{What are you going to do when I die?}

{You need to rest. I know the Illispar keeps you alert, but you need the sleep too. Try to relax your mind.}

{It is a straightforward question. Answer it. We need to start arranging something. Once "Henry McClellan" stops appearing, other humans are going to come eventually. What are you going to do when they come to see if the house is abandoned?}

{You said you had been talking to the others at work, arranging to work from home. I could pick up for you. Plenty of humans live without outside interactions; "Henry" could just become even more of a recluse.}

{And then what? You stay in this house, hiding and alone, until you die? That is the thought that is supposed to bring me comfort?}

{You need to get some sleep. These last few days have been hard on you, I can see it.}

{…I am sorry I have failed you.}

{What? Have you gone mad? In what way have you failed me?}

{Do not pretend. We can both see how much I have let you down. I caused you to be injured. I caused you to be trapped here. I even allowed you to be captured by Yeerks, all through my weakness. I had to enlist the help of children to rescue you…I am not strong enough to deserve you.}

{Shut up before I hit you. I may not have a tail blade anymore, but time with humans shows just how effective hands are as weapons.}

{What?}

{Are you forgetting that I was a member of the Andalite military too? That I have trained just as hard as you, harder even, because I have not been able to morph away injuries? I am plenty strong on my own. And do not keep placing blame on yourself when it does not belong there. You did not make me allergic to morphing technology. You did not choose to have Soola's disease. You did not purposely crash into my ship, and it was just as much my responsibility to avoid crashing as yours. You have done so much for me, I cannot begin to thank you enough. Never let me hear you again say that you are a failure. Or I may just have to kill you myself.}

{You will be alone.}

{Yes, and it is going to hurt. Losing you will be the hardest thing I have ever gone through. But we are Andalites. Out of respect for life-}

{-we have to endure.}

{Yes. It is going to be hard, but we will both find some way to endure. Now, please, sleep. We will discuss more in the morning.}

{You get some rest too. Caring for me is certainly no easy task.}

{Especially when you are so stubborn.}

{Please, come here beside me.}

{Of course. There is no place in the universe I would rather be.}