Wonder World: Ignition

Moving Forward

Lincoln Cemetery

New Olympus, WA

30 April, 13:16 Pacific Time

John stared at the three white headstones with disbelief. He had expected to feel loss, or anger, or grief at the very least. Instead he felt nothing. The sun glimmered cheerfully on the marble, mocking the emptiness that threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn't believe they were gone. He couldn't remember anything that had happened after Oswel had kicked in the door. The massive explosion had killed fifteen people including six civilians and leveled half the block. Yet when John came to in the hospital the next day he barely had a scratch on him. Other than two cracked ribs where he had apparently been shot and a few other minor scrapes and bruises, he was perfectly healthy. He had lived and what was left of the three bravest men he knew were buried in the dirt beneath his feet. Why had he survived? What cruel twist of fate took his friends and left him behind? He angrily wiped tears from his chestnut colored cheek.

"You Sargent Mars?" asked a voice from behind him, startling him out of his stupor. He turned to see a thin man in a black suit walking towards him. His dark hair was receding, and his bushy beard was more salt than pepper.

"I used to be," john replied.

"I'm Charles Langley, I'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

"I've already been debriefed by JSOC. If you have questions, talk to them," John said curtly.

"I already have, that's why I'm here," said Langley.

"You with Homeland Security?" John asked.

"Something like that. I'm here on behalf of Uncle Sam to ..."

John cut him off. "Tell Uncle Sam I retired. I'm done with this." The two men stood in silence, John lost in thought. Finally, Langley spoke.

"I've read up on you. All four of you, actually. You and your team saved a lot of lives, and we're grateful," he began, studying John over the top of his glasses. When John didn't reply, he continued. "When you first joined the Army you told your commanding officer that you wanted to make a difference in this world. He said in your file that you insisted in being stationed in an active combat zone. That you wanted to know you were helping keep people safe, and that you were an excellent candidate for Delta Force."

"I already told you, I'm done with the military," John said angrily, wishing the government suit would just leave him the hell alone.

"I know. I'm not talking about the military. I'm talking about an opportunity to make a real difference," Langley said.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You should be dead," Langley said. "I'm not saying you're lucky. I'm saying there's no fucking way a normal human could survive that explosion. You have a gift, son, and you're not the only one. I work for a special task force formed to investigate reports of super-human abilities. At first the top brass thought the division was a joke, but once they heard the Russians have a soldier who can turn a fallout shelter into a pile of ash with just his eyes, we had more funding than you can shake your dick at."

"The Russians have a what?" John asked in disbelief.

"Tell you what, Mars. Why don't you stop by my office later this week? It's not best practice to discuss these things in public. Here's my card," he said as he turned to leave.

"Langley, wait! What did you mean about the Russians?"

"Not here, in my office. Why don't you stop by tomorrow?" Langley yelled over his shoulder, leaving John alone with his thoughts.