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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds like you could end up doing the same thing, without a thought to revenge.

It would certainly make my journey easier than having to rely on the eccentricities of John Crichton.

But I cannot be sure.

Welcome to life, where nothing is sure.

Or death, as the case may be.

Existence, then.

I try to be as sure as possible before making any sort of move. The wrong mistake at the wrong time can lead to dire circumstances.

As you can probably surmise by the fact that I am here and dead.

Oh, don't look at me. I've died lots of times.

Are you a self-resurrectionist?

Merely one host in a very long line of them.

You are a parasite of some kind yourself?

A symbiont. On my planet, symbionts co-evolved with humanoid life. We can function separately, or Join together to share experiences, memories, extended health.

We are not the same as the parasites.

I find it fascinating that you say 'humanoid' life.

Humans are that prominent in your universe?

Hmm?

Oh, that's more of a translation issue. The English term is humanoid. The Trill term is more specific, probably by virtue of evolving on a planet with two separate sentient life forms, but does refer to bipedal, four-limbed, five-fingered races.

Thank you for the clarification.

I don't believe I've heard of the Trill.

I haven't heard of the Scarrans.

They happen to be much the same sort of creature. Parasites, but larger. And they have spies that can mask themselves as allies.

Really. How does that work?

They take a chosen subject, perform an absolute copy of them albeit one made up of plastics and carbon, and send them out in place of the subject. It is not a true clone - it is merely a convenient duplicate used expressly for the purpose of spying. It retains all memory of the subject up to the point of duplication, but no more than that.

Sentient?

Not especially. A living tool.

Still sounds pretty appalling.

Hence one of the many reasons why they should be eliminated.

I see.

Do you agree?

It may surprise you, but I don't consider the things you've told me enough information to form a real opinion.

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keeps_a_cool_head - 2014-03-12 11:50 (UTC) - Expand

gard - 2014-03-13 19:48 (UTC) - Expand

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