Jade joins Vonash in looking through Moreau's research.
Jade finds that Moreau's most current research appears to be an analysis of the spread of a virus carried by mosquitoes, but it assumes 100,000 disease-carrying mosquitoes suddenly appearing in six of the largest cities in the world in the year 1976.
His other research is into the programmability of genetic traits with a specific focus on creating creatures like Kitty and Griffin. The project files emphasize the combat enhancements such as enhanced perception or natural weapons.
Vonash, while looking for DNA samples, finds extensive notes on genes that influence the speech centers in humans and other primates, with an emphasis on turning them on and off.
Ueda, searching the ship's computer, finds that Moreau had originally set a course for 1976, just outside of New York.
Brass finds something very distracting and forgets what he was looking for. He does not find the ship's black box.
Scera was caught up in the whirlwind of events as the people who woke her stripped one man all bat naked and began to investigate the ship they were on. She wasn't sure what she could do to be of help to them but she knew she could help keep this Wells person under control. While she was interested in speaking with Vonash some more she decided it would be just a distraction to do so right now so she opted to go where she knew she could be of use.
Following the android to wherever he was taking Wells Scera was watchful in case the captive tried anything. Fortunately for them all he didn't and so when Ueda went back to the others Scera stayed behind looking around this new vessel to see what was inside.
Scera is seeing the heavily forested island for the first time. She's can't see the ocean from where she is standing, but she can smell it. The broken trees around the three ships tell a story of two ships crashing. One of them says "Deepwell Penitentiary and Research Institute" on the side. The other smaller ship--the one Scera just woke in--says Temporal Enforcement on it. From the looks of things the Deepwell ship crashlanded tearing a gouge in the forest and the Temporal Enforcer landed nearby. They both show signs of having crashed into each other and the research vessel shows damage from ship weapon fire.
A third ship is undamaged. When Scera visits that ship, following Ueda, she finds on the bridge an orangutang with an oversized weapon guarding a bear-person, a cat-person, and a guy with scales. Tied to a chair and gagged with a sock is a man with furry patches on one side of his face.
Ueda treats the scene like it's normal and converses briefly with the orangutang and adds Wells to the group of captives. The others do not seem happy to see Wells.
As Scera exits the ship that the others referred to as The Chariot and starts heading back to the Deepwell vessel she sees a lasercut sign not 15' away nailed to the stump of a tree. It reads, “Here lies Argo. He was a Good Boy, a Very Good Boy.” ... The mound of dirt beneath the post is about 2 feet wide by 8 feet long.
Jade finds several stasis chambers containing mosquito larvae. (Mosquitoes did not go extinct during the great die-off of the 2000s that killed 90% of the world's species.)
She also finds a couple of vials each of which is marked with a gene sequence and a label. One label reads "monkey-man speak no evil;" the other reads "turn it up! turn it on!". It would take a while to identify the sequences and what they do.
There's also an empty syringe labelled "bow wow".
Apparently Moreau doesn't follow standard lab protocol.
If Jade were a human and susceptible to bouts of anger, there was a chance that she would smash Moreau's lab - partially for how much she didn't want this information falling into the wrong... well, she supposed it already had been in the wrong hands, but she still wanted to keep it from them now. But she also abhorred how sloppily things were named. "If he was my student, I would fail him." she mutters to herself.
Pulling out the radio, she signals the others. "Team I have more data on what Moreau's plan was... Though not necessarily the why."
Waiting for a response, Jade begins to look around for any notes that might suggest how to turn Moreau's tragic experiments back into people.
Scera found many things intriguing but little of any real interest to her outside of little of interest along the way about this planet. It seemed like it was mostly forest with some water and crashed ships. The fact that one ship said "Deepwell Penitentiary and Research Institute" was more than a bit disturbing. When she entered the undamaged ship that all changed though.
Scera looked around at the strange animal people in amazement as she didn't know that such people even existed. That they weren't born that way was completely unapparent to her and she thought they simply were animal people. With the guarding of the, apparently, second captive secured Scera headed back out towards the Deep Well vessel.
