Originally the plan was to take the Commander back to the base where he could rest and recover for as long as needed. However, one look at how terribly wounded he was and that plan went out the window. The new plan called for James to remain with the Eastern division of the Human Resistance and nurse his wounds.

In the time since Alpha's defeat and the liberation of another Siren-controlled sector, there was a lot of movement, particularly from the main branch of the Resistance. Under Alec's guidance and deft planning, essential supplies and troops were shifted from the main branch to the Eastern one. The supplies helped the people build shelters and structures to keep them safe while the troops provided a sense of security.

The Azur Sky had made it back to the island by now and were ready to defend the Resistance in the event of a Siren retaliation, but none came.

For about three weeks, everyone went about doing what they normally, did. But there was an air of tension that blanketed the two bases. Everyone was expecting something to happen, yet nothing did. Eventually people came to the conclusion that there was no counterattack coming which helped ease many minds.

While the Resistance and the fleet resumed their normal activities, James was miles away from everyone else, tending to his wounds. The only one who stayed back was Akagi for obvious reasons. As much as he didn't like the idea of her doing nothing all day except keeping an eye on him, James could not protest. This was partly because he was too tired to protest when the decision was made and also because they had taped his mouth shut with medical gauze.

Aside from Akagi, Alexis and Alec also stayed, but James rarely saw those two. Alec was always helping oversee the construction of new buildings and working on the defenses while Alexis supported him in whatever capacity she could. There were times when they'd come to his room to surprise him and have dinner with him and Akagi, but that was few and far between.

After three weeks of sitting and doing nothing, most of the bandages on him were gone and he was allowed to walk. Walk mind you, not run around and do the things he'd normally do. This was welcome news to someone who hated staying still while the world moved around him.

The very day Akagi removed the bandages off him was the day he went out to see how much had changed. He wondered if he was out for three weeks or three years as the scenery before him was startingly different to the one he remembered.

Gone were the empty and dirty streets, in its place was the lively sight of people going about. Some had set up small shops near the pavement and some were making food. Families were walking about, enjoying the day like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"I am genuinely amazed at how quickly people adapted to their circumstances," said Akagi, coming up and standing next to him.

"Humans are a very resilient bunch," he replied "all it takes is a little hope for everyone to think that better days are ahead."

"You gave them that hope," she said, reaching out to hold his hand. She gently held it and he responded by closing his hand around hers.

"It wasn't just me Akagi," he said, correcting her "everyone helped. I'd be dead a hundred times over if it weren't for Sandy, Warspite, Friedrich. And I'd be dead a thousand times over if the rest of the fleet didn't show up when they did."

She chuckled a little at the comment. She didn't say nothing and instead watched the scene in silence for a little while longer.

The two were either helping others out with their daily activities or relaxing and enjoying the company of each other. As the days went by, Akagi, began to grow more curious about a particular topic.

James' past.

It was a topic many in the fleet brought up from time to time and with good reason. James knew damn well everything there is to know about the girls from their past to their pet peeves. And while everyone knew about his time in the military and his stint at the Navy, there was one section they were in the dark about: his childhood.

However, when anyone ever broached up the subject, he'd find a way to dodge it. Not outright dismiss the question, but find a way to deflect to something else. And often he'd use the same lines again and again.

"I was no one special."

"I was a nobody."

"I was someone you'd pass on the street and never look at again."

It was these three lines or a variation of them. At first, everyone got even more curious and wondered why he wanted to keep it under wraps. But, as time went on, they thought it was best to respect that privacy and leave it be. After all, if he didn't want to talk about it, it wasn't fully of sunshine and rainbows.

Akagi however was in a unique position compared to the rest. She was his wife and that gave her reason to want to find out. If he told her, she would shoulder the burden with him and help him overcome it.

With that in mind, she looked at James who was busy gulping down a bottle of water and asked him

"Why don't you want to talk about your past?"

Hearing this, James immediately started choking on the water, prompting her to go behind him and pat him on the back.

"Why would… why would you bring that up all of a sudden?" he asked, coughing a little.

"Well, you know," she said, looking away "we have a lot of free time now and I thought now is a good time to bring it up."

"Like I said Akagi," he said "my childhood wasn't that big a deal. I was just a regular kid with a regular life."

'That was a new one,' thought Akagi, updating the list of deflections he'd normally use when the subject got brought up.

"Well, if it were normal then why not talk about it?"

"Because if I start and you fall asleep, then I'll feel sad," he replied.

"Why not try it on me first before making assumptions."

"I know you well enough to know what you like and don't like."

"People's likes can change over time James, and don't forget, I like hearing everything about you."

