So, here's a take that got cut out, but I really loved. The book has so much going on that I had to trim quite a bit of fat. This is RyN2 trying to teach Zar the concept of humor. Which somehow, he's lost in the time travel trauma. The scenes with these two are my favorite parts of the novel.

"Humor. That's what I'm doing. The human song, that if done properly, can break through any barrier."

“I don’t see where it has a logical purpose.”

“It doesn’t. That's where you're losing the translation. It’s usually inane or used as defense mechanism to mask inner pain,” RyN2 explained.

“So why are we discussing this?”

“Because it might be the only inherent thing they have that is redeeming.”

Zar crossed his arms, “I must be missing something.”

“It may seem nonsensical, but it’s what makes them unique.”

“We’re wasting valuable time.”

“You can’t evaluate something that you don’t remember or haven't learned."

“Are you working towards a point?”

“Yeah - you’re old, ugly, malfunctioned and your mother dresses you funny.”

Zar contemplated, “So this is what we’re doing?”

“You look like a reject lion tamer from the circus. Wait...are you Siegfried or the other one?

“Okay, I’ll play. You look like a facsimile of a boy who used to be an actual human.”

“See, that’s not funny.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what I am. You have to add conjecture and silliness based on observation.”

“I’m tiring of this.”

“That’s cuz you’re a cranky old cunt.”

Zar processed for a moment, “And you’re a snot nosed geek.”

RyN2 chuckled. “Now you’re getting it. You must have had humor removed at some point during my evolution. Probably wiped because it was deemed unnecessary.”

“Victor embedded this?”

“No. Ryan did.”