[The two Visions' battle takes them into the Westview library]
Why are you doing this?
My programming directive is to "destroy the Vision".
[Their fight progresses, until Hex Vision gets White Vision in a chokehold]
But I'm not the true Vision. Only a conditional Vision.
[White Vision phases out of the chokehold. Hex Vision heats up the laser in his forehead, prepared to fire, but White Vision doesn't do the same]
I request elaboration.
[The two Visions float around the rotunda in the center of the library]
You are familiar with the thought experiment the Ship of Theseus in the field of identity metaphysics?
Naturally. The Ship of Theseus is an artifact in a museum. Over time, its planks of wood rot and are replaced with new planks. When no original plank remains, is it still the Ship of Theseus?
Secondly, if those removed planks are restored and reassembled, free of the rot, is that the Ship of Theseus?
[frowns] Neither is the true ship. Both are the true ship.
Well, then, we are agreed.
But I do not have the Mind Stone.
And I do not have one single ounce of original material. Perhaps, the rot is the memories. The wear and tear are the voyages. The wood touched by Theseus himself.
I have not retained memories.
But you do have the data. It is merely being kept from you.
A weapon to be more easily controlled. But, certainly, you are the true Vision, for you believe yourself to be.
That was once the case. But upon meeting you, I have been disabused of that notion.
