Mike, Lena, and Leon stand around near a cop car handling questions from Jill. They continue to explain what happened inside the mall and what they saw. Jill sends her men into the mall to take inventory of the damage. Her phone rings and she walks away to take the call.
"Ok, yes I'm at the mall. That sounds good. I'll do that now." She mumbled. Jill walks back over to the trio and tells them they are free to go. The three say their goodbyes and go to check in on Piers.
"What's the damage doctor?" Asks Mike.
"Minor sprain. If he ices and rests he will be just fine. The cuts and scrapes are more of a concern than the leg itself," said the medical worker.
"Good to hear. Jill said we are good on the paperwork side. We should head back," said Mike.
"Does your base have a shower? I'm covered in blood." Asked Leon.
"No, but my apartment does, and it's not far from the base. Here, take the key. Just take your shoes off at the door and meet us at the base when you're done."
"Thanks, better not be anything weird at that apartment of yours," said Leon.
Leon gets in a cop car with an officer and heads to Mike's apartment while the other three head back to base. They talk on the way.
"I'm exhausted, it seems like we can't catch a break anymore," said Lena.
"I know, these all feel a bit too well timed to be a coincidence," said Mike.
Piers interjects. "Makes sense to me, the criminals know we can't keep up so they feel it's the best time to attack. You have to give them some credit for knowing what they are doing."
"Yes, but these guys weren't doing anything for their own benefit. They were just killing for no reason. It's not like they wanted to rob the place." Mike said.
"Terrorists don't need a reason Mike," said Piers.
"Fair enough but can't you slow down? You are gonna flip us over. It's a Ford Focus, not a Ferrari," said Mike.
"Relax, I'm the best driver the agency has."
The three pull closer to the parking lot of Jerry's and as they get closer they notice massive holes in the ground. They begin to look around as police and fire line the area.
"What the hell happened here?" Asked Mike.
"Oh my god, look," said Lena.
She points and they all see it. Kazuke lies on the ground face down. Two medics attend to him. Piers speeds up and as he gets close he slams the brakes coming to a stop. They all jump out of the car and run over to the injured man. He is breathing but clearly hurt badly. No more than a moment later, Youta and Nathan pull up from training.
"Kazuke! What happened! Are you okay?" Mike Yelled.
"Can't move. I tried to stop him. They came in a group. Overtook me."
Mike wants to speak again but he looks up and sees Hinako hunched over in the distance.
"Mike, I'm sorry. I tried, but I failed." Says Kazuke.
"It's ok, you're alright, we have you," said Mike, now standing up to walk towards Hinako.
"You don't understand." Kazuke groans.
Nathan runs over quickly. "Mike, what happened? I saw the report about the mall."
"We took care of it, everyone is fine."
Mike walks over. As he gets closer he sees it. He puts his hand over his mouth in denial. He closes in and wants to pretend it isn't what it is. But he knows. He walks closer and he sees it. Hinako sits there crying, a foot or so in front of her, Jerry's body lying cold and lifeless on the parking lot ground. Blood pooled underneath him. Mike's expression remains blank as he processes what he sees. Nathan a step behind walks forward and locks eyes with the body. He stops, his body tensing but no expression befalls him.
"No," Nathan says.
Mike stares at Hinako and Nathan and thinks to himself, remembering what Jerry said to him so many years ago. "When the world bears its teeth and puts the weight of itself on you, when you feel backed into a corner like you can't push on anymore, when you just want to give up from the pain and you still choose to move forward and help others, that's when you know you are a real hero."
Mike walks forward and puts his hand on her shoulder. She turns around, her face red and swollen. She had been crying clearly for a long time. She tries to speak. "Mike, it's Jerry, he isn't getting up and I don't know what happened. I just came back from lunch, and the parking lot was destroyed." Her words trail off into blubbering. Mike leans down and raises her to her feet. He hugs her as she cries into his chest. Mike stands straight-faced, holding back emotions. On the surface a calm cooling expression diffuses the situation. Underneath, a storm surge of pain. Nathan walks over. Mike turns his head to his usual calm-faced brother. His face welling with a sea of blushing ferocity. Anger, sadness, and confusion. Mike pulls him with the other arm as the three sit looking at the now-perished father figure.
Lena walks over, helping Kazuke limp and her mouth widens. Tears roll down Kazuke's face as he loses control. Lena looks up at him. "It's not your fault. You tried."
