[ That. That hurts. Even with her helmet on, there's no way for him to miss the flinch that runs through her shoulders, that tightens her fingers in a flex, that stiffens her posture. That wasn't fair. Even if she's let go of her resentment of Tex...it still hurts.

And makes her even more afraid to leave him behind. There is a civil war raging across Chorus, after all.

He needs a reason. And she doesn't know that she has one for him, let alone one that he wants to hear. All she has, double-edged as it is, is the truth. ]

Because I don't know if I'll be coming back.

We were supposed to be returning home when our transport crashed here. Some of the cargo was scattered, siezed. Some of it was Freelancer tech, York. I've been getting it back. [her back straightens, keeps that visor fixed on him] The healing unit was one of the pieces siezed. That's why we needed the codes, to get it back.

[she looks down at the teleport grenade in her hand.

And knows it's not enough.

She turns away. Epsilon's silence is sympathetic; at least he's already made sure York's been fully paid.]

You better get moving. They'll be here soon. Put as much ground between here and them. I let you know how things go soon as I can.