“No it did not in fact. No matter how hard I tried to forget my past it always found a way to creep its way back into my thoughts. I started by either destroying everything that reminded me of them to help with the process, but it was not enough. I would be doing some random task and the thought of them would wander back into my head. No matter the task my mind some how found a way to make a connection to what I was doing at the time and they would pop into my mind.” “ It would seem that your will to hold onto your past was greater than your desire to forget it, it would seem. The bond between you and your team Stark was as strong as it was unique, something like that cannot just easily toss to side and forgotten. Doing that would be a disgraces to all the memories you and your team made while together. It is completely acceptable to mourn for the loss of those you held close to your heart. I would be worried and cautious of any who felt no such thing to such an event. With that said you also need to live enough for all five of you. I can guarantee you that they would hate knowing that you their captain; someone who they all held in high respect spent the rest of his years sorry and sad for what happened. They would want you to go on living your life to the fullest and happiest you could achieve,” said the Commander The room stood in complete silence as everyone soaked in the words the Commander has just spoken. Everyone seemed to be in their own train of thought going over the meaning behind the Commanders wise words. “Even after all these years you are still as brilliant as ever Commander,” said Stark. “I try, it is not as easy as it would seem, being all wise and mystically. Alcohol does help in that department though, helps with the flow of the speech and such, the words just kind of come to me in a rush. I don’t really think about what im saying at the time but it always seems to work out well in the end,” said the Commander. “Commander you said there would be five of us that would be needed to attend this ceremony, with Captain Stark present that makes the count up to four, we are still short one more attendee. Who is the last and final member of this selected group,” asked Nathan in a puzzled tone. “The is true Nathan we are still one member short but do not fret about that small detail, all will become apparent in due time, for now I have a few more formal things to discuss with you four while you are still here,” said the Commander with a slight smirk on his face like that of a child with secrete only he knew. Captain Stark along with Baldwin and Paige now had the same puzzled look across their faces. Who was this finally person going to be. The three could be seen looking down at the floor, slight twitches of the eyes and shaking of their head side to side happened among the three has they tried to figure out of everyone they knew who the possible five member would be. The three eventually gave up on the pursuit of who the finally candidate could be. The Commander had not divulge enough information to help whittle down the possible number of people who would qualify for whatever the Commander had planned. The hours waned on as the Commander continued his discussion on the up and coming ceremony. The sun made its way across the sky as the Commander and the four continued their discussion. The sun was just setting down below the horizon given off its arraying spectrum of oranges, yellows, and purples. The city below was a flood with natural light from the citizens of the Last Cities houses, restaurants, vendor stalls along with the countless street lamps strung throughout the city. Even at night the city did not sleep, he was just as busy if not busier during the night than during the day. The streets were still packed with people going about their shopping, or just out for a night on the town. In the chaotic world they lived it it was always nice to have a little sense of normalness. The Commander could be seen escorting the four out of his office and bidding them a good day. In turn the four returned the notion, and thanking the Commander for his time. The four walked down to the end of the hall together before parting ways, Stark could be seen going left while the trio made a right handed turn. Both parties bid their farewells to each other before disappearing around the corner out of sight of the Commander. The Commander returned to his office and closed the door behind him. The Commander stood for a second in the darkness of his office before making his way back to his desk. Once at this desk the Commander reached to the far side of his desk and light a small kerosene lamp giving him just enough light to fill his desk area with a yellowish glow. From the shadows of the Commanders room he could be seen retrieving something from around his next, a key. The Commander then leaned down to this right and fiddled with the key trying to find the keyhole which was somewhat of a challenge due to the limited light in the room. After a few seconds he managed to find the keyhole and inserted the key. Several clicks and clanks could be heard as the tumblers inside the whole found their correct position. After a hard tug on the handle the drawer came free, inside held countless other medals and rewards, along with a curious little black metal box. The Commander pushed aside the medals and other various awards off to the side so that the he could retrieve the long black box from the drawer. Placing the box on his desk he retrieved the key to the box which was tapped to the underside of it. The Commander then slowly opened to lid to the black box to reveal several military tags inside, four to be precise. Each tag was set on their own silver chain. The Commander carefully pick you each of the four tags and held them in his hand. With a slight twist of his wrist the names on the tags became readable for the first time. Richard, Ashley, Alice, and Chase glowed in the yellowish light of the lamp. “It is almost time my dear students, you all will soon be re-united. I know it has been many years but only a little while longer I promise,” whispered the Commander. A small tear could be seen forming up in the corner of Commander Radcliff's right eye. With a single blink the tear rolled down the Commanders face and settled at the base of his chin. After several minutes of staring at the tags the Commander gently returned them to their box and back into the drawer. The Commander then reach over to the small lamp and extinguished the yellow flame inside plunging the room into darkness.