1 Retirement..

Jackson Snow or Jake, a 6'2 mixed Jamaican-Japanese man aged 25, a man once known as the golden hands in his mercenary group due to his unparalleled capabilities in hand to hand combat, weapons handling and vehicle maintenance, able to fix a broken down Sedan behind enemy lines allowing his squad mates to drive through a closing encirclement and escape with their lives.

He spent a majority of his life in the mercenary group as his parents were war veterans, his mother Barbra Snow a Jamaican woman in her early 50's living out her retirement in Barbados while his father Haruto Snow (Yuki) being the unfortunate victim of a mine explosion during a routine patrol.

It seemed fate worked in circles as during a routine patrol, the vehicle he was in drove over a mine, one that should have been cleared out time ago. This explosion took the life of the driver and another, while he got lucky and lost his left hand and severe scarring on his neck to his left cheek.

Due to this injury he had to be released from active duty even when he protested he'll still be of service, this discharge from duty came as a blow as he had only known the military and nothing else. Having the need to rebuild his life, he traveled to his fathers homeland to study Business Management and Mechanical Engineering at Tohoku University. He spent 4 years studying in accelerated courses and got his doctorates.

Afterwards, he reunited with his mother in Barbados where he decided to settle down and open a garage in Bridgetown. The scenic drives and the culture was a breath of fresh air for Jake as he slowly settled in to a relaxed lifestyle.

His garage operating in the local area close to the beaches of the island, his shop became popular with the populous due to the high quality of his job as customers rarely had to come back for the same problems he built up a good reputation. His mother living in a beach house close to his garage would pop by from time to time to make sure he wasn't overworked, supporting him as he still suffered from PTSD but working with machines seemed to be his release, however he gets so engrossed in his work his mother had to ensure he ate enough to keep him going.

He also found a hobby in playing mobile games such as Nova Empire and Star Trek Fleet Command, looking at the futuristic technology he wished he could create things like those but alas living in the 21st century, such things were but a dream.

On a summer night around a bonfire he sat in a circle with a few friends while enjoying roasted fish caught in the fresh sea. The ocean breeze caressed their skin as laughter filled the beach as they drank and made merry.

"Jack my friend, you have to go to this new restaurant, they have the nicest lobsters, they are as big as my wife's melons" Tabo a 5'10 black Rastafarian with brown eyes and stubby beard, one of Jacks employees "Tabo shut up, you're getting drunk already?" Michael a local fisherman and good friend of Jack admonished "if your wife heard that you'd be sleeping on the couch, you know what she's like" a bit of apprehension flashed on his face before he shuddered. "Don't worry about it she's not here so it's fine" Jack just looked on while laughing at their antics.

"I'll check it out with you sometime when I'm not so busy" Tabo snapped at him "busy? You're always busy with that garage, it's only because of us that you even remember to eat. God knows how much your mother worries about you. You need to get you a wife!" Michael nodding to the side as he listened to his friends words while Jack laughed at his friends antics.

They carried on into the night as they spoke about random things from family to the biggest fishes they've caught, comparing who's the best, in total it was a pretty fun night.

As Jack was returning home a wave a melancholy set as he looked at the armless sleeve, even though he has moved on he still feels regret for the deaths of his squad mates, survivors guilt slowly waved through his head. Shaking his head he let out a sigh "stop it Jack, it's already in the past, there's nothing you can do about it".

Getting into bed, he kept his phone on charge as he loaded up the game Star Trek Fleet Commander, while playing the game a tropical storm slowly drifted closer to the island country, thunder was heard as lightning lit up the sky. Those who saw this were scared for their lives as they ran to find shelter, the unnatural lightning frightened the people. Babies cried as the noise continued, just as Jack was about to put his phone down to check on what was happening, a bolt of lightning struck down a power pole, this lightning however was unlike the others, it was pitch black.

Only the impact on the pole led to any indication that there was a lightning strike as eyes could not follow the speed of the bolt. The electricity of the whole block went out leaving countless homes in darkness, however the lightning bolt travelled through the power lines and in a fraction of the speed of light connected to the charging point of Jacks phone. It followed the wire and connected to his phone still being held in his hands, and as a result he got electrocuted by the black lightning.

The lightning coursed into his body and phone as the process repeated itself, unable to scream as the pain was that unbearable, until he finally passed out.