Lapis's pantomime gets a small smile out of Sonia despite herself, and she gently pushes Lapis's hands down. "It's like a really bad headache. Here -- is it alright if I touch your face?"

Generally nicer to ask than to just start touching. Most Betans might not mind the unsolicited touch, but...they're not on Beta Colony. Sonia tries to keep the worried frown off her face as Lapis describes in vague terms what's going on, but she thinks she can fill in some of the blanks with what she knows about the outsiders and the Cetagandans. Gene therapy and powers are not concepts that bode well when it comes to the Cetagandans.

"Like your water powers," Sonia fills in, trying to keep the concern off her face, to leave only curiosity. "But how can they be doing gene therapy? I mean...you said you weren't human before, right?"