I slump, just a little. Another group of lives added to the weight on my shoulders. Ah, not because I'm arrogant enough to believe myself the most important person, or the best fighter, or at fault personally for everything that's gone wrong.

But I am in command, and I haven't found a way to stop Vaglass.

"I know you will," I say shortly. "And if I had to give the order to sacrifice you to save humanity, because there was no alternative, I'd do it. But Jin. All lives matter because every life matters, and that includes yours."