[There's something in hearing the name, as if it helps keep them bound together.]

Drift.

[There's so much he wants right now...]

"Fair enough. Then somewhere else? Confined to quarters. Mine or another high in the tower. There are options that are better than you leaving."

[He does his best to steady himself, flight panels fluttering in discomfort.]

Trying without some chance of success is just suicide. I'm not saying we shouldn't fight him. Vector even bid me to do so when I asked how I could help. But we have to be smart about it, don't we?

[His amber optics twitch in alarm as he looks at Drift searchingly.] And what do you call 'the worst that could happen' that it isn't so bad?