Chapter Text
***
The MODERATOR addresses the audience once again.
MODERATOR
“Names are important. They distinguish one individual from another. Names can even derive something of an individual.”
The MODERATOR pauses, giving himself a moment to think. Having come to a decision, he continues.
MODERATOR
“All we know about the individuals on either side of me is what they are.”
From above a FLY is carefully lowered to hang above the heads of the two participants of the dialogue. Attached to the FLY are two boards that give the following definitions...
The first read.
AUGMENT: To make (something) stronger, or more effective by adding something to it.
And on the other.
CREATURE: An animal, or something that is created (nonhuman).
The AUGMENT visibly stiffened, while the CREATURE flinched, as if struck.
If he sensed the growing tension, the MODERATOR gave little sign. He turned to address the AUGMENT.
MODERATOR
“Please introduce yourself to our audience.”
The AUGMENT didn’t respond immediately, choosing to regard the MODERATOR with a critical eye first.
When he finally responded, his words were clear, his tone carefully measured.
AUGMENT
“My name is Khan...Noonien...Singh.”
The MODERATOR’S comeback was immediate.
MODERATOR
“Khan... An interesting name, except that it isn’t a name, is it.”
The AUGMENT who called himself KHAN, acquiesced the MODERATOR’S assessment with the slightest inclination of his head.
KHAN
“And yet it is how I am addressed, and identified.”
MODERATOR
“Freely, or under threat, I wonder...”
The taunt that edged the MODERATOR’S statement was still very much in evidence as he continued.
MODERATOR
“Khan is a title, one that can mean anything from a military leader, to a member of royalty.
KHAN
“Your point?”
MODERATOR
“Your name is not Khan, it is Noonien Singh. But you are uncomfortable with that name. Why I wonder? Maybe because it reminds you of who you were, and how you were before your DNA was genetically altered...”
KHAN
“Enough!”
The MODERATOR’S smile is triumphant, having successfully achieved getting under the skin of the normally cool, and in control AUGMENT.
The MODERATOR now turns his attention to the wretched being to his right.
MODERATOR
“And you? Were you given a name by your creator?”
The CREATURE glared at the MODERATOR in bitter resentment. When he replied however, his words have a reserved, yet dignified quality.
CREATURE
“My father did not honour me with a name. When I came to life, he ran away in fear. So I choose a name for myself. I am Adam.”
MODERATOR
“From the Book of Genesis, Adam the first man. And so you are...”
ADAM
“I am the first of my kind.”
It is clear that the CREATURE is proud of the name he has given himself. As he speaks he sounds more confident, and stands a little straighter.
MODERATOR
“The first, but surely you mean the only.”
ADAM shrinks back, cowering once again as his moment of triumph is taken away in an instant.
ADAM
“Father promised he would make me a female companion so that I would not be alone in the world.”
The pitiable CREATURE’S shoulders began to shake, first in distress, but then with a growing anger.
ADAM
“Instead he betrayed me.”
The MODERATOR turned, facing forward to address the unseen audience.
MODERATOR
“The names our participants have chosen for themselves both speak of a need to appear more than what they are, as a way of justifying their existence perhaps. And of giving them the right to take control, whether to rule over others, or in doing what is deemed right to survive.
These are issues that will be raised again later. But for now, whatever their reasoning, it is done and we are left with no option but to accept it.”
The MODERATOR paused. But before he could bring the current discussion to its end and move on to the next, he was interrupted.
KHAN
“Haven’t you forgotten something?”
MODERATOR
“I don’t believe so.”
KHAN
“Oh, but you have. The audience have heard who we, the participants are. Isn’t it time you revealed to them who you are?”
The tone in KHAN’S voice indicated he’d already worked out the MODERATOR’S identity.
MODERATOR
“This dialogue is not about me. Therefore the audience have no need to learn anything about who I am.”
KHAN
“Oh I think you’ll find them intrigued to know why Satan’s servant has been sent here to moderate such a dialogue.”
Unseen they may be, but there was nonetheless a definite sense that the audiences curiosity had indeed become piqued.
The MODERATOR realising it was pointless to attempt to delay the inevitable, responded nonchalantly.
MODERATOR
“Very well noted, but I prefer the title advocate.”
ADAM
“Except that the Devil’s Advocate was an official position within the Catholic Church.”
KHAN
“And your title is not the issue here. What I want to know is what game is being played here?”
DEVIL’S ADVOVATE
“There is no game I assure you.”
ADAM
“We don’t believe you.”
KHAN
“Who else but the Devil would question Man’s right to aim for perfection for themselves, or to attempt to create a new form of being.
After all, the Devil has no love of Man. It was for that reason God banished him to Hell.”
The DEVIL’S ADVOCATE for once showed a flash of anger as he defended his Master.
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
“God told the Angels that they were to bow to none but Himself. And this the Devil was more than willing to do for he loved God.
But then God created Man, and proclaimed them as a higher form of life than the Angels, and he ordered that the Angels must also bow to Man. But the Devil refused, and for that he was banished for Eternity in Hell.”
KHAN
“Not out of ego?”
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
“Certainly not! That’s just the Christian view of the situation. In truth the Devil only loved God, and he could not bow to those he believed were lesser than The Almighty.”
KHAN
“All right, let’s say, for arguments sake, that the names we have chosen for ourselves, was done so that we could fulfil a need to be recognised as something more than what we had once been. It’s a reasonable assumption given what we have both gone through.”
KHAN turned to speak directly to ADAM.
KHAN
“Agreed?”
ADAM nodded his head.
ADAM
“Agreed.”
KHAN turned back to the DEVIL’S ADVOCATE.
KHAN
“As to who it is you represent. Given that we now know his true agenda, I am willing to continue this dialogue, on the understanding that whatever conclusions are reached will be tainted by the prejudiced views of the one who has convened this discussion.”
ADAM
“That you have to admit is a more than reasonable compromise given that the view of us was biased from the start, it would be reasonable to assume that the chances of us being able to change those views would be negligible at best.”
KHAN
“What say you?”
The DEVIL’S ADVOCATE knowing he had been backed into a corner, for the time being at least, gave the only reply available to him.
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
“Agreed.”
***