The rationales do little to soothe Machiko's heart. The underlying cruelty of the exchange program hacks at her ruthlessly. Can there be anything more savage than to separate mother and child? What monster could conceive of such a program? It is heinous. Insidious. And yet the rational part of her mind whispers the words, Sashi's words, that seem so loathsome. What would she not sacrifice to defend the Chairman of Nagato Combine? Could the commands of duty ever be too great?