Back? You weren't with the other t... [The asandus stops himself. Of course ALASTAIR is a large organization, with many offshoot teams. It is not unlikely that Evan would be shunted to a completely different one, if he were needed elsewhere, would it?]

Right. Well, this puts things in a rather awkward position. Fill me in on your being away, in that case. I've no doubt that exchanging notes will benefit Audentes in some way.

[Even if that happens to be a pair of returnees who are equally grateful not to be the only one watching this world burn down with confusion and regret.]