"But it acts like one," Alastair sniffed, refusing to impart any dignity to the Porter by referring to it by a gender. It didn't deserve the pretense of humanity all over it. "Popping in whenever it feels like it, and then totally ignoring our pleas when we ask to go home or be left alone. Taking people at random, and then sending new ones in - ones we don't want to see. Swapping our powers...making us defenseless when we could really use those powers..."

He began to pace a little, treading just inside Saitou's room without going too far. "And we just sit and whine about it, and let it happen. We say we can't do anything except hope and pray - just like you would to some god on his throne in heaven. The kind that never hears our prayers, the kind that lets tragedy happen and never cuts us a break. I'm done giving it that kind of reverence and authority over my life. I'm not gonna let it toy with the people I care about!"

It took a minute for him to realize he was ranting and raving while he paced. Alastair stopped and ruffled a hand in his hair. "Sorry, what? Did you say something about Peru? Sorry, Kyosuke. I've just been thinking about this all day. Looking at the network and seeing if anybody tried anything against the Porter before. You're right, there was the chick who got her mind fried, and the Iron Man-lookalike got blown up. Which makes me think that trying to hack the Porter is going about it the wrong way..."