She thought of how many single moments were strung together in her memories, each one a wound on another, and in another way on herself (sometimes).

"Well, I did have some time to prepare my mind. I came to see if there were any fighters practicing today, to ask their opinions. And before I came to Stacy, I was stranded on Earth for a year. I had to learn to mimic the humans around me, or else be captured, probably killed. I learned to - break away before the panic-point, when I could." And when she couldn't, well, people got hurt.

It helped that she'd eaten a big breakfast this morning.

"I suppose I could drive myself to panic against virtual opponents, and try to control myself? That way no one would get hurt."