Hux opened his mouth as if to speak, then clamped it shut. A moment passed in silence. He struggled to meet either Sarah or MP’s eyes.

“I. Thank you. Once again, I-”

The medical staff chose that moment to exit the operating room en masse, wheeling a knocked-out and bandaged Techie off towards his room. Hux stood up quickly and, with an apologetic look, excused himself to follow his brother.