ARES Virus (Book 3): Phoenix Rising

ARES VIRUS: PHEONIX RISING

Book III of Ares Virus

A Novel by John O’Brien

Copyright © 2017 John O’Brien

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author. You may contact the author at [email protected]

Cover art by: Dean Samed

Conzpiracy Digital Arts

http://www.conzpiracy.co.uk

Also by John O’Brien

A New World Series

A NEW WORLD: CHAOS

A NEW WORLD: RETURN

A NEW WORLD: SANCTUARY

A NEW WORLD: TAKEN

A NEW WORLD: AWAKENING

A NEW WORLD: DISSENSION

A NEW WORLD: TAKEDOWN

A NEW WORLD: CONSPIRACY

A NEW WORLD: RECKONING

A NEW WORLD: STORM

Companion Books

A NEW WORLD: UNTOLD STORIES

A NEW WORLD: UNTOLD STORIES 2

A Shrouded World

A SHROUDED WORLD: WHISTLERS

A SHROUDED WORLD: ATLANTIS

Authors Note

Welcome to the third and final book in the ARES Virus series. As I’ve mentioned before, this story began as a short story in an anthology. However, the characters that began that tale wouldn’t leave my thoughts. They begged for their narrative to be completed, showing me what happened after they reached the bunker. I tried moving on, but was continually drawn back.

The first book, Arctic Storm, was entirely character driven, but as I progressed, that changed somewhere in the middle of the White Horse. I kept trying to pull the tale back, but that’s just not how it wanted to be told. The driving force became the story itself; the tale becoming a character in itself. As such, the narrative doesn’t follow a single character as they make their way through the aftermath.

As much as I attempted to divert the course of the book, the events pushed me in other directions. This third book turned out to be much more militarily structured than I ever intended. I understand that some enjoy that style while others may not. I apologize to those that don’t, but the story told itself the way it wanted, and not matter how much I tried to redirect it, that’s not the direction it wanted to go. I have to say that I was surprised by the rise and fall of characters that were prevalent in the first books. Take Emily for instance. She was originally just a place card character for Brown to rescue, but she rose to become a central figure. And, much like Gonzalez in A New World, she became one of my favorite characters to write.

In this book, there are certain weapons which are merely a contrivance of my imagination. You’ll know which ones they are when you get to them. While perhaps not exactly a contrivance, as their existence was a point of fact back in the day, the contrivance is that they’re still operational. However, if I suddenly disappear, well, you’ll know why.

Along those lines, any interior descriptions are entirely made up, but based on my best knowledge. So, please don’t beat me senseless — I’m already there — if they don’t correspond to the real thing. Some of the systems I use in the story and their workings are mostly my imagination as well.

Despite repeatedly beating my skull on the keyboard, I enjoyed writing this series. Especially the part at the end where Brown wakens from his nap to see a Biology student pushing a metal cart across the campus quad. Yes, I’m still annoyed by the ending of The Dark Tower.

Okay, enough of me talking. Let’s get on with the tale. If you enjoy this final installment, would you mind heading back and leaving a review. I will be eternally grateful.

John

Chapter One

Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana

October 16, evening

Jennings stares out the third story window of their assigned dorms. The protective gear they’re required to wear full-time is confining and uncomfortable, even more taxing than the day’s events. The forty-eight hours required after the last sign of infected in the area seems years away—it might as well be an infinity.

Although exhausted, he can’t sleep, only toss and turn. Outside, clouds roll in as the sun sets, promising rain and colder weather.