September 6th, 2017
9.38 am, Naval Air Station Key West
Through the looking glass, Director Jones sees beds in disarray, signs of flooding, and multiple items scattered about. However, this wasn't why he had shouted out. And it wasn't because of the corpses either. Director Jones' scream had been directed at 2 M4 semi-automatic assault rifles and 4 Glock 17 handguns floating in midair in the room.
"Why are there floating guns?" Director Jones squeezes out.
"Quake." Aviator says.
"What?" Quake asks.
"The guns." Spectrum says.
"Oh! Right!" Quake says.
Quake snaps his fingers and the guns get crushed. This action alerts Wave, Kaori, and Dr. Kabeer Wong, causing them to look around before looking outside the observation glass at the stunned Director Jones. Fire stands beside Director Jones, looking at Kaori.
"What happened to Shade?" Fire asks.
"Oh, you missed it, Chief." Quake answers, "She transformed right after you left."
"Well, alright then." Fire says, then asks Director Jones, "Are you petrified, Old Snake?"
"I think I need a moment to catch up." Director Jones responds.
"Let's go in then." Fire says, leading the men to the now doorless entrance of the ward.
"What happened to the door?" Director Jones asks.
"That was my bad." Quake says sheepishly.
"He got carried away with his gravity powers." Aviator says.
"I didn't know my own strength." Quake says with a laughing shrug.
"Gravity?" Director Jones asks unsure, "So y'all have powers too?"
"Show him." Fire says.
Quake points his left hand at a nearby bed, it levitates off the floor by a foot then gradually settles back down. Aviator summons an airball in the palm of his right hand then dissipates it. Spectrum activates a blade of white light in his left hand then cancels it. Wave summons water from the ground with a wave of her right hand then lets it disperse.
"Age regression and powers." Director Jones says as he sits on a bed, "I definitely need a seat."
"Are you alright, Kaori?" Fire asks, shifting his attention.
"Yeah." Kaori answers, "Shade was out earlier because I sensed danger and panicked."
Chloe, Kaori, and Dr. Wong make their way to the group at the doorless entrance to the ward. They form a circle, with Director Jones being the only one sitting down looking at everyone.
"It was a remarkable transformation." Dr. Wong says.
"So we've all aged backward." Fire says, then asks, "What did you guys find at the bomb site?"
"A hole with a lot of rubble but Andy and Simon saw more." Shawn AKA Aviator answers.
"I could feel wreckage within the rubble." Andy AKA Quake says, "In fact, I believe that was how those bastards gained entry into the floor without anyone really knowing."
"I concur." Simon AKA Spectrum says, "Using my xray vision, I guess I will call it that, I saw remnants of some sort of a vessel in a 5 meter radius. But I am unsure why it exploded."
"Maybe it was an autodestruct." Wave says.
"Such stealth and secrecy." Dr. Wong says. "I shudder at the alternative if everyone had not awoken when they did. It could have been a while until anyone else checked in."
"Yeah, we got lucky." Fire says, "Digging their way in while distracting the surface, what a plan."
"Like in that movie!" Quake says, "From 2009, I think."
"Alright. Getting into the docks from the ocean, I can get." Director Jones says, "But tunneling to the clinic, in the middle of the base, with no one feeling anything? Come on."
"Actually, they also used tunnels in Mexico." Aviator says.
"That's how we escaped the missiles which caused that facility to collapse." Kaori chimes in.
"Yeah, I reckon this Skull Reich has advanced tunneling technology." Spectrum says.
"We could use local seismometers to verify." Quake suggests.
"Alright." Director Jones says as he stands up to join in, "Too many freaky things at once."
"We need to debrief." Fire says, "But, if Skull Reich knew exactly how to find the team then…"
"There's a spy around." Director Jones says, "Captain Keyes looks like an honorable man."
"Being in command is too obvious for a leak." Fire says.
"Hmm." Director Jones says then asks, "What are you suggesting?"
"We use outsiders to lock down this area while we investigate." Fire says.
"So that's why you want to bring in your mentee." Director Jones catches on.
"I trust him." Fire adds, "And the probability of a spy being with a visitor is low."
