"I'm starting small at first," Billy clarifies. "Just for the ship's crew. I need to prove myself far more before I can get any more assistance than that...but just seeing that my friends are safe will be enough."

Not that 'friends' is an all-encompassing term these days, but it's enough. He shakes his head. "Thanks, but that's what this is about. I can't let them get hurt that badly again. And I can't drop my guard to such an extent that they have to risk themselves to rescue me."

He seems bitter about this, folding his arms and gazing at his feet.