"Ryuuko?" Taya looks to the familiar face with the biggest smile and slight tears in her eyes "Is that really you?"
Ryuuko smiled back at Taya, although it was dwarfed by the smile on her friend’s face. “Hi, Taya. It’s me.” She reached over and batted the top of Taya’s head. “Don’t cry, dumby. Save that for what I brought you.”
Gentaro defers to Unity. “By Gate Switch, you mean a…” She launches in an extremely complex scientific term for the whole process. Her jargon leaves Gentaro, Ki and Carter shaking their heads, while Parse just tells them to nod and agree.
“I’d like to help you remake it, if you’ll have me, Kaede.” Unity says, after a moment.
Taya smiles. “We will try to get Kaede to you so she can help you Yuki, but it might be a bit before we get there.”
Ryuuko side glances at Unity. “I wouldn’t ask her that. She doesn’t like people touching her stuff. Especially if she doesn’t know you. She didn’t want me touching it when I first showed up.”
Kaede’s lips twitched. “I appreciate the offer, but I do prefer to work on my own with calibrating the switches.”
On the screen, Karen got a thoughtful look on her face. “I could use a little extra help though, if you wouldn’t mind working with me.” She smiled at Unity. “Anyone who understands what these blueprints mean would be a welcome assistant.”
Juri rested a hand on Ryuuko’s shoulder is quiet support.
“I can assemble the Switches without touching your tools or the machines.” Unity says, creating a mechanical golem that looks like Karen’s assistant in mid-air.
“That’s not what she means, and you know it, Devra.” Gentaro shakes his head. Even here, this world’s version of Kengo doesn’t like it when other people work on her parent’s research.
“Yeah…Just thought I’d offer.” She’s a bit dejected, but doesn’t want to bring down the mood. “Hold on…” She reaches out a hand, tweaking the signals, and preventing any outside source from picking it up. She then explains that’s what she did.
“So what’s our next step?” Carter asks.
Chase looks back to where the screen is and sees the golem and is impressed but doesn't show it.
“I think getting the gate switch working should be our next priority. It would give us an advantage over the foundation if we did.” Ryuuko told the group.
“I agree. If Kaede, Yuki and Karen can get the switch working we can keep some of the rescued people safe from harm.” Taya said looking to Kaede. “Right Kaede.”