This is like, the third time I've heard of a big evil alien empire, and I'm not even counting the one I get to deal with. And it's not like I've talked to everyone here.

[ Guess sci-fi writers are running out of material.

Lance shrugs, looking back into the fire. ]

Guess humans just can't catch a break.

[ It occurs to him, almost belatedly, that Cayde is a robot, and might not even consider himself a 'human' at all—bashfully, his eyes slide back, uncertain. ]