Consoling (and Consoled By) Your Elemental Friends

Two days after the Inversion resolution, "Freelancer" goes to see Lasko. He is packing up his office, having been awarded a promotion to the administrative board in the wake of the disaster. He is evasive when questioned about it, insisting that it doesn't matter given what everyone else went through. "Freelancer" presses him for more, and Lasko admits that he feels undeserving of the role, feeling that he was only offered it because of political machinations and posturing by D.A.M.N. in light of their dispute with D.U.M.P. over the handling of the disaster. Lasko angrily tells them to stop comforting him, saying that they need and deserve the comfort, not him. They reassure him regardless, and he thanks them for their concern. They discuss the grief counseling options that D.U.M.P. and D.A.M.N. have coordinated to provide. He affirms that he is there to help them as well, in any way that he can. Three days after the Inversion resolution, "Freelancer" meets up with Damien. Damien tells them that he is fine, having recovered from his injuries, and he has begun training again in earnest. "Freelancer" rightly expresses concern that he is overworking himself, which Damien rebukes. They push the issue, and Damien snaps, insisting that "Freelancer" has no right to tell him how to handle his grief. He breaks down, admitting that he is haunted by what he faced that night, by feelings of inadequacy, shame, and guilt, and that he doesn't know how to get back to a normal life after the things he has seen and suffered. He feels isolated even from Huxley, who he feels he owes his life to. "Freelancer" comforts him and he thanks them, and he comforts them in turn, refuted their claims that what they went through is somehow less significant than what he has faced. He adamantly tells them that pain is not a competition, and that their grief is equally important. He is scheduled to begin counseling the next day.