Carl enters the safe room after leaving Grigori in the garage and finds Dong on the couch, crying while Bigs sits on his head and glares at Carl. Imani explains that healing cannot stop Dong’s decline from the Separation Anxiety curse and estimates that Dong has less than ninety minutes left. Bigs angrily accuses Carl of failing his people, especially by refusing to kill Li Na and by keeping Dong away from his reunion with Corky, and Carl admits that Bigs is right.

After sending Donut and the others to wait with Imani, Carl stays behind to speak privately with Dong. Carl explains that he had tried to exclude Dong from the Corcunda quest because Dong’s love for Corky made him too emotionally involved and because Carl feared the mission would fail. Carl then changes course and tells Dong that, because there is no more time, he will attempt the reunion during the race and will take three mercenaries: the fleshmancer, Porky, and Dong himself.

Dong says that Jefferson had already dismissed him as a bad investment and that his weakening body may make him useless, but Carl promises at least to get Dong a chance to say goodbye. Carl apologizes for treating Dong cruelly and admits that survival pressures have been pushing him toward moral collapse. Thinking about Li Na, Lucia Mar, earlier moments when he nearly or fully lost control, and the voices in his head, Carl recognizes how close he is to breaking and tries to hold himself together.

Dong responds with understanding and explains why he fell in love with Corky: during a violent attack at the Desperado Club, Corky comforted him and made death seem bearable if faced beside loved ones. Samantha suddenly appears, interrupts with crude jokes, and reminds Carl that everyone is waiting. Carl reveals Porky, who has been standing silently behind him, and Porky admits he remembers the siege and that he kept Dong’s scarf after leaving. When Dong asks why Porky hated him, Carl pulls Samantha away to give them privacy.

On his way out, Carl notices the cleaner bot listening at the door. Remembering what the machine may soon be asked to do if the reunion works, Carl stops to thank the bot for enduring abuse and tells it that it is a hero. The moment closes the scene with Carl recommitting himself to helping Dong before the race begins.