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

[velocette]

It depends on if you believe in personal agency, or if you believe we are driven entirely by our experiences and personalities.

I doubt the Wardens know all the rules either, since it's all flexible. I gave my inmate rules that no one else is following. [And he gives Harvey a very long leash, longer than he should according to some.]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

What do you believe? And what rules do you use to guide your inmate?

[velocette]

[He shrugs ruefully.] If you asked me the same thing tomorrow I'd give you a different answer. You?

My inmate's an individual, he might have some things in common with the others, but hard and fast rules haven't done him any good. And he's too smart to blindly follow someone else's guidebook anyway--I'm almost half his age, why would he listen to me if all I had to offer was the law someone else made up for some other situation?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I believe all of us are personally accountable for our own actions, and that we ought not to shy away from responsibility or the crueler things in life that need be done.

A compelling theory.

[velocette]

Thank you. [He's polite, even a little humble-shy about it.]

I think 'cruelty' is as subjective and fluid as any other definition. It's all about motive; if the reason is strong enough, people can be made to do anything.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I believe the same.

[Both in using means to justify actions and also in regards to how he feels about Crichton]

Explain to me how you motivate your inmate.

[velocette]

[He's quiet a while, while his ears ring painfully and then fade into silence. But it gives him time to think about Harvey...not that he has much of an answer when his hearing comes back muted.]

I find common ground. We have a lot of it; makes it easier to want to help him get where he wants to go.

[And little by little, he's sure that where Harvey wants to be will change, and will become someplace brighter than where he thinks he's going now.]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

And if where he wants to go is inherently painful for himself and others?

[velocette]

Pain is your best teacher. It's almost always worth your time to go ahead and suffer, rather than run away out of fear.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You seem to know the psychology of inmates very well.

[velocette]

We have a lot in common. Apparently, I was murdered by a policeman right before I came here.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

How utterly inconvenient.

[velocette]

Well, it wasn't much worse than staying there would have been.

Do you remember dying?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I do. My brain baked itself alive.

[velocette]

Is that as painful as it sounds?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I'm afraid so.

[velocette]

Bet you were glad to wake up here.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Intrigued. Yes.

[velocette]

That's refreshing. Most people get here and it takes months before they get past the anger.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

The only anger I felt was being robbed prematurely of my goals. But this is hardly the Admiral's fault. He intercepted before I spent the rest of eternity in a long and quiet death.

[velocette]

[He tips his head, very curious now.]

Do you feel grateful toward him?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Of course. Were it not for him, I would have had no chance whatsoever to return to my life, instead of the very slim one I have now.

[velocette]

What does gratitude mean for you? Some people take it as far as life debts--a life for a life. An eternity of servitude, even.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Gratitude for me means not wasting this second chance I've been afforded. If the Admiral wishes me to live, then I will do as he asks and live.

[velocette]

With no need for favours?

[It's not a hint, just a need to be clear.]

I've never liked the idea of a life debt. If someone chooses to save you, it's not your responsibility to pay them back for it, at least not with anything as grandiose as your slavery. But I may be biased toward that way of thinking because of lives taken.