"Right." Sven nodded. "Which would mean there might be nobody left to help this planet in its moment of crisis."

Even so, had he been on that doomed mission himself, he wondered if he could have stood it to leave the planet and its people to its bitter end. Of course he believed in his assurances for Duo from a logical standpoint. A man with just a shield cannot protect even himself in the face of an erupting volcano, let alone the rest of his village. Whether or not he could stomach leaving was another matter, even if the sacrifice were foolhardy.

"Some things you just can't stand against," he said, speaking partly to himself. "But we can do still do something here."