Allen considers the machine, looks at Sonic, strokes his sparse patch of goatee thoughtfully, looks at Sonic again.

"If it's that important to you," and he can tell by the hedgehog's body language and extrapolations he can make of his own projected feelings if somebody ever turned any of his creations to less than savory uses, it is. And even though all this tech-talk sounds like a whole lot of silliness - hey, this is why you don't voice every thought you have - he nods. "I'm going to have to put it on the list behind Paco's cyber-arm and this whole business with the Seer, but as soon as those matters are resolved this will take priority."

He thinks for a moment more before adding, "Sorry about your old man." Well, "man" being a loose term here.

"If you can get me the original schematics and reports on its intended use, that will make my team's work go along that much smoother."