A Legacy Left behind - The Origin Stories

The investigation

Honolulu

Hawaii

Steve was enjoying his leave. He got up fairly late around eight am and started his days with a five-mile run on the beach followed by a five-mile swim in the sea. He took his time to enjoy the sea breeze on his heated skin as he ran and the feel of the salty water when he swam. Then a late breakfast and just hanging around in the house or maybe having a beer or two while sitting outside in the lanai watching the waves. Free from a strict schedule or any responsibilities, his mind was at peace and his body was relaxed. He knew this inner calm and peace would only last until his next deployment, but he had learned to make maximum use of the free time to just bask in it, whenever he was on leave.

He had been reconnecting with his dad as well. Since the passing of their mother, it had only been Steve, his sister Mary and their dad. He and his sister had been teenagers when the tragedy struck and they hadn't had the easiest time since then. His dad, John, had become withdrawn and buried himself in work. Mary had left a year later, when she turned 14, to live with their aunt Deb in the mainland. And Steve had just plowed through, losing himself in his studies. The moment he turned 18, he had announced his intention to enlist in the Navy. His dad hadn't been happy; a veteran himself and an active duty police officer, he hadn't wanted to see his only son joining the military. But Steve had stood firm by his decision. In the end, his dad had given his blessing and secretly enlisted his best friend from his military days, Joe White, to keep an eye on his son. Steve had only found out about it after he'd made Lieutenant. When Steve had returned from his first deployment, his dad had been much different. He had actively been trying to spend time with his son and talk to him. They had been slowly repairing the rift that had been there between them since the death of Doris McGarrett. Even Mary had started visiting soon after.

It'd been ten years now since he had first joined the Navy and Steve found that he looked forward to his leave more and more these days, which allowed him to spend time with his family.

..........

Steve was in the shop, buying the stuff he needed to go spearfishing with his dad the coming weekend when he received the call. The prefix belonging to the Pearl-Hickam Base on the screen of his phone sent a chill down his spine; a premonition of something gone wrong.

Base CO's Office

Pearl Harbor-Hickam Base

Hawaii

Thursday

Steve sat outside the office of Admiral H. Morrison. It was late evening but the base looked lively with personnel on corridors striding back and forth purposefully. Steve had had just enough time to head home after aborting his shopping and change into a uniform, before driving here to present himself for an urgent meeting with the Admiral. He had shown up fifteen minutes early and had been escorted by the Admiral's peppy PA to a waiting area. Now, sitting on the rather comfortable chair, twirling his service cap in one hand, he was beginning to wonder whether this was going to be the end of his leave.

"You may enter now, Commander McGarrett. The Admiral's ready for you." He entered the office as directed after knocking once firmly on the door.

"Lieutenant Commander, please take a seat."

Taking the offered seat as ordered, he was somewhat relieved to see, his immediate Supervisor, Commander Joe White was also there for the meeting.

"There's been an attack," Admiral Morrison began without preamble.

"Here's the initial investigation report." He handed a file to Steve, who noticed that his CO was also holding a copy of what looked the same.

"The location, that nondescript building you are looking at, used to be a CIA black site in Libya. And the photos that follow, were taken about a week ago. There was apparently an explosion and when the responders reached there, within about fifteen minutes, that was all that was left. The CIA and the NI had been investigating the attack and the aftermath together." Morrison paused.