Billy had spent a while here, trying his best to sort through his memories and remember all he'd been taught. While repoddings were usually permanent in his experience, they weren't always---so there was the slightest chance he might see Katara again someday. And there were responsibilities, weren't there? He couldn't let this emptiness keep him from working.

With every breath, he pushed against the ground a little more. He had to get a grip on himself, get back to work some time today, and do what he could to avoid worrying his friends too much. Finally, guiltily, he remembered that they would be affected too.

...including Alex, who Billy saw had tracked him down and come to stand a distance away. That was right. Alex and Katara had just been living together. They had both agreed to help him through the loss of Tavros, and there was no doubt that this second blow was hurting Alex too.

Billy half-stood to go to him, thoughts focused on stopping this pain, but he then remembered the problem: no doubt he was consumed by an enormous shadow, far too dangerous to bring near his friend. Defeated, he slumped back against the floor for a minute, then remembered---their tech!

A clumsy and miserable scramble for the omnicom later, a message would appear on Alex's:

Alex?