✫ 003 [video; forward-dated to 11/30 and encrypted against the Null as well as she can]

[sciencelizard]

[The screen pixelates when the transmission starts, and continues to be distorted for another few seconds before Alphys appears in a burst of static. It's a hackneyed attempt at getting the Null out from this post, but not foolproof. When the feed starts, it's obvious she's in the lab, but it's an absolute wreck; there are hastily patched holes in the walls with rocks and rubble, and it's obvious the Null have been through already in the days previous. The camera is set on her worktable, broadcasting from about her waist up, and in front of her is a number of papers, debris, and recognizably one of the Null's central processors, removed from a discarded body.

She looks scared. Horribly so. But she can't keep hiding when the sky's falling down.]

Okay, so, uh-- hey, uhm, I'm Alphys, Dr. Alphys, and I do... robot things, sometimes, so--

[She fidgets with her hands, looks around on the table for something, and grabs the processor, showing it to the camera.]

I managed to remove this from, uhm, one of the Null, and I think I might've made some k-kill codes for them? They'll only work once and, uh, the network will probably adapt, but these should freeze their processors for a little bit, or at least some in, uh, a range-- hook it up to something that broadcasts and it should disable them for a minute or two. They've only got one use though so uh, sorry if someone already gets them.

[She grabs the device, clicking in a few buttons and a file is attached, containing five or six long executable files.]

I think I can work their weapons to another power source, too, so... if you have a-anything, I can try to make it fire, but I can't leave the lab.

[Just as she says that, there's a loud bang outside, and she winces, ducking down behind the desk as the device falls on it's side, displaying only her eyes, head spines, and the tips of her fingers holding the counter.]

And uh if no one's doing anything it would be great if someone could uh, clear them out? For a bit? They haven't found me in here yet, but uhm, it's been... not great!

[There's another noise, and she squeaks a bit, grabbing the device and ducking behind the counter. She tries to smile at the feed, but she still looks very, very nervous.]

Thanks! Uh. G-Good luck!

Comments

[Audio][Private]

[whistlewhilstyouwork]

I don't have any weapons and I'm not a fighter, but I'm a hacker by profession. And I'm pretty good at uh, fiddling around with machinery. Building, fixing, adapting...I do all that sort of stuff. So if you could use a hand, I volunteer.

I've also got my own tools, and a collection of stuff that might be handy.

[Audio][Private]

[sciencelizard]

That-- that would be b-better, actually-- can you get here? Or maybe uh, it'd be safer if you didn't. The lab's been doing pretty well, but its... yeah.

[It's been a lot.]

Are they l-looking for you?

text;

[radiopalkiller]

What kind of stuff would you need to build one of their stun guns?

[ Stun arms, technically, but close enough. ]

text;

[sciencelizard]

idk if i could build one exactly
but
by default theyre programmed to work w the nulls power source
like inside their bodies
i bet i could rig that to run external
so if u can bring me one or a body i can fix it

[voice]

[hot_mes]

You have...

[well that's nice but he's here because this is just giving him another idea]

They're laying bombs around some of the buildings - at least that's what I think they are. I destroyed one and it exploded. If I could get another one to you, would you be able to take a look at it?

[voice]

[sciencelizard]

T-They have bombs??

[Oh hoooly shit. Maybe it's better she hasn't been outside. Bringing one here is risky, so risky, but--

She has to believe in Hope. That if she goes down, it won't be the end.

Alphys still looks scared. But she nods.]

I think so. I can d-do my best. Are they just supposed to do damage??

[video]

[whip_poor_will]

I do not fight, but I can hold vigil for you. They won't even see me.

[That might not be entirely true, bit Ravine isn't going to just say that. That's a spoiler!]

[video]

[sciencelizard]

They can't-- wait, is that all the time??

[She remembers the dream, when Ravine was the only one who could see her. Is that how it works?]

Won't they target you? For, h-helping me?

[Voice]

[thechoiceisyours]

[All of this sounds pretty amazing, and Chris--who's just been kind of wandering around, trying to be helpful where he can--suddenly has a way better idea of how to be useful.]

Hey, Alphys, I'm on my way; I'll see if I can clear out some of the Null. Any chance I might be able to um, help out with any of the rest of your projects too?

[He's not sure, but might as well offer.]

[Voice]

[sciencelizard]

Yeah, I-- yeah! Please be careful, I think there's a b-bunch outside.

[There's a shuffling as she tries to see around her desk, figure out if any have gotten in.]

You-- you code, right? Have you ever done, uhm, robots, or-- I'm sure you'll get it.

[So that's an absolute yes.]

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Yeah, I can come help chase them away from the Lab. I'm just a few minutes from there.

[ Chase them away meaning KILL THEM. But he's found the shotgun and rifle both work very well for stunning the Null long enough to pry out a processor or cut off an arm -- or, with a direct hit, to smash the CPU right there and be done with it. But he's saved what he thinks Alphys might be able to use. ]

[ Feral grin. ] And I'm bringing you a whole bunch of. . . ah. . . artifacts to work with. [ He has a whole collection of Null arms in a sack, which he holds up. There's be a few processors in it, too. ]

video

[sciencelizard]

[Holy shit, Curufin. Sure, he was talking about explosives last time they spoke, but-- maybe she just wasn't expecting him to be so dangerous. She keeps making ridiculously powerful friends, goodness.]

