Legend of the Seven

Chapter 52 - Freaky Situation?

September 6th, 2017

1000, Naval Air Station Key West

"It's me, Sinclair." Fire says with a nod, "I keep telling you, just call me Aidan. You're old too."

"My God, what happened to you?" General Beggingson asks, touching Fire's left shoulder.

General Beggingson cannot believe his eyes but that story can't be faked. Only he and Aidan, AKA Fire, would know the details of one of the darkest days in his life. The day he found out his father died in battle during the Vietnam war. He would follow in his father's footsteps yet now he has outlived his own father. Aidan became his surrogate father figure even though he was often absent. Now, Aidan stands before him almost 30 years younger on the verge of his retirement.

'He's real.' General George Sinclair Beggingson thinks to himself.

"I don't know." Fire says while also touching George's left shoulder, "It's been a freaky day."

"Go on." Director Nick Jones urges with a gentle elbow jab to Fire's rib, "Show him the thing."

Fire looks at Jones' cheeky grin and General Beggingson's 'what's about to happen' expression. Fire steps back. He slowly raises his right hand to eye level. Then, with a breath, Fire's hand is coated in a layer of red flames. Fire moves his fingers in a swirl, demonstrating it is not a trick.

"What in God's name is that?" General Beggingson says, jumping back with a fright.

"Tip of the iceberg." Fire says, clenching his fist close and killing the flames.

"Welcome to my day." Director Jones says chuckling, "Glad someone else actually reacted."

"I thought it prudent to loop you in." Fire says, "We could use an ally as we sort through this."

"By this you mean?" General Beggingson asks, still processing what he was just shown.

"Team Six undertook an operation to rescue the President's granddaughters late last night." Fire begins, "It did not go as planned. We were captured and poisoned."

"He was actually burned." Director Jones adds, "Alive."

"What?!" General Beggingson asks in shock.

"I'm better than healed." Fire says, "In any case, we escaped. But, we uncovered a secret force now hell bent on our execution. Not even taking shelter in a military base could deter them."

"So this attack was done in retaliation?" General Beggingson asks.

"They just wanted to kill us." Fire says.

"And to recover the hard drives taken from their facility." Director Jones says, holding up the metal briefcase still held in his hands, "Unfortunately, we don't know what's on them yet."

"The fact they even knew exactly where the team was is cause for concern." Fire says.

"Anyone hurt?" General Beggingson asks.

"Come and see for yourself." Fire says with a laugh.

The group make their way to the new room beside the old ward. This room has multiple windows with closed blinds. Standing by the door to the room is Quake.

"Hey, Beggingson." Quake says, putting his arm out for a fist bump, "Been a minute, brother."

"Andy?" Beggingson says unsure, reciprocating the fist bump.

"I know, I know." Quake says, "I lost my hulkiness but check this out."

Quake stretches out his left hand to a nearby unoccupied gurney. He gradually lifts his hand and, in turn, lifts the stretcher off the floor before settling it back down.