UPRISING GENERAL

Chapter Two: The Summons

The convoy of black cars cut through the night like a blade. Sirens were absent; secrecy was the armor of power. Inside the middle car, Thomas Bradley sat in silence, wrists still cuffed though he no longer belonged to the prison. His eyes stayed fixed on the blur of city lights outside the tinted window.

To the world, he was a disgraced convict just released, To the nation, he was a ghost,its most dangerous weapon.

The vehicle pulled into a heavily fortified compound. A pair of steel doors groaned open, and the car rolled to a stop in a dimly lit underground chamber.

Thomas stepped out, his every movement calm, precise. Guards in dark uniforms saluted as he passed, not daring to meet his gaze. At the end of a long corridor, the doors to the conference chamber parted.

Inside, the air vibrated with authority. A massive holographic projection shimmered into existence, a round table of the highest leaders, faces grave, eyes burning with respect. One by one, they rose to their feet and saluted.

“General Bradley,” the President’s voice boomed, steady yet warm. “Welcome back.”

Thomas inclined his head. “Mr. President.”

The President’s gaze softened. “You have carried burdens heavier than any man should bear. On behalf of the nation, we thank you.”

The holograms flickered, and the insignia of rank appeared above Thomas’s chest, a five-pointed star, gleaming with solemn brilliance.

“By unanimous vote, we hereby confer upon you the title of Five-Star General.”

The room echoed with salutes. Thomas remained still, the weight of the honor pressing against him. He had fought for years in the shadows, given everything, lost everything. Yet in this moment, the recognition tasted bittersweet.

“I thought…” he said quietly, “I thought I might finally lay down my arms.”

But the President’s expression hardened. He dismissed the other officials with a wave, and one by one, the holograms winked out until only he remained.

“I would not ask this of you unless the country itself stood on the brink,” the President said gravely. A sealed file slid across the table, its emblem blazing red.

 “One final mission, Bradley. Identify and neutralize a threat embedded deep within the nation’s core. You will have full clearance, unlimited authority. Mobilize whatever you require.”

Thomas’s jaw tightened. Retirement had always been a dream far out of reach, and yet he had dared to believe it might come today. But duty had once again knocked at his door.

He placed a hand over the file, his expression unreadable. “I accept.”

The President’s stern gaze softened with gratitude. “Then Godspeed, General.”

The chamber went dark as the projection dissolved, leaving Thomas standing alone. For a long moment, silence pressed in from every side. Then he exhaled slowly and turned toward the exit.

The world outside would still see him as a broken man, a divorced son-in-law. And for now, that disguise was his greatest weapon.

As he stepped back into the daylight, chaos erupted. “Thomas!”

A flash of red hair, a perfume laced with fire and temptation, before he could react, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him. He stiffened as a lithe figure pressed against his chest, her laughter ringing with shameless delight.

“You’re finally out! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

The guards lunged forward, shouting apologies, but Thomas raised a hand, halting them. With a sigh, he gently pried the woman off him, though her mischievous grin told him she had no intention of behaving.

“Clara,” he muttered. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Clara Zhao, daughter of his former subordinate, now the reigning CEO of Zedixon Group, a woman feared in the world of business but maddeningly bold in front of him. She pouted, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Shouldn’t be here? Please. The whole city is buzzing about your divorce. Did you really think I wouldn’t come?”

Thomas rubbed his forehead. “Clara…”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice just enough for only him to hear. “You’ve been locked away for months, humiliated by those people, abandoned by her. You think I’d let you walk out of here alone? Never.”

Her words were light, teasing, but in her eyes burned a loyalty that disarmed him. For years she had followed him, adored him, and loved him in silence. To her, he was not a son-in-law to be mocked, but a legend to be cherished.

The guards fidgeted awkwardly. Thomas finally waved them away, his tone resigned. “Fine. But no more theatrics.”

Clara’s grin widened. “Deal.”

She looped her arm through his, utterly ignoring the scandalized gasps of the bystanders. Together, they stepped into the waiting car, the night swallowing them whole.

And as the city lights glittered in the distance, Thomas’s thoughts turned cold. The mission file weighed heavily in his pocket. His enemies lurked in every shadow, alliances shifting like sand.

But perhaps the cruelest battle of all still waited at home, where love had already turned to ash. The general had returned. The storm was only beginning.