Steve Jinks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
newguy) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
outer_divide2012-06-26 11:55 pm
newguy) wrote in outer_divide2012-06-26 11:55 pm
[video]
[There's a bit of wavering as the image is centered on its subject. It's not complete ineptitude, but there's definitely a 'oh man, nessie?' feel to the jerking camera motions.]
Right, now, don't move--
[The subject is certainly not going to move....considering that it's dead. It looks like a triceratops, and Steve approaches it slowly.]
I got all the nutcase broadcasts--present and accounted for, yeah, no one's lying, I get it--but who's going to actually explain this thing?
Or me, you know? I'd settle for someone explaining me. Last time I checked, I wasn't supposed to have a pulse.
But then, neither were these guys.
Right, now, don't move--
[The subject is certainly not going to move....considering that it's dead. It looks like a triceratops, and Steve approaches it slowly.]
I got all the nutcase broadcasts--present and accounted for, yeah, no one's lying, I get it--but who's going to actually explain this thing?
Or me, you know? I'd settle for someone explaining me. Last time I checked, I wasn't supposed to have a pulse.
But then, neither were these guys.
Video
I'm afraid none of us know precisely how or why we came to be here. [A beat.] ...Well. Some of us crashed our ships like incompetent fools.
[He shakes his head. He hasn't seen his TARDIS since this all started; there's no use dwelling on her now.]
The rest of you...I'm afraid I don't have any answers. [His gaze focuses on the downed triceratops.] Nor any about the dinosaurs.
...I assume they're dinosaurs, at any rate. I suppose we could perform a few necropsies, if we want more information.
Video
[The Doctor's clothes don't look prehistoric, though, so Steve continues.]
But did we travel through time? I woke up in some kind of pod, and it was pretty much normal nature until I ran into this thing.
Video
You're on a different world. I assume you're from Earth?
Video
[Definite groan, here]
Okay, so something filled a spaceship with pods of should-be-dead humans and filled a planet with dinosaurs. I mean, dinosaurs are cool and all when they're not trying to eat you, but...a lot of them try to eat you, and I don't think my weapon has a setting for "mutant bloodthirty carnivorous rhino." There's definitely not a setting for dinosaur. [He checked, because he knows better than to underestimate Claudia. But then, he's not a total idiot, and he's seen a lot of strange things in the Warehouse, so...]
I'm from Earth, yeah. 2011. No stasis pods that I know of. Do we know what's causing this?
no subject
We've been exploring the ship, but we've found no evidence of its crew. It's quite possible this planet wasn't their destination at all.
[His voice softens, then, his expression one of quiet concern.] You're absolutely certain you ought to be dead?
no subject
[And he'd felt it, behind that 'thank you for everything you've done.' It had been subtle, yes, but there had been a finality to it, the honesty of certain finality.]
I was injected with something that killed everyone else in my position. I don't know why I'd be put in a pod at all...there were way more qualified people than me, assuming that people could be taken from any point in time.
[Steve frowns, glances back at the dinosaur]
Are we talking about aliens or something? Because we haven't done that stuff yet, back where I'm from. And if there was something to resurrect dinosaurs, I'm pretty sure I would have heard about it.
[Not because he was qualified, of course, but because seriously...could Claudia keep her mouth shut about something as cool as that?]
no subject
It's possible humans from your future - or, rather, a future - have orchestrated this. I find it more likely that several races collaborated.
[then, with a wan smile] It's an honour to be your first, by the way.
no subject
I still don't get why some future humanity would pick me to stick in a pod. I worked with people who'd be way better at populating strange worlds. In fact, I'm pretty much the opposite of qualified on that--
Wait. My first alien? Like, from another planet?
[If boggling minds could make a sound...but then, this guy isn't lying, and considering that Steve is currently standing next to a dead dinosaur, his view on sanity has become pretty liberal.]
You know, I don't even want to know. Where are we supposed to go from here?
no subject
I wouldn't sell yourself short. You seem quite a fascinating fellow to me.
[The Doctor flashes him a brief grin.]
And yes. Gallifrey, to be exact.
[It fades as he shakes his head.] We were attempting to gather intel and pool our resources, but that was interrupted by the wild fire and ensuing stampede. Our efforts are focused on rescue and reconstruction, at the moment.
no subject
I'm Steve, by the way. Steve Jinks.