"I've spent my entire life trying. For once, I just like to succeed." He says.
Kazuke looks at Mike staring on, and imagines his little brother. He gives off an angry expression biting his lip.
They all sit in dead silence only the breeze and the whimpering of the young girl cutting through the tension. The ambulance along with cops move. They load Jerry into the ambulance and go through the motions, and the cops take notes. After what seemed like hours the parking lot cleared out. The only people remaining were the six that were originally there. Mike heads back into the store toward the base. Lena follows him as they all head inside. Mike heads directly down into his office and closes the doors. He pulls out his phone. Mike looks down, clenching his face. Tears roll down his face as the sea of searing pain rolls through him. The damn breaks as the feelings he held back boil to the surface. "Jerry," he says.
Nathan enters the office and sits down across from him. He gently places his hands on the desk. "How could this happen?" Nathan is now panicking.
Mike stays silent and collects himself. "The masked man" he says. Nathan goes silent on the other end. After a moment, the two break out into an argument until it boils over.
"I'm sorry I just don't know what to say, I can't believe it" says Nathan.
"I know, we will talk tomorrow. We will need to discuss burials and such and this is a conversation better saved once we have had a moment to collect. Take care of yourself and rest. I will see you in the morning."
"Yeah, fair point. I'll be there tomorrow and we can talk this over. Have a good night." Says Nathan as he hangs Turns to walk out of the office.
The other four sit down at a table in the break room. An awkward silence lingers for what seems like hours. Mike walks out of his office and takes a seat at the table with them.
"Kazuke, you said they. Who are they?" Asked Mike.
"The masked man came in here looking for us. When he attacked Jerry stepped in. I actually had him on the run until I was attacked by two more men. one of which was almost as powerful as the masked man himself. After that I was outmatched and they dispatched me. They were going to kill me until he stepped in. He managed to gash the man's neck. Then the masked man finished him off and left," said Kazuke.
"Ok. Well here is my plan. There are more than just one enemy out there clearly. Until this man is defeated we all need to stay together. Call everyone and tell them to come here and stay. Nobody goes in or out without being checked in. We all have a target on our back so this is critical."
"No objections there, I think that makes sense," said Piers.
"Hinako, I want you to stay here. I'll deal with us here for now. I'll speak to your parents. I know this is hard. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I want to help. I want to help get back at the man who hurt Mr. Jerry," she said.
"We should call everyone on the team and tell them we must meet up. Explain to them what has happened and tell them they must come to us as quickly as possible," said Mike.
"I'm not questioning your judgment, but I would like to make one small recommendation," said Piers.
"Yes?"
"This place has been found. It's no longer a secret. He will be back and I don't think it's an optimal strategy to hide in plain sight against an opponent of this skill. I can get the agency to allow us to use a rental house to work from. Maybe a large villa considering the size of our team. We should pick up all your gear here and head to my headquarters. Then find a place to build up a shop."
"That sounds good. Let's get this place packed now then. Hinako tell the others to meet us at the JDG headquarters the next morning. We will all group there," said Mike.
The team packs vigorously as she sends messages to all the existing members of the team. One after the other they agreed to meet at the JDG. After a while the van is filled with equipment and the room is bare. The team heads upstairs and prepares to make way for headquarters. The group watches as Jerry's fades on the horizon. As they pull up to the JDG's front steps, the entire team save Nathan, Youta, Brody, and Junpei, wait at the entrance. Karina is arguing with a guard.
"We are supposed to be here under the command of your superior. Let us in!"
"Ma'am, I cannot do that because I don't have the clearance," said the guard.
Karina's face wells with rage. "Well get the clearance you clown or I will clear the way myself!"
Mike walks up the steps and addresses the group. Piers walks in stead and speaks to the group out front. "Let them through Ryou. They have clearance."
Karina pushes the guard and taunts him "Aha! You small-brain worm, let us in. I told you!" The guard moves out of the way and salutes Piers as he guides the team in.
"So, Mike, why have you gathered us here?" Asked Reyna.
"I'll explain soon." Mike responds, "Let Piers do his thing first. Where are the four we are missing?"
Piers turns to Mike and explains, "Junpei and Brody have been here the whole time, and when your brother and Youta came, I gave them a chamber as well. They arrived at 6 a.m. today. They will meet us in the briefing room, however I'd like to make a quick detour before we go there."
