Editing Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Three

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[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances|Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Two|Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Four|Part 4]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Five|Part 5]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Special Features|Special Features]] <br> <br>


There’s light to see by in the vent, spilling from below through the vent stub on the right and from the newly made hole from the sword.  Nika blinks again and sees that the blade is an odd one. Instead of being a single piece of solid metal, it is curiously missing its middle section, looking strangely like a vegetable peeler—only razor sharp and much more lethal. More than that she doesn’t have time to notice before the blade slides out of the vent.<br><br>

'''Voice:''' Why don’t you climb down before you hurt yourself?<br><br>

Found out and with no place left to run, Nika grimly makes her way through the stub and kicks the cover into the room beyond. She sticks her blonde head in and finds herself in N.J.’s room.  Standing in it, holding that curious split-bladed sword, is the Operative. The weapon is a surreal counterpoint to the woman’s business jacket and skirt and heeled pumps, but somehow it suits her.  Her smile, like her weapon, is bright and sharp.  Nika answers it with one of her own.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Oh good. I was looking for you.<br>
'''The Operative:''' You got up there. I assume you can get out.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh, yeah.<br><br>

Nika slides out of the vent and lithe as a cat, lands on her feet.  She brushes off and tugs her jacket straight as the Operative says on.<br><br>

'''The Operative:''' Back in the olden days of war, they say the prisoner’s first duty is to try to escape. So I won’t hold it against you. But really, this is just setting us back.<br><br> 

The Operative fingers something on her sword hilt and ''shhhhhik!'' the blade retracts into the handle.  Now the sword is nothing but a simple and elegant rod. Nice, neat and discreet, just like the woman who owns it. She sighs as she regards the blonde standing before her.<br><br>

'''The Operative:''' Ah, Captain Earhart. <br>
'''Nika:''' Can’t blame a girl for tryin’.<br>
'''The Operative:''' And what where you hoping on doing? I mean, were you actually expecting to escape?<br>
'''Nika:''' No. <br>
'''The Operative:''' What were you hoping to do?<br>
'''Nika:''' Get the lay of the land.<br>
'''The Operative:''' You’ve been here a while.  So … I should just send you back to your cell.  Or send you back to a different cell.  Tie you up.  Or just have you shot? What would be the best plan?<br><br>

If Nika’s afraid of the Operative, she doesn’t show it. She leans against the wall and puts a foot up, taking her ease as she answers.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Well that depends on what you want to get out of us.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Well.  <br>
'''Nika:''' Cuz you don’t like mess and fuss. Right?<br>
'''The Operative:''' The sensible thing would be to kill you all. Right?<br>
'''Nika:''' Probably. Of course, it could be we could do something for you.<br>
'''The Operative:''' For me?<br>
'''Nika:''' Maybe.<br><br>

You can almost see the blonde shrug.<br><br>

'''The Operative:''' I have no needs. (leans in and whispers) ''That whole Operative thing''. I have committed myself to the well-being of the Verse.<br>
'''Nika: Well see now, interesting enough, that seems to me that we might be on the same side in that.<br>
'''The Operative:''' I’m sure you believe yourself dedicated.  Since through your actions … that you’re part of the belief that transparency is best, right?  That everyone should know everything.<br>
'''Nika:''' Actually no, not really.<br>
'''The Operative:''' So when you went to Miranda to tell everyone about the horrors there, that was not a goal of transparence. Were you just trying to stab at the Alliance?<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, let’s just say that was a side effect of what I went there for.<br>
'''The Operative:''' A side effect.<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, it wasn’t my initial goal.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Hmm.<br>
'''Nika:''' In that particular case, yes, I did believe that knowledge should be put out there. (a beat) But that’s not necessarily always the case, because the minutiae of running the ’Verse? Most of us don’t care. <br>
'''The Operative:''' You see, this is usually the moment were somebody would try to offer me to save their lives. And at the moment, you really aren’t doing it.<br>
'''Nika:''' I don’t know what it is you really want.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Yes. <br><br>

