Chapter 76: Chapter 68 - Not Coming Home?
September 8th, 2017
5.33 pm, Hotel Key West, Florida
"It's all clear, Chief." Spectrum says as he and Fire suddenly turn visible again.
Spectrum and Fire are standing in the middle of a simply decorated and well-lit hotel room even with the curtains drawn. Both men are wearing dark suits and sunglasses. The bedroom's main occupant is Director Nick Jones, who is staring at his phone while sitting on the room's only bed.
"Right on time, Old Fire." Director Jones says as he looks up, "Still not used to your magic acts."
"Better catch up quick, Old Snake." Fire says as he extends his right arm to Director Jones.
"Your team has certainly kept me busy these few days." Director Jones says, accepting the help.
"Hey, I was ready to retire." Fire says as he pulls up Director Jones, "But we are still needed."
"How did you get in? The door and windows are locked." Director Jones asks, now standing.
"Phased through." Spectrum answers.
"Like a ghost?" Director Jones asks, pivoting his head to look at Spectrum.
"Yes but don't tell Marvel." Spectrum says.
"Anyways," Director Jones says facing Fire, "New IDs are in the briefcase."
The group walks to the nearby table which has a dark briefcase. Director Jones opens the lid, revealing 6 neat columns and 2 rows of passports and driver's licenses for 6 people. The District of Columbia driver's licenses show the 6 new faces of Team Six.
"Azeem Smith?" Spectrum asks as he picks his, then says, "Wait, they are all Smith."
The names on the IDs are Aidan Smith for Fire, Kuroi Smith for Shade, Azeem Smith for Spectrum, Khloe Smith for Wave, Chieloka Smith for Quake, and Haneul Smith for Aviator.
"Still a common enough name." Director Jones says.
"Smith…" Fire says as he picks up his ID.
"Not your fault." Director Jones says, reading Fire's thought process.
"No, but I was the target." Fire says.
"Even with your new powers, you aren't gods." Director Jones says.
"Spectrum." Fire says as he takes the IDs with his own new face, "Get these to everyone."
"Will do, Chief." Spectrum says as he closes the briefcase, "I will head to homebase after."
"Oh yeah, Beggingson and Wong should be on their way there." Director Jones says.
"They left around 12.30, so they should be there within an hour." Spectrum says, "I am off."
With a blink, Spectrum disappears with the briefcase leaving Director Jones and Fire alone.
"Damn! Can y'all fly yet?" Director Jones asks.
"We haven't tried." Fire says.
"Oh, there are reports from amateur astronomers who reported bright lights around the area and time of our air heist." Director Jones says.
"Ghost tracks." Fire notes.
"Better than nothing." Director Jones says then asks, "Drinks on me?"
"I need a walk." Fire says as he turns to walk to the door.
"The weight of the world doesn't always have to be on your shoulders." Director Jones says.
"Alena Smith would still be alive if I wasn't here." Fire says, "Tell me otherwise."
Director Jones stands contemplatively silent as he watches Fire's solitary back figure.
"She's yet another dead brave child." Fire says as he unlocks the door, "That's not going home."
"And I…" Fire says as he turns to look at Director Jones, "Am still here."
Fire opens the door then steps out onto the hallway carpet. He closes the door behind him, leaving the concerned gaze of his longest friend. Fire walks to the nearby stairwell exit.
"One death is a tragedy…" Director Jones says while looking at the closed door.
Spectrum arrives in the secret underground portion of the facility known as the Dojo. After authenticating his identity, the surround lights come on revealing a large yet cosy space. The flooring is mostly of a grey concrete-like design but a central space looks wooden. Monitors, currently blank, fully cover the wall that is opposite the only exit, a spiral staircase to a secret entrance in the house above. A few large flower pots sit on the four corners of the Dojo.
Spectrum makes his way to the 6 large lockers, containing personal items of each teammate of Team Six. His hand phases right through the metal casing, reaching into the locker and pulling contents out then putting them into the large open gym bag hanging across his chest in fluid motions. Luckily, everyone kept their most important personal items on the top shelf in each locker. He repeats this action for each locker, stuffing all the personal items he gets his hand on while his mind wanders as he stares up.
Spectrum's focus is on the house above, and away from the 5 mysterious necklace boxes he pulls into the gym bag. He is peering through the concrete roof as if waiting on something. As if on cue, movement. The lights above come on as 6 people fill the living room. Dr. Kabeer Wong, General Beggingson, Alfred, Ben, Charlotte, and Principal Janet Williams. The soundproofing means Spectrum can only watch but not hear what is about to unfold. No matter how much his heart will break at the coming scene, he must only watch on.
Wordlessly, it all plays out. General Beggingson, in civilian clothing, places a wooden briefcase on the centre table. He opens it and retrieves 6 neatly triangular-folded American flags. Dr. Wong speaks as General Beggingson arranges the flags on the table. Disbelief and looming sadness paint the faces of Principal Willams, Alfred, Ben, and Charlotte. Tears slowly form on Charlotte's eyes then stream down her cheeks.
Alfred shouts, then dashes to the house door and outside. Dr. Wong follows in stride. Charlotte gets hugged by Principal Williams, both faces in disarray. Ben's face is stuck in uncomprehending shock. General Beggingson looks down at the 6 flags.
Spectrum sighs, then casts his gaze towards Alfred who has run quite a distance. Spectrum could only imagine Alfred's screams into the evening sky. Fortunately, Dr. Wong is on his trail albeit much slower.
"Sorry." Spectrum murmurs as he refocuses his attention to his immediate surroundings. After a quick scan around, Spectrum turns off the lights and disappears into darkness. His heart throbs in pain for what he leaves behind. A new reality unfolds, one where he will be living away from his favorite children and their home together for an unknowable amount of time.
