⌈ 02 ⌋ ⧫ ⌊ VIDEO ⌉

[visionarie]

[He looks troubled when the recording turns on.]

The trial of Rinzler is over. His sentence has been passed and is now being carried out, yet additional punishments are being imposed on the prisoner. He is... damaged. In pain. And no medical aid has been given.

[His lips press together as he grows quiet for a moment. His eyes fall casting a shadow across his face as he struggles to put into words what his mind is still analyzing in millions of threads. There's a disturbing imbalance in the way the synthetic was being treated. But how could he explain what he only knew through thought alone? He struggles with this until he latches onto a single thread of thought.]

... Everyone has limits.

They can travel so far... handle so much before reaching theirs. [His eyes slowly shift up to look back at the recording.] If stairs were 10ft tall no one would climb them. If doors were a thousand pounds heavy no one would open them. If rooms were kept at boiling temperatures no one would use them. Society adjusts all these to meet limits but they are made with the limits of the average person in mind. But on this ship... there is no average. At least, none that makes sense - but we still must adjust. The Cybertronians mobility is limited at times due to their size, and now another incident has arisen. The holding cells have become a torture chamber for the prisoner it's meant to detain.

Rinzler is a sentient being. He is suffering. He is serving his sentence but that sentence doesn't include torture or death. We are obligated to provide his basic needs: medical aid, appropriate nutrients in the form of power to help with recovery, and reasonable temperatures that match his standards not ours.

If there is anyone who can help. Please do so.

Captains.... please take this request into consideration.


[OOC: Forward-dated to the 19th of Feb.]

Comments

[breakin_ur_lore]

[Rinzler killed his roommate. And another person, and injured a third, though perhaps one could consider the last justified as self-defense - but he still killed Med'an's friend. And those things they mentioned at the trial, the other times he'd been violent....

Med'an doesn't understand why any of this happened. Why did Peter think confronting this man was a good idea? Why did Alice help? Why has Rinzler apparently been so combative with everyone?

But as much as he dislikes the man - is horribly angry and upset and afraid to be on this damn ship - he agrees with Vision. More or less. Torture of a prisoner is not just.

(He hasn't quite understood the whole program concept, yet, though, so Vision's words are somewhat confusing. Did they do something odd to the cell? Well, regardless; )]

...What sort of medical aid does he need?

[visionarie]

[Vision did not question his guilt nor the final sentence he'd been given, what caused him to address the ship was how that sentence was being carried out. The metaphysical program had different needs than most organics, even most inorganics. Prison was meant to rehabilitate not punish, at least not physical punishment in the form of neglect where a prisoner's basic needs were withheld. This was not justice.]

I believe he is the only one who can provide an exact answer. Rinzler is... [a pause as he tries to come up with the right word] --different. His form is neither organic or inorganic but... physical code come to life and that code is damaged. He is wounded... the extent of it... [he looks directly at him] It would be similar to a severe injury caused by penetration of the outer layer in an organic life form.

[He's not a doctor but he has vast amounts of libraries stored in his data banks to understand that his injuries could not be allowed to remain unattended.]

[quixotically]

I... I can't help him, not with his injuries, but, still, for what it's worth...

I agree entirely. If the captains don't notice this, it should be taken to them directly. The hold doesn't have to be -- luxurious, by any means, but... Leaving people in there like that? It's not going to make anything better. And it isn't right.

[visionarie]

[A sane voice is a sea of doubt. It's a relief to hear that he's not the only one who thinks this is wrong.]

Your voice here matters. It helps. By staying silent we agree to his treatment. But, if enough of us voice our opposition to his treatment then maybe things can change and he can receive the help he needs.

[He grows silent for a moment, his eyes on her as his mind whirls with a millions threads before finally speaking.]

Empathy... it's not as common as it should be. [A small bow of his head in acknowledgement of her.]

Thank you.

[ersatzeverything]

This network announcement gets my seal of approval. I'm pretty sure that any justice system that includes torture is, uh, not a good one.

For the record, the heat down there is pretty torturous for organics, too.

