The Unlimited

By Kevin Basil

The date is set: December 21st, 2012.

Nick Riley’s life as a gas station owner in the suburbs of California is turned upside down when a friend on an archaeology dig in Egypt discovers an ancient text written in a mysterious language and bequeaths it to him. If its secrets are revealed, it has the power to rewrite history and destroy everything that mankind believes in. It may also hold the key to saving the human race.

But what does it mean?

To learn how it will end is to decipher how it began. Nick, along with two friends, finds himself in a race against time and a fight for his life against those who want the secrets to remain hidden. Can they connect the dots that reveal the secrets of where mankind came from and why we are here? Once explained, can we handle the truth? Our future depends on solving the mystery of...
THE UNLIMITED

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Basil
• Release date: Aug 18, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465948137

Kevin Basil

Kevin Basil is an up-and-coming Indie Author born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, writing has always been his passion. His first book, Suffer No More, was published in 2007, shortly after his High School graduation. By using words and a little imagination, he plans to spread his messages and his stories to the world one reader at a time. As a result of his background in Business education and his dream of entrepreneurship, Kevin has chosen to create, publish and market his works without the assistance of large publishing companies.

Book preview

The Unlimited

Kevin Basil

Published by Kevin Basil at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Kevin Basil

For more by Kevin Basil visit:

www.kevin-basil.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Prologue

All that we do crumbles to the ground. Every brick laid and stone set will inevitably succumb to the momentum of the world around it. Through force or exhaustion it all comes down at one point or another. The most elegant of skyscrapers built by masters of their trade collapse in seconds, steel bowing and screaming until the pressure finally forces them to topple as easily as the shacks of third-world countries. Nature’s wrath knows no bounds. It is an unbiased beast whose fury is felt by all.

On the 25th day of November 2012 the world was reminded of this vulnerability. The terrified screams of thousands could be heard throughout Giza, Egypt. As the Earth trembled and roared, the sand plunged into the depths, dragging with it the city. Mothers and fathers, daughters and sons fell into the depths of the Earth, dragging down with them their unanswered prayers and sobs. What once housed one of the greatest cultures in the world was reduced to a ruin.

At 6:20 PM local time, an earthquake struck the heart of Giza, part of the greater Cairo metropolis on the western shore of the Nile River. Within moments, everything that had once housed life was reduced to rubble, effectively burying its occupants. The citizens of Giza laid dead on the cracked and torn streets buried beneath what once were homes, offices and schools. They laid still, their faces frozen, staring at the horrifying scene that had unfolded before their empty eyes. There was no calm to these faces, no comfort in death. There was only fear and despair. Men clung to the debris that had collapsed on top of them, snapping their bones and bloodying their bodies. Women clutched their children against themselves with all their might, trying hopelessly to shield them from the inescapable destruction.

From the small shacks on the outskirts of town to the 10-story apartment and building complexes downtown, all had collapsed. Those who hadn’t died in the initial quake or from the destruction caused by the collapse of the city had drowned. The crack in the Earth caused by the quake intersected with the Nile River, unleashing its waters and opening the floodgates on the helpless citizens.

The shock from the quake could be felt some 20 km northeast at Cairo, but the flooding was the destructive force that sunk the city. Those who could not escape in time were taken by the water. The very same river that helped the ancient Egyptians thrive for thousands of years also led to the demise of the city. On the plains outside of Giza something even more historical was happening. Under the force of nature the plateau had finally fallen. The Great Pyramids and all that surrounded them gave way to Mother Nature. For thousands of years the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure had survived the forces of nature. Now they crumbled to the ground, their monumental stones toppling one over another. All that was left of these historical monoliths was the pile of stones with which they were built. The other pyramids of the plateau had suffered the same fate, as had everything else. The great Sphinx that had been guardian of the plateau for centuries took its final rest as the pressure of the quake broke the beast in pieces, leaving only a section of its base intact to be worn away by the onslaught of the Nile.

