The leader of a certain tribe that resides in Acahualla—Gavial's hometown. She was admitted into Rhodes Island after passing the operator examination and began receiving treatment at the same time. Her physical qualities are no less impressive than Gavial's. Currently active in the battlefields with her trusted companion, the Raging Ironhide.
ATK+25%, DEF+25%
Mastery 3 · SP cost 0 · Initial SP 0Attack Interval increases a bit, ATK +180%. Stuns all blocked targets for the duration of the skill
Mastery 3 · SP cost 28 · Initial SP 15 · Duration 18sATK +230%, DEF +160%, Block +2, restores 6% HP every second This unit is Stunned for 5 seconds after the skill duration
Mastery 3 · SP cost 45 · Initial SP 25 · Duration 35sWhen HP is above 50%, attacks deal 117% damage; when HP is 50% or lower, gain 22% Sanctuary
Increases this unit's SP recovery by 0.2/sec when blocking enemies
Anything you need help with, Boss? Good.
We aren't allowed to sleep on the ground here? I'll put up a tent in the hallway, then… That won't do either? Why not? In my tribe, we'd just sleep wherever we were when we got tired.
Doctor, why was my application to room with Lancet-2 rejected? Because she's a robot? Uh, you're mistaken. The two of us are sisters now. She's my big sister, and I'm her little sister.
Doctor, are medics outside all like Gavial? When she gives me my Oripathy checkups, it feels like she's just trying to beat me up… That's why we always end up fighting once I can't take it anymore.
High Priest? Right, he didn't come with me, but he did say he'd visit from time to time. Speaking of which, does he even know where Rhodes Island is...?
It used to be my dream to build a robot as huge as the nomadic cities. Now, my dream is to build a talking robot as huge as the nomadic cities. Master Closure already promised to teach me everything she knows about machines.
Oh, I get it now. So, just like 'Great Chief', 'Doctor' is a title we use to honor the wise. Then, everyone will start calling me Dr. Zumama once I learn everything I can here, right? Oh, they won't?
Doctor, I was hoping you could come back to Sargon with me, when you have time, to teach me how to do all sorts of things there. But you look busy… In that case, can I ask Lancet-2 to go with me? Or Master Closure would be fine, too.
People outside are always worried about things that don't matter, they even fight over them. It's so strange. You too, Doctor. You look like you're giving yourself a hard time about everything. Here, take this wrench. Let's build some machines together. I'm sure you'll like seeing a machine in the works getting bigger and better, bit by bit.
I'm starting to get a bit tired myself, watching the Doctor sleep… *yawn*…
I passed all the exams, so that means I can stay here, right? I want to learn how to build a talking robot like Lancet-2… Oh, codename? My name is Zumama. Can't I use that as my codename?
To think there's someone who could go toe-to-toe with Gavial…
Eunectes's partner isn't actually the unit that the Doctor's team encountered in the rainforest. That unit was called 'The Big Ugly Thing.' With its enormous size, the Big Ugly wouldn't have fit in our aircrafts, and it ended up being destroyed anyway. As such, we only brought with us a small number of its spare parts on the way back. The unit we have now is a brand new unit that the whole Engineering Department worked together to rebuild. The Chief Engineer named it 'the Raging Ironhide.' On the outside, this new unit isn't all that different from its predecessor. Inside, however, it couldn't be more different from the haphazardly put-together Big Ugly. It was the fruit of the whole Engineering Department putting their heads together. And supposedly, Eunectes broke down in tears at the workshop when it was finally completed. To her, it was probably the most concrete step she has ever taken to make her dream a reality. Aside from this, after the Raging Ironhide was completed, the High Priest, who Eunectes has occasionally mentioned as the Big Ugly's pilot, has started popping up frequently here in Rhodes Island. Dr. Kal'tsit has told the operators to pay it no mind. That kind of bothered me at first, but thanks to the High Priest's happy-go-lucky personality, it didn't take long for everyone to get used to having it around.
