hadriel | [video] ready for more plot

[Law would like to interrupt your currently scheduled sobfests and chest-unburdening to bring you something somewhat urgent. Maybe seeing Jon and Dany taking initiative inspired him, who knows.]

The Null are coming and the fight is coming, we know that. But anyone who was here for the last round might remember just how desperate it was. The only reason it stopped was because Fear moved the city, not because the Null gave in or we won or anything. I foresee the same thing happening again: that when they come, they won't stop coming until we're all dead or something else intervenes.

[he sighs; he hasn't asked Sorrow directly, yet, so he can't blab about his research into the gods. But he can dance around it pretty damn well, providing as much as he knows without going into his secret research.]

I have a proposal for a way to put a permanent end to the war between the Null and the gods, but I need assistance to pull it off. Technological assistance. I have some expertise, but the mechanics of this idea will require other skill sets which I don't have and can't learn in a few weeks.

The essence of the conflict is emotion; the gods live off it and the Null hate it, and the Null's own unique brand of logic leads them to conclude that the only way to protect themselves from emotion is to destroy the gods. Our chance at getting home dies if they do, but there are simply too many Null for us to fight - we can't win this war that way. Ending the conflict is going to take creativity rather than swords and magic. That's where I come in. The Null will have no reason to destroy the gods or us if they're put into a situation where whether or not they catch the virus becomes moot. Either they need to be rendered permanently safe from emotions, or permanently afflicted with them.

As a doctor, my preference is inoculation. But as much as I understand transmission of viruses and that emotion is likely a biological state, I don't have the means of adapting that to robotic systems. If a vaccine is impossible, then we can go the opposite way and turn it into a weapon. [his eyes harden] I have my own reasons to detest such a path, but if it's that or our deaths, then I'll take unethical means over death.

Contact me if you have the skills to assist with this. I admit it's out of my area of expertise. The sooner we get on this the better, because even with the most skilled fighters preparing for months, it's not going to be enough. If all we have is physical fighting, we're all going to die anyway.

[yep that's why he has the worst bedside manner]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not expecting miracles, Alphys-ya. If you can get Nick-ya and [UGH] Newt on board, even better.

We won't know if this is even a possible solution unless we attempt it. If it works, we may be able to shorten or even prevent all-out war.

[the confidence of a man driven but who also has very realistic and cynical expectations. He knows it's going to be a team effort so it's all good. Shame they've lost so many techies, though]

I'll contact Knock Out-ya as well. He's a mechanical being as well as a physician, he could be a good resource.

[She nods along as he speaks, trying to put it all in perspective. There's... a chance. But how will people really not be mad at her if they waste all their time?]

I'll, uhm... I'll try to talk to them, at least. Maybe somebody has ideas I haven't thought of, or... I don't know.

[The whole thing just scares her.]

I can try. Just uhm... maybe have a, uh, b-backup plan.

I always do.

[it might be just dying but that's still a plan]

[DYING IS NOT A PLAN, LAW,,,,]

Well, uhm... good. I'll-- I'll s-see what I can do, and uh... yeah. You know.

[She pauses for just a second, and then spits out again--]

I'm so sorry about the murderbot that's really not me you're actually okay right?

[dying is always plan Q!

Alphys makes him actually sniff something like a laugh]

Yes, I'm fine. I may not even have any scars, depending on how good a job Knock Out-ya actually did. You really did build that cool robot yourself, huh?

[LAW NO

At least he's... well, she's going to count that as laughing. It's something? She doesn't know if that's better.]

Uh... yes? Yeah I uh, I b-built it. It was mostly off the Null parts and uh, theres, there's just a lot of weapons lying around. People kept giving me guns and stuff?? I didn't think I'd ever use them, which is uh, probably why...

Clearly, no one should underestimate you in a pinch. Were you thinking of building any more like that for us to use if and when the battle starts?

[Finally, she laughs in response, a fluttery sort of nervousness.]

Well, I-- I don't think I have enough, uhm, m-material? To do that. This used up most of what would fit together, I mean, I have some replacements for some bits but not enough to uh, to do a whole other... thing? If that makes sense.

[A small pause.]

Sorry?

Why apologize to me? It's not like you promised me anything. I was merely curious. As long as you've got the one, you can probably fight the Null with it just fine.

[he believes fully that she can do it; whether she will, of course, is up to Alphys]

Well, I... I don't know. I guess I'm just used to saying sorry.

[She always felt like she needed to give something to make herself worth it, but she's revisiting a lot of old habits lately. Maybe that's just another one of those. An old, unneeded habit.]

I'll do my best. N-No matter what happens. Even if I can't use it, uhm, someone will be able to, to uh, keep people safe. And I, I'll look into what you asked. Anything I can do, uh, right?

Yeah, pretty much. Appreciate it.

[he may be an ass but he always gives credit where credit is due, and Alphys deserves all that credit - and gratitude]

[He may think of himself badly, but she thinks he's great.]

Heh, yeah. I'll s-see you.

[And she clicks off.]

[video] ready for more plot

video

video

ideo

ideo

wow self good typing there

how did i also screw that up tbh. was i on autopilot. oops

we both rock

we OUT here

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject