CHAPTER 2

"Hello? John Young speaking."
"Hello John." I could believe who had called me.
"Um, hello General Duke. It's a pleasure to speak with you again."
General Duke had been my personal mentor through the war with the Xel Naga. I couldn't understand, though, why he would want to call me. I staggered on the line waiting for duke to say something worth meaning. Finally he spoke.
"John, we need you in New York."
"Well I-"
"THIS AIN"T NO OPTION SON! We got a problem!"
"May I a-"
"The zerg John. They... They landed on Earth."
At first thought Duke was joking, but the keen smooth way that those words rolled off his tongue gave me the sense that he was serious.
"Listen John. I want you down here at 0:700 u got that?"
"I'll be there as soon as possible Duke." I grabbed my jacket and keys with ease and ran on stairs to say farewell to my wife and daughter. As I ran up the grueling staircase I had pictured in my mind, the memories that had still haunted me form the battle with the Xel Naga. I had fears that maybe; just maybe, there could be a slight reenactment of that horrifying day.
"Hunny? Wake up hunny."
"Baby? what are u doing up at 3 in the morning?"
"I have to go baby I'm sorry. Duke needs me."
"NO! We need you. I worry about you every time you go on one of these suicide missions, thinking you'll never come home! Thinking that every black car that comes by the house when you aren't here will stop and they will come knock on my door!"
"Baby, I...I'm sorry. The zerg... they, they've come."
"GET OUT!" I didn't know what to do so I did the only thing possible, "Bye..." I shut the door slowly listening to my wife cry herself back to a deep sleep, but somehow, that just didn't seem possible for her right now. I lifted my arm up seeing the time was 4 AM. I had to make it form Chicago to New York in les then 2 3 hours. I stepped through the large crack of Megan's door and kissed her on the cheek.
"Goodbye Megan." She softly whispered as I turned my back from her, "Goodbye daddy."
I stopped and listened to her voice ring in my head. I didn't want to leave, but it was either my family or the entire world. I had no other choice. I walked down the stairs again and opened the front door. My door was open. The car door had somehow been opened and I didn't know how. I ignored thinking to myself, 'I'll worry about things like that later.' I drove out of my driveway and thrusted my foot on the pedal. I was gone.