VIDEO

[experimentality]

[ Oh look, it's Prism again--still stuck in the body of one of Liege Maximo's Acolytes. He doesn't appear any worse for wear otherwise, and he's currently seated on the berth that occupies one corner of his quarters. ]

Hello!

[ Still as perky as ever, if his bright tone is any indication. ]

How are you all? Well, I hope. Personally I'm rather bored. Incarceration is a dull affair, although I fail to see how this qualifies as any sort of punishment.

That said, I have a simple proposition.

Either Hal Nine-Thousand is brought to me immediately, or I will begin systematically detonating the devices currently implanted within several members of the population.

Comments

[video; encrypted]

[sword_redemption]

....<sub>too late?

Perceptor. I was dying when I came here. Maybe I shouldn't have lived at all. Maybe I lived....just to do this.</sub>

[video; encrypted]

[percept]

You absolutely cannot go through with this! It's completely unnecessary.

[ Kind of. Maybe. Really upset. ]

[video; encrypted]

[sword_redemption]

Perceptor. I don't have a choice, really. There's a bomb in me. At any time--any time--he can detonate it.

Why not at least know it's coming?

[Oh, Drift's upset too. He'd come so close to another chance, and he'd lost it, because he'd wanted to be helpful.]

[video; encrypted]

[percept]

There has to be a way to remove it safely!

Drift, you can't do this. I- There are too many people who need you here. What about Vandal?

[video; encrypted]

[sword_redemption]

If there is, I don't know it, Perceptor. All I know is what he's telling us.

[He cycles a vent of air. He's really not used to that. Really. Even on the Lost Light, he has a feeling he wouldn't be missed. ]

[After a long moment.]

You can take better care of Vandal. You have more in common with her anyway.

[He hates that that's true.]

[video; encrypted]

[percept]

Then we look for one. You cannot just leave us like this.

[ Perceptor isn't prone to outbursts of anger or frustration, but he's on the verge now. ]

It isn't a question of usefulness. You're our friend Drift. Giving away your life hurts us all.

[video; encrypted]

[sword_redemption]

Perceptor the whole point is I might not have a choice. Any time, he could set it off. I could be with Vandal. Or you. And then you'd die, too. Needlessly.

[The idea is horrifying.]

What kind of friend would that make me?