The Operative sighs and the two women regard each other for a beat.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' I’m not a mind reader, so if you have something that I can do for you … ?<br>
'''The Operative:''' I can’t really imagine I can trust you, to be quite honest. You don’t seem to be particularly dedicated to anything since you say you weren’t really dedicated to a cause when you went to Miranda.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh, I didn’t say that. I said that that particular Wave was not my part.<br>
'''The Operative:''' So why don’t you tell me what your cause was. Why don’t you tell me what sent you to Miranda.<br>
'''Nika:''' (grim smile) I had friends.<br>
'''The Operative:''' That’s not a cause.  Friends and causes are different things.<br>
'''Nika:''' Fair enough. For all of that, you’re probably right. I probably haven’t had a cause since the war.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Okay. So, you don’t have a cause. <br>
'''Nika:''' What exactly is your cause in all this? Are you still working for the Alliance?<br>
'''The Operative:''' ''Still'' working for the Alliance? I’ve never stopped working for the Alliance.<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, I was going to say that the Alliance is the source of … Reader projects and programs, yes?<br>
'''The Operative:''' (carefully) Well, the Alliance is a more complicated thing than that.  The Reader project, as you referred to it, was … like a weapons project. It wasn’t run ''by'' the Alliance, it was run ''for'' the Alliance. This one was … something we’d hoped would be more successful than it obviously was. I don’t know what sort of false information I got from this … Tam, Agent Rho, but … I do aim to find that out.  The side interest I took in your  … XO, I’m beginning to lose interest in.  That I can leave a mystery without feeling too bad. What I want is for … <br><br>

The Operative trails off and Nika says into the ensuing silence.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Do you think the Readers are safe to be let loose in the ’Verse? <br>
'''The Operative:''' Well … I don’t think they’ve had a dramatic impact on it, I suppose, apart from the Reaver business … but … It’s not really my job to make decisions like that. My job is to carry out my mission. But I’m in a puzzle because I am trying to figure out whether or not if there is anything to be taken from all this. I am concerned about these claims that … Agent Kappa was … inhumane in her treatment.<br>
'''Nika:''' I would say that’s an understatement.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Well, let me say that interrogations are not necessarily ''friendly'' activities and so there’s a certain amount of inhumanity which is part of the job. <br>
'''Nika:''' There’s a difference between using pain to get what you want and ''enjoying'' inflicting the pain on others.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Actually, the person who enjoys their job isn’t necessarily bad at it, so that doesn’t concern me. However, there is a difference between inflicting pain upon those who have earned it and those who have not.<br>
'''Nika:''' And what did Dr. Tam do to earn it?<br>
'''The Operative:''' Exactly.  As far as I know, nothing. And using other people for those purposes is distasteful.  If nothing else, dishonorable.<br>
'''Nika:''' At least we’re on the same page there. But not all Readers are like that.<br>
'''The Operative:''' No. Unfortunately, from what I’ve gathered, they are not reliable. <br>
'''Nika:''' Reliable in what fashion?<br>
'''The Operative:''' Reliable in that they can serve us without being more of a liability than a benefit.<br>
'''Nika:''' I … would beg to disagree.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Which Readers have you known that have served the Alliance well? Do you know somebody that I am not aware of? They don’t tell me everything.<br>
'''Nika:''' I know one who when he believed in his missions and goals, serves quite well, on a regular basis.<br>
'''The Operative:''' You’re referring to Cmdr. Wise.<br><br>

