Finding himself strapped down to the med bay table like he was a mad man, he was unamused. He wondered if they felt this could really contain him, but he let them keep the illusion of control for now. Zwei sat next to him with a stun baton. He laughed a bit and asked, “Neat sparkler. Celebrating our survival?” She brought the baton very close to his groin and he joked again, “Well, that’s kinky, but I’m not into you like-“ she hit him in the chest with the handle of the baton and the blunt force to his battered body knocked the wind out of him.

“Is this all a joke to you? You nearly died multiple times just since your stunt on the bridge and you want to laugh like nothing is wrong?” She looked furious, and a glance over at Ellefu and Sita showed they shared her frustration but didn’t even want to speak to him.

He laughed again and again was hit with the blunt handle of the weapon. A few coughs later he explained himself, “Of course I do. Laughing with relief is natural. I was scared as hell, but we should be safe now.” He laughed through the pain, “And that means I have the luxury of humor.”

Zwei looked down in thought, absentmindedly allowing the stun baton to drift down and rest on his abs. His body jackhammered against the restraints for a moment before she lifted it off. She quickly stammered out, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

He winced but still smiled through the pain, muttering something under his breath she couldn’t quite hear. He nodded in reassurance, “It’s fine. I’m used to this kind of crap by now.” His eyes grew distant as he seemed to descend into thought. He eventually asked, “You all think I’m a lunatic, don’t you?” She looked away and he chuckled, causing his fresh bandages to tinge red from his blood. “It’s fine. You guys have only been tag alongs and prisoners. But I’ll be okay.” She looked at her feet, wanting to say something but being unsure of how. “Well, I’m going to my room. I’ll see you all in a few hours.”

She looked up in surprise at the comment and he was already waving goodbye to the three as he walked briskly down the hall. She checked the restraints and saw no damage on them. She went to chase him down but she could hear his bedroom door slide shut and seal itself.

He took a few sharp breaths, feeling he was finally alone. Kuntaret spoke from the corner of the room, “Why do you punish yourself like this?” He turned as sharp as his battered body would let him. She refused to look directly at him and continued. “I saw you take five lethal blows. I saw your body shatter and yet still stand. I saw you damage your body further to defeat those warriors to the point of nearly bleeding out on the floor of your ship. Then I saw you take a body on the brink of death and cast it into the abyss with a smile. You live like a man seeking his grave.”

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He thought about it and shook his head, wincing as he got himself over to his bed. He heard knocking and thumping from the rest of the girls, but he ignored it. “It is more complicated than that. I’ve been to my grave. Attended my own funeral. Put a shovelful on it myself.” He sighed, another wince. “I guess I don’t fear death like I used to. I just have better things to do than to die.”

“Like what?” She was honestly curious which was odd for his would-be assassin.

He hesitated but replied, “I see things differently than most people. I see the road I need to walk to bring out the best in the people in my life and I’m not going to let it go. Anyone else I change the life of along the way is collateral.”

She sighed, “You have been holding back. Even this conversation is you trying as hard as you can to be honest without telling me what your game is.” She stood upright, cold eyes locked onto him. “Even when your life was in danger I saw you restraining yourself. I will get a straight answer from you.”

He chuckled and shook his head, “No, you won’t.” His body shone bright and his armor appeared. His distorted voice spoke menacingly, “I give answers only when I see fit and not one moment before.”

She prepared herself nervously. “You are trying to scare me away from the truth. How are your secrets better than where I came from?”

“Because my secrets don’t involve you.” She narrowed her eyes, “And besides that, if I play my cards before the exact right moment to do so, everything I’ve been working on falls apart.” She stayed firm, clearly not willing to let him slide with that. He spoke haltingly, “I have a compromise. I can give you a special mission that will give you a better idea of the situation. Would you be interested?”

She scoffed, “Like Trinta? So you can keep your secrets?” He began a swing causing her to flinch. But instead of feeling a blow connect with any part of her, she heard the sound of breaking glass. Opening her eyes she saw the very air cracked like a sheet of fine ice. He flicked the cracked air and it fell apart effortlessly. Behind it was a place she didn’t recognize.

He said firmly, “Step through. They will explain.”

“How will-“

“Because I’m the only one that travels this way. They will know I sent you.”

She hesitated for only a moment before stepping through. A few moments later he joined her. When he stepped through there was no signs of their exit, only the cold and barren room.