[Viktor removes his gaze from Jayce for a moment to look at Mel--there's a sadness in his eyes as he reminds himself that she doesn't know. She doesn't know about the true nature of the Hexcore, or what it did, or the price he paid in his selfish bid to save his own life. Perhaps he's already decided that the anguish of the Katalyth is what he deserves, a penance he must pay.
Instead, he offers simply--]
I'm already doomed. If I can use what time I have to heal this world, I want to try.
[That does not offer Mel a reason for the rest of them, but Viktor can only speak for himself.]
The others have made their own calculations. About what amount of risk they find acceptable.
[ Something's here. She can see it in his expression, in the shift of what seems like pain in his eyes. And she...doesn't understand. Doesn't know where it's coming from, and it bothers her. Viktor has always been a private man, as she is private herself, with their overlap being Jayce. If Jayce is goneβ
No. She can't linger on that. But she hasn't conceptualized until this moment just how little she knows of Viktor's heart beyond what she's gleaned from Jayce and in their minimal interactions in private. ]
If what Patho-Gen has done has extended your life even by months, then those months may very well be in agony. You don't deserve that. No one does.
[ So they've made their own calculations. But considering what Palamedes has told her... ]
And I don't imagine any of you knew the ramifications until now. How high of a cost are you all willing to pay? [ It's not right. It's not fair. ] When all of you have given so much already with the exposure... Is this really acceptable to you?
[There's something unkind to say, here, something about how she has no idea what he does or doesn't deserve. But that might force an explanation on his part, and he's still too cowardly to speak openly about what he's done to anyone but Jayce.
Another failing of his.]
I can only speak for myself.
[And he would say this is acceptable. They're making some progress, it seems, learning more as they go.]
[ And there's the wall, the line where Viktor won't budge. She feels a spike of irritation around it, though she keeps her peace for the time being. It would be unkind to push him here, when the situation is potentially untenable. Viktor isn't the focus; Jayce is. ]
Then what do you suggest is the next step?
[ He would know better what they should do at this juncture. They can argue about cost of the work another time. ]
[ She's about to speak up and say she can go to the library, ask around with what few contacts she has, even reach out to Eleanor to get an opinion from another Golem Augmented. But when Viktor speaks of Patho-Gen, she tenses. What Pom told her flits back into her thoughts. Quietly, but firmly, she murmurs: ]
Only if we must. I don't want them taking him away.
[ To take him where they can't follow and can't help. She can't. She can't abide that. ]
If they were concerned...they would come. If this was something about the Augmenter or a real problem, then they would come to take him, and they haven't.
[ Not yet, anyway. So it's slightly good news, something she can work with. It means Jayce isn't totally lost to them for now. ]
[Patho-Gen was willing to help him, but they all know they can't be trusted. Better the two of them try to solve this first, and go to them only as a last resort. And maybe Mel is on to something, that it's not the Augmenter. If it was, Patho-Gen would already be here, and the two of them wouldn't have a choice in the matter.]
We should see what we're able to uncover, first. About the nature of Golems. Patho-Gen should be a last resort.
It may come to pass that we need their assistance. For now, however...I'd like to see how far we can manage before we determine how much of an emergency it is. I fear that allowing them access to him without us, without our support, we will have no way of knowing what they will or will not do.
[ If it was as simple as doing what they did with Viktor, that would be one thing. But they cannot guarantee it will stop there. That's the factor that's too unknown for her. She folds her arms around herself, considering. ]
...Let me try to get information. Do we know of a doctor on standby? [ A pause. ] Besides Brickston.
[ Not that she doesn't trust him but the memory of Pom's extra appendages is still fresh in her mind. She'd like to avoid drastic measures until they're called for. ]
[He nods, deferential. Viktor wishes he had more to offer, but he lacks both the social clout and necessary connections. He can't even offer a real doctor. Viktor's gaze drops to the floor.]
There is the clinic. [The one organized by some of their number.] They'd have to make a house call.
[ The clinic, right. She'd forgotten about that; she hasn't met anyone there yet. No time like the present, though. With another look at Jayce, she turns back to Viktor. ]
I'll be back, then. Call if anything changes, please, so I can at least give them an understanding of what's going on.
[ Though she doesn't know that anyone will be able to help, if Jayce's condition is unique to him and not towards Golems in general. ]
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no subject
Instead, he offers simply--]
I'm already doomed. If I can use what time I have to heal this world, I want to try.
[That does not offer Mel a reason for the rest of them, but Viktor can only speak for himself.]
The others have made their own calculations. About what amount of risk they find acceptable.
no subject
No. She can't linger on that. But she hasn't conceptualized until this moment just how little she knows of Viktor's heart beyond what she's gleaned from Jayce and in their minimal interactions in private. ]
If what Patho-Gen has done has extended your life even by months, then those months may very well be in agony. You don't deserve that. No one does.
[ So they've made their own calculations. But considering what Palamedes has told her... ]
And I don't imagine any of you knew the ramifications until now. How high of a cost are you all willing to pay? [ It's not right. It's not fair. ] When all of you have given so much already with the exposure... Is this really acceptable to you?
no subject
Another failing of his.]
I can only speak for myself.
[And he would say this is acceptable. They're making some progress, it seems, learning more as they go.]
no subject
Then what do you suggest is the next step?
[ He would know better what they should do at this juncture. They can argue about cost of the work another time. ]
no subject
[She's right that they need to do research. Viktor knows less about all this than he'd like.]
We could...talk to Patho-Gen.
[Though that seems like it should be a last resort.]
no subject
Only if we must. I don't want them taking him away.
[ To take him where they can't follow and can't help. She can't. She can't abide that. ]
If they were concerned...they would come. If this was something about the Augmenter or a real problem, then they would come to take him, and they haven't.
[ Not yet, anyway. So it's slightly good news, something she can work with. It means Jayce isn't totally lost to them for now. ]
no subject
[Patho-Gen was willing to help him, but they all know they can't be trusted. Better the two of them try to solve this first, and go to them only as a last resort. And maybe Mel is on to something, that it's not the Augmenter. If it was, Patho-Gen would already be here, and the two of them wouldn't have a choice in the matter.]
We should see what we're able to uncover, first. About the nature of Golems. Patho-Gen should be a last resort.
no subject
[ If it was as simple as doing what they did with Viktor, that would be one thing. But they cannot guarantee it will stop there. That's the factor that's too unknown for her. She folds her arms around herself, considering. ]
...Let me try to get information. Do we know of a doctor on standby? [ A pause. ] Besides Brickston.
[ Not that she doesn't trust him but the memory of Pom's extra appendages is still fresh in her mind. She'd like to avoid drastic measures until they're called for. ]
no subject
There is the clinic. [The one organized by some of their number.] They'd have to make a house call.
[Still better than Patho-Gen.]
I can wait with him.
wrap up here?
I'll be back, then. Call if anything changes, please, so I can at least give them an understanding of what's going on.
[ Though she doesn't know that anyone will be able to help, if Jayce's condition is unique to him and not towards Golems in general. ]