Joshua. The man’s name is Joshua.  But Nika declines to quibble.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' I am.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Yes, and ah … Can we go over his track record for the Alliance, here? <br>
'''Nika:''' What was the Alliance asking him to do?<br>
'''The Operative:''' Apparently he took part in some sort of activity to steal Reavers from a Navy vessel and then he fled,  then he participated in actions against the Alliance—<br>
'''Nika:''' I know he didn’t steal Reavers from a Navy vessel—<br>
'''The Operative:''' Perhaps participated in the events that led to the death of the Prime Minister, and—<br>
'''Nika:''' And you know? That wasn’t him either.<br>
'''The Operative:''' No? That wasn’t you and your crew?<br>
'''Nika:''' That was the woman in question, who was ''unfortunately'' programmed with her own agenda.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Oh, I see. He was trying to ''save'' the Alliance the whole time.<br>
'''Nika:''' (snorts softly) I wouldn’t go that far.<br>
'''The Operative:''' so as you can see, all I’m saying is not without liability. (a beat) A poisonous snake might make a potent weapon, but it’s a dangerous weapon to use, often biting its handlers.<br>
'''Nika:''' I guess it depends on just how ''horrendous'' the mission you want to send them on is. Because there are soldiers who will take on those kinds of missions and not blink twice. You can’t take ''all'' Readers and put ''that'' into that.  Can you?<br>
'''The Operative:''' I think you’re holding up Cmdr. Wise as the top-of-the-line trustworthy source—<br>
'''Nika:''' I did not. No.  I said that I have never had an issue with him serving.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Serving you. As I said, friendship and being able to perform the mission are different things. Frequently contrary things.<br>
'''Nika:''' For a man who doesn’t want to kill, the fact that he is willing to do so if I ask, I’d say that’s a pretty significant step.<br>
'''The Operative:''' For your friendship. Right?<br>
'''Nika:''' Because I ''told him'' to.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Because of your … not because—?<br>
'''Nika:''' Any soldier you want to follow your orders you have to create some kind of relationship, whether that’s friendship or just plain respect. It seems to me that you’re brainwashing the ability to form those bonds right on out of most of those Readers<br>.
'''The Operative:''' Let’s entertain this thought for a little bit.  Are you suggesting it might be worth keeping Joshua around because I could earn his trust, as you say, to follow my orders the way he follows yours and so he’d be a useful ally in the rooting out the overly independent forces in the quadrant.  Is that what you are discussing or are you suggesting that it would be a hopeless activity.<br><br>

Did the Operative just let something slip as to her mission here?<br><br>

'''Nika:''' What I’m saying is if you want Readers to help you do that, you find Readers who actually agree with your cause.<br>
'''The Operative:''' I see. Well you may have encountered hundreds of Readers in your day and your activities. I have not. To my knowledge, there are not dozens out there.<br>
'''Nika:''' Is it a natural talent?<br>
'''The Operative:''' I couldn’t say. I am not in the loop of how these things work.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh. I’m sorry. I just wondered. Since you brought that up I was wondering if that was a natural talent someone was enhancing or if it was something that was lab created as a brain chemistry issue.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Well, we do know that there was brain surgery. We went over that on the ''Aceso''. And I suspect that you suspected beforehand that there was something like that going on.<br>
'''Nika:''' It doesn’t negate the idea that some of it was natural.<br>
'''The Operative:''' It might very well could be.<br>
'''Nika:''' Like I said, it was a simple curiosity sort of question and since you were entertaining my curiosity for a moment, it seemed worth asking.<br>
'''The Operative:''' I am afraid I am going to provide fewer answers than you would like because, like I say, it is not my business to ask questions that are not pertinent to my mission nor is it useful for me to retain information that is not.<br> 
'''Nika:''' Were you here to assess whether this was a success or a failure?<br>
'''The Operative:''' This was supposed to be a tool I was to use in my … taking care of the Independents in this quadrant.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh. (a beat) So what you’re saying is there is nothing I could offer you to … assist in your mission?<br><br>

