THE QUALITY OF MERCY

BY JOHN SHEPPARD

CHALLENGER: According to our young friend here, there are only two of these creatures. He calls them, Prin.

ROXTON: Well have you never tried to resist or fight them?

TY: We can’t. The Prin are our masters.

MARGUERITE: Such loyalty! Who says you can’t find good help?

MARGUERITE: Rough gems of this clarity would fetch a fortune in Antwerp.

ROXTON: Two of our friends are in trouble. We’re on a rescue, not one of your bloody treasure hunts.

MARGUERITE: I am ready to jump into battle anytime you are, Lord Roxton…but a girl can dream.

CHALLENGER: Well I’ll be damned.

MARGUERITE: Oh, several times over, I’m sure.

MARGUERITE: What kind of blood is that?

ROXTON: Blue blood Marguerite, your favourite kind.

CHALLENGER: What kind of being have we discovered?

MARGUERITE: One that’s far too dangerous to study, so get that nasty little thought right out of your mind.

VERONICA: I can’t believe we’re just going to walk away from this.

ROXTON: We’re not. What do you say, Challenger, you want to make a fight of it?

CHALLENGER: Not particularly but it seems they’ve left us little choice.

ROXTON: I say we take them out now. Shorten our odds a little.

MARGUERITE: Oh, without bullets?

CHALLENGER OPENS POUCH CONTAINING AMMO

CHALLENGER: Who needs them?

MALONE: Ha-hah, once a boy scout…

CHALLENGER: Oh, I was prepared before Baden-Powell invented the little blighters.

CHALLENGER: A man from our world once said, quality of mercy is twice blessed by those who give and those who receive.

ROXTON: You’re travelling light I see. Have you discovered something more important in life than diamonds?

MARGUERITE: Well humans might one day be replaced by machines but a zircon will never be a diamond.

SEASON TWO

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