[ If you're anywhere near this computer lab, you'll noticed that Rodney has been pretty busy ripping it apart and putting it together again, school boy shirt sleeves rolled up but still slightly smarter than is normal for him. He also seems to have borrowed a whole lot of gear from the science department -- because, hello? Saving everyone, far more
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I would be having more luck if I didn't have to continually answer stupid questions.
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Well, that's all right. I'm the only one talking to you right now, and my questions aren't stupid. Have you thought about what I said?
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[ Continues typing and shakes his head. ]
Thought about it, come to the conclusion that I am still right and you are still wrong. We have nothing better to try, and I have to get as much done as I can before the world changes. Busy!
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[ STILL TYPING mostly ignoring you. ]
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[Comes fully into the room and closes the door behind him]
I've seen people ripped from dreams they believe are real. It's more than the mind can handle. Setting aside the fact that we have no idea what, if anything, would await us when we escaped, setting aside the fact that I know at least one person came here in his moment of death, assuming we all physically survive the experience...shut off a dream without warning, you can kill a man's mind. Shut off a mind that's connected to so many minds? Imagine for yourself.
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[ Rodney is really, really tired ): he's spent all day arguing with people while trying to finish this and nobody is on his side ]
Look, I -- I'm not going to finish this before the next world change anyway.
[ Scrabbles for a pen and paper.When a virtual environment is set up the bodies of the people who use it are kept in a kind of stasis, they're -- asleep but machines keep them nourished and monitor their health. I've seen people whose normal life span should be 100 years at a push kept in stasis for thousands of years. 1 year is equivalent to around 200, you do the math. They age incredibly slowly. Here -- when the consciousness is connected to the virtual environment there are a huge number of safety protocols in place. They make sure it isn't lost if the system fails, sometimes if the crew is using them it will wake them up if their ship is under attack -- whatever. Now, on P7J-989 the Volsinii had a pod like this but with theirs if you died ( ... )
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[Reaches out and takes the paper, examining it closely for a long moment before quirking a half-smile]
Our worlds are very different. You have a level of technology at least on a par with the Elderlings, it seems, and if you understand it, you may be justified in your faith. I left the prophecies in Asvejal...still, it doesn't exactly make me sleep easy, the thought of what you're attempting.
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[ Rubs his face and takes a deep breath. Right! -- Oh ]
Uh, Dr Rodney McKay -- that's me. I don't think we ever ... stopped arguing long enough to introduce ourselves.
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