Meridiana (The New Age Series Book 3)

Book summary

As history echoes its warnings, Meridiana braces for an impending invasion from the North. Governor Gavin tightens city security, and Hokura steps into her destined role as a formidable super soldier. Tasked not just with quelling rebels but safeguarding her loved ones, she battles against time and fate. Will her strength be enough to protect Meridiana?

Excerpt from Meridiana (The New Age Series Book 3)

HOKURA SMIRKED, LOOKING AT Gavin beside her as the jeep bumped along the wasteland, her hair blowing in the warm desert wind. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this at peace with things. They had been taking their time driving towards the old city; tonight, they would camp in the forests and hopefully reach the city in three to four days. Hokura was looking forward to seeing the ocean again, but most of all, spending this time with Gavin. “Do you feel guilty about leaving them with Amara and Adam?”

Gavin grinned. “Why do I feel like I have to fight everyone in that place to get some alone time with you lately.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I don’t feel guilty leaving them back at the compound. Besides, they’ve been to the ocean and city plenty of times. I just wanted some time for us.” He placed his hand on hers and gently rubbed it. “They’re six years old. I’m sure they’re entertaining themselves just fine.”

Hokura laughed. “Leaving Adam and Amara with four young children for this long might cost us their friendship.”

Gavin laughed heartily. “Amara was the one who was thinking about possibly having another. I don’t think I’ve seen Adam turn that shade of white before.”

“I’m sure she was just joking, or at least I hope she was. Anyways, they have help. Olga’s been an excellent caregiver, and there’s always Dorian…”

Gavin made a noise beside her. “Not the most eloquent caregiver out there, but I guess he’s slightly better than Talon.”

“There are plenty of children for them to all play with. They have their daily lessons, which will keep them busy enough as well,” Hokura chimed. It had been a year since they had visited the city. She had been feeling incredibly overwhelmed and bombarded lately. Dorian was able to create a cure for infertility, but with children being born, it raised new projects within the compound and city.

***

“We need to teach them basic skills, along with fundamental skills,” Dorian had told her once her children reached four years of age.

“You can’t exactly hook them up to electrodes, Dorian.” She had given him a sidelong glance.

“No.” He cleared his throat. “In the old world, well before the war, they had schools which were divided into classes depending on age. From there, certain things were taught at different age levels. Kind of like with the peacekeepers, although at a much younger age.” He had pondered the thought. “We have large government offices which we can turn into primary classrooms. We have plenty of people here in the compound who I’m sure would love to hang up their lab coats and spend days teaching children. I know we can enlist people from the city as well. We can hold school inside the compound for the children of the city also.”

It had been a year of renovations and additions. With the help of the citizens and those inside the compound, Dorian and Gavin had erected a small school of ten rooms inside the compound block. They had created play areas and structures for children both inside and outside of the compound. They had found appropriate literature and were successful in finding people who were comfortable teaching the children. Thus the learning began as school became a daily activity for all children old enough to attend.

It had been a great side project that they had worked together on along with Gavin. Hokura figured it was better than having the professor locked up inside the labs all day.

***

She shook her head at the thought.

“You look like your mind was somewhere else,” Gavin noted, still staring at her. After six years, he was still absolutely mesmerized by her.

“It’s crazy to think how far everything has come over the years. Maybe we’re getting closer to the way things used to be…” she sighed.

“Indeed we are, but we still have a long way to go. The city’s population is still recovering. I know we were able to liberate pretty much everyone from the old city and take in those from the wastelands, but there will always be room for more people and more improvements.”

They reached a familiar area in record time as Hokura drove the vehicle further into the forests’ density and out of sight from the path.

“Are you that worried about raiders? We haven’t seen a soul since we left. In fact, we’ve never seen anyone out here.” Gavin raised an eyebrow.

“It’s just a precaution,” Hokura huffed. “Just because we haven’t seen anyone doesn’t mean they’re not out there.”

“You’re speaking from an experience you’ve never told me about.”

She pursed her lips, caught because he could read her so well. “I am.”

“And?”

“It isn’t something I think or talk about,” Hokura jumped out of the vehicle, grabbing the tent from the back, and made her way to start setting it up. She didn’t want to have this conversation with Gavin right now, so she avoided it.

He would let it go; it was obviously an unpleasant memory for her. “After this long, you can let me set up the tent,” Gavin groaned, watching her unfold the canvas.

“I’m sure I could, but you can start collecting kindling and getting a fire going since I’d rather not be stumbling around in the dark,” she chimed.

