ataraxion | 001. video; Public Service Announcement

001. video; Public Service Announcement

Guessing everyone's feeling a little closer to compos mentis now. Great, that's gonna make this a whole lot easier.

My name is Nathan Petrelli. I'm Senator for New York, elected representative of the people, and recently made Head of Homeland Security by the President himself. It's my job to do what's in the best interests of the people, and in this case I figure that's gonna be easier said than done.

I don't want any of you to worry. Once I get up to speed on the details of what's going on here, I intend to get to the bottom of how we got here, why we were brought here, and how to go about getting back. And I mean how and why, not the bullshit they've been feeding you about jumping and wormholes and the ship needing a crew. There's a malicious intent here I'm gonna address, and then I'm getting everyone back where we belong.

I realise we're not all Americans here, and maybe you think I have no jurisdiction, but I earned the right to intervene the moment I woke up with a tube shoved down my throat, just like everyone else. I want to speak to people who know the most about this place, or be directed toward them. Captain Kirk: you're on my list for starters, but I'd rather speak to the real Captain, rather than some washed up wannabe.

Oh, and before I wrap this up, there's one other thing. A few of you will have spoken to my brother, Peter; he got here during the 'jump' previous to this one, and as I understand it he's been pretty liberal with his imagination ever since. Some time ago my brother convinced himself that he could fly. He stood on top of a twelve story building one day, called me up and told me he was going to show me he could do it. He jumped, and he fell - fortunately only as far as the fire escape - and a couple days later woke up in the hospital with minor injuries. It wasn't long after my father's death, right in the middle of my run for Congress, and I guess he was desperate for attention.

What I'm trying to say is that he's had brushes with depression before - it runs in the family - and he's not exactly stable right now. All of this doesn't make it any easier. If everyone could please be delicate with him, take what he says with a grain of salt, and inform me if it sounds like he's planning to do something that might hurt himself or others. I appreciate it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Looks like you and the others here just happened to draw the short straw, Senator.

You'll cause a panic, and we don't want that, do we? As I remember, keeping things under wraps until the problem is solved is usually how you operate.

[ Just for a second he bares his teeth, because the only way to convince people Peter really is crazy is to keep Sylar from throwing his powers around and proving otherwise. It should take him oh? Two seconds? ]

Then we both want the same thing, don't we? Your file says you're smart.

I gave you friendly advice, that's all.

[ Nothing is stopping him from throwing his powers around; he'd just rather not have you announce the fact that a serial killer is on board over the ship's network, Nathan. Because that'd be inconvenient for everybody. ]

Think things over.

[ On the other hand it'd be the most challenging game of murder tag ever. ]

I've already made all my decisions, Sylar. There's nothing else to say.

[ The deliberate stress on 'say' is deliberate. He's keeping his mouth shut and wants Sylar to know it, doesn't particularly want to end up top of the list for a premature lobotomy. ]

Because you're really gonna keep things under wraps, Sylar. [ So much sarcasm. Which is a snide way of saying that he's hoping Sylar's not going to do what Nathan's doing. ]

[ Oh, he's not going to hide, Peter. ]

People are going to find out, but announcing my presence over the network would definitely be pushing it.

Edited 2012-05-09 20:24 (UTC)

Don't want to give everyone a show while you've got the opportunity?

[ Because that's what he thinks this is. Nathan just fluffing himself up because he can, and destroying Peter at the same time. ]

I've never been one for shows. I'll leave that to your brother.

[ He doesn't really care about what Nathan does or doesn't do; it doesn't affect him too greatly unless he begins to speak about him specifically. They'll have a chat about that when -- and if -- it happens. ]

Yeah well, he's a politician. He's better at giving them than anyone else. Question is if people'll be less willing to believe him here than they are back home.

[ Peter sounds unsurprisingly pissed off. Not that he really expects Sylar to listen, but that's not going to stop him from bitching. ]

So far he's done a pretty good job, ridding himself of every credibility point he's earned.

[ Sylar intends to listen, actually -- he's not going to deny that he enjoys being somewhat in the middle of this, and trapped on a spaceship, barely allowed out of Peter's sight, there are few things that happen to maintain his interest. ]

[ Peter stays quiet for a short while, a few seconds, before he finally locks the feed. And then he doesn't say anything for a couple more seconds, just stares at Sylar because he's not entirely sure how he feels about talking to him about this. Yet, he is. ]

But we're still gonna be stuck with him whenever we get to go back home.

