They all knew it way too fucking well, and John knew it worst of all. He was picking up the slack for the lack of volunteers. He didn't want Karkat to notice, but he was trying, dammit. Worst comes to worst, he can try and bet on God Tier invulnerability.

"...I... I don't know." Hey stopped making eye contact with Karkat altogether, losing focus on his left eye. It was going haywre in his stress, he could see things he normally wouldn't be able to... and yet... John knew he had to say something about it, eventually. "We need to band together stronger than ever, we need -something- to rally the troops, or some way to band together tighter, despite our differences. We need to drop whatever secrets or issues are holding us back..."