[ she isn't wrong, especially given all the shit she's recently learned about her own origins. and ellie not reacting as if it's as weird and scary as it's been for her weirdly makes her feel a little better about it. max actually manages a tiny smile back before it fades again into something more solemn. ]

I don't know yet. There's a message in them, something about how this group is going to try to do something bad. But it doesn't say how I'm supposed to be involved in stopping it.

[ there's another smile then, but it's tense again and clearly a little forced. ]

Guess I'm not gonna find out any time soon.