Eunectes is a Phidian girl whose interests can be described as somewhat peculiar. She isn't the type to actively raise conversations, nor is she the kind of person to keep quiet to herself. In many ways, her views and ideologies are much more normal compared to Gavial, who'd left home years ago, but she can be pretty stubborn when it comes to all matters machinery-related. When she first joined Rhodes Island, for a period of time, she opted to use her real name, 'Zumama', as her codename just as Tomimi before her did. However, when Closure christened the newly rebuilt Big Ugly 'the Raging Ironhide', she took the opportunity to give herself a new codename based on her tribe's name—'Eunectes.' That being said, a sizable number of our operators, such as Gavial, still call her by her name. Based on her own personal account, she rarely ever picks fights with anyone, her frequent bouts with Gavial during their childhoods notwithstanding. As such, this will not be accounted for in her combat experience evaluation.
According to Eunectes's own personal account, her knowledge of anything not related to her tribe can be attributed entirely to her book collection. This explains how even though she was able to hit it off with Closure the moment she joined the Engineering Department—though just as quickly, she made Closure so mad that she threw the bag of chips in her hands—her common sense and knowledge about our day-to-day lives are peculiar to say the least. Nonetheless, how she was able to pick up foreign languages and robotics just by flipping through a few books goes to show her learning ability is remarkable. Not long after joining Rhodes Island, she further demonstrated this impressive ability: after just a few months, Closure personally approved her request to be assigned to the Engineering Department. Sadly, even though she was able to learn how to operate all sorts of machinery in no time, to this day she has shown no noticeable improvement when it comes to life outside her tribe.
Executor5★ · Sniper
Executor the Ex Foedere6★ · Guard
Exusiai6★ · Sniper
Exusiai the New Covenant6★ · Specialist
Eyjafjalla6★ · Caster
Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska6★ · Medic
Fang3★ · Vanguard
Fang the Fire-Sharpened5★ · Vanguard
Fartooth6★ · Sniper
FEater5★ · Specialist
Fiammetta6★ · Sniper
Figurino5★ · Specialist
Firewatch5★ · Sniper
Firewhistle5★ · Defender
Flamebringer5★ · Guard
Flametail6★ · Vanguard
Flint5★ · Guard
Folinic5★ · Medic
Franka5★ · Guard
Friston-31★ · Defender
Frost5★ · Specialist
Frostleaf4★ · Guard
Fuze5★ · Guard
GALLUS²1★ · Caster
Gavial4★ · Medic
Gavial the Invincible6★ · Guard
Gitano4★ · Caster
Gladiia6★ · Specialist
Glaucus5★ · Supporter
Gnosis6★ · Supporter
Goldenglow6★ · Caster
Gracebearer5★ · Guard
Grain Buds5★ · Supporter
Grani5★ · Vanguard
Gravel4★ · Specialist
GreyThroat5★ · Sniper
Greyy4★ · Caster
Greyy the Lightningbearer5★ · Sniper
Gummy4★ · Defender
Hadiya5★ · Guard
Harmonie5★ · Caster
Harold5★ · Medic
Haruka6★ · Supporter
Haze4★ · Caster
Heavyrain5★ · Defender
Heidi5★ · Supporter
