September 6, 2017
8.30 am, Naval Air Station Key West, USA
Fire watches his team through the observation glass. 5 bodies occupy the well-lit room of 6 beds. Each individual is connected to many medical apparatus, including IVs.
"They have been out for 5 hours." Dr. Kabeer Wong says, "But they have remained stable."
"Yet they aren't waking up?" Fire asks.
"Unfortunately, all attempts to wake them have failed." Dr. Wong says, "Maybe if I knew the compound that was used to poison you all."
"Did the poison do this?" Fire asks as he indicates himself.
"I do not know." Dr. Wong says with hesitation, "My gut tells me there is more to the story."
"Skull Reich." Fire says clenching his fists.
"What?" Dr. Wong asks.
"The entire mission was a trap to dispose of me." Fire says, "Orchestrated by a man calling himself Mad Scientist. He bragged about heading a secretive organization called Skull Reich."
"So abducting the President's granddaughters was part of a deeper plot?" Dr. Wong asks.
"I'm afraid so." Fire says then sighs, "As my Dad used to say, a hidden enemy is twice as lethal."
Both men stand in silence for a minute. Then Dr. Wong goes to the door and swipes his badge.
"We can debrief later." Dr. Wong says, "You go on inside. I will go get you some clothes."
Fire nods. He pushes open the door and steps in. Fire scans the rectangular windowless room. There are 3 beds against each side of the wall, leaving a spacious middle that Fire strolls down as he checks on each person. First is Spectrum, then Aviator and Shade, and finally Quake and Wave at the end of the room. All look asleep but if the Mad Scientist, the insane man who burned Fire alive, is to be believed then his teammates might not live past this day.
Steam rises out of Fire as he watches his friends, his family, lie helpless. The day wasn't supposed to go like this. They were all supposed to be on a day-long party at the Orphanage for his retirement. The kids even had a surprise party all planned out but you can't surprise a master spy. Now, all of that was in the air.
Fire clenches his fist, allowing himself this moment to feel anger. 'I wish I was stronger.'
"I do not know if your old size still-" Dr. Wong says, "AIDAN!"
Standing at the other end of the room is Fire on fire again. His blanket blazes.
"Doc." Fire says as he snaps out of his momentary anger.
"You are on fire again." Dr. Wong says, "Can you not feel it?"
"Really?" Fire asks as he examines himself, "Apparently I can't. What's happening to me Doc?"
"I really do not know." Dr. Wong says, "But you have to control it. Try calming down like before."
The fire subsides as Fire tempers his temper. The burning blanket snuffs out, leaving Fire standing in a tattered burnt covering.
"At least now I am sure that you were the source of the fire." Dr. Wong says as he throws the clothes in his arm to Fire, "Here."
"So I pass out and wake up with superpowers..." Fire comments as he catches the clothes, "Why aren't you panicking?"
"Panic does not solve problems." Dr. Wong says, "A calm scientific approach will. Put those on."
Fire looks at the pair of black medical scrubs.
"All I could find for the moment." Dr. Wong says, "So do not burn them."
"Shoes?" Fire asks.
"Crocs." Dr. Wong answers as he hands over a pair of black iconic crocs.
Fire takes the crocs and places them on the floor. He strips off the burnt blanket, revealing perfectly unblemished skin that practically glistens. Soon, this nakedness is covered with a black top and bottom medical scrubs. He slips on the crocs.
"This works." Fire says as he checks the outfit.
"I need a sample of your blood." Dr. Wong says as gestures to the nearby bed, "To learn more about the changes you are experiencing."
Fire makes his way back towards the door which has the only available bed in the ward. He sits down. Dr. Wong disinfects his hand with the wall-mounted sanitizer then moves to Fire's left side. Dr. Wong pulls in a nearby metal tray table. Organized neatly on the tray is a pair of gloves, one glass tube with a plastic cap, clear tape, gauze, a chlorhexidine sanitary wipe sachet, vacutainer with a needle, and a tourniquet.
"Arm here." Dr. Wong says as he puts on the pair of gloves.
Fire compiles, laying his arm on the tray table. Dr. Wong aligns Fire's arm then ties the tourniquet just below Fire's left biceps. Dr. Wong then palpates the elbow pit zone, finding a vein. He rips open the chlorhexidine sanitary wipe sachet, using the wipe to sanitize the zone. Fire watches as Dr. Wong reaches for the vacutainer and uncaps the needle.
Dr. Wong slowly propels the needle to the vein, attempting to penetrate Fire's skin. The needle incredibly glides past. Dr. Wong reattempts to poke Fire with the needle a little more forcefully but this time the needle bends, curving away. Both men stare at the incredulous scene.
"This might explain why you remain unburned…" Dr. Wong says.
"I did feel the prick." Fire says slowly.
"So you still feel but seem not to get injured." Dr. Wong says, "Let me try something crazy."
Dr. Wong walks away then returns wielding a scalpel.
"Doc…" Fire says.
"I will be gentle." Dr. Wong says as he runs the blade along Fire's arm, "Tell me what you feel."
"I feel the blade but no pain." Fire says in confusion at the lack of pain or blood.
