Between a Rock & a Hard Place

By GA Hauser

In an apocalyptic future with dismal landscapes and constant war, two resistance fighters meet and join forces; one a mercenary the other an allied warrior. Together they go on secret military missions using the latest in cyber-technology and warfare. And in a world gone mad, devoid of peace and conventional family ties, they form a bond, unlike any other.
Until a cyber-hacker overrides their mission and they discover a reality that is not virtual. It’s at that moment they question everything they’re fighting for.
...and even more troubling, is if they’re on the right side of the battle.

Sworn male lovers fighting for what they believe in echoing past civilizations of the men who fought before them, centuries ago. These hybrids are created for battle; ruthless fighters that demand sex, food, and killing to be content.

This book contains homosexual content meant for mature audiences.
Sci-fi-porn

• Language: English
• Publisher: GA Hauser
• Release date: May 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370983537

GA Hauser

About the AuthorAuthor G.A. Hauser is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA. She attended university at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, and has a BA in Fine Art from William Paterson College in Wayne NJ where she graduated Cum Laude. As well as degrees in art, G.A. is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 1994 G.A. graduated the Washington State Police academy as a Peace Officer for the Seattle Police Department in Washington where she worked on the patrol division. She was awarded Officer of the Month in February 2000 for her work with recovering stolen vehicles and fingerprint matches to auto-theft and bank robbery suspects. After working for the Seattle Police, G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began to write full length gay romance novels. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has penned over 200 novels and short stories. Breaking into independent film, G. A. was the executive producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES which included TV star Shane Keough in its cast. CAPITAL GAMES had its Film Festival Premiere at Philly's Qfest, and its television premiere on OutTV. G.A. is the director and executive producer for her second film NAKED DRAGON, which is an interracial gay police/FBI drama filmed in Los Angeles with the outstanding cinematographer, Pete Borosh. (also the Cinematographer for Capital Games)The cover photographs of G.A.'s novels have been selected from talented and prolific photographers such as Dennis Dean, Dan Skinner, Michael Stokes, Tuta Veloso, Hans Withoos, and CJC Photography, as well as graphic comic artist, Arlen Schumer. Her cover designs have featured actors Chris Salvatore, Jeffery Patrick Olson, Tom Wolfe, and models Brian James Bradley, Bryan Feiss, Jimmy Thomas, Andre Flagger, among many others.Her advertisements have been printed in Attitude Magazine, LA Frontier, and Gay Times.G. A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, and Best Author 2007.G.A. was the guest speaker at the SLA conference in San Diego, in 2013, where she discussed women writing gay erotica and has attended numerous writers’ conventions across the country.

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BETWEEN A ROCK & A HARD PLACE

By

G.A.HAUSER

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2017

BETWEEN A ROCK & A HARD PLACE

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2017

ISBN Trade paperback: 978-1546-5574-2-5

© The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental.

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WARNING

This book contains material that maybe offensive to some: graphic language, homosexual relations, adult situations. Please store your books carefully where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.

First The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC publication:

May 2017

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Chapter 1

That smell. Once you knew it, you never forgot it.

Genesis-1 held his AK-15 to his chest. Even through the gasmask, he could smell burnt flesh and decay. He made a move, looking up at the buildings with glassless windows and crumbling brick.

Gunfire pops were going off in the distance. One more look at the toxic sky, a sky which was glowing red from the fires, and he made his way into the structure.

Floor by floor, room by room, Genesis cleared the area. He arrived at the top, peered out of a gaping hole, and could see troops moving behind walls and concrete slabs.

His breathing echoed in the gasmask competing with his heartbeat, which was pounding in his ears. He leaned back, away from the view from the street, and made his way back down. Then, he noticed stairs leading underground.

Genesis kicked open the remains of a metal door and listened, holding his breath. In the pitch darkness, he switched his gun-sight to night-vision and infrared sensors, and scanned the area.

Creeping forward, his rifle at eye-level, Genesis searched for life.

He used his boot heel to open another closed door, and aimed the weapon. Bodies, death, and garbage were all he could see.

Then, something moved and showed a heat signature.

He aimed at the dark mass and approached.

A man wearing all black with cloth-mask around his mouth and nose to avoid the contaminants, was lying on his side, clutching his leg.

Genesis stood over him. The man stared back with light eyes, a rare trait.

Slinging his rifle to his shoulder, Genesis reached down for the man. He held onto him and his arm was squeezed through his uniform. He hauled the man up and the man limped as he tried to stand on his wounded leg. As they touched, their embedded computer chips communicated.

They said nothing verbally.

Genesis escorted him to the stairs. Trying to be patient, he kept the man moving as he listened for attackers.

