Liquid hated that Miller had a point. Had plenty of points. That he agreed with him deep down. That he couldn't shake this. That a billion thoughts were swirling around his mind and he couldn't hold onto just one of them to get everything straight.

Maybe that was D-E-L's strategy. Confuse you until you weren't sure what was right anymore.

Maybe once you got brainwashed it'd happen again and again and again if you let it.

Why was he letting it?

At least, confused and angry as he was, he wasn't trying to drag Miller away. Not yet. He yanked his arm away from him as hard as he could, another sneer crossing his face. "You wouldn't bloody dare."

It took a moment for something like the blank expression to overtake him again.

"He's not. He's not here. I'd notice. I'd feel him and I could show him and he'd come with me. We'd be together. But he's not here. We're not. There's nothing to--."

He could just imagine Mantis scolding him about letting strange people into his head. He laughed, in spite of himself. If Mantis was here, he'd probably mentally kick his ass for even entertaining the thought. "...I don't... want this." A pause. "Come on. It's this way."