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

Video;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Then a miscommunication has occurred between us, and I apologize.

Video;

[ichoosefight]

It's whatever. But it makes me wonder who else you're miscommunicating with.

[ She's super defensive of John ok ]

Video;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I have not spoken to John since my imprisonment, if that is your concern.

Video;

[ichoosefight]

Are you planning to? You did leave the creepier equivalent of a dead bird on his doorstep.

Video;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Yes. If he answers.

Video;

[ichoosefight]

And you think that's a good idea, do you?

Video;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

To my end? Yes. I enjoy my talks with John, even if they are less fruitful than I'd hoped.

Video;

[ichoosefight]

Well, I know a thing or two about John, and he really doesn't enjoy your talks. So it would really be best for everyone if you could just not.

Video;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I think we disagree on what would be best for everyone, Stephanie. I will not - cannot - leave John be.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

Okay. Listen. I'm making this between us because I respect John's privacy. [ more or less ] I'm not threatening you. I'm going on the very much off chance that you don't actually understand human psychology.

John has been victimized. You are his aggressor. What actually happened and why is irrelevant, that is the dynamic you have now. What that means is that every time you speak to him, every time you're in the same room as him, that's as good as an attack.

It needs to stop.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I am aware of how John feels in regards to my presence.

But his wellbeing comes secondary to what I need from him. If there is an easier way that will not harm John, then I am open to suggestion.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

Yeah, there is. Man up and ask nicely like a decent whatever-species-you-are. There is nothing you could need that's more important than John's well-being and impossible to get without risking it.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

He doesn't have the capacity to give it to me alone. To extract it, I will need either his cooperation or tools I don't yet have.

Has he told you what it is? Why I want it? Why he keeps it from me?

Private;

[ichoosefight]

No, and I haven't asked, because that is not how you talk to victims.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

If Crichton does not give me what I need, then there will be many, many more victims.

That is not a threat I am making. That is a reality. There is a larger enemy in our universe and it threatens everything he and I hold dear.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

Has it ever occurred to you, however briefly, that you're in a prison which hires help by promising them literally anything they want?

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

It occurred to me, yes.

But the desire for revenge is something that will keep me an inmate forever.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

So ask someone else to ask for it for you. There are people here just for shits and giggles.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

No one here is going to wish wide-spread death over a species they have never met in a universe they will never visit on the word of an inmate they barely know.

And as entirely sentimental as it sounds, I...wished to be there to witness it.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

So what you're saying is, your genocidal revenge is more important than John's well-being, and you can't be bothered to figure out a way to commit genocide that doesn't involve this specific astronaut?

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

In a word, yes.

If you find a warden willing to take my deal, I will leave John Crichton alone. I will even help him attain his own deal, if he'd like.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

You... You... [ ARE A STUBBORN IDIOTIC ASSHOLE ]

Grow an imagination, Scorpius. You don't need John.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You're right.

I need the knowledge on how to create wormholes.

And John is the only person on this Barge who has it.

Private;

[ichoosefight]

Or you could come up with a different genocide plan, or you could find out how to make them literally any other way, or you could just not commit genocide.

Private;

[keeps_a_cool_head]

There are different plans in place. But I have always been...fascinated with wormhole technology, and am convinced my plan will succeed. I am the one who knows Scarrans best.

But wormholes are one of the hardest, most complicated parts of our universe to understand, let alone master. We are generations away from truly embracing what they are and how they can be used.


And the final option is no option whatsoever.