Favoring Brad.
DEATHLOK
I take that back. It does relieve you of
the burden of having to listen. Or even
think.
Deathlok has turned his attention back to the class as a
whole. Nick is pensive. He's raising his hand.
DEATHLOK
Just because someone disagrees with you
doesn't make him a bad person. Next
question?
Nick is perched on the edge of the teacher's desk. Brad is
visible speaking through his cupped hands as if they were a
megaphone.
NICK
This thing you've got about never killing
anybody...you've even programmed your
computer so itcan't kill anyone. I
guess what I'm trying to ask is--
BRAD
--How come you're such a wuss!!
Page 7
Panel 1
Deathlok puts his hand on Nick's shoulder paternally. His
other hand is on his pistol butt in his holster.
DEATHLOK
Nick, the "No Killing Parameter" is there
because I don't think I havethe right
to make life and death decisions.
DEATHLOK
And as far as my being a "wuss" goes. Let
me offer a small demonstration.--
Tight as Deathlok levels the plasma pistol directly at Brad.
DEATHLOK
--Say you've got a problem.
got a gun.
you've
COMPUTER
Relax "No Killing Parameter"?
DEATHLOK CAPTION
You betcha, Computer.
Deathlok shoots Brad.
Deathlok speaks to class while Brad and his desk burns.
DEATHLOK
Problem solved, right? Wrong.
DEATHLOK
I haven't dealtwith the problem.
Brad's opinions and arguments are just as
valid as they were before I killed him.
Deathlok continues.
DEATHLOK
All I've proved is that I'm stronger
than him. If might makes right then
Doctor Doom is morally superior to Mother
Theresa. I mean, he can beat her arm
wrestling easy.
Deathlok speaks directly to Nick.
DEATHLOK
Anymoron can shoot a problem in the
kneecaps. But if you want to have a
positiveeffect on the world you live in
what's easiest.
Deathlok holsters his gun. He's speaking to the class.
DEATHLOK
If I acted without thinking, if I
constantly used force to resolve
problems, if I used the power that comes
from the barrel of a gun to enforce my
World-view on every one who disagreed
with me, thenI'd be a wuss.
DEATHLOK
Do you guys all understand?
Angle on the class.
KID
Sure thing, Deathlok. Before you go,
could you shoot somebody else for us?
Interior Deathlok's room. Deathlok sits up in bed with a
start.
(BURST)
COMPUTER
Unit is reacting inappropriately to random
series of brain-generated negative images.
Images have no corresponding basis in
tactile reality.
Deathlok is standing next to his bed, trying to shake off the
dream..
DEATHLOK CAPTION
You mean I had a nightmare.
COMPUTER
Affirmative. As predicted, biological
systems' inability to properly absorb
caffeine has caused disturbance in REM
sleep stages.
![[made with GoClick]](imgs/goclick.gif)
