[25] - [Voice]

[sharpememory]

I just thought that I should mention that I'm straight. Just so everyone knows.

[Private - Prefect]

I guess we should talk about Philip. It's a pity that he didn't get the memo on filters.

[Private - Dean]

You should play pool with me. Also, we should invite Wanda and Arkady. If you haven't met them yet, you should.

[Private - Wanda and Arkady]

Do you guys want to play pool with me and Dean? There'd potentially be beer involved.

Comments

Private

[sharpememory]

That would be pretty good, I have to say. I know a lot of workers that need defending, like my mom.

[A pause.] It didn't get you, did it? And no, I can't really. I mean, it's just one of those things that the Admiral probably didn't want me to remember. [Ah, back to excuse making.]

Private

[buywithme]

You would need to stop working people, if you wanted to help her like that. I mean, once you graduate, you'll have your power back, so you would be able to use it, in an emergency? But you'd have to make the decision not too.

Do you think you'd like to try some of those exercises for retrieving lost memories, later?

[He pauses a little himself, before replying:] No, Comrade. I didn't leave you, and we both got away all right. But you standing in front of me, to try and let me get away even if you were injured? That meant a lot to me. It's something about you that is important, and good, and you don't even remember it happening.

I know that you can always make more good memories, but sometimes there will be important things which might only happen once. If you forget them, then you forget... what kind of a man you are capable of being.

And I don't think that's the Admiral's objective.

Private

[sharpememory]

I suppose that's true. I'd like my power back here and now though. Because I've got to learn to be discerning with it sooner or later, right? I'd even by more willing to try the memory stuff.

[Barron takes a moment to reply.] I'm glad that I didn't let the thing eat you. I guess that's a pretty important thing to forgot. But that's kind of the way it is, you know? Maybe that's the Admiral's point.

Private

[buywithme]

I'd like you to have it back eventually as well, just... not quite yet, Comrade. If I give you your power back and you misuse it, then people here who have been looking for an excuse to hurt you, will take that as their excuse.

That doesn't have to be the way it is though, brother! You haven't had your power for months now, Comrade, so there should be a period of time, in which you can remember everything that's happened. Doesn't that... I don't know, doesn't it feel different to you?

I don't think this is being controlled by the Admiral, Brother. It's just the blowback from your power, it's something that you've done to yourself, and that you have the power to stop from happening again.

Private

[sharpememory]

Perry Dawsey apparently isn't here anymore, so that's one person down. Not that many other people have a problem with me. So it might be worth the risk? Good could come of it.

[Pause.] Well, I guess so. But it's not the be all and end all, you know?

It could be either, to be fair. [Backtrack, backtrack!]

Private

[buywithme]

I am thinking about it, Comrade. Just give it a little more time.

Things must be less confusing, at least?

Private

[sharpememory]

If there's one thing I've got a lot of at the moment, it's time.

I guess so. They're certainly more linear.

Private

[buywithme]

Could you tell me what it's like? I mean, when you don't remember things?

[Pause]

I mean, you don't have too, this isn't like, a warden-ish question, really. I just can't imagine how you could be happy living like that.

Private

[sharpememory]

Well, you know when you forget your keys? And it sucks, because you know you left them just there but you can't remember where just there is? It's like that. But with your name.

I'm used to it. It's not really that bad.