[ Here's a secret. Hei lost his virginity at fourteen too, under the Syndicate's aegis. Part of an assignment, and also another layer of his training. An exercise to establish the usefulness of sex as a commodity, a tool, with no intrinsic value attached. The Syndicate believed in stripping illusions from its soldiers at the earliest convenience. ]

[ He doesn't say that though. 'Li's face just blanches, then reddens, then blanches again. Glancing down at his hands, interlaced tightly in his lap, his stammers, ]

E-Even so. That was your choice to make. But sometimes there are repercussions to things people do -- especially if they're not ready for them, or don't understand what they mean. [ More steadily, ] It might not be a bad thing. But sometimes it can be. The world's not always a nice place. I guess while I'm here, it's my job to make sure my sister's life has one less ... complication.