That evening the two sat at the fire listening to the sounds of the forest, Hokura in Gavin’s arms as she rested peacefully against his chest. “I love it here,” she sighed, sinking back into him.

“We could have done this sooner,” Gavin urged. “I’ve told you whenever you want to come back that we can. It’s not like the compound doesn’t run itself. After so many years, I’m not even sure why I still hold the title of Governor.”

“Because!” Hokura shifted. “You’re the one with all the great ideas. Besides, you’re the face that stands up in front of everyone and gives them hope. You’re the face of the compound and the face of the city. Without you, we would have never liberated all those people. Without you, things would have never changed.”

Gavin made a noise as he brought his hand up and gently stroked her hair. It had only been partly true. Without the professor, he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish half the breakthroughs that he did. Without Hokura, he would have never known about the old-world city, nor would he have liberated anyone. He was merely a voice and a face; it had been the others who had done most of the work.

“We’re here now. That’s all that matters.” Hokura turned to face him, a mischievous grin crossing her face. “And we’re here together, and alone.”

“I like the way you think, no children to interrupt us, no need to keep quiet.” Gavin brought her close and kissed her passionately. He had her away from prying eyes and could delve into her essence while they were away; he didn’t have to hold back.

“Gavin,” Hokura gasped as his hands roamed over her body.

“Mmmmm?” He chuckled, his golden eyes holding the firelight. “Why don’t you just let me enjoy you as much as I can tonight? We can sleep in tomorrow. There’s no huge rush.” He kissed her again as she moaned underneath him.

They continued until the fire had gone out and they retreated into the tent where Gavin had enjoyed her even further. Hokura was blissfully resting in his arms when a sound caught her attention. Someone was approaching from the distance. She quietly got up and left the tent. She quickly splashed some water over the fire's hot embers and kicked dirt over it when Gavin came up behind her. She motioned for him to be quiet.

“I thought I saw lights out here!” one of the approaching men called.

“Could have been your eyes playing tricks on you. Could have been the moonlight catching off something.”

“Don’t engage them,” Hokura hushed as she strained to listen. “Stay low and be quiet.”

“We’ve been told we need to go further South and then head West. We’re still a few days away, at least, but we still need to hold back until we get more confirmed intel.”

Something put Hokura on edge. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was; she couldn’t make sense of what she was hearing.

“The men that came back stated that the walled city had been a government site close to what was known as Phoenix, Arizona. That apparently they had been far enough from the initial blasts and were able to set up some kind of government headquarters after the war,” Another voice stated

Gavin gave Hokura a worried glance as she put her finger to her lips.

“From what the colonel said, they were able to take a city and pretty much clear it and created a scientific compound there. Our scouts said they saw jeeps leaving the walls and scouting the wastelands for people searching for sanctuary.”

“Intel’s no good if they can’t confirm whether or not they have weapons inside that walled city.”

“Who knows, there weren’t any army bases set up around that area for several miles. Then again, it’s not to say they haven’t been out raiding or trading with rebels. Either way, we have an army backing us. We’ll send a few people in day by day to scope it out and get information. Our group is large enough that we can overtake it easily. We’re just waiting on our insiders to get back. Hopefully, they have information.”

Hokura sucked in her breath. They were talking about taking over Meridiana!

“Anything will be better than White Rock. The water there tastes like sewage.”

“Don’t bitch, at least there were enough blocks still standing that we could house everyone. It looks like the place has been abandoned for quite some time now.”

“I prefer the camp we’ve set up now. Well, might as well not waste our time out here then,” a voice stated as the boots passed by the path that Hokura had been crouching by.

“Nah, we’ll start sending more scouts out towards Arizona when the sergeant gives the word. From what I saw on the maps, we’re in what used to be a national forest, Willamette, or something like that. We still have a number of kilometers between us and the compound.”

“It’ll be nice to get the tent city set up closer to the wastelands. I’m tired of the back-and-forth driving.”

“The colonel wanted to wait on intel. We have it now, so we’ll start moving forward. Moving this army takes time!” the gruff voice stated.

“You’re telling me I’m tired of all this traveling. To think we’re this close, though. I’ve been ready for this take over since I first heard about it!”

“Well, you have some time left to wait yet, but soon.”

The men were done with their pacing and left.

Hokura stayed quiet for a few moments. She wasn’t sure if they had been part of a larger camp who were taking refuge in the woods or if they had been two lone scouts. Either way, she couldn’t deny what she had heard. “We need to get back,” Hokura whispered.