Luka closes his eyes, half from the pain of Sxicq's voice and half from frustration in their answers. He decides to take another bite to buy some more time to think.

"But where will you go when you leave? What happens to Earth, to us? What changed?" He fires back rapid questions when he finishes chewing his food. "If I'm wrong, tell me what's right."

"We want this year to be different, too. I don't want any of us to die, including the Protector. But everyone thinks he has to."