[ Ah yes, that distinct Zionese pride, product of a siege mentality. In another, pettier circumstance this would be an opportunity for Bella to feel alienated; boo-hoo, she doesn't feel at home. Right now, however, she's quite happy to have some of that upbeat-in-the-face-of-impossible-odds spirit to buoy her own. Combined with the moonshine in her veins, it makes Bella feel almost normal. Almost. ]

It's only by chance that you can defeat which you don't understand, [ she avers ] -we could stand to know more about it. More about them. [ This use of 'them' has taken on a slightly different tone, not referring simply to Machines-in-general, but rather to these-particular-machines. The ones emblazoned with that grim appellation: REAPER. ]

A biologist keeps her samples on slides- [ Bella murmurs, perhaps not the most accessible example since biology is a rather impoverished discipline at this point in history, but still... ] -a programmer keeps them on discs. So please- be careful with that thing's electromagnet. [ The Faraday cage of the box should preserve them, but Bella's protectiveness is not content relying on the laws of physics. ]

…what is it? [ comes in a whisper as the shadow filters by. ]