Mended Hero

Chapter 6

   Eclipse leans against the wall as she watches Anna perform on stage, smiling softly. The festivities were just getting into full swing and the president would be coming soon. She noticed her family cheering from the back. Having her family back made today a little more bearable. The presidential limo pulling up signaled the president's arrival.

Eclipse stands a little straighter as the door opens and the tall slender man steps out. His brown hair moves in the gentle breeze as he looks around with a smile. A second limo pulled up behind him and 5 men stepped out, accompanied by their SOs. Eclipse had met most of their SOs before they had been deployed and she was happy to see them all still together. Only 1 new face stood out to her, a young sandy blonde woman who hung on the newer member of the squad. She smiled slightly before wiping the emotions from her face and approaching the president.

"Mr. President, it's been a while." She gives a confident smile as she shakes his hand.

"Ah! Stronggirl! Yes, last I saw you was when we had sent the extraction team for you. How have you been?" He smiles brightly.

"A lot better than I was then" She chuckles as the small group joins them. "The squad of the missing soldier, it's an honor to meet you."

The older man with dark brown hair and blue/grey eyes steps forward, shaking her hand. "Thank you, my name is John, and this is my wife, Lisa. This is Caleb and his wife Rachel, Troy and his wife Nia, Sam and his wife Tiana, and lastly Nathan and his girlfriend Sasha." He introduces the men who bow in turn.

"Pardon me, but I heard the president call you Stronggirl... is that a code name or something?" Sam, a black-haired man with brown eyes asks.

"Or something..." Eclipse chuckles and looks at the president. "How much did you tell them?"

"I figured they would believe more after watching than if I told them." He chuckles back.

"Gotcha... well then I will leave it at that. Welcome to Sapphire Island and our academy." She bows slightly. "Now if you want to follow me for the presidential speech then we can begin."

Eclipse leads him to the stage as Anna finishes and jumps off the stage. She smiles at Eclipse and runs over to kiss her cheek quickly before running towards the back of the stage. Eclipse ignores the look the president gives her as she climbs the steps and allows him to approach the mic.

His voice rings out as he addresses the crowd, thanking them for their support and speaking on the day. As his speech comes to a close, he motions towards Eclipse.

"In order to honor our brave men and women, I have asked Stronggirl to sing a song dedicated to them." He claps as she straightens her mic and steps into the spotlight.

Her deep voice rang over the crowd as she sang 'Mr. Red, White, and Blue' by Coffey Anderson. Behind her, the squad stood in a salute and a picture of the flag flew om the screen above her head. She finished the song and began to walk off the stage when a loud voice bellows from the crowd.

"Hold on right there." A man jumped on stage, pointing a gun at Eclipse.

The gun didn't look normal, the aura radiating from it made her curious though she didn't show it as she looked at him with a bored expression. He smirks.

"Mr. President... I believe you owe us the truth. The missing soldier, their body wasn't recovered. Not because it was lost but because they never died. They returned home and you've been hiding them all this time. Isn't that correct?" Eclipse raised an eyebrow at the man.

"And where did you hear such a thing?" The president asks calmly.

"I was there that day. My father was the general who sentenced the soldier to death. They were placed in front of a firing line but as the execution began, a wall of ice protected them. They fled before we could apprehend them once more. My gather was ostracized and called crazy by his fellow soldiers. He ended up committing suicide after your rescue mission and I was forced to surrender. They were lenient with me however and let me go, chalking it up to a young man under his father thumb." He grits his teeth.

"But I never forgot that monster. I discovered the US had this hidden island where they harbored monsters just like them and I came to investigate. I found its true and I'm sure that your soldier is here as well." He stops and glares at them as the troop exchange surprised glances.

Eclipse looks at the president and he nods so she takes over. "So, you call us monsters but you think it's safe to point a gun at one?"

He smirks as she takes a step towards him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. This gun is no ordinary gun it can..."

"Shoot bullets that have the power of different elements. I'm aware. Too bad I can control all of those elements." She waves her hand, and a vine wraps around his wrist and the gun, pulling it from his grasp.

The gun flies through the air, being caught by Anna. He turns to run but tendrils of darkness wrap around his body and holds him in place.

"He's all yours." Eclipse waves at the cops.

The president stops beside her and looks at the squad who was patiently waiting.

"I think it's time we had a talk." He looked at Eclipse as she sighs.

"You can use the tent behind the stage. I need to handle this, but I'll join you momentarily.

He nods and takes the men to the back while she reorganizes everything.

"How could you keep this from us?!" The angry voice reaches her ears as she approaches the tent several minutes later.

She frowns at Caleb's outburst. The man had always been a hothead. She can hear his wife trying to calm him down as she gives the students around the area a look. They scatter quickly as she grabs the tent flap.

"We deserved to know. You had no right to keep this from us so why did you?!" Caleb continued as she opens the tent, and they turn towards her in shock.

"Because I asked him too. Now sit down and shut up Caleb, before your temper gets you in trouble again." She glares at him as he slowly sits down, more in shock than listening to her.

"The young man had every right to be mad Eclipse." The president spoke up gently, causing the men to tense up at her name.

"Then he can be mad at me. I made the call to keep it a secret from them." Eclipse sighs as she grabs a chair and flips it around, sitting on it backwards. "now, if you guys will actually sit still and be quiet, I can explain my reasoning. Understand?"

The men nod slowly so she begins. "When I came back, I had every intention of being there for the rescue..."

"Then why weren't you?" Nathan grumbles, shutting up when she gives him a look.

"As I was saying... I had every intention of joining the rescue team and explaining everything to you. However, preparations took a long time. When I was told, they were going to extract you, I had to withdraw. Circumstances in my life at the time made it dangerous to reveal myself to you. Someone wanted me dead at the time and I feared they'd go after you all. Things have just been... hectic this last decade and I never had the ability to speak with you since." She stops and allows them to absorb the information.

"With all that said... I do owe you an apology." They look at her in surprise. "I should have found a way to make it easier on you guys, but I was wrapped up in my own problems. For that I am sorry."

They were quiet for a moment before John speaks up. "We understand you were in a difficult position and I, at least, accept your apology."

The rest nod in agreement.

"Good. Unfortunately, I can't stay with you guys now. My adoptive brother and I are the founders of this academy, and therefore in charge of the event." She smiles softly as she stands. "I promise I will chat whenever I have time so go enjoy some fun."

She walks out of the tent and finds Anna waiting for her on the other side. "You handled that well my love."

She chuckles, "Thankyou... let's go. You have a song coming up after all."