Recording data is a natural fundamental for a scientist in the field. AL-AN records his findings in his own personal database and Robin has her PDA. In fact, the first thing Robin did when she helped create his new body was scan it and record it into her system PDA. AL-AN had to admit, the sudden action made the architect uncomfortable and exposed, but Robin was quick to retort with a "now you know what it's like."

Fair.

If their roles were switched, he would have done the same.

Speaking of Robin's PDA, it held a fascinating amount of information on her people and her home planet. While most of the information was from the perspective of business—some of it involving a "Xenoworx"—there were also highlights of scientific journals on language and books with various genres. These modules and databanks intrigued the architect greatly but what drew his attention the most was a folder that was locked behind a password.

This confused him.

Ever since he took temporary residence inside Robin's cerebral cortex, he knew most if not all about her. In fact, he still holds a connection to her still; an asset he does not wish to abuse.

(He already got scolded once for being a constant presence in her "head space" when he has his body now.)

She did not have this password then, but she does now. If he had to calculate when she created this lock, he would hypothesize it was shortly after the discovery of the broken portal in Sector Zero. An unfortunate setback in the goal of returning home but not a permanent one. With gathering the right resources and fabricating the correct parts, it would not take long to repair.

The prospect is agitating but hardly enough to occupy his mind, so having the distraction of Robin's secret lock and key is a welcome one. Still, keeping anything secret from AL-AN after everything they have experienced for the last several months left him slightly embittered.

He could hack the password directly from his database, but with Robin always keeping her PDA on her, it would not be an advisable option. Discretion would be the optimal solution in this scenario.

Although, he supposed he could just ask Robin what it was, but that would defeat the purpose of her having a password restricted folder in the first place. It would also reveal his motive for wanting to know about it.

Instead, he decided to look into it during the only time her and her PDA are separated.

"I'm going to take a shower AL-AN." Robin announced from her quarters.

AL-AN looked up from his position by the window as he watched her stride across her room and into the bathroom adjacent. There was a screech of metal followed by a muffled thud as the hull door was closed behind her.

Privacy. AL-AN learned humanity's strict rules and need for compliance the hard way when he entered the bathroom without notice last time. Hence, the newly constructed hull doors that now act as potential barriers for both her quarters and the bathroom.

(Though Robin should have known from the very beginning something like this would happen with the curious alien. Then again, she didn't expect the delay in having to repair the portal to his home either.)

When he heard the sound of the shower turn on, he quietly stood up and entered her room, careful of the low-hanging door in-between. He didn't need to scan the room long before he noticed the familiar blue screen shining on her nightstand. He turned to look at the closed door for a brief moment before he carefully moved closer to her PDA and lifted it with one of his mechanical hands.

He maneuvered the screen with ease until he found the infamous folder. He paused and looked at the hull door again. Robin took enough showers now for him to estimate how long she will be gone with roughly an eighty-percent accuracy. Thirteen minutes was the typical amount, yet there were a couple times her timing was cut in half for reasons he has been unable to discern yet. These variables, unfortunately, cannot be accounted for anymore since he is no longer fully assimilated in her cortex—and it would be ill advised to try and study her in person again after the first incident.

He can only hope it will be the usual thirteen minutes in case something goes awry. He doubts it would, but caution is an advisable skill in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

A few seconds later he was able to access the folder without issue. It contained a couple modules that led to paragraphs of notes and personal loggings. From reading some of the excerpts, he deduced these were just personal notes of Robin's time here on 4546B. In fact, he recognized some of the entries she wrote when he solely occupied her cortex. Why she had decided to create a password lock for this now is a mystery to him.

Then, he noticed a new entry. It was titled: "Color Theory?"

AL-AN is slightly aware of the mentioned theory, mostly from his records giving a brief explanation involving how the phenomenon of colors impact humans' perception, emotion, and interactions with their sense of reality.

He clicked on the module. There were one or two paragraphs discussing colors as to how they pertain to emotions and mental well-being, as AL-AN expected, followed by a small list of colors and with each one labeled:

Purple – Casual

Light Pink – Neutral (aloof maybe?)

Neon Pink – Embarrassment

Blue – Joy!