Chapter 77: Chapter 69 - Lost in the Rain?
September 8th, 2017
5.47 pm, Key West, Florida
"Just fantastic." Ruth Lane, AKA Ruthless, says as the rain washes upon her.
Frustration radiates from Ruthless's face as she races down the street while holding a red zippered padfolio above her short dark brown hair. Her comfortable yet increasingly wet round toe black leather flats propel her along the road with ease. Unfortunately, her short black skirt does nothing to shield her bare slender legs from heaven's chilly droplets. Although her cream buttoned top isn't see through, it still clings to her sensual curves. What a day to be braless.
Damn, I'm lost. Ruthless thinks to herself.
Her light brown eyes scan around until they land at a bright neon open sign through the storm. A restaurant. Ruthless checks for traffic then dashes across the street. Soon, she pushes the door and is inside the warmth of a small town restaurant. The lights are somewhat dim with mellow music, adding to the low buzz vibe. The space behind the front desk reveals a large rectangular room half-filled with happily dining customers. The hostess at the front desk greets Ruthless.
"Welcome to Blue's. Do you have a reservation?" The young hostess asks.
"I'm a little lost and it's rainy." Ruthless responds.
"Where were you heading to?" The hostess asks.
"Hotel Key West." Ruthless answers.
"That's about 3 blocks from here." The hostess says, "You are welcome to wait out the rain."
Ruthless looks outside the glass door, measuring the cloud cover.
"Don't worry, the weather should be sunny in 20 minutes." The hostess comforts.
"You don't mind that I'm soaking wet?" Ruthless asks.
"Ma'am, this is the Key West." The hostess answers merrily, "Come, I will seat you myself."
The hostess turns, giving Ruthless no option but to follow in tacit agreement. The eyes on the briefly stunned faces of various patrons of many sexes follow Ruthless as she nonchalantly walks down the central red carpet. The attention only stops when the party in focus arrives at an unoccupied dining booth.
"Right by the window so you can keep an eye on the weather." The hostess says.
"Thank you." Ruthless says as she sits down.
"Coffee?" The hostess asks.
"Black." Ruthless responds.
"I will send a waitress your way, ma'am." The hostess says as she walks off.
Ma'am? I just turned 44, not that old. Ruthless thinks to herself as she grabs nearby napkins.
Ruthless wipes off the water on her padfolio then unzips it to find its contents undamaged. She picks up her phone only to find it in low battery mode, the reason she got lost in the first place.
I should've just called an Uber, screw the damn budget. Ruthless thinks then her thoughts get interrupted by a voice.
"Here you go." A waitress says, placing a cup of coffee on the table.
"Thank you." Ruthless says.
"Would you like to order anything?" The waitress asks.
"Good for now." Ruthless answers then asks, "My phone is dead. Could you point me in the direction of Hotel Key West?"
"Sure." The waitress says, "Once you exit the doors, turn right and walk past 2 traffic lights. Turn left after crossing the second and the Hotel should come into view."
"Thank you." Ruthless says, noting down the directions on her pad, "I will wait out the rain."
"If you need anything else, just raise your hand, ma'am." The waitress says as she walks away.
Ruthless stares out at the window while sipping her coffee. She loses her attention on the rain clouds overhead while thoughts of her frustrating day pass through her head. Dead ends.
Not one clue. Ruthless thinks to herself.
Ten minutes later, a man in a nearby booth gets up. His eyes linger on Ruthless's turned back.
"Thanks for the patronage, sir." The waitress says to the partially inebriated middle-aged man.
"Yeah, yeah." The disordered man says as he staggers to the door.
This little episode totally escapes Ruthless's attention, as her mind is in the clouds with thought.
Well, there was the crematorium. A bunch of bodies brought in by the military? Although the description matches a certain CIA Director. Ruthless continues her internal monologue.
But what would he be doing here. Better question, is his presence a cause or effect of the attack… She ponders.
Suddenly, Ruthless is pulled from her thoughts by a passing figure. A tall man in sunglasses that seems undeterred by the rain, unaffected by the cold weather. Through the glass, this man's presence feels raw. Something about his walk, his aura draws her attention.
Sunglasses in the rain? Ruthless asks herself.
He's still in dark clothes. Is he one of the mourners from earlier? Did he know the dead girl? Ruthless asks herself.
Ruthless follows the man with her eyes, straining her neck in his direction as she watches his solitary back move past.
Broad shoulders. Ruthless thinks.
What am I thinking? Focus Ruthless. He is getting away. Follow or not? Possible scoop? Ruthless thinks.
Fuck it. He's heading towards my destination anyways. Ruthless says in her head.
Ruthless downs the rest of her coffee as she hurriedly packs up. She pulls out the only 20$ in her padfolio and deposits it beneath her now empty coffee as she stands up.
"Thanks!" Ruthless says as she heads to the restaurant door.
"Oh, it's you." The hostess says, then asks, "Looks like the rain is stopping, why not wait a little?"
"In a hurry. Money on table. Thanks!" Ruthless shouts as she exits the restaurant.
Ruthless runs onto the rainy street, and sprints towards the man's direction while holding her padfolio over her head. She can see him already past the first traffic light. He sticks out on the empty street with his jet black, orange-tipped hair.
Why orange? Ruthless wonders while she waits at the pedestrian lights.
The lights turn green and Ruthless bolts towards the man who is almost at the next light.
Should I yell? Yell what though? If I let on I'm a journalist, he might clam up. What the- Ruthless is thinking when all of sudden, she is grabbed and pulled into a small alleyway.
Suddenly, she is pressed against the nearby alley wall with her mouth covered. Ruthless's padfolio lays on the main street while she is held at knife point.
"Hush now, little missy." A man with crazy eyes and stinky breath says right to Ruthless's face.
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