In the end Stata was able to bully us into giving Vulcan another chance to help, given that the alternative was death. Our populations don't grow much, in an attempt to keep the magic concentrated (a theory I am dubious about at best), so we always prioritize solutions that don't kill.

Which is why Stata, Remus, and I are walking down the corridor to see Vulcan. This is a second visit for him today, must be exciting after being held in solitary confinement.

I am not an interrogator. I have no experience with prisoners or tricking people into giving confessions. But I was unanimously asked to come along to validate any information Vulcan might divulge and determine if the assistance he is offering is enough to save his life.

We get to the airlock serving as his cell, and I quietly settle on the floor with my back resting under the window of the airlock door. We don't want Vulcan to see me, and this is the only place in the hall where I am invisible to him. It also gives me the excuse I need to set up my computer in my lap so I can both take notes and verify his claims.

To be honest, I'm not optimistic. Based on what I've heard, he is a fanatic. To be a spy for thousands of years makes that almost a prerequisite.

Once I'm settled and my computer is ready to go, I nod to Remus and Stata that they can start. I wish I could see Vulcan, but if I could see him, then he could see me. Remus has taken position behind Stata with his hands in his pocket. His face is schooled into his neutral 'we are just talking' smile. Even his eyes seem soft.

Stata, on the other hand, looks every bit of the warrior queen that she is. If I were actually facing her, I would be terrified and willing to spill all of my secrets. She looks like she could snap and hurt you at any moment. Like she is not above torture to get what she wants. She might be into torture. I don't know her that well; but I do know Remus, and he will happily torture anyone if he thinks it will get him what he needs.

Stata presses the button that allows them to communicate. I hear broken panting and muttering. Vulcan has obviously lost any semblance of sanity since he's been here.

"We need all of your research notes. Where can we find them."

More broken nonsensical muttering, but Stata seems determined to wait him out. Then, "what makes you think I'll tell you?"

"You have the option to tell me, or I will have Remus come in there and take it by force."

"You wouldn't dare!" He sounds both affronted and horrified by what she's implied. If what she said about true dragon hoards is correct, then I imagine this would seem like a huge betrayal of their kind. "You told them the truth of our hoards! You monster! You…you…Trator!"

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She sighs, as if dealing with him is more nuisance than he is worth. "Tell me now, or I will have Remus do what he musts."

He just keeps muttering "you wouldn't dare" over and over again. Her body language, of course, says that not only would she dare but she is rapidly reaching the end of her patience.

"You have until I reach zero. After that, I'm sending Remus in and walking away."

"No! Please!"

"Ten… nine…" She counts down. The whole time he begs not to make her do this. When she gets to one and remus pulls knife out of his belt and lets his smile turn feral, he finally relents.

"I'll tell you! I'll tell you! Just stop! I have all my research saved and coded on a dropbox."

"Username, password, and decryption key. If the information you give us is wrong, I'm going to give you and Remus some alone time. Do you understand."

Between the yesses and begging Remus to go, he manages to give the username, password, and, ultimately, the decryption key. There is just one problem: there are three folders for each item. It looks as if taking the wrong path through the drive will nuke it.

I use sign language to convey the problem to them.

"Which folders are the correct ones?" Stata demands.

I can't tell if Vulcan is surprised to get that question so quickly. If he is, he is handling it well. Then again, he could be crazy because in response he starts singing the periodic table.

"Give me an answer!"

He sings the song again. As Stata goes to interrupt him, I hold up my hand to stop her. The three folders are not identical, they are all misspelled with different capitalization. Some have elements in the middle of the folder name, and others narrowly miss having those same elements. Follow the elements down the file structure.

I click on the only folder with a capital H in the center that does not make another element. The drive doesn't crash, so I keep going. When I click on the file representing Vanadium, another password prompt appears. I signal Stata.

"What's the password?"

He stops singing. "Cory," he croaks. Lie. I can smell it a mile away. I shake my head.

"What's the real password?"

He laughs, then spits "Fuck you!" Stata immediately starts laying into him demanding the password again, but he just keeps saying "Fuck you" with ever increasing levels of anger.

Huh. True. I type it in and it works "FuckYou!" is, in fact, the password. I give Stata a thumbs up and she stops talking mid word. Files start downloading to my computer. CAD files, pictures, pdf's. Everything opens, everything works. These are genuine research notes, and each document is in a different language. He is likely counting on us not being able to read them, but I lived with him for a decade half a century ago. I know how his mind works, and I can read his notes.

Finally, I find the file I'm looking for. The modified teleportation ring. I read through the research and it looks sound. It starts from a similar place we were going to, and follows logically from there. Seventeen failed attempts before they get one correct, and then another five before they figure out the key to getting it right every time.

I keep looking through the files, the CAD drawings for the communication devices are in here, and instructions on how to use it.

I give Stata two big thumbs up. We will run some tests, and if they turn out to be true, then we can work with this.