"But that's the gamble, silly--you don't know if it'll help or hurt!" She grins, wide and guileless.

"He wants a whole star system frozen in changeless eternity, and what's more boring than that? Qlipoth wants to unite, but at least the IPC isn't smoothing out all our thoughts just yet. But taking down the Preservation is a task for later, isn't it, honey-tongue? I know you've no love lost for the Marketing Development Department."

She reaches out for the deck and pulls a card, showing it to him with a giggle. "Eight of swords!"