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“Nobility. Human concept.” Mordin replied, his brow sinking slightly. “You misunderstand. Appreciate the gesture. But simply doesn’t apply to personal worldview. Feel that duty is seperate from goodness. Duty is about necessity. For instance: do not feel as if genophage modification morally correct, but necessary. Most others could not do it. Therefore, had to be me. Someone else may have gotten it wrong. Understand?”
He started aimlessly wandering again, lost in his own thoughts. “Of course, greater good also a bonus on the side. As well as enjoyment of challenge. See your point. Curing disease helps people. Improving genophage helps more than it harms. Those who can’t see this merely looking at short term. Maybe personal sense of duty similar to moral obligation? Quite possible. Possible you are correct.” He stopped and started to stroke his chin, looking up to the ceiling. “Still, morality almost entirely objective. Prefer to abstain from it. Basic ethics enough. No killing of innocents. No theft. No studies on intelligent creatures. Respect patients. Sort of things most can agree on. But valid point. Obligation to help people quite noble. Even if rooted in necessity, rather than morality.”
Shepard lifted her head, regarding his thought process, turning it over in her mind. She was a bit taken aback, but gave a slow nod of understanding. “And what about the historical precedent of horrible things done in the name of necessity and greater good?” She smiled softly. She didn’t always play devil’s advocate, but felt it necessarily to illustrate that his idea of necessity was just as objective as his idea of human morality. “Saren thought it was for the greater good to let the geth into the Citadel.” Another shrug. “We’ve gotten way off topic now. In any case I’m glad you’re here.” She figured it was probably best to cut things short, before one of them (probably the scientist) began quoting Nietzsche to make a point.
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After a few seconds, Mordin recognized his Commander’s voice as separate from his own mumblings and thoughts, and said to her with a surprised expression: “Oh, commander. Greetings. Was just killing time, really. No real importance.”. He paused awkwardly for a few seconds, before realizing her point. “Clinic on Omega! Ah yes. Not my favorite project. Nothing but surgery and basic medicine. Also, remarkably easy to cure. Only problem was resource procurement.”
He wandered towards the other end of the room, lost in thought. “Of course, met a few friends. You included. Also Daniel, my assistant. Plague victims came to respect me. Enjoy appreciation for work. Most other projects were secret or very minor. But don’t see it as honorable. See it as simply a necessity. Duty, if you will. Any medical professional would do the same. Disease needs curing, have to cure disease. Simply what I’m good at. Also good at defeating collectors. So must help defeat collectors. See my point?” Mordin stopped his aimless wandering and looked at Shepard with curiosity in his eyes.
The commander nodded. It seemed the professor had a sense of moral obligation but preferred a challenge. And he hadn’t considered the plague a challenge. That was interesting. When people called him brilliant, they weren’t kidding. Then again, that wasn’t just the opinion of the common man, Cerberus had hand-picked him, and they didn’t mess around when it came to personnel.
It was also interesting to her that he referred to her as a friend. Probably because she’d saved Daniel’s life. Most people in her line of work would have considered her an ally first and maybe a friend later. It must be an occupational hazard that Shepard thought that way, too. But it made her smile nonetheless. So did his line of thought regarding duty and how it applied both to the plague on Omega as well as his current work to stop the Collectors. “I do see your point, but I don’t think it precludes mine. It is noble to feel a sense of duty towards the well being of others, nobler still to act on that sense.” Her smile had muted some in the explanation, but it was still there. She met the salarian’s gaze and held it.
tagged as: #drmordin #the professor #I'm so sorry it's so late
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She approached him quietly, not wanting to disturb him at whatever he was doing, waiting for him to look up or otherwise indicate he was ready to speak to her. “Professor.” She greeted him. “I just wanted to say that it does strike me as incredibly honorable, your building a clinic on Omega.” She was almost sorry they had to take him away from it.
tagged as: #drmordin #the professor #thanks for the follow!!