight sting on his arm from where the needle had punctured his skin. He removed the injector and looked at his arm. The needle hole oozed a tiny drop of blood. He wiped it away with his finger, and noted that the puncture wound had not closed up instantly as it would have in the past.
Easy come, easy go.
King looked up at the sky. It would be late afternoon in New Hampshire now. He pulled out a black satellite phone and called home. It took some rings and digital clicks, but the call went through.
“It’s done,” he said, when Deep Blue answered. “I am officially younger than you again.”
“Not really,” Deep Blue said.
“You know what I mean,” King replied.
Deep Blue chuckled. “Then you won’t mind if I start bossing you around again?”
King smiled. A mission was coming. “Where do you want me?”
“Home,” Deep Blue said. “Just come home.”
“Copy that,” King said. “I’ll be there for supper.”
As he hung up the phone, a high pitched whistle turned him around.
Rook stood at the top of the hill, lowering his hands. Beside him stood Queen, Bishop and Knight. And they weren’t alone. George Pierce, Sara, Fiona, Asya and his parents had all made the trip with him. A trip to say goodbye to the past and to welcome home their future.
Rook, however, had a few more words to say. He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted down the hill, “That is the shittiest ‘K’ I have ever seen!”
King laughed and started up the hill as Fiona raced down to meet him.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JEREMY ROBINSON is the bestselling author of thirty novels and novellas including ISLAND 731, SECONDWORLD, and the Jack Sigler series including PULSE, INSTINCT, THRESHOLD and RAGNAROK. Robinson is also known as the #1 Amazon.com horror writer, Jeremy Bishop, author of THE SENTINEL and the controversial novel, TORMENT. His novels have been translated into eleven languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.
Visit him online at: www.jeremyrobinsononline.com
KANE GILMOUR has visited or lived in over 40 countries around the world. A former rock climber and mountain biker, he now kayaks, and still explores the furthest reaches of the world, as time permits. He is the author of RESURRECT and THE CRYPT OF DRACULA and the co-author of the bestselling Jack Sigler thriller, RAGNAROK. He lives in the wilds of central Vermont with his wife, son, and daughter. He is working on his next novel and planning his next international excursion.
Visit him online at: www.kanegilmour.com