Peach – Fondness (companionship more like)

Green – Deep in thought (analyzing?)

Orange – Regret (anger too maybe)

Yellow – Worry/Fear

There were some that were still not labeled:

Red –

Lavender –

Chartreuse ? –

Dark Blue –

AL-AN was confused by the entry but he would be lying if he said it did not give him some closure. Personally hiding something when they were so close to going to his home planet made the alien anxious, even though he knew Robin proved she was no threat to him or his people with all that she had done for him.

Yet, he was still curious about the new entry; why hide old entries he knew about and a new one about her perception of color theory? Certainly, there was no need to hide something like this from him?

"What are you doing?"

AL-AN winced as he turned his head to see Robin back in her wet suit with her arms folded and her hair still wet. Her face was contorted in what AL-AN recorded to be a mix of anger and disappointment.

AL-AN glowed a mix of green and neon pink, holding the PDA close to him. "I was reading your PDA." He saw no point in lying—he never saw a point in lying—considering he was caught red-handed. "I was curious about your entries."

Robin didn't say a word as she unfurled one of her arms and held out her hand. AL-AN lowered his head as he relinquished her PDA back to her.

A quick glance to her screen and she let out a long sigh as her face became a noticeable pinker hue. "Really AL-AN? You hacked my password?"

AL-AN tilted his head at the reaction but didn't say a word about it. "I was curious as to what you were hiding."

Robin frowned. "By invading my privacy?"

"By making sure you were not a threat." AL-AN corrected, glowing orange and yellow before ending with neon pink.

Robin blinked, her eyes big and her brows furrowed. "A threat?" Her features softened. "Does this have anything to do with fixing the portal?"

AL-AN lifted his head. "The password was created shortly after. I was worried you were withholding information that could…complicate things."

Robin huffed, her face souring. AL-AN expected her to get mad again and lash out at him like the last time he invaded her privacy, but instead she sighed. "Okay. I admit, the timing was a bit suspicious for me to start keeping my personal records personal," AL-AN looked at her, emitting green, "but that still does not give you the right to go through my things without my permission."

"Permission." AL-AN echoed. Perhaps he should have just asked her after all.

"Only if I give it." She emphasized.

AL-AN nodded, still noting how her facial features exhibited a pink hue. "Why did you write that entry on color theory?" Robin's features became more flushed, her eyes widening. AL-AN tilted his head, "Is it because of the different colors your skin exhibits?"

Robin stammered, putting her hand to her face. "W-what?"

"Your face is giving off a lighter shade of pink, just as your entry dictates. Are you, perhaps, embarrassed?"

Robin opened and closed her mouth as she stared at the alien in disbelief. The look on her face reminded him of a peeper caught in the sea truck's headlights.

Then, she started laughing. AL-AN stared back, his body enveloped in a chartreuse color. When her laughing died down, she finally spoke again.

"Ha, I guess the entry can apply to me too but," She gestured to him, tracing her hand along one of his many lines. "I was wondering what your colors meant."

"My colors?" AL-AN perceived himself and flashed bright pink. She was studying him. "But why?"

Robin smirked. "You don't exactly have facial features for me to read off so…it's kind of hard to figure out what you're thinking."

"Our minds may not be networked as my species once was, but we are still linked." AL-AN countered, his features back to a mix of purple and green.

"I can't read your mind, AL-AN," Robin retorted, giving him a flat look, "you do. Everything is initiated by you. Besides, I would want a more natural connection than just the superficial one we made."

"I suppose that makes sense. Studying my…colors would provide you the benefit to adhere to my species' emotions and behavioral etiquette in a social setting."

Robin playfully rolled her eyes as she stepped closer to AL-AN, PDA close to her chest. "Well then," She sat on the bed and gestured for the spot beside her. AL-AN tilted his head, but instead of sitting beside her, he sat by her on the floor where his head matched closely to hers in height. (She always found how AL-AN sat down to be so adorable, like a tired deerling ready to take nap). "will you help me study your species' 'emotional and behavioral etiquette in a social setting?'"

"Of course." AL-AN's response was immediate as he shined blue.

Robin grinned excitedly. "Awesome. Where should we begin?"