What needs to be done for a better world

Chapter 13

The departure from Anders' base carried an air of finality that weighed heavily on Ray and the squad. The hangar was alive with the usual hustle of military life. Soldiers moving equipment, vehicles rumbling in the distance, and the constant echo of voices, but for Ray, it all felt muted, as though the world itself was holding its breath. This wasn't just a farewell to a base, it was a farewell to a man who, despite only knowing Ray for a short time, seemed to grasp the struggles he carried, struggles that ran deeper than the surface.

Anders approached them, his gaze sharp but his demeanor calm. He stopped in front of Samantha first, his tone softening. "Samantha," he said, his voice carrying genuine respect, "I want to thank you for everything you've done at my side. You've been a steadfast presence and an invaluable asset. Alpha Squad is lucky to have you, and I have no doubt you'll make an impression there. Best of luck."

Samantha stood a little straighter, her emerald eyes reflecting a quiet mix of gratitude and pride. "Thank you, Colonel," she replied, her voice steady. "It's been an honor to serve under you."

When Anders turned to Ray, his expression shifted, becoming more personal, almost fatherly. He motioned for Ray to step aside, away from the others, creating a small pocket of relative quiet amidst the bustling hangar.

"Ray," Anders began, his tone thoughtful, "I don't claim to know everything about what you've been through, but I know enough to see it's not been easy. You're fighting battles on more than one front, and not all of them are on the battlefield. Anthros can be... difficult to connect with, even for the best of men. But I want you to understand something: their rejection of you, their mistrust, it doesn't define your worth. You've already proven to me that you've got the heart and resilience to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds."

Ray tensed, his fists clenching at his sides. He wasn't sure how to respond, the words hitting closer to home than he wanted to admit. Anders continued, his voice steady but filled with quiet conviction.

"I know about Ernst," Anders said, his sharp eyes catching Ray's startled expression. "I know what he did, his betrayal, the lies, the damage it caused. Not just to your squad, but to you personally." Anders paused for a moment, his gaze softening as if weighing his next words carefully. "Ernst didn't act out of hatred. His reasons... they came from something more futile than that, just the kind of empty trend that some of them follow. The idea that hating humans, just because of what you are, somehow makes them right."

Ray shifted uneasily, but Anders wasn't finished. His voice turned steady and firm, like a man trying to make a point that couldn't be ignored. "And it's not just him. Some others might try the same. I see the way they look at you, how they treat you, like you don't belong here. It's wrong, Ray. Completely wrong. But you can't let that ignorance be the lens through which you see yourself. You're more than their narrow view of the world and I know you could be the one to prove them wrong."

Ray's throat tightened at the mention of Ernst's name. The memory of the mission was still raw, the events unfolding in his mind like a film he couldn't pause or rewind. Ernst hadn't outright betrayed anyone, but his reckless decisions had rippled through the squad, directly contributing to Irina's death. Ray had been too new to the team to understand the full scope of the situation, but even he could feel the weight of what had happened.

Though the squad had apologized for their earlier conduct, there was a certain heaviness in the air, a lingering unease that couldn't simply be wished away. No one blamed Ray for Irina's death, but Ernst's impulsive actions, his decisions to act without considering the consequences had affected all of them. Ray could tell that the loss had left its mark on the squad, on their trust in each other, and on how they viewed the world around them.