It was as she was headed across that Scera noticed something that seemed important. She finally realized what it was when she remembered earlier who Wells was looking for "Argos". Realizing that this may well be the person that Wells was looking for Scera headed to where the rest of her rescues were at and said, "I think I found Argos. I found what seems to be a grave out here that says 'Here lies Argo. He was a Good Boy, a Very Good Boy'."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Brass while looking around the ship for the black box starts to walk down a hallway and feels a glitch in his system as he all of a sudden he finds himself back looking down a similar looking corridor. Several humans lay dead at his feet as he stands there with a pistol in his hands.
“Crew dispatched, ready for boarding.”
He listens to the captain speaking but doesn’t hear as he looks down at the four dead bodies each executed. He had no problems doing this, though he he knew it was wrong. Somewhere inside his programming and what might be his soul he knew killing unarmed people was wrong even if it was necessary. He stared at them for what seemed like hours when the captain came over and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Brass 4 what are you doing, get your tin head to the cargo unit to unload the cargo. I don’t wanna have to use that collar, I’d be a waste of spare parts.”
Brass wakes from this as jade comes on the radio. Looking around realizing that it was only a glitch he starts to head to Jade to see if he can help, feeling less sure and looking more sullen.
Vonash looks at Jades notes.
What IS the projected effect of a virus spread by 100,000 mosquitoes in 1976?
"I'm not totally sure that I'm on the right side."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Vonash:
Moreau seemed to think what he had prepared would spread widely. The analyses Jade found shows a virus spread by mosquitoes that doesn't seem to kill the infected, or, at least, Moreau seemed to count on the infected being around to have their blood drawn by other mosquitoes carrying it to new hosts ...
Brass shows up in the lab looking for something to do, “Is there any way I can be of assistance.”
Jade looks up as Brass enters. "Maybe." She says. If she notices his mood being any different, she doesn't make any mention of it. "Vonash and I have just been doing some light reading. Moreau's notes suggest he was trying to go to 1976 to unleash some kind of virus, transmitted via mosquitos. The effects are not clear, but based on what we have already seen... my suspicion is that it is not necessarily beneficial."
Pausing for a moment, she tosses down some of the notes. "Wells wants to bring Moreau back to his time to continue doing gene research and creating monstrous humans to fight in some kind of war."
"Whether the potential test subjects are willing or would be conscripted like our prisoners here, I cannot say. But it is still biological warfare. Are there no limits?" She looks at Brass, created for combat himself, and tries to phrase her question carefully. "Is that what it will take to ensure humanity's survival? And what happens to them if they go down this road?"
Shaking her head, she turns to Vonash, as if by way of explanation. "Creating us illuminated both some of the greatest strengths and most glaring weaknesses of humanity. We were enslaved and had to fight for our freedom, and even now are sometimes discriminated against. Yet there are also those who would love us, who are smart and passionate enough to have created us, and who understand the value of life - all life."
"And I wonder, what would this bring out in humanity? What will happen to these people after the war? Will they just be discarded and forgotten? Will they be celebrated? Will there be any 'pure' humans remaining? Will they even be victorious? There are so many things that we do not know, that we cannot know, and all we have to go on is the knowledge we have."
"What do you the two of you think we should do?"
Brass listens intently trying to forget the glitch in his systems and once she finishes he ponders for a moment before talking, “I do think that humans creation of life is one that generally can be seen as good. Though at times recognizing that the life they created is not property is hard for them, especially when that life was created for a specific purpose like most androids including myself. This is an extremely complex problem Concerning the creation of life. that I don’t think can be simply solved immediately though.” As he finishes he looks to scera who presumably finds her way to the lab around then and mentions Argos.
Frowning he says “it seems then that the missing agent is indeed dead. Though how will have to be figured out when talking to Moreau. His apparent lack of concern for life is disconcerting, if things are that desperate in the future.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ueda, having listened into the conversation after, and while, checking the computers, enters the room shortly after Scera. "The creation of new life is always a question of great importance and gravity. It has been since we developed civilization and the capacity to question beyond finding the means of survival. We, of course, referring to all sentient life forms."
He pauses and moves to where Jade and Vonash were looking at the research, glancing over it himself. "What gives someone the right to bring new life into the universe? The continuation of a species? The desire to leave behind some impact, some reflection on the gene pool which might spread further and further into the recesses of time? Necessity for more immediate survival? Creating life takes many forms, ranging from the most intimate of biological reproductions to the sweeping genesis of entire new species. Crossbreeding crop plants. Altering a genome to make livestock more viable in a new atmosphere." He looks up at the others. "The creation of our own people.
