Khan stood near the door, clearly waiting for her but also appearing to be as patient as stone as he did. As they neared the three minute mark, the patterns of lights on the console began switching around with no direct influence. The binary code appeared again, and small sections were highlighted in turn. The platform behind them began to hum as well, and system messages started scrolling quickly.

"There's no one to hear us, but it will be best to avoid unnecessary conversation. You'll have a motion-sensitive light source in my quarters but everything else will be shut off. You'll be there alone for a few hours. When the door opens I assure you that it will be me and no one else."

When she seemed finished suiting up as well as she was able, he turned sideways and offered her his hand, palm down, oriented so that she would have the best freedom of movement after giving him her more shielded wrist.