The second story in my Raven series. The first is "Growing Pains."

 Ken's greatest pain is his secret. That is, until he has to make a decision that could destroy the team, and himself. This story is Part 1 in what will be at least a three part series.

Now with an additional epilogue from Ken's POV, which should tie the story better into both the title and the series storyline ... 

Sequel to "Life Starts Now" in my Raven series.  

Ken is still struggling with his decision during the Jigokillers. When things get ugly, and Galactor reveals a terrifying competence, he's determined not to make the same mistake twice. As a result, Joe is left behind to lead the team and figure out Ken's cryptic goodbye, while Ken is trapped in his own personal hell.

The next story in this series is "Never Too Late." 

Joe isn't pleased to discover he's now a cyborg. Especially when Dr. Raphael hands the responsibility of "fixing" Raven and Ken's minds, so Raven (and ultimately Ken) can be his partner in the fight to destroy Sosai X. He could find help if he'd contact Dr. Nambu and the team, but he's afraid they wouldn't accept him, and he's doomed anyway.

In the process, Raven struggles to understand this world and his place in it, and to become his own person as Ken grapples with figuring out what's real and what isn't.

Overlaps the beginning of Gatchaman II. This story falls after "Animal I Have Become" in my Raven series.

(If you read this when Chapter 5 and 6 were identical, that's now fixed.)