012 - Lemon Meringue

[deadly_ned]

Question.

Or, um. Query, if you will.


Why do we have the death toll?

Does it teach us anything? Don't go doing what you do or you'll get punished for it? And why a week's worth of suffering? Doesn't death make you suffer enough? I hear it can be painful.


Why just...not have a death toll? Can any, um.

Is there anyone else on board who can stop a death toll from happening?

Just.

Just curious.

[Strike visible to those with psychic powers]

Comments

[itstopped]

Why have a death toll, or why have death at all?

[deadly_ned]

Death I understand. There has to be a balance to life. Symmetry. Symmetrical...poetry. And you need to be able to keep firemen employed.

But what does the death toll balance?

[itstopped]

But this isn't death. There's no balance. [He's already talked about this with you, Ned. :| ] If it's all a... what did you call it, a reset button? Why not just make us unkillable?

[with_my_teacup]

Figured it was a side affect of whatever tech the admiral has that brings us back. Like grav sickness; no 'why', just happens.

[deadly_ned]

Science? Science brings us back from the dead?

[with_my_teacup]

I kind of assume, yeah. Some upsettingly advanced level of tech, but still tech. And however it puts our bodies back, twists time, whatever it does-- hurts.

[Private]

[with_my_teacup]

I'm actually sort of nervous now.

Good job. Didn't know you had it in you.

[Private]

[deadly_ned]

Don't be nervous. I'm just. I'm laughing because I didn't think I'd find someone more awkward around people than me.

[Private]

[with_my_teacup]

I'm charitable and helpful like that.

[voice]

[logistical]

I am inclined to think it is a side effect of the process the Admiral employs.

[Spock is being as vague as possible because he still doesn't quite Get It about people dying and coming back.]

[voice]

[deadly_ned]

Yes. That's what it is. But that's what it is in only the most clinical and sterile of dictionaries.

[voice]

[logistical]

Have you experienced it for yourself?

[anewlanguage]

Far as I know, it's just the body waking back up. Those neurons and synapses and all that boring physiological crap that gets shut down when you die.

It's hell but it hurts less than dying.

[deadly_ned]

Why does it have to hurt at all?

[anewlanguage]

Seems that's all our bodies do: tell us we're in pain or having a good time. Most people shouldn't complain, if they died at home they'd be fucked over. But nah, those lucky bastards have the Admiral to revive 'em.

[silvestris]

I've never had a death toll.

[Granted she's never died here, but.]

[deadly_ned]

You're lucky. We're lucky. I hear it's terrible.

video; private

[some_kinda_hero]

If I got to the person before they died, I think I'd be able to? But I can't be everywhere at once, so. Yeah.

video; private

[deadly_ned]

You're a paramedic?

[routemistress]

Cognitive dissonance. You're alive on account of it's the barge, but you died - on some level you know you're meant to be dead. So you get phantom pains like a severed limb till your system's back in sync with itself.

[deadly_ned]

This isn't a mind over matter thing, Iris. When you're dead, you're dead. Willpower won't stop a death toll.

[fearthepackingchips]

Can be. Usually is. But doesn't everybody have a girl who's worth that much suffering?

Haven't deathtolled yet. If you're keeping track. Can't stop 'em in anybody else, but. I...don't?

[deadly_ned]

Chuck's worth that much suffering, yes. But I was speaking....generally.

You haven't?

[bybloodandhonor]

Maybe the death toll is just there to make sure we don't take advantage of the fact that we can't permanently die here?

I've only been able to temporarily hold off the effects of the death toll on myself, not stop it. But it's quite exhausting afterwards. Using the Light usually isn't so draining.

[deadly_ned]

The Light? What does the Light do?