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]

How utterly inconvenient.

[velocette]

Well, it wasn't much worse than staying there would have been.

Do you remember dying?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I do. My brain baked itself alive.

[velocette]

Is that as painful as it sounds?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I'm afraid so.

[velocette]

Bet you were glad to wake up here.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Intrigued. Yes.

[velocette]

That's refreshing. Most people get here and it takes months before they get past the anger.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

The only anger I felt was being robbed prematurely of my goals. But this is hardly the Admiral's fault. He intercepted before I spent the rest of eternity in a long and quiet death.

[velocette]

[He tips his head, very curious now.]

Do you feel grateful toward him?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Of course. Were it not for him, I would have had no chance whatsoever to return to my life, instead of the very slim one I have now.

[velocette]

What does gratitude mean for you? Some people take it as far as life debts--a life for a life. An eternity of servitude, even.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Gratitude for me means not wasting this second chance I've been afforded. If the Admiral wishes me to live, then I will do as he asks and live.

[velocette]

With no need for favours?

[It's not a hint, just a need to be clear.]

I've never liked the idea of a life debt. If someone chooses to save you, it's not your responsibility to pay them back for it, at least not with anything as grandiose as your slavery. But I may be biased toward that way of thinking because of lives taken.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I find life debts to be woefully outdated concepts. The Admiral did not introduce himself, nor ask my permission in this. Should he come to meet me, I would be polite and grateful. But I would not prostrate myself before him.

[velocette]

I wonder if it would be an automatic graduation if someone came on board and did decide to serve the Admiral. If so it would be evidence he can be bribed, don't you think? But the times I've heard from him he hasn't seemed real, no more than the forecasts in fortune cookies are.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

So you can't be sure if the creature calling himself the Admiral even exists.

[velocette]

To tell you the truth, I'd be surprised if he does.

[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.