...I hadn't planned on it, BA, but now I just might.
Heh. That was good... except for one little thing.
"Bearfish? You mean Experiment 672-alpha-86-B? Uno, kindly send Cinque and Sein the file on that particular creation when you have a moment."
"Of course, Doct-"
"Wait. Just send them Appendices A and B. They will neither need nor understand the file itself."
"...'List of Bearfish Casualties and Fatalities' and 'Bearfish Behavioral Paradoxes: Why Honey and Water Don't Mix'?"
"Yes! Precisely!"
"......if you say so, Doctor."
**********
"Yes, I know all about your little bear collection. How have you held onto those for so long, anyway? The Doctor-"
"The Doctor... believes strongly in the concept of efficiency. For so long as we remain effective, our eccentricities will be tolerated."
"...'eccentricities', huh?"
"Yes, Sein. Eccentricities. Deviations from intended spec, if you prefer- such as my interest in culture, or your... colorful... personality."
"Yay! I'm colorful!"
"...yes. Yes, you are. Now, stop it.You need to take this seriously! You, more than any of us, are at risk. If you ever- ever!- fail to meet expectations..."
"I know, Cinque. I've always known.Something went right when the Doctor made me. I'm an aberration- more human, psychologically, than I was 'supposed' to be. I realized the danger within a week of waking up.Haven't you noticed how I never retreat, even when I'm permitted the option? How you had to go save me from the Syndicate, because I tried to steal more than just the Relic? I've been making a point of always doing more than expected, always giving 110% in everything I'm ordered to do, just so that the Doctor isn't... disappointed in me. So far, it's worked."
"...wait, you knew?! Then why-"
"-do I keep acting out? Why don't I start acting like some sort of mind-numbed robot, the way I was supposed to?"
"...I am not a robot. Mind-numbed, or otherwise."
"Never said you were, sis!Anyway, I can't change how I act now. If I did that, it'd give up the game. The Doc would know I was snowballing him, and then-"
"...indeed."
"That, and it's fun! I'd try and get you to try it, but..."
"It would not look good if I did."
"Well, yeah! Not that you could pull it off, anyway."
"...oh, no. You've pulled that on Imma enough- I'm not going to fall for it.Speaking of Imma, what are you...?"
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I enjoy spending time with him, but there's something else... Something... more, almost. He makes me smile; I'm not sure why....I want more of that."
"Sein?"
"Yes?"
"I don't believe I could have put it better, myself."
"Cinque! You, too?"
"To a degree, yes....I haven't been able to say anything to him about it, though."
"That's okay!...neither have I..."
...
"...you know, I think I was wrong earlier. The fish are kind of cute."
"Aren't they just?"
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
Heh. That was good... except for one little thing.
"Bearfish? You mean Experiment 672-alpha-86-B? Uno, kindly send Cinque and Sein the file on that particular creation when you have a moment."
"Of course, Doct-"
"Wait. Just send them Appendices A and B. They will neither need nor understand the file itself."
"...'List of Bearfish Casualties and Fatalities' and 'Bearfish Behavioral Paradoxes: Why Honey and Water Don't Mix'?"
"Yes! Precisely!"
"......if you say so, Doctor."
**********
"Yes, I know all about your little bear collection. How have you held onto those for so long, anyway? The Doctor-"
"The Doctor... believes strongly in the concept of efficiency. For so long as we remain effective, our eccentricities will be tolerated."
"...'eccentricities', huh?"
"Yes, Sein. Eccentricities. Deviations from intended spec, if you prefer- such as my interest in culture, or your... colorful... personality."
"Yay! I'm colorful!"
"...yes. Yes, you are. Now, stop it.You need to take this seriously! You, more than any of us, are at risk. If you ever- ever!- fail to meet expectations..."
"I know, Cinque. I've always known.Something went right when the Doctor made me. I'm an aberration- more human, psychologically, than I was 'supposed' to be. I realized the danger within a week of waking up.Haven't you noticed how I never retreat, even when I'm permitted the option? How you had to go save me from the Syndicate, because I tried to steal more than just the Relic? I've been making a point of always doing more than expected, always giving 110% in everything I'm ordered to do, just so that the Doctor isn't... disappointed in me. So far, it's worked."
"...wait, you knew?! Then why-"
"-do I keep acting out? Why don't I start acting like some sort of mind-numbed robot, the way I was supposed to?"
"...I am not a robot. Mind-numbed, or otherwise."
"Never said you were, sis!Anyway, I can't change how I act now. If I did that, it'd give up the game. The Doc would know I was snowballing him, and then-"
"...indeed."
"That, and it's fun! I'd try and get you to try it, but..."
"It would not look good if I did."
"Well, yeah! Not that you could pull it off, anyway."
"...oh, no. You've pulled that on Imma enough- I'm not going to fall for it.Speaking of Imma, what are you...?"
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I enjoy spending time with him, but there's something else... Something... more, almost. He makes me smile; I'm not sure why....I want more of that."
"Sein?"
"Yes?"
"I don't believe I could have put it better, myself."
"Cinque! You, too?"
"To a degree, yes....I haven't been able to say anything to him about it, though."
"That's okay!...neither have I..."
...
"...you know, I think I was wrong earlier. The fish are kind of cute."
"Aren't they just?"
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.