[visionarie]

Going down there was... a revelation.

[It was not what he expected.]

The temperature regulation of the holding cells needs to be addressed in general.

[For both inorganics and organics. The prisoners had no choice but to stay there and at those temperatures it was simply medically unsafe for most people on board to remain there for long periods of time which was exactly what was happening.]

[voice]

[ryuuzaki]

[A long pause after the transmission begins, and then,]

What's happening?

[He sounds vaguely concerned, certainly interested. He didn't knowingly vote for any real kind of torture: while he felt that the sentences were too short for the crimes involved, there's no reason to turn the screws in this case. It occurs to him, though, that he may need to be more careful about the way he phrases his questions.]

That is, what constitutes suffering for him? What, specifically, is causing it?

[voice]

[visionarie]

[The first question is a broad stroke of the entire situation but the second further clarifies his initial thoughts.]

I believe he is the only one who can provide an exact answer. As for his physical pain... Rinzler is... [a pause as he tries to come up with the right word] --different. His form is neither organic or inorganic but physical code come to life and that code is damaged. He is wounded... the extent of it... [another short pause before he resumes with an appropriate explanation] It would be similar to a severe injury caused by penetration of the outer layer in an organic life form. Mingled with the heated environment he is forced to endure, the damage cannot be properly repaired.

He is being denied medical aid for his injuries.

[deal]

[Cassandra isn't really wanting to be a part of any of this, because of her bias toward Peter because she sees him as a friend. She recognizes that, and also recognizes that makes her a bad source of compassion toward the other party involved due to the mentality of kill or be killed she's had to live by back home.

Still, she's not without compassion entirely so she speaks up.]

Does he have any friends here? Allies, or a group he relies on?

[She hesitates in saying further, but she knows it's the right thing to do.]

I'm not a doctor or anything, but I've picked up some decent first aid where I come from. What's wrong with him?

[visionarie]

I don't know the extent of his friend and allies here. He is... difficult to communicate with.

[Mainly, a language barrier but also the fact that he doesn't generally want to talk.]

....?

[He catches that hesitation and although he doesn't know their history he knows many people don't trust or like him. He understands why, his guilt was clearly evident in the trial, but this was different. So, when the offer comes forth, it comes as a surprise. A good one. It was rare for people to look past another's wrong-doings and find empathy for a someone who had caused so much harm.

His features lose that edge of sadness as he bows his head in acknowledgement of her.]

Thank you. For caring.

[As for what was wrong with him... that was something altogether difficult to explain.]

He is in pain. His form is neither organic or inorganic but physical code come to life, and that code is damaged. The extent of it is... [a short pause as he comes up with an appropriate explanation] It would be similar to a severe injury caused by a deep penetration of the skin in an organic life form. Mingled with the heated environment he is forced to endure, the damage cannot be properly repaired.

[bloodredsky]

[Everything going on has him uneasy. People hurting others shouldn't happen, no matter what, right? At least there's some sort of sentencing going on...]

I can't help much, but...you're right. I agree. Even if they've done something wrong, no one should be tortured. It's not fair.

[visionarie]

You're helping by voicing your thoughts here. By staying silent we agree to his treatment. But, if enough of us voice our opposition to his treatment then maybe things can change and he can receive the help he needs.

[It is a rare thing to look past another's wrong-doings and find empathy for someone who had caused so much harm. His features slowly lose that edge of sadness as he bows his head in acknowledgement of him.]

Thank you. For caring.

[needsnoface]

While I applaud you and others who have shown actual empathy about the prisoner, and I would gladly help if I was capable of such. The plea to the captains about the conditions and this entire system is likely going to be a very slow if any sort of progress in humane treatment.


Especially if many of those who are biased against past and present offenders color the opinions to believe such is deserved out of some emotionally fueled belief those like Rinzler are supposed monsters.

[BB is pretty certain mob mentality may become a problem at some point.]

[visionarie]

[He's aware that any change might be slow going but -]

If we don't voice our concern, then we can expect no change to take place. It may be slow but [he looks at the screen] it will be a change in the right direction.

