"Yeah, I figured," says Trouble. "So there wouldn't be much point."

<Do humans believe the point of apologies has to do with demonstrating knowledge?> wonders Ax.

"If somebody's sorry for setting me off, but they don't know what they did or why it mattered or what setting me off even means, that doesn't do me much good, does it?"

<Well,> says Ax, <not if the apology is given under duress. I asked Princess Bella not to order you to do so, but she said that it wouldn't matter if she did.>

<Because that would render it meaningless in any event.>

Ax waits.

"I don't think I know what I'd be apologizing for, either," he says. "But I want to."

<For comparing me to a Yeerk. I am not sure how this failed to be clear.>

"No, that part I get," he says. "I guess what I mean is - I don't understand it. I could guess, but that's not the same thing."

<What else is there to explain?>

"I don't know, maybe nothing," says Trouble. "Maybe the answer really is that you just hate Yeerks so much that you can't stand hearing that one time one of them noticed the same obvious fact that you noticed. In which case I'm gonna have a hard time being sorry about it. But I still want to try."

Ax's feet shuffle. <When Andi was in here adding the glowing shapes to the ceiling, she mentioned that one of Princess Bella's talents is picking apart her feelings in arbitrary detail. That is not a talent I have.>

"Sure, me neither," says Trouble. "The stars are a cute idea."

<It was very kind of her. It helps a little.>

"Yeah," says Trouble. He tips his head back to look at them.

<So, I don't know if I can satisfy your curiosity.>

"Mm, 'curiosity' might not be the word," he says. "But okay."

<Where does that leave us?>

"Dunno," he says. "Are you gonna try eating breakfast with us again tomorrow?"

More hoof-shuffly sounds. <I do not know.>

"I could bring you some out here if you'd rather," he offers.

<That would probably lead to more... dignified results, although I do not know how much more.>

"Probably," Trouble agrees. "Up to you."