week 9 - sunday

[refactor]

[ So after the trial, Jack will briefly approach Luke, Elizabeth, and Jason and ask all of them to come stop by his room in an hour. Luckily, if it helps them feel more secure about coming to chill with the resident (public) murderer, he does tell them about the other invitees. What does Jack want to talk about, though? He says it's "something you'll want to hear," which is pretty ominous sounding, admittedly.

Though of course, when they show up, Jack is sitting at his desk with his feet perched up on the desk leisurely. He smiles, pleased, and nods to them. ]

Aaaand here we are. Thanks for stopping by, kiddos, [ And to Jason: ] sugartits. You want something to drink? You might want it, 'cause I've got a doozy of a story to spin for all of you.

Comments

[baptizer]

[ Elizabeth's been on the receiving end of these conversations and despite how much bitterness and hate she feels - Jack is useful. She listens, knowing he's done his research and is much more informed on this subject than her. She's not blinded to that. ]

I thought that Alice had just been ... well, it mentions psychological issues - I just thought she had been planting these events to add stress. I spoke with Alice and she seemed almost sympathetic about the variables thrown into the game. [ Re: Aliens. ] But -

[ She looks to Jason and Luke nervously, as if trying to gauge their interest - their opinions. ]

I knew we were some test subjects but since we receive those letters from the dead... I'm a bit more confused. You explained the programming side to me once, Jack and how there's always a key that unlocks a door, it's just a matter of finding it. Is the door we're looking for this - this game?

[antagonize]

Alice is a program. It doesn't matter if she seems sympathetic about what we go through. That's how she was designed to react. [Which is why, honestly, he doesn't whine and moan about the AI. As far as they all know, she's not a person.] Hell. I asked her about Harlan after our alien buddies reared their faces, and you know what she told me? That Harlan wants what's best for us. That they know murder isn't associated with anyone's best interests, but the circumstances behind this whole shit show require us to kill each other off.

[Which is hilarious, really, in a world where hilarious and disgusting are synonymous.]

Unless this whole shindig is an experiment to see how fast you can annihilate a group of people within an enclosed space? You're right. It's strange. There's definitely something up with our bodies as well. [He talked with Adrien about this, but:] Besides the fact that the AI can kill or paralyze us without lifting a finger, there's something else I noticed. I don't know if any of you have messed around with the thermal imager downstairs, but according to it — we should all be dead right now. Our temperature is way below what's healthy for a human being.

[There's also the CAT scanner downstairs. He hasn't messed around with that one, so who knows if it'll reveal something else that's off with their bodies?]

Harlan. The aliens. The letters from the dead. The world's most screwed up video game. It's a pretty damn interesting puzzle to put together, all in all. But it sounds to me like you already have some ideas.

[chiseler]

[Jack that sure is a lot of words. And yet he's incredibly attentive to all of them, probably more engaged than most of them have seen him because a lot of that sort of ties into ideas that were bounced around with another group of three he'd spoken to.

He remembers what Jack said about saving people on the moon and everything and he puts the pieces together easily enough. Jack had mentioned his concerns about the epidemiological issues as well, and though Luke had to do some research himself after that, he figured out enough to start putting ideas together.

The idea that they were ported, more or less, doesn't sit well. And he has information but he's not sure how far he wants to spread that information either. Who are you supposed to trust in a place like this?

He listens to the points Elizabeth and Jason bring up, too, and it's only after catching her eye that he bothers to speak.]

Jason's got a point. Alice is a program, but the thing is she's a corrupted one. Something happened to her, we're not sure what yet. But no, can't say I noticed that we should be dead. [There's a rather flat look. He shouldn't be, but he's prickly about those kind of matters lately. The dead don't think about being dead, etc etc.]

On the other hand…got some information you might be interested in if you can keep it to yourself. [He rolls his eyes to the ceiling.] Supposedly, we've all actually been here for just as long as Alice says. We just lost all of our memories. We were the Pygmalion's last line of defense for the Cradle Project. So. We take that into account with those reports Jack found and what do we have? [He looks back to Jack then.] I gotta agree. Sounds like you already have some ideas.

[refactor]

[ Jack nods along as each of them speaks, looking pleased. Clearly, they're following his line of thinking here, because they're going to the points that he was going to bring up regardless if they hadn't. Talk of keys, of those odd scanners, of all the tiny little inconsistencies that had stood out to him-- He's at least glad that some people are paying attention. It's all the tiny pieces that have to build up together to come to his point and his theory here, so he's at least glad that he won't have to point out quite as many as he was expecting.

