Lost in 'SPACE' [starring Doctor Smith]

[meltdown]

Dr. Smith did sit on the stool. She was beginning to feel clearer once more. Of course, how could she have been so obtuse? There would have to be evidence proving Guthrie's or Cortez's instability. That would take some effort.

Tabitha couldn't believe what was actually running through her mind. She could strike a deal with Ramsey and together they could find peace.

Doug's last words stirred something in her. People don't like truths, Tabitha. It messes with their preconcieved notions that they build their entire world around. My duty is to no single person, for I serve the Empire. "

She had a preconcieved notion that Doug was the King's toadie whispering secrets into his ear. It turned out that they were more in common that she had thought and each of his truths had shaken her. He served the Empire and the greater good. The greater good.

"Still, I cannot do this. I'm a doctor, Doug not a damned spy. I'd have to intereact with Guthrie on levels that are outside my doctor's expertise," she protested.

[Doug Ramsey]

Her body language indicated that she was seriously debating within herself the truth of his words, and the potential implications of taking a proactive approach to the matters they discussed. The sheer fact that she replied to him using his first name spoke volumes to the young man, for NO ONE except Imperial Cabinet members of like status, and Tatiana Beckinsdale, his new girlfriend, ever addressed him as anything but Master Ramsey or Director Ramsey. This implied familiarity boded well, and told him that she was beginning to identify with him and his position on the matter... that they were both on the same side in this situation.

Douglas sat quiet for a second, his bright blue eyes sharp, keenly observing Doctor Tabitha Smith, his mind obviously thinking over a million different thoughts. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, for the look on his face was one of thoughtfulness, not hawkish intensity. In the end, his smile tightened as he nodded, an acceptance of a decision that he was disappointed in hearing.

"I understand, Tabitha," Douglas said softly. "It is difficult to move outside of the comfort zones we build for ourselves, especially if it could compromise or challenge us in ways that we fear to discover we aren't prepared for." Doug reached around his head, tilting to one side, his hand grasping and massaging his neck, as if he was tired and worn, working out the tension.

"I never wanted you to think I was asking you to spy on him," Douglas said with a sigh, "and yet, that's what you feel I'm doing. All I want, Tabitha, is for you to get closer to Samuel, to monitor his mental health and stability, and alert me if you thought he was becoming... a liability... to the safety and health of the Empire." His hand released his neck, as he rolled it around on his shoulders, before planting his hands on his knees.

"I could instruct the telepaths to do it, but he knows well enough to reel in his feelings and motivations tight when he sees them." Douglas explained, "That's why, when I came here, I approached you about it. He is much more relaxed around you, Tabitha. I saw that clearly at the Royal Ball. I mean, seriously," the young man broke out into an earnest grin, "name anyone else who can claim that they've stomped on Samuel's feet repeatedly... on purpose... and not had any repercussions?"

Douglas leaned forward, again, the serious intensity seeming to bubble up from within. "Tell me I was wrong about you, Tabitha. Tell me that your not the person I thought you were... strong, moral, and willing to do something to save countless lives, something that would make your ideals more than just wishful thinking."

[meltdown]

"That's why, when I came here, I approached you about it. He is much more relaxed around you, Tabitha. I saw that clearly at the Royal Ball. I mean, seriously," the young man broke out into an earnest grin, "name anyone else who can claim that they've stomped on Samuel's feet repeatedly... on purpose... and not had any repercussions?"

So Douglas had seen that. She should have known better than to think she could fool everyone. It was true. Perhaps, she did have a certain kind of access to Guthrie. If he had allowed her to do that, maybe she could get closer to find all the evidence they would need. She knew that Guthrie was trouble. He was like a pressure cooker, more like a powder keg. Things were bad now, but they could only get worse with him commanding.

Douglas leaned forward, again, the serious intensity seeming to bubble up from within. "Tell me I was wrong about you, Tabitha. Tell me that your not the person I thought you were... strong, moral, and willing to do something to save countless lives, something that would make your ideals more than just wishful thinking."

His words cut through Tabitha once again. She was strong and moral. Wasn't it about time to practice what she preached?

Tabitha slowly raised her eyes to meet those of Douglas who was bent over to see into her eyes, the windows to her soul. He could read her as well as any telepath. "Guthrie told me that his conscience was clean. He has sent hundreds, thousands of mutants to their death, many of which have passed through my hands. I can't accept that."

Dr. Smith rose from the stool slowly. "Together, we'll see that there's no more blood," she replied.

I am that strong. No more blood.

[Doug Ramsey]

Yes. Excellent. There is no more effective means to manipulate someone than to call them on their ideals. If she had declined, she would be admitting that she was just a wishful thinker, too weak to live the moral code she preached, and a hypocrite. Pride will always force one's hand.

Douglas allowed a smile to slowly spread across his face, and released a heavy sigh, as if relieved to hear her decision.

"I'm glad that I was right about you, Doctor Smith." Douglas said gladly. "My only other option was to approach Doctor Reyes, and honestly, I don't think she has the... patience... necessary to keep her tongue in check concerning the whole matter. That could have been trouble, and alerted Guthrie."

Doug shifted on the table, his butt uncomfortably sticking to the paper.

"Now, I feel confident to confide in you a proposal I will be announcing in a little while, for the King's birthday, once all the particulars are drafted to my liking." Douglas said in a hushed voice, "A key point is the forgiveness of any past committed crime, so long as the offender does not commit any future acts of terrorism. I'm offering the humans a clean slate, if they will take it."

[meltdown]

Offering humans a clean slate? That was a big leap. To take the side of humans was almost treason. Humans were kept low and usually they served as workers or slaves for the mutants.

"Can you acutally do that? Offering help to the humans is a drastic leap. You hold status within the King's council but this move could lead to..." Tabitha said.

What would it lead to exactly? An uprising? Would the populous balk against this measure? What would the king think?

"The King doesn't know about this yet does he?" she asked.

[Doug Ramsey]

"He will. And he will endorse it." Douglas said grimly. "Operation: Zero Tolerance will end this useless and costly war in a most dramatic manner." Douglas allowed one corner of his mouth to upturn in a smirk, while raising one eyebrow.

"In celebration of King Magnus' birthday, we will declare the war over, and grant immunity and amnesty for all war related criminal acts committed up until the Declaration. To partake of this beneficial turn of events, all the humans need do is simply stop fighting us, and they can return to their lives without persecution or threat of retaliation." Of course, Doug silently thought to himself, what I'm not saying is that any who don't go along with this are to be exterminated without mercy, in the most expeditious and painful way possible.

"I've even been looking at instituting various retraining programs for the humans, helping them to adjust and bringing them into this New Age, an Age of Superhumanism." Douglas affirmed his commitment to the ideals they had been discussing. "The disenfranchised have value beyond being handservants." Like being the guinea pigs for the Omega Sentinel program.

Douglas leaned forward toward Doctor Tabitha Smith. "We stand on the cusp of a Golden Age, Doctor. The only ones stopping us from achieving this never before dream of a unified humanity taking to the stars and beyond are those who are too enamored with the smell of blood dripping from their primitive claws. Its up to people like you and I to remove those weapons, and point their heads up towards the stars, so they may dream of that better tomorrow as well."