Sera sat on the inside of the blast wall with her back against the panel, her axe resting across her knees, her left shoulder in its usual position, and watched Michael standing in the channel with the bolt driver still in his hand, blood dripping from his right forearm, and the seventh Aberrant lying at his feet.
He looked at her shoulder.
"How bad," he said.
"Don't know yet," she said honestly, which was the most honest thing she'd said about an injury since she arrived in this building.
He crouched in front of her, examining her shoulder without touching it, simply observing.
She watched his face as he interpreted what he saw, experiencing the peculiar sensation of being evaluated by someone other than Dr. Kang.
This person's focused gaze carried a unique, distinct quality.
"I need Dr. Kang," he said.
"After," she said.
"Now," he said, in the tone that wasn't a suggestion.
