[quote]Not a willing participant? I see it as a pretty vital contributor, so wouldn't that make her a 'participant'? As for the 'willing' part, I don't think any of us can speak for its will.[/quote] Obviously the Traveler is vital to the protection of The City. Rasputin knows it. Evidence suggests that Rasputin shot the Traveler to keep it from leaving, yes? The Traveler left everywhere it started a Golden Age. It has done this over and over for thousands or tens of thousands (or millions or billions) of years. It's will is to avoid conflict. Probably because it is the polar opposite of Oryx and the Darkness. Rasputin is coercing/blackmailing/forcing the Traveler into helping us.