- Roj Blake: All right, Zen, standby to run it *again*, at *half* speed.
- Zen: Confirmed.
- Avon: Slow or fast, it will still look the same.
- Roj Blake: How long have you been there?
- Avon: I was here when you came in.
- Roj Blake: Why didn't you speak?
- Avon: I had nothing in particular to say. Besides, you looked as though you were planning something you didn't want the rest of us to know about.
- Vila: If it ever comes to a showdown, my money's on Blake. Well, half of it. I'll put the other half on Avon.
- Jenna Stannis: [Laughs:] That's a safe bet.
- [Then seriously:]
- Jenna Stannis: But if Avon is right, we'll probably all be dead anyway.
- Vila: Dead? Is that your idea of a safe bet?
- Roj Blake: Do you think you could forget your superiority complex for a moment and get on with it?
- Avon: All right. But first of all, let us examine the nature of prediction. The human mind is capable of seeing into the short-range future with reasonable accuracy. For example, imagine that you are standing on the edge of a cliff.
- Roj Blake: As long as you're not standing behind me.
- Avon: [pauses] There are a *number* of alternative futures: you could take a pace forward and plunge to your death; the cliff could crumble under your feet - with the same result; a gust of wind could carry you over...
- Roj Blake: All right, all right, yes. But the probability is that I would turn 'round and walk away again.
- Avon: Exactly. You have just made a prediction based on the known facts. A computer works on precisely the same principle.
- Roj Blake: But all you're saying is that prediction is not immutable fact.
- Avon: Right. If you hadn't gone near the cliff in the first place, you wouldn't have had to face any of the inherent dangers.
- Avon: [Quickly and impatiently:] Blake, what I'm doing is vitally concerned with our survival. Are you prepared to take responsibility for what happens if I delay?
- Roj Blake: Don't I always? Now just get down here!
- Avon: Anything you say.
- Roj Blake: And Avon, don't come crashing in; *gently* as you open the door.
- Avon: Blake's regard for our safety is inspiring, don't you think?
- Roj Blake: No one is to attempt to repair any equipment 'til the computers are back under our control.
- Jenna Stannis: What is it, Blake? What's going on?
- Roj Blake: Well, the computers seem to be making decisions for themselves. They're resisting all interference.
- Jenna Stannis: But that's not possible.
- Roj Blake: [Motions to Avon] Avon.
- Avon: It is if you think of the ship as a living entity with massive networks of electronics acting as a nervous system.
- Jenna Stannis: All linked into a central computer.
- Roj Blake: The brain.
- Avon: Carry the analogy a stage further: when a living creature is hurt - a cut or a wound - antibodies gather around the injury to repair it and to fight infection.
- Vila: You mean the computers are treating us like *germs*!
- Avon: [Smiles briefly at Blake:] Crude, but accurate.
- Cally: But antibodies kill infection. Why are we still alive?
- Roj Blake: We're not sure. There are dozens of ways the ship could destroy us: cut off the air supply, drop the temperature so we freeze to death -
- Vila: Stop putting ideas into its head!
- Roj Blake: [to Avon:] Actually, one touch of that cable would have done it. No, I don't think it wants to kill us.
- Avon: Well, not yet, anyway. It's saving us for something.
- Vila: Dinner?
- Avon: Now then, Orac. Are you going to function or are you not?
- Orac: All principal circuits are operating at full capacity and cannot receive new programs at this time.
- Roj Blake: Well, *clear* the circuits! This is priority!
- Orac: Circuit clearance and reprogramming will take precisely one hour and thirty-seven point nine seconds.
- Roj Blake: That could be just a little late.
- Orac: [Testily:] State your program requirements; they will be implemented when capacity is available.
- Alta One/The System: State the circumstance by which you came to be aboard Deep Space Vehicle Two.
- Roj Blake: We call it The Liberator. It was found abandoned and drifting in space. I was part of a crew that was put on board.
- Alta One/The System: State the astral location in which you found DSV II.
- Roj Blake: I don't know it. My nearest point of reference is a Federation prison planet called Cygnus Alpha.
- Alta One/The System: State any further information you have regarding DSV II.
- Roj Blake: We assume it had been in a space battle.
- [Alta One's interface globe to The System starts to emit smoke]
- Alta One/The System: State any further information you have regarding - regarding - regarding -
- Alta Two: Circuitry disturbances are continuing. An outside influence has been analyzed.
- Alta One: We will resume the questioning when the disturbance has been rectified.
- [Avon and Jenna are sitting on the bench. They hear a noise at the door. Avon signals Jenna to stand by the window while he moves behind the door to attack whoever enters. Avon lets fly before he realizes it's Vila]
- Vila: [Doubling over] Oh!
- Avon: I'm... sorry, Vila.
- Vila: Been looking all over for you two.
- Jenna Stannis: How did you get here?
- Vila: I was just passing - thought I'd drop in and see you.
- Avon: Where are Gan and Cally?
- Vila: They're in a cell along the corridor.
- Avon: Well, what kept you?
- Vila: Magno-locks aren't *that* easy to open, even for *me*.
- Avon: Practice. Let's go.
- Vila: Just a minute. Where's Blake?
- Jenna Stannis: They took him away for questioning.
- Vila: Questioning?
- Avon: I don't think we should hang around.
- [exits cell]
- Vila: No, neither do I.
- Jenna Stannis: [Checking wound] What did you do to your head?
- Vila: One of the guards didn't like me.
- Avon: [From outside] Come on!