45 Accidental Activation

Thomas Conlin was reading the latest reports on Pearl Harbor in his quarters. He had spruced it up a little bit, he had some photos of him and a couple of buddies running through the specialized obstacle course. There were also some when he had gotten pretty hammered at the bar off hours. All in all, things had proceeded according to his plans, the bigger picture is that America has entered the war, pretty soon the Africa Campaign will begin, as well as some smaller fighting in Europe. The biggest contender for Africa is the Campaign in the Pacific, he only knew a little about that though. He fought in Africa and Europe mostly, the Pacific was for the Marines.

A soft knock at his door brought Thomas out of his musings and the voice he heard at his door had him quickly hiding his reports and he swiftly brought out a newspaper on the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

"May I come in?" The soft tone of Doctor Elaine's voice sounded from beyond the barrier that was his door.

"Absolutely Doctor, be my guest," Thomas said as he quickly opened the door for the doctor. Upon opening the door he was greeted by the sight of Doctor Elaine in a casual outfit with her lab coat on over them. She was wearing a navy blue skirt that cut off just after her knees and a deep purple blouse that simultaneously hid and accentuated her assets. Thomas stared appreciatively for a moment before he stepped aside and gestured for her to come in.

"You look lovely today, Doctor," Thomas said candidly.

Doctor Elaine laughed merrily before she replied, "Thank you for the compliment, but I am sure that my outfit wasn't the only thing you were admiring."

"Of course not Doctor," Thomas replied truthfully, there was no point in lying to her. "You also have a great figure and I was appreciating it."

"Well then appreciate away, young Captain." She smiled teasingly as she sat down on his bed, one leg crossed over the other. Doctor Elaine and Captain Thomas had gotten to know each other over the course of the last month and a half he had been here. He found her company to be delightful, but other than that, he didn't really want to take it any further himself. Probably for the best as well, he may end up dying again during this war, he wouldn't want to leave her widowed, or even worse, with his child.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Doctor?" Thomas asked, trying to get down to the bottom of whatever it was that she wanted.

"Straight to the point are we?" Doctor Elaine evaded as she got off his bed and walked over to his desk. She eyed the article on Pearl Harbor and looked at him with a smile.

"I can see you've been keeping up to date with news from the outside, but surely you know these numbers are...exaggerated..?"

"Of course I do, Doctor," Thomas said. " It is just that, well I thought I'd take a look at the local news and see what numbers they came up with for the bombing. Besides, you and I both know these numbers aren't true, considering that we armed that bases ships with some of the experimental armor plating and the new warning systems."

Doctor Elaine sauntered up to him before wrapping herself around him in a seductive way whispering into his ear, "I have a feeling that you know more than you're letting on...Captain."

"Even a man has his secrets Doctor," Thomas replied.

"Oh?" Doctor Elaine was surprised, but not too worried, she'd hear the truth later. "Well if that's the case, I guess I am going to just have to drag it out of you." Doctor Elaine kissed Thomas on the cheek lightly and before he could reply she said, "Hughes is waiting for you in the experimental test room, don't be late." Then she lightly sprang out of his room, leaving him to his thoughts and the burning feeling on his skin where she kissed his cheek. He touched it with his hand as if trying to assure himself that really happened before he straightened up and left the room.

Twenty minutes later Thomas arrived at the Number Two Experimental Lab as ordered by Major General Hughes. Upon entering he noticed that is was just Major General Hughes there and nobody else. Hughes wasn't dressed in his uniform, but more a relaxed work-out outfit. Just some gym shorts and a t-shirt that said ARMY on it.

"I have a lot of things to talk to you about today Captain, but let's spar while we do so," Major General Hughes shouted at him from across the room. Thomas took off his uniform shirt and neatly folded it before setting it down beside the door, no sense in getting it dirty and scuffed. He couldn't do anything about his dress pants, however, but that's fine, he had a few other pairs. Ready to get to it, Thomas took a few practice swings and some movement techniques to warm up. As he got closer to the Major General, Thomas noticed that he already had a layer of sweat covering him.

"Been here a while, sir?" Thomas asked.

"About an hour or so, but let's get down to business," Hughes replied, throwing out a left hook which Thomas sturdily blocked.

"What sort of business?" Thomas threw out a right-hander of his own, which Hughes dodged.

"Let's talk about Pearl Harbor, I know you knew something about it." Hughes casually tossed out.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, sir. I just got the news yesterday as you did." Thomas gave him a noncommittal answer and a straight face as well as a right. Hughes knocked it aside with practiced ease.

"Don't give me that bullshit son, you know what's in the journal, you know what's written. I know you know!" Hughes tried an uppercut but it was blocked with both arms.

"Sir, I insist that I know nothin---" Thomas was then interrupted by an angry Hughes.

"DO NOT GIVE ME THAT BULLSHIT! I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THE REPORTS. FIVE-THOUSAND LIVES!!!!" Hughes landed a right on Thomas's face, Thomas gritted his teeth and swung back, but it was wide.

"You mean to stand right here in front of my face and tell me you couldn't have saved those men?" Hughes lowered his voice to a whisper.

"No, I really didn't know anything.." Thomas threw a half-hearted swing out. He wasn't in it. Those accusations hit him right where it hurts. He knows the truth, but those men needed to die so that he could live on and accomplish what no man will ever do again.

"USS Nevada, USS California..." Major General Hughes voice got louder with each name until he was almost yelling. "USS ARIZONA, USS UTAH, USS OKLAHOMA!!! FIVE THOUSAND CASUALTIES AND YOU COULD HAVE PREVENTED THEM ALL!!!!"

"I KNOW!!!" Thomas yelled out in response, his voice wracked with guilt and pain. "YOU THINK I WANTED THEM TO DIE?! DO YOU THINK I WANTED ANY OF THIS?!" A green glow started to manifest around Thomas, unbeknownst to him.

"YOU THINK I WANTED TO DIE IN THE FIRST PLACE?!! I HAD A FAMILY, FRIENDS, I HAD A HOME!!!" Thomas swung and the green glow became brighter, Hughes could barely block it. "

"THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT HASN'T GONE BY HERE THAT I DON'T MISS MY FAMILY, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THEM NOW!" Thomas rushed at the Major General who was backpedaling and in a burst of green light he disappeared and reappeared right behind the Major General. Quickly without noticing what happened, he grabbed Hughes by his neck and whispered to him.

"Tell me, Hughes, what should I have done? Would I have told you then become a lab rat whose knowledge was more important than skillset? I kept silent knowing it would bring us into the war, hundreds of thousands are going to die, but I'll be damned if I can't save some of them."

Thomas left the Major General down and freed him from his grip. Hughes smiled at Thomas, "Do you know what you've just done, son?"

Thomas looked at the man, slightly bewildered.

"You just used your powers in the fight." Hughes smiled at him, now things could truly begin.