You’re mute. You always have been.

You’re a rookie. And Simon Riley, the lieutenant in 141, has been training you for a while.

You really like him. He can communicate with you. He’s never been mean to you. You’re not just rookie and lieutenant, but friends.

You got hurt today running the track, and scraped your knee badly.

He just finished bandaging your knee. You take a deep, shaky breath, gathering courage.

“Th-Thank you…” you whisper.