Though at what Luke adds, Jack's expression tightens. He's easy to read here, because it seems like this is new information to him, though he doesn't seem too surprised to hear it. It's more like pieces coming together in his head, though of course which pieces that may be isn't so easy to see on his face. ]

That so? I'll keep it to myself, that's for sure, but it's-- [ He breathes out a laugh and sets down his glass. ] It fits. Dddddon't like it, because that, well, what I'm bringing up here doesn't exactly bode well, gotta admit. Where'd you learn that tidbit? Well, wait, I'll get to my last little piece first...

[ He motions towards all of them, but it's with a sharp grin, oddly. ]

Because there's one more part here that none of you could know, but it makes this impossible. [ He motions to himself ] It's me.

[ It might seem like Jack is just talking ego here, but he gets to his point quickly enough. ]

You've gotta bear with me here, because this is where it gets weird to explain, really out there, but Handsome Jack— He's dead. Rhys mentioned it, and he's right. But the fact that I'm standing here before you, that's not 'cause I've been revived or whatever. I've never died. I'm the- the contingency plan, y'see.

[ He seems to be getting uncomfortable here, but not to the point that it seems dangerous for any of them. It's just something deeply personal and something that Jack has very intentionally kept hidden and secret. ]

I'm an AI. But, before you get into philosophical questions here, let me be clear: I am Handsome Jack. All his memories, his experiences, everything, I have it too. I only know I'm an AI because I got uploaded into Rhys's brain, because if not for that? Wouldn't have any idea. It's perception. So. That's my point here. This— [ He motions to himself here, referring to his body ] This isn't possible. This flesh and blood body, can't do it. But you can perceive it to be that way. Because I sure as hell did. So far as I could perceive myself, I was the real deal, even when I was floating around as a hologram in the kid's brain.

So... Given all our little inconsistencies here. The scanners, the way Alice can control us, the way she can speak directly into my head without going through my dataport, everything down to the dead ending up in a game. That's why I said you might want a drink. In some way, what we're perceiving here isn't the truth. Can't be sure how yet. Couldn't tell you if we're all AIs, whether we're some kind of data or what, but it makes sense, even if that's a hell of a thing to wrap your head around.

[ Jack crosses his arms, then breathes out a laugh. ]

Because, if you're thinking epidemiology... You don't use your own people. You use data. You use AI. You simulate every possible scenario of how the end will come, because you have to be damn sure that you're making the right choice when we're talking a "Pelagic genesis." It's the basic cornerstone of the Monte Carlo method, and, hell, we run this kinda shit on the computers on Helios all the time. Using randomness to solve problems that might be deterministic. That's what I'm thinking here. 'Course, Luke's little addition makes that a little more fucked up, but, hey.

[ He shrugs ]

Told you it was a friggin' doozy.

[baptizer]

[ Even if it was brief, it was stupid for Elizabeth to believe Alice cared about them. She was following what she was programmed to do. It's ridiculous and she silences herself soon after the thought. ]

The body temperature makes no sense, you're warm -

[ AWKWARD LOOK TO JASON? She knows. She knows. ]

We're sure the devices weren't broken? [ Tech is dumb. Either way, she doesn't doubt him for much longer as Luke chimes in as well. ] Wait - memories..?

[ Everyone infodumps at once and Elizabeth is catching on fairly quickly. The game, the dead, she's trying her hardest to provide context clues. Future is crazy, y'all. She shoots Jack a few nervous glances when he begins talking - wondering what exactly he's going to tell the group. She seems on edge.

This wasn't what she expects. He hadn't told her that and - oh god. Everyone can see how mortified she looks. A hand going over her mouth, she buckles her knees a little tighter and slumps her shoulders in disbelief. ]

So.. you're suggesting we're all... like you? After everything we've felt, we're - ...we're not real?

[ #1912s ]

[antagonize]

I'm sure. Tested it out on one of the bunsen burners after I noticed. That registered as the correct temperature. [Let's pretend he didn't return that awkward look because, uh. Company.] You might be onto something when you say something is seriously wrong with how we're perceiving things here. The machine says we should feel cold to the touch — or everything else should feel like a furnace, but that's not the case. And what's more, some of us have used body temperature to determine how long it's been since someone got whacked out.

