On Thu, 10 Jun 2004, Jerry Friedman wrote: > Of course, as in _Orca_, he may use his skills on someone who he > thinks deserves to die when the murder will accomplish something > for him. (Or maybe when only one condition is met.) If the Demon > could know Vlad's situation well enough to see when such an > assassination would also be in the Demon's interest, I suppose he > could take a hand. Assuming he thought he could do it without his > mere involvement changing Vlad's mind. My guess at a possible story line or two: [prespoiler?] Vlad has decided not to assassinate anyone. But there's someone needing assassinating. V manipulates him into getting himself killed, then decides even that's not in his code. Or - V pretends to intend to kill him, and uses that to influence events, but the whole time it's not clear if V can get away with not killing him, then finally feels compelled to work him and does, then realizes he _didn't_ need to, or that in fact it was counterproductive - or he takes out an innocent bystander too.