What once was a culture of gold and riches now lay in defeat. The great monuments had fallen as quickly as the city and its inhabitants. On Sunday, November 25, 2012, Giza was no more. The people of Egypt did not see it coming; there was no warning for them. They went about their business just as they had every other day, unprepared and unaware. They lived their lives one day at a time just like the rest of the world. But death is not something you can hide from. You cannot pretend that it will not happen. You cannot run from death and you certainly cannot ignore it. The people of Egypt were reminded of this, of their mortality. The whole world was reminded.

It is easy to sleep walk through life, to ignore your fate and forget that you will die. However, on this day Mother Nature demanded remembrance. The time had come to awaken its inhabitants. An alarm had been raised, an alarm much like the one going off on Nick Riley’s nightstand.

Chapter One

Every morning the upbeat, calming tune of Phil Collins’ Wake Up Call flows from the alarm clock resting on the nightstand next to Nick’s bed. While most people wake up to that comfort-disturbing buzzing or beeping noise they call a sound and instantly start their day off with a blinding headache, Nick prefers to awake to something more enjoyable. Sure, he could have gone with one of those cheap ‘day-killers’ as he called them, but Nick liked waking up with a smile on his face. He enjoyed smiling first thing every day and knowing it was going to be a good day.

Nick’s mother always told him to cherish every moment and live every second as if it were a gift. Because that’s what it is Nicky, she would tell him. It’s a gift from God.

Nick lay in bed for a few minutes just appreciating the song. No matter how many times he heard it or how many times he woke up to it he still loved it. It reminded him why he was getting out of bed. ‘This is your wake up call. You’re gonna miss it all.’ He laid there gathering his thoughts as the song finished and then released a ready-for-a-new-day sigh before rolling onto his back and stretching every tired and stiff muscle in his body. This certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Nick’s dog Luke.

As his legs sprawled across the bottom of the bed Nick accidentally nudged Luke awake and was welcomed by a familiar groan from the little Bichon. Nick gave Luke a quick scratch behind the ear. How did you sleep buddy? Chase any good tail in those dreams? Luke just laid there, not acknowledging him in any way, causing Nick to smile knowingly. Alright boy, a few more minutes.

After relieving his bladder from its long six-hour wait and brushing his teeth, Nick grabbed a quick shower. When he returned, Luke was right where Nick had left him: curled up in a ball sleeping. While he dressed, Nick couldn’t help but smile at his hidden jealousy of that little white fur ball. Oh what it must be like not to have to worry about bills or to do absolutely nothing but eat, sleep, shit, and get waited on hand and foot, he thought.

As soon as Nick’s foot hit the first creaky step on the stairwell Luke sprang to life, leaping off the bed in hot pursuit. For Nick that creak means he is about to be nearly tripped and fall down the stairs. For that dog it meant breakfast.

As Nick entered the kitchen he found Luke sitting impatiently in front of his food bowl, wagging his tail and trying to contain his excitement. To anyone else this sight would seem quite comical, but for Nick it is an every-day occurrene so he simply served Luke his breakfast then sat down at the table with a glass of orange juice and some cereal.

During breakfast Nick likes to catch up on the news, so he turned on the small television sitting atop the counter. The screen came alive and a small bookish-looking man in a suit began reporting the news in that annoyingly fake anchorman voice.

"Thank you, Julie. There you have it folks, it’s gonna be another scorcher here in Long Beach. So if you plan on going out to that Global Warming Rally this afternoon, you’d better dress light. If you didn’t already know, the rally will take place today at two o’clock on the lawn at the California State University Long Beach campus.

"United States Vice President Ed Roughan will be in attendance to discuss the dangers of global warming and what we can do to help. For those of you who haven’t heard, Roughan has just received a Nobel Prize for his book and accompanying film documentary ‘The Truth Untold.’

So be sure to come on out and support your planet. And don’t forget your sunscreen. That’s all we’ve got for you this morning. Coming up next is breaking news on the disaster in Egypt. With thousands dead and more being reported every hour, we’ll have it all for you first. I’m Roger Cox and I’ll see you next time.