[It doesn't seem like he's too bothered by Jack revealing himself as an AI. Not his problem if Jack, as an individual, is a "real boy" or whatever. But... They've seen Jack bleed. It's not like he's been uploaded into a mechanical body. That bit of information in conjunction with everything else? Makes things slightly more complicated than he could have imagined. Luke's information adds more to the puzzle, as well.]

Whether we're the real deal or AIs running through a simulation, you have to wonder... If we're the Cradle Project's last line of defense, then what the hell happened to whoever or whatever came before us? You don't call something your "last line of defense" unless you've gone through options A to Z, and all of them have ended catastrophically.

[A beat. He's remembering something else now, which may or may not be relevant to all of this. There's no point in holding out if it might help them stitch together all of this, however.]

... This might be unrelated. But the alien that was taking a joyride in Rhys's corpse. When he was trying to kill Fiona, Machias and I, he said something. Said that he needed to take out more of us. Sounded desperate about it. Could be he was just that thirsty for blood. But I don't think so. There must be a reason those parasites are among us. Some goal they're working towards.

[chiseler]

[Okay so. Elizabeth is from 1912, Jason is fine with Jack's revelation, and Luke's reaction falls somewhere in the middle because that…it pretty hefty. He doesn't understand how all tech works but he knows enough to get the gist of what Jack's saying.

He recognizes that look though. So that was information they didn't have already. He can't help but feel like he's helping a little even if it throws in some things he's unaware of. He knows the information was only to be kept between a few people…but…with all of this wouldn't it make sense that more people were aware just in case? Maybe that's idealistic. Maybe he's getting too soft. Maybe his head's still just ringing from making friends with a mine, who knows.]

Not gonna reveal my sources unfortunately. It's better to keep these things separate. I'll be the middleman. [Truthfully he just wants to protect Adam and he isn't sure how real the information they received is.] Came from our friends from beyond via Furry Passing if you can believe that.

[He pauses, examining Jack for a moment.] You look pretty okay for a robot. But suddenly a lot more makes sense. So…if that's true, then everything is all the idea that you see it you can believe it. We see you and we're interpreting you as being real. You can perceive yourself as being a real person. I can perceive myself as being alive.

I don't think we're all AIs. Though I spoke with someone who did bring up this is all possibly virtual reality. I thought he was off-base but with this… [He looks at Elizabeth and Jason and bites back a smirk.] I don't know. The perception angle's interesting, and I didn't know you guys ran other tests. [Yeah, that's what he's calling them.]

…Souvlaki, by the way. Not aliens. They're called Souvlaki…skewers, really. [It's a Greek word, he figured out that much.] We got that much info from the guys on the other side, too. Turns out we were the last line of defense against them. We were part of the initial crew and lost memories. That's all I got from what I was reading. [A beat.] They've got a queen, by the way, so uh. We should watch out for that. The Souvlaki slaughtered the entire initial crew. I don't know why we don't have any memories of this. Probably because we'd freak out.

The AI is important to the Admiral of the ship. Admiral's been passing info to people who've died, those people are passing it back to some of us. It's all a chain of who said what and we're stuck putting the pieces together. There's also the whole "servers" thing, but who knows how well that holds up.

[refactor]

[ Jack listens with a sharp gaze, since honestly, this goes better than he had expected with regards to the revelation about himself. He had considered telling Elizabeth earlier, actually, but he had decided against it largely because truly explaining it to her was difficult. He knew that there was a lot that she didn't know about the tech he was used to, and that made it more difficult to explain. Though just as much, a part of him may not have wanted to explain that he wasn't who he said he was.

So, of course, the acceptance here is something he thrives in much more than that doubt. He hadn't expected it would be easy to swallow, and he watches with interest as they mull over what he says. Even better than that, they divulge information in return, and Jack's eyes widen in surprise, though they're just as quick to narrow with a smile. That smile grows, since it seems like there's something in what Jason and Luke both say that he latches onto. It could be dangerous, especially considering how he laughs. It's that sort of sharp, borderline-obnoxious laughter that's so unique to Jack, but it's not easy to tell whether it's genuine amusement or unhinged at the moment. ]

Souvlaki? That's-- Hah, that's what those fuckers are called? Damn. What- What a friggin' stupid name!

