While Seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself

-Douglas Horton -

Connall sat next to Tristan in his hospital bed. It had been several days since he rushed to the school to pick his nephew up and found him in such a terrible state. He glanced at the unconscious form of his nephew. The boy’s straw colored hair laid haphazardly around his head. It had grown much longer since he first started living with Connall. It was now down to his chin and he refused to let Connall cut it.

Connall’s Anger seethed as the beeping of the monitors reminded him of why they were here. He sat with his has elbows on his knees hands clasped and his head leaned against them. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the monitors. All he could think about doing was destroying those people that failed to protect his nephew. They could have prevented this disaster the signs were there. Hell they mentioned it to him when he went to pick up Tristan. It wouldn’t take much to find out where the principal lived or where Tristan’s teacher lived. He could make it look like an accident. Faulty wiring maybe a loose log in the fireplace. Or he could just make some excuse claim that they were something that fell into his jurisdiction. No one would bat an eye.

His musings were interrupted by movement and coughing coming from next to him. Surprised he jumped up and rushed to the side of the bed. “Tristan how are you doing little buddy. Are you feelin okay?” with groggy eyes Tristan looked around in confusion “where am i what happened how did i get here. I remember being at school and then” his voice trailed off as he remembered what happened. Tears burst from his eyes as he remembered the words of the boys. They had hurt worse than the beating and there was nothing he could do to stop them. He felt powerless and weak. Those boys had been able to insult him, hurt him and the worst of all Insult his mother. But he couldn’t stop them he tried and it only made things worse. He was to weak to defend his parents.

Seeing the tears Connall turned to him asking “what’s wrong kiddo what’s wrong?” Looking at his Uncle with tear filled eyes “Uncle I felt so weak. They said so many things and I couldn’t do nothing.” Sobs broke from his throat interrupting him.

Connall slid his chair up to his nephew so he could sit next to him and pulled him into a hug. All thoughts of vengeance washed away by the sight of his nephew’s bright blue eyes filling with tears. Replaced by concern “It’s ok now buddy you’re safe now.” Through sniffles and sobs “I want to be stronger I don’t want to feel that way anymore and I want revenge for what they did” Connall pulled back from his nephew and saw determination hidden behind the tears and pain in his nephews eyes. “I believe that can be arranged little buddy. However first we need to get you healthy only then can we talk about it.” A hint of malicious joy overcame Tristan and the first smile he had in weeks tugged at the corners of his lips. “Ok then once I get better.”

The sound of a phone ringing interrupted their conversation. Glancing at the screen Connall sighed and lifted his bulk from his chair standing to his full height of 6’5. “I need to take this but I’m glad to see you awake little buddy.” he smiled “You gotta rest though you’re still pretty beaten up. The doctors said you’ll be sore for a few weeks. Luckily nothing’s broken but you did have a severe concussion. So be careful and rest up some more kiddo.” Opening the door he took one last glance at his nephew and walked out of the room.

Tristan’s heart pounded as he watched his uncle’s retreating back. He wanted revenge so badly but he knew right now it wouldn’t work. He already felt the consequences of fighting back without the ability, all too well. It would take time for him to get to the point where he could get his revenge. However he was patient. Far more patient than anyone his age had any right to be. At least that’s what his parents had always told him. He would learn and gain strength first then get his revenge in time. Smiling he laid back and returned to the sweet abyss of sleep

Connall answered the phone “This is MacHagon” The voice on the other end of the phone replied “Machagon we have a Romero outbreak. I know you’re on leave but as of right now it’s already a class three and HQ is requesting your team as y’all are stationed closest to the affected zone. So you will have the fastest response time. We might be able to make an exception with your brother’s accident and nephew being in the hospital and all. But we’re worried this might escalate. Right now it’s isolated in rural New Mexico outside a town called Clayton. But analytics are worried it might escalate into a class 4.”

Connall pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I’ll be there send a pick-up for me.” Pausing he glanced back at the door to Tristan’s room. “But give me about an hour i need to get some things taken care of before i head out.” The voice confirmed his request and said a team for pick-up would be on it’s way.

Hanging up Connall dialed Tristan’s babysitter and got them to come stay with Tristan as he would be out of town for a couple of days. He then walked back into the room and found Tristan asleep again. With a gentle shake to wake him up. “Hey little buddy I’m gonna have to leave for a bit. Some work came up and they need me shouldn’t be gone for more than 3 days though. Laceys gonna be here in a bit to keep you company so i’ll hang out with you until then.”

Lacey showed up after about 45 minutes. Connall explained to her what happened and what the doctors found. Shortly after his phone lit up with a notification that his pick-up was here and for him to head outside for it. He gave his goodbyes and reassurances that he would be back in just a couple of days then headed out to meet up with his ride. However on his way out he was stopped in the hallway by one of Tristan’s attending doctors.

“Mr. Machagon I’m glad i was able to catch you before you left. I wanted to talk to you about some anomalies we found in your nephew's X-rays.” Confusion crossed Connall’s face “ what do you mean anomalies?” The doctor glancing at the file in his hands “It’s the oddest thing. His history says he’s never had any broken bones but there’s a couple areas showing callus like the bone has been healing. We would like to do some blood tests to see if there are more signs of brokens bones being healed if at all possible” Connall frowned with confusion “That doesn’t make any sense. He didn’t have any broken bones stemming from the assault. From what we could tell he was just unconscious for a few days with a small cut. Why would he have healing bones.” The doctor looked pointedly at Connall “that’s exactly what we are trying to figure out. We need your permission to run the blood tests since he is a minor and you are his guardian.” Waving his hand in a dismissive gesture Connall started to walk away “ Do what you need just don’t cause the boy any more stress please. He’s had more than enough and I have to leave.”

He left the doctor behind as he wrote in the file and headed outside. Rather than leaving out of the front door to the parking lot he headed to the rooftop. On the hospital’s roof sat a squat black helicopter with no insignia and dark windows. It’s rotor’s were still turning in anticipation for his arrival and immediate departure.

Running up to the helicopter it’s door was opened by a man, in a flight suit wearing a helmet with a full face mask, who was holding out a headset for Connall. Ducking under the rotors he grabbed the headset and took his seat. The speakers crackled in his ears as he settled it over the top of his head. “Glad to have you with us MacHagon. Your squad is waiting for you at base. We’ll head there first then you’ll head out to the temporary forward command base.”

Connall grinned in recognition of the voice. “Sounds good. I’m guessing you’ll be going with us Brannon?” Reaching back the pilot held out his hand for a handshake and with a small chuckle and large grin “What you got an issue with it?” Connall grinned as he reached over to return the handshake and glanced at the edge of the winged centaur tattoo on the man’s forearm. “Nah, but i do have an issue with that stupid fucking tattoo” With another chuckle the pilot turned forward and fiddled with some controls on his console “ Hey don’t hate just cuz you couldn’t make it with us. But you better buckle up we’re heading out.”