After shutting off the television, Nick gulped down the last of his orange juice and got up to put his dishes in the dishwasher. Luke sat patiently by the door waiting to be let out until Nick finally opened it and then bolted outside into the wide, fenced-in yard.

While Luke ran around enjoying the fresh air and the freedom, Nick couldn’t help but feel envious of that little animal. Sure, pets have to live their lives according to their owners’ wishes and time table, but they don’t have to worry. Luke knows he’ll be fed and taken care of. All he has to worry about is moving a little bit to scratch himself while he’s lying around all day sleeping.

The telephone rang and Nick broke away from his admiration to answer it. He grabbed the cordless receiver from its base and walked back over to the door to watch Luke.

Hey Nick! How are you?

Well if it isn’t Indiana Jones himself. How did Mexico treat you, Jack?

Oh, you know, work is work. I rather enjoyed the Tequila and the sensuous women though.

Same old Jack, Nick joked as he opened the door to let Luke back in the house. I’m actually getting ready to head out the door for work though.

Well, I won’t keep you then. I was just curious if you saw that report on the news about the rally today. You know, a very influential friend of yours will be introducing Roughan.

Congratulations, Jack. You know how much I hate that environmental stuff though. It’s such a bore. And besides, I have to work.

"Nick you own the store. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m sure nobody would mind if you skipped out for an hour or so. It would really mean a lot to me."

Alright already! Nick shook his head and let out a deep sigh. I can leave work for a little bit, but I can’t stay the whole time. I do have a store to run and there’s a slight possibility that I may actually die of boredom at that rally- and I’m just not ready for that.

Wonderful! I’ll see you there.

I can’t wait. It’s always a pleasure, Jack. As Nick set the receiver back on its base, he couldn’t believe that he was actually going to go to that rally. A bunch of people getting together and getting angry, trying to change something they have no power over. It’s embarrassing enough to watch, let alone to actually partake in.

Oh well, thought Nick. A friend’s a friend and at this stage in my life, I can’t afford to lose any.

After grabbing his papers for work, Nick grabbed a bone for Luke and headed for the door. Luke excitedly scurried after him, half running, half jumping. I know boy, I’ll always have you. He handed Luke the bone and gave him a gentle pat on the head before leaving.

The drive to work for Nick isn’t too bad. It’s only a couple miles away. He could almost walk to work if he wanted to. However, Nick is one of those dress-for-the-job types and always likes to look nice. Dressing in a sleek pair of black khaki pants and matching black leather shoes along with a flashy long sleeve dress shirt is Nick’s style. It’s not too dressy, but also not too average-Joe. It also makes walking under the hot California sun impractical.

True, being the owner of a gas station doesn’t necessarily call for it, but Nick likes looking good. His mother always told him growing up, There’s nothing wrong with looking nice. You can be a bank robber when you grow up if that’s what you’d like sweetie, but you’d better dress nicely. She was a sweet woman.

Dressing nicely is the reason that Nick has to get in his car and sit in traffic every day for a trip that he can walk faster. The sun and heat in Long Beach aren’t very sweat forgiving, and on the one occasion that Nick attempted the walk he arrived at work with a ring of sweat around his collar and underarms. Needless to say, he’s driven ever since.

The drive is the same every day. There are always a dozen or so huge trucks crowding the road, honking their horns like they own the place. Then there are the people on bicycles and rollerblades using the small lane to the right and the angry business-types yelling into their cell phones. You’ve got to love those people. Especially the ones with the hands-free phones that just have a little ear piece that they talk into. Nick always watches them in amusement, wondering if they know that they look slightly awkward yelling at the air in front of them.

Such was the case with the frumpy older woman sitting in the minivan to the right of him. She was heatedly talking on her hands-free phone and swinging her arms in the air. Nick smirked to himself and looked further out the woman’s window past her car, where he saw a factory off in the distance blowing god-only-knows how much and what kind of crap out of the top of it.

Watching the big cloud of smoke rise from the factory into the air, Nick shook his head and turned his attention back to the woman in the car next to him still shouting.