Hellagur6★ · Guard
Hibiscus3★ · Medic
Hibiscus the Purifier5★ · Medic
Highmore5★ · Guard
Ho'olheyak6★ · Caster
Hoederer6★ · Guard
Honeyberry5★ · Medic
Horn6★ · Defender
Hoshiguma6★ · Defender
Hoshiguma the Breacher6★ · Defender
Humus4★ · Guard
Hung5★ · Defender
Iana5★ · Specialist
Ifrit6★ · Caster
Indigo4★ · Caster
Indra5★ · Guard
Ines6★ · Vanguard
Insider5★ · Sniper
Irene6★ · Guard
Iris5★ · Caster
Istina5★ · Supporter
Jackie4★ · Guard
Jaye4★ · Specialist
Jessica4★ · Sniper
Jessica the Liberated6★ · Defender
Jieyun5★ · Sniper
Ju5★ · Sniper
Kafka5★ · Specialist
Kal'tsit6★ · Medic
Kal'tsit Esperanta6★ · Medic
Kazemaru5★ · Specialist
Kestrel5★ · Vanguard
Kichisei5★ · Sniper
Kirara5★ · Specialist
Kirin R Yato6★ · Specialist
Kjera5★ · Caster
Kroos3★ · Sniper
Kroos the Keen Glint5★ · Sniper
La Pluma5★ · Guard
Laios5★ · Guard
Lancet-21★ · Medic
Lappland5★ · Guard
Lappland the Decadenza6★ · Caster
Lava3★ · Caster
Lava the Purgatory5★ · Caster
Lee6★ · Specialist
Leizi5★ · Caster
Leizi the Thunderbringer6★ · Guard
Lemuen6★ · Sniper
Leonhardt5★ · Caster
Lessing6★ · Guard
Leto5★ · Guard
Lin6★ · Caster
Ling6★ · Supporter
Liskarm5★ · Defender
Logos6★ · Caster
Lord/Sharp6★ · Guard
Lucilla5★ · Supporter
Lumen6★ · Medic
Lunacub5★ · Sniper
Luo Xiaohei4★ · Guard
Lutonada4★ · Defender
Magallan6★ · Supporter
Manticore5★ · Specialist
Mantra6★ · Caster
Marcille6★ · Caster
Matoimaru4★ · Guard
Matsukiri5★ · Vanguard
Matterhorn4★ · Defender
May4★ · Sniper
Mayer5★ · Supporter
Mechanist6★ · Defender
Melanite5★ · Sniper
Melantha3★ · Guard
Meteor4★ · Sniper
Meteorite5★ · Sniper
Midnight3★ · Guard
Minimalist5★ · Caster
Mint5★ · Caster
Misery6★ · Specialist
Miss.Christine5★ · Caster
Mitm5★ · Vanguard
Mizuki6★ · Specialist
Młynar6★ · Guard
Mon3tr6★ · Medic
Morgan5★ · Guard
Mostima6★ · Caster
Mountain6★ · Guard
Mousse4★ · Guard
Mr. Nothing5★ · Specialist
Mudrock6★ · Defender
Muelsyse6★ · Vanguard
Mulberry5★ · Medic
Mutsumi Wakaba5★ · Specialist
Myrrh4★ · Medic
Myrtle4★ · Vanguard
Narantuya6★ · Sniper
Nasti6★ · Supporter
Nearl5★ · Defender
Nearl the Radiant Knight6★ · Guard
Necrass6★ · Caster
Nian6★ · Defender
Nightingale6★ · Medic
Nightmare5★ · Caster
Nine-Colored Deer5★ · Supporter
Noir Corne2★ · Defender
Nowell5★ · Medic
Nyamu Yūtenji5★ · Guard
Nymph6★ · Caster
Odda5★ · Guard
Orchid3★ · Supporter
Pallas6★ · Guard
Paprika5★ · Medic
Papyrus5★ · Medic
Passenger6★ · Caster
Penance6★ · Defender
Pepe6★ · Guard
Perfumer4★ · Medic
Perfumer the Distilled5★ · Supporter
Phantom6★ · Specialist
Philae5★ · Defender
PhonoR-01★ · Supporter
Pinecone4★ · Sniper
Pith5★ · Caster
Pith6★ · Caster
Platinum5★ · Sniper
Plume3★ · Vanguard
Podenco4★ · Supporter
Poncirus5★ · Vanguard
Popukar3★ · Guard
Pozëmka6★ · Sniper
Pramanix5★ · Supporter
Pramanix the Prerita6★ · Caster
Projekt Red5★ · Specialist
Provence5★ · Sniper
Proviso5★ · Supporter
Ptilopsis5★ · Medic
Pudding4★ · Caster
Purestream4★ · Medic
Puzzle5★ · Vanguard
Qanipalaat5★ · Caster
Qiubai6★ · Guard
Quartz4★ · Guard
Quercus5★ · Supporter
Raidian6★ · Supporter
Raidian6★ · Supporter
Rangers2★ · Sniper