"What should I tell Captain Keyes?" Director Jones asks.
"Underground explosion, unstable area, yada yada." Quake suggests.
"Then he would have every reason to get involved." Director Jones says.
"Just need someone with higher authority…" Fire begins to say when he gets interrupted.
"Hold on." Director Jones says as he checks his ringing phone, "It's the FBI Director."
"What might he want?" Fire asks.
"I was updating the President through him." Director Jones says, "He could still be with her."
Director Jones picks up the call, raising the phone to his left ear since his AirPods were out.
"Director Jones." Director Jones says.
"At long last." FBI Director Don Bridges says, "The President asked me to get in touch with you."
"Yeah, I'm at the scene." Director Jones says, "Situation is under control."
"That's good." Director Bridges says, "The President is on a call but I might be able to get you-."
"No need. There's a lot to unpack and digest." Director Jones says, interrupting Bridges.
"So we'll have a full debrief at say 11 am?" Director Jones says as he looks at Fire.
Fire nods.
"Yeah, debrief at 11." Director Jones says, "The President can call me then, she'll want to sit in."
"Debrief at 11 am." Director Bridges says, "I will relay the message."
"In the meantime, we need her to call on the C.O. of this base, Captain Mark Keyes, to authorize a special lockdown." Director Jones says.
"Special lockdown?" Director Bridges asks, "What do you mean?"
"There's an information leak." Director Jones says, "For the sake of National Security, I'm requesting that Captain Keyes pull back his people from the base clinic. General Beggingson of the USMC is currently around with some Marines. His Marines can temporarily secure the area."
"Are you asking to have the clinic locked down during an ongoing crisis?" Director Bridges asks, "All because you suspect an information leak?"
"Not the entire clinic, just the basement floors which are already empty." Director Jones clarifies, "And yes. A mighty big leak with far reaching National Security implications."
"That's a mighty big insinuation, Jones." Director Bridges says, "And still a mighty big ask."
"Well I'm the one asking." Director Jones says, "Relay the message."
"Alright." Director Bridges says, "Anything else?"
"Good for now." Director Jones says as he ends the call, "Director Jones out."
"Let's hope that works." Fire says.
"Yeah." Director Jones says as he puts away his phone, "So what now?"
"We've this entire floor, correct?" Fire asks.
"Yeah." Director Jones answers, "And the next few floors above are empty."
"Then as soon as Beggingson arrives, we'll sort out logistics." Fire says as he reaches for his right ear, "I also knocked out and tied up an insurgent by Blazes. Ah, shit."
"What?" Director Jones asks.
"I had one of their ear pieces in my ear." Fire says, "Must've dropped it running here."
"Well, damn." Director Jones says, "In any case, General Beggingson's marines should be on the scene so you can ask him to hold that insurgent."
"Alright." Fire says.
"I sense movement." Quake says.
"It's probably Beggingson." Fire says, "He likes to be early so Jones and I go meet him."
"It's not even 10 am yet." Director Jones says, "What a long day this is shaping up to be."
"Indeed." Fire says, "In the meantime, everyone relocate to the next room over."
"What about the corpses?" Dr. Wong asks as he eyes the deceased masked men.
"I count six corpses." Fire says thoughtfully.
"Go on..." Director Jones says.
"Skull Reich attacked this base to accomplish two things, killing us and retrieving their hard drives." Fire says, "They failed. But, how many people did they endanger to get to us?"
"So what are you suggesting?" Director Jones asks, "That you fake your deaths?"
September 6th, 2017
0955, Naval Air Station Key West
"But Chief." Quake says, "We've superpowers now. We can handle whatever comes our way."
"We'll discuss everything further soon." Fire says, "But think it through. Skull Reich had no qualms attacking an American military base on US soil. We might not get hurt but others will."
Fire and Director Nick Jones exit the room and begin to walk to the stairwell entrance. They pace is gradual while they converse.
"Aren't you overreacting a little?" Director Sam Jones asks, "Taking Skull Reich too seriously?"
"Sam, they orchestrated and executed the abduction of the Presidents' granddaughters." Fire says then sighs, "There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent."
