[Viktor made a quiet mechanical hum as he listened to Vakama speak, acknowledging he was listening despite how quiet he had gone. There was no judgment in his demeanor, because how could there possibly be? He had thrown away more for less, overwhelming force dressed in the thinnest veil of false compassion.]

Things have changed, for all of us. If we manage to survive this, then whatever follows will be an important step forward. We can create something better, no matter what kind of damage we have left upon the path behind us.

[It was a heavy 'if'. But they had already come this far, through overwhelming probability stached against them. 'If' was not a definite statement of failure.]

I wonder if they are still alive. It seems doubtful, but...mm. Perhaps there is still something to be saved in all of this.