Gaeta huffs a tiny laugh. "It's what she called us," he says. "It sort of stuck. Not so much to differentiate us, more so we could... find each other, I guess. Useful shorthand, you know?"

He tucks the geode into his satchel.

"And you're welcome. I try not to -- well." Extremely wry now: "Behave like I did when we were both on my own ship. Not anymore. It's a recurring nightmare for a reason. I'm sorry you were pulled into it."