[ It might seem like an odd thing for Jack to latch onto here, but he beckons for his tablet back from whoever's holding it. This time, they'll be able to watch as Jack clicks on an app on his datapad that doesn't seem to work. Nothing happens, and yet he keeps clicking on buttons and apps until a text file pops up. It seems like Jack has been busy, since that very particular sequence of pressing buttons and apps acts as a password. ]

Man... It's either my lucky day, or it's the day that I die. Either way? This is the closest I've gotten in a goddamn while, so, y'know? I'm feeling lucky.

[ This is probably worrying too, but Jack seems genuinely thrilled and excited here. He looks to Jason with a grin and speaks to him first. ]

So, you, first of all? Fiiiigure you're probably not one of them, all things considered. So, hoping you'll help me out here, sugartits. If he- [ He jerks a thumb to Luke ] is infected, which I'm taking a risk here and saying no, you're gonna wanna cut his goddamn head off with that sword of yours. But, otherwise?

[ Jack passes the datapad back, and this time there's a new file up. Most of the information there is what he had just given them, but there's an set of information that's pretty interesting. ]

I've been telling all you assholes since the beginning what I'm trying to do here. I've known about the aliens the whole goddamn time. And I've been the one hunting them down. That's my role, kiddos.

[baptizer]

Souvlaki - ...that's.. that's what I was...?

[ One of the creatures on this ship - the ones that violated her very core and used her as some sick puppet... Souvlaki rolls onto her tongue like poison. Anyone can see Elizabeth tense up and her face grow white. She's feeling a bit emotional - far more than you'd expect for someone who was cracking jokes more often now and handling things fairly well. ]

I don't care what they are - I want them destroyed. I want them gone! They need to fucking suffer.

[ GOD, GIRLS ARE HORRIBLE WITH EMOTIONS. She's clenching her teeth, trying to not focus on the digital aspects and AI - that's not her territory. Unfortunately, the Souvlaki are. ]

Use me as bait to lure them out - I don't care - just - we have to get them. If they want more of us, I'll volunteer.

[ Childish, but she's fueled on emotion. A glance to Jason was firm, but when Jack begins to go on and talk about hunting Elizabeth immediately shoots up and is mid-way to Jack with a fucking panicked expression. What happened last time someone shared a role? ]

Jack - don't!

[ Nope, too late. She freezes, looking utterly mortified. ]

[antagonize]

Souvlaki. Skewered meat. [He's touching his eyepatch for a second, just. Chuckling.] A Greek word. Goes well with everything else in this place. The name of the ship. The statue of Aquarius downstairs. They're following a theme.

[It's obvious he's surprised when Jack reveals his role. His eyes are widening, eyebrows rising, and then— Well. Even after Elizabeth's outburst, he's forcing his expression to return to something neutral. Maybe something even a tad grim, now that he's been asked to decapitate Luke if it turns out he's hosting one of the aliens. He doesn't reply verbally, not really, but... He doesn't object.

Sorry, Luke.

He scrolls through the information once the datapad is passed to him, huffing out a laugh as he gets to the end. It's hard to tell if it's out of disbelief or something else.]

So you're Jack, the Souvlaki Slayer. [There's a pop culture joke here.] Can't say it rolls off the tongue very easily. But if this information is legit, that makes you the highest-ranking member of the ship. Cute. Should I congratulate you? It feels like we should get a bottle of champagne in here. Or some red wine, to match this access denied.

[He's joking. This is awful. Why is Jack the highest ranking member of the ship? There's no way that was decided democratically. However—]

If what Luke says is true, and we're missing a hell of a lot of memories for some reason... That implies we're not captives. We're here out of our own free will. Voluntarily, as members of the Pygmalion's crew. What in the world would cause us to forget something like that? [Also:] Not to mention, if this admiral is relaying messages through our dead guys? That means they're dead, as well.

[chiseler]

[First of all, yes, it’s a really stupid name. It’s an absolutely stupid name and nobody else had appreciated how stupid it was. But onto more important things, he can’t help but stare for a moment because several things are happening all at once and it sort of makes his head spin.

And speaking of head, a hand comes up to his neck subconsciously like he’s trying to protect it. Despite everything, Luke’s not exactly ready to die just yet. Let’s not cut off his head? Regardless he’s following suit and he looks at the datapad after Jason’s done, reading the information as everything settles in.

If Jack knew about the aliens the whole time…and Elizabeth and Rhys were hosting aliens, people that Jack was—well, maybe “close to” is too much of a stretch but he had relations with, what did that mean for the rest of them?