"Incredible." Dr. Wong says, "I will try harder."
"I feel it but…" Fire says.
"No injuries at all." Dr. Wong says then switches to gripping the scalpel, "I will try stabbing."
"What the hell is going on?" CIA Director Nick Jones says as he pushes open the door.
September 6, 2017
8.18 am, Naval Air Station Key West, USA
"Still nothing?" CIA Director Nick Jones asks as he looks at the computer screen.
This is occurring in a section of a large aircraft hangar. This hangar, code-named Blazes, is an unofficial CIA operation and storage center. It serves as a secure "Gray site", protected by the US military, for the CIA to conduct more questionable operations without direct oversight. It is occupied by cargo with unknown destinations and busy officers all minding their own business.
"I have never seen this type of encryption before, Sir." Logan, in front of the computer, says.
"Alright. Wrap it up for secure transport." Director Jones says, "I will be back in a few minutes."
"Yes, Sir." Logan responds.
Director Jones makes his way outside, past the side doors and into the fresh Florida morning air. The doors lock securely behind him. Jones admires the scenery of the quasi-lively military base. Even though the hangar is in a secluded spot, Jones can still see planes taking off and landing from the distant runways to the south. A towering naval warship looms in the distant waters to the west. Jones smiles. He holds a sweet spot for the navy even though the CIA had won him over early in his career. A ringing suddenly interrupts his momentary reminisce.
"Director Jones." Director Jones answers with a tap of his AirPods.
"This is Captain Mark Keyes." The voice on the AirPods says, "There is a small fire on the floor of your burn victim. It is currently under control."
"Thank you." Director Jones says as he turns to the direction of the clinic, "On my way."
The call ends. Jones sighs. Then he pulls out his iPhone, dials FBI Director Don Bridges to update the President on the current situation. The call is short. Overall, a bad situation. Fire suffering 3rd degree burns to his entire body. The rest of the team incapacitated by an unknown substance. Now a fire on the same floor as Fire.
'How did your last mission turn into this, Old Fire?' Jones thinks to himself as he starts jogging.
8.35 am
The elevator doors open, revealing a chaotic hallway to Director Jones. People in fire fighting uniforms are busying through the wet floor. The walls are scorched but no flames remain.
'What in blazes?' Jones thinks to himself.
Director Jones proceeds out of the elevator, making his way swiftly to Fire's room. He eventually arrives at the room. The room and the surrounding hallway are burned charcoal black. Standing guard in front of the doorway are two gun-wielding male MPs.
"Director Jones." Director Jones says showing his badge then asking, "What happened here?"
"We don't know, Sir." The MP on the left answers.
"This is more than a small fire." Director Jones says, "What about the patient inside?"
"No body was recovered, Sir." The MP on the left answers again.
"But the Doctor overseeing the patient left with someone." The MP on the right adds.
"Oh yeah, the naked guy." The MP on the left says.
"Naked guy?" Director Jones asks.
"Permission to speak freely, Sir?" The MP on the right asks.
"Granted to both of you." Director Jones says with a nod.
"It was crazy." The MP on the left says, "We surrounded this guy who was on fire."
"He was standing there, not aware he was on fire!" The MP on the right says.
"We tried to hose him down but the flames didn't die down." The MP on the right says.
"Then a Doctor came running, telling us to hold our fire." The MP on the left says.
"He told the guy who was on fire to calm down." The MP on the right says.
"And suddenly, the fire dies down and this dude is standing naked." The MP on the left says.
"Perfectly unharmed." The MP on the right says.
"So we give him a blanket and want to arrest him but…" The MP on the left says.
"The Doctor pulls out his badge and says it's for National Security." The MP on the right says.
"It's a crazy story but a few people saw it." The MP on the left says.
Director Jones glances between both men. He wonders for their sanity…
"How long ago did this happen?" Director Jones asks.
"I'd say about ten minutes ago." The MP on the right answers.
Suddenly, Director Jones' phone vibrates. He pulls it out. It is a text from Dr. Wong.
It reads, "Meet us in the underground ward. Quickly."
"Thank you, Gentlemen." Director Jones says as he walks away, "Your C.O will be in touch."
Jones runs back to the elevator, pushes the button. Soon the doors open. He steps in and chooses the B5. The door closes.
8.42 am.
The elevator doors open. Jones steps into the empty hallway. He had told Captain Keyes to restrict access to this floor and it seems the request is still in effect.
Jones makes his way to the ward where Team Six is being treated. As he rounds the corner, he peeks through the window to see Dr. Wong using a shiny object against someone. Looking closer, he sees the object in Dr. Wong's hand is a scalpel and the someone is a young man.
'What in blazes?' Jones asks himself, picking up his pace to the door.
Jones scans his badge then opens the door.
"What the hell is going on?" Director Jones asks.
"Calm down, Old Snake." The young man says.
Director Jones looks at the young man. He scrutinizes his facial features. Somewhere, in the recesses of his memory, an old face comes to the forefront of his mind. That old face overlays with the young face in front of him. Different eyes. Different hair. Yet the demeanor…
"Old Fire?" Director Jones asks.
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