They made it to the ground floor, and Genesis waited for the man to gain his strength after the struggle up stairs.

He was given a nod.

By the man’s uniform, Genesis could see he was an ally. He didn’t regard the man’s personal information yet, not until he got him out alive.

They stood at the collapsed entrance and Genesis scanned the area with his chip. He put his arm around the man and began to help him out.

~

Rock had thought he was a dead man.

The ambush and explosion had devastated the few hiding out. He had taken a piece of shrapnel in his leg and fallen to the ground. Moments before this military man with the AK-15 had found him, a roving gang of terrorists had discovered him and the rest of his team taking shelter after the air strikes.

Right before they killed him, an explosion from an unmanned drone rocked the building, scattering the enemy.

Now he knew the source of that bomb. It was the man’s team helping to rescue them.

Rock hopped on his good leg to scramble across the rubble-filled street. Mortar shells and automatic weapons blasted around them.

Even with his mouth and nose covered, Rock could taste the dust, gunpowder, toxic gasses, and smell the burning flesh.

He leaned heavily on this man, trying to figure out where he was going to be taken. There weren’t many safe havens here any longer. At least, none he was aware of. But, tunnels under the cities had been created everywhere.

Under a blind, one the color of the buildings around them, was a military vehicle. He was helped to lie across the back seat, and then the man sat behind the wheel.

Rock closed his eyes in pain as the military vehicle hit potholes and crevasses, jarring him against the metal interior. He gripped his upper leg, feeling the heat of his blood.

Blood.

Everyone dying or wounded shared the same thing. They were human beings and ran with blood when injured. But, in this war, no one seemed to remember the people dying were still human.

~

Genesis held his rifle on his lap and drove over one of the bombed out roads to his base. He was low on ammo and knew if he left anyone behind, they would be tortured.

Seeing a large explosion in the distance, Genesis leaned closer to the cracked windshield and looked skyward.

Fighter jets were passing, dropping their load of explosives.

He gripped the wheel and hit the gas.

Hours later he had made it to the camp. He rolled to a security checkpoint and held up his right hand, one containing a computer chip. It was scanned and he was acknowledged.

A barrier wall split, moving-up and down, as he drove along a ramp to an underground bunker.

A-I bots using green lights, guided him to a parking spot.

Genesis climbed out and had a look at his passenger. The man’s eyes were closed and he was losing blood.

Their medic unit raced towards him and began to attend the wounded man.

Genesis removed his gasmask and a glove and wiped the sweat off his face. More medics arrived with a stretcher. They managed to get the big man onto it, and carry him into the hospital unit.

~

Rock tried to stay conscious. As he was transported, he could see the dark ceilings of the underground network, and hear radio frequencies and coded broadcasts being scanned.

He was placed on a bed and his clothing was cut off.

As he allowed the medics to attend him, the man who had brought him here, pulled the cloth mask off his face.

Rock gasped for air and had his first look at his savior.

The man leaned over him. Who are you? he asked.

I am Rock. I’m a resistance fighter. We were ambushed.

Genesis-1. I work with the allies.

A merc? Rock felt them cleaning his wound and withstood the pain.

Yes.

Thank you. He reached out his hand.

It was clasped and Genesis held tight. Their computer chips communicated and created a bond.

One of the women working on him said, We’re going to inject the area to numb it so we can remove the shrapnel.

Do what you have to do. Rock didn’t release Genesis’ hand. He gazed into his eyes and knew. He knew this mercenary was one of the powerful ones. Why else would he be hunting alone?

A needle was pushed against his leg. The automated injection sent an analgesic mixture into his blood. It only stung for a second, then the relief was instant.

He relaxed his tensed muscles and kept his gaze locked on the warrior. Genesis was watching the metal being removed from his leg.

He heard the shrapnel clang as it was dropped into a tray and then the tug of sutures. His face was dabbed with a cloth to cool him.

You’re going to fight another day. Genesis released his hand.

Find me.

I will.

~

Genesis left the medic crew to do their work. He tucked his mask under his arm, his rifle over his shoulder, and headed to the decontamination area. Before he removed his gear, his sensor warmed. He was instructed to report immediately to their debriefing chamber. Although it wasn’t unheard of to be summoned before he could clean up, it wasn’t the norm. As requested, Genesis obeyed orders.

He was greeted by the generals as he entered the war-room.

Genesis set his gun and mask down with his gloves, and had a look at the holographic monitor, which showed where the worst fighting was occurring.

Any survivors?

One. He pointed to the map. Here.

Where is he?

Being treated for a leg wound. He’ll be able to fight soon. Genesis was handed a foil pack with synthetic food. He tore the top with his teeth and squeezed the contents into his mouth.

