Zechs nodded, but also tensed. His hands clenched upon his knees for a moment, then released. A very brief shadow had passed over his face, some memory, before his expression was calm again.

"I do not want it for the Tallgeese. Or any other weapon. Such is why it is valued on my world, and why it is guarded, but it is not the reason I wish it," he answered, speaking very calmly. Emotionless. Masklike.

He didn't want to lie to Hakuba. So far, he hadn't. And he wanted to keep it that way. Very slowly, he said, "Your program, Doyle, gathers information, does it not? This does much the same, save for the method of communicating the information. This program - the ZERO system - gives the user the information it gathers directly, instantaneously."