“[color=gray]That’s right,[/color]” Besca said. She felt a bit guilty that she hadn’t stepped in sooner, but if Quinn was feeling up to speaking, it was best to let her. “[color=gray]There must have been some kind of mistake on the patient list. Someone,[/color] and she tried her best not to overemphasize that word, “[color=gray]Performed a modioscory on her, gave her the implants. She’s not an applicant, we don’t know even know if she’s compatible—[/color]”

“[color=lightblue]Oh, she is. Yes, I had her tested first thing.[/color]”

“[color=gray]…So [i]you[/i] operated on her?[/color]”

“[color=lightblue]I most certainly did.[/color]”

Besca paused, stumped, and though his face didn’t change she could tell he was infuriatingly satisfied with it. He’d just admitted to performing a life-changing surgery on a child, without any consent. To his [i]boss[/i]. Granted, as interim-commander she could only recommend canning him, but still, this was bold, even for him. 

Follen leaned forward, hunched to be at-eyes with Quinn. “[color=lightblue]Miss Loughvein—may I call you Quinn?—we’re strangers, you and I. I’d like to be friends, of course, but for right now we’re only just getting to know one another. My mother, you see, she told me that you don’t [i]have[/i] to be friends with someone to do nice things for them. To help them.[/color]”

“[color=gray]You’re not—”[/color] Deep breath. Even tone. “[color=gray]A modioscory isn’t a gift, doctor Follen.[/color]”

“[color=lightblue]Oh, I disagree,”[/color] he said, still not taking his eyes off of Quinn. “[color=lightblue]Very much, yes, very much. No, Quinn, you’ve been through [i]so[/i] much, and you’ve been [i]so[/i] brave. And commander Darroh, Besca, here, you know, she came to visit you [i]every[/i] day, for [i]hours[/i]. Once or twice I’d come by in the morning to check on you, and there she’d be, asleep in those dreadfully uncomfortable chairs. She cares about you a lot, Quinn, and I think you care about her, too. I think you're already [i]very[/i] good friends.”[/color]

He dropped his head down onto hands, almost playfully, smiling still. “[color=lightblue]Do you want to stay here, Quinn? In the Aerie? With Besca?[/color]”