He'd normally find the giggling adorable. Sonia is cute when she laughs, and normally - normally - he'd be much cheered by the signs that she's recovering a bit of her verve. But it just makes him more frustrated still.

"But that's not what I want," he manages. "I don't want to be a handmaiden. And I - You know my regard for you, but there's a difference between being out in the field, gathering intelligence, and being your pet. I'm sure it would be a comfortable and happy and well-coddled position. No doubt. But I'm not just some Vor fool at loose ends. I'm - " I'm ImpSec. For better or for worse. "I need something more."