Watching the tiny warrior try to adjust to her new reality gives Valdis pause as she walks out onto the sports deck. She's known of Ruby, but never made time to speak to her or really interact with her at all. Valdis doesn't consider herself good with children, but Ruby carries a pain that Valdis just doesn't like being around, and ache far too similar to the one she herself carries. Loneliness and the idea that you have to carry everyone else around you.

"You're pushing too hard too fast," she says from across the deck. "You need to start at the beginning."