"The next question then becomes whether those aspects contribute to their motivation or are only distractions. For example: the peons think that Malicant can't be destroyed or that he'll come back, yes? The leaderly equivalent of that may be to accomplish what Malicant was aiming at without the demonic assistance. Does drug development serve that? This is all brainstorming, just to demonstrate the line of thinking to consider."

Devin studied Valdis silently for a moment. She might have had enough restraint to let Milyn roam loose, but her retelling of things might not be the most reliable version of events.

"All the same, if she actually signed her name in blood somewhere, it sounds like she only did it for access to resources, not out of genuine belief," he continued at length. Again, that pointed to opportunist in his mind, not cultist. Not even properly ex-cultist, if Milyn hadn't been indoctrinated in the first place. "I've heard of graduate students doing much the same, albeit under less dire circumstances. She might be worth talking to or she might not be. If she's no longer in the fold, she can't tell us anything about their current ideals."