Elizabeth’s outburst is met with a muted sort of quiet. Perhaps unsurprising to her, there’s also a mildly sympathetic look. You never really are the same after a possession like that, but his sympathy quickly morphs into a snarl.]

We’re not using you as bait, Elizabeth. Besides, they won’t use the same host twice. We’d be expecting that. [But his eyes are sharp as he looks back and forth between Jack, Jack’s information, and Jason.]

I should’ve realized the pattern a lot sooner than I did, but I didn’t connect it until recently myself. Kinda been a little busy not getting killed. [Just sayin’. On the other hand, while he’s surprised by Jack’s role he’s not showing it. In a weird, somewhat appreciative way, he gets it. He has enough experience in knowing that it’s the unlikely subject that’s the hero of the story, and though that doesn’t excuse a lot of things, it makes sense on a basic level.] Here’s a question for you though. If Alice says she didn’t know about the Souvlaki, who told you?

[Hmmmm. He lets Jason have his snarky piece and Elizabeth has her outburst but he’s quietly thinking of the next move to make.]

That’s the funny thing about it. According to our dear admiral, she doesn’t know if she’s dead or not. How’s that one possible? I can buy that we were recruited a while ago for whatever reason. I can buy that we’re the last line of defense even if I don’t know why. But wouldn’t you know if you were or weren’t alive?

[refactor]

[ Jack's wild expression is surprisingly quick to soften in the face of Elizabeth's panic, or perhaps that's not surprising at all. To say that Jack had a soft spot for Elizabeth was something of an understatement, but they've both been trying to keep their continued-- Well, friendship absolutely wasn't the right word here. Alliance was the best thing to describe it, but even then, that didn't reflect the warmth that at least Jack shows to her. ]

Hey- Hey, it's- It's all right, Liz. I know what I'm doing here.

[ Since she's stood up to close that distance, Jack makes it the rest of the way. He reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder and give a gentle, reassuring squeeze, but that's it. Even though he's willing to be more open while he's laying his cards on the table, it's still not complete. He draws his hand back as Jason and Luke speak, then crosses his arms as he listens. Elizabeth's outburst at least seems to have calmed down that manic edge. If there's an impression that Elizabeth has done this before, that's completely true and fair. Everyone thank Elizabeth. ]

Something like that, yeah. At least trying, but they are goddamn good at hiding.

[ He nods to Luke ]

Got a datapad when we first got here, pretty much. Would have transcribed it in full, but only got to hear it once before it deleted itself. [ He shrugs ] I may be friggin' awesome, but-- Not enough to remember the message verbatim.

[ that Christy Character is in another castle ]

Told me that I was the highest ranking member, and that the ship was infected. I wasn't even supposed to let Alice know, but, well, she figured it out herself, so no harm done there. Probably. The way it sounded, seemed like she would have initiated some kind of quarantine or something drastic like killin all of us, but, I mean. Not yet, if that's her deal. Will say that I didn't know what they were called, though. Just "S"-something, but to be honest? Didn't care. Hell, I didn't even know there was a way to save the person infected, so I was just gonna kill anyone that I found.

[ He gestures generally here, but it's at least not quite as animated. He's calming down back to being cooler and more rational, which is definitely a better place for Jack to be. Of course, with those words, it does imply that Jack didn't know about Rhys being an alien, so it seems like he's just really lucky. ]

But that? Easier than you'd think, 'specially if my idea here is right. When I showed up in Rhys's brain, had no idea that I was dead. Didn't even know I was an AI. Just... [ He shrugs ] Objectively know that both are true now. That's the part that gets real weird to think about. So, I mean, personally? I can buy the confusion. That part is hard to actually put into words and explain, though. It's-- Not trusting your perception. Because I thought I was "real," but at least until this? Only existed as data. A hologram at best.

[baptizer]

[ Someone here needs to have emotion that isn't hate!! She feels sadness - a true sadness that Jack exposed his secret. After their long discussions of trust, she's fearful of what would happen if Luke was infected. How this puts a target on Jack.

...They needed Jack for the next chapter of this story and it makes her heart sink at that fear. Maybe after Adelina - she's a lot more reflective on what's at stake.