She purposely made sure to make her voice a little sultry in that last sentence as she knew it was his weakness. Akagi hoped that it would knock him off balance a little for her. Unfortunately, today was one of those rare days where her husband did not fall for her usual wily charm.

"My statement still stands," he said, unfazed by her attempts "the past is in the past and we'll leave it at that."

Akagi said nothing. Her only response was a low growl coupled by the sound of her grinding her teeth. This was one of those moments where James having a strong mind and will was a bad thing.

James meanwhile sighed internally, doing his best not to let his worry show. In the time that they were here, Akagi brought up the question of his childhood half a dozen times. This was more than the amount of times the entire fleet used to ask him in a month. He managed to dodge the issue several times but knew that he was treading on thin water.

He wrestled with the idea of telling her, but then he remembered the words of his teacher. The man who saved him when he was at his lowest often shared his wisdom with James and the rest aboard the ship. On quiet nights when there was no threat and the waters were calm, the old man often belted out a proverb or a story that ended with a proverb. One of these stories stayed with James longer than the rest.

The old man once told the crew that every human in this world is born to bear a certain amount of weight. This was not a physical weight but an emotional one. There was so much a single human could bear and those that tried to carry more suffered as a result.

He told them that everyone has their problems and that sharing those problems with others does you no good. What's the point in giving some of your burden to someone who is already struggling with their own? The logic was simple and that's why it remained.

It was for that very reason he chose to stay silent about his childhood. The terrible life he lived from the moment he opened his eyes till the day he ran away was his weight and no one else's. As much as he loved Akagi and everyone else for that matter, he did not want to burden them with his past.

The only problem with James' train of thought was that there was no way of telling how much a person could bear. Those that looked weak could carry great emotional weights and those that looked strong may only carry little. He did not know and never once entertained such a thought. To him, the words of wisdom his teacher imparted were gold and nothing could change that.

However, another thing that James did not consider was that while he may stand firm and resolute in his path, fate has a way of pushing you in a different direction.

"Get out of the way!" shouted a voice from behind. James spun around and saw several uniformed men wheeling a stretcher past him. On it was a woman with short black hair, her mouth covered with a mask, her body strapped to the gurney.

"Melanie!" shouted another voice and James saw a man in his late sixties with a receding hair line and black rimmed glasses barrel past him.

It was only for a moment, yet that moment seemed to last for an eternity to him. As the woman passed by him, a memory suddenly shot to the front of his mind. James had almost completely forgotten about this memory as he had done his best to bury it in the darkest pits of his psyche. He did not ever want to remember.

But, when he saw that woman, the memory burst forward and refused to be ignored.

Akagi did not notice James' reaction and so quietly came towards him. When she was close, she said "I hope she recovers."

She expected James to say something, maybe even offer some words of solace to her. However, there were no words. All that she got in return was silence. Curious, Akagi turned to her left about to ask him something but stopped. The reason she forgot her question was simple.

James' face had gone pale. As if he had seen something terrifying just now and it froze him in place.

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That night, after a good dinner, the pair got ready to go to sleep. James, for the most part returned to his normal self. He somehow managed to overcome the shock of what he saw and pretend like nothing happened. Akagi, noticed this sudden shift in tone, yet chose not to say anything. She knew all too well how tight-lipped he could be and trying to bring it up might have the opposite effect.

The two said good night and after sharing a quick kiss, they both went to sleep. Time passed and after about thirty minutes, James turned around. Akagi's back was to him but he could make out her body slowly rising and falling. This was an indication that she was sound asleep. James learned early on that Akagi sleeps facing away from him at night so that her tails could cover him from head to toe. She only shifts positions later because she liked to watch him sleep early in the morning.

The tails on his face coupled with her rhythmic movement were enough signs for him. Slowly and oh so carefully, he slid out of the bed and hit the ground without making a sound. Akagi was a sound sleeper, but he didn't want to take any risks.

He now made his way to the door and left, all the while making as little sound as he could. What James didn't know was that Akagi was awake the whole time and saw him quietly leave. These actions only served to further fuel the many questions and speculations swirling in her mind. As much as she wanted to ask questions and find out what's going on, all she could do was wait.

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James made his way to the hospital where the woman was no doubt taken to. Walking towards his destination, he quietly thought about what he was going to do when he got there. Would he be quiet and observant? Would he make his presence known?

James dismissed those thoughts and opted to cross the bridge when he reached it. He entered the makeshift hospital and passed by the guard. The man was sound asleep and did not notice James as the latter silently went past him. Despite the building having four floors, there were little to no patients in the rooms. In a way it made sense though, considering Siren weaponry. Their weapons reduce their targets to ash or just a red splotch on the ground.

