| And so, while they all kept in the back of their minds the sober fact
that a murder had been committed -- and that more such crimes were in the
offing if not prevented -- the group of inderdimensional travellers were
nevertheless able to relax a little and enjoy the pleasant social prospect
of a communal movie.
"This is getting to be a regular thing," said Betty, grabbing a handful
of popcorn as the previews began. "Movie night!"
"Except that the movies are also reality," added Inquirer, not wanting
any of them to forget that.
"Movie night, huh?" said Ragan, ignoring her. "That reminds me... When
are we gonna get to watch those Blake's 7 tapes?"
"Are you still on about that?" said B'ellanna, rolling her eyes.
Betty gave a little mock-shiver. "You want to find yourself in a crossover
with that universe?"
Her "sister" smiled back at her. "I dunno... Given immortality and magical
powers, I think I might actually survive..."
"Shh!" said Gilmuriel. "The movie is starting!"
They all watched attentively as the murder scene was played out... followed
by Zavitz's discovery of the videotaped evidence... and his death...
"Geez," whispered Betty. "This is... eerie. Watching this stuff happen
on the screen -- on a movie -- when we just saw it -- well, a version
of it -- with our own eyes..."
"I suppose it cannot help but be a bit... unnerving," said Sigin, "to
realize that one's own reality is merely fiction somewhere else."
"You know," mused the Doctor, "I once encountered a culture who believed
that all humanoid creativity is ultimately traceable to subconscious glimpses
of events in alternate universes. Perhaps there is something to that theory,
after all."
They lapsed into silence, as the rest of the movie played itself out.
When it was over, Betty gave another shiver, this time for real. "And
this
is happening in my universe?" she said in a low, horrified voice.
"I'm afraid so," said the Doctor. There was a look of disgust on his
face. "An unforgivable curtailment of individual privacy. I've seen it
on too many planets. It's always rationalized in the name of the greater
good of society, but it never leads to anything but oppression and misery."
A moment passed while they all considered this.
-
 "The question,"
said E'eysha, breaking the silence at last, "is: what are we going to do
about it?"
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