The tech-priest whispered to Ethel, not bothering to activate the static at either end of his sentence.

"Okay, look buddy. I'm pretty sure the Sister's gonna shoot the guy again if she founds out he survived. He's breathing, barely, but I need you to help me make sure she doesn't go blowing the poor bastard's head off. The guy's probably got a family or something. Besides, I think you're the only one slick enough to save his life."

Soft, sure. But any mechanicus trainee knew that if you could repurpose a part- say, squeezing it for information or using it as a bargaining chip- it made no sense to get rid of it.