"I thought about that," Mindy said, and here a little of her exhaustion showed. "I mean, its just another run in the Arena, right? They disappear, I go on, which I did, sort of, and eventually got picked off just like one of them there. It didn't feel pointless, though. If they were, say, sidekicks running with me, I'd feel a little responsible too. I kinda feel like that until I train 'em myself. That way, if they die, its on them."

It was Chibi Usa's that hurt the most, of course, but that was better left unsaid.

"Yeah," she said, "and I did. Granted, even I know when too much shit drags you down. I wasn't in the best state, after everything. Glad to know that I can last as long as I did."