The Operative cuts her a shrewd look.<br><br>

'''The Operative:''' I’m guessing you’re not the sort of person who would be a valuable mole in the Independents. You’re not the sort of person I could rely on. Through coercion. Through … ah … payment or anything of that nature. You don’t strike me as that person.<br>
'''Nika:''' I don’t know whether I should be insulted by that or not.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Don’t hear it as an insult. Take it as integrity. I think it’s misplaced but I think it’s admirable nonetheless. So, no, I don’t think you can serve me directly in my mission in that regard. (a beat) If I do need my air ducts cleaned, you seem to do a good job.<br>
'''Nika:''' (a smile) I do. I do that quite well.<br><br>

The Operative regards Nika some more.<br><br>

'''The Operative:'''  These are not decisions for me to make anyway. You situation is being dealt with at higher levels. Which is probably good to know about, because you may have friends in high places that you may not know about. Or perhaps one of these other people do. And you might benefit from their friends in high places.<br>
'''Nika:''' I suppose. Since you don’t particularly care one way or the other, I don’t suppose you’d allow us to sit and … <br>
'''The Operative:''' Plan?<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, it’s not like planning is getting us anywhere. (snorts a laugh)<br> 
'''The Operative:''' It got you all the way here. That’s pretty good.<br> 
'''Nika:''' Yes, but you were waiting for me which means you’re pretty observant and very smart. So …<br>
'''The Operative:''' I just heard you banging around up there.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh.<br><br>

That sucks.  She thought she’d done pretty darn good.<br><br>

'''The Operative:''' Well, let’s see. You need to talk to them to plan some sort of … fake an injury—<br>
'''Nika:''' Actually, I’d really like for my doctor to be able to take a look at Mr. Tam. I have some concerns about the amount of damage that he took.<br>
'''The Operative:''' Hm. It might be worth keeping him alive. I’ll let your doctor go see him. So … unless you have anything else to say? Any last ditch attempts?<br>
'''Nika:''' No.<br><br>

With that, the interview is over and the Operative sends Nika back to her cell.  We all look up when Nika walks in.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Welcome back. Was that as productive as you’d hoped?<br>
'''Kiera:''' You came in through the door. That wasn’t good.<br>
'''Nika:''' No. You think?<br>
'''Kiera:''' So who caught you?<br>
'''Nika:''' Not Kappa.<br>
'''Kiera:''' So? Meaning?<br>
'''Rina:''' The guards?<br>
'''Nika:''' The decision is being made above the Operative’s head. If we’re lucky and have friends in high places we might get out of here alive and I’m not thinking that’s gonna go well for us.<br>
'''Kiera:''' But even if we had friends in high places, how could we talk to them? <br>
'''Joshua:''' No, it’s more of a I imagine somebody knows we’re here.  I’m sure names are being mentioned, she knows everybody’s names. So I’m sure she’s filed a nice detailed report with everybody involved.<br>
'''Nika:''' Right.  Dr. Arden is going to over to check on Mr. Tam. Doctor Tam.<br>
'''Arden:''' Is there anything you want me to tell him, other than what we know already? Are we gonna try to bust out of here? I  might be able to use the opportunity when the door opens to—<br>
'''Nika:''' If they’re willing to give it a go, we’re willing to give it a go.<br>
'''Arden:''' I mean, right now. I would just have to do it. They wouldn’t have a chance to talk about it. We would just have to open the door and say ‘run!’ and take cover or something. Or we can do it when they open the other door to let me in.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Where did you run into the Operative at?<br><br>

Nika tells her about the vent and the conversation that followed.<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Did you see any guards walking back here?<br><br>

