Chapter 26

We buried Commander Michael that same day in the arena where he met his end. We all said our last words, then remained silent, watching his grave until it was time for night. Derrick was the last person to leave the place, he sat by his father's grave halfway through the night, thinking.

"Maybe if I had been... Stronger, you both would still be sitting by my side today. I'm sorry Dad, I'm sorry Mom."

I returned to my capsule room in the military base that night, everything was still in place, just the way I had left it.

"You should have been here to see the things your son accomplished all on his own..." I said, holding the picture of Derrick's mom in my left hand. I took it down from the shelf afterwards, and placed it facedown in the drawer. 

I fell back on my bed, thinking about everything that had happened until now, my entire life had been leading up to this moment, and at this point there was no turning back.

Tomorrow I had to face Hareth, wh