Ch.20- Epilogue.

August 19th, 2509. Mars, Pantheon of Heroes

Sigh.

I can't believe I'm late for this. After all these years, you would think I'd be more punctual, especially since I'm not even a part of their squad. Guess nobody is a part of any squad anymore, though…

"You're late," a familiar voice reprimanded me.

She always sounds so angry all the time. Not only that, I outranked her... Artemis really needs to take a chill pill. Aren't snipers supposed to be cool, calm, and collective?

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. Bad traffic," I complained joyfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"There is no traffic on Mars, Heimdall," stated a stunningly handsome man.

"Relax, Apollo. It's just a joke."

Ah, Heph. I can always count on you, buddy.

I knelt down at the memorial and placed my offering. A few red roses, the same color as our visors. It's a beautiful red color, our visors I mean.

Depending on who sees them, they either give a sense of security or dread. I think they are cool, though.

I stood back up and joined everyone else in the semi-circle. Since it's so early in the morning, nobody else is here at the Pantheon. I'm sure if a group of regs saw us, they might pass out or grovel on the floor, depending on the person.

Four larger-than-life Humans dressed in all black are standing at a giant black memorial. We sure do make quite the sight, all of us standing well over six feet tall. Honestly, we barely look Human anymore.

At least that's how I see it.

The group stood in silence. Rather it be from awkwardness, mourning, or because nobody wants to break the silence is anyone's guess. But I was always bad at reading the room.

"It's crazy to think it's been seven years," I said solemnly.

The other three gave grunts or nods of agreement—tough crowd.

I crouched down and ran my hand over the plaque. This has become a yearly ritual for us. I wish it didn't have to be. I wish they were still here.

Here rests The Great Commander Kronos of Hades Squad. Commander Kronos passed away while valiantly defending Humanity on the Elunari front. Kronos was of the first generation of Human Death Commandos and served our species until his very last breath. May we never forget his sacrifices, and may he rest in peace forever.

Death Commando "Kronos" A002

Years of Service- 15 Standard Years

Day of Passing- August 19th, 2502

Total Confirmed Kills- 947 Thousand

Probable Kills- Unknown

Planetary Invasions- 815

Notable Accolades-

Defender of Humanity x2, Earth's Cross x3, Champion of Mars x2, Medal of Honor x10, Navy Cross x15, Silver Star x20, Naval Outstanding Unit Award x12, Naval Intelligence Service Award x4, Distinguished Leader Award x10, Purple Heart x158

I couldn't help but chuckle at the last one. 158 Purple Hearts, Commander? You earned at least another 400 of those. Guess they stopped counting, it would probably look bad for a hero to get hurt so much.

I looked up at the massive obsidian statue the Navy had made. I wonder what the Commander would think if he saw this thing? At least they made sure to get his bald head and ugly mug right. The thing was gaudy as all hell in my opinion. I'm sure he would faint at the sight of this thing. Hell, he might even order it to be bombarded from orbit.

"I miss them," Apollo said, dismayed.

Everyone sighed and grunted in response.

At least the bastards had the tact to give Nyx something as well. God knows she deserved it too. Her statue was right next to his and was the same obsidian color. She had a similar plaque with almost the same amount of accolades and achievements.

Everyone told me she was the one that ran after the Commander and fought with him till the very end. Of course, nobody knows that part of the story or precisely what happened.

The military couldn't admit they cornered and whacked their number one soldier and his comrade. Kronos was a veritable war god in the eyes of Humanity. Helmet cam footage of him slaughtering scores of aliens are all over the net.

People both feared and respected him across the galaxy. I was there when an entire sector surrendered just because he showed up. He hadn't even had the chance to fire a single shot at anyone, and they gave up.

However, he was a pariah through and through.

Everyone knew what he was capable of. Even though most had only seen the tip of the iceberg of what he was capable of achieving, many couldn't bring themselves to speak to him.

And those who did speak to him were either very crazy or very happy he was fighting for them. But, of course, nobody would call him a monster to his face since he was the one out there catching plasma rounds with his body in the name of Humanity.

I let out a deep sigh into the massive room.

That's all in the past now though. He was so close too. It's an unbelievable shame.

If anyone deserved to retire and settle down, it was him. I always imagined him and Nyx settling down together after the war, maybe getting a farm somewhere on a lush world. Live the rest of their days out in peace. Maybe even adopt a few kids.

