"No, if we were I wouldn't still be here," she said with a wry smile. As arrogant as it sounded, it really was the truth. There was a kind of frustration attached to the comment as well. Weren't things supposed to get easier after accepting the merger between herself and the Phoenix? Things never actually got easier though, did they? She sighed and gave a little shrug.

"I may not look like it, but I'm pretty good at protecting myself. I just want to get a real idea of what I'm dealing with."