[cmdR_Paige]

- @Checkmate -

Mara opened her mouth to speak, but Zed dismissed whatever she was going to say with a wave of his hand. "See? I know you think firewalls are out to get us and everything, but now we've got someone on our side." Mara looked at Zed with a bewildered expression.

"Since when did you go back to your whole 'the Occupation is great' thing? I thought you snapped out of that when Bartik and Hopper wanted to recruit you!"

"Mara, it was different then! Come on, give her a chance."

Mara heaved a sigh. "I need a minute to think." She spun on her heel and briskly walked away from the two of them, headed toward her quarters.

Zed watched her leave, then turned back to Vernal. "Did it hurt?"