"[i]Do[/i] not--!" Alexa bites the words in half, and forces a tight smile. "Alexa. Alexa will do nicely. Please." She bats a crab away, more to give her hands something to do than because it's a threat. "I am awkward because..." What even to say? "Mistress, I have displayed extremely poor judgement before in choosing masters. I carried out the will of a tyrant, was his enforcer, his weapon, and did terrible things in his name." There were no codes. She helped, sacrificed, hurt, so that she would not be sacrificed and hurt. "And then I helped your mother, and she turned Tellus into a prison." And again, she helped so that she would not be hurt. "And here you are, bright, shiny, helpful, kind, caring." Abandoned her own to pursue this. Pits herself against the might and wealth of empire in a suicidal bid for change. "And I am waiting for the shoe to drop." And helping isn't going to keep her from being hurt.