Blakes 71978

Roj Blake:
No one is to attempt to repair any equipment 'til the computers are back under our control.

Jenna Stannis:
What is it, Blake? What's going on?

Roj Blake:
Well, the computers seem to be making decisions for themselves. They're resisting all interference.

Jenna Stannis:
But that's not possible.

Roj Blake:
[Motions to Avon] Avon.

Avon:
It is if you think of the ship as a living entity with massive networks of electronics acting as a nervous system.

Jenna Stannis:
All linked into a central computer.

Roj Blake:
The brain.

Avon:
Carry the analogy a stage further: when a living creature is hurt - a cut or a wound - antibodies gather around the injury to repair it and to fight infection.

Vila:
You mean the computers are treating us like *germs*!

Avon:
[Smiles briefly at Blake:] Crude, but accurate.

Cally:
But antibodies kill infection. Why are we still alive?

Roj Blake:
We're not sure. There are dozens of ways the ship could destroy us: cut off the air supply, drop the temperature so we freeze to death -

Vila:
Stop putting ideas into its head!

Roj Blake:
[to Avon:] Actually, one touch of that cable would have done it. No, I don't think it wants to kill us.

Avon:
Well, not yet, anyway. It's saving us for something.

Vila:
Dinner?