Actually, that is way too scary. I wouldn't want to see a child that got raised by him. They might end up destroying the whole universe.

Sadly, just two months later, the peace treaty would be signed to end the war. It only took the bigwigs a year to disband us Death Commandos and shoo us away to the corners of the galaxy. I didn't even bother coming to the core worlds anymore. The only reason I made the journey was to be here to remember them.

"Remember that one time when Commander and Nyx sparred, and he sent her flying across the training ground?" Hephaestus asked no one in particular.

"Took me days to convince her to rest those broken ribs, good times," mused Apollo.

Good job, Heph. I knew I could count on you.

"Or that time we crashed the Panther and had that one song stuck on loop for four hours straight," Apollo mentioned.

Hephaestus practically curled himself into a ball at the mention of this event. The normally joyful man looked like he was reliving past trauma. "Please don't—"

"Oh man, the Commander was sooo pissed. He got his legs crushed to the hull for hours. I thought he was going to rip his own legs off so he could strangle you, Heph. What was the name of that song again?" Artemis chuckled, cutting Hephs pleas to stop off.

"Collared Greens by Kendrick Lamar… listen it's a great song, really. You just aren't supposed to listen to it for four hours straight while flipped upside down in a Panther, okay… and please stop talking about this. He made me clean the mess hall with a toothbrush for a month straight after that."

This elicited a chuckle from everyone. Seeing a giant of a man who wreaked death and havoc wherever he went nearly breakdown was hilarious in its own way. Besides, it was better to be like this than all doom and gloom.

I don't want to imitate the Commander too much now.

"Did I ever tell you the story about the first time I met the Commander?" I said to no one in particular.

"Yes, you say the same damn sto—"

I cut off Apollo and began my epic tale while the mood was still ripe. "The first time I ever saw that bald bastard was when he showed up to lead our new squad. I swear when I looked at that datapad, and his age said he was five years old, I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought it was a damn typo, so I walked up to him and asked. He just looked at me and gave me the most deadpan "Yes" I've ever witnessed in my entire life. I was so mad I decided to duel him right then and there, and of cou—"

"He kicked your ass and sent you to medical for a week. Yes, yes, Heimdall, you've told this story a million times," Apollo interrupted.

But the fondness in her voice betrayed her faux anger. Big softy.

"Yes, true…true," I droned off.

Ah, the good ol days. He really did kick my ass that day.

But I'll never forget that instead of belittling me, he went straight up to me while I was still gasping for air and began telling me everything I did wrong.

He took everything so seriously but then again I was just a weirdo who didn't take anything seriously. I am pretty sure the drugs melted parts of my brain along with my hair color during the transformation.

I thought back to the last time I saw him.

Seeing him that day was a shock to my very core. I'll never forget how he looked. I haven't had the courage to mention it to anyone. I fear that if anybody else knew, we might start disappearing.

But there was something different about him, something I'd never seen in him before.

It was almost like his eyes changed somehow. He seemed more, dare I say, more alive? I couldn't understand it then, and I still can't now. But he was definitely battling some demons. Maybe all the souls of the Xenos he's killed finally came to haunt him.

That doesn't mean he needed to die, though.

None of us know why the Navy did what it did. The hush order Hades Squad got was absolute. As far as I know, I'm the only one who was told the truth.

So far, I haven't been whacked, but I definitely look over my shoulder this far from home. I wonder if it had to do with that change in him. Maybe he knew something we didn't?

Something so terrible they had to neutralize him? No… it had to be something else. He was a loyal soldier till the very end. It took the betrayal of members of his own unit and the threat of having the others killed for him to act out.

I can only speculate but… meh. What's done is done. He wouldn't want us to put ourselves in danger for the sake of a dead man.

"Do you think he knew what people called him?" Apollo asked out loud.

"I'm sure he did. Nobody had the balls to say it to his face, though," Artemis clapped back. That elicited a chuckle from everyone present.

Such a silly nickname. Wasn't he supposed to be the hero of Humankind?

"Let's just hope our little Reaper has found peace in the afterlife," Heph said fondly.

Mmm. I hope you find peace wherever you are. If not for your sake, then the sake of those poor souls around you. I know I sure have, Commander Kronos.