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

[no_talent_hack]

You knew.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Oh, yes. I knew very well.

But we were speaking philosophically, not specifics.

[no_talent_hack]

You've got that wrong! I'm not interested in philosophy. If you just talk in hypotheticals all the time, you can make up an excuse for anything. You'll wear yourself out before you even get started!

[And that's not a hypothetical.]

You did something -- that's not a hypothetical! You can do something about it or you can hide behind all this manipulation crap.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I believe you're the one wearing yourself out.

[no_talent_hack]

By which you mean trying to talk to you is pointless.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Talking to me is never pointless.

Convincing me not to follow through with my plans for the future as they are currently laid out will put you at a severe disadvantage.

[no_talent_hack]

And it would be pointless to ask you what those plans are supposed to be?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Complete annihilation of the Scarran army.

Which I imagine means next to nothing to someone unfamiliar with their species. But there are many pieces in place to achieve this, and one of them happens to be on this ship.

[no_talent_hack]

[Well, that's more honest than he was expecting, if indeed meaningless.]

And somehow beating up random wardens is going to get it for you?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Not random wardens, no.

Very specific wardens. Some inmates. An occasional pet or two. It all depends.

[no_talent_hack]

[HA, SCOTT, he knew someone was going to go after the pets eventually. He's both surprised it didn't happen sooner and that it's being threatened so soon after that conversation, but he's not even a little surprised by the threat itself.]

So it's about timing, that's all?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

No.

It is, as ever, about John Crichton.

[no_talent_hack]

John Crichton? I'm new, I don't know him.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I suggest you introduce yourself to him, should you get the opportunity. He is a...fascinating individual, and wise beyond his years and the limitations of his species.

[no_talent_hack]

[He has met Crichton, of course, but only briefly. It certainly hasn't been enough to know the cause of this little... obsession, or whatever it is. Something to do with the painting he saw in the art gallery?

Despite himself, he's starting to become curious about all this. He hopes it's for the right reasons.]

Okay, so, tell me. If I can't convince you, can you convince me?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Not without knowing you better, and knowing what ideals you hold. And even then, our morals may be fundamentally opposed to one another.

For instance, if you are the sort who believes violence of any sort is inherently wrong no matter what the reason, I could not envision convincing you of anything.

[no_talent_hack]

Th-that wasn't a question... I was offering you a chance to talk...

[keeps_a_cool_head]

To what purpose? If I am not fully convinced I can convince you based on how little I know of who you are, why should I waste the energy?

[no_talent_hack]

You seemed to want to a minute ago. Scarran army, John Crichton...

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I answered your questions honestly. Nothing of what I have told you you could not simply glean from Crichton himself.

[no_talent_hack]

Oh yeah? I appreciate your honesty, then.

Okay, so what does Crichton have to do with using the Barge on the Scarran army?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

During his travels, John Crichton was first launched through a wormhole; a hole in time and space that provides almost instantaneous transportation across the galaxy to those who know its secrets. It was this encounter that brought him to the attention of several prominent species, one of whom was a race of creatures who possessed far greater knowledge of wormholes and were reluctant to share it.

But they did share it with Crichton, and he's kept this knowledge from me ever since, knowing that I wish to weaponize it to gut the Scarran army down to its last pathetic lieutenant.

I don't wish to use the Barge at all. I wish to escape it, with this knowledge intact.

[no_talent_hack]

[Again, it's more complete information than he's expecting. It could be a lie, but something -- his new brain? his luck? -- tells him that it's not, or at least mostly not. The funny thing is, it really does make sense, for what little he knows about the situation. He gets, now, why Alex was beaten, why others are being threatened. He wouldn't be surprised if Scorpius had sent Crichton a more... direct message, too.

The real question will soon become, who does Crichton care more about: his friends or the Scarrans?]

So why them?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Why who?

[no_talent_hack]

The Scarrans.

[Not that it really matters. There's some reason, obviously, and it's one Scorpius must think is a good one. The Scarran army killed someone, or a lot of someones, or they're going to in the future. Or they're protecting something Scorpius wants. Or maybe he's like Hinata used to be, and he's doing it because he just can't stand to see their society go on. The reason doesn't really matter, but it matters to Scorpius, and that's an important piece of the puzzle if Hinata wants to work on this particular challenge.]