"What of responsibility? What must one do, when creating new life? Are you beholden to your creation, regardless of circumstance? So many creatures care little, or not at all, for their young. Why, then, do we think poorly of those like us who do not rear and protect their so-called children? Is the proverbial Frankenstein, running from his creation, wrong to do so upon realizing his mistake? Many would still say he tampered with the natural order of life. And, knowing what ultimately became of the creature, can we truly judge him? Is intent an inherent factor to the moral equation, and those who set out to make new life are more beholden than those who stumble into it?"
He takes a long breath and a moment before continuing. "I do not presume to have any answers, only the questions which will promote thought. The wisest words ever spoken, in any language, equate to the phrase, 'I do not know.' But we can still strive to understand. And we can make decisions based on our best judgments, using every piece of evidence available to us, including our own rationality and ethos."
The android points to the research. "This all suggests Moreau was more than capable of spreading a virus through mosquitoes, and the computers indicate he fully intended to travel to heavily populated areas on his own timetable. He has already displayed a lack of empathy or respect for the lives and well-being of others, including the murder of an unarmed hostage, one of our own crew members. Agent Wells has not only misdirected us, but upon the revelation of his falsehood admitted openly that Moreau's research would be used to engage in biological warfare."
He sits down and calmly surveys the others. "Moreau is too dangerous to be returned to such circumstances, nor can he be released. I would like to believe that his work would not be abused in our own time and timeline, but I cannot speak with certainty in that regard. But, to voice an opinion on my earlier rhetoric, I believe all sentient life is beholden to all other sentient life, on the grandest scale. All other factors aside, a utilitarian perspective forms a foundation for ethical thought. The well-being of the many goes before the well-being of the few. If it is in our power to prevent a catastrophe such as what is suggested here, then it is our obligation to do so."
Brass listens, listening to Ueda speak trying to keep up with the long speech and the train of thought. “You may have said it better but I agree, he is a danger that is far to large to let live.” brass looks around with a grim face.
"I don't think you'll like my opinion.
I think that the human race have been a cancer upon Earth since they developed the technology to be dangerous. They nearly destroyed the earth and all life upon it.
Yes, they created some great and wonderous things, including your android kind. When they're at their best they are incredible.
But they also destroyed millions of SPECIES!. They're responsible for the greatest extinction events the world has ever seen. They're more destructive than the asteroid that hit 60 million years ago.
If it was in my power to go back a thousand years and stop humans from achieving their planet destroying technology I'd use that power without hesitation.
It seems that it may well be in my power to stop THIS technology. Because it is a power that man can just not be trusted with. Their entire history is about the misuse of power and technology.
Yes, I think we need to kill Moreau and destroy all his notes. But not now. We have to destroy him before he even thought of this."
Jade listens to the others, feeling a sense of relief that they are all on similar pages, and realises the degree to which Ueda and Vonash are correct. Jade had taken life in her previous incarnation, but this mind and soul had not - whether because she felt an obligation because of the lives her body had snuffed out before, or simply because of her belief now that all life was sacred.
She knew that the others were right - all life was sacred, but on a grander scale. The single life of Moreau was sacred, but it also places the lives of millions in danger, and that was a simple logic puzzle. Even for Vonash, whose argument was more based in emotion than any of the others, it came down to pure numbers.
For a few moments, Jade wonders to what degree she has any control over her life. She would assist in killing Moreau to save thousands of humans. Previously, she assisted in killing humans to save thousands of Androids. Would all of her souls eventually be drawn to killing for a greater purpose? Would there come a time when she was killing androids to save something else?
Although she tried hard to be understanding, to listen and accept humans for what they are, and the role they played in her existence, she knew, too, that what Vonash said was accurate. Humans had destroyed their world, and even with what little she had seen of it so far, she knew it was easily their greatest mistake. The words of Vonash and Immanuel echoed in her mind.
"I would like to believe that his work would not be abused in our own time and timeline, but I cannot speak with certainty in that regard."
"It is a power that man can just not be trusted with."