Wandering through the floors one level at a time, he reached the third floor and noticed the man from before in the lobby. Although now, there were two boys next to him, a ten-year-old and a sixteen-year-old from the looks of it. Given the way he had his arms around their shoulders, it was safe to assume that they were his sons.

As James grew closer, he could hear their voices better. The silence of the night and the lack of movement on the floor made it easy for him to make out that they were sobbing terribly. This was then followed by a doctor coming out of a room, looking at the man and shaking his head.

In response, the father, collapsed to his knees and James understood. They were hit with some bad news and the last thing that man needed was to have James come in and make things worse. Rather than do all the things he wanted to do, James moved to another hallway and stood against the wall. He waited and waited, listening to them crying till they had run out of tears.

After about half an hour, James emerged from the nearby hallway and found that the trio were seated on a set of metal chairs, now sound asleep.

'They must have cried themselves to sleep', he thought and turned in the opposite direction. He saw the door and quietly went inside. There, he saw a bed with a sheet draped over a body. James went to the bed, slowly moved the top of the sheet away and saw the face.

It was her. There was no denying it now that he was looking directly at her lifeless face.

"Hello mom," he said in a low and somewhat antagonistic voice. James then forced himself to shut up and not say anything else. She was dead now, no point in shouting at a corpse.

He had thought of all sorts of ways this would play out. Ever since he saw her get wheeled past him this morning and his memory rose back up, he though of so many ways this interaction would go.

In the end though, none of that happened and all he could do was stare at the lifeless piece of flesh that lay on the bed.

Feeling his anger rise, James slowly made his way out of the room and without wasting another second, he headed straight back to his room.

Unfortunately for him, no sleep would come.

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Near the morning, when he felt Akagi stir, James purposely closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep. Soon enough, he could feel her gaze on him but this time there was something different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but he could feel the way she stared at him was different to how she normally stared at him.

He faked a groan and with an equally fake drowsy voice he said, "you know I told you not to stare."

Akagi responded by saying "and you know how those requests go in the ear and out the other."

Now feeling genuinely drowsy but forcing the sleep away, James opened his eyes and saw Akagi. Maybe it was the way she looked at him or what happened in the night, it didn't matter. James slowly inched towards Akagi, put his right arm around her and moved them a little closer.

"Oh, this is new," she said, sounding a little excited.

"Sorry," he said, resting his head on her chest "you mind if I stay like this for a little bit?"

Akagi's only response was kissing the top of his head.

After that, the day went on like usual. There was nothing much for them to do so they simply toured the area. There was no sign of Alec and Alexis, as they had apparently some other work to do. James didn't pay much attention but Akagi's mind wandered. She genuinely wondered if there was something going on between the pair, but she didn't voice it out loud. This was mostly because she knew James would dismiss it as her mind going off on wild tangents.

As the pair wandered through the area, they soon came across a small group. There four men, two old, two young and they were around a rectangular hole in the ground. That one man held a bible confirmed what they were already thinking. It was a funeral.

James looked a little closer and noticed that he was looking at the father and sons from last night and stopped. Akagi noticed his change and also stopped. Whatever happened last night must have revolved around that man and whoever was buried. She knew that James had to make peace with that group of people or else it will plague him forever.

"Go," she muttered and quietly let go of his hand. James noticed this and turned around to look at her. He was puzzled at first but Akagi said nothing. Instead she simply gestured in the direction of those people then turned and walked back.

James mentally cursed himself for his behaviour. As much as he tried to hide it, seeing that ghost from the past had undoubtedly affected him. So much so that Akagi was able to notice it.

He slowly made his way down to the group. As he neared, he heard the priest who was performing the final rites and lowered his head. The family also did the same and for a little while they remained that way. Then the priest raised his head, said something inaudible to the father and left.

As the trio watched him leave, they noticed James and were honestly confused by his presence.

"Sorry, I saw the burial here and wanted to pay my respects," he said, telling a half-truth.

"I understand," said the man, nodding but still very confused "who are you again?"

Then, one of the boy's eyes widened in amazement as he looked at James and said "you're James Harper."

At once, the father also looked at James with surprise and seemingly forgot his words.

"Yes that's right," he said, gently smiling to the boy "is it okay if I join you?"

"Of course, of course," said the man, as he and the two kids moved away. James came forward and looked at the coffin inside. Though it was covered, he could imagine that the woman he saw last night was lying quietly inside.

"Who was she?" he asked.

"Melanie," replied the man "she… was my wife."

"We were together for twenty years. Would have been twenty-one if not for that heart attack."

"It must have been nice, being together with the one you love for so long," said James.

"It was a marriage. Some days were good, others weren't. When you're married, you'll understand."

"Oh, I am," he said, raising his hand and drawing attention to his ring.