Private - Video

[beautifulspaceraptor]

Rinzler does not wish for repairs. On that front, we can do little for him.

That said, I have been pinging the Captains to see if they'd agree to modifying the hold into something less unfortunate. Would you like to help me with those modifications?

Private - Video

[visionarie]

He does not wish to be edited. [He corrects.] I don't know his past history but it would seem he does not trust others with his code.

[It's what makes him who and what he is , by editing it his personality, experiences, memories - the sum of all that he is and will be... it could all be wiped killing who he is along with it. Given that he could understand his hesitation with allowing strangers with access to his code.]

.....

[He had already spoken to them? Somehow, he feels a small weight lifted off his shoulders. It's becoming more and more clear that posting this message was the right thing to do.]

I would, yes. [A small nod in his direction.] You're welcome to contact me if you need assistance at any stage of the process.

VIDEO

[squadgoals]

What's going on? I'd heard he was rejecting medical treatment, not being denied it.

I haven't been down to the hold, yet. Is the temperature that different?

VIDEO

[visionarie]

I cannot speak of the attempts the medical staff have tried to repair him, but I do know [he looks at her] in his current condition... he would be in intensive care if he were human.

[It's the only way he can explain Rinzler's current state. The thing about inorganic beings was that pain and suffering elicited different responses.]

The holding cells are close to the engines making the temperature flux. They can be harmful to someone whose injured or of frail form.

Private - Text

[whoami]

The colder the environment the better. A fan would help. Maybe more. The only way to edit a Program is through their disk. You are welcome to ask him if he wants repairs, but seeing as that might also leave him vulnerable, I doubt it. I do see him needing energy, though. I don't know if all Programs typically enter a weird sort of torpor when they suffer grievous damage, either. But extra energy is never a bad idea.
[ And that's all Sam knows. He's seen the footage, the trial, and would have abstained from voting anyway. He has his reasons for doing so, but this way what he knew might stand a chance of doing at least one Program some good. ]

Private - Text

[visionarie]

[This is the most concise answer he's gotten on Rinzler's condition and possible repair, which leads him to ask: ]

Do you know how to help him?

audio; partly private

[alan_1]

I’ve contacted the captains about lowering the hold temperature. Still waiting for a response.

[The second half of the message is locked and encrypted.]

If the captains don’t authorize it, is there a way to bypass temperature control?

1/2 audio

[visionarie]

[He had contacted them already? Somehow, he feels a small weight lifted off his shoulders. It's becoming more and more clear that posting this message was the right thing to do.]

Thank you.

text; encrypted

[notglitching]

[By the time Rinzler gets sick enough of looping to check his MID, he's put the conversation with Vision almost entirely out of processing. It takes two lines to realize this was a Mistake. He'd honestly expected the android to forget its misgivings in a few micros. At most, Rinzler assumed it would pick some admin to bother and get nowhere in the attempt.

Somehow it hadn't occured to him Vision would broadcast his damaged state to the whole system.

On the down side? Rinzler's furious. On the up side? He's definitely paying more attention now.]

Broadcast: not requested.

Told you already.

[No edits.]

text; encrypted

[visionarie]

You don't need to accept the help people have offered.

[Offers that stem from the fact that people - users - care what happens to you no matter what you've done.]

But it's illogical to refuse the options given to you.

Video

[romanticsoul]

Thank you for this.

[ The trial process left a bad taste in Satine's mouth, this broadcast is a very welcome contrast. ]

Video

[visionarie]

.....

[The messages leaves him virtually stumped.]

May I ask, who you are?

[And why you're thanking him?]

[Voice]

[tearmeanewone]

If the captains do not respond within the day, please let me know.

[She has the ear of the captains, after all. If they won't treat this matter seriously, she'll insist on it.]

[Voice]

[visionarie]

Alan Bradley and Nihlus Kryik each sent them separate requests. They have responded to the situation and are willing to remedy it.

[A fact that places his perspective of the captain's in a positive light.]