The shell bursts; the paper in Mulcahy's mental file flutters; the blood patters on the floor, as familiar a sound to any at the 4077th as rain. Radar's arm tightens around him.

"Yeah, she was a little scary," he admits. "...Or a lot scary. But I knew she was just looking out for you. First thing she asked me was whether I was there to, um, well the way she said it ain't a way I want to repeat it, but she wanted to make sure I wasn't going to mess with you. So I'm glad you had a friend that good when everything was so awful. And..."

A deep breath.

"And especially that she helped you fight against that place as long as you both could."