"They need our help," Paul insists, which is where he should have begun, as Kaworu and Midoriya combine forces on the precipice of tearing him away. He can't evade one of them, let alone both, and the knowledge spurs him to desperation.

Paul jerks back, colliding with the tendrils of Blackwhip, throwing himself and Kaworu off-balance - and as they stumble, Paul twists towards the forest and whistles, a high note followed by a low, the keening call of a native bird sounding alarm.

The forest is still, and Paul is a held breath, a long, horrible, unbroken moment - until the call echoes back, and he faces his beloveds in a frantic pyrrhic triumph.

"That's Epsilon," he says, because he has no other name for them, "The Bugge is there, it's close - I can't leave them behind - please."