Gene knew an invitation he couldn't refuse when he heard one, and took the offered seat in the armchair. "I know what you mean," he said. His convalescence after being nearly killed by Valdis had tried his patience and been more intolerable than the event itself had.

"I think you know Pepper. She's from my world; we were all in school together. The last time we saw each other before we ended up here...she was pretty angry with me. And she still is, I think. And that's not improved by the news about me and Tony...anyway. I don't really...know what to do around her."