Provide your best answer for the following math problem. Give ONLY the answer, no other words or explanation.
For example:

Answer: <most likely answer, as short as possible; not a complete sentence, just the answer!>.

The problem is: if a = - 1 , what is the value of – ( a ^ 2 + a ^ 3 + a ^ 4 + a ^ 5 + a ^ 6 ) ?
- 1
- ( 1 +1+1+1+1+1 ) = -7.