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

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?