Zash opens his mouth.

Then he closes his mouth.

He's learned his lesson on taking blame for other people's informed decisions. Morgan chose to do... whatever she did. To get shot, when she could instead not have gotten shot. At many times, to respect Zash's own pacifistic desires. Morgan will die earlier than she otherwise would because she was following his rules, but he knows exactly what she'll say if he tries to self-flagellate about it and she's right and so he won't bother.

Instead: "I don't want you to die. Strip everything else, I just don't want you to die."

"There're worse things than death. Did you think I killed Doctor Asshole thinking, 'Ah, yes, this'll be good for my lifespan?'"

"You... knew your time was running out and you killed the man most likely able to save you anyway. Because. You wanted to stop him from ever. Doing it to anyone else, ever again."

"Also I wanted the satisfaction of vaporizing the fucker personally! But yeah let's go with your explanation, it sounds much nicer."

"I know you're going to say no if I offer to hook you to my gate, but I want to make the offer anyway. I want you to live, living is good actually and I want you to have it and, and it feels so wasteful when it feels like we could figure it out." If she didn't fight Legato, that is. If she went back to February and they worked on figuring it out. Zash and Nai and Yvette, poring over Conrad's research.

But she's not going to agree to not fight Legato, and if she's as close to it as she's implying she is...

"That's very sweet, but you can only have one priority. What happens if we all pack up right now, head back to February, work our asses off so I can maybe live? Hm?"

"I wish you would have said something earlier, we could have..."

"I did look it up. Before killing Conrad, actually, I'm not a dumbass. It would have been hard, and risky, and since I'm in late stage of cellular decay, there would have been a whole 'nother cellular regeneration thing. At best. If it worked. And, actually, I'd rather choose to spend my time making the world better instead of scrambling for a chance to live longer in it."

.... well now Yvette's going to start crying, thanks.

Zash pulls Yvette into a hug and pulses love and agreement. He, too, wants to cry, he wants to keep arguing, keep trying to find a way out of this, but... he knows it's dumb. He knows it won't work. What's done is done and, well. This is the world they live in, right now.

"...okay. Then, then I want to make the best of the time we have left."

"That's the spirit! Now help me clear out a bunch of rubble so I can go out in style with a murder suicide!!"

"Oh my god," hiccups Yvette, still sobbing. "That's horrible and can I hug you, please."

"Yeah, sure. C'mere."

His brain comes up with the absolutely horrible thought that it's a good thing they never officially adopted Morgan and he is going to stop thinking that right now.

"Do you have to put it like this," he says instead, sighing longsufferingly, but he too wants to hug his not-a-daughter even if he's trying to focus on the positives.

Hugs are positive.

"I definitely do." Hug!

Yeah Yvette is just actually going to cry on her now. Probably she shouldn't and should follow Morgan's preferences on living life to the fullest and whatnot, but, but. ... Fuck.

"I had a lot of fun with you, Morgan. And I really like you. And I'm gonna miss you."

"See! Best, most sane child soldier you've ever met!"

"Fucking hell do you have to put it like that, I, yes you are and will absolutely be the best super-human experimental child soldier we'll ever meet, we'll, we'll be damn sure of it, okay," blubbers Yvette.

"Thanks. That's all I really want. Can't tolerate competition for the number one spot in your hearts, you know." She gives them both a little squeeze, and then winces a little. Ow. Hugging hurts, actually, when your body is starting to break down and all of your cells are kind of falling apart.

"Right, hug time over, back to work. I got a short list of things to do and they're going to fucking happen!!"

He pulls away and grins at her. And if his grin is a bit watery no it isn't.

"Yes, ma'am! Give me work to do." Glance at the supplies. "After we deliver these."

"Yeah, sure, off you go. And see if you can get the squishy humans to help with the boring rubble clearing work, since you're feeding them."

Yvette totally wants to hover and wring her hands over Morgan but. She'll follow her stated preferences instead.

(Fuck this hurts. She regrets ever not paying Morgan full and complete attention, and ever not spoiling her with everything she possibly could.)

...yeah, Zash does a little, too. When Morgan said she was "burning up lifespan" he'd kinda thought they'd have years, not... this.

Anyway, time to go give the Jeneorans stuff. And tell them that there's a crazy coming.

Yeah. This is. Far, far too soon.