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[skitter]

Comments

[tarakan]

Do you think I would try to inject you with virus?

[skitter]

No, I'm an unknown variable in any controlled experiment you might run, I'm not human. But I don't want anyone testing any virus on anyone aboard.

[tarakan]

[ Smart thinking, he thinks but doesn't say. ]

In hypothetical world where I did have samples, I would not inject anyone to begin with. The decima virus needs to be carefully treated, with regular check-ups to maintain stability. I would not just jab someone and watch what happens—completely irresponsible.

So considering that there is very little chance I would be able to run those tests and check-ups in first place, you have nothing to worry about.

[skitter]

Mmhm. That's good to hear.

[#doubt]

So should be a nice simple month for both of us.

[tarakan]

Assuming Admiral does not wreck ship again, yes it will

[skitter]

You weren't even aboard when he wrecked the ship.

[tarakan]

But I was aboard during most recent round of nonsense. Tell me, did he tell wardens that this was a fugitive ship when they agreed to work?

[skitter]

No idea, didn't come aboard as a warden. I knew before I agreed, though.

[tarakan]

So you graduated?

[ There's a pause and a frown before, ] You must either desperately want whatever your deal is or have become numb to Barge's normal level of ridiculousness.

[skitter]

Doctor Hilbert, for me, with the world I come from, the Barge is a haven of peace and stability.

[tarakan]

Second option then.

[ There's a pause before, ]

I will give Barge this much. Ports can be nice. It takes certain sort of personality to agree to multiyear space voyage where you see the same people every day. Ports provide variety.

[skitter]

[There's a quiet laugh.]

I appreciate the ports. Some of them, anyway. And I've got plenty of people here I'd stay for, too. One I'll leave for, after I get two or three deals.

[tarakan]

[ There's another pause before Hilbert continues with, ]

In that case, I hope your first inmate is quick job. You are young. Seems ridiculous to spend prime of your life here.

[skitter]

My first deal will save 8 billion people. I'm happy to spend whatever it takes.

[tarakan]

[ The more he learns about Taylor, the more he likes her. A deal to save that many people? That's someone who's thinking smart. Who's using the opportunity wisely and making good choices with the situation in front of her. He'd like to think he'd do the same if he was a warden.

He's not entirely sure if he would. But, then again, it's useless to focus on what-ifs and roads not taken, not when you've got problems you can grapple with right in front of you. ]

What are those eight billion people suffering from? Why do they need to be saved?

[skitter]

[She smiles, can he hear it?]

You aren't going to like this.

I don't know. I just know my world gets depopulated violently between 2 and 3 years after my death. And I know that because a little girl who can see the future told me.

[tarakan]

[ A very frustrated pause. ]

You are right.

I do not like that.

[skitter]

My world's like that. Dinah is, unfortunately for everyone especially her, extremely reliable. She predicts the future in probabilities. 80 percent chance the depopulation begins in two years, 100 percent chance by 15. Whenever it begins, 100 percent chance it's complete inside a year. Everyone doesn't die at once, but it begins with a massive die-off, and then the numbers trickle down to zero in drops and jumps. If we'd killed Jack Slash, that 80 chance would have moved to 8 years away, but the 15 year date didn't change. But we don't know what questions to ask to get who, or even what is the actual cause. Got lots of ideas - we have three giant monsters called Endbringers mooching about, after all - but nothing certain.

[tarakan]

You should be friends with Doug Eiffel. He also likes to mention people's names without context.

[ It's said in more of a teasing tone than anything argumentative. ]

I assume Jack Slash is some sort of ridiculous supervillain?

[skitter]

I am a ridiculous supervillain. Jack Slash is a serial killer with superpowers and a body count in the tens of thousands.

[tarakan]

In between serial killer with superpowers, giant monsters, and whatever nonsense you have not told me yet, miracle your world has eight billion people in the first place.

[skitter]

We've only had all the nonsense for 29 years, give it time.

[tarakan]

You do realize that even if you solve problem of mass depopulation, there is chance something else might happen afterwards. Something psychic has not predicted yet.

[skitter]

I'm taking this one. Others will take the next one.

[tarakan]

Smart. [ He lets out a little 'hmm' before, ] Suspect it will be same with my work. Eventually, virus will develop that is resistant to decima. But I would have laid steps for others to pick up where I left off.