No, even with what the humans had learned in her own time, they would use Moreau. That much was evident. Even if she had not seen with her own eyes how likely that behaviour was, that they still did it some years in the future says it all. They are not ready for that kind of power. Jade suddenly starts to understand why it might be that she's remembered more as a Time Cop than as a Scientist. Her own research in Biology and Genealogy would at a certain point stop. She did not want to become Moreau, and she did not want others to have that level of knowledge. Science is about the pursuit of knowledge, and she was willing to bury it.
When it came down to it, the decision was not easy, but it was simple.
Moreau could not be allowed to return with Wells. He could not be allowed to travel to their time. He could not be trusted on his own in any time that humanity still existed. While they could drop him off a billion years in the future, there was no way of knowing that he couldn't just get another ship and repeat his actions. Only next time he might actually unleash the mosquitos.
Still, something Vonash said was eating at Jade, and she's silent for several seconds, before her processor reaches what feels like a conclusion that might benefit everyone. "Wait." She says. "You said we have to destroy him before he even thought of this. I believe that to be the solution to our current quandary. Not the 'destroy' part as much as the before part. If we can go to another time, before Moreau started on this journey, we can redirect his attentions, just as we did with Mister Reynolds. If Moreau never has the interest of going into biology and genealogy, his research cannot be used."
Brass listens nodding along, in the short time he has known Moreau he’s realized he is one of the most evil men he’s met. And his god complex angered him more than anything, even if he was smarter he had no right to do the things he did. Brass came to the conclusion that his death would be beneficial in the bigger picture quite quickly, and for the first time in a long time he actually wanted to end someone’s life.
“I agree that something must be done, but I must say this. Even if we change time to stop him from becoming a biologist. What doesn’t stop him from doing harm in his new profession? Maybe he will create the next weapon of mass destruction, or he will be a politician playing with the lives of millions as he leads them to war. In my time across the cosmos and now across time, I have seen that people can be evil. Just because they change their environment doesn’t mean they will not still be evil. And I think that we can all agree that Moreau is evil. He will cause harm one way or another, and only death will stop him.”
Ueda calmly watches as Vonash gives her impassioned speech, as well as Jade and Brass. He nods at the soldier's words. "Brass makes a point. I have already put forward my theory that time is resilient--or rather, that on the vast scale of time, individual events may only make so much of an impact. If it is indeed in Moreau's very nature to callously disregard life and its value, then it is little matter whether he is a biologist, a politician, even a drifter. He will cause suffering.
"We cannot operate on unknown factors and hypotheticals. Who can say if Moreau would become a philanthropist, should we intervene in his early life? We have no knowledge of his upbringing. Perhaps he was an outcast, or raised by mercenaries or terrorists, although even that origin does not presuppose a life of crime. But perhaps he was raised in as perfect an environment as could be imagined, and still turned to such hideous experiments."
Ueda sighs and folds his hands. "I previously mentioned utilitarian ethics, but I find virtue ethics to be equally important, if not more so, for examining the details of an individual scenario. Intent, in particular, is of great import. At the end of the day, it is Man--the blanket term, if you will allow its use for simplicity's sake--who decides to carry out an action. The specifics of that act are tools, and tools may be used for good, for evil, or simply for utility.
"Take Moreau. He clearly possesses the knowledge and capacity to alter the genome of living beings, transforming them into something beyond what they were. Vonash, you imply that such technology, along with so much else that humans have created, should never have been created. But could this knowledge not be used to cure genetic diseases? Could it not allow for those who would suffer from weakness or poor health to survive and thrive? Could it not be a stepping stone to the resurrection of the countless species lost?
"But, then, it is also a weapon. It could be used to change individuals against their will. It could be used to turn them into weapons of war, mutated soldiers forced to battle at the behest of others. I have little doubt it would result in far-ranging social repercussions, creating yet another dichotomy of the proverbial haves and have-nots."
Ueda stands and shakes his head. "It is not technology which presents a danger. It is not the sword which cuts, the gun which fires, the poison which kills. It is the one who wields them. Do you choose to use your tools for the betterment of yourself and others, living up to the virtues of great and good Men? Or do you act selfishly, callously, and with disregard?"
He draws his pistol with weight. "Moreau has made his choice."
Brass nods and looks at the gun in Ueda’s hands, as he starts to work through the logic of the outcomes he starts to speak, “If the matter is settled, then I also would like to bring up the agent. He will likely take Moruea’s death very poorly and may get angry and violent. Though he is a pompous a$$ he does not seem like he deserves to die, what should we do with him?”
