"You're more a survivor than you think you are, Romeo. You saw Gaia. Scared the shit outta you, maybe, but you did good there. A lot of good. And on Doji's witch hunt, too. You got out there and you came back in one piece, and the whole situation sucks, but I ain't the only one in this posse who can't keep myself alive, yo. Hell, I'm probably the one most likely to be in a body bag by thirty."

Stupid, stupid, annoying blunt honesty.

"And that don't even bother me. I owe it to the place, Romeo. The mortality rate comes with the territory. Kinda fitting, really. I'm the guy who killed thousands of people with the press of a button, yo. And worse. I did worse than that shit, man. Now I gotta make good out there. Even if it's hopeless and stupid and I can't possibly make up for all the people who got hurt."

He scowled and clenched his teeth and considered throwing himself at the wall a few times to make sure he would shut up. Instead, he stood and made his way to his dresser.

"I need a drink. You need a drink? Shit, I need a drink right now."