Donald reels when Anna confirms that Victor shot himself. Anna explains that Victor had become fixated on the first silo they lost and tormented himself with guilt, because he believed he could foresee certain failures but could never identify the exact time and place. Donald immediately turns that guilt on himself, remembering that the collapse happened on his shift and that his old report was found on Victor’s desk.

Anna takes Donald’s copy of the report and tells him Victor had covered his own copy with notes, including the words "This is why." Donald wonders whether Victor killed himself because he finally saw the entire silo project as monstrous and wrong, but Anna rejects that interpretation and insists their actions were necessary. She then reveals her immediate purpose in waking Donald: Victor had been working on the problems in Silo 18, Thurman may simply terminate that silo rather than deal with it, and Anna wants Donald’s help to prove Victor had found something worth saving.

Donald thinks about the silo he previously terminated and about the larger horror of what he helped build. Even so, his motivation shifts as he realizes staying awake gives him a chance to search for answers about the silos, his sister, and especially Helen. He agrees to help Anna, asks what they can access from the room’s computer, and hopes this time he might actually be allowed to investigate instead of being confined and controlled.

When Donald asks about access, Anna says only Thurman can reach this level anymore and quietly adds that Victor likely got the gun from a crate Thurman opened. She insists Victor was not crazy and asks Donald to help for her sake. Just then Thurman arrives and announces that Erskine is arranging a small private ceremony. Before Donald can object, Anna tells Thurman that Donald should work with her downstairs, then requests another computer and another cot, effectively securing Donald’s continued presence and turning his awakening into an active investigation.