Flare:
       How intimate is the connection between the Divine Predecessors? They can implant images in other's minds - Giggerota's fantasy of Dexter 9, for example - so can they share each other's thoughts? Do they actually need to speak at all (other than for the viewers' benefit, of course)? And can they control their assassins the same way - mentally (nice trick if you can manage it!) - does protoblood confer telepathy?

Windlily:
       Well, it would appear that they have their own separate memories which they don't share. The other DP's didn't know that Kai's body still survived, until the one who killed him told them, right? Empathy rather than true telepathy, perhaps.

Flare:
       Hmm...... Perhaps. And here's a thought: Why were there cubicles ready for the brains on board the Lexx? From what the DP's say, the possibility of them leaving the Cluster was fairly remote. I appreciate it could simply be an emergency measure - after all, there's no restriction on space aboard the Lexx [ Flare ponders - and just why is the Lexx so big, anyway?] - but could there be another motive as well (other than that the Beans wanted them for the story, I mean)? Was the previous HDS up to something?

Windlily:
       Gah..... I was wondering about that plot hole myself......All the DP's seemed very, very against themselves or the current HS leaving the Cluster, so I doubt it was something planned.... Wasn't the HS stating his will to his immediate DP, who wasn't very pleased? Maybe it was a rush job once the current HS said "make it so"??

Flare:
       On the subject of brains, I assume that once HS becomes a DP, the shadow essence is removed, so I suppose the brain returns to being more or less human.

Windlily:
       Humm...I don't think I agree with that. Yes, that the main part of the Shadow's essence moves, but there appears to be some residual shadow left. How else would they all be aware of each other? Are the brains maintained by protoblood also, do you think?

Flare:
       My "human" comment is based on the fact that they are really scared at several points in the films - when they're being transported to the Lexx the first time, when Kai is attacking (and of course in EP).

Windlily:
       OK - I agree with that!

Flare:
       They seem to have no defences at all, and I'd assumed that if there was any Shadow essence left, it might be able to do something to help.....

Windlily:
       Well, they do seem able to survive a massive amount of damage though, right? I mean, DP 14 didn't seem terribly phased that a bit of him was still in the case (though since it was the animal bit of the brain, it was probably not much used anyway), and three or four of them were hung on hooks - not to mention being out of their life support environment for several hours - with apparently no serious harm. They are tough little buggers. Though they do seem not quite as deadly calm as the current host of HDS appears. Even 14 seemed a bit different from when he was in a body...huum...I'm rambling...let's see if I can get back to the point...I guess that I think this toughness might come from being a DS host, and therefore, some of the DS is still in them.

Flare:
       Hmm..... good point. Perhaps they lose the mental attributes of HS but keep some of the physical ones? Perhaps this has something to do with those 2 different parts of the Shadow essence (that damned cloak again..........)?
       As to how they communicate - that maybe goes back to my telepathy idea? Or, maybe those head-cases (ye gods I'm full of 'em today!) [Windlily groans.....] have environmental and communication controls in them, operated by those cables that get stuck in the brains when they become DP's. Like little life-support modules (rather than protoblood. Once they're mutilated they don't seem to be able to heal themselves.....).

Windlily:
       Well, they do talk when they are outside of the cases, EP a perfect example...I think that your telepathy idea is the one to stick with. Though the cases are probably life-support modules needed for long term survival.....

Flare [grinning]:
       So, does anyone else have any ideas?