That’s what she’s yelling at! His mouth widened into a big smile. She really IS yelling at the air. ‘Damn you polluted air! You will not enter these lungs’ He laughed at his own juvenile thoughts as he imagines that she is swatting the polluted air away.

Upon arrival at work, Nick parked his car in the rear of the building and walked around the store to make sure everything was as it should be. He checked to ensure the garbage cans weren’t overflowing (half of them were) and that the containers of windshield washer fluid and disposable rags were full (most weren’t).

As he was about to enter the building, he caught a glimpse of a man at a pump a few feet away. The man, in his mid-twenties, was smoking a cigarette as he pumped his gas.

He watched Nick approach while taking a long drag of his cigarette and proceeded to ash it. He looked like he was going to be trouble. However, after working at a gas station for even a few months you soon learn that even an old woman on the way to church can be trouble at a gas station. The fumes must just bring out the worst in people.

This guy really did look like he’d be trouble though. He had his car radio still on and Nick could hear ACDC’s Highway to Hell blasting through the speakers. The man had shoulder-length black hair pulled back in a ponytail and multiple ear piercings. On the left side of his neck he had a tattoo of something that Nick guessed was supposed to look like the spikes coming out of Frankenstein’s neck, as well as other tattoos on both of his arms.

Nick arrived at the man and pointed at the no smoking sign on the side of the pump. Excuse me sir, would you mind putting out that cigarette while you’re pumping your gas. It’s extremely unsafe.

The man glared at him longer and took another calm hit of the cigarette as his hand clenched the gas pump. Well, if putting it out is so unsafe then why would I do it? I mean, I certainly wouldn’t want to put anyone here in harm’s way. His mouth opened slightly into one of those I’m-an-asshole-and-I-know-it grins.

Nick kept his cool and shook his head in disbelief. Sir, you know what I meant. You’re going to have to put that cigarette out right now or I’m going to have to call the police.

Whatever you say, Chief. The man took one last hit of his cigarette and then put it out on the bottom of his shoe and tossed the extinguished butt on the ground.

Nick bent down and picked up the butt, tossing it into the trash can right beside them. He began to say something more to the man, but thought better of it and walked inside.

Al works the night shift at the gas station Monday through Friday. It’s an 11pm to 7am shift and the only responsible person Nick could manage to hire to do it was Al.

Morning Al. How did the night go? Everything run smoothly as usual? Nick stood at the counter pouring himself some coffee. I hope this is fresh.

Oh gosh, boss, I didn’t even see you come in. The man, easily in his 60s, squinted at Nick through his thick glasses. Coffee’s fresh just for you like every day.

Nick smiled while he put cream and sugar in his coffee. He liked Al, but the man was half blind and apparently couldn’t hear the bells on the door anymore. He was a decent worker though. He never went above and beyond the call of duty to really do a great job, but people like that seemed to have no desire to work at a gas station. Al always did at least what had to be done to make the store look presentable.

Hey Al, a couple of the trash cans outside are overflowing, would you mind changing them on your way out? Cindy should be here in about fifteen minutes.

Sure thing, Nick. I would’ve gotten to it sooner, but it’s been pretty busy this morning and I haven’t had the chance to run out there.

Nick walked over behind the counter and set his coffee down. He knelt down to get to the safe under the window next to the register. While he was down there, he noticed a thick book sitting a few feet away on the shelf under the counter. Busy my ass, he thought to himself.

After throwing all the money from the previous day into a bag, he grabbed his coffee and headed to the back of the store where his desk was. Not an office, but a desk. The station was so small there wasn’t any room for an office, which meant that Nick had the pleasure of doing all of his work at a little desk in the back room situated between the doors to the cooler and the bathroom.

Employees coming and going all day was kind of a hassle, but he liked it. Staring at papers, calculating numbers, and counting money for hours at a time isn’t exactly exciting. Nick liked being able to chat with his workers whenever they came to the back.

I’ll be in the back, Al. Tell Cindy to come see me before you guys do the changeover.