Piers motions down the hallway and walks into a lab area. A clean white room with many people working on all sorts of machinery. He motions to a woman working on what looks like a high-tech rifle. "This is Lobra, she is our head researcher and developer and she is gonna be helping us from now on. I've already informed her of everything you guys can do. So she is gonna work with you guys to help enhance your tech and abilities."
The woman sits up, her figure strong and sturdy. Under her white lab coat she is dressed to the nine clearly putting a lot of effort into her appearance. Long braided hair lays down the side of her caramel skin. She speaks with a dense accent that appears to pertain from some region of Spain. "Hello and welcome. I'm pleased to be working with all of you."
As she speaks the group shudders in a jolt. A giant bear creature walks out from around the corner holding a tray.
"Where I want." It says.
"You may set it anywhere Polar, thank you."
"Is that a bear?" Asks Reyna.
Lobra looks at them at first confused. "Ah yes I forgot, this looks odd to many. He is a man, but also a bear? He has magic that allows him to transform. Sadly he has been stuck in this form since he was 6 years old. Don't worry he's actually a kind gentleman."
The bear waves, and the group waves back. He trots back behind the wall to a room to work.
Piers speaks as the group speaks formalities to the woman. "Lobra, if you would follow me we are gonna head to my office to go over plans."
The group heads over down the hall and a door reads "CPT Piers Evans." they all enter the large office and lean in various places. Polar gets stuck in the doorway and decides to wait outside. He will not understand the plan anyway. Mike walks to the front of the room with Piers and faces the group.
"Alright guys, so I'm gonna get right into it," said Piers.
As he speaks Nathan and Youta walk in sweaty and stinky, a few moments later, Junpei and Brody shimmy in through the door.
"We need a place to operate from. Nowhere any of us currently stay is safe and we can't do it here; that will be too predictable. So I got us this." Piers hits a button and on the screen flashes a picture of a massive lakeside house.
"Now that's more like it. It's even got a pool," said Reyna.
Karina shudders. "Nobody wants to see you in a swimsuit. Leon however." She says galavanting.
"Karina. Don't be weird," Reyna says firmly rolling her eyes.
"It's a lake house that has a built-in lab for Lobra and others to work in and an underground training chamber so you guys can continue training in safety," Piers said.
Mike moves from his spot leaning against the wall and puts one hand on the desk. He speaks harshly and with no nuance. "I'm sure many of you are wondering why this is happening all of a sudden so I will be blunt. The masked man and his crew attacked our base while we were away. Then, they killed Jerry." The room goes silent like a bomb has just been dropped. "I would also like everyone to thank Kazuke for laying his life on the line to try to save him. Kazuke was outpowered and outnumbered, and he stayed and fought. He is a great example of courage and leadership. The room's eyes look to Kazuke. "I'm sorry about this but until further notice we need to all stay together. If I'm correct, he knows about all of us, and nobody is safe unless they are grouped up. I hope you guys understand. The guilt I have for bringing everyone into this isn't something I take lightly, but it's impossible to go back."
Brian Dales speaks up reluctantly. "I have something to say." The room looks to Brian. "I can confirm he knows about us because he came to my apartment. He threatened me and demanded I give him info. He said something bad would happen if I didn't. That night was when he attacked Junpei.
Junpei punches the wall, his calm face wrinkling to anger. "Are you kidding me? Don't you think that's info you would give to us? He almost killed me!"
"It's not his fault. I would be afraid as well," said Lena.
"Scary man, not good," said Polar from the hall.
"Not now bear man" said Lena.
"Look, it's nobody's fault. This guy is extremely unpredictable and very dangerous. Mark my words. On my watch I will not let anyone else die," said Mike.
Piers begins to exit the room. "I think it would be best for us to travel together as well. I'm gonna haul up an NT5 juggernaut military vehicle to get us to the house. It's not very far from here so it shouldn't take long. Everyone, meet me out front when you are ready."
Everyone begins to move towards the exit to go out front, Polar starts to go the wrong way and Lena grabs his hand to guide him. As Mike is walking towards the door a tap stops him as he turns around.
"Hey, I just wanted to ask how you are doing," she said. Hinako looked up at Mike sad.
"Don't worry about me, I will be okay. I'm more worried about you. I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to talk due to the circumstances."
"Of course you will, I'm silly for worrying. You are a superhero after all."
"Trust me being "super" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Plus, I'm sure you are great at something. Everyone has a role to play."
"I have been working on that healing magic, but I don't see how useful that will be," she said softly.
