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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[ If I only had a falling into fits of laughter icon.

Nathan just laughs. Leans back and laughs harder - almost hysterically - having to raise his hand to put his knuckles into his mouth. Seriously, this just gets more and more messed up. It takes him a second and somehow he collects himself, though there's mirth in his eyes when he looks at the video again, and he almost bursts into laughter again. ]

I'm sorry. You're Spock? Spock is the spitting image of Sylar? Right, because really-- [ He sweeps his hand back through his hair, tries again. ] I never said I was single-handedly capable of doing it, Spock. Not even once. Seemed like something people would be trying to do, something I want to try and do, but not on my own.

So tell me. I mean logically, right? Given that you're - you know, you - and that you have the exact same face, exact same voice as someone we're trying to bring in. Just how likely is it that I'm having a mental breakdown, or I'm in a coma, and none of this is actually real? You don't just look like him, you are him.

Kind of makes more sense than anything else I can think of.

[ he's gotten used to this, in the months that have passed. and while spock doesn't necessarily understand the unique gravity attached to his image and nathan's own reality- well.

he's already accepted that he's fictional in alternate realities.
once you're over that hump, there's very little that generates friction in the understanding department. ]

I would attempt to address your concerns, but provided your admission regarding your mental stability, I am inclined to believe you will disregard it.

[ Okay, fine. He just stares for a moment longer, judging his own footing in this situation, how much he can afford to keep an open mind versus just pushing everyone away.

And hell, if he can believe that Kirk is Kirk, and give him the respect that he should have if he was real - even in a situation where he's obviously lost his mind - then he has to extend that same courtesy to Spock.

Who is imaginary. And Sylar. And it's almost impossible to look at him and believe it but there he is. Spock. Sylar and yet not Sylar. If this was his subconscious then the real question was what the hell it thought it was trying to tell him, because he didn't get it.

Still, he forces the tension out of his shoulders, tries to look more like he's taking this seriously. Politician face. ]

Alright. All doubts aside - sake of the ship and all that - let's try this again. Assuming you are actually Spock right from the top. Makes you someone I could damn well afford to listen to.

You wanna try me on an explanation, or do you want one from me first?

[ Spock's patience is nearly infinite by this point. he's offered theories and explanations so many times in the past, that it's probably become a script right now. at least- in part. explanations are, in the end, wholly dependent upon who he is speaking to.

while Nathan appears wholly capable of understanding the impossibility of the situation, his skepticism lends itself to expectation of mental disorder. his head cants faintly, fingers steepling in his lap. ]

The Tranquility exists on a universal continuum disconnected to our own, or theoretically, belonging to some individuals aboard several millenia into the future. Earth has ceased to exist, and the Tranquility, on a mission of colonization, utilizes warp technology dependent upon rips through space time. These worm holes and the use thereof, coupled with a malfunction of unknown origins within the vessel itself resonate temporarily with the vibrational frequencies of alternate realities.

As a result, individuals have become displaced from their native particles of space-time on a monthly cycle.

[ a momentary pause- ]

I do not expect that this has convinced you, regardless.

[ The thing is he looks a lot like Sylar, but Nathan hasn't actually met him, just followed the guy around a little bit in the medbay, and so the tilt of his head doesn't come off as anything but Spockish. It's a little reassuring, at least.

Unfortunately the explanation rapidly goes right over his head, just after 'The Tranquility exists on a'. He tries to keep up - he really does - but he has no head for science at all, and the long words that he knows aren't 'universal continuum' and 'vibrational frequencies', and somewhere he hears the echo of his brain's dying scream. The worst part is that he doesn't want to look like a laymen, considering how much he has to prove, but that's exactly how he's going to come off, whether he pretends he knows what the hell Spock's talking about or announces his insufficiency. In effect: it's a real kick in the teeth.

He said the only honest thing he could.]

It's convinced me you're not Sylar, and that's gotta count for something.

[ well that's. a start. Spock isn't sure, exactly how he's managed to accomplish this, and Nathan is appearing infinitely more cooperative and open to dialogue than he has since they first began speaking-

which leaves his fingers settling in his lap. ]

Given your apparent dislike for this individual, I shall interpret your assessment as a compliment.

Edited 2012-05-22 21:31 (UTC)

[ A snort. ] Yeah, alright.

[ Let's see...he recently received word that Sylar had escaped custody in New Jersey. It's not too hard to work out an appropriate question. ]

Have you been here as long as Kirk has?

[ instead of flashing his bare forearm (le gasp. scandalous.), he allows his identification number to flash over Nathan's communicator.
OPR»001»200 ]

Affirmative. At present I have been aboard the Tranquility for six months, twenty-seven days, nine hours and twenty six minutes.

So that's what that number means. Well colour me impressed. Six months of this place woulda driven me crazy by now.

[ Not even touching on the possibility he is crazy, because it took so long to convince Spock he intended to listen in the first place. ]

But not everyone stays? Watson said something about people vanishing? Any idea where they go?

[ immediately, his thoughts go to Capa. the astrophysicist with whom Spock had shared his first theories, and established an unusually comforting rapport with. his head moves to the side, a subtle tilt. ]

The unanimous hope and general assumption of those who remain, is that they are returned to their native continuums.

[ I share no such optimism. ]

[ Nathan mirrors Spock's disillusionment with the idea, because the moment he says it he snorts out loud. ]

Yeah, well you know what they say about when you assume. [ Then again another look at Spock and Nathan realises he probably doesn't. ] "Assumption makes an ass out of you and me."

[ He gives his head a shake. It's really beside the point. ]

We arrive here in those couch things, and when people disappear it's not like they're crawling back inside first, right? If we could vanish anywhere on the ship stands to reason we'd appear anywhere on the ship. No, I don't like it. If a kid disappeared in the City we'd think the worst--don't see how it should be any different here.

If an individual vanishes from the Tranquility, there is nothing that is possible to be done to retrieve them. With this understanding, to, as you said, think the worst- would promote consistently negative emotional responses.

I do not believe that a group of human beings cohabitating for an undetermined duration of time, experiencing such intensity- is preferable by any definition of the word.

You're saying that the willful ignorance is a better solution. That we shouldn't investigate any further cause all it does is frighten people.

I agree, as far as people's comfort is concerned, but it's not gonna mean that I lie to myself, and I'm guessing the same goes for you.

I am saying that I see no harm, at present, in allowing passengers to believe whatever they deem necessary, in order to cope with their individual losses.

Your assessment of my character, however, is correct.

Alright. Then that first bit... [ He pauses for a second, looking thoughtful. ] I was wrong about it not warranting further investigation, at least personally speaking?

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001. video; Public Service Announcement

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