"Well, I was thinking it was high time I started introducing my old friends to one of my new friends," Sylvando said. "I think I've mentioned Mal to you a time or two, si? She's a bit of a prickly little thing, so she doesn't make friends easily, and even though she'd never say so, I can tell she's a teensy bit worried that she might end up being left out now that I've found you and Hendrick again."

"So what better way to fix that than to make her part of the gang, eh? I just know she'll get along fabulously with Erik." Whether they got along like Erik and Eleven or Erik and Veronica remained to be seen, but either one would be good for the both of them.