ataraxion | 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

You think I have any intention of leaving this on a note where I'm the social pariah? You know me. You knew I was gonna have to do this, probably down to the words I'd choose. Don't pretend you didn't.

I knew you were gonna say something. I just didn't think you were gonna try to call me crazy again.

So you know what? You disowned me once, you might as well do it again.

Is that what you want?

It'd make it easier on you, wouldn't it? If we weren't related, if you didn't have to pretend you care about family.

You honestly think this is all pretend? How long do you reckon I've been stringing you along for? A year? Three? Your whole damn life?

[ He's actually hurt by that insinuation. Just bad at showing how much. ]

How about Kirby Plaza, November 7th? Or Vermont. That's just a lie to you, right? What about when I taught you to ride your bike?

[ Peter's just staring incredulously, because the past month has ruined everything, and Natan bringing up past history just seems like a low blow. ]

You used to be better at it. Now? You're too busy protecting your own agenda.

That's cold, Pete. Real cold.

It's true. Now you're either too worried about losing votes or losing favor with the president. And I just get in your way.

It's my job. And yeah, you do get in my way. You make a damn habit out of it. Doesn't make you any less my brother, does it? And that's exactly the problem.

And this is how you're choosing to get rid of your problem.

What would you suggest? You threw out 'kiss and make up' when you decided to break the ice by punching me in the face.

[ He points a finger right at Peter. ]

This should have stayed at home. You're the one who brought it out here, Pete. Remember that.

[ He just shrugs, his own form of 'what're you gonna do about it now?' ]

If it didn't exist in the first place, I wouldn't have had anywhere to bring it.

It happened because you screwed everything up!

[ This is counting as an admission, though. Oops. ]

This is what happens with us. Escalation. The question is where're you gonna take it?

[ And it earns Nathan a slight eyebrow raise because lookie there you just admitted the whole operation exists in the first place.

He's not so crazy now, is he. ]

I'm not taking it anywhere. You're the one who called me crazy to try and prove that you're not an asshole. Now I don't even need to do anything to prove that you are.

[ It was only a matter of time, right? ]

I may be an asshole, Pete, but you're still crazy.

If telling yourself that helps you sleep better at night, then fine. I can't stop you.

You sleep?

Better here then I did back home.

Good for you.

Don't worry, when Danko shows up, i'll go back to being even more sleep deprived.

I'm not going to let Danko near you, Pete.

He shoots me, Nathan. Shoots me.

[ And now there's a clear flicker in Nathan's composure. It's not like this is the first time Peter's told him, but he was a bit shaken the first time, preoccupied with other things. He looks away, raises his chin slightly. ]

In the future, right?

You keep acting like this is something i've painted. Like Hiro coming back from the future. Or dreaming about the explosion

[ A momentary pause that's given along with the shake of his head. ] It's my present, you just haven't lived through it yet. And i've got the scar to prove it.

[ A pause, then more softly. ]

Show me.

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