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.

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So, Senator Nathan. [He tips his hat, nodding slightly. He's impressed, at the very least, at Nathan's ability to piss off the entire ship without actually meaning to do so. Not a lot of people can have that kind of target audience reaction.

He also sort of likes the idea of someone actively wanting to figure out what's going on, even though he's very sure this isn't going to work.]

What's your first proposed action? Assuming that you learn enough about the ship? Are you going to attempt to send us all back to our homes, or are we all going to join you in yours?

[ Yeah it's a real special ability. Better than flying. ]

Well if nobody talks to me I guess I'll just have to spend the next month reading, but you didn't see my law textbooks. Waste of time, but so be it. God forbid I address the ship without knowing everything about it first.

[ Oh wow, we've reached the sarcasm level of bitterness. ]

When you say your homes you mean different times, right? Or are we talking varying levels of fictional here?

Different times, and most likely different universes, given the fact that we don't all have the same histories. Not even Earth stays the same for all of us, it looks like. And then, of course, there are the ones who don't live on Earth. But, we'll cover that eventually, I'm sure.

What do you need to know, to make your informed opinions? [Skulduggery is really interested, please let him help you learn about the ship!!!]

I wish the idea of different universes and different histories seemed weirder to me, I really do.

[ You get shot by your future alternate reality brother just one time and suddenly you can't believe anything any more. ]

Has anyone ever stayed out through a Jump and survived it?

No one's ever tried, as far as I know. [Skulduggery tilts his head.] I considered giving it a go, but I'm not one to recklessly risk my life on a daily basis. Maybe a monthly basis, but definitely not daily.

Don't reckon I've got special powers enough to risk it myself, but it'd be interesting to hear what it was like. Not exactly top of my to do list, though.

This ship ever stop anywhere?

As far as I've seen, no. I've heard rumors, but that's all those are. It'd be interesting to get a little fresh air in an entirely new part of the universe, though.

Yeah. It's certainly be a trip.

[ As in wow these drugs are good. ]

Still not sure what to believe, eh?

I'm never gonna be hundred percent on this place being real. I reckon that'd be a bad plan.

It would be just as bad to be too skeptical, of course. If you aren't letting yourself believe enough of what's happening, you're going to wind up in a situation where you won't be able to handle what's going on around you.

Of course it would. It'd be too easy to end up being flippant in an emergency. You wouldn't try so hard to land a plane if you knew it was a simulation, would you? But if you only suspected it might not be real? I don't reckon that's any more reason not to fight for your life.

Excellent, we're on the same page. There's nothing wrong with a healthy dose of skepticism, as long as you're willing to embrace the actual truth of the matter when the time comes. [Of course, he already thinks the time's come, but whatever. Small steps, ok?]

You seem to have made everyone quite upset, though. I think you might've brought a bit too much politics into the conversation. For future reference, as an Irishman, I'm not liable to take an American senator seriously. And some of us aren't even from a place where America is... well, anything. At all. No offense.

[ Inclining his head, he shrugs one shoulder. ] Doesn't matter if there's no America, or if you're from some other country. Same as I'd respect a British politician, or anyone else in a position of power or responsibility for that matter. I know how hard it was to get where I am. Not like anyone was brainwashed into voting for me. If I'm gonna be taking Captain Kirk seriously cause of his title, you can bet I expect to be taken seriously for mine, too.

It may be that people respect Captain Kirk because he earned it. After all, from what I've heard, he's been here for quite a while. Personally, I've never met him. He sounds like a fine man, but I'm not planning on listening to anything he says until I've determined he's actually worth listening to.

You, however, have not been here a while. Therefore, by acting as though you can take command without the build-up, you put us in an awkward position where we really can't take you seriously. It's... as though you're trying to buy your seat. So to speak. No offense, again. I don't have anything against you, to be honest. You seem like a decent, hard working, American dream sort of fellow. I just don't like people trying to take command without having an understanding of what they're getting into, first.

Then you misunderstood me from the outset. I never wished to take command, not from the outset and not now. And I've already spoken to Kirk, I know he's legitimate.

All I was objecting to in what you were saying is the suggestion that just because I announced my title - as I'm sure Captain Kirk did when he arrived - was any attempt at subjugation on my behalf. I merely introduced myself the way I would anywhere else. And yes, I did it assertively, because again--that's the kind of person I am. Waking up in space can't change that.

Ah.

It seems that I really did misunderstand you, because when you said that you wanted to help, you used quite a few I statements. I will get to the bottom of this, I deserve the right to intervene, I am an American senator, I'd rather speak to the real captain, and not some... washed-up wannabe, I think?

I took that as you attempting to take some form of control over a generally uncontrollable band of loveable misfits. I'm sorry I got the wrong impression.

[ He seems unmoved. He did say all that, and for good reason. ]

Show me anyone on this ship that doesn't want to speak to the real captain. Where I come from you don't get anywhere by being meek, you have to throw your weight around. But I'm not the President, I'm no General, I'm not even a Captain, and even if I was any of those things wouldn't give me any more right to try to lead anyone.

But if I say 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this', it doesn't make me a bad guy, no matter what anyone thinks. Maybe a rabble-rouser, and maybe interested in something more than just myself; nothing more.

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001. video; Public Service Announcement

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