Rathalos S Noir Corne5★ · Guard
Ray6★ · Sniper
Record Keeper5★ · Medic
Reed5★ · Vanguard
Reed the Flame Shadow6★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Caster3★ · Caster
Reserve Operator - Caster4★ · Caster
Reserve Operator - Defender3★ · Defender
Reserve Operator - Defender4★ · Defender
Reserve Operator - Guard4★ · Guard
Reserve Operator - Logistics3★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Medic4★ · Medic
Reserve Operator - Melee3★ · Vanguard
Reserve Operator - Sniper3★ · Sniper
Reserve Operator - Sniper4★ · Sniper
Reserve Operator - Specialist4★ · Specialist
Reserve Operator - Supporter4★ · Supporter
Reserve Operator - Vanguard4★ · Vanguard
Ripresa5★ · Caster
Roberta4★ · Supporter
Robin5★ · Specialist
Rockrock5★ · Caster
Rope4★ · Specialist
Rosa6★ · Sniper
Rose Salt5★ · Medic
Rosmontis6★ · Sniper
Saga6★ · Vanguard
Saileach6★ · Vanguard
Sakiko Togawa6★ · Guard
Sand Reckoner5★ · Supporter
Sankta Miksaparato6★ · Defender
Santalla5★ · Caster
Saria6★ · Defender
Savage5★ · Guard
Scavenger4★ · Vanguard
Scene5★ · Supporter
Schwarz6★ · Sniper
Senshi5★ · Defender
Sesa5★ · Sniper
Shalem5★ · Defender
Shalem5★ · Defender
Shamare5★ · Supporter
Sharp5★ · Guard
Sharp6★ · Guard
Shaw4★ · Specialist
Shining6★ · Medic
Shirayuki4★ · Sniper
Shu6★ · Defender
Sideroca5★ · Guard
Siege6★ · Vanguard
Silence5★ · Medic
Silence the Paradigmatic6★ · Supporter
SilverAsh6★ · Guard
SilverAsh the Reignfrost6★ · Vanguard
Skadi6★ · Guard
Skadi the Corrupting Heart6★ · Supporter
Skybox5★ · Sniper
Skyfire5★ · Caster
Snegurochka4★ · Vanguard
Snow Hunter5★ · Sniper
Snowsant5★ · Specialist
Sora5★ · Supporter
Specter5★ · Guard
Specter the Unchained6★ · Specialist
Spot3★ · Defender
Spuria5★ · Specialist
Stainless6★ · Supporter
Steward3★ · Caster
Stormeye5★ · Sniper
Stormeye6★ · Sniper
Surfer5★ · Vanguard
Surtr6★ · Guard
Sussurro4★ · Medic
Suzuran6★ · Supporter
Swire5★ · Guard
Swire the Elegant Wit6★ · Specialist
Tachanka5★ · Guard
Taraxacum5★ · Medic
Tecno5★ · Caster
Tequila5★ · Guard
Terra Research Commission1★ · Sniper
Texas5★ · Vanguard
Texas the Omertosa6★ · Specialist
Thorns6★ · Guard
Thorns the Lodestar6★ · Specialist
THRM-EX1★ · Specialist
Tin Man5★ · Specialist
Tippi5★ · Specialist
Titi6★ · Medic
Toddifons5★ · Sniper
Tomimi5★ · Caster
Totter4★ · Sniper
Touch5★ · Medic
Touch6★ · Medic
Tragodia6★ · Supporter
Tsukinogi5★ · Supporter
Tulip5★ · Vanguard
Tulip6★ · Vanguard
Tuye5★ · Medic
Typhon6★ · Sniper
U-Official1★ · Supporter
Uika Misumi5★ · Supporter
Ukusik5★ · Medic
Ulpianus6★ · Guard
Umiri Yahata5★ · Specialist
Underflow5★ · Defender
Utage4★ · Guard
Valarqvin5★ · Supporter
Vanilla3★ · Vanguard
Varkáris5★ · Guard
Vendela5★ · Medic
Verdant4★ · Specialist
Vermeil4★ · Sniper
Vetochki5★ · Defender
Vigil6★ · Vanguard
Vigna4★ · Vanguard
Vina Victoria6★ · Guard
Virtuosa6★ · Supporter
Viviana6★ · Guard
Viy6★ · Caster
Vulcan5★ · Defender
Vulpisfoglia6★ · Vanguard
W6★ · Sniper
Waai Fu5★ · Specialist
Wang6★ · Specialist
Wanqing5★ · Vanguard
Warfarin5★ · Medic
Warmy5★ · Caster
Weedy6★ · Specialist
Whislash5★ · Guard
Whisperain5★ · Medic
