Seeing he'd made her uncomfortable, he quickly pasted on a jovial smile, "Eh, but enough of my old scars. I didn't mean to put you off, Rose. Being behind the stick is as close to the Lords of Kobol as any mortal can ever get, so appreciate it."
He reached up and touched the wing of one of the Vipers. It was the kind of gentle, loving touch that a parent might offer to a sleeping child. After a moment his hand slipped reluctantly away. He never took his eyes off the mercurial gray hull of the Mark VII.