Video #1 UN: Waltz

[enveloped]

[Unlike some people whose biggest concerns are their inappropriate footwear, Cam is all business.

Speaking to you live from a crumbling room within the colony is a tall, bearded man wearing a suit. Or half of one. He has his sleeves rolled up, Prada jacket slung over an overturned desk. His face isn't unfriendly, but there are well-worn lines speaking to a serious nature.

This man does not wear flip-flops.]

Hello, my name is Cameron Waltz. Like you I am a recent arrival, and have more questions than answers regarding this place, and why we're here. Back home I was a humanitarian interpreter and cultural mediator specializing in foreign aid and disaster relief. Experience I hope will be useful, considering the conditions, as it appears we've found ourselves in something of a disaster.

In my brief exploration of the colony, it appears many of the necessary facilities are damaged and in disarray. Those few blocks that aren't already compromised will be well on their way if the problems regarding utilities and structural decay aren't addressed.

Especially since we appear to be activating potentially hazardous technology left and right. All it takes is one spark to set an electrical fire, or worse.

If we're going to survive here, it's important we work together to increase our chances. There are far too many repairs to complete alone. We need to survive before we can return home.

I don't know how many of you are out there, but if you can read this I would appreciate a response. A rough headcount would be helpful in terms of rationing supplies. People with engineering skills and knowledge relevant to repairing or securing the colony, please name yourself and what you can do.

A directory of skills could be incredibly helpful in terms of creating working teams to get things done.

To everyone who may be out there, you are not alone. If you are hurt, or simply don't know what to do, I and many others will be here to help.

[A man can hope.]

Comments

text | @lazarus

[benhargreeves]

[ Well, thinking about his response to this sure has been an interval of grim and depressing self-analysis that Ben hasn't enjoyed. At least it's a little easier writing it down than it would be having a conversation aloud. Ben's decided texting is good, actually. ]

I don't know anything about engineering or advanced technology, but I am willing to learn. I want to help as much as I can. Please keep that in mind when you're reading the next part.

Skills: knowledge of first aid, knowledge of human anatomy, knowledge of various disaster and weather survival techniques, knowledge of battlefield strategy, training in surviving extreme conditions, extensive experience at neutralizing hostile targets.

[ He'd thought that would sound better than 'I can make a lot of people very dead very easily' but the euphemisms, once he's typed them, look much worse. But the guy had wanted a skills directory and well, here are his skills. ]

I guess I could probably be helpful if there's any demolition stuff, too.

[enveloped]

We have a few tech experts on hand already.

I would say you're the perfect person to assist with security and life-support issues as they come up. With your experience, you sound more than capable of teaching other who may be less equipped to cope with this environment than yourself.

With that skill-set, would I be safe to assume you're active or ex-military?

[benhargreeves]

I've never taught anybody before, but I can try. Maybe I could put together an informational packet? Just the highlights, situations that are likely to be relevant here.

Not exactly. But there are similarities.

[ Ben's not offering any more than that. ]

[enveloped]

I love a good informational packet. There's nothing more satisfying than a meticulously detailed bullet point list or diagram.

[Cam may be an incorrigible nerd, but he's socially graceful and knows better than to keep pushing.

He can find out what he needs to know his own way. He always does.]

May I have your name for my records?

[benhargreeves]

I'm more of a graph guy, myself.

If people mention potential dangers to you ( for ex. I know radiation is one ) if you pass that information along to me, I'll have a better idea of what to include, if it's something I know a little about.

Ben Hargreeves

[ Yep, same as that guy with a bajillion siblings. ]

[enveloped]

Do you have a preference? I've always been partial to pies.

I'll be sure to let you know my findings. I'm glad to have someone who appreciates the important of data.

[A pause before this next message, because he has to squint at that name and read it a second time.]

Any relation to... I'm so sorry to have to type this out, gosuckadick?

[benhargreeves]

Line, for sure.

[ Mostly he is kidding, but Ben does actually have a fondness for facts, put down on paper. Things that can be laid out and understood. Apparently Cam may be a kindred spirit.

Cam's question has Ben scrolling through the other responses and sure enough, there is Klaus. Telling people Ben used to be dead (which he doesn't mind) and that their dad bought them like they were things (which he does mind). ]

Yes, he's my brother.

[ And since Klaus is here letting cats out of bags left and right, Ben might as well clear up some things up in advance. ]

He really can communicate with the dead. My own powers are not useful except in situations requiring deadly force, so you can just put them in a sub-section of your directory called 'hopefully it will never come to this'.

[enveloped]

One of many, from what I understand.

[Between every Hargreeve in the colony, he's hoping to get the complete story.

Cam's never been into gossip rags, but... who doesn't have a weakness for family drama? Especially when the Gifted are involved, and potentially useful allies.]

I appreciate your candor, and while I am curious about your Gift... Let's hope you never have the opportunity to show me.

[benhargreeves]

There are seven of us, but it's only me, Klaus, and Diego here. We're not sure why the others aren't here.

[ Ben thinks of it as strange that some of them are missing, not that so many of them arrived already...

As for disclosing about his powers, what makes up his mind is perhaps the fact that Waltz expresses his curiosity but doesn't push, or maybe it's because Ben really does think having a complete list of skills, and someone coordinating from that list, might be necessary to their survival. But either way, he knows that just dropping cryptic hints is for his own sake, because talking about his powers sucks. But cryptic hints are not useful. It's his responsibility to be useful. Even if that means discomfort for him. Ben's known that all his life. ]

I appreciate what you are doing with this. For a team to function together, they need to know each other's capabilities. If we're going to survive this place, we should think like a team, so a complete inventory is a good call. I just hesitate to explain because I don't want to give the impression I am going to be a threat to the other people trapped here.

I can summon and partially control creatures from another dimension through a portal under my skin. They're basically giant tentacles, like on an octopus, but extremely strong and extremely violent. In theory, I could smash through a wall with them or something, but mostly they'll just try to rip anything near me that's living to shreds. So, for emergencies only. But if a kaiju shows up, I'm your guy.