[Something gone right? He has to think about that for a minute -- he'd never considered that. Could this be some sort of...second chance? An opportunity to get things right?

Noel used to think of himself as kind of an optimist. Maybe even foolishly so, in the face of the future that was closing in on him. Not so much, these days, but still...the very idea has him recklessly spinning through positive outcomes. A second chance? Could he save her-- save everyone? If none of it's happened yet, for her, then maybe...

No. He's gotta snap out of that.]

Whether we're here for something good or bad, you're right. There's clearly something we're supposed to be learning from. That said, I'm not sure we're gonna find out any more than that until we figure out who's in charge, here. What they want. What they really think of us.

[It...it's just so easy to slip back into this mode, two partners sleuthing it out until they can solve the puzzle. It makes his heart ache, a bit. Makes him feel a little foolish, too. How much lecturing would he get from her if she knew anything about what the last five centuries had been like for him? If he thought Lightning had delivered a beat-down...imagine the kind of bruises that would leave.]

I think we've got our work cut out for us.