Just a little bit guilty, Malik. He looks up to Mariko's face, and the guilt only doubles down. He speaks out into the empty air and to Malik at the same time. "She wouldn't forgive me if I got myself hurt. Or she'd look for somebody else to lash out at." He doesn't know the half of it.

"If I die from this, then-" a sinking feeling, like a stone right to the pit of his stomach. He talks slowly, just working this part through in his own mind. "Zee might not know how to work however it is Retrospec brings us back. And. Even if it works." Fuck. Togusa's eyes go wide.

"Retrospec has to reset the sync of the souls. The cyberbrain would be lost," he presses one hand to the side of his head. "..the data would get lost anyway."