[It's the first time Robert has heard Fujiko sound so... well... lost.

Not that he quite hears that tone. But he can actually surmise how she feels, because... well, he's honestly worried about Raphael too.

He takes the time to answer her question, as well.]

Ah, Ms. Mine...

... I have only witnessed a single draft, but at that time, people were taken in... droves. [Hear the shudder in his voice?] There were two main waves - the first, which was announced formally and with whatever equates to officially with that sort of barbaric thing, and the second, which included those who were deemed... "incompatible", in some manner.

...

[Softly:] ... F-Forgive me if this is a little impertinent of me, but... how are you... faring, what with the recent events?

[He means the AU experiment and Raphael's 'napping, of course.]

[Fujiko is the latest in a long line of people who say "I'm fine" to Robert when they clearly aren't fine. How many people is it now? Let's see - Ami, Helios, Giles and now Fujiko.

It's why Robert hesitates and then mumbles awkwardly:]

Ms. M-Mine, I assure you... if you need to speak to somebody, you... you can do so. I do not mind. After all, you listened quite willingly to my troubles... the only ethical thing I could do is offer you the same, and... I am worried as well...

[Robert doesn't think the droids would be particularly easy to lure out, but he can't really comment because he hasn't actually seen them in action beyond brief flashes in the journals.]

Most assuredly they are torturing him. Ms. Mine, I have had several friends of mine taken by the Malnosso for their barbaric experimentation, and it is never done according to any sort of protocol or with any sanity whatsoever.

It is absolutely abominable.

[The anger in Robert's voice seethes quietly; it's a cold rage, but Robert is too pragmatic and too pacifistic to try to use it.]

Are you intending to attempt to retrieve him? I... do not know how possible it is. In fact, I do not even know if one can encourage the Malnossian droids to show up of one's own accord - they only seem to be dispatched when the Malnosso want them to be.

... The worst-case scenario would be if they took you as well, Ms. Mine... [And that possibility worries Robert. He doesn't want them to be hurt twice as badly.]

A-At any rate. The rest of the Hamatos and myself, as well as any other friends of Raphael's, will certainly do our best to do something for him. I only regret that we cannot do more, but the Malnosso are unwilling to compromise or do any sort of rational action...