Wild Mane5★ · Vanguard
Wind Chimes5★ · Guard
Windflit5★ · Supporter
Windscoot4★ · Guard
Wiš'adel6★ · Sniper
Wulfenite5★ · Specialist
Xingzhu5★ · Supporter
Yato2★ · Vanguard
Yu6★ · Defender
Zima5★ · Vanguard
Zima the Raging Tide6★ · Guard
Zuo Le6★ · Guard
'Justice Knight'1★ · Sniper
12F2★ · Caster
Aak6★ · Specialist
Absinthe5★ · Caster
Aciddrop4★ · Sniper
Adnachiel3★ · Sniper
Akafuyu5★ · Guard
Akkord4★ · Caster
Alanna5★ · Supporter
Alliance/Supportive Operator4★ · Supporter
Almond5★ · Specialist
Ambriel4★ · Sniper
Amiya5★ · Caster
Andreana5★ · Sniper
Angelina6★ · Supporter
Ansel3★ · Medic
Aosta5★ · Sniper
April5★ · Sniper
Archetto6★ · Sniper
Arene4★ · Guard
Aroma5★ · Caster
Asbestos5★ · Defender
Ascalon6★ · Specialist
Ash6★ · Sniper
Ashlock5★ · Defender
Astesia5★ · Guard
Astgenne5★ · Caster
Astgenne the Lightchaser6★ · Supporter
Aurora5★ · Defender
Ayerscarpe5★ · Guard
Bagpipe6★ · Vanguard
Bassline5★ · Defender
Beagle3★ · Defender
Beanstalk4★ · Vanguard
Beehunter4★ · Guard
Beeswax5★ · Caster
Bellone6★ · Guard
Bena5★ · Specialist
Bibeak5★ · Guard
Bison5★ · Defender
Blacknight5★ · Vanguard
Blaze6★ · Guard
Blaze the Igniting Spark6★ · Caster
Blemishine6★ · Defender
Blitz5★ · Defender
Blue Poison5★ · Sniper
Bobbing5★ · Supporter
Botani5★ · Supporter
Breeze5★ · Medic
Brigid5★ · Sniper
Broca5★ · Guard
Bryophyta5★ · Guard
Bubble4★ · Defender
Cairn5★ · Defender
Cantabile5★ · Vanguard
Caper4★ · Sniper
Cardigan3★ · Defender
Carnelian6★ · Caster
Castle-31★ · Guard
Catapult3★ · Sniper
Catherine5★ · Supporter
Cement5★ · Defender
Ceobe6★ · Caster
Ceylon5★ · Medic
Ch'en6★ · Guard
Ch'en the Dawnstreak6★ · Guard
Ch'en the Holungday6★ · Sniper
Chestnut4★ · Medic
Chiave5★ · Vanguard
Chilchuck5★ · Vanguard
Chongyue6★ · Guard
Civilight Eterna6★ · Supporter
Click4★ · Caster
Cliffheart5★ · Specialist
Closure6★ · Vanguard
Coldshot5★ · Sniper
CONFESS-471★ · Vanguard
Contrail4★ · Specialist
Conviction4★ · Guard
Corroserum5★ · Caster
Courier4★ · Vanguard
Crackborne5★ · Defender
Croissant5★ · Defender
Crownslayer6★ · Specialist
Cuora4★ · Defender
Cutter4★ · Guard
Czerny5★ · Defender
Dagda5★ · Guard
Deepcolor4★ · Supporter
Degenbrecher6★ · Guard
Delphine5★ · Caster
Diamante5★ · Caster
Dobermann4★ · Guard
Doc5★ · Guard
Dorothy6★ · Specialist
Dur-nar4★ · Defender
Durin2★ · Caster
Dusk6★ · Caster
Earthspirit4★ · Supporter
Ebenholz6★ · Caster
Ela6★ · Specialist
Elysium5★ · Vanguard
Enforcer5★ · Specialist
Entelechia6★ · Guard
Erato5★ · Sniper
Estelle4★ · Guard
Ethan4★ · SpecialistA promotion? Is that something like going from a fighter to a warrior? …In that case, we have to celebrate. I think I'll enjoy a barbecue with Lancet-2 on the bridge tonight.
The High Priest told me how big and vast this great land is. He sounded kind of heartbroken when he talked about it. I didn't understand why at the time, but I'm starting to get it after spending so much time here. Vastness might not necessarily be a good thing.
Is it time to hunt?
What are we hunting?
Are you coming too, Doctor?
I just need to take care of all of them, right?
Ready to go anytime.
I'll go.
