In that brief moment during their hug, Besca heard Dahlia whisper down to Quinn: “[color=skyblue]I’m so sorry too.[/color]” 

A relief, for sure. Besca was beginning to understand how well-warranted the outburst had been, but still, the last thing she wanted was to see the girls fight. Dahlia would never fight back, and Quinn would likely hate every minute of it. That the matter had been settled—or at least eased—without love lost, was more than her cynical heart was used to hoping for. 

That was, she was learning, the problem. 

“[color=ffe63d]Can you come with me? I don't want the two of us to be alone.[/color]”

“[color=gray]‘Course, hun,[/color]” she said, and saw Roaki’s face twist strangely when she did. Besca frowned. It had taken until she’d stopped, until she’d really [i]looked[/i] at her to realize the girl was…well, just that. A girl. She would have thrown Roaki’s application into the bin just as quickly as Quinn’s. And here they both were anyway. 

Dahlia retrieved the slice of cake, and together the three of them walked out of holding and into the warmth of the station. They parted at the commons—Dahlia splitting one way, the three of them another—and continued on towards medical. 

Suddenly, she wasn’t sure how she felt about handing Roaki off to Follen. The fact that he’d performed the amputation hadn’t sat right with her, but he was the only—and, ironically, the best—choice at the time. Of course, the order for Roaki’s imprisonment had come from on-high, and she’d gotten a stern word about wasting resources on an enemy combatant at all, but she wondered if he truly regrated sending her away. With so much modium in her system, had he the chance, he may very well have kept her in the ward, safe and sound. 

As they made their way up to the higher levels, Quinn’s worries were proved true. Eyes followed them, jumping from commander to hero pilot to, finally, the girl in the chair who could only be Roaki Tormont. 

The looks were not kind. 

No one dared say anything out loud, not with both her and Quinn around, but the whispers were many. Phones came out, the recordings started. She knew by tomorrow there’d be all sorts of videos online, and shortly thereafter, a slew of articles. [i]Helburkan Pilot Paraded through Aerie Station like Hero[/i]. [i]Quinnlash Loughvein FORCED to Chauffeur for Enemy Combatant[/i]. [i]RISC Diverts Funds, Manpower to Cater to HELBURKAN Pilots[/i]. 

God, Eusero was going to have a field day. 

Their turn into the ward brought them peace, for now. They proceeded down the curving hall in silence until they reached Follen’s door. Three sharp knocks, and a short moment later it opened. There the good doctor stood. 

“[color=lightblue]Commander! Quinn, darling! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you—[/color]” 

He looked down, to Roaki, who seemed unable or unwilling to look up at him. 

“[color=lightblue]Ah. Is everything alright?[/color]”