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[ Tell me about your friends, Staff Sergeant Marling. Those were among the first words she'd ever spoken to Iain — that and her name, her part in the Project, a perfunctory this seat taken even though it wasn't really a question (nobody in, nobody out, except for the doctors; those were the rules until he was given the all-clear). She hadn't really meant friends, of course, she'd meant his squad, but Akker had phrased it anyway just to see his reaction (if any), curious if he'd remain reticent and closed off for the duration. ]

As a favor, Iain, [ and her tone changes — not soft, not earnest, not playing any card beyond it'll make my life easier even though Akker knows he's not Marling's babysitter any more than she is.

More lightly: ] I'll owe you one.