Our front line has moved. We need to focus the effort here.

Once he swallowed the thick substance, which tasted like malt, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I need a target. Who do you want dead?

The general tapped a red button on the panel and their ‘most wanted’ list appeared on the screen.

We have intel that this man is hiding out in Rifter’s Edge. He’s surrounded by guards. He’s the head of the snake.

Genesis handed the empty energy source packet to one of the A-I bot assistants, and studied the enemy’s face. He nodded after he had scanned the details into his chip.

The information on the screen was downloaded. How soon? he asked.

Sooner the better.

I need ammo and detonators.

We know.

~

Rock squeezed the packet of synthetic food into his mouth. With the metal removed from his thigh, the flesh around it anesthetized, he mended quickly.

His lungs were coated with mist to ease the burning from breathing the toxic air. He was decontaminated first, then once more fitted with a uniform. He swallowed the nutrients he craved and then watched the activity around him. Fighters came and went, those without life-threatening injuries were sent back out to battle.

He threw away the empty food pack and was helped into the black resistance uniform jumpsuit. He tugged it up, feeling the snug fit and then fastened the front.

Sitting to put on the new steel-toed boots, Rock looked up when a man stood before him.

A rifle, one fitted with an extended clip, was ready for him.

Rock thanked the assistants who had given him food and clothing while inside the medical facility, and rose to his feet. He was face to face with a highly trained killer.

You’re with me now. Genesis held two automatic weapons, as well as having several incendiary devices strapped to his belt.

Rock was given a helmet and eye protection. He accepted both, feeling the muscles of his thigh pulsate as the numbing agent dissipated. The skin glue worked to keep the sutures sealed before they dissolved. But, the healing was instant.

Once Rock was armed and outfitted for battle, Genesis led the way out.

They cleared the underground camp and were assigned a new vehicle. Rock watched as Genesis loaded the armored military vehicle with explosives.

He was instructed to get in, and sat down in the passenger’s side, his rifle between his knees.

Genesis started the engine and headed out.

What’s our target? Rock asked.

Before he left the secure location, the tough man tapped a red button on the dashboard.

A hologram appeared of an enemy target site.

Rock studied it as Genesis left the secure compound.

~

He downloaded the tracking information into his vehicle computer. A red flashing line that only he and Rock could see appeared out in front of the grill. Genesis flew over the dark roads avoiding craters left by the blasting.

Flashes of light lit the horizon as the air-attack reached a new level.

When an explosion lit up the pocked road they were on, he veered off, onto another street, and accelerated, getting them the hell out of the way. The blasted tarmac rained rocks and dirt down on them.

He drove to a deserted structure and shut down the vehicle. Taking the load of artillery with him, they put on their gasmasks. Rock picked up what Genesis couldn’t carry.

Genesis checked the location on his tracker. He signaled for Rock to follow.

With only two of them on foot they evaded detection, running from cover to cover, hiding in the shadows of blown out factories and office buildings.

Genesis leaned against one wall of a stone structure and pointed. The tracking device had led them to yet another tunnel system.

Rock nodded in understanding and he removed one of the incendiary devices and assembled it.

With his gloves off, Rock attached a detonator to the explosive.

Genesis held his AK-15 and kept watch.

Once he had finished, Rock indicated he was ready.

With his tracker honing in on his prey, Genesis moved in the shadows.

The target was beneath them, in a tunnel system taken over by the enemy. Genesis pointed to the spot.

Rock acknowledged him and did recon to find a drop point.

They both searched for the air duct. Rock alerted him to a vent. Genesis nodded and guarded him.

Rock pried off the cap and sent the explosive down the chute.

Genesis waited, his breathing loud in under his mask.

With his gloved hand, Rock counted down, then he gave a thumbs-up.

They left the area, and Genesis detonated the explosive.

The ground rumbled and shook and the noise was muffled but powerful.

Before the enemy could retaliate, the two men vanished in the darkness, back to the vehicle.

Genesis flew over the rutty streets as Rock knelt up, pointing his weapon out of the window.

A green light flashed on his computer pack.

‘Mission accomplished.’

~

Under the red sky, after hours on the road, they were cleared to enter the allied compound.

They left the military rig in a transportation depot and walked into the secure decontamination area.

Genesis removed his gasmask and helmet, and smiled at Rock.

Rock pointed his index finger at the handsome man like a gun, and winked.

Once they stowed their weapons and gear, Genesis approached Rock. Let me show you where to clean up. We have water.

Thanks. Rock rubbed his thigh, which itched as it healed.

The glue used to seal the wound was mixed with chemicals that rejuvenated skin and