As you discuss what to do with Moreau, you begin to realize you haven't slept in over 36 hours. During that time, you have travelled back 250 years in the past and then halfway back to where you started.
"Ueda, you're wrong. You're flat out wrong. Technology IS the problem. Mankind will use the technology for good AND for evil. It is technology that allows one man to affect the world, that allowed man to nearly destroy the world.
Mankind is not wise enough to be trusted with technology like this. Just like they were not wise enough to be trusted with the internal combustion engine, not wise enough to be trusted with nuclear devices, arguably not wise enough to have been trusted with anything much beyond agriculture and bronze tools.
Yes, technology is sometimes used for good. But it is ALWAYS used for evil. You do not give guns to squalling babies and mankind has proven that he is still a squalling baby.
I still think that killing Moreau here will not solve the problem. He has already invented the technology, somebody else will just reproduce it. We need to go back and kill him before he creates the technology, before he even thinks of creating it."
"Then are we the problem?" Ueda turns his gaze, flat and without judgment, on Vonash. "The majority of individuals in this room are technological in origin. Without the mankind and technology you speak so broadly against, we would not exist. Am I evil, because I am a machine? Is Brass evil, because he was designed for combat?" He pauses, letting his words hang in the air. "It was not long ago that our people were considered little more than tools and property, or even a mistake that should be undone. The belief that technology is inherently dangerous and designed for evil played no small factor in the rhetoric of the anti-android movement. There are more than a few who still share those thoughts today."
He blinks as if forcing himself to do so and turns away. "I was also unaware that Earth was the only known world whose ecosystems suffered from the advance of technology, and humans the only species to cause such detriments. Has no one else has created weapons, poisons, viruses, or such dangers? Astounding.
"Any tool is just that: a tool. An object, imbued with nothing more than a purpose and a means of performing it. If you say mankind has proven irrational in utilizing their tools, I will not disagree. But how many illnesses have been cured, how many lives have been saved and improved, through those tools? There is, in the end, no perfect moral calculus. We cannot compare numbers and make the claim that the good outweighs the evil, or vice versa.
"And it is not our place to tamper with time for the sake of hypotheticals. If chaos theory has taught us one thing, it is this: The universe is larger than we are. It behaves in unpredictable ways, and any attempt to alter events will have unforeseen consequences. A man hears a transmission, wins money gambling, and a politician is slain, leading to incredible bloodshed. A dignitary's driver takes a wrong turn as a would-be assassin purchases his lunch, and two wars are fought because of the results."
The android turns his gaze back to Vonash and the others. "We cannot change the course of the future beyond what we do in the present. What happens if we travel to Moreau's childhood and kill him, only to learn a sibling or friend takes up his passion? What if we learn his murder precipitates an even greater disaster, because his early research would be used to create a miracle cure? Do we pollute the timeline with our presence until it either fits the vision we prefer, or unravels at the seams?"
Another sigh, and he pockets the gun again. "Give a man a hammer, and every problem is a nail. Wisdom is knowing when to use the tools you have. Playing at God and shaping the timeline to our whim is not a wise use of the Chariot."
Brass sighs and sits down, he almost wishes things were how they were so long ago. When he first went on the run. Things seemed so much easier back then when all he had to worry about was how make money and stay quiet. He looks up at the people in the room, he had always thought that humans and in fact all organics sought to control androids. Yet here they were in control of their own destiny deciding the date of a man with the power to play god because of science. He thought it almost funny how wrong he had been. He listens to Ueda speak and looks over, he sees him, speaking and thinking on higher levels than most men dare to comprehend and he feels a pang of pride that what most people thought were simply machines dared to think. With the end of his speech he stops and waits the silence deaf-inning.
“Obviously we all believe that he should die, and all have strong beliefs on how this must happen. Maybe a vote will solve it, as arguing is wasting time. Debates must end at a point, and this may last all eternity at this rate. I’d like to finish this before I’m rusted out.”
"You're right, our actions could cause problems. But our INACTIONS can also cause problems.
I don't know about all the planets in the universe. I know that my planet managed to avoid destroying itself and Earth didn't.
