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[Hope's voice is clear and clipped.]

If you would like to leave a message, you may do so here. I can't promise to respond. I have many demands on my time, and this sort of thing is far down the list. Still, if you would like to, you may.

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Well... it... t-they...

[Alphys takes a deep breath, one that he can see visibly puffs up her chest before she speaks.]

There's a Null in the city and it's been here for a while but it gained emotions and has its own thoughts and its not connected to the hivemind at all and it wants to help us fight them but I don't want it to get hurt so if it gets hurt will you do something??

A Null in the city is a danger to all of us. You should not believe anything it is telling you. Naturally, I can't promise to do anything if it should be injured - I don't believe it could possibly be helping us.

No, please, listen-- i-it has feelings! It can feel, and it can't transmit off planet, it's never hurt any of us. I, I know you've seen them on the network, I'm sorry, but they're sorry for hurting us! They f-feel bad, they want to help, even so much that they'd kill their own kind!

[Her hands are clasped together tight, tears welling up in her eyes.]

P-Please, please, I'll do anything, they're just trying to survive and I don't know if I can keep them safe on my own...

That's not something I could promise even if I wished to. The Null are not like us - their consciousnesses are stored elsewhere. I do not think I would be able to bring it back.

[She looks... defeated. Pained. Her mind is cycling through everything she has, just trying to find something.]

Could I-- c-could I back them up, or, safeguard their mind, I--

[Alphys' shoulders slump as she looks at the ground.]

Are you mad at me? For... for all this?

I am not the person to ask about that. The Null operate on technology, while we do not really use it at all. My guess would be no, however.

[He sighs.]

I'm not mad. However, I think you have been very foolish. If this Null had any dangerous intentions, we would all be easy targets.

[Alphys sighs; he can likely feel the despair creeping in on her mind, the way her SOUL aches with compassion.]

I know, I-- I was c-careful. But they helped. They got emotions after the last battle and they just wanted to help. They're the reason we even got the, the Door fragments in the first place. They didn't broadcast to the other Null, I, I d-did all the reconfiguring, they agreed to be cut off.

[It's more like a gasp of air than anything else as she just tries to force the words out of her.]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't just let them die. And you deserved to know that not all of them are bad.

They are not bad, exactly. They were our allies once. But they are focused on their own goals above all else - they don't set out to be cruel deliberately, they simply don't care if they are. It's more frightening than a choice to do evil, I believe. There is no possibility of appealing to their emotion or their better nature.

It is difficult to believe that this one is different, but it seems there is little I can do about it now.

[She nods, sort of like how a kid would when they're being scolded for bringing home a cat and hiding it under her bed. As if it was that simple, huh?]

I'm sorry. They're going to help. I know they will. I, I k-know it's hard for you to trust me now, probably, but I promise. I'm doing everything I can to help. It was important you, uhm, you knew. Before it all happened.

Thank you for telling me. I do appreciate that, at least. You did not have to, but you did.

I hope that they do help.

They will.

[Alphys tries to sound as definitive as she can, and in fact, puffs up her chest a little and tries to straighten her back.]

I hope that they will.

[It feels rude to have imposed just like this, and that's about as far as her confidence will take her, so she shrinks back a bit right after.]

D-Do you, uh, need anything, while I'm here, or...

Thank you for asking, but I do not. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish, however.

Right, I... thank you.

[At least he doesn't hate her, probably. Maybe. He isn't forcing her out.]

I won't make you take c-care of me, but uhm... good luck. Getting ready.

Good luck to you as well, Alphys.

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