There were some, posted in the opening to the hallway.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Are we really trying to make a run for it?<br>
'''Kiera:''' They keep calling you Cmdr. Wise. Are you really his kid or is that really just a thing? Cuz if you’re really his kid, she’s not going to kill you.<br>
'''Arden:''' Oh, if we’ve only had weeks to talk about this.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Well no, this is where the rubber hits the road. If that’s really really his kid—(turns to Joshua)—and your father finds out that you’re here, she’s not going to kill you.<br>
'''Rina:''' That’s a friend in a high place.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Mm-hm.  I can’t talk to my parents unless I plan to come home.<br>
'''Nika:''' What?<br>
'''Kiera:''' Let me put this out. I pulled every favor I had already.<br> 
'''Joshua:''' Uh-huh.<br>
'''Kiera:''' I’m headin’ home, cuz that’s what I swore.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Uh-huh.<br>
'''Kiera:''' If I called another favor.<br>
'''Joshua:''' All right. Yeah.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Which may not be so bad, sitting around a sun-drenched pool.<br><br>

Okay.  Good to clear that one up, thanks.<br>

'''Nika:''' (to Arden) I don’t think there’s anything you can tell them other than what we already know. <br>
'''Arden:''' You want me to try to start… ?<br><br>

Nika privately thinks it’s pointless to say no, because Arden is impulsive and it’s usually he who starts the fight. Meanwhile Joshua picks up the original query from Kiera about Cmdr. Wise.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' I don’t know.  I honestly think ‘no’, but … <br>
'''Kiera:''' That would be interesting to find out from the Operative, if she knew.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I don’t know whether she knows.<br>
'''Nika:''' It’s not her business to know.<br>
'''Joshua:''' It would actually be more appropriate, if we were to ask anybody, it would be River. Unfortunately I didn’t get a lot of conversation with River before the whole pain thing started.<br>
'''Nika:''' Realistically, I don’t imagine they’ll let us stand here and let us have this conversation so, you know, can you tell them anything? No, not really. We got nothing to tell them.  Make sure if Dr. Tam is okay.<br>
'''Kiera:''' And tell us how he’s doing.<br><br>

Arden is led away by a guard. Nika waits til they’re gone before saying more. She looks over at Joshua.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' I will say that the Operative was extremely concerned about Kappa’s particular … proclivities … toward inhumane bloodletting.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Did you figure out what she wanted? Did you ask what she wanted?<br>
'''Nika:''' Basically, she wants the Independents put down. She doesn’t think we’ll be useful as a mole. (snorts a laugh) I don’t know why.<br>
'''Rina:'''''' Well, I think that suggests she’s trying to plant moles into the Independents.<br>
'''Nika: Well, d’uh!<br>
'''Joshua:''' D’uh!<br>
'''Rina:''' (unfazed) So? What kind of moles? Mind reading moles?<br>
'''Nika:''' We are not reliable moles. So therefore— <br>
'''Joshua:''' If I thought it would get everybody out of it, I’d offer.<br>
'''Rina:''' I would refuse to leave.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I know you would. I said ‘if I thought it would do any good’.<br>
'''Nika:''' She’s determined that integrity was something that I own.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I don’t necessarily feel like I have integrity. I’d give up integrity in favor of my friends.<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, I’d give my integrity up, but I’m not going to be a mole for her in the Independent movement. Forget it.<br>
'''Joshua:''' But see, that’s the difference, isn’t it? You maintain your integrity, which I actually really admire. <br>
'''Nika:''' Even if it’s misplaced.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I don’t know it’s necessarily misplaced.<br>
'''Nika:''' I’ve been informed it’s highly misplaced.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I don’t think it’s necessarily misplaced, I just saying that in my mind people that I love are more important than anything else that I have, and so—what? (off Nika’s look) Why are you looking at me that way? How is that statement not true? <br>
'''Rina:''' (softly) No, she’s looking at me.<br>
'''Joshua:''' What? I-I’m … Wordless Captain, speak up or forever now hold your peace, etc. etc. etc.<br>
'''Nika:''' You just sat there and implied that you cared more about this crew than I do, because you would give everything up for your friends and you would go ahead and agree with her.<br>
'''Rina:''' I didn’t get that.<br>
'''Joshua:''' No. That’s actually stupid, to be honest. Not saying what you’re saying is—I’m saying that what I would actually do is stupid. You love everyone just as much as I do, you just have integrity in addition, is all I’m saying. I don’t have integrity. If you see the difference.<br>
'''Nika:''' There are certain things I will not give up. Even for you.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Which is what I’m saying. I’m saying that makes you a better person.<br>
'''Nika:''' Quite frankly, we are in a position where I owe a debt here. And I—(points to room beyond)—will not leave that crew behind.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Fair enough.<br>
'''Nika:''' (quietly) Simon Tam is the only reason Brian is still alive.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’m not asking anybody to leave the other crew behind.<br>
'''Rina:''' He’s that Dr. Tam.<br><br>

