Bossie sits there, looking at Carver, knife in hand still. Ready for a fight.

But Carver says there is no fight so belatedly he sets it down. Then picks it up again because he feels weak without it.

Carver got a blade through his heart? No. Carver's the best fighter he knows. The one who trained him.

And there's no chance AI, artificial or not, would choose David Bossie to save a world.

"Brandon," he says quietly, pleading. "Tell me the truth."