Generation Next: A Superhero Adventure (The Pantheon Saga Book 3) Page 40

  Helena’s brow arched. “Oooh. I see where this is going...”

  Quinn stared a hole into the editor-in-chief. “You know I’m right. Paxton-Brandt was behind what almost happened to The Junction and ruined so many small businesses. I think a thread from Ultimax Insurance could lead to Solstice Equity and Paxton-Brandt.” Quinn couldn't stop digging even after her Missy exposé. The Junction and Missy deserved justice. “Who else could have hired those superhuman actors and made them disappear? Or funded Hazard’s earthquake machines? And, Paxton-Brandt has a subsidiary for superhero disaster insurance. A blueprint to form Ultimax Insurance.”

  When Quinn finally paused for breath, Helena’s features became guarded. Corporate. Not the Helena that Quinn wanted to hear from tonight. “Paxton-Brandt is an international corporation involved in more industries than I can count.” The editor-in-chief spoke whisper-soft, as if someone was eavesdropping. “If they can make one of their own confess to false crimes, imagine what they’d do to one reporter gunning for them.”

  The stubborn side of Quinn wanted to ignore Helena’s risk-averse corporate warning. But the tangible fear vibrating off her mentor’s over Paxton-Brandt made the reporter rethink a knee-jerk reaction. “I know there are huge risks,” she said in measured tones. “But I will only pursue this investigation with your blessing.”

  Helena studied Quinn in silence, as if taking her protégé’s measure.

  She swirled the contents of her glass around. “I’ve gathered a team of investigative reporters from various SLOCO Daily divisions.” Even slurred, her voice sounded business-like. “All looking into Paxton-Brandt’s corporate malfeasance.”

  “Ha! You used malfeasance in a sentence!” Quinn crowed, brain imploding from Helena's confession. Last whiskey for tonight. “For serious?”

  “It’s been a passion project for over a year.” Helena looked around the bar with wary eyes. “Something about Paxton-Brandt stinks. And sunlight is always the best disinfectant.” Her roving gaze landed on Quinn. “You in?”

  Quinn blinked rapidly. Just when she doubted Helena’s journalistic integrity, the woman rose like a phoenix.

  “You, me, and a crew of SLOCO Daily’s finest investigators against Evil Incorporated?” Buzzed or not, Quinn had one answer. “You had me at hello, Ms. Madden.” She raised her glass.

  Helena beamed. “Cheers!” They clinked glasses and tossed back their drinks to seal the deal.

  Much later, Quinn was on the SMAT heading home. She and Helena had sobered up talking a few more hours about this Paxton-Brandt Task Force.

  But while heading to her subway stop, Quinn realized she had to go home and sleep alone. The night terrors had returned with a vengeance, new gruesome images bleeding in from her recent misadventures. Something inside Quinn would break if she woke up screaming yet again.

  She switched onto another line to Templeton, an out-of-the-way suburb in Greater San Miguel.

  Quinn got off near Templeton High, open tonight but not for anything school related. She found her way to the auditorium, with pale lights pouring out from within.

  Quinn hugged herself while approaching, every step weighted by apprehension.

  Reaching the open entrance, she spotted the large makeshift sign. Central SLO Superhuman Battle Survivors Group.

  Quinn’s feet welded to the ground.

  Inside, she’d have to reveal her nightmares and the near-death experiences behind them.

  Quinn didn’t know if she had the courage to be so vulnerable among strangers.

  “Quinn?”

  She whirled around with a squeal. Fright became surprise, then effusive relief.

  Annie emerged from the shadows cast by Templeton High’s looming buildings, looking equally surprised. She was bundled up in a black long coat, round cheeks rosy from the cold, hair pulled back in a sleek knob with her bangs chicly side swept.

  Quinn wanted to greet Annie, but something inside might shatter if she spoke.

  Annie’s face softened in silent understanding. She held out a hand with her flashy engagement ring. “C’mon,” she whispered.

  Quinn clutched her person’s hand like a lifeline. She immediately felt an ounce more courageous.

  The two friends entered the auditorium together, holding hands.

  Hugo, Quinn and Greyson will return in GODS of WRATH, coming in Summer 2019

  Read on for a special note from the author.

  Author Notes

  Hey there!

  Hope you enjoyed reading Generation Next. Another wild ride in the Pantheon universe, huh? I wanted to thank Emmy, Corine, Wanda, Carlos and everyone else who helped bring this book to life. I always want to thank you readers. Your support for the Pantheon Saga has made the journey that much more fun! Keep commenting, emailing and most importantly, keep reviewing if you enjoyed these books! Those reviews will help other folks discover the Pantheon Saga like you have!

