Ziggy puts his other arm around Jack, letting him lean in close, because he feels like he needs the comfort. As the other man rests and falls silent it gives Ziggy time to talk solely to Hiroki.

The question is one that Ziggy has to consider and then shrugs. If what you said about cloning, where few of you survived, is true then I don't think so. I barely survived and with not many clones, in general, surviving the odds are very low. He also didn't mention anything about cloning. You'd think a government who rewrites people and openly talks about it, would also openly talk about clones.

Ziggy doesn't really know. That is just his best guess. I'd think we'd need a genetic test to know. He does have my empathic and telepathic abilities but they're.. well whatever happened to him ... it's like someone shut them off or a computer stuck in hibernation mode.

Food does come finally and Ziggy leaves Jack to eat. Whether he is a clone or not, Ziggy knows it takes a lot of starvation to make an Anthean lose that much weight. The man needs to eat even if they have to work out some detail of repayment later. He doesn't tell Hiroki to get up, instead offering him a sushi roll piece where he's laying.

Ziggy suddenly adds. Feeling his presence, I think Jack is older than me. What's left feels like a much older Anthean.