The group drifted away from the darkness, encasing them in light. It was not something he had begun to dread, but they only had so much control on their environment. Images of Karmen's face flashed through his mind, but it was Jemma's sharp demand that garnered his attention back to the situation at hand. The elevator remained still, none daring to press the button to take them to a floor just yet. Frowning, Joel's intent to speak was eclipsed by Jemma's attention waxing upon the security officer.<br/><br/>Mikhali turned his shoulders and took a step closer to Jemma. Pam announcing her near demise brought pause to the officer and ensued a rebuttal from the doctor.<br/><br/>Jemma's quick turn back to the pilot had Joel returning an angered look of his own, though conflicted it was. However, Mikhali stepped in and shoved Joel at the shoulder, forcing the smaller man towards the rear of the elevator.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry, I don't take orders from the pilots, doc. He's not<i>my</i>boyfriend." The large man glared right back at Jemma, his own voice growing frustrated with the arising conflict. "I shot her because of what happened in the medical bay. I had to shoot all those people as well to save your delicate little self. I didn't hear you complaining back then. This situation has escalated and either<i>we</i>die, or those controlled by that thing do. That's why I gave you weapons. If I befall that same spell again, put me down."<br/><br/>For a few moments, Joel lingered wordlessly and listened to the others bicker. It had been an impulse to defend them all.<i>It's in your blood. You're violent creatures. </i>A voice rang that he wasn't sure was entirely his, but it spoke true. Eyes glazed over and then he stared at the floor, rethinking the situation.<br/><br/>The elevator remained still.<br/><br/>He then moved forward and pried himself in between Mikhali and Jemma, "Hold on, you two. I... I don't know what to say, but... we can't be bickering." He was oddly calm and pensive on his wording. "Jem," he turned towards her, "I'm sorry. I know you're more accustomed to healing wounds than inflicting them, but I was scared. Don't you remember Malko? That thing changed him. It made him stronger and insane. Why do you think I didn't pull the trigger myself?"<br/><br/>Mikhali crossed his arms over his own burly chest and smirked, "See, your boyfriend's too much of a pansy to get his hands dirty."<br/><br/>Grimacing, Joel swiveled his head towards the giant man, "You're trained in this kind of thing... you killed all those people in the med bay without an ounce of regret. You're an animal, MIkhali."<br/><br/>That triggered another violent response from Mikhali that had the man reaching for Joel's shirt and driving the pilot into the wall with a rapid tug and turn around. "I don't have an ounce of<i>regret? </i>How would you know that? You ever kill a man, Benes? Huh? It's never an enjoyable experience. Their faces haunt your dreams forever and you hear their screams when you close your eyes. That thing we heard back there? Remember? Yeah, that shit's still playing on repeat in my head right now." Mikhali released the pilot that had been fruitlessly prying at the man's arms.<br/><br/>Pressed against the wall, Joel shook his head.<i>Choose your words more carefully in the wake of a man as mercurial as he.</i>"I didn't mean it that way. I mean... you didn't hesitate. You shot without blinking. I understand why. You're trained in doing so and humans -- which are also animals---" Joel glanced to Jemma during a short pause. She was the brainiac here and if anyone could say otherwise, she'd be the one. "You reacted to defend yourself and us." To both, he then said, "This is about survival, now.... I'm sacred to think of the state of the rest of the crew. Do you think this is what happened to the original crew?" Eyes bounced back and forth amongst the group members. "None of us has been brave enough to push a button to get us moving. What could be behind those doors when they open?"