Nita adjusts herself again, cradling her head in her hands.

"Exactly. Maybe it uses the 'down time' that we're asleep, for certain repairs?"

And

"You'd think honest communication would be a higher priority, but if it's tied up in the whole energy deal... kind of a catch-22, I guess?"

As for 'what to ask', she lets that sit, because right this second? She's not sure where even to start.

"And if the answer to if it wants to talk is 'no' now, but it becomes a potential 'yes' later... would we check again? Would we know to check again?"