Self Sacrifice

Life is such a delicate and precious thing, it's to be cherished. I have always known this but recent events have made me appreciate this all the more. Just over a week ago the world lost some of it's light. Heroes fell doing what we do; the right thing.

A year ago Alpha's GRU for Venezuela was a small group, we were far outnumbered by the Omega operatives that were there but we did what we could, we banded together. We were a dysfunctional little family out there to do good and hopefully save lives.


Last week two of that small group died and another was arrested. Three out of that group that initial group of sixteen or so people. It hit us all hard and we all dealt with it in different ways. Some of us are still trying to process it.


Marshall and I didn't always see eye to eye on his methods and there was a lot of speculation over him and whether he would use poisons prior to his death. But at the very end he was a hero. He was asked to kill a member of Omega who is working on a project that could make a distinct positive change in the world. He refused knowing that it would put a target on his head. He made a choice, the choice any hero would make. He put his life on the line to protect the innocent and safeguard a better future.


Newton was a staunch defender of those he cared about and kept us all safe, especially in the early days of the GRU. But by putting himself on the front line he knew the risks he took, he was often badly injured but he kept stepping up to the front lines, to keep us safe.


Self Sacrifice. It is a common trait in heroes, those of us that do this to do the right thing, that see this as more than a just a job. We know we put ourselves at risk and that if the time came we may be called upon to make a hard decision with no warning.


I would have given up my life for Hope's if they opportunity had presented itself, she deserved a better future and that she got so many people from different ideological outlooks all working together to help her showed what an inspiring presence she was. The world needs more people like her. I would have done all I could for that extraordinary young woman.


Does this make me suicidal? Does it make all heroes at their core a little suicidal? I don't think so. Just because we accept that our lifestyle may end in injury or death doesn't mean we covet or even want it. Truthfully I do think of a future with a family one day.. though I have postponed that idea a lot given the nature of my work. If things go well then I will continue to protect people and live my own life to its fullest.. but even if my life is cut short I will be glad that it was while helping and protecting others so they could go on living and loving.


Hope and I were similar in a great many ways. In her final moments she chose to give up her life to save everyone from the potential catastrophe of her amazing powers. She was so strong and while she had her dreams for the future she was a hero through and through and she will always live on through us.


Every hero who falls lingers in the lives of those that loved them, fought alongside them and even in the lives they saved.


This is the choice we make, freely. Because the world needs heroes.