Two months later…

Slowly, he came around in an empty room, tied securely to a chair. His memory returning to him, he remembered how he got to be here. He'd volunteered to lead a rescue mission on Mars, but it'd had gone south pretty badly. His friend Angela had been wounded during their escape. He'd told the others to get her out; staying behind to buy time for the rest of the Rangers to get to safety. Standing his ground in the dark tunnel, he'd seen someone shoot at him as he moved in to attack his assailant. He'd felt a pain in his shoulder then his world had gone black.

Now he heard the presence of another person in the room, and a soft lullaby emanating from a music box that was on the table. The man closed it as he walked toward the captured Ranger, holding a PPG directly in front of him.

"Do you have any last words?" he questioned.

He raised his head and looked at the man. It was then that he saw the other people in the room with him. When he recognised who they were, a smile spread on his face from ear to ear. He looked past the man and was overjoyed to see his parents, his brother…and his love, all standing behind a backdrop of light. His gaze fixed on the faces of his loved ones…when he looked at her, she walked toward him and smiled.

He stared at her, not really paying the man anymore attention. "We live for the One, we die for the One."

She took hold of his hand and guided him to where his parents and brother were. They encircled him and embraced each other in a massive group hug.

It was then that he turned around to see his lifeless body slumped in the chair. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned around and walked toward the light.

End