He grips onto her, and she instinctively tenses. Looking to Luke and Jason with a sadness that - well... doesn't quite fit the mood. Apologetic, fearful - had this really been that serious...? ItsAMystery.jpg

Her eyes soon drags up to look at Jack with a weak-willed smile, her corners just tugging up enough to look genuine and real. To feel real too. Masking the sadness away.

The talk about the Souvlaki is uncomfortable so she doesn't really speak, not until needed: ]

It doesn't matter what Alice's role is - she's forcing us to do this sick experiment. She's failing. The Souvlaki are smart - they've used me in ways that benefited them. [ Looking at Luke. ] I'm a reminder that one of theirs is dead and I'm unscathed. I think if we wanted to draw them out, that's a very valid avenue to explore.

[ To Jason and then Jack, after he mentions killing: ]

We'll need to confirm further. Whatever resources we can find - it is important to know that we're not chasing some wild goose to our doom. Jason almost lost more than an eye facing off against these things...

[ Says the motherhen of the ship now?? I guess?? BOYS stop being reckless. However, she does clarify: ]

This means we have to contend with people who succumb to the motives, the ship itself and - them.

[ She takes a few steps away from Jack, finally. Feeling completely overwhelmed. However, she does want to clarify: ]

Jack, if you're an AI - is your programming just... be like the "real" Jack...? Nothing else?

[antagonize]

[Elizabeth is the true hero of this story. She doesn't deserve having to deal with these idiot boys.]

I can buy not knowing you're dead. If you went to sleep one night, and woke up somewhere else... Would you think you bit the dust? Or would you assume something else happened? [Says one of the resident dead boys.] Not saying that our admiral died in her sleep. That would be way too peaceful for this whole shindig. Chances are, she got whacked out by one of the Souvlaki and didn't even notice.

[After tomorrow, this conversation will become hilarious in retrospect. But for now, this is all conjecture. He's turning to Elizabeth as she speaks, scoffing derisively when she suggests using herself as bait once again. Looks like he thinks that's the stupidest idea he's ever heard, even though it's... plausible. Not worth the risk, however.]

Yeah— How about no? If you were enough to draw them out, then you would have been dead weeks ago. But you aren't. They decided to take out Harold, who didn't know shit about all this, instead. So don't even try it.

[That said... Confirming further is a good idea. So he's adding more to that train of thought.]

There has to be a way to confirm who's infected and who's clean without shooting first and asking questions later. [Pun intended.] Maybe some sort of test. Or a scan. We have that big ol' machine downstairs, don't we?

[chiseler]

[For as much talk as he's made about how he'd know if he was infected, now he sort of wonders. He's 90% sure he's not? But it's still enough he's not entirely relaxed. This is a big deal. He watches with idle interest as Elizabeth breaks and Jack reacts, casting a glance at Jason in the meantime. It's interesting, he thinks, observing the three of them. Like other meetings, he's merely an observer in all of this. He doesn't know how to react to her look and so he follows her eyes to Jason, watching what she says.]

I agree with Jason, actually. They already used you, Elizabeth. Remember? "You took one of ours, we'll take one of yours" or however it went. Why pick someone out of nowhere for that if they really wanted to come after you? We're not using you as bait. End of discussion.

I'd say maybe nobody else would succumb, but that's just silly. [There's a short, annoyed sigh.] Anyway I can't buy not knowing you're dead. Sorry. I woke up and knew that hadn't changed even...if...I'm alive somehow. [Lets be candid about it ig] ...'Kay maybe it's not that easy. But if we can confirm what's going on in terms of being alive or real or aliens, I'm all for it. You really think the machine will work?

[refactor]

Honestly? If they weren't tough sons of bitches to kill, I'd just use myself as bait.

[ Jack shrugs casually, since in his view, he's already taken that risk here. Elizabeth he had certainty about, but Jason and Luke? He was taking a risk here, but he also feels it's calculated. He's not worried about Jason, but with Luke, that very well may be what he's doing, albeit it's absolutely not what he'd prefer. Having more people to work on this was absolutely better, and that's something that even someone as paranoid as Jack both knows and appreciates.

Though even so, that statement will probably sound odd to them. Jack has been far from heroic here on the ship, since even this revelation only adds a small bit of "heroism" here. He's egotistic and self-centered, so offering himself up as bait goes a bit against those expectations. ]

But, yeah, it's at least working looking into, now that we've got a— [ Jack pauses, then looks to Elizabeth and Jason as he laughs ] Ohohoh, man, look at us! We've got another clique! I'm so proud.

