"I wouldn't say without any progress. From my understanding there has been progress. But everything here pushes back against these people. Fights them," Nida sighed, shaking his head. It's a bit extreme, but they'll have to figure it out. There seem to be a lot of smart people working on that goal.

Absently Nida started to fiddle with his wristband, twisting it a little this way and that. An old habit transferred to a new medium, and he didn't like it nearly as much. Catching himself he let the device go and instead ran his fingers through his hair.

"No one ever said survival was easy," Nida reminded Seifer. "Surely you're up to the task."