sciencelizard | « [IC Inbox- Hadriel]

I see.

[Sorrow is stern and frightening at times, but he's far from irrational. He doubts that Alphys is playing traitor, but it's difficult to know just how far her former ally's influence went. Does she hate them? Does she think of them as parasites? Does she want her companions free from the gods' influence bad enough to make a dangerous bargain?]

What were you researching together?

[She doesn't really want to show him this. It's less against Sorrow, less against the Gods in total, but much more about confrontation and expectations of her. People have built her up into something in this place, and it's terrifying. She's almost afraid she's going to disappoint him, as if that even means anything.

Still, she approaches, and pulls the folder from under her arm, flipping it open.]

All of our studies were, uhm, on the Door. How it worked, where it was, how it uhm, p-pulled things. Marian did the quantum physics part and I focused on the magical signature, it's pathways through space. She also... she has this machine, that let her time travel, just a bit, but it's quantum reader caught data whenever the city would, uhm, move? Or there was a big magical surge.

[The folder itself contains neat spreadsheets, obviously something compiled for this meeting, along with some original notes and copies of work from Hermann's supercomputer.]

The only times I was able to get that, uh, s-separate though is when somebody changed our location, like Tranquility.

[She looks up at him, tension still evident with her body.]

It's not... c-complete. We don't even know if it's correct. But I guess you would...?

I see.

[He takes a step toward her, eyeing the data from his upside-down perspective. What she's saying makes sense, and he can understand the need to want to understand it, but the inherent danger to their research is immediately notable, and displeases him.

Sorrow presses his lips together in a tight line, his brow furrowing.]

If you made sense of how the Door worked using science and machines, then the Null could use your data to fulfill their promise of reverse-engineering it.

[His voice is calm, but there's an inherent threat to his tone- this isn't a good thing for either of them.]

If this information got to them, it could expedite their plans. Save them time and energy.

[She's trying not to shake as he obviously looks displeased, as she knows the repercussions are coming, shrinking away with just a quick step back.]

I, I mean, I don't-- a lot of that is what Marian was studying, I just-- I was using m-magical signatures, but I mean, I guess there are machines that make sense of that, or computers that help with data, I, I don't know--

[She knows she didn't share this. The dataset was incomplete anyway, research left untouched since the other woman's disappearance. But obviously, the Null have network access. Can they access all technology?]

Most of it's stored in, uhm, Hermann's supercomputer. You all brought it here last fall when the items from home came in, and Hope m-made it an adapter so we could put it on the city's power grid. Is there... d-do you think they could get to it? Could we stop them somehow?

[Sorrow nods, contemplating the predicament that they have here.]

I think they could.

[It's realistic. What little the gods know about technology is in thanks to the Null, modeled after them, utilizing their own technological advances. It's easy to think that they could access a computer, especially if they were in a place where they could physically be near it.

He doesn't see a better way out of this. So he says, rather delicately:]

It should be destroyed.

No!

[It comes out very forceful, not what she intended, and she shrinks back as soon aa she says it. That computer has the last vestiges of friends she swore not to forget. Marian's notes are all she has- and before that, Newt and Hermann. Sometimes she turns on their logs while she works, just to feel like she isn't so alone.

She chews on her lip, trying to think.]

I can-- I can take all the data off. I could build it it's own generator if I could g-get a few materials. I'll keep it all on hard copy, I promise.

[She doesn't want to lose them again.]

[His brows furrow at that, definitely unhappy at her reaction though part of him can feel the slight surge in power from the desperation and how upset she is. It would be prudent, he thinks, to do it anyway- it's not like Alphys could stop him and it would be sure to cause her suffering.

But... Hope has always preached about cooperation and forming stable relationships with their new hosts. If Sorrow pushed ahead, it would get out, damage Hope's attempts further, cause more chaos than it would solve.

He weighs his options carefully, his expression pinched.]

...this information is dangerous. You would be held responsible for it.

[If it's possible, that's an even scarier thought. The last time she was given responsibility-- well, she messed that up, didn't she? Horribly so. But... second chances. She's been told she deserves them, and this is-- it's a chance, isn't it? Not a win, not a good deed plopped in her lap. Just a chance.

She has to take it, if she believes in anything at all. ]

I won't let them have it. I-- I want to help.

[She doesn't know how to make them understand this other than this moment, and Rosie trusts them, so she keeps talking.]

I'm... I'm not alive anymore, back home. This city is all I have. I can't... go home. I don't want them to destroy it. I don't have a choice.

[It hurts, but she has to press forward. She has to try.]

I can build a generator. I just need a f-few parts. If... if you help me, I can help you.

[Sorrow weighs it over carefully. It's possible to just destroy her belongings, but where would that leave him? Besides, this creature is pathetic enough that he would almost feel guilt himself if he'd simply ignore her pleas and get at what he wants. The safety of his people is paramount, before anything else but you need to trust us, they had said.

No alliance has ever come from one side trampling the other. He can't protect his people without these creatures, he knows that.

So, he relents- it's not like he has much choice in the matter if he wants to keep some form of good graces, but he relents all the same, with a small nod.]

I understand. Give me the itemized list later and we can come to an agreement.

[She nods, actions still small, but purposeful.]

Okay.

[She doesn't know what to say. She's done everything she can, and he seems to be agreeable. It's best not to push it further.]

I'll take care of it. All of it.

... Thank you for b-believing in me.

Mm.

[He's not particularly amused, but nods once all the same.]

Don't ruin it.

[Alphys nods back, more fervently this time.]

I won't.