"There was one regret though, one issue we never addressed," said the husband, lowering his head. For a moment, it looked at though the man didn't want to say anything and would rather be silent.

"The thing is, I wasn't her first husband," he said, finally.

"Oh?" asked James, feigning surprise.

"Before we got together, Melania was with another man, boy to be precise. During her high-school years, she got pregnant with this boy and had to drop out of school. Their parents found out and disowned the two so they were left on their own."

"They tried to raise the child but maybe the stress of it was too much for Melanie. One day, she just up and left. Years later, she met me, we started going out and a little after that, we were married."

"Melanie deeply regretted abandoning the kid and confided in me that she wanted to find the child one day. I agreed, but there was always something in the way. Work or expenses or family or some crap. We never had the time we needed to sit down and start searching for that kid."

"And now, she's dead and was never able to make peace with the kid."

James let those words hang in the air for a little as he processed everything. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but that was the truth and he had to accept it.

"For what it's worth," said James, breaking the silence "I'm sure that they're reconciling in Heaven right now."

"Huh?" asked the husband, shooting James a questioning look

"From everything you've told me, it sounded like that kid had an uphill struggle from the get go. Children born in those circumstances rarely manage to make something of themselves. The kid was most probably picked up by Child Services and bounced from home to home."

"Or else, he would have ran away from home when he could, got in with a gang and wound up as a victim on the evening news. Either way, he never had a chance at a normal life."

"So, I would say the best thing for you to do right now is to let it go, bury the past and focus on your family right now. You may not have a wife, but you have two sons who need you."

"Thank you," said the man, nodding "And… I'm sorry for putting this all on you. You didn't need to hear my sob story."

"No problem," said James, bowing a little to the hole in the ground.

James then thanked the husband for letting him be here, before turning around and leaving. As he was heading back, the husband reflected on James' words. As he did, he noticed how something stood out from the rest.

'He'.

The husband blinked a couple of times. He was sure that he never once brought up the child's gender, so how did James know that it was a boy and not a girl?

Coincidence dictated that it was just a stroke of luck, but the husband thought something else. He turned and saw James moving further and further away from him. Could the child that was abandoned actually grow up to become humanity's savior?

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By the time James reached the room, it was evening. The sun was setting and he could feel his hunger starting to grow. Typically, he'd be having snacks with Queen Elizabeth, Illustrious, and Wales, but that'll have to wait. For now, he had something important to do.

As he headed to his room, he came to understand his hypocrisy. Many times the girls had asked him or tried to figure out details on his past, but he was tight-lipped and offered nothing. His reasoning was that he didn't want to burden them with that knowledge.

Yet, how could he know what those around him could handle? If they were capable of greater feats of physical strength, then surely they could handle greater emotional weight than he could.

It was with that idea in his mind, he opened the door and saw Akagi seated on one of the chairs gazing out the window. It was moments like these that he wished he could take a picture of, frame and put on his desk.

'God she looks beautiful,' he thought, staring at how her chin rested on her right hand and how she looked both relaxed yet troubled all at once.

Akagi turned around and was a little surprised to see James standing at the door.

"I didn't hear you come in," she remarked.

"Sorry," he said, taking a seat on the couch "Akagi, there's something I need to tell you."

Akagi knew what it was about. She had bits and pieces of what was on his mind but not the whole picture. She recognized that expression. He only looked that way when it came to some serious matters.

Akagi slowly got off the chair, came to the sofa and took a seat. Typically, she'd rest on his shoulder, but that was when they were flirting or acting like idiots. This was not the time for that.

She saw James take a deep sigh before starting.

"First of all, my name is not James Harper," he said, dropping the first bombshell "to be honest, I don't have a real name because my parents never gave me one."

And with that James began telling Akagi about his past. The circumstances of his birth, being abandoned by his 'mother', the years of abuse, running away, and his time living in poverty and squalor. James did not bring up the really dark moments of his life as he felt it was unnecessary, but he made sure that Akagi knew the most important things about him. He wanted her to know about the major events that made him who he was.

Akagi for the most part listened to what he said without saying a word. At times, she could tell he was holding back on something but she didn't pry. Talking about his past was a difficult thing for him to do.

As she listened to everything, in the back of her mind the puzzles started to click. She had always wondered why James, someone with so much potential wanted so little out of life. She always found it strange that James' biggest dream was to have a roof on his head, clothes on his back, and food in his stomach. Now, she understood. It made sense, it made painful sense.

When he was done, Akagi still remained silent. She looked at him with a mixture of sadness and pity. Then, she came forward, wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. In that moment, Akagi swore to herself that she would never leave him. She would never let him feel alone again for the rest of his life.