What were they after exactly?

w.a.n.g Tong wondered if the Zergs had come after him because they knew he was the successor to their nemesis, the Blade Warrior.

w.a.n.g Tong decided to give up his train of thoughts as he realized that his priority right then was to recover quickly, so he could find out if Ma Xiaoru were alive.

A few days later, w.a.n.g Tong was discharged from the medical bay. He learned from his comrades to bury his sorrow deep down and try to cope with the grief from such a traumatic event.

"I have decided to go home and visit my parents." Big O said calmly. He needed to bury his brother's remains close to their childhood home.

"Sure, let me know when you want to be back," Jansining said.

"You bet I will. I got no relatives left, and my only wish is to kill more Zergs."

"What about you, Third?"

"I got an aunt here on Earth who I was planning to visit. I will come back after the visit. You should retire Lieutenant; you got a family."

Jansining shook his head, "I can't."

Jansining loved his wife and daughter, but the thought of giving up the standard that his teammates had bled on made him feel incredibly guilty.

"Big Head always wanted to see your daughter." Big O sighed.

w.a.n.g Tong's heart sank at the thought of Big Head and Jansining's daughter. Big Head wanted to save money and buy the kid a piano as a gift, but he didn't have the chance to do so.

Jansining clapped his hands loudly, trying to break the darkening mood. "Well... That's the way it is. Big O, your leave is granted. Let me know when you are back."

"Thanks, Lieutenant! w.a.n.g Tong, keep up the good work, and don't give up hope!"

"Will do." w.a.n.g Tong cracked a smile.

The three of them knew that w.a.n.g Tong had dried out his sea of consciousness, and marveled at w.a.n.g Tong's positive att.i.tude at such a devastating blow to his future.

After Big O and Third had left the hospital, Jansining stood behind to make sure that w.a.n.g Tong had recovered well.

Although w.a.n.g Tong acted as nothing had happened, Jansining knew that he had tucked his sorrow under his plastered smile. w.a.n.g Tong had been a powerful fighter, and fighting meant everything to him. Jansining figured that the sudden loss of all abilities ought to be a more devastating blow to w.a.n.g Tong than any other soldier. Therefore, he stood behind to make sure w.a.n.g Tong wouldn't do anything stupid out of utter desperation.

w.a.n.g Tong would be lying to say that he didn't feel sorry for himself. The lack of any soul energy had frustrated him a great deal. However, most of his attention right then was on the well-beings of Ma Xiaoru, so he was somewhat distracted from his own misfortune. Plus, w.a.n.g Tong was a very adaptive person; he had lived well, relatively speaking, when he had nothing except for a drunken old fool to look after. So, he should be fine in the future even as an Ordinary Joe.

Jansining's concern might seem legit when it was applied to most people, but to w.a.n.g Tong, it was unnecessary.

Getting bored, w.a.n.g Tong surfed the internet, looking to buy a piano and send it to Jansining's daughter on behalf of Big Head. However, when he saw the price tag, he almost gave up his thought.

w.a.n.g Tong lamented over how unfair the world was. But the bigger the challenge, the more eager w.a.n.g Tong wanted to accomplish it.

"But, where could I get the money?" w.a.n.g Tong asked himself.

He could have fought for DREAM in the PA system, but then, he would no longer be a fighter.

w.a.n.g Tong then thought about his other talent: Dancing. He picked up the phone and dialed up Mike's number.