Irreversible

Question one: I'd used 'gut feeling' twice. What did I mean by that?


Answer: …

I'd convinced Fume Hood to get back into the game. She'd planned to retire and I'd played a big role in convincing her to stick it out and keep trying to help, after she got shot. Now… what? Did she think? Did a titan maintain any trace of its old psychology? Was she trapped in there, or was she gone, good as dead?

Something told me this wasn't in any way reversible. Gut feeling.

I refocused on the screen. The line of thought didn't really connect, and it was only by chance that I'd circled back.

Like doing something I've practiced to death. Holding a gun and knowing I could pick it up and hit the target, there's a certainty and underlying confidence. Take away the practicing from the equation, and that's how I felt about things like smashing Teacher's crystal.

I was calling on my time with the Patrol for that one. I'd already done the gun safety and practice at my parent's behest, once upon a time. All of us kids had. But I'd elected to do it again. Back then, it had been about getting through the days.

Question two: You frame this 'gut feeling' as agent-derived. On a scale of one to ten, to what degree could you separate your own biases, hopes, instincts, preconceptions, or own mentality from this impression the agent provides?

What do you think, Fragile one?

Hard to draw a firm line.

Seven. Seventy percent.

- Radiation 18.1