Twenty minutes later, Cindy walked into the back room where Nick sat at his desk counting all of the money. She pulled a small orange milk crate beside his desk and sat down on it. She looked at the desk with stacks of five-, ten-, and twenty-dollar bills on it. Picking up one of the stacks she smiled. Lead me not to temptation.

Nick laughed and snatched the stack out of her hand. Don’t worry, I won’t.

She laughed back at him. So what did you need? Al said to come see you.

Well, I’m going to be leaving a couple hours early today. I’ve got somewhere to be at two o’clock so I’m going to head out of here at about one. It’ll just be you and Max until Kate comes in. Is that alright?

Of course it’s alright. I love working with Max. And since you’re not going to be here we can finally close down the store and have that rave we always talk about. She laughed and started to walk back to the front of the store.

Nick called after her in a more demanding, unpleasant tone and Cindy slowly came back around the corner looking afraid, as if she had done something wrong. Nick smiled at her. If there’s any partying going on around here, I’d better be invited.

Cindy laughed again, rolling her head back on her shoulders. Sure thing, Nick. I’ll be up front. If you need anything give me a holler.

A few hours later, Nick had counted all the money and had begun to go through the employees’ individual papers. He had to do this to ensure that nobody was stealing money, that everyone’s numbers added up properly, and that everything was where it should be.

While many people couldn’t stand the thought of sitting at that little desk punching numbers and checking for balances all day, Nick really enjoyed it. He was happy doing that. After all, he went to college to be an accountant.

Nick had always been good with numbers and he really enjoyed the challenge accounting had to offer. You just sit at your desk all day inputting numbers into the calculator, making sure they add up to what they’re supposed to. You’ve got to know what goes where. Because it is based on numbers it is routine and definite. It cannot stray because there are rules in numbers. And because it is accounting it is organized. Organization is the key to accounting. So this job was based around rules and organization: two things that Nick loved.

There’s also the game element in the job that he enjoyed. Finding out where a mistake is in all the numbers and trying to make it right is like a gigantic puzzle. It drives Nick up the walls when the numbers don’t add up and he gets frustrated when he can’t figure it out, but when he finally finds the answer he is really pleased. This small routine accomplishment that he makes every day is just as gratifying every time. It’s like finishing the puzzle and starting a new one.

Just as Nick was beginning to get restless with what he was doing, Max came to the back room to get some cleaning solution.

Max is a college student attending the local community college. After graduating at 18 he decided to take some time off to have some fun. He went on a few trips, had some crappy jobs, and shared some laughs. Ultimately though, the harsh realities of the world soon met up with him. He decided to finally go to college and get a degree. That’s when he started working at Nick’s gas station. It’s not too far from home or campus and Nick works around his class schedule.

When Max started at the community college, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, just as many other kids that age are. He started taking some of the general requirements and after a while became bored, so he enrolled in a few fun classes that he was interested in. One class that really grabbed his attention was Philosophy, and that’s what he ultimately decided he wanted to major in.

After a few months of working with Nick, Max began to feel really comfortable around him. They started becoming close friends and even began socializing outside of work at sports games or bars. Nick really enjoyed his company. Max was about 10 years behind him in age, and Nick had begun to see him as a younger brother. He had a lot of fun spending time with Max and just hanging out. It was also pretty nice to have someone younger and fresher around for a change instead of always hanging out with those older guys Nick usually hung out with.

Nick was very relieved when Max came walking into the back. He needed a break anyhow.

Hey, Max, when did you get in? Is it ten already? He shifted some papers aside to try to find his clock.

Max just shook his head and laughed. I’ve got news for you Nick, it’s almost noon. I got here at ten, but I decided to take care of all the outside work and stuff up at the register first today. Thought I’d change it up a bit, you know?

Yeah sure, whatever makes you happy. I can’t believe it’s so late already. I’ve got to get this money to the bank. I’m heading out early today so that I can stop by that rally at your school.

Max poured some cleaning solution into a mop bucket and began to fill it with hot water. He took a seat next to Nick on the crate. I thought you hated those things.

