Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
Long ago, science used these four elements to explain the nature and complexity of all matter on earth. Many civilizations, far removed from each other in the ancient world, had their own beliefs on what each element did and what they represented.
As Colonel Hogan sat and watched his men work together on their laundry, he couldn't help but come up with his own philosophy on the matter.
Water.
Newkirk.
The blue clad corporal was a slippery sort of fellow. He moved about with the practiced grace of a thief, like water flowing downhill, easily squeezing through the tightest places, gliding over obstacles with ease.
Like water, he was constantly changing. One minute, he was ice, stubbornly digging in his heels and refusing to volunteer for the latest crazy mission; the next, he'd be whistling like steam out of a kettle, demanding Hogan let him rush off on some reckless venture to save one of his mates.
But, usually, Newkirk flowed along like a cool mountain stream- taking the constant danger in stride, unflappable and adaptable.
Earth.
Kinch.
Hogan couldn't hope for a steadier presence. Kinch was a rock. Quiet. Calm. Practical. If Hogan were honest, Kinch was their foundation, keeping the team grounded and gently, but firmly, quashing their more ridiculous flights of fancies.
Like a tree digging deep into the dirt, Kinch was rooted in reality. He saw the world for what it was- unjust and cruel, but also beautiful and good.
Like fertile soil, he nurtured the seeds of hope that the world could grow into something better, knowing that it would take a lot of hard work from men unafraid to toil in the fields of progress.
Fire.
Carter.
He was bright and cheery and brought much needed warmth to the often grim world of spies and saboteurs. Much like fire had revolutionized human development, Carter's abilities had forged a new path for their operation- they could now fight back with a bang.
There was a great deal of danger lurking beneath the surface of Carter's mild mannered exterior. Fire was useful, but only if it was controlled. And occasionally, Hogan saw hints of what Carter was capable of if he had the inclination to go down a dark road. Hogan worried that, one day, the stress of all the destruction Carter felt he was personally responsible for would make him snap, letting loose an inferno that would burn them all.
Air.
LeBeau.
He was a pint-sized hurricane. He stormed through things with little thought for the destruction he caused. More than once, his impetuous nature had brought the operation on the brink of collapse.
But he could also be gentle and kind. Like a cool breeze on a hot day, he breathed life back into his injured companions, caring for them day and night without tiring. His cooking filled the air with enticing aromas that lifted even the most downtrodden of spirits.
It was his fervent patriotism and zeal that kept the flags waving when everything looked hopeless, encouraging others to take up the cause of freedom and liberty.
Together the four elements combined to create something powerful. An unstoppable force to be reckoned with, capable of accomplishing anything.
Science might have evolved, but the four elements- the four brave men who fought beside him- were all that Hogan needed to make sense of the world.