02: Video

[itstopped]

[Felix is sitting for this one, his lower body hidden, but the sharp-eyed might notice that his crutch is nowhere in sight. His uniform is also gone for good (for now). He's at the long metal table in his barracks, and the surface is absolutely covered with wires, cables, microchips... It looks like he's dismantled an entire fleet's worth of communicators.

He seems a little annoyed about it.]

Does anyone have a spare computer they could lend me? Or even just a motherboard and a serial port connector cable.

[Private to Dr. McCoy]

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it now, Doc. I... thank you, really. It's a big improvement.

[Private to Sarah Connor]

You said you're Gaius's Warden, didn't you? We should talk sometime.

Comments

Aw :D

[itstopped]

[He looks pretty surprised that Rhade would even ask... although considerably less that he didn't get an answer.]

Excellent.

I... thank you for trying, though. I didn't think...

[ Video ]

[itstopped]

[That gets something that almost sounds like a chuckle out of him, even if basically every word out of Dean's mouth is gibberish to him. "Beer" must be human-Earth ambrosia, but gods help him if he can figure out the rest.]

You know I have no idea what you're talking about, right?

[truth_is_cold]

[He could write it off as that it was no expenditure of his time. But really? He's nowhere near the person that used to openly resent empathy. It's a necessity of survival, and he remembers what being an inmate was like.]

It's a difficult ship and you had no choice in being brought here.

[SPAM]

[timesbureaucrat]

Certainly not. We look superficially similar, but our interior physiology is far superior.

[SPAM]

[itstopped]

[Oh, another race of physiologically superior beings that look human but have advanced technology? No big-- WAIT, YES BIG DEAL.

Technically, Felix doesn't appear to react, but his expression is instantly frozen. He stares at Narvin for a second in private, horrified fury... Then swings into automatic action, his voice and movements seemingly calm, but hasty.]

Right. Well. Thank you for bringing these things by. I'm sure they'll be a big help.

[And now you're leaving, Narvin.]

[itstopped]

[Well, it's not like he doesn't agree, but this is the first time anyone's agreed with him.]

No. No, I didn't.

You don't really seem like the other Wardens.

[truth_is_cold]

I'll take that as a compliment.

It may be only that I was an inmate for longer than I've been a warden. And my "redemption" came at the hands of an inmate as well.

[itstopped]

Really. Do tell. [No, seriously: this is the most interested he's been in anything a warden's had to say since he got here.]

[truth_is_cold]

She decided to take hostages, determined that we all had parasites in our brains. Most of what she was saying when she was holding a gun to my head were things that I said myself at one time.

I experienced a moment of inspired introspection. I didn't even realized I'd graduated as I had no warden at the time to inform me.

[SPAM]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Narvin notices the sudden dismissal, but isn't sure of the reasons behind it. Still, he's done what he came to do.]

Contact me when you're finished with them, and I'll retrieve them.

[rass_bestie]

Take a set number from infinity and I'm afraid all I have is 'communicator'.

Private

[terminatefate]

I suppose we should.

Private

[itstopped]

[He looks slightly surprised, but if there's a reason, he doesn't let on. He definitely regrets lying to her now, though -- or at least implying that he doesn't know Gaius as well as he does. It's going to make this more difficult, and... well, who knew it could actually be valuable to admit to a connection with that man?]

Did Gaius tell you about me? I... may have been underplaying things when I said we were only from the same universe. A lot, actually. I'm sorry, but I didn't know if I could trust you.

[At least he doesn't have to lie any more; at least not for now. This is all completely accurate, and delivered with absolute sincerity.]

Re: Private [video]

[terminatefate]

Gaius and I haven't spoken about you, so, no. [She nods.] Understandable, getting shipped to a place like this doesn't leave much room for trust. I think I was here at least three weeks before I told someone my real name.

Re: Private [video]

[itstopped]

All right. Well, I hope this doesn't sound too implausible, then-- [Although having been on the Barge for a few weeks, he's pretty sure it won't.] --but I'm actually from four years into Gaius's future. He doesn't know me, but I do know him. Very, very well. Probably better than almost any human in our world.

[ourlastbesthope]

I've seen candy come out of electronic equipment. Walls that melt and warp for no reason. This place doesn't follow any law of physics that I've ever heard of.

[inhistorybooks]

Honestly, I think Omega's on the right track about this bein' some kinda energy construct rather than an actual communicator like we'd be used to. It's frustrating, but there's no use drivin' yourself insane trying to figure out stuff and gettin' angry when you can't find the answers. Any scientific work around here's more just a way to pass the time than actual discoverin' stuff and getting published.

[resultofwar]

You'll adjust to it.

Re: Private [video]

[terminatefate]

My son came from the future, so, I know it's possible. [Sarah half shrugged.] I gather it's pretty shitty where you are.

Private [video]

[itstopped]

You mean, in the wake of the Cylons obliterating us? [He scowls, but nods.] To say the least. There are about forty thousand of us left, down from about fifty who escaped.

Including your inmate, of course. [Because if there's one thing Gaius is excellent at, it's escaping.]

[itstopped]

For a ship that's supposed to be full of scientists, everyone seems very quick to accept that.

[ourlastbesthope]

Quick? It's been 18 months and I'm still trying to figure it out.

I haven't accepted anything. I just know that you won't find understand through the technology.

[itstopped]

[That gets an eyebrow raise.] I don't care about getting published. I don't have anyone to report back to. I'm just trying to understand just what kind of world it is I'm supposed to be living in now.

One where science is useless, apparently.

[itstopped]

Excellent. Thank you for the help, Omega.

Re: Private [video]

[terminatefate]

[She just stares at him impassively for awhile. There's no comment that would do the horror justice--her expression carries the sentimnet. Then, quietly.]

If anyone would survive, he would.