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[Forward dated to the Truth Event]

[THE WHOLE BARGE]

[Cain patrols, half out of anxious habit and half because he enjoys the routine. But it puts him in the halls, the Warden-only areas, the deck, the library, the art room. Feel free to chat; he has no idea he's under the influence of the Barge.]

[THE GYM]

[But he spends most of his time here, practicing and training, and lately taking on new students. This is where you're most likely to find him.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Crichton is on the deck, with his arms resting comfortably over the rails while he looks out at the stars passing lazily by. He's, as of yet, still unaware of the affects of the flood. He's caught up in thoughts of home at the moment, and won't immediately notice if company closes on his position.]

[The only reason he knows what Crichton looks like is because after talking to Scorpius he'd made a point of finding out. He has approached countless marks that way: knowing more than he ought to without ever having said 'hello'.

He leans against the railing beside him, and exhales heavily, contentedly.]

You know, it could be worse around here. Hell I'd kill just for the view.

[Crichton's lips part in a wry smile, still looking out at the stars.]

The view isn't all that new to me.

[Traveling the stars. He used to think he'd kill for that too. Now he'd kill just to get his feet back on Earth again.

He looks over next to him, so to see who it is, but it's no one he's familiar with.]

Don't think we've met yet.

David Cain. [And he sticks out a hand, though he has no idea if a handshake means anything to John.] I'm a Warden. What's brought you here to the Barge?

John Crichton. Also a Warden.

[He reciprocates the handshake. That's still the norm for meeting new people as far as he's concerned.]

I came on-board because The Admiral said he could get rid of the neural clone in my head. I didn't think there was any hope of ever getting rid of him for good.

[He gasps, looking incredibly shocked. That is not what he wanted to say. Hell of a way to find out about this flood.]

[Cain looks at him, one eyebrow raised.]

What's a neural clone?

It's a copy of Scorpius's personality that he put into a chip and implanted in my brain.

What the hell!?

[He slaps a hand over his mouth, and starts backing away slowly.]

[Cain turns, hands up, like he's approaching a gunman or an injured animal]

Hey, hey, I know Scorpius. He's in a dangerous place, he's still new here. I'm trying to make sure if he's planning something that we can stop him before someone gets hurt.

[Crichton slows to a stop, but he still looks like he could bolt.]

We?

[People have already been hurt!]

If you came to talk to me about that bastard, why didn't you just say so?!

Relax. I had to know what kind of person you are. For all I knew, you were as shady as he is.

So now that you know about [He inhales angrily] my little problem, what do you think?

Well, first off, I don't think he's beyond reason. Trick is getting him to realize that. But that's probably a job for his warden sometime in the far off future. If I thought he was so screwed up we couldn't talk him out of what he's planning, it'd be another story.

I think you shouldn't try to handle him all on your own. Honestly? I think I can help you.

He's practical, but when it comes to wormholes, sometimes the usual rules don't apply. He's obsessed.

[He knows he needs the help, but...]

Can I trust you?

[It's a funny question; there's no way to answer and make it be completely believable, even if the answer is honest.]

Yeah. You can trust me. Ask Dean Winchester for the footnotes if you're worried.

[Now Dean he does trust.]

Good answer. You can bet I'll be checking you on that.

So, how do you think you can help?

I'm a big fan of espionage when I need some background on a target. Surveillance is a specialty of mine.

You want to spy on him? Be my guest.

He won't be real happy if he figures out you're doing it. Just so you know.

Sure. He'd have to be touched in the head to be happy he's being stalked.

Don't worry about it, I've done this a couple times.

I'm not convinced he isn't 'touched in the head.'

Is this the part where I ask what it is you do and you say 'I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you'?

[He barks a laugh]

No. I'm retired. Boring kind of twist, huh?

It's one I can live with. Any extra set of eyes on this guy will come in handy. If you know what you're doing, all the better.

By the way, what I told you earlier stays between you an' me. That isn't public knowledge on the Barge. [Not yet.] Understand?

Got it. [Another set of secrets to keep is hardly a drop in the ocean for him, especially if it means a new ally.]

Anything else I should know, before I start watching this guy?

Yeah, he can always tell when you're lying. [And not just because of the flood.]

He can read energy signatures. Well, that's what he called it. It's no good trying to fool him if you get caught.

[Well that's...good to know. And unnerving.]

Damn good thing my kid taught me to be honest. Puts a damper on a hell of a lot of plans, though.

You see my problem now. Hard to beat this guy at any games when you have play honest and he doesn't.

I have to ask: kids?

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