"Isaac, what is this about?" Norfolk asked as they walked down to the workshop.
"Well… considering that Temperance walked right in under our noses, and she put you to sleep upon arrival… we need to consider strengthening the security that guards your mainframes. You may have a body and cubes of your own, but you're still quite the unique Kansen. You're still connected to your mainframe and that is what encapsulates your consciousness… did I get that right, Zero?" Isaac asked.
"That would be correct. You continue to surprise me with how flexible your way of interpreting foreign data is. It makes me wish that we could have worked together from the beginning… before I had to lose my body to live." Zero spoke flatly.
"Temperance was here?! On my bridge?!" Norfolk cried as she grabbed Isaac and checked him from head to toe.
"Norfolk… I'm fine. This is why we're talking about it. I couldn't say before because I couldn't be sure that she was trustworthy. Considering that she didn't eviscerate me on her second visit, and she hasn't murdered Nimitz, whom she claims to have visited in the Mediterranean, I am inclined to believe her when she states that she has a vested interest in seeing me win this war." Isaac explained.
"You…believe her? She is an Arbiter class Siren! Isaac!" Norfolk cried as she shook Isaac's arm.
"Norfolk. Relax, please. This is the first time I got to get a good look at her. She didn't even let me see her last time. I still have a few reservations, but she came bearing gifts." Isaac said.
"Gifts? What could she possibly have for you to even think that believing her is a good idea?!" Norfolk spat angrily as she took a seat on the workshop table in front of Isaac.
"The location of Marshal Zhukov and the implied assurance of his safety in Magadan. Also the part about not killing me when I would be completely defenseless against her." Isaac said.
"And the idea to strengthen my mainframe?" Norfolk accused.
"That was her advice. She said Purifier would do anything to win, including turning you against me. And with how easy it was for her to knock you out, I figure it can't hurt." Isaac said with a shrug.
"You're taking advice from the enemy…" Norfolk spoke softly.
"My immediate concern was you. When I heard her voice I was already thinking of how to get you out of the room. She had you out before she even opened her mouth and I had no idea what had happened." Isaac defended himself.
"So what? Have Zero shore up my defenses? What exactly do we have to do if Purifier is going to try and use me against you?" Norfolk asked as she fiddled with her thumbs.
Zero took control of the conversation.
"I can place several layers of protection on the mainframe. Something I've been toying with since my defection. None of the others know anything about it so it would take quite some time for them to begin knowing how to crack it, would definitely keep Purifier out long enough for you to deal the lethal blow." Zero explained.
"And how would that work?" Isaac asked.
"Well… for you, it is several strings of code that are meant to reroute any attempts of forced entry to a dead zone. Hacking attempts would be rendered null. However, that is all I can do. I can shore up the mainframe. But she is a master manipulator. Even if she can't change how Norfolk operates at a fundamental level, she can always get in Norfolk's head. But if you can help her withstand that kind of pressure, then she should be able to keep Purifier from turning her against you." Zero explained.
"Why are you talking about me like I'm a weak link in this fleet? Am I really that much of a detriment?" Norfolk asked with tears in her eyes.
Isaac rushed to scoop up Norfolk and hold her close.
"No. No. No. Not at all, Norfolk. You yourself are not a weak link by any stretch. It's your mainframe. The materials and circuitry that we used to fuse your mainframe to this hull are not sufficient enough to withstand forced interaction with Siren elites and the Arbiters. If anything, this is my fault. I didn't use the best resources available during the construction of the vessel. I'm sorry." Isaac said as he stroked Norfolk's hair.
Norfolk sniffled softly against his shoulder as he looked at Zero.
"How long will the adjustments take?" Isaac asked.
"I can have the mainframe guarded by the time we reach the Bering sea. It will take time to transfer my research into something malleable enough to work with your rudimentary implication of Norfolk's mainframe. Blame your basic construction technique." Zero said with a smirk.
"Well at the time, I had no allies on the other side, Zero. I was doing what I could with what I had." Isaac shot back.
"Can you two stop… I'm not some object to be argued over." Norfolk spoke softly.
Isaac and Zero looked at each other and then at Norfolk.
"You're right. I'm sorry. We really should be consulting you on this, considering that this has major implications for you." Isaac said as he looked at Norfolk.
"Make sure Norfolk is let in on everything you are doing. I don't want her left out of the process. You hear me?" Isaac asked.
"I understand, Isaac. Norfolk, I apologize for objectifying you." Zero said shortly.
Isaac looked back at Norfolk.
"You'll be okay. No weak link in you, no ma'am." Isaac said with a soft smile.
"You won't let her have me… will you?" Norfolk asked.
"Absolutely not. I will not let her past me, you hear me?" Isaac reassured her.
"Please don't let her get control… I don't want to hurt you… any of you. You're my family. My friends… please don't let her…" Norfolk cried softly.
"She dies, or we all do. If she thinks for even a moment that she can get her dirty hands on you, she's got a world of hurt coming her way. So don't you worry, okay?" Isaac assured her.
Norfolk nodded before resting her head on his shoulder.
"I trust you, Isaac. I trust you with my life." Norfolk whispered as she continued to hug Isaac's chest.
"Go ahead and get that mainframe security upgrade ready. I'll be taking Norfolk back with me to oversee the invasion. I look forward to any progress reports you generate." Isaac said.
"I will let you both know what I am doing at every step of the process. Good luck on the grunt work, Isaac." Zero spoke.
"Thank you." Isaac said as he took Norfolk back to the bridge.