Chapter 1: Lights will Guide you home

She was sitting in the park in her graduation gown, staring at the people pass by but not really seeing them. She had just been the first to graduate from the University of Medicine at 19 and now she didn't know what to do with her life. She graduated with top honors and with all the merits that one can receive, but no one would take her seriously until she was at least 24, since a normal human being would become a doctor at least around that age. She was the only person on the east coast with an I.Q of 250.

She shoved her diploma into her purse. Got up and ran into someone, which caused her to crash into the floor. A man offered her his hand, which she took.

"Hayden Corbett?" He inquired

"Who wants to know?" She asked cautiously. He put his hands in his pockets and made a movement with his head for her to follow him. The both of them starting walking around lake for a while in silence then;

"What do you have plan for the rest of your life Hayden?" The man asked. She shrugged her shoulders and told him;

"I have no idea. I imagine I'll try to find work in a hospital or something like that. It's why I have a PhD in Medicine right?"

"You do know that no one will take you seriously until you are a least into your 20's." He said voicing her worst fear.

"It's worth a try, people have heard of me and heard the things that I do and know, and the press was everywhere this morning when I received my diploma so….I might get lucky."

"What if I was to tell you that I can offer you something, something that can be the solution to your problem?"

"I would tell you to go to hell?" She told him.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I'm telling you. How would you know what my skills are or my talents?"

"We've been watching you for a while now Hayden, and think you have quite the assets to be on our team."

"Wow, not even twenty and I already have a stalker." They both stopped at the park entrance. He handed her a card, and with a last shake of hands the man disappeared. She put in her pocket and went home. When Hayden arrived, she unlocked the door and saw that all her thing were already packed in luggage and bags and on top of them was a one-way plane ticket to New York.

Lieutenant Blaine Costas entered the room, closed the door and stood straight awaiting the General's attention. General Hudson heard him coming him, but just to make him sweat a little, he acted like he was reading documents and signing them. Blaine looked around the room and realized that it was the first time he has ever been inside. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the room. The General had two pictures on his desk; one of his daughters Antoinette and another of his wife. Next to it was a crystal paper weight and a little statue of Lady Liberty. There was also a paper tray filled with papers, a cup with paper clips and a pencil holder with pens and pencils. On the wall behind the desk and on the left side of the wall were windows which showed the practice courts. There was a large American flag on the right wall and next to it were all the medals, diplomas and certificates that the General had won through his time in the Marines. Behind Blaine next to the door on the right was a glass case with various classical firearms; a Brown Bess, a Blunderbuss, a Winchester 1897, a Sharp, an automatic Thompson and M16 (although he was pretty sure that the last was more for safety reasons and that the General kept it loaded). On the left was a bookcase filled with books on war, battles, countries, Army, Navy, Marines, etc.

Blaine stared out the window, looking out at the cadets practicing; remembering his first day here at the academy, four years ago;

"When you hear your name, step forward and receive your uniform along with your room number," shouted the instructor who was holding a list of names.

'"Abbott, Avery, Ambury, Luna, Corway, Washington, O'Connell," while the instructor started the list, Blaine looked around wondering what the hell was he doing there. Just a few days he was starting his second year of becoming a geologist at the University of Dakota and now he was enrolling himself at the U.S Marine Academy. Ever since his father enrolled him at the military school when he was eight, he had sworn that he wouldn't make that life his career. Just by looking at the way his father lived his life was enough to make that oath, and keeping it wasn't so difficult when he saw his younger brother Jack throw away everything to entered the Marines just to make his father happy. If only his father could see him now.

"You should stop wondering why you're here and just accept the fact that you are," a very brown guy with blue eyes told him interrupting his thoughts.

"I do accept it. I was just wondering... I'm sorry, who are you?" wondering why was he explaining himself to this stranger.

"Dante. Dante Zuffolare. I'm from Long Beach and I'm here to make something of myself and build a better life for me, my girl and her brother. How about you?" Dante asked him.

"My name is Blaine Costas and I'm from Frisco Utah." He answered but didn't say anything else. Dante didn't say anything and didn't ask, instead he said;

"Have you ever been to the beach, Blaine?"- Blaine lifted an eyebrow and glared at him-"No? Well next time they give us the weekend off, we'll go. The beaches in Long Island are nothing like Miami beaches, but still it's worth seeing. Stick with me, Blaine and we'll both survive this place."

