[spoiler]The music adds atmosphere, play it if you can, or if you want to...[/spoiler] [spoiler]For those of you have RPed with me, what follows in this post, was hard to write. For those who have not, I hope it was a good read, and I hope it was darker than the last post, yet hopeful at the same time.[/spoiler] [b][i]The End[/i][/b] It was a good day to die. A good day to end what he had started all those years ago. As he wandered through the derelict hallways, trailing his hand along the walls, he thought how fitting it was he would die here, where his first wife and child had. Ryker had long since accepted his death, no fear, or anxiety beset him. As he continued deeper into the aging husk of the vessel, formerly the U.S.S. Ishimura, he could feel the power grow. "Closer yet... closer yet..." Ryker says softly. As his feet carried him closer and closer to the door that entered the cargo bay, he reflected on his life. On everything. Jay, Nikki, Akron, Kor, Samantha, Kaebius. All these people, who had shaped him. All the major events of his life replayed in his head, the words spoken to him by his friends, now all gone. He had cheated, cheated for far to long. It was time to right that wrong, he thought, as he opens the door to the cargo bay. Inside is the Marker, the source of his power. He smiles softly, descending the iron stairs, whitewashed in blood, to the stained and aged metal floor. The Marker softly pulsed and glowed, dormant. Ryker stops before it, pulling a photo out of his pocket. He opens and studies it. It was a photo of Eleanor, Alexia and him, Alexia merely a child. His hands quake as emotion overtakes him. "My little baby... my little girl..." No, now was not the time for emotion. That time was passed, now was the time for action. Clenching the photo in his hand, Ryker plants his hand against the Marker. His lips trembled, tears falling from his eyes as his resolve breaks. He would keep going, he had to. "Eleanor, I'm coming to see you, I'm coming to see you..." He whimpers. "Samantha, I love you, so much, and no matter where I go, you will always be my sister. Continue living your happy life, and do not grieve, mine is over, but it was so great. Thank you." Ryker speaks to himself as he stands, ready to die. His thoughts went to Nikki. "Nikki.... I... I love you... you taught me that I could be dedicated to one woman, you taught me about true real love..." He chuckles sadly. "R... R.... Release." The effect was instantaneous, a sucking feeling as Ryker feels his powers drain away, and he drops to the ground, weak. Slowly he rises, looking at his hand and trembling, fearing that it didn't work. Then the tip of his middle finger began to disintegrate. Ash, his hand slowly dissolving. He smiles, laughing as he watches it. "I'm free... I'm free..." He says to himself with a broad smile. He sits against a crate, watching it eat away at his hand. There was no pain, no hurting. It was the sweet release of death. He would get to see his wife. More tears are released as he thinks about all the things he's done, all the mistakes he'd made, all the people he'd wronged, but doubly more the good things he did. "I did good Dad, didn't I? I made you proud? I guess I'll see you soon... then we can talk. Mom will be there right? I'll thank you when I see you..." He again speaks to himself as it works its way up his arm, speeding up. Not long now. "This is it... it's finally here... I never thought it'd end like this..." It was now under his neck. "I always thought it'd end in a battle, dying in combat, but I guess I deserve a peaceful death." Right under his jaw. "But in the end I wouldn't rather have a different way to go. This is the ending to my fairly tale, the end of my story, and all in all... I think it was a pretty happy ending." The disintegration consumes Ryker, finally taking his head, leaving only a pile of ashes on the ground, long since dead, only mystical powers keeping him alive. The end of someone who some loved, some hated, and some loved to hate. The end of a man considered a villain, to even more a paragon and hero. This is the end of the story of Valkyrie, of the bearer of the Marker. This is the end of the story of Ryker Evans. [spoiler]And that's it.... this was hard... I've never gotten so emotional about RP before but... I felt it was appropriate... tell me what you think I guess, but no interactions. I hope it was good.[/spoiler]