An empty control desk and chairs are visible through a clear band in frosted glass.

Original artwork, not a still

HAL 9000

This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

— 2001: A Space Odyssey ‧ 1968

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

First comes the reason, then the power to decide. The unsettling part is “allow you”: protecting the mission has become a reason to shut out any challenge.

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