Gene's offer, in the abstract, is highly appealing. The addendum to that offer is much less so - Pepper doesn't like listening to the rules set by other people. She's not entirely sure she could listen to and follow Gene's directions on a good day, much less when she can't decide between hugging him and punching him.

"Well, it sounds like I'm gonna need it around here, if people are getting attacked. It's not like I can wear the armor everywhere." She takes another sip of tea. "Who's Yunxu? Is he part of SI, too?"