"Could use the buddy system. Ain't airtight, but also peeps got incentive to not off each other when it's going to be real obvious who did it if they do. Two peeps go off, one comes back or books it and the other bellies up, rest of the group starts maddogging."

Punchy actually pauses after he says that, all thoughts of continuing to jockey over Stephanie wiped from his mind. It hits him like cold water that he's actually thinking of strategies to keep people from murdering each other - not just people, but people he and Tim trust and handpick. He can't imagine Topher or Holida turning around and murdering someone, but he didn't think that of Hyperion either, did he?

How many people died, some of whom didn't come back, because he didn't take Hyperion out when he could? Was he naive or stupid? One hand holds the puppet, and he looks at Judy's blank face and finds no comfort there. He was a child when his sister died; he's supposed to be a hero now.

He picks at some of the skin on his chin, already starting to blister after only an hour, maybe less, in the sun. "Who's the other peeps you want? Helps if I'm not edgy around homies unne-cess-arily," he says, drawing out that last word almost comically.