[ That earns another moment of silence. Gen keeps his gaze trained ahead as he leads the way at a brisk pace, expecting Gray to keep up with him, boots thumping off the paving stones. The very deliberate quality to his silence indicates the answer is a 'yes'; it's just that he needs a moment to formulate words in a way that doesn't send his thoughts spiraling again. ]

Barnaby. [ -- is what he finally offers at a low mutter, voice kept low and flat. At his side, his hand clenches to a pale-knuckled fist. ] Barnaby killed him. I heard fighting, and when I reached them, Eustace was already dead. I told Barnaby I was going to take the shard to the revival room.

[ But he hadn't.

Because the thought of Eustace ending up like Barnaby -- fundamentally compromised, memories of a precious person gouged out with surgical precision, left mangled and warped -- makes him feel sick to the stomach. Death would be preferable. Gen swallows thickly, then jerks his head for Gray to follow as he turns down a side street, where a sign indicates a general store just up ahead. ]

He's been fucked up ever since we got back from Venera. But ... I didn't think it was this bad. Should've known.