He snorted and shook his head, "Understand I guess. I don't agree with anything around here. I mean, I get that for whatever reason we, those of us without that mark, have higher status. But I'll be damned if I know why I lucked out or what I'm supposed to do with it. And didn't they say we were supposed to like . . . adopt a sub? What does that even mean?"

Umeda had absorbed bits and pieces of his orientation talk, but most of it made no sense. He grinned at Jim, sipping from his glass, "Isn't your schtick saving people? Being a hero? I bet if you go out and patrol the streets you'll find plenty of people for me to doctor on. Everyone around here seems to enjoy indulging too damn much." That last was said with a scowl. He'd seen so many people doing god only knew what, most of them making terrible choices . . .