001 ✚ voice

[sufferably]

_{( A few hours after arriving, and after meeting up with Jim and figuring out some basics, because he's not about to make a public post that makes a fool of him in front of a bunch of people, Bones picks up the comm and says, rough southern accent and all-- )}

Alright. There's obviously no point asking about how to hail a ship that's in orbit two hundred years in the future.

_{( A great start, by Dr. Leonard McCoy. He sounds all business, and you can almost hear him rolling up his sleeves. )}

If this is a city of heroes, I'm willing to bet it's also a city of danger. _{( He says that derisively. )} If you were going to rate this place based on how easy it was to get sick, injured--how would it compare to your home ti--that is, world? Are buildings getting knocked down, people getting crazy interdimensional diseases?

I like to know what I'm working with.

Comments

[heal_or_execute]

[Mordin's smile shrinks and he sniffs. Metaphors. Distasteful.]

Proudly serve all City residents for free. Also take patients from outside City when necessary. ImPorts have powers and tech beyond current human levels, can offer advanced medical services.

[He inhales, shrugs a little.]

Just have to avoid cultural contamination during work. Help people of society without altering society. Attempting to avoid inadvertent technological uplift.

[sufferably]

_{( He nods most of that--maybe even smirks at Mordin's reaction to the metaphor--but then stops short. )}

Are you saying that if you could help someone, but it would culturally contaminate this timeline, you wouldn't do it?

[heal_or_execute]

Of course.

[Nodding like it's the most obvious thing in the world.]

ImPort abilities don't convey the right to meddle in this civilization's development. Long-term damage resulting from externally-introduced cultural advancements far outweighs short-term benefit of helping patients. Logical to select option resulting in less harm to Earth.

[sufferably]

That's bullshit. We're already here. If there were going to be damages, they've already be done.

[heal_or_execute]

[More sniffing.]

Obviously significant damage already inflicted on this world by our presence. Political instability, mass casualties, powerful criminal elements. Human development irrevocably altered by Porter.

[He shakes his head.]

Irrelevant. Doesn't remove personal responsibility for how we manage our abilities. Careful use of powers and tech can limit our impact on human history. Mitigate harm, reduce damages. Historical precedents clear. Attempt to uplift society, make things worse.

[sufferably]

You're not standing on the corner handing out new technology. Or forcing people into something there not ready for. But if you can save someone's life just because you happen to know something their world doesn't, you should do it.

_{( He pauses, the says: )} What d'you mean, "uplift?" You keep using that word.

[heal_or_execute]

One of the historical precedents mentioned. My people, Salarians, needed help from Krogan to fight Rachni invading galaxy.

[You've signed up for a bit of a story here Bones best get comfortable.]

Krogan were belligerent pre-spaceflight race living in nuclear wasteland. Destroyed their own civilization through war. But, excellent fighters. Salarians made contact, provided tech, gave massive assistance in rebuilding society. In return, Krogan saved galaxy from Rachni.

[Mordin's face falls and he shakes his head. He looks more than sad, he looks guilty.]

'Uplift' refers to the process of benign interference in alien race. Shortsighted, foolish. Krogan experienced population explosion post-war, thought galaxy owed them. Population pressure led to expansion, led to more war. Bloody, disastrous.

[Pause, inhale.]

Won't hold back when saving lives with own hands and talents. Duty as doctor. However, have to be aware more lives could be saved by 'handing out new technology' on street corner. Could revolutionize this world. Balance that knowledge with humility, lessons of history, awareness of unintended consequences. Make responsible choices.

[sufferably]

Sounds like our Prime Directive. We're not supposed to interfere, either. _{( Bones pauses for a moment, sighs. You can hear air-quotes, the mocking capitalization, of "Prime Directive." )}

Don't think it's ever as cut and dry as we want, and there's probably no rule that's going to save you one hundred percent of the time. But as far as it goes it seems you've got the right idea of it.

[heal_or_execute]

Ah. Glad we understand each other.

[Mordin relaxes visibly, starts smiling again.]

Inferring your organization also involves contact with less-advanced cultures?

[sufferably]

We're supposed to keep the contact part out of it, but yeah. You've got to get really good at predicting how viruses mutate from species to species when no one on the damn ship can learn when to keep their hands to themselves.

[heal_or_execute]

Ah, yes. Most challenging part of managing cross-species patient selection.

[Clearly some fond memories here, judging by his smile.]

Tracking possible disease vectors and variants, adapting treatment for amino acid incompatibility, handling immune system differences, trying to educate crew about possible... interpersonal hazards. Always stimulating.

[sufferably]

Trying being the operative word, in this case.

_{( He has to sign off on a lot of forms he'd rather not have to know exist. )}

[heal_or_execute]

Have you considered using improv theatre? Putting together small skit illustrating dangers of reckless behaviour? Find people are usually more receptive to science when packaged with entertainment.

[Mordin is 100% serious about putting on a literal song-and-dance for medicine if he has to.]

[sufferably]

The thought actually never crossed my mind.

_{( Because he likes pretending people respect him. )}

If they're too entertained the science might go right over their heads.

[heal_or_execute]

True, but possible to find the right balance. Recommend trying it out. Would be happy to help with scriptwriting and rehearsals, if need be.

[SO ENTHUSIASTIC.]

[sufferably]

I'm a doctor, not a director.

_{( Shaking his head. )}

please tell me his power just kicked in

[heal_or_execute]

Understandable obstacle. Fortunately, happen to be both. More doctor than director of course, but have dabbled in the past.

oh it totally did

[sufferably]

_{( And here he pauses for a long moment, because all of a sudden his head is filled with stage directions and camera techniques. And he's not exactly sure why that's happening, and there is no small amount of panic that accompanies that. Eventually he manages to bite down a great many of the random phrases popping into his mind, though he is messing with the comm's camera function more than is strictly normal. )}

...anything you don't dabble in, Professor?

yesss

[heal_or_execute]

[Mordin sniffs.]

Business management. Never interested, never tried. Prefer working to produce results rather than to accumulate profit.

8')

[sufferably]

How noble of you.

_{( Even he's not sure if that's dry sarcasm or actual respect. )}

[heal_or_execute]

Thrill of challenge and enjoyment of discovery sufficient reward. And helping people, of course. Serving greater good, relieving suffering, all very important.

[Even he's not sure whether he's not catching the possibility of sarcasm or just choosing not to care.]

[sufferably]

_{( Lmfao. )}

Glad you think so.