ataraxion | [voice]

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[voice]

Tranquility - the last transmission on the network was not a hoax. We have been boarded.

All non-combat personnel should keep to their quarters at the present moment. Further instructions will follow.

Note please that the boarders are able to hack all transmissions, including those which are highly encrypted. Do not discuss tactical information over the network. Do not discuss extraneous things. We do not know what will be of use to these brigands, and we need to deny them as much information as possible. Keep silent; keep vigilant; updates to come.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When we're talking about torture not three minutes into the conversation, I'd say that enumerates enough. Unless that's a space-thing, and less a lawyer-thing.

[A long, long pause, and then, aghast - ]

What?

'Lies fall apart with time'?

You - that - Because evidence is collected which reveals the untruths, and people will forget the specifics of their lies while the truth does not - Why would you ever think that!

[Based on how horrified he sounds, that's probably true, so. Er.]

All right, don't get excited. I hear something like 'lies fall apart with time', and I'm thinking you're-- You don't see how that could sound more, er, unsavory?

[He's quite nearly shouting, so outraged is he:]

No! No, in point of fact, I do not! Not unless someone is searching, and searching hard, for the single most unscrupulous interpretation there is!

You said-- we were talking about getting information out of people, information that wasn't lies--

[This isn't really an argument that needs to happen, but wow this is overkill on the reaction, and he's taken aback by that for a moment before he relents.]

All right! All right, so I made a mistake. There. I've admitted to it. You do not torture people, or put up with torturing people, and God forbid anyone interpret your vagueness otherwise.

[Still spitting mad but calming down a bit - a bit - ]

The sarcasm only serves to make you seem even more a fool, sir, so I recommend to you that you cease such idiocy at once. You don't - I do not think you get to act the injured party when you just accused someone of condoning - participating in - indeed, instigating torture.

You're new, correct?

You are so seriously overreacting--look, I made a mistake. I made a fucking mistake, and I didn't accuse you of anything, I said--

[You are just too much. But he can't even properly be angry--irritated, yeah, mostly bemused and irritated--]

Oh, what does that have t' do with anything? Are you trying to make me sorry for talking to you, because if you are, I already am.

Given what you just accused me of? I'll be damned glad if I make you intimately regret this conversation. But I'm asking because it seems that you don't know how things work around here, and that's the only conceivable excuse for that.

You mean because I don't know you.

Kindly cease putting words into my mouth. I don't.

Why? That's what you mean. It's not the ship that sets rules, it's the people, and you're one of those people. So sorry I don't know your moral code.

None of us torture.

And wouldn't? And you know that.

That's right. And if they try, I'll personally stop them.

Seriously.

No, I'm joking. I joke so often, after all.

It sounds like a joke. Single-handedly, you're going to stop anyone that dares t' go against that? You know how many people are aboard this ship, yeah? And all of them, you're going t' keep all of them in line.

We take prisoners, I'll be part of guarding the prisoners. And yes: I'll keep them safe.

Right. Hope the balance of power never shifts, or you aren't going to know what t' do.

What is that supposed to mean, precisely - the "balance of power"? What, you think we're suddenly going to have an influx of sociopaths?

I'm saying that if you don't want people tortured for information, and there's two people that do--or more, or less, it doesn't matter how many--you're going t' have trouble. And you're going to say that you can handle it, that you're prepared for that, and I hope you are, because there's--

[He cuts himself off, with an irritated little noise.]

Look, you know what I'm saying. Power is tenuous. It always is.

I can handle it.

[He sounds stubborn, to say the least.]

Two people or five or twenty. I'm willing to bend on certain things and listen to the consensus of everyone here; there's no question about that. If everyone here decides they wish to use marijuana and that there's nothing wrong with it, then so be it; I'll abide by this ruling.

But there are certain things that are simply wrong. And I will never, so long as I breathe, abide seeing them done.

[He laughs, helpless and grim all at once. There's pirates swarming the fucking ship and there's werewolves around every corner and he's here debating this with this idiotic solicitor, lawyer, whatever--and for what. He won't listen. He won't have the sense to.

But he says it anyways, nearly talking over him:]

Then they'll kill you.