Yeah well, a friend of mine is going to be introducing Roughan and he asked me to be there. I haven’t seen him in a couple months and I figured I might as well go. It’d do me some good to get out of here for a bit anyhow. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk.

Well, that’s cool I guess. Hey, are we still on for tonight?

Uhhh what’s tonight? Nick asked.

Smokey’s. It’s Tuesday. We always go to Smokey’s for drinks. It’s not like that’s anything new, boss.

Oh yeah. Nick laughed and shook his head at his memory slip. Jeez am I really getting so old that I can’t remember something we do every week?

That was when they heard the dripping sound. Immediately Max and Nick both looked over at the overflowing mop bucket a few feet away. Water and soap foam were pouring out from the top of the bucket. Max jumped up and ran over to turn off the water.

Am I really getting so old that I can’t remember to turn off the faucet? Max joked, grabbing the dry mop a few feet away next to the brooms.

Nick simply laughed. I’ve got to get to the bank real quick. Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone…- or flood it.

Ha-ha very funny, Nick. You know, it’s not nice to laugh at someone else’s misfortunes.

Oh jeez. You’d better hurry up and run along home if you wanna catch Oprah today, Max. They both laughed. That was how their friendship worked.

Nick put the money in a money bag and locked up his desk drawers. Oh, and go throw some stuff in the cooler while I’m gone will ya?

Max rang out the mop and continued to mop up the wet floor. No problem, boss, as soon as I’m done cleaning up my mess.

After taking the money to the bank, Nick stopped at the sandwich shop next door and grabbed some lunch for himself, Max and Cindy. That was one of the reasons they loved him so much. He was their boss and yet he always went out of his way to do more than necessary for them. The way Nick saw it, the more you go out of your way for others, the more it’ll rub off on them.

He took the lunch and headed back to the store where he ate with Max in the back and then did a little bit more paperwork. He gathered some work to take home so that he wouldn’t get behind from leaving work early and then left for the rally.

Chapter Two

Traffic was packed on the way to the University campus. It took Nick 45 minutes to make the 20-minute trip. Turning off of Atherton Street onto Bellflower Boulevard, Nick could see the main entrance to the campus up ahead. He’d have to inch his way there like dozens of other cars that sat ahead of him, all waiting to gain their own entry. All along the sides of the road were college students coming and going from the University to the refuge of the bars and shops off campus. Rally supporters stood all along the curb wearing various ‘Save the Environment’ types of attire.

There were shirts, hats and buttons with pictures of the Earth and slogans such as Heal the World and Save the Environment. One in particular that stood out to Nick, because it made him laugh, was a black beater worn by a younger man. He was probably a sophomore and easily stretched the beater to give it shape, made possible by hours in the campus gym. On the front of the beater there was a picture of the Earth and the words Mother Nature above it. Below the Earth it said WOULD YOU KILL YOUR MOTHER? in capital letters with emphasis on YOUR. The ridiculousness of it made Nick crack up.

Jeez these people take this shit seriously, Nick thought to himself as he nudged forward another few feet. Another man on the other side of the road a few cars down surprised Nick even more. He had a poster attached to a pole, which he was waving back and forth while screaming at the cars and their drivers about some great fire. Nick could just make out a picture of the Earth on fire like a giant fireball. Above it were the words: The end is near. Nick shook his head. Must be an art student!

There were other people, not just students, walking down the sides of the streets and in between the packed cars. They walked car to car, person to person, passing out flyers. Nick knew he didn’t want to know what was on all of them and he quickly rolled up his windows and turned on the A/C. He was there solely to see Jack and hear his speech and then would get the hell out of that madhouse. He didn’t care about the guest speakers or any of the other crap they had organized for the rally. It was watch Jack, say hello, and get out.

After finally making it to the main entrance of the campus Nick, sat up straight in his seat, excited to park and get out of the car. Sitting in all the traffic made him feel cramped and uncomfortable. When he turned left onto Beach Drive, he was greeted by the giant CSULB sign and beyond it more traffic. There were people working for the campus directing traffic and trying to organize the parking. Since school was still in session, the reserved faculty and student parking lots were blocked off, leaving only