The sudden chuckle drew Roman out of his grim daydream. He whipped around, eyes wide and ears standing tall.

"THIS. IS NOT A FREE RIDE. This is not what FREE RIDE means! Stop--stop laughing! Shut up!" He kicked sawdust at Ginko. "How was I supposed to know she wasn't just some drunk chick! How was I supposed to know she was in charge of some interplanetary bullshit freakshow! This is not! What! I signed up for!"

By the time Roman's actual break was over he was going to be too tired to even do any work.