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]

Of course not me. I am far too unseasoned. I answer to wardens.

[When he's not manipulating/kidnapping/beating them up]

Are wardens the highest form of authority on this ship, or does the Admiral step down to deliver his own judgement where needed?

How do wardens become...demoted?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

As I suspected. I have been attempting to map out the heart of the Barge, but it's buried and inaccessible, for obvious reasons. Is the Admiral a symbiote pilot?

A living ship, with a memory and emotions and an incredible urge towards freedom at any cost. Crichton would know more about them than I, having lived on one. While it is true that Peacekeepers have been capturing Leviathans for some time, I'm told that their behavior in captivity does not mirror that of a truly free ship.

[no_talent_hack]

[Scorpius, if only you knew.]

Yeah. Then I grew up.

[gard]

I haven't the slightest idea. But here's something I do know: the demarcation between inmate and warden is not a line. It's got to be fuzzy in between. An inmate gets promoted by clearly going into the warden side; a warden probably gets demoted for clearly going to the inmate side. Meaning a warden has to be worse.

Now, I'm not sure I'd put any real faith in a justice system that punishes those who fail to prevent more than it punishes those who choose and perpetrate.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Am I led to understand you do not hold military or scientific officers in any regard? Do you not respect a chain of command?

[no_talent_hack]

Seriously? [Oh, good. Another Nagito. Or even a Junko. Now that he's on this side of the screen, he's finding it harder to remember why he ever liked her. He sighs, rubs his temple, and offers Iris a weary smile.]

Hajime Hinata. It's nice to meet you. Iris... [Why does he know her name? Oh.] Oh, uh, Jean... mentioned you to me.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Yet how much blame can you place on those who are unwillingly kidnapped and held who are in the process of resisting what many feel is an unjust arrangement, next to those who willfully chose this lifestyle?

[gard]

Plenty.

Every criminal has a story, and reasons to do what they did. You all have a reason in common right now. Doesn't make it any more or less compelling.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Here I must disagree with your terminology, I'm afraid.

In my universe criminals are called such because they undergo a trial process that proves their criminality. Had I been afforded this opportunity, it's questionable whether some of us would have even merited the title.

[no_talent_hack]

Maybe I would if I were in the military, but I'm not.

[gard]

What would you prefer? Villain? Wrongdoer? Rapscallion?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Yet by accepting the title of 'warden', you have willingly inserted yourself into a situation with superior and inferior crewmates.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

How utterly judgmental.

[routemistress]

Oh, that's right; you were talking about telepaths. I saw that.

[private]

You've come up against one with no ethics, 'aven't you?

[gard]

Sorry, is this a sensitive subject?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I have several sensitive subjects, but my status as an inmate is not one of them. I only find your definition close-minded.

[no_talent_hack]

Seriously, that's just an excuse. You're still the one making your own choices.

[gard]

Not at all. I've lived for thousands of years. You think I haven't crossed that line before?

[Private]

[no_talent_hack]

Y-yeah. Once or twice.

[routemistress]

People 'ave reached it before now. They died, and couldn't remember bugger all about 'ow it 'appened. And it won't be mappable. Our timeships can reform their interior configurations at will, and I know damn well this boat can too.

No one knows what the Admiral is, but I reckon some kind of symbiotic connection's a given. Ships like this need it.

John's still operating on the misapprehension that my friendship's a zero sum game, I'm afraid. I doubt 'e'll talk to me. What's the point in enslaving a ship that wants to be free? Mine'd implode your brain for you if you tried that. Bless 'er.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Can you tell me what you absolutely know to be a universal rule across this Barge that warrants detention into Zero?

You can't. There are none. Wardens make their own rules as they go, specific to their inmates.

Yet when an inmate goes about unpaired, how are they to determine a responsible course of action? If we are to assume that they are morally destitute, where do you expect them to find personal responsibility?

There is simply no structure.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Have you? That must be a very interesting story.

[gard]

I think, at my age, you can make 'story' plural.

[Private]

[routemistress]

I've been that person. In floods where we were flipped into mirrors of ourselves. It's a ...uniquely unforgivable kind of violation. I'm very sorry you've 'ad to live through it.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Then it would make sense why the Admiral has not yet been seen. I have to wonder if they are as tied to the ship as a Leviathan's pilot may need to be.

My fault, I'm afraid. A shame; he's usually very clever and talkative.

Travel and warfare, primarily. Leviathans are not warships and have no weaponry, but there were efforts to produce captive Leviathan offspring: hybrids that could both perform the uniquely Leviathan trait of starburst while simultaneously carrying in-built offensive weaponry.

I was not a part of this project. My work was focused entirely on wormholes: the same objective, but with different paths.