"There you go. You help people in other ways. Hell, you have helped me a lot. Don't undersell those abilities. You are also still young, the more you progress the more powerful you'll become."
"I'm glad I can help you, super powers or not your human. Everyone could use a shoulder to lean on once in a while."
"Yeah, I agree. I'll keep that in mind. Also-"
"Hey Mike, let's go. We gotta get moving." Yelled Piers.
Mike turns around and waves. "Yeah Piers ok we are coming."
"Mike, what were you going to say?" Asked Hinako.
Mike turns back and looks at the young girl. "I'm not going to pressure you, but even though Jerry is gone the offer still stands."
"The offer?" She says.
"If you want to get away from that life you have at home, We will take you in. Just say the word." He turns to leave. After taking a few steps, he turns his head back. "Like I said, don't worry about me. I'm going to defeat this masked clown and then we will all be riding easy." He smiles and gives the thumbs up as he turns to walk away.
Hinako smiles and thinks to herself. "He has a look of determination, but under the surface I can tell this is a facade. Inside he is dying. Just putting on a face to make me feel better. Typical, but what else would I expect? He and Nathan never put themselves first."
Everyone meets outside and boards the military bus one by one. Piers does a headcount and gets ready to roll.
"This feels like a school field trip. Camp counselor Evans over here." Says Leon.
Piers responds unamused "Shut up Leon; it's protocol. This isn't a time for your pranks."
"The bureau doesn't have lame protocol like this," said Leon.
Karina walks up and sits down next to Leon. "Then what is the protocol big man?"
"Karina. Don't be weird," said Reyna.
"Oh, shut up you wretched floosie; just because you are all heartbroken doesn't mean I can't find a man."
Leon looks confused. "You know at first I thought you were kinda mean."
"And what do you think now?" Karina asks.
"Well you're starting to grow on me a little bit," said Leon.
Karina pumps her fist in excitement while Reyna stares at her with anger. They drive down a back forest road for a while and pull up on a lake house. Out front a large circular driveway, gold and brown leaves line the ground as the building is surrounded by thick forest. In the distance the sound of a lapping lake can be heard. Everyone gets off the bus and walks to the large oak front door. As Piers opens it up it's like the gates of heaven. Polished floors, plated wood walls, a full kitchen and a large dining table. Upstairs area with 10 bedrooms, and a large balcony looking out at the lakeside.
"Get comfortable, we will be here for a while. Lobra down that hall is your lab space, training rooms are down that elevator. Rooms are upstairs. Leon I need you over here though," said Piers.
"Come on Piers it's early. Can't we rest? Eat?" Asked Leon.
"Crime doesn't rest Leon," said Piers.
"Crime sucks, sure, but I can't fight crime if I'm hungry," said Leon.
Polar enters the house and sees the pool in the backyard. He runs and Lena realizes he's going to run into the glass balcony door. She blinks past him and slides the door open and he goes sailing into the pool. "Swim!" He screams.
Mike heads out to the back porch and leans up against the railing, looking out into the lake deep in thought while everyone else stays inside, the only noise being the waves lightly lapping the shore and Polar blowing bubbles in the pool down the stairs. He hears the screen door open but doesn't look to see who opened it. Steps creak across the steps until the person steps up next to him and also leans on the railing. It's Reyna. She looks over at Mike but he doesn't react.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
"You care what's wrong?" He asks.
"Of course I care.".
"I didn't get that vibe, sorry."
"Look. I'm just checking in. You don't need to be short and passive aggressive."
"It's a little late for that isn't it? You disappeared on a whim, and now you want to pretend nothing happened?"
"I've told you, you don't even understand half of it."
"How's that?" Mike raises his voice. "Tell me how I don't get it. If you are just here to stress me out, leave. I don't need your help and you checked in. You can feel like you put in the effort now."
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained."
"You keep saying that as if you have even tried explaining yourself!"
"What good would it do? I left because I had to, not because I wanted to."
Mike's face calms as he lets out a single breath. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't have a choice. My father wouldn't allow anything resembling a relationship."
"You still made that choice. Your father can't tell you what to do."
"My family is holding up the highest hopes that I will become a Hikari due to my mother's legacy and the fact that she has stored power that is to be passed on to me. It is expected of me that I utilize it to follow in her footsteps. If it were up to me I'd drop this trash right now and I wouldn't have changed anything. So you can stop looking at me like I'm some evil bitch who ruined everything. I never asked to be who or what I am and it's not my fault. The only thing I can be blamed for is not telling you this from the start."
