"No, never," Vector assured him. "You have always accepted us as a Joiner and Dawn Herald. You have never wanted us to change. We were merely expressing an insecurity we've had for some time."

Many outside the Hive found Joiners to be unsettling, and Vector had sworn he'd gotten a few looks before, even though he had more free will than most Joiners. Even those outside of Alderaan found his eyes to be creepy.

Vector tightened his arms around Aden, never wanting to let him go, daring the universe to take the Chiss from him. He leaned in to kiss him again.