Log 0007

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[In Zero, Scorpius does what he does best: he plans. Giving him space and time to think through what he wants and how to get it is one of the unintended gifts of his cell space, and he appreciates every moment of it.

After several days, he addresses the Barge]

A question to my fellow shipmates;

When an inmate commits a grievous crime, who is to blame for it? Obviously the inmate must share some, but what percentage is attributed to them and what percentage is attributed to their warden, who may be unfit to command them? A warden may fail just as easily by not admitting to something that could be most assuredly out of their control.

And what of inmates who aren't paired and no one has taken the time to explain to them the rules?

My apologies to Alex Summers. While it was certainly my intent to hurt him, he had done nothing to harm me and was simply in the correct place at the correct time.



[Private to Crichton]

Of course, John, we all know that you are the one fully to blame.

More like Alex will follow. You cannot hope to save them all.

In a few days' time they will be forced to release me. What has changed between the time of my entering this cell and the time of my leaving it? As a deterrent towards behavior, Zero leaves much to be desired.

I am willing to entertain ideas of a deal between us.

Comments

[keeps_a_cool_head]

An even better reason why a new inmate should not offer a life debt to him.

[velocette]

Yes. But people have devoted their lives to less tangible things than him.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Ideas and ideals. Loyalty, honor, tradition. Admirable in their own quaint way.

[velocette]

And God. Don't forget God; He's a less comical, outdated version of the Admiral.

What is your life for?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Revenge. A far more pathetic ideal than the rest, I'll admit. But with it brings safety and security to a good portion of my home universe.

[velocette]

I assume you'd want it even if it wouldn't help your home. But would you give up the revenge to help them?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Most likely not. I have no loyalty to them. No blood ties. Those who I would protect have shunned me for all of my life.

[gard]

If your only solution is to unleash a weapon that could be devastating used on anyone, I think you may want to think broader.

We always owe a duty to our descendants. Above all else.

[sssiiiiirrrrr]

Surely it would depend upon the crime and upon the inmate, but I do not know that there is any value to such mathematics, Sir.

If you would exonerate an inmate for ignorance of the rules, then by the same logic, should you not excuse a warden for lack of ability? Or due to ignorance of the consequences of inadequacy?

[There's a brief pause though, as he keeps thinking about it.]

To my thinking Sir, it is a wrong for a warden to be negligent in his duties, but that it is a separate wrong to the crimes that an inmate may commit because of it.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

It is the only viable solution. Extreme measures for an extreme threat.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

A well-reasoned argument. I'm impressed.

Re: [Private]

[neverfeltbetter]

The admiral does. Not me.

[Crichton frowns. Is this some trick? Is he faking it, trying to get Crichton to feel sympathetic?]

When you think what?

[sssiiiiirrrrr]

I would also reason that you are asking this because you hold someone else - in part - responsible for the harm you've done?

[gard]

Then why isn't John leaping into your arms?

[Private]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Understand first that this is to be kept between you and I, John. I do not like the thought of what I am about to say spreading through the Barge.

...You will recall from Aeryn Sun's dismissal from the Peacekeeper corps as well as the situational tale of the offspring of Ka D'Argo that Peacekeepers treat bloodlines very seriously. There is a certain hatred they possess for any threat to the purity of their genetic code. You can imagine that hybrids are not easily accepted into their ranks.

So I have no intrinsic desire to protect them. I have no ties, no family, and am regarded with suspicion by my allies. And rightly so, of course, but not because of my gift for planning: for my genetic heritage.

[mass hesitation here]


...And yet when I am able to...watch Lieutenant Braca interact with his fellow officers, there is a sort of...sereneness that takes over. And I become jealous of how easily he is able to interact and...fit in, as it were. While I realize this means next to nothing to you, I assure you that Braca is an exemplary person in many ways you have not been permitted to consider.

If he is able to find something worth protecting in them, then I will..consider attempting to make protecting them my primary motivation.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Perhaps on the periphery of fault, but no: the harm done was of my own making.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Because Peacekeepers are also known for their extreme measures.

And because I have been hunting him as long as I have known him. He fears me.

[gard]

Then - I have to say, you probably could have handled that one better.

Have you thought about making amends?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I have. But I believe that time passed when I began to torture him.

[sssiiiiirrrrr]

You... attacked him, I take it? Mister Alex Summers?

May I ask why?

[gard]

I'll be honest: your ploy for sympathy, right there, strayed right over into ridiculousness.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I did.

Because he is the warden to Aeryn Sun, who is the crewmate and close companion of John Crichton.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He grins wide]

I am not a particularly sympathetic person.

[sssiiiiirrrrr]

That... seems a most cowardly way to punish someone.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

If you choose to interpret it that way. But John does not care about his own life nearly as much as he cares for the lives of those around him.