A silence hangs on the balcony as they both look at the lake. The tension eases as Mike speaks in a light voice. "I didn't know any of that. I'm sorry, but let's be fair here, you never explained that."
"Would you have been any less upset knowing that? Or would it have made no difference?"
"I suppose I would have been angry regardless. Maybe I have been unfair to you. I wish I could take it back but I can't help how I feel.``
"I'm not innocent here either, you are going through a lot, and I could have laid off the jeering. We need to work together, so for now please, we need to be civil. When this is all over, maybe we can talk about this further."
" Yeah this is bigger than both of us. I never got to thank you for your help. So thank you. I accept your apology too for the time being. Let's go inside. No need to sit here screaming and ruining Polar's swim."
"Yeah, you are right, and one last thing. About Jerry."
"No, it's fine. I don't really want to talk about it."
"Alright, I understand."
The two head back inside, and Mike sits down in a comfortable-looking chair near the unlit fireplace. He thinks to himself, "Finally some real rest." All of a sudden, as he lays back on the back of his neck he feels a freezing cold and shrieks.
Lena and Karina sit nearby watching. She leans to Lena. "What's your name again?"
Lena responds casually. "Lena, Lena Oxford. First name only is fine by me."
"Ah ok. So who you got your eye on the leader guy.?" She asks.
"Gross, no shot." Lena replies.
"You guys were so close I assumed you were a thing."
Lena laughs and punches Karina. "No chance. He's like my brother. Not to mention I don't swing that way."
Reyna sits down with them.
"What do you mean?" Asks Karina.
"I'm not into men love."
"Then what? Animals? Demons?"
"Karina. Don't be weird." Says Reyna.
"No animals, demons maybe, girls preferably."
"Why girls? They suck. Look at Reyna."
"You sure are a confidence booster," said Reyna.
"I know. I'm a blast," Karina said laughing.
"Well plenty of choices here, why don't you go for him yourself?" Lena asked.
"Too stoic for me. I need a man with some edge. Now Leon over there I'd let him fart in my lunch," said Karina sipping her wine.
"That's disgusting," said Reyna.
"Why that of all things?" Asked Lena.
****
Downstairs Nathan and Youta are training. Both look exhausted as if they had been going at it nonstop.
"I am going to go at you full power!" says Youta.
"If you go full power I will be dead!" says Nathan.
"That's the point. In order to unlock your body's full strength you must learn to release the limiters. There are five in total based on my metrics. Most people can only do this when they are in fight or flight mode. You however will learn how to do it at will which will require the opposite. You must calm your mind and focus. This will allow you to activate it without doing as much damage to your muscles! Now, full power!"
"Oh god, oh fuck," said Nathan.
Youta runs and slides under Nathan and kicks him up into the air. He jumps upwards and keeps kicking Nathan sending him flying farther into the air. He then moves through the air again getting above Nathan and boots him down, sending him flying toward the ground. Nathan crashes and barely has a chance to look before Youta comes back down. Nathan rolls and leaps back. Dodging him barely. Nathan runs but Youta is in front of him again this time sending a straight punch right into Nathan's face. Nathan goes sailing back into the wall and hits it so hard that he leaves a mark. He gets up bloody and bruised.
"I can't keep up. Stop it!"
Youta wiggles his finger then proceeds to fly in and continue to beat Nathan's ass. After a minute more of Nathan being beaten down something changes. Nathan begins to build an aura around him, and suddenly he's faster. He mutters to himself. "That feels good. Maybe this is it."
Nathan flies back in and this time it's better. He can't land a hit but he's keeping up more. Dodging more. Youta lands one solid punch to the skull and Nathan is slammed into the ground. Nathan leaps back and tenses up his body. The air around him begins to swirl, and his muscles flex at an almost painful level. He flies in and this time and lands a hit. Youta goes on the defensive and leaps back. Putting his hands up calmly to stop Nathan.
"You did it. Right there. You unlocked a limiter. I could sense it, unreal. You were able to calm your mind during that beating."
"It wasn't that difficult. I couldn't fight back so what else did I have to focus on? But that felt good. The pain went away and I felt faster. If only for a moment, I felt like I was on another level of strong"
"That was just the first barrier, but it took me 3 years to get there. It only took you a week. You are truly gifted. Your mind should be a jumble right now, but you are able to calm it in the heat of battle and make truly smart choices."
