If his mercenary story was really true, then he could have kept the earrings. But not when he actually went back to the service academy instead. He brightens a bit at her question instead. "I had a Betan hermaphrodite named Bel. One of my closest allies. Captain of one of our flagships." And ultimately kicked out for betraying Miles, sort of. He wonders where Bel is now. God, he'd be so glad to see them right about now...