His response is a wry, "Zapped indeed. I do like that turn of phrase, zapped. It's so...evocative." Then he pushes back his forelock, and sighs, and replies, "Quite so, I fear. Not from another world, of course - I'm as Barrayaran as they come - but from...elsewhere." Then, with a bit of a smile - "The precise nature of that elsewhere constitutes my secret, and so I cannot part with that information right now."

And then he sweeps his hand at her. "So do tell me your duties, Sonia. Or your hobbies, I suppose - I do detest that duty has that more serious ring to it, as though what you undertake willingly is of less value than what you are requested and required to do. Tell me how you engage yourself, I suppose."