Chereads / Powers Against The World / Chapter 259 - A Homely Arrival

Chapter 259 - A Homely Arrival

Jamal finally took a fresh breath of that morning air, the sun not even out yet. The weekend was indeed here, and the final log for the week's tasks had been completed. Now, after all this time could he finally see his family again.

Leaving the headquarters, Jamal looked to make sure that there were guards stationed on the gate and in his vicinity, which they were. You could never know when Youden or anyone with particular ideas could bring havoc. Not under his watch. The streetlights illuminated his path, as the man stayed on the sidewalks, late-night partying and events still heard throughout the background. Keeping focus, as several minutes past by before he was only a few short blocks away from the complex when he saw a lone figure in the middle of the road.

"Hello?" Jamal stopped moving, feeling his right hand slowly heating up.

"Oh, Jamal!" the figure moving towards him passing under a streetlight, revealing to be Hops. "What are you doing out and about this early?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Jamal looked behind, although there was nothing there. "I'm staying here for the weekend."

"That's great, man!" Hops shot him a grin, "I'm heading out to the gym. Tryna hit a PR of three thousand pounds."

"On squats?"

"You know it."

"Well, good luck with that. I don't think I can even do six hundred. Maybe in a leg press or something of sorts. I need to train more like that for sure."

Waving him goodbye, they both went their separate ways. Speaking of training, the final week for the militia's latest recruits was supposed to end by Saturday, so another six hundred more soldiers would bolster their numbers to up to 25,000. He himself had to inspect that group on Friday to make sure they were adequately prepared for the incoming weeks. With just a bit more time, would they finally end this madman, once and for all.

The good news for him, was after all that self-thought brought him much closer back to home, as he looked up to see two security guards blocking his way to the entrance.

"Excuse me guys." Jamal straightened up, as they took a quick look before being let through the installed gate.

Moving onward, he grasped the door handle and was just about to turn it when the lobby's light turned on. As strange as that was, he couldn't help but be curious as to who was up so early of a time, just as the door opened for him.

"Well, look who's back." Jamal looked down to see a smiling Ula looking up at him.

"It's been a minute," Jamal grinned back, as they embraced deeply, not letting go. "I've missed you."

"I have too."

Waiting for her to let go, Jamal glanced around the place, as it was filled to the brim with equipment and papers tacked onto the wall. The last time he was here, he recalled it was mainly due to the lack of space for prior planning before it was being moved to the headquarters. I guess they hadn't finished yet.

"How are the kids?" Jamal realized he hadn't found out yet.

"Oh, they're sleeping." Ula said, remembering the current time, "Want to see them?"

"Of course, baby."

Nodding, she grabbed his hand as she lead him to the back, towards the lone building's stairwell. Climbing up, they reached the second floor, as Ula lead him deeper into the hallway. Stopping in front of the final door, she took a quick peek inside, before completely opening the door. The dim room lay silent, as there was only a bed, a crib, and a few other pieces of furniture and toys laid about.

Making his way toward the bed, Jamal stared down at the covered figure, to which he grabbed the blanket and pulled back. There was his son, Laken, sleeping peacefully, with the man watching. Crouching down, he barely tapped his head, before a soft groan came from the kid's mouth.

"Pa?" the boy muttered quietly, before realizing who it was, "Pa!"

"Shhhh," Jamal put his hand to his mouth, looking back at his daughter, just as Laken was quick to wrap his arms around him, "I told you I would be back."

"I missed you, Pa." he could hear Laken start to cry, "I thought you weren't going to come back."

"Of course I was. It was only a few weeks." Jamal caressed his head, "But I got you a gift, like I promised."

Sniffling some tears, Laken looked up, as Jamal pulled out several pieces of paper from his pockets. Holding it out, it took Laken some time to process, before he grabbed it out of curiosity.

"What is this?"

"That's five hundred Youds, for your birthday."

"Jamal, what's he going to buy with that?" Ula turned to him, holding up Jackie, still sleeping.

"I'm sure you can help him with that." Jamal shot a yawn, "Anyway, I'll talk with you guys this morning, I've been working on some of the planning for the day, and this will be my only time for some rest."

"Alright, that's fine with us." Ula moved towards him, as they shared a quick kiss. "We'll give you some time to recover."

"Sounds good with me, I love you guys." Jamal hugged his son one last time.

"I love you too, Pa! Thanks for the gift!" Laken laughed with joy, with all the money he had.

Letting go, Jamal made his way out of the door and back towards the stairway. He was finally going to get some long-awaited rest and relaxation. Things couldn't have been getting better for him then this.