[It was both strange and somewhat curious how different all of the Warriors were. K'rihnn and Mira were relatively friendly towards him; Irhya was troublesome, but not necessarily unsympathetic.

But this one. Emet-Selch was getting the distinct impression that she just didn't like him very much. Which made things simpler, in a way. He affects an idle tone, expression bored and unconcerned. As though he'd meant to come crashing through a hedge, and everything had gone according to plan.]

...Oh, is that how I did it? Sensible of me.

[And that's genuine unconcern. Even if he had no current intention of shooting or otherwise hurting the Exarch, he felt no guilt for having done so. For- doing so in the future? Timelines were weird.]

And if I'm going to go through the front door anyway, what's wrong with starting on the other side of it?