redshiftrp | video; @Qubit

[ Note: This goes up probably a day or two before Shepard's public health PSA. ]

[ Hey look guys, Qubit's in good spirits for once! Not great spirits, since he's pretty sure he's coming down with something, but good. Even in the video, he sounds kind of congested. ]

Afternoon, Anchor, Qubit here. Just wanted to give you an update on the spycam situation - and it's good news this time. I've gone through the data with a fine-toothed comb, several times, and found no indication that anything recorded by those cameras has left the station. As far as I can tell, this was the work of a single party. They haven't been passing it along to someone else.

That's the good news. The bad is, we're still not sure who that party is, or what they were trying to accomplish. The actor or actors responsible are still at large, and until we know how they're getting in and out of the station - or indeed whether they've left at all - I'd encourage everyone to - to -

[ He turns away from the camera just in time to sneeze loudly into his elbow. ]

To remain vigilant -

[ Another sneeze, then three more in quick succession. He waits a second to be sure he's done, then sniffs and returns to the camera, blinking a few times. ]

Terribly sorry, where was I. Right - remain vigilant, and look out for one another. We will get to the bottom of this. Over and out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yeeeeah, his impression about the nature of Qubit's powers may not be correct, but Ben has nonetheless read his motives with like 95% accuracy there. His broken powers have slowed him down to an agonizing degree, and on top of that he can't get his signature invention to work, either - but it's not frightening so much as infuriating. The whole situation has been playing hob with all sorts of insecurities that he was supposed to be over by now. He's an adult, for God's sake!

So having a lead - something that might lend him some insight into why his shit doesn't work, or even help him fix it - really invigorates him. Sorry, Ben. ]

No, it definitely needs energy. That just means it's not getting it from you. Something on the other side, perhaps...?

[ He taps his fingers on the table, thinking. He's noticed that he and Ben are using slightly different definitions for the same terms - to Qubit, an "open" portal is extant, and a "closed" portal is not. Creating a portal incurs a huge energy cost, but maintaining one is considerably less expensive. ]

To me, it sounds more like your portal is constantly open, and what you're really controlling is whether it's passable. But that's only speculation. Maybe with a couple of tes-

[ Mid-word, Qubit suddenly breaks into a coughing fit, and it's close to ten full seconds before it subsides. Hey genius, maybe you shouldn't talk so much with a sore throat. ]

[ Ben's uneasiness twists a bit tighter at Qubit's response. There's an air of preoccupation about him right now that is, objectively, only a little rude at worst. But all the same, it's making Ben tense as hell. He crosses his arms over his chest, frowning as Qubit corrects him about his own powers - without seeming to even notice that's what he's doing - and then nitpicks at the wording Ben is using to talk about them. Open, passable, does it really make a difference? When he does bring up his powers, he speaks about the portal as if it were a door, to make it easier for people to understand. It's all just approximations, anyway. The experience of it is a lot harder to put into definite words.

That mild irritation, however, is drowned out by an icy deluge of shock when Qubit brings up the idea of a few tests. He doesn't get through the whole word, but Ben knows what he was saying.

He waits for Qubit to finish coughing; it doesn't sound great, and Ben's pretty sure the guy is kidding himself about it being a mild head cold. There is something still and impassive and walled-off about Ben's face, now. Like he were some kind of statue, more than a person. He doesn't rush, waits until Qubit has his breath again before he answers, simply: ]

No.

[ There's no heat in it, but no apology, either. He doesn't offer explanations or excuses. The one word is eloquent enough on its own as far as he's concerned. There will be no tests.

Since there can be no possible confusion about that, Ben considers the matter settled and says: ]

That cough sounds pretty nasty. They've probably got cough syrup at the med-bay, if you need it.

[ Surprised, Qubit doesn't respond right away. Just... "no"? Just a flat, unconditional no? He probably does need to take something for this cold (if it is a cold), but don't change the subject, Ben.

He can't leave it at that, not yet. He didn't even get a chance to finish! ]

Ben, wait! It'd be nothing [ cough ] - nothing invasive. I understand that it's painful to use, but - what if I could help you fix that? For heaven's sake, don't you want to know how it all works?