  At this point of the series, I know many folks might have expected the adversaries to go full comic book with world-ending threats or alien invaders. Don’t worry, those kinds of stories are in the cards. However, I wanted to focus on Hugo, Greyson and Quinn as they continue evolving and moving toward their destinies.

  My initial plan after Book 2 was jump straight to where Hugo had mostly finished his training and Greyson had completed his transition into darkness. Yet so many milestones in these characters’ journeys would’ve been missed. Like Hugo and Lady Liberty’s relationship as he trains to be a hero. Or the events that pushes Greyson unwaveringly toward his new mission against superheroes. What kind of trauma Quinn had suffered after the attempts on her life in Monsters Among Men. Stuff like that. And there would need to be many flashbacks and exposition to explain how these characters got from point A to point P.

  However, I sometimes write short stories to flesh out the backstories of the main characters or the non-POV supporting characters in my full-length books. One of these shorts was from Jordana’s perspective as she gets tutored by Hugo. It also shows the fight that ended her friendship with Briseis and her hooking up with Hugo the day after, all from Jodie’s perspective. That short story was what birthed Generation Next. We see Hugo navigating his new situation as a superhero-in-training, tempering his patience on joining the good fight while making some mistakes. However, he keeps growing into his forthcoming role. He’s still an outsider in the superhero community, but has Lady Liberty and Geist’s teachings to guide Hugo toward the right choices. Then there was his girl situation—correction, situations. Showing repercussions of Hugo’s failed relationships was important. He’s a romantic at his core who wants to be monogamous. But after getting his heart broken twice, casually seeing multiple girls is his way of healing and protecting himself. Plus, Hugo knows the dangers of a serious relationship once he starts becoming a full-time hero. Its another difficult situation he’ll have to face.

  As much as I loved Hugo and Greyson’s stories, I loved Quinn’s dive into the teen superhero world. I got inspired by some of the crazy teen celeb stories we’ve seen in the 2000s and 2010s. Missy was a cautionary tale of a famous teen hero, and how easily they can burn out under bad and corrupting influences. Will we see Missy again? Who knows?

  Now, onto Book 4, Gods of Wrath. We will see a four-month time jump between Book 3 and 4, with more developments in the lives of our three main characters. When it will come out? Unlike the first three novels, there were some life obstacles that delayed me finishing the novel. However, Book 4 will be out in late summer/early fall. And trust me, it will be worth the wait!

  Until next time folks,

  CCE

  PS. If you want to find out when the next Pantheon Saga book will be release, there are several ways you can stay informed.

  Come over to the Facebook Group, CC Ekeke’s Super Cool Readers, and say hi. You get to hang out with other readers and geek out over all things sci-fi and stuff.

  Follow me directly on Amazon. Head over to my Amazon author profile and c
lick Follow beneath my picture. Amazon will now notify you whenever I release a new book. All you need afterward is to check your emails. Easy, right?

  You can join my newsletter list by clicking here. This way I can stay in touch with you directly, and get notified of all my new releases.

  Doing one of all three of these (recommended) will ensure that you hear about each new release in The Pantheon Saga. Go ahead and do one of them. I’ll wait.

  STAY UP TO DATE

  I post book cover art and travel photos on Instagram. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

  I also created a special Facebook group called “C.C. Ekeke’s Supercool Readers” for all my readers to discuss my books, share interests and their lives, and talk directly to me (C.C.E.). Come by and join us!

  For updates on new releases and exclusive promotions, visit my website to sign-up for my VIP newsletter. Email addresses are never shared or used for any other purposes. Head there now to join up!

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  BOOKS by C.C. EKEKE

  The Pantheon Saga

  Age of Heroes

  Monsters Among Men

  Generation Next

  Gods of Wrath (Summer 2019)

  Star Brigade Series

  Resurgent

  Maelstrom

  Supremacy

  Ascendant

  Extremis (Fall 2019)

  Star Brigade Short Fiction

  Odysseys

  Traitor

  Nemesis (Fall 2019)

  Forsaken

  Inheritance

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  C.C. Ekeke is a California native by way of Georgia via Missouri, spending his childhood on a steady diet of sci-fi movies and television shows, as well as superhero comic books. It was in college studying for a degree in advertising that he stumbled across a desire to write books. You can find him occasionally navigating the globe like Waldo (minus the red-striped sweater) or on www.ccekeke.com.

  Generation Next is Ekeke’s seventh full-length novel.