[ Alex can only watch so much of the kind of behavior he was used to seeing when his sisters were grounded that after so many air punches and failed meditation attempts, his instincts kick in when she speaks up. ]

Beaurocracy, probably. And figuring out where to put us after they figure out who is or isn't a threat. I'm starting to feel less like an outright prisoner, and more like an animal in post-import quarantine. [ She seems so much more bothered by the boredom than the captivity, he can't help but notice. ]