a/n: All dialogue, no waiting! The team discuss Quincy's situation.

All the good things belong to MonolithSoft.

Gwin was quick to correct himself. "I didn't mean that in a mean way!" His apology was genuine. "It's just that my division gets called all sorts of nasty things and it gets old."

"You didn't think calling Harriers 'cold blooded killers' was bad?" asked Doug.

"Sorry for all of that," Quincy said. "I have no excuse to be rude, and I say that as a member of the Hopeless Nerd Division."

"I guess every division gets their share of insults. Even Mediators," said Gwin. His face darkened on the tiny screen, probably a blush as he avoided saying the standard "soft hearts and soft brains" comment. "Anyway, you're plenty welcome with the Interceptors. You might like it. Our teams get tight."

"Then maybe not," Quincy answered. "People come out of the procedure pretty ... blank." The moment of levity was over.

"Yeah. I tried teaming with someone after their procedure. Would not recommend. Uh ..." Doug did not continue.

"It's fine. I'm not thrilled myself."

"Then tell her, man," Doug argued.

"No."

"What have you got to lose? You had the procedure booked, so you must have been planning to try, right?"

"It is none of her business." Quincy spat out each word.

"I dunno. I would think she'd be involved somehow," Gwin offered.

Quincy sighed and continued more quietly. "No, I mean it's not her problem to fix. She shouldn't have to be involved. She's not the one at fault."

Doug looked thoughtful before he spoke. "Still. At this point you might as well ask her. Even if it's a bust, you won't care by tomorrow."

"I know the answer. I'm a casual friend, that's all." Quincy's half-smile had snuck back on his face. Just thinking about her must make him happy, thought Hope. "I'd be fine about it if it weren't for this damn thing.

"God bless the fucking super geniuses that developed this," Doug said ferociously.

Quincy actually laughed. "Glad we all agree. I mean, I get it, in theory. They wanted us to have full control of our emotions during the voyage. Mad passion can be a problem for a whole team, and by extension for a whole ship." Quincy hesitated, then added, very gently, "Or a whole city."

Hope couldn't bear to look at Doug's video. He'd lost his closest friend to just this sort of problem. She launched into speech. "There's definitely an issue of negative recursive thought with some survivors," she began, but immediately had defend the sufferers. "Can you blame us though? We've gone through so much. Most people are trying their best, trying not to hurt anyone. It doesn't seem fair to punish someone like Quincy." She took a deep breath. She never enjoyed navigating the line between friendship and professional advice, and to be honest she wasn't sure which side she was on today. "I'll be the last one to say it, but maybe you should try, Quincy. If she's your friend, then maybe she'd want to hear you out."

"Then what? I tell her and then what?" Anger was sneaking into his voice, mixed with despair. "Leave her with the guilt of not feeling the same? Or am I supposed to listen to her try to lie to me? Lie to herself? She might try it. She's that kind of nice. I'd hate that for her."

"You really might be underestimating yourself," Hope said. She wished she could have sounded more confident.

"Trust me, I know the answer," Quincy said. There was a moment as they all considered his options. "Look, I hate what's happening. That's why I put it off so long, getting the procedure and everything. I kept thinking that I could balance it. Feeling what I ... feeling whatever and knowing that I'm only some guy to her. I'd honestly be fine with it, being just a friend, but this damn body... I'm sorry. I put the mission at risk."

Doug closed the topic with a final curse. "Screw that. I wish it had worked out for you."

a/n: Maybe next week the chapters can be longer.

Next up: What does he see in Mystery Woman anyway, plus a time skip, as a treat.