"Because bringing up the idea of an otherwise human woman acting as an electrical conduit--or mutants in general, where I'm from--tends to draw awkward questions," she says, shaking her head. "Yeah, I know it doesn't breathe. But without the metal, my mutation is uncontrollable, and I like not electrocuting people. Or melting circuitry I'm unfamiliar with."

She smiles easily, and holds out the hand whose cover isn't partly disassembled. "Ashida Noriko. Most of the time people go with Nori. Good to meet you, Julian Bashir."