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

From:

gard

And maybe that's where they should stay.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

And then the Scarrans will overrun the galaxy, trillions will be slaughtered, more enslaved, and eventually their reach will extend so far as to reach John's homeworld of Earth.

But yes. Maybe he should keep the knowledge, if it will make him feel more comfortable.

From:

gard

So you use it to beat a first-class enemy.

What about when a third-class enemy gets their hands on it, and suddenly can inflict more damage than the Scarrans could?

You might want to try finding another solution first.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

You misunderstand. My preoccupation is not with any enemy that comes after the Scarrans. After they are defeated, I will cease caring about the rest of the galaxy. Let it take care of itself.

Or, to use your progression of thought, why should I hold off destroying a very real, prominent threat in the idea that a hypothetical one exists?

Or what makes you think that once the threat is destroyed, I will not simply destroy the weapon used to end them?

There are a thousand futures. But there is only one current reality.

From:

gard

If your only solution is to unleash a weapon that could be devastating used on anyone, I think you may want to think broader.

We always owe a duty to our descendants. Above all else.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

It is the only viable solution. Extreme measures for an extreme threat.

From:

gard

Then why isn't John leaping into your arms?

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

Because Peacekeepers are also known for their extreme measures.

And because I have been hunting him as long as I have known him. He fears me.

From:

gard

Then - I have to say, you probably could have handled that one better.

Have you thought about making amends?

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

I have. But I believe that time passed when I began to torture him.

From:

gard

I'll be honest: your ploy for sympathy, right there, strayed right over into ridiculousness.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

[He grins wide]

I am not a particularly sympathetic person.

From:

gard

Entertainment value is high, if that's more your concern. What will he say next.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

I'm not concerned with entertainment. Only John matters.

From:

gard

Well, you're going about what you're doing the wrong way.

Even torture can be forgiven.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

Have you asked John yet? I'm sure he would say differently.

From:

gard

It's not up to him to encourage you to make amends. You were the one who hurt him. It's up to you.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

This is a pointless exercise. I have hurt him too many times in too many ways.

From:

gard

That makes forgiveness more important. Not less.

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

I know John. He will not forgive.

From:

gard

And if you knew torture wouldn't work, as a way to get what you want? What then? Would you use all that strength of will, all that determination, to do something really good, and do it the right way?

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

Most likely.

But it would need to work.

From:

gard

Most people snap under torture, Scorpius. You know that, I know that. Training only goes so far - when you have someone in pain, helpless, they will tell you anything you want to know.

He didn't.

What makes you think this is going to work? Slow-motion torture, when you don't even have the power in this situation?

From:

keeps_a_cool_head

John is strong. Stronger than any creature I have yet to meet. There is something wholly...unworldly about the way he resists.

But I won't torture him. There are easier ways of extracting what he knows, if he would only cooperate.