"Rock, paper, scissors."
"What?"
"I'm sorry, Commander. I was thinking out loud."
"I think that's allowed."
"Funny."
"So what were you thinking about?"
"It's silly. Sometimes, I think about children."
"The ones you used to teach?"
"Yeah. Rock, paper, scissors was one of the games they'd play."
"Did you ever play?"
"I was always paper."
"Suits you. Deceptively powerful, beats rock, resilient."
"And just like paper, I can be easily destroyed."
"Rock beats scissors. That's why you keep me around, right?"
"Among other reasons, yes."
"Then, rock protects paper."
"Paper smothers rock."
"Yes, but I don't mind so much, Laura."