My heart pounds with relief. This is it, we've finally found her... I think to myself, staring at the opening hatch. Anticipation racing through my veins like a drug. When you step out, all I can see is how you look. It's as if nothing's ever happened to you the past ten years. The relief my heart feels floods throughout the rest of my body, and I stride over to you. Your name escaping my lips as I wrap my arms around your waist. I support you to the ground, whispering 'I love you'. "Dom.." Marcus says, and I awake from my daydream. My eyes fall upon your face; the reality hits me like no other. Suddenly I feel everything I have ever hoped for, ever fought for, fall into a dangerous despair.

I try not to face the facts, try to help you recognize me. Try to bring you back into a stable state. Then I realise you're too far gone. Too far gone into a world where I can't reach you. Only your body has remained in Sera, your mind since long disappeared. "God damn it, it's me Dominic! It's Dominic!" I try one last time in vain. The fragile pieces of my unstable heart break even more, causing me to turn to my best friend in desperation. "Marcus... I-I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do, man! She-" I'm breaking, and he can see that as much as I can feel it. A supportive hand on my shoulder, he speaks, "Dom. It's okay;" and then walks away giving me space to make my crushing decision.

I look back at you, seeing the emptiness in your dull eyes. What the hell did they do to you? The thought of what they put you through angers me greatly. I pull out my pistol, hands shaking. "I love you so much.." I whisper, trembling. I put my forehead on yours gently, before straightening up your head and raising the pistol to your temple. This was it?! This was the moment I had been fighting for with nothing to give but empty ten years?! I struggle to hold back the tears that threaten to overflow my brimming eyes. I count to five ever so slowly, a not so firm pistol held against your temple. Reaching the dreaded number, I muffle my cries of grief hearing the pistol shot ring out across the cavern walls.

I take a few moments to collect myself, to let anger and hatred start to consume me from within. Picking myself up, I glance one more time at your lifeless body. Now, I have nothing personal left to fight for except the defense of humanity. But I do. I'm fighting for the Carmine boys, Anthony and Benjamin, who will never come home. I'm fighting for Lieutenant Kim Young Minh, who died without having a chance to say goodbye. I'm fighting for Tai Kaliso, the unkillable who blew his own head off with a shotgun after being subjected to Locust torture. But most of all, I'm fighting for my children. My brother. And always, always for you. My wife. Maria.

I don't know what Marcus fights for. Hell, I don't know what Cole and Baird fight for either. But revenge is clear in my mind. Burning deep within my soul, consuming my heart hotly. "I'm sorry about Maria... but she's in a better place now. You did what you had to do." This is Marcus' attempt at consoling me. I'm merely silent, waiting for his next words. "I found a way to sneak into Nexus... but if you wanna go in guns blazin', I don't blame ya." He looks at me straight in the eye when he says that.

My reply is calm but with a tone of hatred. "I wanna kill 'em all..."