fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, November 9, 6th period]

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Ethics [Thursday, November 9, 6th period]

Vader swept into the room and slammed the door behind him as usual.

"Immortality," he intoned, pacing in front of the class, mental walls incredibly strong. On this topic most of all, he had no interest in students poking around in his head. "Many beings have made life-altering choices in order to avoid dying, or to try to avoid someone they love dying. They've broken under torture, they've made pacts with powerful beings, they've sold their souls like a commodity. They've cloned themselves, murdered thousands, created machines to stop the passage of time."

Vader's cape billowed out around him as he turned. "Today's discussion is not about why all sentient and mortal beings seem to fear death. Today, you shall discuss what you would be prepared to give up if it would guarantee that you would live forever."

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That's not who I am! she insisted weakly. I'd never do that.

Of course you would, Vader replied. Given the right circumstances, we're all much less than we thought we'd be.

If Isabel hadn't heard about her dupe and how she killed her own brother, she might have protested more. But Vader's words only echoed the thoughts that have been tormenting her all week. Defeated, Isabel put her head down and closed her eyes.

Jack watched Isabel from the other side of the classroom.

He had to supress a snort of laughter when he realised his first impulse was still to make sure she was okay.

Eventually Isabel lifted her head up and looked around the room, searching for anything that would work as a distraction. She visibly flinched when she saw Jack.

He felt the flinch, deep in his gut, but didn't let himself react beyond flattening his hands on the desk and raising an eyebrow at her.

She swallowed hard and turned away. It wasn't like Jack had any special reason to get an answer.

Once she turned away, Jack sighed and slumped down in his chair, tracing patterns on his desk.

River watched Isabel, picking up the wordless conversation with Vader. She put her hands over her ears, wanting to stop the pain from entering her head. But it must be worse for Isabel. A lot worse.

Looking anywhere but at Jack, Isabel looked aimlessly around the room. She saw River with her hands over her ears and remembered what she was capable of. "Did you hear that?"

River nodded. "He's evil," she whispered, glancing at Vader. Then she looked at Isabel again. "You're not."

"I hope not," she said quietly. "But now I'm not so sure."

River could understand that feeling all too well. "Dreams," she said. "You don't have to do what she did. Not now."

"Maybe, but it's not just her," Isabel shrugged helplessly, too drained to explain alien duplicates and history repeating itself.

"Still have a choice." It seemed important to remind her of that, just as people had reminded River after she had attacked her friends.

"I just hope I'm able to make the right one." With a sigh, Isabel put her head back down on the desk, counting the minutes until class was over. She needed to get away from people for a while.

River would have tried smiling at Isable if she'd thought she'd succeed, but Isabel's pain was too strong, and invaded River's mind.

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Ethics [Thursday, November 9, 6th period]

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