"Dolphins are smart creatures and maybe they are here merely to be studied for science's sake as part of the mission, not for any other reason?" Scott stared at her and blinked, then narrowed his eyes. "Generally most people don't ant death rays, because most people don't like killing, and in fact, avoid it as much as humanly possible. A death ray is only for killing and implies you will, if you feel it necessary, and maybe just because, use it to kill." His voice was cutting as he answered her in turn.
"People with that kind of power might start out reasonable, but power corrupts." He shook his head. "And death rays aren't remotely the worst thing in existence, so there will always be someone with something worse, so in able to combat them, you will build something worse. Then they will. Then you will again, an so on. History shows that build up as deterrent does not work, ever." Earth and other worlds had proven that, sadly.
"And you are hardly going to be the only source. Someone smart would likely build a better one and just quietly let it be known that a source existed to counter you, thus eliminating you effectiveness entirely. Anyone who controls death rays is not keeping anyone safe, they are endangering them."
He rolled his eyes. "This ship alone probably has nonlethal ways of dealing with a clank or a monster," whatever a clank was, "and I for one know I do. So for me, your Death ray would actually be a threat and something I would want to eliminate." That was spoken without violence or threat, simply and matter of factly.
He rubbed his face as she spoke that way. "If you want to eliminate threats to your people find nonlethal ways, or else you are no better than those who threaten you in the first place." Scott quite simply did not believe in killing. And while it sometimes happened, he always tried to find another way. Someone who thought a lethal measure something to crow about was a danger to him. Which thought had him seeing her in a whole new light, and his eyes focusing carefully.
I apologize for Scott's reaction. Agatha just made the Supervillain list in his head.
"People with that kind of power might start out reasonable, but power corrupts." He shook his head. "And death rays aren't remotely the worst thing in existence, so there will always be someone with something worse, so in able to combat them, you will build something worse. Then they will. Then you will again, an so on. History shows that build up as deterrent does not work, ever." Earth and other worlds had proven that, sadly.
"And you are hardly going to be the only source. Someone smart would likely build a better one and just quietly let it be known that a source existed to counter you, thus eliminating you effectiveness entirely. Anyone who controls death rays is not keeping anyone safe, they are endangering them."
He rolled his eyes. "This ship alone probably has nonlethal ways of dealing with a clank or a monster," whatever a clank was, "and I for one know I do. So for me, your Death ray would actually be a threat and something I would want to eliminate." That was spoken without violence or threat, simply and matter of factly.
He rubbed his face as she spoke that way. "If you want to eliminate threats to your people find nonlethal ways, or else you are no better than those who threaten you in the first place." Scott quite simply did not believe in killing. And while it sometimes happened, he always tried to find another way. Someone who thought a lethal measure something to crow about was a danger to him. Which thought had him seeing her in a whole new light, and his eyes focusing carefully.