[He appreciates the deadpan--its better than complete refusal to accept the circumstances or accusations of lying. Those reactions were typical, and the reason he usually avoided New Feathers for a while. The paltry joke earns a laugh, because he is that desperate for a diversion.

Suffice to say, he's enjoying the conversation.]

We might find a Cro-Magnon here one day...but no, we don't have any yet! [He grins.] So you're also a space traveler...attached to some kind of military, right? What sorts of enemies do you usually face?