[Surgeon clicks into place, draws a line between a collection of other pieces, details singing together into a more coherent shape around Stephen. In Takeshi's expression, though, there's no discernable reaction. His eyes definitely don't linger on Stephen's hands.]

I'm whatever I need to be for wherever I am.

[Which might sound evasive, for all that it's true. But explaining Envoys is complicated. Hazardous. Territory he doesn't really want to step into, only one drink down and whatever Stephen's called him here for waiting in the wings. So he strips it down to the bones.]

Military, originally. Rebel militia, when I found out they'd fucked me over.