"The best ones are." Some come to nothing, there's no denying that. Some end up having an explanation so mundane that it feels pointless to have X-filed them in the first place. This feels like a major breakthrough precisely because it's full of surprises.

And because there's someone else at his side, someone who hasn't yet betrayed him or his principles. He can't bring himself to trust, but part of him wants to.

After a moment, he adds, "This probably isn't where you were hoping to end up when they handed you your badge. What were you really aiming for?"