It’s not a question.  Rina remembers his name being mentioned by Kramer on Decatur and she’s fast fitting the puzzle pieces into the bigger picture.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Yes.<br>
'''Joshua:''' How many are there in this Verse? River will be happy to know he—<br>
'''Nika:''' Shylya’s friend, Zoë, had a Dr. Tam aboard her ship. He was a brain surgeon.<br> 
'''Rina:''' Oh. Yes.<br>
'''Nika:''' He is the only reason that Brian ever woke up from that coma. I cannot leave them here.<br>
'''Rina:''' That’s a big damn debt.<br>
'''Joshua:''' There’s not a plan to leave them here.<br>
'''Rina:''' Not saying there is.<br><br>

Nika sighs and looks at her crewmates.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' I owe him … everything.<br>
'''Rina:''' (very softly) [[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Special Features#HOW TO SPEAK RUSSIAN|''Bozhe moi'']]. (louder) All right. What’s the plan?<br>
'''Nika:''' I don’t have one. I’m absolutely at wit’s end. I have nothing.<br>
'''Rina:''' (wry) Well, you know … it’s not like we haven’t been there before. Our plans generally go to shit anyway.<br>
'''Nika:''' There is that.<br>
'''Rina:''' Maybe we should just fly by the seat of our pants.<br>
'''Nika:''' (breathes a laugh) I’ve always done better that way.<br>
'''Joshua:''' There’s a reason I’ve stopped asking for plans.<br>
'''Rina:''' Well, that makes one of us.<br><br>

Kiera stirs and pushes off the wall.<br><br>

'''Kiera:'''''' All righty. <br>
'''Nika: You got a plan.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Yup.<br><br>

She knocks on the door of our cell and when the guard comes in, she says:<br>

'''Kiera:'''''' I need to talk to the Operator.<br>
'''Guard: You mean the Operative?<br>
'''Kiera:''' Yeah. Operator, Operative. Whatever. I need to talk to her.<br>
'''Nika:''' What are you—?<br>
'''Joshua:''' It’s not like we had a plan.<br><br>

Kiera gestures for silence as the guard relays the request via ear comm.  We see him murmur and nod at the reply. Kiera is escorted out and Rina takes up a position at the window to watch. Looking carefully out into the main room, she can see that two of the original guards are now guarding the hallway out.  Interesting.  She wonders if it has any significance as to who’s in charge.<br><br> 

For her part, Kiera is escorted into a cell where the Operative is waiting. Kiera gives her a little nod.<br><br>

