[ At the back of Matt's brain, he appreciates Demeisen's effortless lounging. He doesn't envy it, exactly, because he's pretty sure he disagrees with him on at least a few major principles. But it's still impressive.

Anyway, he gives the question genuine thought as the server heads over, slipping out of his consideration only to say "I'll have what he's having." Once orders have been taken and they're alone once more, Matt shakes his head. ]

I don't relish the concept of war. And I doubt I'd be much good as a soldier.

But ...

The best way I can explain is with one of the religions from my world. They talk about the whole universe as one big soul. We have our own individual consciousnesses, but that's mainly a product of forgetting what we really are. When that illusion falls away, that's when we realize we're all connected to each other. Intimately. And we realize our fates and our desires and the things that happen to us, they're all intertwined.

So. That is what matters to me. Personally.