[ His voice grows more urgent - not quite pleading, but pleading-adjacent. Doesn't he realize how important he is? Ben might hold the key that could let them all go home...! ]

Edited 2019-11-08 20:09 (UTC)

[ The fact that Qubit thinks Ben is refusing just because his powers are painful to use is a pretty neat demonstration of the fact that Qubit really, really doesn't know him, at all. As if he couldn't put up with a little physical pain. As if the pain he felt ever made a difference to anyone except him, and perhaps Klaus if he was sober enough to notice.

Abstractly, Ben notices that somewhere in the last few moments his heart has started racing. On the outside, he looks much the same. Perhaps a little more still than usual, but no other sign of the way fear and nausea has wormed their way into his guts.

His voice is much quieter as he repeats, just as briefly: ]

No.

[ Ben knows that tone of voice Qubit is using. The exact one. The one that tells him it's worth putting up with just a little more pain, just a little more sadness, just a little more hopelessness, for the good of his family, for the world - for his own good, even if he doesn't see it yet.

How many times had Pogo spoken to him in that voice, summoning him for another training, or series of tests, or mission where he would come back covered head-to-toe in blood? Reginald hadn't used that voice on him, very often. But most of the time, Reginald didn't ask for cooperation. He knew he would get it one way or another.

Worst of all is the fact that he feels so guilty, just for this small thing. He doesn't want to know how it works, and he's fairly positive Qubit couldn't do anything to impact his powers one way or another. But just shutting him down is so much harder than it ought to be.

He ought to explain a little, perhaps. Not much, but enough that Qubit understands this refusal isn't about him at all. But talking out loud is really not appealing right now. Needs must. Ben cuts off the video, switches to text. He'll maybe manage it, if he doesn't have to speak, if he knows Qubit isn't looking at him. ]

Best case scenario I'd have a panic attack and worst case scenario I'd accidentally kill you. I don't want to do that.

[ No. There's no retort, no reason, no justification. Just unconditional refusal. In that brief moment before Ben hangs up, Qubit abruptly notices how still he's gone... and remembers a couple of things Ben told him earlier.

I've got some, like... stuff about cameras and being spied on and whatever. I had a codename back in the day, but it was 'The Horror' ...

This isn't coming out of nowhere, he realizes. What happened to you, Ben?

... And in the same vein, nice job, Qubit, you got too excited about the science and forgot to consider the part where the "subject" is a human person with feelings. Again. It takes him a moment to formulate his reply. ]

All right.

I apologize, Ben. I overstepped there.

[ Ben's relief when Qubit backs off and stops trying to convince him is so intense it's like a physical force. He's glad the camera is off now so Qubit can't see him slumping forward, burying his face in his hands for a few seconds, just breathing and getting his head sorted out.

Who would've thought it would be so hard, such a tiny act of resistance? Harder than psychotic gunmen and ravenous zombies and mutated cow monsters? ]

It's okay.
You didn't know.
And you didn't do anything wrong by asking.
I just can't.

[ A brief pause and then he adds: ]

I'm sorry.

No need to be. You didn't do wrong in saying no, either. That's your right.

[ Informed consent is the ground rule of ethical research. Ben's chosen not to consent, so that's the end of it.

... Not to say Qubit isn't disappointed, but he'll get over it. There's always another way, always. And finding it is what he does. ]

Take care, Ben.

[ There is still so much unresolved here - Ben still doesn't know exactly what Qubit's powers are, whether he'd always had them or not, and a dozen or more other questions. But he's in such a state now that continuing the conversation in any way feels impossible - so he is grateful once again when Qubit reassures him he's not going to bear a grudge over this, and gives him an out to end the conversation.

Another time, perhaps, he will explain his reaction. Another time, he will make it up to Qubit and learn more about him. Right now, he's going to just.... find the book he was halfway through reading and bury himself in it until he forget he is himself for a little while.

But he isn't going to do that without saying goodbye. ]

Thank you.
I hope you feel better soon.

video; @Qubit

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