"Lieutenant, Lieutenant. How have your team and you done these past few weeks?" General Hudson asked interrupting his train of thoughts.

"Fine sir. We've have all gone to the psychologist just as you ordered and has deemed us ready to continue," Blaine answered.

"Yes, yes, I've been reading her reports, but I on the other hand, have decide to take some precautions"

"Sir?"

"Captain Zuffolare's death was caused by two mistakes; yours and mine."

"Yours, sir?" Blaine was at lost for words.

"Each Special Force team is made of 12 people, including a medic. For reasons of my own and because of the specific missions that I have, I only needed four... your team. But because of my carelessness and haste to begin, a medic was forgotten. I'm not saying that Zuffolare could have been saved, but his death made me see my mistake."

"What are you saying, sir, are you going to separate us? Disband the team?"

"No, I have decided to add two more recruits to the team. One will be to replace Dante and the other will be the medic and backup if needed. "

"But sir, we're just fine, it's not-" but the General interrupted him; "It's not up for discussion. You and your team are to me meet a 2200 hrs at the bar that is around the corner from the base, to meet the new members. Do not be late," and with that the General returned to his papers. Blaine turned around and made for the door;

"One more thing Costas; you've been promoted. Congratulations...Captain"

Blaine was holding a photo in his hand one that he kept hanging in his locker. He sat down on the bench in front of it, contemplating the photograph. His whole team was there, all in a group hug shaking with laughter. He remembered the night that it was taken. It was in front of the bar and Marie had insisted that they take one. Blaine was on the far left, with his silvery blonde hair that barely reached his shoulder, dark gray eyes, broad shoulders and taller than all of them. Jason Ambury came next. He was the youngest on the team, having been recruited that same year. He had red hair and the infamous freckles (and temper) that came with it. His green eyes were hidden behind the freckles and curly hair that seem to flop in front of him. Jason also was the shortest of all three men. Marie Ambury was standing next to her cousin Jason. She was life size Barbie doll, with her curly blonde hair and green eyes. She was short, but that never stopped her from being loud, fun and happy. Blaine remembered the first week that Marie joined the group. She was so shy and quiet, almost like she was scared to be surrounded by so many tall men. But after a few weeks and a boost of confidence, she was unstoppable. Marie was always trying to make everyone laugh and happy. Her biggest challenge is the General because according her, "I have never seen that man crack a smile." Next to Marie was Dante Zuffolare, the team's Captain. Dante had the kind of skin that made it seemed like he had a tan all year round. What stood out the most wasn't his brown skin or his tight muscles, but his sky blue eyes. Blaine used to joke that all Dante needed to win a girl's heart was one look and a very bright smile. There was a rumor that ran around the base that Dante was hitting the other side, because no one has ever seen him flirt, date or sleep with a girl. Only Blaine knew that only one girl existed in Dante's life and that only to her did his heart belong. Dante never told him her name, so Blaine wasn't sure that the girl knew that he was...gone.

"Blaine, are you in here?" a very sweet voice called interrupting his thoughts.

"I'm back here Marie," he answered while getting up and putting away the photo and closing his locker. He turned around as Marie and Jason rounded the corner.

"What did you want to talk about?" Jason asked smirking while leaning against the locker.

"I spoke to the General this afternoon and he has finally made a decision about us. And how did you find out?" Blaine told them carefully not sure how to tell them the big news;

"Oh my god, is he going to separate us? Because I don't think I can-" Marie started desperately.

"No, for now he has decided to add two new members. Hudson doesn't seem to think we are sufficient enough as we are. Blaine said sourly.

"When are we to meet them? And where?" Jason asked reasonably.

"Hudson wants us to meet them at The Spot around ten. He's going to bring them there I suppose." Marie looked at her watch and shrieked;

"That's in forty-five minutes. We can't meet our new team members in our uniforms, they'll think we're workaholics, change, boys, change!" and with that she went through the wall to the girl's locker next door. Blaine and Jason looked at each other and shook their heads. Now matter what happen, they could always count on Marie to lift their mood.

