035
[Screened to The Doctor // Unhackable]
I feel I must apologize to you for the manner in which I spoke to you the other day. Truly, I did not mean to offend you. I realize that I spoke in haste, and in anger, and for that, I do apologize, and I hope that you will accept my apology. I realize that I acted like a child, and I hope you will forgive me. This place is trying at times, but I did mean what I said, when I told you that I do not wish to leave. My reasons for this are various, most of them personal, but for the sake of clarity I will, perhaps share with you a few of them.
I realize that you do not wish to listen to any 'sob story', as it were, but I spoke truthfully when I told you that this prison is far better than the one I inhabited most of my life. Were I to return to my home, I would find myself in a different prison, but a prison nonetheless, married to a man for whom I have no feelings, a man who would take me from my home in London and run away with me to America. That is where I was bound, before I arrived here. If I return home, I lose not only what small freedoms this place has granted me, but I lose my father as well, for he is dead in the world I come from. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but I owe everything to my father, and I do not wish to lose him again. You spoke of loss. I lost my father, and my mother both, when I was but an infant. Perhaps to you, this is a small thing, but they mean the world to me, and if I can keep them, here, then yes. I am content in this prison.
You wanted information about the Entropi, correct? Unfortunately, there are few here who know anything definite. As I stated before, you might wish to ask Dib Membrane. There are two of them here, one a child and one an adult. I would suggest speaking to the adult Dib. He's less likely to follow you around incessantly if you mention the fact you've got a space-ship.
I wish there were something I could tell you about the Entropi, but I know only the basics. I do not know… I suppose the best way to say it… when you are from, but I myself am from a time when women were not expected to learn the ways of science and mathematics. I am, of course, working to rectify this, but all I can tell you is that the Entropi are beings of energy, and capable of incredible devastation.
I do hope you will consider my apology. I mean it in all sincerity. If you feel you are able to refrain from calling me a one-legged half-mauled mouse, perhaps I shall be able to refrain from calling you an insufferable prat, and perhaps someday, when all this is over and done with, I shall be able to willingly leave this place, at which time I will, of course, accept your generous offer of a ride.
I'm Johanna Barker, by the way, and I hope I am able to say that I'm pleased to meet you.
[/Screened]