[video]

[newguy]

[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.

Comments

Video

[abetterway]

[There's a hint of envy in her gaze. She really would love to think that such abilities would never become an issue on her world, that they would never mark people as threats to be eliminated, exiles to be shunned, commodities to be used. She knows better.]

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

[newguy]

I expected to be reincarnated and all, but the usual deal involves being a baby with no memories. This pod thing wasn't part of the plan. And it's about--well, if you're from Earth, you probably know how Buddhism works.

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

[abetterway]

[She gives a slight nod, a faint smile.] Yes. I suppose it's possible we got it wrong.

That's...quite fascinating, actually. What was your job?