[He was silent, just for a moment, staring at Tieria and thinking hard. Tieria deserved as good a truthful answer as Lockon could give. He took a deep breath and let it out again, heavily.]

It's not like that. I wouldn't stand here and give you false apologies, especially not for something like this. If there's anything I regret, it's what happened to all of you when I wasn't there to help. I'll always be sorry for that, and I'll mean that with every fibre of me.

[He paused again, and looked away.] ...If he...If he turned up again, I can't give you an honest answer. I don't know myself what I'd do, right now.

[Swallowing, he looked back, expression serious.]

But I don't think - after seeing what it did to my friends, I don't think I'd rush headlong into a fight so recklessly. I... No, I wouldn't let what happened repeat itself. Now I've seen the effects it had on the people I care about, I don't think I could be so selfish as to easily do it again.