[ pain, always pain; that seemed to be koltira's lot in life. or death, as it were. bariyan ventures a little closer, leaning to search for signs of the wound. then he straightens back up. ]

I'm glad you're all right. And that Ashraf could do something for you.

[ some of the stiffness leaves bariyan, then. but it only makes him feel more vulnerable, more uncertain, more worried. he runs a hand through his hair. ]

I'm sorry. I don't... understand what happened, then. Martin's never done anything like that before.

[ a lie. months ago. the very first mission, long before koltira arrived. but that had been different, that had been panic. not anger. not whatever this had been. ]