thisavrou | 03 | audio; forwarded to the 8th

It’s almost funny how you guys are rallying around Rinzler lately. All this talk about how what we did wasn’t right, how we need to fix the system here, how we need to be better people. So much outrage, you guys seemed like you really cared a lot about free will and doing the right thing.

And I could have bought it, I really could have, if it weren’t for what happened a few months ago. When the captains did the same thing to someone on board and well, I checked because surely if you’re so upset now it must have been all out war back then. [A small, hollow laugh.] But no. You guys were pretty calm about it. Not even a peep.

And so I started thinking, why? I mean, free will matters right? Justice matters.

There had to be some reason you cared more about what we did to a robot than a mutant, right? Because that’s what he was. A mutant. You even voted to suppress his mutation. Cure him. Temporary of course, because you’re not evil.

It's just, we are. We’re threats. We’re uncontrollable, dangerous. It’s not like we’re real people. Not like Rinzler. [He starts to get louder, faster. Something close to hysteria starting to seep through.] Our free will and DNA and heads, they’re okay to mess with! It’s okay to go after us! Not with a person like Rinzler though. I mean, there’s just a few of us, so it makes sense right? There’s so many of these robots and computers, and you humans out there made them. And that computer can attack and hurt people like us and whatever! The rest of you got to protect your tools. Got to be able to use them again.

We’re different and everyone always fears what’s different. That’s what it is right? Right? Either that or you’re just a bunch of damn hypocrites pretending majority rule has ever been good for the rest of us. Just rather call out people like me and sit on your asses than ask yourselves why this kind of shit was let go on so long and why you never did anything before! Rather take it out on people trying to do something, trying to survive than fix your own damn mistakes!

So come on. [There's no pretense of calm anymore, but the rushed tone is gone. He speaks slowly, pronouncing each word with vitriol. He wants to be sure he's not misunderstood, that people are listening.] Which is it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He can't force himself to wait for the MID to respond to his typing attempts today, so he opts to keep speaking. At least this person isn't trying to argue with him.]

If they want to be hypocrites, they have to own up to it. If they can't, there's no point in even this pretend justice system they're running. They might as well just let the chaos start now.

Shut the hell up. This isn't a joke.

of course it is. the justice system has always been a joke if the people in charge - our dearest captains in this case - are utterly powerless. punishments are terrible deterrents, detainment is unreasonable. some of the things i've seen...

and you should look around, the only reason chaos hasn't started is because amissis-re has offered something more beneficial, something that people want more than justice. though... now that you mention it, maybe i ought to submit that idea of mine of transporting any one of us to an enemy ship as a means of defense! goodness knows we're doing a good enough job tearing ourselves apart.

so.

mutant? can't say i've heard that before.

[it's text but you can practically hear him resting his chin on his hand]

And what things have you seen? The captains aren't powerless. They could fix a lot of this if they're just choose to speak up. They're just being cowards, stepping in when it's convenient and hiding when when it's not.

Mutant. People with mutated DNA. Like me. Like Ade was. A lot of us get abilities from it. Most people hate us for existing.

you don't need to be aboard this ship to see governments and 'fair' systems fail, peter. their power is superficial and even if you had the nerve to speak up what would you do? in the face of our overwhelming power, what could they do? but you aren't wrong about them being cowards; you'll find most people in positions of authority tend to be that way.

yes, and? people hate people for the dumbest reasons. news at 11

I know that. I've seen that. But they want to act like this place is better, more fair? They've got a long way to go.

Our power? What, you suggest taking over? Because, no. I'm not a leader.

Edited 2016-05-07 01:51 (UTC)

it's about feeling civilized. the need to make themselves feel better when something has shaken their sense of moral right. but you're right! how very dare they put programs above mutants! why, a string of 1s and 0s couldn't possibly compare with their own flesh and blood give or take a few completely natural if highly unexpected genetic mutations.

oooh! i do love a good old fashion coup d'état but there's too many goody two shoes aboard. we'd probably tear the ship apart before a mutiny could be carried out... not that we aren't already doing that. haha

I don't want one to be put above the other. [Lies. He doesn't sound convinced of that himself, even as he argues.] I just want things the same. I just want them to realize they can't have it both ways.

I don't want this place torn apart. I just want it to be better. Or if it can't be, just to stop acting like it is. For them to stop pretending it's fair. If they're going to play favorites, they can acknowledge it. Live by it.

you sure about that? no one will believe you if you sound so unsure when you go on your campaign speech. might want to work on it.

you'll find that things will never be equal. the weak are constantly afraid and it is that fear that creates these inequalities. the only way to ease their minds is if the rest of us are treated as threats (by those who fear us) or helpless pets (by those who fear us, but wish to come off as 'fair'). in that way, we're very similar aren't we?

oops.

wouldn't want to make the very real comparison of mutants to ais now would i?

[No, he doesn't want that comparison, can't handle it when he's already so upset and everyone's trying to tell him he's wrong. His family's angry at him, the captain wants to see him and he'll probably end up in the hold again and-

He can't deal with this.]

Just, shut up! You don't know anything!

[With that he shuts off the line.]

[Prometheus laughs at the response. It's not the first time he's been told he was wrong about something. He doubts it will be the last.

But it's always the most fun when they put up a good fight]

03 | audio; forwarded to the 8th

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