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

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

Not having known other humans, I thought it was a trait unique and specific to him alone. Perhaps I can draw better conclusions in my coming days aboard the Barge.

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[fireincarnate]

It's not all of us - there's not a lot we all have in common. But it's...encouraged, I guess. Needed.

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

The more I learn of humans, the more I recognize how diverse a species they can be.

[Perhaps this is what makes them perfect wormhole guinea pigs]

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[fireincarnate]

[Priorities]

Maybe it's because of Earth's size, or how we've spread across it. [She thinks of the Shi'ar, and how monolithic they seem to be.

She thinks of a young officer, screaming as fire consumes her, and her fingers twitch in her lap.]

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

I'll have to research more of Earth before I come to a definite conclusion, but perhaps.

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[fireincarnate]

...I've got some books on evolution.

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

Human evolution?

...Yes. I'll take those.

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[fireincarnate]

[Her eyebrows arch, and her lips quirk.]

What do you say?

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Scorpius frowns in confusion. The words translate properly, but he's unsure as to their meaning]

I said I would take them. Are you hard of hearing?

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[fireincarnate]

No, you just forgot something.

Don't they have please and thank you in space?

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

No. Not particularly.

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[fireincarnate]

Then you should learn. Manners can get you a long way.

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

Please.

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[fireincarnate]

[A bright, sudden grin.] Of course.

Should I bring them to you?

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

Unless you prefer to wait until I am out of Zero and am able to come get them myself.

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[fireincarnate]

[She tenses, just a little. She's never actually been to Zero, for good reason, and she's still not keen on it.

But she nods, all the same.]

I'll be there soon. Need anything else?

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

No.

[After a beat]

Thank you.

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[fireincarnate]

You're welcome. [And she says it sincerely, which boggles her in the back of her mind. At the same time - it's comforting.

She can still do more than destroy.

Jean flicks off the comm, and starts to gather the books.]

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[keeps_a_cool_head]

[And Scorpius, for his part, remains in Zero until such time as he can procure more reading material to wait out this exceedingly long prison sentence]

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[fireincarnate]

[It doesn't take her long to get there. She could drag her feet, but what's the point? Better to just face old fears that shouldn't matter any more.

Her smile is strained, when she enters Zero, when she walks past the cages cells, but she refuses to slow down. There are four books in her arms, thick and sturdy and a little battered.]

Spam

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Jean will find Scorpius sprawled out on his cot, staring up at the ceiling. He's quiet, but he isn't bored; not when he's been given so much to consider by the Barge. At Jean's footsteps, he waits a beat and then turns his head to acknowledge her, sitting up]

Hello, Jean.

Spam

[fireincarnate]

[Jean waves, and the movement isn't as tense as it could be. She's good, now, at controlling how she looks, how she acts. She has to be.]

I've got these three, but if you finish those before you're out I can grab some from the library.

Spam

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Thank you.

[He stands, walking over to the cell doors to reach for the books given]

I have to say, this is by far the most pleasant imprisonment I've ever been a party to.

Spam

[fireincarnate]

[Jean snorts as she hands them over. Their fingers brush; her skin is cool to the touch.]

Yeah, we're a bit luxury for a prison ship. [She doesn't mind that, most days; they're about rehabilitation, not punishment. But when the standard punishment for maiming people is a week in timeout....]

Wardens can get creative, though.

Spam

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He likes the coolness, he finds: Scorpius is always running a fever, burning hot. He's forever too warm. But in Zero, his temperature seems to be at least regulating himself as his 'power' is contained. A fact which he is oddly grateful about]

So I've been told. But even I have to admit I'm getting off far too easy. And while I don't think that not punishing inmates to what they deserve will be the downfall of the Barge, I would caution against it. Deals are much harder to achieve when the creatures your deals ride on feel that there is barely any consequence to their actions.