Blaine, Jason and Marie were sitting at a table in the corner were no one would bother them, but where they had a clear view of the front door. The bar was located around the corner from the base. The owners really hit the jackpot, because almost everyday was a busy night and on weekends it was always full of cadets and soldiers. Since it was close by and the General knew the owners, he was lenient on letting the academy go there. The bar itself was pretty big. It had two large adjoining rooms. It consisted of seven billiard tables, several dartboards hanging around, a few game machines and large plasma has entertainment. There were various tables and chairs dispersed around the room and each corner had its own corner table with a semi-round couch and chairs. There were also two private rooms on each side of the bar for meeting and such. The bar was located near the door and was attended by and ex soldier of the Vietnam War. After a few incidents the owner installed a stage in the back for when the drunk felt the need to mess around. The atmosphere in the bar was pretty calm, but every now and then came the occasional bar fight, but since the consequences from the General were harsh it rarely happen.

"So do you think that they will be like us, these two people?" Jason asked voicing the question that all of them had in mind.

"They must be, because any normal person would freak out after a day with us," Marie answered. Blaine shook his head and said;

"Yeah, but according to the General we're the only ones." He was cut off by the shouting that was coming from one of the pool tables that was near the stage.

"I bet you that I can get the black ball in this corner right next to it, in one shot." a sweet musical voice said above all of the men's voices. All three of them turned to the pool table to see if they could catch a glimpse of the owner of such a voice, but all they saw were men. Then the people on the far end of the table moved to give the shooter room. A girl of tan-colored skin and about 5'6 stood leaning against the pool table with a long pool stick in her hand. She had tight faded blue jeans that accented her slim waist and curves. She also had on a white tank with a black leather jacket on top. When she suddenly turned around and looked him in the eyes, he saw that she had piercing green eyes. She reminded Blaine of Dante. The girl turned back to the other man who was rather large and burly and raised an eyebrow, awaiting an answer.

"If you don't make it in, you ask no question you just get on my bike with me when I leave." The man told her smirking confident that she wouldn't make in.

"And if I do make it in, you apologize to the waitress you molested, you get on your bike and you never show your filthy face here again and... before you leave you buy all my friends a round of drinks." The girl told him back with a look of utter disgust on her face. The man nodded his head in agreement.

"If that girl was on our team, I would be perfectly open to the whole idea." Blaine told Jason who laughed. The girl leaned really low, almost on top of the table turned a bit to the right, pulled the stick back and fired with all her might. The black shoot straight across the table and went back and forth, right, left, right, left, across the table, slowed down when it came back the spot from where it started and then... score. The girl stood up and went to where the man was;

"Pay up, perv." She told him holding out her hand. The man a foot taller than she was, looked down at her with hatred in his eyes.

"You cheated." He told her trying to talk him out of the deal. The girl laughed and answered;

"Stop acting like a baby, pay up, apologize and leave. I won fair and square and I assume that everyone here agrees with me." With that she turned around, but before she can leave the man grabbed her arm and tried to twist her arm, but in a flash she had him in a strong neck-lock, on his knees and with a pen-knife to his neck. Blaine and Jason both stood up and went over to help, but when they finally got there, the girl had a wallet in her hand and the man was rubbing his throat, grumbling has he got up.

"Don't ever try to cheat me, you won't win." the girl said. She took out three crisp, green hundred dollar bill, gave it to the waitress and ordered;

"Beers for everyone here and I'll have a whiskey on the rocks." She turned around and walked towards Blaine and Jason, when the man tried getting up again and grabbing her.

"You just never-" she started but was interrupted by a grave and very important voice;

"Already causing trouble Miss Corbett?" All of the turned around and faced the General. The girl smiled on how quiet the room got with his presence.

"You're in for a treat General, if there is trouble then be 100% sure that Hayden is in the middle of it," stated a very deep voice. Hayden's face lit up when she heard the voice from behind the General.

"Chan!" she shrieked running up to him and hugging him. Adam laughed and twirled her around, holding her tight.

"Gods, Bubbles, I've left you alone for far too long." Adam told her putting her down.

