The sun is beginning to set.

"Let us return."

He nods curtly and follows her.

The ride back is quiet.

"I have business at the Academy. Your time for the rest of the evening is your own."

"What are you going to do there?" he asks in spite of himself.

"I have a dinner meeting with some potential supporters."

"Do you want my help with anything?"

"Not at present."

He nods. And goes to find somewhere to be alone for a bit.

Plenty of corners on the ship.

He'll mope in one for a bit.

...then meditate.

It's several hours before Occlus returns.

He will be (recently) done with his meditation by then, and... calmer.

"Is there anything you wish to say at this point?"

"Will it come as any surprise if I say I'm still not exactly comfortable with how okay you are with murder?"

"Hardly."

"Why?" he asks, neutrally.

"Why am I not surprised or why do I take a casual attitude to murder?"

"The latter."

"Because I value the lives of people opposing me much less than I value my own, and it is hard for a dead man to threaten me."

"Granted, but you are powerful. You could disable them."

"I could, at considerably more effort and risk."

"Considerably?"

"Have you ever attempted to nonlethally subdue someone fighting seriously to kill you?"

"Earlier today. Then you killed them."

"It's not easy."