[Chesed gives Cain a look. She's not sure he can see her, but she's curious either way. After a moment, seeing Elle falter, she walks back over to Joshua and lays down by his side, his hand naturally shifting to her short fur. And if there's barely any feeling left in his fingertips, he just has to be especially careful. This is just about contact - he may not like to remind himself of the things he's seen but it's necessary. The reason he knows what a person's like when they've been broken, to the point where they can only be put together different, is because it's something he's inflicted upon them.

Why did he pick her? He didn't really think twice about it at the time.

She's not scared, he thinks, not of me.

Chesed doesn't move a muscle to answer. It would be a shame if she was.

But that doesn't answer her question. He's not sure how to, because that choice was part instinct and part inspiration and part having no other choice, and neither of these seem like they would be enough. He'll put the reasons into words as clearly as he can, as honestly as is possible.]

Because you have the luxury of being somewhat removed from this particular issue. Its resolution does not affect you like it will the people of Zion in the long term, so you stand the best chance of making an impartial decision. And as much as I might hope that you will see matters my way, I ... [he falters.]

... Daniel and I cannot resolve this on our own.

[As well as they can work together when they agree on a course of action, they're too thoroughly at odds in this. Perhaps it's a surprise that the man who was the Malpais Legate will stop in his tracks over someone disagreeing with him, but he isn't that anymore. He won't ever be that again.]

I understand why he has reservations about what I propose, of course.

[History speaks for itself.]