Holding your breath, you hide in a dark corner and let the last threshecutioner guard walk past you before slinking towards the door Aradia marked on your map. The corridor is eerily quiet aside from your footsteps.

As you open the door, an annoyed, raucous voice raises from the bed. "I said I didn't want anyone to come in-" Sollux, a tall and gangly nerd, as Aradia had affectionately described him, stops when he sees you, sitting up with evident effort. He looks extremely worn out, thin and lacking energy, but has the attitude of someone who won’t go down without a fight.

You rush forward and put a hand over his mouth, which he immediately tries to counter. “Shh, Aradia sent me!” You whisper. Your words make him stop wiggling around, but he’s still looking at you suspiciously. “I’m part of the human rebellion.” You start. “She says she wants to get you out. It’s a good deal for us as well, because apparently you power the ship, but she’s also been a massive help to us and we owe her one.” Sollux snorts, and promptly devolves into a fit of coughing. “Get me out? That’s not happening.” He replies bitterly. He has a lisp, you note.

“Why not?” You ask. “And what’s the deal with you being the entire generator for the ship?” “The deal.” He starts, glaring at you. “The deal is that my psionic powers make the ship go round and round. And that I should be dead. Most goldbloods die after one trip, but the Condesce kept me alive.” The corner of his mouth raises in a bittersweet smile. “It’s less wasteful that way.”

“We can still get you out-” “No, you fucking can’t, you think they wouldn’t notice?” He interrupts, rubbing his temples. “Well, it’s what Aradia asked in exchange. So you will come with us, one day or another, one way or another.” You reply firmly, planting your fists on your hips. “...Suit yourself.” He finally shrugs, sitting back in bed and picking up his console, implicitly ending the conversation.