[Is this where we have to go? Markus invited it, in a way, but he had also made an obvious attempt to skate over the issue.

They’re not doing that, apparently.]

Is it really so surprising? That something other than human can possess a conscience, can reason, can feel emotion, empathy? And guilt, so closely tied to it. No species has complete ownership over any of these.

[That can be an exceedingly selfish way of thinking, but Markus doesn’t sound accusatory. Most wouldn’t even bother to think this deeply about it.]