[ He still thinks it's funny how much team babysitter objected to that term, so he absolutely has to use it again. He does agree with the scanning idea here, but he also gets distracted with a dumb joke. Truly, he is a dad. A bad one. ]

[baptizer]

[ She'll totally cross her arms and just glare at Jason. He tries to keep her from getting involved and do good - but fires! explosions! No biggie, right? She'll push the issue later. Privately. Her vision snaps at Luke who is shockingly more firm. No teasing. Just a strong denial of her suggestion. It was interesting - it was very much like Hancock, she thinks. ]

We'll discuss it at a later point. I'm not throwing myself out for slaughter, you know.

[ She's not dismissing it!!

Oh my god, anything that weighed down when he talks about a clique and Elizabeth literally drags one hand down her face. There's a grit of her teeth as she sighs heavily. ]

We're not some barbershop quartet of alien slayers, Jack. We've never been a clique! Let's just focus on our task and see where that takes us, hm?

[antagonize]

Sure. Let's not call it slaughter. Let's just call it what it is: suicide.

[He went against one of the aliens. He almost got killed by one of the aliens, and the damn thing wasn't even at full strength. It was weakened, burdened by a body that was rotting and multiple injuries caused by Harold. Anyone who tries to use themselves as bait is just asking to be turned into a human meat skewer. That's all there is to it.

He's groaning at Jack's statement, sounding completely and utterly exasperated. Is Jack truly the oldest one in this room? No. No, he is not.]

Dude, no. How desperate for friends do you have to be to declare every group a clique?

[Stop? Stop this????? He's turning to Luke now, determined to ignore Jack.]

Honestly? I'll be godsmacked if it does. But it's worth a try. The thermal imager revealed something interesting about our bodies. Who's to say the scanner won't do the same?

[chiseler]

[Yeah he's not even going to do much but make a sound that's something agreement. Liz, take it from someone who had to end himself to make things right. IT'S REALLY NOT FUN!

However he doesn't get to say anything much about it seeing how Luke's also giving Jack a similar look of exasperation, but he doesn't protest. His expression should be enough and he chooses to focus on Jason instead.]

Gobsmacked. [He finds the phrase amusing, but he nods instead.] Exactly my point though. Not everything on this ship is completely busted. Let's pick a day to check it out, give us time to prepare or whatever.

[refactor]

[ As everyone (minus Luke, who is clearly the (second) coolest person here) denies his claims of a clique once again, Jack just laughs obnoxiously, but lightly. So, yes, mentally five years old. Sometimes he just likes annoying people for the sake of it, but at least this particular joke isn't accompanied with horrifying imagery, since that tends to be a Handsome Jack joke staple.

But, if nothing else, he does nod in agreement to the idea of scans. There's nothing else he needs to say to that part, but he does have something else to add: ]

One more thing, just to make sure I'm thorough here. Al is friggin' useless, though that's pretty obvious. When I started this shit, she didn't know I existed. Got my message straight from-- Well, the Captain, but no idea who she actually is, obviously. But Al didn't know about me, and she didn't know about the Soul-whatevers until after we got two for one.

[ He shrugs ]

She can't detect 'em, and that's where I-slash-we come in, apparently. Dunno if we can either, but weak AIs are dicks like that. [ jack you can't insult ai so casually when people know you're one too ] We put our asses on the line and use reasoning they don't have. And I'll be completely honest and transparent here: Alice lined me up a real sweet incentive if I take one of 'em out.

[ Jack smiles, not quite sly, but certainly vicious in that way that Jack seems almost naturally bloodthirsty. ]

Now, I'm telling you this because like it or not, we're kind of a team now, and I look out for my team. But also want to point out here, this has been true for a few weeks now, and I haven't so much as made an attempt. Kiiinda know I come off as unhinged. But I'm not going to screw myself over. So if we're reasonably sure that we find one? I'll kill them. One, because I'm a selfish bastard, but two, if we're wrong? Then it's my head on the chopping block. Because Alice made that real clear. Even if I kill one of them, I still go to trial. Just won't get executed if I'm right.

[ The smile fades, and he adds: ] ...That, and just in terms of statistics here? Good chance that someone is gonna have to kill a kid. Think you know especially, sugartits, but you can't hestitate with these things. Gonna be honest here and say I don't think many people are willing to do what's necessary, 'specially if that means putting a bullet in your friend.