That's not entirely true. The last time I saw the Senator, he was cooking up a formula to build his own army of specials, not get rid of them.

[ Future versions and past versions of people, alternate timelines, they're no strangers to that. And hasn't Peter and even Hiro succeeded in going back in time to stop future disasters quite a few times, already? ]

I could stop it all before it even begins.

[ Peter remembers that and his jaw clenches hard, frustration towards his brother building all over again because it's just so goddamn hypocritical, he doesn't even know what to do. ]

Sylar, you know going back in time to try and change things isn't the way to do it. Change one thing, who knows what else might get changed in the process.

[ he sighs. ] Besides, I already helped destroy Pinehearst. Whole operation's been burnt to the ground.

[ The timeline Peter is from would simply cease to exist, but chances are, the things that will be changed along with that won't affect Sylar too much. In any case, he's assuming it'd be better than the apparent alternative, for everyone - and Peter from his timeline ... ]

You wouldn't have to run anymore.

[ The response is admittedly... odd, from Peter's perspective. But not incredibly so, since it wasn't too long ago that Sylar was saving his life, if only because they both thought they were related. ]

You don't know that-- [ Except it's possible that Sylar could, considering his ability. Which Peter knows about now, in a personal sort of way. But that doesn't change anything, not really. ] What even makes you think that we'll remember any of this when we go back home?

We're not exactly related anymore, there's nothing to make you care.

Unless they have Noah's memory leeching friend on board, I don't see why we wouldn't.

[ And what Peter is saying is true, there is really nothing to make Sylar care -- nothing he really can explain or would admit to. For some reason, the thought of Peter dying is unacceptable, unless it had been by his hands, back when it mattered - Peter is important, has always been, but the reason he'd choose to stop Nathan is not to spare Peter from his fate of being forever hunted. Not really. It's that with Nathan as the one to loathe and fear, he can play the hero part. ]

Maybe I'm just doing the right thing.

[ Peter wants to say that doing the right thing when it comes to Sylar is laughable, but then wouldn't he be the one who's the hypocrite? Sylar saved his life, twice, and Sylar came back for him when it was Nathan who said he wouldn't have saved Peter's life. Yes, they thought they were brothers, but doesn't that show that Sylar has some sort of propensity for doing good? For being the better man with the right kind of motivation? ]

Without it even benefiting you. [ huh. sigh. ] Look, as much as i'd love to not have to be on the run, going back in time and changing things isn't the way to fix it. Not to mention Hiro wouldn't agree to help you in the first place. I'll just... stick with cheap motel rooms and all night diners until things change.

[ a beat ] But I appreciate the thought.

[ 'The right thing' for Sylar is most likely not what the rest of the population considers to be 'the right thing'; while Sylar sure does have morals, they're twisted and frowned upon by anyone who does not understand his mindset. In this case, he's speaking of what Peter considers to be 'the right thing', and this favor he's talking about doing for their kind, the specials, is one he'll do for the one reason that it is beneficial to him.

Being loved and appreciated is what he wanted his entirely life, very much preferred over being feared and hated, and while he'll gladly take the latter if he's past the point of no return already, gladly take it over being nothing, perhaps this is his chance. He'll never know unless he tries, and, well. This is pretty much being offered to him on a silver platter. ]

Why would I need Hiro? I'm from the past, remember.

So what, you change one thing and Building 26 never has to happen. Sylar, my future self already tried that, tried to change the past and it caused even more problems than he could fix.

[ Peter just sighs, looking desperate. ] Believe me, as much as I... can't even believe that i'm saying that I want to take you up on your offer, you can't change the past. You can't, and who's to say that it wouldn't happen anyway.

Your brother told the president about us, didn't he?

[ Life might get difficult for some people because of the one (not small) change Sylar would implement, but seeing as he is both indestructible and, well. Sylar. It's this simple, really: ]

Dead men tell no tales.

Killing my brother isn't an option, Sylar.

[ don't make him hurt you. ]

Even after all the times he's stabbed you in the back, betrayed you, you're still willing to protect him.

Would he do the same for you?

[ Peter just stares for a long, long moment. And then he finally drops his gaze. ]

I know he wouldn't.

And yet, you risk your life over and over again for him. For your mother, too.

Is it selflessness, or are you still hoping that they're going to care about you?

Maybe I just don't need them to care to have a reason.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001. video; Public Service Announcement

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked

video; locked