video; @Qubit

[superposition]

[ Note: This goes up probably a day or two before Shepard's public health PSA. ]

[ Hey look guys, Qubit's in good spirits for once! Not great spirits, since he's pretty sure he's coming down with something, but good. Even in the video, he sounds kind of congested. ]

Afternoon, Anchor, Qubit here. Just wanted to give you an update on the spycam situation - and it's good news this time. I've gone through the data with a fine-toothed comb, several times, and found no indication that anything recorded by those cameras has left the station. As far as I can tell, this was the work of a single party. They haven't been passing it along to someone else.

That's the good news. The bad is, we're still not sure who that party is, or what they were trying to accomplish. The actor or actors responsible are still at large, and until we know how they're getting in and out of the station - or indeed whether they've left at all - I'd encourage everyone to - to -

[ He turns away from the camera just in time to sneeze loudly into his elbow. ]

To remain vigilant -

[ Another sneeze, then three more in quick succession. He waits a second to be sure he's done, then sniffs and returns to the camera, blinking a few times. ]

Terribly sorry, where was I. Right - remain vigilant, and look out for one another. We will get to the bottom of this. Over and out.

Comments

[benhargreeves]

[ Ben's relief when Qubit backs off and stops trying to convince him is so intense it's like a physical force. He's glad the camera is off now so Qubit can't see him slumping forward, burying his face in his hands for a few seconds, just breathing and getting his head sorted out.

Who would've thought it would be so hard, such a tiny act of resistance? Harder than psychotic gunmen and ravenous zombies and mutated cow monsters? ]

It's okay.
You didn't know.
And you didn't do anything wrong by asking.
I just can't.

[ A brief pause and then he adds: ]

I'm sorry.

[superposition]

No need to be. You didn't do wrong in saying no, either. That's your right.

[ Informed consent is the ground rule of ethical research. Ben's chosen not to consent, so that's the end of it.

... Not to say Qubit isn't disappointed, but he'll get over it. There's always another way, always. And finding it is what he does. ]

Take care, Ben.

[benhargreeves]

[ There is still so much unresolved here - Ben still doesn't know exactly what Qubit's powers are, whether he'd always had them or not, and a dozen or more other questions. But he's in such a state now that continuing the conversation in any way feels impossible - so he is grateful once again when Qubit reassures him he's not going to bear a grudge over this, and gives him an out to end the conversation.

Another time, perhaps, he will explain his reaction. Another time, he will make it up to Qubit and learn more about him. Right now, he's going to just.... find the book he was halfway through reading and bury himself in it until he forget he is himself for a little while.

But he isn't going to do that without saying goodbye. ]

Thank you.
I hope you feel better soon.