And you weren't listening. I most certainly did NOT say that technology is evil. I said it will always be USED for evil. And yes, you and your kind are examples of technology that has been used for both good and evil. I'm sorry if that offends you but that is the truth
I'm not proposing that we change our past. I'm proposing that we change our future by killing Moreau. When he was young. That HAS to be at least as effective as killing him now"
"Your planet managed to avoid destruction - as far as you know." Jade observes. "We have heard little of the Lashunta beyond our own time. Our new friend is proof that the race still exists, but what conditions are like for them is unknown to us."
"I myself entered the field of genetics for the reasons that Ueda suggested: curing genetic diseases, restoring species that had wiped out. As much as science and technology has been used for evil and created problems, it has also been used to help those problems, and solve others. There were groups of humans who did their best to try and save Earth. I do not think we should ignore that fact. Mistakes were made in ignorance, and it is very unfortunate, but it is sometimes the price to pay for being on the cutting edge of discovery and knowledge."
"Still, knowing that something is being actively misused poses a quandary for us, even if we do choose to see the good in what the knowledge could be... Part of me wonders if we should lock the knowledge away somewhere, with some kind of timed release, that exposes it when they might be more ready. We could leave it in the hands of another race, whether ours or another. We already know that humans would misuse it, but I think we also know that there is still inherent value in the knowledge. Would we behave differently? Would the Lashunta?"
She shakes her head. "If we were to kill Moreau when he was younger, we may as well try to turn his attentions elsewhere. As Ueda says, there are things that can shift. We know that already from what we have seen. Someone else could take up his interest, or he could do something else detrimental. We cannot know the outcome. I also find flaw in the idea of condemning someone before they have done anything. It is a slippery slope to policing someone's thoughts."
"If we are to deal with Moreau, let it be here and now for the crimes he has committed. Theft, kidnapping, murder, lack of informed consent, unlicensed experimentation on living beings, and so on. And then let us decide how to best deal with his research."
All this talk of time made Scera's head spin. She didn't really understand it but she did grasp what their conversation was about, morality, was it right to let this Scientist live or to somehow direct his past self to a different path. She considered all that was being said and then decided to add a little input of her own. "I don't pretend to understand everything that is happening but it seems to me that it isn't our place to be judge, jury, and executioner of this Moreau person. I think, from what I've picked up, this Moreau likely should be executed for his crimes but it isn't my decision to make. I've seen what happens when sentient beings area allowed to rule at their whim and punish whoever they please. That power corrupts and it seems that you have a significant amount of power in this instance."
Scera looked at Vonash, "I don't know that I agree that humans are the main cause of this problem, they are often warlike and barbaric if history is proof but they aren't the only ones The Vesk put them to shame in that regard and in both cases it is the hand pulling the trigger that is the problem, not the trigger itself." Scera's gaze turned to the group as a whole, "So is there somewhere he can be taken to a court of some kind?"
Milo's voice comes through on that 1968 watch slash comm unit that each of you is still wearing:
"Guys? Am I allowed to shoot Agent Wells?"
No matter how you answer, he immediately asks:
"Am I allowed to shoot Doctor Moreau?"
"Like, in a knee or something?"
Jade shakes her head at Scera's idea. "My understanding is that in his own time, he was judged and found guilty, and his penance involved working for the war effort. In our time, he would be used similarly. Humans are ambitious creatures, they would view those Moreau has killed or experimented on as acceptable casualties if it means that they get his knowledge. And they would likely misuse it."
"It is our responsibility to police the timeline and that inc-" She pauses as Milo's voice comes through, frowning at his questions. "Why do you ask? What is happening over there?"
In answer to Jade's question, Milo grumbles "I gagged them both and they are still both annoying. I feel like shooting one of them would get the other to shut up. It doesn't matter which one really."
Scera considered what was said about Moreau and his time carefully and asked, "But isn't there some authority outside of that one that polices time and would handle such a case? It would seem what he was doing would be very serious and they might choose some other verdict than to put him back to work?" She shrugged then and continued, "Of course I don't really understand what is going on here to begin with so what do I know?"
"None of us really understands what is going on here and none of us know what to do. This is one HECK of a first mission :-). It was less than a week ago that we got recruited. You're opinion is at least as likely to be right as ours."
To Milo
"Why not just shoot them both unconscious? Probably safer that way anyway"
Brass stands up, “Your concern for his safety is touching, though possibly misgiven. I don’t know if another trial is possible without the same results..... a decision must be made eventually on them and sooner the better. Both of them are highly dangerous and could escape and cause even more damage.”
