3. [VIDEO] Good at paranoia, not diagnosis

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia's bundled up in a robe; her face is waxy-pale with heat-reddened cheeks; she's reached the point where she's stopped sweating. She is having obvious difficulty breathing]

This is becoming intolerable.

For the last three days I have said nothing, assuming that the basic decency of our captors would see this rectified. I have no more patience!

Why does nobody else noticed the increased gravitational pull? Why hasn't this been corrected? Are the life support systems malfunctioning? It would explain how inhumanely cold it is. The food's quality is steeply declining day by day; it offers neither savor (which I hardly expect!) or the nutritional content to provide basic energy. This is-

[She breaks off into a wet cough, diving offscreen to muffle it in something that she can burn later. Phlegm. Disgusting.]

How can I fail to mention the quality of the air! Some large molecular contaminant-- pollution from poorly maintained equipment, I can only assume-- is making breathing more and more of a labor. I could tolerate it, perhaps, if these beds could provide restful sleep, but they do not!

The rest of you may ignore this campaign to weaken and exhaust the inmates of the vessel, but I demand better treatment.

Comments

[no_fastolfe]

'Stupid?' Do you consider it better to live in filthy, body taxing itself to death in a matter of nine or ten decades. or to use the capacity of the human brain to create a world where humanity can advance free of such avoidable obstacles?

If so than your mindset is quite like that of an Earther, Lord Rassilon.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

I call it stupid to manage to get rid of your immune system. That's not being very prepared, is it?

And my dear, I am a billion years old and invented a way for the body to regenerate when on the brink of death. I think that's a better solution than creating a body that gets killed by a simple cold.

[no_fastolfe]

They have such technology on the barge, I am told; my death will not be lasting.

In time we will build ourselves physically; but we will build nothing if we are constantly slave to illness and need.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

The death toll isn't regeneration. You still die and then get revived. And it only works on the barge anyway.

My people built quite a lot without killing our immune system. [So, so very amused.] Perhaps you should try genetic engineering. [As if those humans could.]

[no_fastolfe]

We use genetic screening, which is far more than the Earthers bother. Our population is almost uniformly free from defect, and our command of robotics is unparalleled within my own context. Only Solaria surpasses Aurora-- and they are gone.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

And yet you haven't bothered to get actual resistances against illnesses? As I said, not very prepared. Even if you don't have them on Aurora, should you encounter them in some way or another, you're easily weakened or killed.

[no_fastolfe]

Most Aurorans are not summoned against their will to live cheek-by-jowl with Earthers. The average age on Aurora is stable just above five and a half centuries, and I will be the first Auroran to die of infection in at least that amount of time.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Someone might start a war with you, Or smuggle a virus onto Aurora. If even a simple sickness can become a weapon...

[no_fastolfe]

We do not war among ourselves, and Earth is ill equipped to try!

Even it were to be done, then we are not without medical professionals; we are not helpless. I am simply without the resource of competent Auroran medical professionals. There is nothing that the Earther's lifestyle can supply them that we cannot recreate more efficiently.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

There are non-humans out there, too.

Except an immune system. Everything would be easier if you had one. Simply make one, if you're as sophisticated as you say, it shouldn't be that hard to do so. Then you don't need to run to a doctor because of every little cold you might have gotten.

[no_fastolfe]

The human immune system is flawed and fallible; until we can internalize a better system I prefer treatment.

Were I at home I would not have to 'run' to a doctor; my household robots would have noticed that my vital signs were not correct and informed me before I had felt more than the slightest symptom; I could have been treated discretely by a professional.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

[He just snorts.]

Because a malfunction is impossible. I wonder what you'd people do if you were confronted with an unknown sickness. You'd be dead before you could even start searching for a cure.

[no_fastolfe]

If it were so completely unknown, no vaunted Earther immune system would stop it.

Malfunction is not impossible-- but far less probable than the human body failing. I build excellent robots.

[She turns the screen away briefly for another coughing fit]

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Possible -- or maybe you'd adapt.

It's still a good thing to be prepared. Anyone who wanted to harm your people would simply have to try and spread an epidemic. Even with your robots, I wouldn't be surprised if you had quite some losses. At least built up resistances against common things like a cold.

[He leans back.] In case of an emergency like this.

In any case, do get someone to treat you, and try not to spread it.

[no_fastolfe]

Coming in contact with me is one thing that nobody on the barge need fear. I don't wish to leave my room for the discernible future.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I do hate colds. They can be such a bother. Especially if my warden were too get one.

[no_fastolfe]

Leave me out of your intrigues.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

...What intrigues? [What are you even talking about, you crazy human :|]

[no_fastolfe]

It isn't your poorly-concealed desire to have your controller made ill?

[Dubious look]

You've been here too long, Lord President.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

...Actually, I don't want her to be ill, because I don't want to have to listen to any whining. And I certainly don't want her to cook my food while she's sick.

Also, she's not my controller.

And what gives you the impression I've been here too long?

[no_fastolfe]

She cooks your food?

[Eyebrow, meet ceiling]

Your comfort in simply having a warden.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Since the kitchen refuses to provide Gallifreyan food, she does so once a week.

My lover is a warden. And I'd rather I hadn't one, but as it is, it could be worse. I've endured worse insults.

[no_fastolfe]

[She waves a hand, rather limply. She's tired.]

I am uninterested in your sexual games; copulate with whoever you like. You submit to the ethics and the authority of the Barge; you have been here too long.

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

He's been my best friend since I was ten. [So much linefacing.]

And I do not submit, I simply make the best out of the situation. This place may give me a chance to achieve my aims if I'm just patient enough. And aren't the lives of my children worth my patience?

[no_fastolfe]

Copulate with your friend; you will trust him better.

[Vasilia doesn't do sex, or many reasons of her own, and is vaguely annoyed by the subject]

When you have confirmed to whatever their wish of you, will your aims even be the same?