Kiera: It’s your favorite sociopath. <br>
The Operative: Okay.<br>
Kiera: Look. I’m a bargaining woman.<br>
The Operative: I expected you to try for some bargain.<br>
Kiera: Well, yeah.<br>
The Operative: I don’t know if you have much to offer at this stage, though.<br>
Kiera: I could be giving you a tool. Something useful to help you.<br>
The Operative: I’m all ears.<br>
Kiera: All righty. What your trade-in-stock is, from what I understand, is information?<br>
The Operative: That’s true.<br>
Kiera: All righty. And right now, your way to gather it has been compromised?<br>
The Operative: One way, yes.<br>
Kiera: Well … how if instead of having professionals, you had the bumbling genius of innocents get it for you? See, I know somethin’ about this crew that you don’t. They’re nice people.  And if you—<br>
The Operative: Ah, yes. The power of niceness. Well, yes. I thought of using that. I try to be nice, actually.<br> 
Kiera: I have no doubt. You seem to be patient.<br>
The Operative: You may recall, I was not coming in guns ablazing.  You are all still alive. I have colleagues who have not afforded you the same.<br>
Kiera: No, and that is why I felt I could come and talk to you because … if you give them a goal, like a person to save, you could practically send them anywhere. If you hold something out, they are the nicest people and they will take anything or anybody to go save that person. So all you got to do is say, ‘I don’t know. My own daughter is being held hostage on a planet somewhere and if you could help me get her, then we can talk.’  And ship them off. Feed whoever you want with them. Have them take somebody. By your assignment, to have them watch over us to make sure we do what we oughta do and they will go there.<br>
The Operative: Now you see we have the prisoner’s dilemma sort of situation. Since once you say that, then of course if I say ‘yes’, you can go back and say ‘hey, I made this deal’ and they will know and then that won’t work.<br>
Kiera: Well, no. I’ll tell them ‘but there’s an innocent person involved, you got to’ and they’ll go. I mean that’s the thing. I’ve got to tell them I’ve already offered it.<br>
The Operative: Why should they believe there’s an innocent person? Unless I can get an innocent person involved, why should they believe it?<br>
Kiera: Because they’ll believe anything. They don’t understand how genuinely nice they are. You’ve got to say, ‘Person in danger. Help me get them’. And they will go there and get them. It is like a directed weapon only they don’t know it. You just shoot ’em at things. It is like a maelstrom wherever they go. You can keep that power leashed here or you can unleash it on whoever you want.<br>
The Operative: They don’t seem that cooperative, I must say.<br>
Kiera: But they will be if you tell them there’s something innocent out there that they can save. You talk to them. All right, you got a pretty good in-depth. You figured out I’m a sociopath. It has got to be painfully aware to you, you could not have missed, that they have the biggest giant need to save the Universe of any group of people you’ve ever met. Much to my horror, mind you, they have given up job after job where we could have made lots of money—lots of money—and yet, I’ve been forced to do it for free. So if you got someone anywhere that you can hold out the big giant candy bar of ‘everyone’s going to love them and they’re gonna get angel wings’, they are so there.<br>
The Operative: So even though they would know that it is, of course, a trick in order to get information for me they would still go.<br>
Kiera: Oh they walked through Hell itself knowing they were gonna be on fire and they still went, because on the other side there was something with bright blue eyes going ‘Help me, help me!’ Or brown eyes.  Or whatever the color or—I don’t know, cute little squirmy slimy things that anybody else would have left alone—and they still walked into it bright-eyed and bushy tailed goin’, ‘We’re gonna save you!’<br><br>

Kiera holds her hands out to the Operative in frustration.<br><br>

Kiera: I don’t think you understand how painful it is being with them. And how you can use this innocence to a level that you don’t understand.<br>
The Operative: It’s an intriguing idea. I find it hard to believe that anyone would just—knowing that it’s a trap—intentionally go into it.<br> 
Kiera: If only you know them like I did. You could offer me money and I’ll do it—I won’t do it for that but if you just show me money, I’ll do it. But hell, I’ll drag them there. But really, all you got to do is go, ‘Person in trouble. Need your help.’<br>
The Operative: It seems needlessly cruel.<br>
Kiera: It’s never stopped anybody else and they’ll do it to themselves if you let them go. Guaranteed. Next planet. Do you know what we were doing? Chasing around a buncha whores. I kid you not. The ship is haunting Joshua—<br>
The Operative: Oh, yes, I recall that you had prostitutes on your ship.<br>
Kiera: Well, yes. That’s why we were chasin’ around after whores trying to save them for free. We got food the last time. I meant, not free—we got food. I got bananas. Y’all want bananas, we got bananas on our ship. Before that—<br><br>

