[ It's hard to describe just how much it means to him to have York here, to have Maine here -- two of the people that haunt him the most, his friends that he knew he could help. Another chance to protect them, another chance to do what he'd always failed to do. One more chance to stop the project and the Director from ruining all their goddamn lives.

There's other things, other details about what's happened, about what they've done on Chorus -- about Epsilon, what really happened to him, why Wash knows what he knows. But that's all things he can share with him over time, maybe, if at all. He's not selfish enough to make this about him.

York needs time to process what he's learned. There's nothing that'll make that easier, but he can do what he asks: focus on other things. ]

I'll start plotting out the patrol routes -- I know you we've got a pretty decent idea, but if we want a way out with minimum conflict we'll need better than a decent idea. You should talk to Ratchet, find a way to talk to her, too. [ He knows her name, but he doesn't use it -- it's not his to give, and York will know who he means, anyway. ] I know she'll help us when the time comes, but I don't know if she can fight or run or if there's something wrong that we can help her with.

[ His hand hasn't left his shoulder, even as he's saying all of that, not quite giving orders this time but there's still a clear authoritative bent to his voice. Wash has clearly gotten used to that, in all this time. A pause, and Wash looks at him, gives his shoulder another light squeeze. ]

If you need anything . . . [ Wash really isn't good at this, but he'll do what he can. ]