[ Qreshi children born without genetic alterations often meet a short and complicated end--it's a common feat of monarchy style social systems, though earlier versions of it often resulted in the death of the ruling family's line.

It's an astute observation, but not a surprising one. For all that Yu comes off as brash and simple-minded, he is anything but, and his shortcomings are a result of lacking formal education more than anything else.

Intelligence might just be part of the predatory design for a better soldier, but Lavi would like to think Yu's sharp mind must've caught those scientists off guard. A weapon that has the wit and conscience of a man .. isn't much of a weapon at all.

It does make for a dangerously attractive bounty hunter, though.

Laughing, more to his own deranged thoughts than anything else, he meets the askance glance with a vague, secretive smile right before he snaps the book shut along with the retreat of fingertips. ]

Don't get any ideas. They barely let me on Qresh when they see who my senior agent is already.

[ Ah--no longer distracted by the text, he's swiftly made aware of their closeness again, squirming inelegantly to lean away and clamber back to a stand. ]

C'mon. Let's get out of here before you decide to raid someone's private aquarium.

[ Book slid under his elbow, Lavi holds out a hand to help the other up, smile a mix of joy and challenge. ]

You ever think of anything fun you wanna do?