It'd be even more efficient to take someone who can work with me.
Hold the fort? Easy.
You people are no match for Gavial!
I'm not all that weak either!
I'll give it my all no matter the prey!
Strike! And got you!
What a great haul!
Compared to Gavial, you've still got a ways to go.
I'll go after them.
Don't worry about it. I've lost to Gavial too many times myself. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Where's Lancet-2?
Y e a h ?
What do I need to do to become as learned as the Doctor?
Arknights.
Doctor, is there a holiday today…? New Year's? We welcome in the new year…? I don't understand, we don't have this holiday in my tribe. But everyone looks happy. Can I join in? Where is Lancet-2?
Doctor, good timing. There's something I wanted to ask you.
I think I've seen how you celebrate your birthdays. You make a wish and tell it to no one, in hopes that it will come true in the following year. Can I make a wish too? I can? Then, let's close our eyes… Hmmm… Oh, right, happy birthday, Doctor.
I read in a book that today is a day to show my loyalty to my boss and prove my sincerity. Doctor, I'm struggling with the concept of loyalty. This is a heart-shaped badge I designed and built myself on the Engineering lathe. Why is it heart-shaped? Doesn't that represent loyalty?
After Eunectes joined Rhodes Island, she has become somewhat of a laughingstock thanks to her lack of understanding regarding anything she's unfamiliar with, and the funniest thing about her has to be her relationship with Lancet-2. The sight of Eunectes calling Lancet-2 her sister never fails to catch operators oblivious to this relationship by surprise. Of course, Lancet-2 is fairly popular amongst operators thanks to her personality, but Eunectes's passion for her is on another level. It isn't hard to fathom why, of course. Most of us have probably been so awestruck by something we've never so much as heard of that it sent chills down our spines at some point in our lives. The kind of moment that feels as though you flung open a whole new door, like discovering new untrodden lands. To Eunectes, that moment came as a child when she witnessed a nomadic city just passing through by chance. The gigantic machine, colored in its icy machinery colors, struck her with amazement like never before. That moment came again when she first heard Lancet-2 talk. This time, it was the possibilities that robotics has that struck her with amazement. Wouldn't most operators be just as surprised when they first come across operations platforms that talk? The difference here is that most operators aren't all that interested in robots and therefore don't react the same way Eunectes does. On the other hand, while Eunectes shows extraordinary respect to other operations platforms as well, Lancet-2 is particularly dear to her. This is actually a glimpse of her normalcy. Her special treatment for Lancet-2 can be described as ritualistic and as a sort of emotional sustenance. This is a beacon she picked for herself in her new life, and it can even be seen as the manifestation of what she has always dreamt of achieving herself. Which is why, even though she's the developer of all the operations platforms and the person that Eunectes has come to look up to as her master, Closure has never tried to put a stop to her so-called stupid apprentice's behavior. She probably knows exactly how Eunectes feels.
Although the Doctor's trip to Acahualla had a happy, almost comedic ending, there is still a point worthy of discussion. Even though Eunectes's true goal has always been to build gigantic robots and nothing more, had this series of events not transpired, she would have become the Great Chieftain, and under her rule, the Acahuallan tribes would likely advance into a strange but nonetheless robotic era. By its very essence, it's an idea that runs against their traditions—a breakthrough. From this point of view, you could say Gavial was the manifestation of tradition itself. She believed in her own strength and didn't seek any outside help. Having abided by this principle for years, this has become one of the most iconic examples of Acahuallan tradition. In other words, by its very essence, this series of events can be seen as a conflict between traditions and breakthroughs. If it wasn't for Gavial's relationship with Eunectes, if it wasn't for the region's lax sense of tradition to begin with, and how modest the Acahuallan people were, history tells us all this would have ended very badly. Of course, that is simply conjecture, and this isn't to say that we were lucky things turned out the way they did. Rather, I wanted to pose an interesting question: If Gavial and Eunectes each represented a different lifestyle—Gavial's being the primitive yet free lifestyle while Eunectes represented a more orderly lifestyle that relied upon tools—would we be able to say for sure that one is more correct and would lead to a better life? To take this question one step further, what makes a good lifestyle? There isn't a single correct answer to this question, but if you look at how Gavial and Eunectes are such polar opposites yet alike in some ways, I believe this would be an interesting question to ponder.