"How can you say that?" Is that Alpha again, or some impulse belonging to him? The inflections are nearly seamless. Bifurcated memory draws parallels where none should exist - A long memory. Look at that, you've got me talking about repressed memories now.

Is that why they chose him? God, is that why they chose him?

He's not the man who chases ghosts. That's not him. That's not who he is. He's still piecing it together, knitting fractures and fragments into the barriers that he had to use to partition his mind away from the memories that wouldn't. Stop. Screaming.

Before he remembers "Washington," he remembers "David."

Before he remembers "David," he remembers her. He remembers the post-mission report. He remembers...far too much, most days, but particularly now.

He has to speak slowly, parsing it as he goes: "You were...KIA."