"Damn right you have. You didn't even come to my graduation, you idiot and you paid for my tuition." She told him happily. Both of them walked over to the table where Blaine and the other three were seated with the General. Jason, Blaine, and Marie where seated on the couch with the General taking a chair next to them. The only seats left where the ones facing all of them, which Hayden and Adam took.

"So, I take it that you two know each other?" the General asked them.

"Yes, Adam and I grew up together and-" Hayden started but Adam cut her off.

"Are you going to explain to us why we are here? Most importantly, why Hayden is here because she is only 19, she's too young."

"She's here because she is unique as are you and we need you," General Hudson answered him. He opened his mouth to continue talking but Adam cut him off.

"Let's cut the chase, shall we? She's not like the other three and I, she has no 'special' ability except that she is really smart and she has a photo memory."

"Adam, don't be so rude. Give the General a chance to explain the situation. And stop treating me like a child." Hayden told him quietly as she put her hand on top of his. The General smiled at her brief and addressed all of them;

"Each one of you is gifted in their own way. Every one of you has a purpose on this team and it can only function correctly if everyone works together and participates. It's true Adam that Miss Corbett is the youngest here and has no ability, but you told me that she was extremely intelligent and that she acts pretty mature for her age. Nevertheless, that is why I would like the both of you to join our team, because of Adam's skill, Hayden's MD and various languages that she speaks. Also, I suspected that you would object if I accepted her without you."

Blaine, Jason, and Marie were silent while the General and Adam were talking about joining and Hayden. Blaine sensed that Hayden was staring at him, so he turned to face her. Her eyes caught him off guard... so like Dante's. She smiled at him and pointed at the pen that was next to him. He passed it to her and as their fingertips grazed he felt a shiver run down his spine. She wrote something on a napkin away from the eyes of the others and showed it to Adam. They had a whispered argument between each other, which ended with and "Are you sure," from Adam. She nodded and put the napkin inside her jacket pocket.

"We're in, but any decision concerning Hayden comes to me first, deal?" Adam asked the General.

"Deal. I expect the both of you eight o'clock sharp at the base tomorrow morning. I'll leave so you can all get to know each other." With that the General took one last swig of his beer and left.

Everyone sat in silence for a while looking everywhere but each other until Marie broke the silence.

"So, Adam what can you do?" she asked.

"I'm a computer hacker." He answered. Marie and Jason laughed.

"She means what is your ability" Jason told him. Adam glanced at Hayden and then said very low so all those that were at the table could hear;

"I'm a technopath. I can control all electronic things."

"Awesome, we've never met one of those before. I'm telepathic; Marie is a phantom which means that she can walk through walls, floors, and objects; and Blaine is an elemental, a controller of all elements." Jason informed Hayden and Adam. Hayden shook her head and sighed mournfully and Marie asked her what was wrong.

"I'm the only freak of nature amongst all of you normal people." Everyone laughed at this except Blaine who asked her;

"What is your power?"

"You heard the General. I don't have any. I have an IQ of 250, which is consider way beyond normal. I have a photographic memory which causes me to remember everything I see, hear and smell. I speak French, Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Greek, and German. Finally I have a MD in traumatology. But no powers." Hayden told him looking at him straight in the eye. There was something about her that called to him, which made him feel so…so complete. He didn't even know her, but he wanted to, he just didn't know where to start. He also wasn't sure about Adam's and Hayden's relationship. He wasn't one to come between relationships or start one even.

Around him, the group was getting to know each and he was partially pay attention. His mind drifted to Dante, then back to Hayden. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that Hayden was staring at him with questions in her eyes and when he turned to face her, she just smiled.

"I'm beat and if we have to get up early tomorrow I'm going to bed." Hayden told everyone. She got up with Adam just a beat behind her.

"It was nice to meet all of you. I hope we can make a good group. We'll see you tomorrow." Blaine said. Adam nodded at him and Hayden smiled. They turned around and left and Blaine watched them leave, half wishing he was going with her. There was a tap on his shoulder and he looked up. The waitress that had served their table passed him a piece of napkin and told him it was from the girl that had paid for everyone in the bar. He thanked her and turned slightly, so that Marie and Jason didn't read what it said. He open it and in very neat even writing was written;

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face,

I promise you, you'll learn from your mistakes

Tears stream down your face and I…

Lights will guide you home,

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you. © Coldplay