USH'S MATRIX GAME FOURTH ASSIGNMENT (PHILOSOPHY PATH)- 'The Journey'

Azrael has no questions.

"You have all been making many choices," says Melitus. "I believe the quality of choices a being makes speaks a very great deal about the quality of that person in general. Having a choice allows you to be free, allows you to define yourself, and to better yourself.

"I like you... all of you. And one of the reasons for that is that we have something in common, as opposed to the masses in both the human and the machine world. You all made a choice to be free... and most certainly I believe that was genuine..."

(I'll change the answer)

"Well I still believe Love is a lie, but friendship is no lie it is the only certainty in life that I have encountered so far, why it is certain I don't know I just feel it in my heart."

"Mel, while your holding us hostage in the mental prison is not well looked upon by me and my friends. I can say that after talking with you I am somewhat pleased that you like us. I may speak for myself but the feeling is muttual. We may have different ideas and views but I respect you for being an independant. I wish more humans were like you."

(As an aside, Castor, I would not be too quick to forget when Melitus called in the Xiao Emo to deal with Celsius... Melitus does not appear to be troubles by conscience, and if you are not doing what he wants he seems to hev no compunction about killing you)

(I forgot about that but it still doesnt change my opinion. He may be crazy and sadistic but at least he is real and stands by his own beliefs.)

Oh, THAT'S fine. Melitus is meant to be an interesting bad guy, after all.

"Meltius if your thinking that these questions and all, or even you liking us will sway us to join you as Jericho has, I must inform you you are sadly mistaken."

"That is because there is something fundamental you do not understand," says Melitus.

"And what might that be" Castor says, now spekaing in a somewhat sarcastic and womewhat inquisitive tone.

"I referred you to the painting," says Melitus. "I think one of you, at least, recognised it?"

"That picture can be taken many ways.

Heres what i got from it.

The guy with his face aginst the wall is blind to what really going on. The guy in the white has everyone around him he seems to be in some kind of control or postiion of importantce. I also notice that there are chains on the floor. Perhaps somone was newly freed."

"if you mean recognize the name of it sure it is called "The death of Socrates". It was painted by Jacques-Louis David. Many believe the painting shows Socrates his admiration and loyalty to the athenian governement."

"Yes indeed," says Melitus, "and, whilst the name makes it obvious, do you know exactly what ervents it os portaying? As in the detail of them?"

"Care to rephrase that?"

(basically he wants you to describe how Socrates died, and hence explain the circumstances of the painting)

"He was convicted of heressy I think, for some reason I can't remember and then he was sentenced to death by drinking venom"

"Yes, though Heresy in the form of perverted beliefs, which were, of course, his philosophies which contrasted with the views of the time. More importantly, Socrates, having spent some time imprisoned, was offered the chance of freedom if he would recant his philosophical beliefs. But he refused to, of course, and so took the other option of forcible suicide- something he was happy to do, but his supporters were devastated by."

[This should explain the painting]

"The method of Socrates' execution was by drinking hemlock- mixed with wine."

"Is that what you put in our wine? After all it was tainted, was it not? Are we to die?"

"No... that would have killed you long before now."