Just tell me what there is to do. I'm a normal guy, not especially strong or anything, but I can do rescue and reconstruction if people need it.
no subject
[Grin!] It's a pleasure, Steve, despite the circumstances.
Are you still near the ship?
Video
Might I ask why you're so certain no one is deceiving you? [There's the slightest edge of excitement to her tone.]
Video
[There's a definite firmness to his tone there, just in case she was questioning. His mind is also broadcasting innocence on that front, as well as a lot of confusion.]
I wouldn't hurt something that wasn't trying to hurt someone else, and I can tell when people are lying.
[From a psychic's perspective, the admission wouldn't seem like a big deal to him, but Steve is certainly telling the truth. He's used to not being taken seriously in the ATF, so he doesn't expect any real response to that part of his statement unless there are artifacts involved.]
Video
[She's not trying to pry, really, but she can generally tell when people are sincere; some of it is her ability, some of it is simply experience. No, he isn't lying on either count.]
That will come in handy, in a land of strangers. Have you always known you could do it?
Video
[Steve seems a little uncertain, but when he glances back to the dinosaur, he quickly refocuses.]
I mean, when I was a kid, I thought everyone could tell. It comes in handy, but I'd like to think I'm not in a world filled with people trying to trick me. I did that once, and it got old fast.
[There's a moment's hesitation, as he tries to reconcile the choices that led to this apparently posthumous fate which his perception of his religion. He'd done right. He'd sacrificed a lot to do right.]
It wasn't good enough?
Video
I was ten, when my power began to manifest. It wasn't enough to - [She shakes her head. There's no need.]
I'm glad you remain willing to trust people.
Video
[He doesn't sound demeaning, but he's from a normal-day Earth, so the idea of a superhero-filled universe is pretty far off for him. Besides, seriously, what kind of superpower is knowing when people are lying? If powers were being handed out like that, couldn't he have been a real psychic or something? Not that he wants the responsibility, but only knowing when someone is lying is kind of the dollar-store version. You don't even get to know the truth, or how to make things right.]
Most people aren't bad, really. I mean, there are exceptions, and it's a lot easier to trust people when you can tell if they're pulling your leg, but more people lie to prevent harm than to cause it.
So wait. You're from some kind of place where a lot of people can do stuff like that, right? Are we dealing with multiple Earths, or are you from the future or some other planet? It's 2011, where I'm from.
[Then, there's a hesitation, and Steve looks over the world around him as he frowns and bites his lower lip.]
Is this some kind of afterlife?
Video
I'm from Earth, yes - 1956. People born with unique abilities are called mutants, and I believe more are being born every day. [More to protect; more, potentially, to fight.] I'd hoped to meet more of them, when I ended up here.
I...hadn't considered that this might be some form of afterlife, no. [She was never a particularly spiritual person, even as a child.] I suppose it's possible, though it's not like any I've ever read about. [She looks troubled. Had she simply died that day, in Haifa?]
Video
My job has records of people unintentionally imprinting seemingly supernatural abilities on normal objects, but unless there's some conspiracy I'm not aware of, there hasn't been a major increase in people born with special quirks. We're not called mutants or anything. Most people just joke about it. I was a running gag at my first job.
Video
That's...quite fascinating, actually. What was your job?
no subject
But the liquor ain't bad.
no subject
Any clue as to why we're here, though?
no subject
[Yeah, don't come between a Marine and his liquor.]
That? That's Interesting Theory territory. Consensus seems to be we were all kidnapped and stuffed on this ship--fact--and supposed to somehow be used as a weapon in the war between the two big idiots here.
And then they forgot about us.
Video:
[There's video, of a sort. It's dark and indistinct and sound echoes from the pickup like Kaidan's in an enclosed space. He looks weary and headached, but attentive enough.]
Don't ask me how. I'm not a theoretical physicist and I haven't met any here yet.
Video:
I don't know much about other dimensions, but it seems like a physicist ought to be a little higher up on the "turn into a popsicle and launch into space in the name of science" ladder than some guy with with the ATF.
Re: Video:
And then there's at least a couple teenagers, too. Aliens. A giant sentient robot... I don't even know, man.
Video:
Re: Video:
You've got civilians and military, some people who are alive, some who are like you and figure they're supposed to be dead. Some folks show up alone, others find people they know are already here. Different time periods, too.