Plato and the team were waiting at the launch site, some 100 miles off the nuclear power plant in Minsk. There was a lot of excitement and cheer around in the faces of the travelers. Most of them were seasoned travelers and even they were excited about this mission. Plato was however more anxious than excited. He was not thinking about the travel nor the mission, he was just thinking about his friend. Elena was standing next to him, she was there for two reasons. She was there to send Plato off and the other reason being checking the final vitals of the astronauts. And beside her was a ever cheerful person who could not control his mouth from gaping. He was gaping at the spaceship and the possibilities it opened for him. One day he too would travel to space like Plato, he thought. And I would be great at that, i would be a legend, Constantine was in his own world. He was the least bothered about the others. Everyone was showing different sets of emotions while one man was showed no such emotion. He stood there as though he has been in such difficult missions numerous missions. Mr. Akumi Stood there incessantly looking at his watch. And a man was watching Mr . Akumi rather Keenly. I do not trust this man , at all , thought Romanov. A Japanese in a Russian Mission, who would have thought. Only a few decades ago they were waiting to see us fall down and now there stands a Japanese in the midst of us, trying to lead us. A sheep leading a pack of wolves, scoffed Romanov. Mr. Akumi approached Romanov. "Hello, he greeted. "Hello," replied Romanov. I have gone through your manifesto, it is pretty impressive," said Akumi. "Thank you," replied Romanov. "I would like to be frank here," said Akumi. Romanov nodded barely looking at his colleague now. I have an understanding that you are not happy with me , leading the teamsaid Akumi. Romanov did not respond. "I would like for us to be friends," said Akumi. Romaonv lent a cold handshake to the Japanese man. Akumi shook it. "I have also heard about your past, your story," he said. Romanov now looked firmly into the eyes of Akumi. "What have you heard," he asked him. "That you were a war hero, receiving numerous medals," said Akumi. "Yes, that is common knowledge," said Romanov. "That you detested the war," said Akumi. "Who did not," replied Romanov harshly. "Anyone who fought that terrible war came to detest it sooner or later," said Akumi , "But I was far too young to understand it," he said. "You fought in the war," asked Romanov. "Yes," said Akumi, "a fighter pilot he said doing an action of a pitot in air. "Terrible," scoffed Romanov. "Where you there at pearl harbor," asked Romanov. "No," replied Akumi, "I joined in later, much later after the attack." "Well I fought on the ground," said Romanov, "where it really mattered. I went marching into fields with my guns on my shoulders. And I stared at the enemies eyes , before i shot him cold," said Romanov as he stared down the Japanese. "Relax, the war is over!" said Akimo. "But you saw what I saw,is it not?" asked Akumi adjusting his glasses. "What did I see?" asked Romanov. "That you were not fighting your enemy but you were fighting yourself." "Fighting my own Motherland," scoffed Romanov. "No," said Akumi pointing his finger at the chest of Romanov, "that you were fighting yourself," he said the Russian. "And is it not why you took early retirement," asked Akumi. "That I could not fight myself," asked Romanov getting a bit defendive. "No, not that. You could fight yourself but you can never win," replied Akumi. Romanov was too shocked to speak. "Well, well, Romanov stammered. "It is okay, Mr. Romanov," said Akumi. It is a fight that none of us can win. Not Hitler, not Hideki, not Stalin. Romanov was again speechless. "Good day, Mr. Romaonov," said Akumi and proceeded to leave. "God day to you sir," said Romanov to Akumi, extending an arm of friendship to his fellow compatriot.