Kiera takes a deep breath and continues before the Operative can interject.  She has the bit in her teeth and she’s running with it.<br><br>

Kiera: I mean, you think Joshua is a very very dangerous person or repressed? He’s not. He’s the driver of the goody-goodies. You don’t understand how much I enjoy shootin’ people. I have not shot anybody! You can ask your Reader and find out I have literally tamped down my own bellicose personality to make him happy. And he is the worst. ‘We can’t do that. We gotta save them. It’s a kinder gentler world. What if we make our own little mark on it?’ It’s like they walk around with little hearts and butterflies and bunnies shootin’ outa their butt. It’s horrifying.<br>
The Operative: Um. Well.  (a beat) You’ve given me much food for thought.<br>
Kiera: They are open to the most blandishment of manipulation, ma’am. That’s all I can say. You’re missin’ a golden opportunity.<br>
The Operative: So. Let me see if I can  … You’re suggesting that I let them go with you.<br>
Kiera: Mm-hm.<br>
The Operative: Let them loose.<br>
Kiera: Mm-hm.<br>
The Operative: So that in the future, I can plant a spy or—<br>
Kiera: Or you can say it’s a passenger and force ’em to take him.<br>
The Operative: Force you to take him by … ?<br>
Kiera:  By offering money, because they’re always poor as—okay, we’re all as poor as church mice.  Having done everything for free, we can hardly make fuel.<br> 
The Operative: I don’t think that would work with what you just described. To give out money.<br>
Kiera: No, I figure you’re bright enough to figure out a way to kinda feed it to them. And I’m gonna tell them I told you that, cuz I promised the Captain nothing but the truth and honor and honesty and I’m gonna have to go back and tell her. (a beat) And they’re gonna be appalled. But I could say you looked sad. Like you had somethin’ behind you. Like they got something over you.<br>
The Operative: But I’m not sad.<br>
Kiera: No, you wanna be sad because if they feel like there’s an ounce of humanity in you, they’re gonna like you. If there’s somethin’ they can attach a reason to like you despite the fact that you have just totally gutted them like a fish, they will like you for it. Because there’s ‘good’ in you.<br><br>

And to illustrate her point, Kiera tells the woman how she gave the crew over to Potemkin and everything that happened afterward—how they suffered and fought and survived—and despite the horror and the pain and betrayal, took her back into their fold again.<br><br>

Kiera: I sold them out. I betrayed them to Potemkin. Now, I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was but you see the crew I’m with. Now would you have trusted me or would you have spaced me?<br><br>  

The answer is obvious on the Operative’s face and just like that Kiera switches gears.<br><br>

Kiera:  So is he really Cmdr. Wise? Or is he … ?<br>
The Operative: I don’t know. But until it is proven otherwise, he should be given the respect that he deserves.<br><br>

Does this mean he’ll get a military execution instead of a civilian one?<br><br> 

Kiera: I don’t know. It’s something to think about. I appreciate your time.<br>
The Operative: I may need to verify some of this.<br>
Kiera: Oh you can go verify anything you need to.  Occasionally I do tell the truth.<br><br>

Kiera is escorted back without further comment. She waits until the door is closed and we’re alone again before turning to us and saying brightly:<br><br>

Kiera: Well I offered you guys up.<br><br>




Jump to:<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances|Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Two|Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Four|Part 4]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Part Five|Part 5]]<br>
[[Episode 512: Unusual Alliances, Special Features|Special Features]] <br> <br>

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Go back to: '''''[[Episode 511: A Matter Of Leverage | A Matter Of Leverage]]''''' | Go Foward to '''''[[Episode 513: All In A Day's Work| All In A Day's Work]] '''''<br>
Back to [[Mutineers Season Five | Season Five: Realignment]]<br>
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