I, that's-- thank you! Oh m-my gosh. Are you okay, I-- I hope you've rested!!! It's really dangerous out there.

[text|private]

[circumitus]

got one of their short range weapons.
think you can rig it to cut through steel?

[text|private]

[sciencelizard]

i think so
i havent really been able to test their capability
but im p sure i can give it an independent power source

( video )

[jocoeur]

( where ever this transmission seems to be coming from, it's dark. there's a turning of the camera around and as the lighting seems to adjust as best it can, something finally comes into view...

it's one of the crowd-killing weapons. )

Are you talking about one of these? ( says a voice, still unseen. ) Can you really use it?

( video )

[sciencelizard]

[She gets closer to the camera, trying to examine it through the feed.]

I, I don't-- I haven't left the lab in a few days. I was thinking of their, uhm, a-arm things, I-- what is that??

[resistancemedic]

I'm not sure, but I can take a look. I'm pretty good with that sort of thing.

[She wishes something like that would come up back home, not knowing something like it will be used to fool the Resistance later.]

[sciencelizard]

Don't uh, d-don't go out of your way-- I mean, don't put yourself in more danger. It's scary out there right now.

[That's an understatement, absolutely.]

audio;

[ritualized]

[The sound is a little muffled, as she's certainly still in the thick of things.]

I don't understand anything to do with technology, but -

Those "cores," do you need any more of them? I can bring whatever I can find, if you have some use for me or need healing.

audio;

[sciencelizard]

I mean, I-- it wouldn't hurt to have more, I t-think. But don't put yourself in danger for me. There's, uhm, a ton of these.

[Plus, with Hope injured... who knows what might happen if someone dies.]

audio

[completelycrazy]

[Holy crap, Newt is so happy to hear from Alphys?? He's been nervous about contacting her since they realized the Null can access the Network. If the Null figure out their plan, they're screwed.

But also: They're screwed if he can't get into the lab.]

Oh my god, did you manage to filter this from those AI dicks? Nice one, dude. [He would sound more hype if he was less frantic, but he's currently hiding out in an alleyway and trying to avoid the war raging in the streets.

...Wait.]

That filter includes the responses, right?

audio

[sciencelizard]

... Uuuuuhhhhhh.

P-Please hold.

[Time for the frantic sound of top speed typing!! This goes on for about a minute before the connection is interrupted with a burst of static for a second. Alphys can be heard making a muffled apology as she brings the phone back up.]

Uh, it is now! I think. I mean, I don't know if this works, but the disruptor signaling was p-promising, so-- it'll have to do!

[She is doing her fffucking best.]

Where are you??

[audio]

[onlyanautomaton]

Are you injured, Dr. Alphys?

[audio]

[sciencelizard]

No, I'm-- they haven't gotten me yet.

[Which is good, because she doesn't have the HP to take even one of those hits.]

I'm p-pretty good at hiding.

[ Video ]

[doctoral_bird]

[ Another reply blipped on, accompanied by a louder SLAM than before. Malkus sank down against what looked to be the outer doors of the building. He rubbed his shoulder before addressing the phone. ]

I'll need you to leave your lab for a bit, Doctor.

[ He shot his attention off-camera and yelped, ducking as a metallic biped dashed itself against the spot just above the man's head. Truly, he was thankful to see that not much progress was being made on his end. He could understand burning down all sorts of things that gave the parasites their power, but the Lab wasn't something he felt the best about ruining. Between that and dealing with the Null acting standoffish, Malkus was having a tiring day! ]

Living saints, what on earth is your issue! Do you not see me right here! A-Anyway- Alphys! It isn't safe where you are!

[ Video ]

[sciencelizard]

[She lets out a muffled squeak at the noise, immediately clapping a hand over her mouth so they don't hear her inside. The windows have been boarded, the doors locked, and while she has a way out and in, it's much too small for any Null to make it through. But that doesn't mean they couldn't open it.

She watches the feed with confusion, lowering her hand from her mouth enough to talk.]

Are you in trouble?? I can-- I m-might be able to get them away, I can try, just get out of there! Nowhere's really safe, but I, I can try--

[She can probably set up a frequency, use one of her codes, but it's hard to tell if she could take them all out from inside.]

[audio, text]

[synthedick]

Doctor.

[That's supposed to be a greeting of some sort, but it might be hard to tell when he's clearly on the move, the sounds of his running gait on rubble heavy through the audio.]

I've got a few things for you. One of those cutters they carry, a couple of processors. I was—

[He cuts himself off as a sudden noise breaks out, loud enough to be terribly close to him -- one of the Null's crowd-controllers. While the wail is indeed ear-splitting, it doesn't cripple him the way he's seen it do others. Maybe something to do with how his parts process sound, or something else about his mechanical makeup. The audio ends there, but Alphys gets a text a moment later.]

Had to cut the sound. Seems the Null are trying to either clear folks out of this area, or make them deaf.

[In comes an attachment of the device in question, sitting in the library lobby.]

I can bring this too if I can figure out how to turn the damn thing off.

[audio, text]

[sciencelizard]

[She drops her phone as soon as the noise comes through, not having heard it before-- but once she scrambles to get it off the ground and sees the image, she recognizes it. People have been sending her pictures, but she hadn't heard one before now.]

ive seen those
or well i havent seen em in person ppl have sent me pics
idk if you can shut them off once theyre going
but if you dont totally destroy it id like to look
even parts might be helpful

wait it doesnt hurt you????