Suffering is a necessary part of life. Without it, one becomes weak, spoiled by his own good fortune. Some suffer more than others. This connects back to my earlier writing; each person is doomed (or blessed) to experience a life entirely different from every other person in existence. There is no way to change this. Your life is simply the results of how you deal with these problems. Should you botch them, your life will be filled with suffering. If you come out stronger, your life will be all the better. Fate gives you challenges; how your life plays out is based on your reactions to said challenges. IN my life I have faced many challenges; the death of my father, my role in the terrorist attacks plotted by Matthew Taylor, the birth of my son. These challenges need not be negative; one can learn life lessons from joyful times just as they can learn from dark times.

Fox looked up at Krystal, who was sleeping on the small sofa in the study. Even in her fifties, her beauty still captivated Fox. She was one of two things that could tear him from his writings; the other being Marcus.

He sighed and stood up, walking towards her. Fox knew he didn't have much time left. He had gone to the doctor not long ago, who diagnosed him with Hepatitis C. He would be gone within two years; there was nothing that could be done. Soon, he'd begin feeling ill, weak, depressed. That was not the way Fox wanted to go out. He needed more time.

Fox began to cry as he stroked her hair. He knew what was coming after his physical death; he'd even prepared for it. He wept not for himself, but for her. Fox had no idea how she would take it, and he knew that he would soon see her for the last time.

What would Marcus think? Fox would have to tell them soon. He didn't want his death to be a surprise. He needed them to be ready; lest his passing destroy them both. Fox decided to get Marcus home, and soon.

…

"Hey Dad, I didn't think you'd call so soon. What's up?"

"Marcus, are you in orbit around Corneria?"

"Yeah, why?" Marcus replied, clearly focusing on other things.

"Is it at all possible that you could come home for a few days? Your mother misses you."

"Yeah, that should be fine! I'll tell the team I'll be gone."

"Thanks, I'll see you soon. " Fox sighed once more, hanging up. This coming week would not be an easy one.

…..

"Marcus!" Krystal said, running out onto the driveway, where a large blue fox was unloading a suitcase from his car.

"Mom!" Marcus exclaimed, picking Krystal up and hugging her.

Fox stood in the doorway, watching his family reunite. It was a sight he may never see again.

Marcus left his mother, striding towards Fox.

"Dad," Marcus said, stronger, more quiet and serious.

Fox embraced him. His face was solemn; unphased even. He didn't change his expression. Only the tired stare of his graying emerald eyes, which looked up into Marcus's. Fox thought that Marcus could see that something was wrong. If he did, he didn't mention it.

…..

Marcus stepped into the dark interior of the study, noticing all the books and papers strewn about the room.

"Ever heard of Spring Cleaning?" Marcus joked.

Fox was hunched over behind the desk, and laughed at the remark.

"I don't have time for that," He said, his face quickly returning to it's tired stare into oblivion.

"Dad, what's wrong? You seem….upset about something." Clearly Marcus had begun to fully make use of the telepathy powers he had inherited; Fox could see his face strain ever so slightly as his sixth sense scraped it's way into Fox's mind.

Fox stood up and looked out the window, as he often did.

"Marcus," Fox began," I am not going to be with you for much longer."

The blue vulpine's face contorted into a strange grimace.

"Wh…what?"

"I am going to die. Soon." Fox was calm and collected.

"Wh..why…..What?" Marcus asked again.

"I have a fatally high concentration of Hepatitis C viruses inside me. I am going to die soon because of it." Fox said, averting his gaze away from the window and towards Marcus.

"You need help! We need to get you to the hospital immediately!" Marcus said, standing up and walking over to his father.

"There's nothing they can do."

"Like hell there is! Come, quickly!" Marcus was pulling his father's arm towards the door. Fox jerked away.

"Stop. You need to stop, son."

"No, we're going! Now!" Marcus was still pulling at him, clutching for him.

"Stop."

"Dad!" Tears were welling in Marcus's eyes.

"No…..stop…" Fox said, his face straight.

"You're not dying on my hands!"

"We have to tell your mother. Now."

"We don't need to tell her, you're not going to die!" Marcus was on his knees at Fox's feet.

"Come. Let's go."

…

Krystal was laying on the couch in the living room. Marcus entered first, his eyes a blurry shade of red.

"What's wrong?" she said, sitting up.

"Dad…Dad he…."

"Slow down...what happened to Dad?" Krystal asked with genuine worry.

Fox stepped slowly into the room.

"Honey, what's wrong? What happened?" Krystal said, standing up and facing him.

"He's going to die!" Marcus yelled.

That was one of the few times Fox saw the Cerinian Krystal; the one that grieved with genuine anguish and pain. She clung to him, she kissed him, she hugged him, begging him to try to find a cure, begging him to stay. Marcus did the same. But through it all, Fox stood there, his face like stone, unmoving. He seemed sad, but not as sad as he should have been. One would think he wanted to die.

…..

"I want you to read these." Fox said, taking a large stack of crudely bound books out of his desk drawers. "I want you to see who I am. How I got here, what's going to happen to me. Do this for me, son. This books ARE me. That's how you'll remember me; my thoughts will be right there in front of you."

Marcus took the books in his hands.

"Why do you write, Dad?" Marcus asked, setting the books down and picking one off the top.

"For you. A similar, yet highly different stack of books is here for your mother. I want you both to read them; study them. Find out why I am who I am."

Marcus flipped to a random page, staring down at the writing scrawled on it's face.

The Great Unknown; the force that drives all sentient beings forward. Discovery. That is what one truly wants in life; to discover all that is possible, to discover things no other man has ever discovered.

"You wrote this?" Marcus said, looking up at Fox, who was smiling down at him.

"Every word of it."

"I'll read it Dad. I promise." Marcus choked out, tears welling in his eyes again.

"Do not cry, Marcus. Now's not a time for studying; it's the time to chase the Great Unknown. Specifically, your Great Unknown. I've found mine."

"And what is your Great Unknown?" Marcus asked.

Fox paused for a moment.

"Remorse."