"That's true," the Ghost says with a nod of acknowledgment. "But a damaged object can be replaced in its entirety. Both people must work to repair a relationship. That's still possible for Stacia and her mother, but..."
He gestures at the two women, who have lapsed into an awkward silence again. Both of them look like they're considering bolting in opposite directions. A muscle flexes in Stacia's jaw for a moment, before she cracks her lips to speak.
"Ace told me that the alpha of the pack was executed today," she says. "The Theurge is being kept under close supervision while they try to...deprogram her, I guess. And the other four are dead -- some kind of fight, apparently."
"...I see," her mother says.
"They won't be coming back," Stacia concludes. Speaking seems to have settled her, she no longer looks like she's ready to run. Confident but closed off, not relaxed in the way Dan may have seen her on the rig or on the network. It's almost formal.
no subject
He gestures at the two women, who have lapsed into an awkward silence again. Both of them look like they're considering bolting in opposite directions. A muscle flexes in Stacia's jaw for a moment, before she cracks her lips to speak.
"Ace told me that the alpha of the pack was executed today," she says. "The Theurge is being kept under close supervision while they try to...deprogram her, I guess. And the other four are dead -- some kind of fight, apparently."
"...I see," her mother says.
"They won't be coming back," Stacia concludes. Speaking seems to have settled her, she no longer looks like she's ready to run. Confident but closed off, not relaxed in the way Dan may have seen her on the rig or on the network. It's almost formal.