The pain is of our own making, Kira. [...] it only hurts as much as we let it.
-- Kira's Father (Part One - Chapter V)

Importance: After uncovering the xeno, Kira finds herself battling with an immense amount of guilt. She feels guilty for killing Alan and her teammates, as well as starting a war between sentient life. While Kira's family members are not prevalent parts of the novel, their influence on her life is clear. She consistently worries about their well-being, and this quote illustrates how her father told her from a young age that she is the one responsible for creating the emotional pain she feels, insinuating that letting go is the only solution.

Whatever the suit might be, and as much as she hated it for causing the deaths of Alan and her other teammates, it was useful. In its own way, it was displaying more care for her than the UMC.
-- Narrator (Part One - Chapter VI)

Importance: Although the xeno, in...