"You gave me a gift alright, I think my jaw is broken."
"Ooooh, you are a funny guy. Let's head upstairs and get you one gummy bear. You have earned it!"
"Why one?" Asked Nathan.
"Because despite you learning a new skill, you still got your ass kicked. Now let's go."
******
Brody and Junpei are training in the next chamber.
Junpei speaks loudly and sternly. "If you don't hit 100 targets in a minute, you are not eating tonight."
"There is zero chance I hit one hundred, my best is fifty-five," Brody said, groaning.
"Well then you won't eat."
"This is insane! There isn't a way to make this happen."
"Here, I have a deal for you. Try it with my rifle."
Brody takes the soldier's rifle and runs the drill again. This time firing rockets at the large clusters of enemies. He ramps up and hits targets over and over. Hitting 55 quicker than before. Before he knows it he's almost at 100. Before that time is up.
"How did I do?" Brody Asked.
"99 kid. 99. Good enough. Let's head up."
"Thank the Lord, that was hard."
"If it hurts, it works. Never quit until it's right."
"Yes sir."
The two head upstairs to join the party. Nathan and Junpei join as well, sweaty and stinky. As they walk in. Polar walks in from the outside pool and screams. "Hungry!"
"Not now, bear man." Lena says.
Mike lets out a light smile and leans forward.
"Actually Lena, maybe now is the time. We have all been working hard. How does pizza sound?"
The room cheers in excitement until Piers shouts out loud.
"Woah woah woah not so fast. I am the commanding officer here. I have to object. I'm not approving any pizzas." He pauses. "Unless there are also gonna be breadsticks involved."
The room cheers again, and Polar jumps for joy. For once the team seems to feel at ease. Even Kazuke is smiling. Perhaps it's the calm before the storm or perhaps they are actually growing to like one another. Leon stands up and walks to the center of the room.
"You know, you guys are starting to grow on me a little bit! Now! Watch it grow a little bit!"
The room cheers again as everyone waits for the fun night ahead. For now, all is well. Mike feels a force against the back of his arm. He turns to see Nathan who motions him to the front door. Mike and Nathan exit the building and walk onto the sprawling front porch.
Nathan leans up against the wall casually and talks in a light voice. Even calmer than usual. "You know it's weird we haven't talked about Jerry yet. I feel like before the burial we should."
"Ok, what is there to talk about exactly?"
"I don't know, it doesn't feel wrong to you to brush it under the rug and pretend that nothing happened?"
"It does, but I guess I'm just not sure how to process it. I can't believe it even happened. I'm just thinking that this is some strange week where I'm just imagining things you know? Like i'll just wake up and it will all be some stupid dream. I know that's not the case, but my brain won't let me believe it."
"I feel the same way, but at the same time there is this deep dread inside me. Knowing Mr. Jerry is gone, it's like I've been punched in the stomach and the air just won't return to my lungs."
"Yeah, fortune doesn't favor us that's for sure. First mom and dad, now Jerry."
"You speak about these things too harshly. It's almost like you are used to it now. Thats fucked up isnt it?"
Mike remains silent.
"Maybe not," says Nathan, now leaning on the railing next to Mike. "This is just the hand we've been dealt and our experiences have hardened us to loss and grief. No choice but to choke it and push forward."
Mike stays silent but his breath picks up. "You were always the level-headed one." He speaks his voice building pressure. Words breaking under every syllable.
"Maybe so, but you are a better leader. I'll just say what it is. You know how to put on an act. Make people feel better. Even when your heart is about to explode you put others first. Jerry would say, That makes you a true hero."
"But what would you say about that?"
"It's noble, but stupid."
"Harsh much?"
"You need to take care of yourself too sometimes. I don't question your motive, but I do question the effect of those convictions on your mental state. It's normal to be upset about this. I cried the second I left the building."
Mike stays silent looking down. As a few tears fall lightly on the railing.
"Let yourself feel today, tomorrow isn't promised." Nathan punches his arm and turns to go inside. "I'm glad we talked about this. Keeps some normalcy in the air. I'll save you some pizza. Until then take the time you need out here. Night" Nathan walks in and closes the door. Mike sits against the railing and wipes his eyes. He turns and leans against the wooden rail, and looks up at the sky. The stars light up the treeline as all lies quiet in the woods. Peaceful.