[ The silence is fine. Royce has to let himself settle down. The walk through the snow aches, his side and chest all sorts of sore from the jabs Ecks gave him the night before, but it's an ache that gives him something to focus on. A physical ache to keep the emotional one away. He doesn't need to think about what he's talking about too closely as long as he keeps walking. ]

He was careful. [ Royce says quietly. ] Most careful man I've seen here, other than me. The anomalies can't be stopped.

[ He doesn't want to listen to her cry, dammit. ] He may not be completely gone. You and I both know that.