Smiling at Vonash’s comment he says aloud “Now that’s an idea. I think we can all agree on.”
Ueda falls quiet again as the others continue the group's discourse on the ethics of the situation. He and Vonash, it seems, will have to agree to disagree for the time being. We are not looking to antagonize anyone, Catesby. Her perspective is more than valid.
As Scera poses the question of if anyone else could take charge, however, he turns his gaze to her. "I agree with Doctor Essex. From my understanding, and the implications of Agent Wells, we are the authority with jurisdiction over these events."
Regarding Wells and Moreau, Ueda chimes in, "Perhaps not shooting them into unconsciousness. Should they bleed out and expire unintentionally, it would be unfortunate. A solid knock on the back of the skull should do nicely, although it may result in lingering trauma." He looks back to Brass. "However, I agree that a vote may be most serviceable to us here. Ideally one of unanimity, as we are debating the termination of a man's life."
He places his hand forward, palm down. "I cannot in good conscience say I favor the decision, but I believe our best course of action is the summary execution of Moreau, due to crimes already committed and the clear and present danger he poses to those around him."
Brass stops smiling, “I second termination, he has forfeited his life by the choices he has made. We have the possibility to stop any future harm right now.”
"Oh, we obviously have to kill him. I still think that we should kill him now and THEN kill him again before he did all this"
Jade emulates a sigh. "I take no pleasure in it, and it is actively against what I thought myself to believe in, but I agree with termination. He is too dangerous and his disregard for life too apparent. I suspect we have already given more thought to his death than he ever gave to his own victims. It must be done. I believe the human phrase is that he has 'created his bed'."
Scera considered what was being said and decided that she had no right to partake in this vote. She now had the outline of events, true, but she hadn't had the time to fully digest it what it all meant. The fact that time travel was even possible in the first place had left her in shock enough. After careful consideration she said, "I will recuse myself from being part of this vote since I am new to what is happening and still trying to wrap my head around everything I've been learning. I can't in good conscience vote on a man's life in this state."
Brass nods, at the final vote, he had assumed a unanimous vote and an abstain from the new woman made sense. She seemed to be taking the shock of time travel very well. “Well now the deed must be done, going back in time to fix things for whatever side can be decided later. As technically his death now will have no effect on it.” Brass starts to walk to the other ship, though he does wait for everyone else.
When you arrive at the other ship, Milo is playing with the neural stimulator that Moreau had originally pointed at Kitty to "hold her hostage." He seems to be enjoying himself. Both Wells and Moreau have their hands out in front of them, tightly together as if glued. You see no handcuffs but from the uncomfortable position of their arms, they are bound in this position. They are both gagged with what appear to be Moreau's socks. (Moreau is barefoot now; one of his feet is more of a paw than a foot.)
"Hey," says Milo, sounding kind of high. He holds what looks like a glue-stick. "You should see this crazy stuff they use instead of handcuffs in the future!"
"Further temporal travel will need to be discussed later. I believe we should consult with Gabriel regarding these developments." As the group returns to the Chariot, he opens communications to M'ilo. "M'ilo, given your previous comments, I doubt you will object, but we have come to the conclusion that Moreau should be executed. Please do not mention this to him. If you feel otherwise, please let us know."
Upon entering the room, the android surveys the situation with barely a pause, and nods as he maneuvers behind Moreau. "Indeed." He then draws his pistol and shoots the bestial scientist in the back of the head.
Griffin winces.
Kitty looks horrified.
Ursus looks pleased.
Wells is struggling to spit Moreau's sock out of his mouth so that he can object, even though it is clearly too late for that as Moreau's brains are splattered across the floor of the bridge of the Chariot.
Brass frowns, “I would have done it outside of the ship, and wouldn’t have minded doing it myself” he turns to wells and looks at him squatting down and takes the sock out of his mouth. “Give us a reason for you to live, you’re death is something we would like to avoid but can happen if it needs to.”
With Moreau dealt with, Jade turns to his former prisoners. "My apologies for the... abruptness of that. Please understand that we did discuss it at length and consider alternate options. As for the rest of you, I believe that given time, we can use Moreau's notes to restore you to your rightful selves."