[ It has been a long, long, looooooong day, and the sun is not even all the way to the center of the sky yet. A beautiful spring sun, white and glowing with a carelessly hollow center, and Cecil stares up at it.

It's been a few hours now, since... everything. He knows what he has to do, is determined what he will do. But... He is hesitating still. Because of Jonathan. Because of what Jonathan had said. And getting rid of him after had not been easy, had not be kind, and... Cecil is regretting it now. He is regretting it as he stares up at a cold and empty imperfect sun. And it's only when he stops staring, when he turns around to go back, to find Jonathan, to apologize and remind them both that they are not alone-- that he sees Jesse there. ]

Um...

[ Jesse has lost Carlos also, Cecil remembers; Jesse's face is obscured by a hollow white circle of light. He remembers Jesse is a friend of Carlos's, and Carlos... is gone. At least... Gone for five days. ]

I... Am sorry. I asked you to protect him, but... That was wrong. A scientist is... self-reliant. A scientist is... always fine, so... He did not need either of us protecting him, anyway. I know that, and... I should not have put that kind of impractical and false responsibility on you, his friend.

I'm sorry, Jesse.