"Lao Tzu." Director Jones says while nodding his head, "Alright. Point made."
"This should be his retirement week as well." Fire says.
"Who?" Director Jones asks, "Beggingson?"
"Yeah." Fire says, "We were supposed to be celebrating retirement week together."
0953…
General George Beggingson had made the 3 minute walk from the Command Centre to the base clinic. On his way, he had seen the level of destruction wrecked across the base. Some people were critically wounded but no deaths had been reported yet. However, like all disasters, the death clock didn't stop when the crisis was over. Fortunately, none of his marines had reported injuries. He had even seen some of his marines running about lending aid.
When communications returned, General Beggingson had contacted the two captains commanding the rest of his 200 marines. With Captain Mark Keyes' blessings, General Beggingson ordered his captains to rally the troops to support and aid in any way they could. He was glad that they had acted quickly on his orders. He hoped their efforts would be enough.
At 0949, before he walked over, General Beggingson had received a call directly from President Gertrude Pond. She ordered him to aid Director Nick Jones in a National Security issue by locking down the clinic's basement. She assured him that Captain Keyes will be briefed.
The reason for the walk to the clinic was a call from Colonel Miranda Sheppard about 18 minutes ago. She had informed him that Director Jones met up with his asset and requested his presence at the clinic basement for a National Security issue. Her tone betrayed her suspicious view regarding the smoke and mirrors. But General Beggingson figured it had to do with his mentor and the mythical top secret team he leads. That would explain the President's direct call.
Now, General Beggingson salutes the saluting Colonel Sheppard and says, "At ease, Colonel."
"Sir." Colonel Sheppard says as she relaxes her stance, then pulls open the stairwell entrance.
"What's the sitrep?" General Beggingson says as he steps into the stairwell.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Colonel Sheppard asks as she follows in behind him.
"Permission granted." General Beggingson says as the duo descend down the concrete stairs.
"I don't like the situation, sir." Colonel Sheppard says, "First, he runs into the Command Center asking for backup. Only, before we get to the destination, he splits our forces to chase his asset. Then we arrive at the clinic only to be greeted by his asset, a scrappy man. Said asset hints at whatever is going on regarding National Security implications and Jones just goes along with it."
General Beggingson chuckles.
"Did a young man really get under your skin so much?" General Beggingson teases.
"Not funny, sir." Colonel Sheppard says in protest.
"You're right. The situation does look suspicious." General Beggingson says, "But, I've known Jones practically as long as I've been in uniform. I trust him. And the President called me about 5 minutes ago. Whatever's going on is definitely a National Security issue."
"The Commander-in-Chief called you?" Colonel Sheppard says in shock.
"Yes, she did." General Beggingson says, "I've been ordered to lock down this clinic's basement with my own forces. So, I will put you in charge of managing that. I already ordered the captains to aid the MPs so just utilize anyone not engaged in essential tasks."
"Yes, sir." Colonel Sheppard says.
General Beggingson and Colonel Sheppard approach the same two Marines who rode with Colonel Sheppard. The Marines salute the passing duo who reciprocates and continue past because the Marines are one floor above the fifth and final basement level. General Beggingson and Col Sheppard finally arrive at a door being held open by Director Nick Jones and a scrappy man General Beggingson had never seen before yet strikes him as strangely familiar. Déjà vu.
"General Beggingson, let's have that talk." Director Jones says, still holding the metal briefcase.
"Yes." General Beggingson says, snapping out of a mini riverie, "The President already called."
"Excellent." Director Jones says, "You can station your troops right at this entrance."
"Colonel, you've your orders." General Beggingson says.
"Sir." Colonel Sheppard says as she salutes before making her way back upstairs.
"I'm sorry but have we met before?" General Beggingson finally asks after being ushered in.
"When you were five, I came to your home with a letter." Fire says, "I stayed until you fell asleep tired from crying. I carried you to your bed. Even though you looked asleep, I said a quote."
Fire looks into General Beggingson's dawning eyes of realization then says, "Do not go gentle-"
"Into that good night." General Beggingson says softly then asks with wide eyes, "Uncle Aidan?"
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