She worked her fingers over the keys, not touching them. When she spoke again, her voice was low.

"Well, he's safe. I guess. Him and Alice. I'll make sure we have copies of all his medical records, ready and labeled so that when he comes back, if no one remembers him, they will know what he needs, at least."

She sighed again. "With the mercenaries, you always try to say that you've made a person's life better for your meeting them, somehow. Because you might never see them again. They might drop off at the next planet, or transfer to another ship, or go home - or die." She clenched her fist and rapped her knuckles angrily on the table; she did not pound her fist, because in a low-g environment that would send her flying. "But at least you know! At least there's some word, some announcement. People don't just - melt into the walls."