003 - Video

[whattheytellyou]

[Sarah has had her hair cut, just like most everyone else. She doesn't comment about it, however. She picks up a battered old field journal, leans forward on her elbows and reads from her notes to the camera. Her tone is professional and emotionless.]Beginning on Satuday, date unknown, time unknown, I was obligated to avoid capture by invading

Comments

[Private; text]

[a_bit_put_upon]

I'm here, though a bit indisposed at the moment. May I help you?

[Private Audio]

[whattheytellyou]

I was just checking to see how you're holding up.

[Private Audio]

[a_bit_put_upon]

[Pause. He then activates the audio feed, and his voice is hoarse. He remains quiet as if he doesn't wish to stir an echo, or perhaps a sleeper.]

I'm intact, thank you. For what it's worth... I'm sorry. For all of this. [He isn't touching the trust question with a ten foot pole; his word is moot for it at the moment.] Are you well? Have you been seen to, if you're injured?

[Private Audio]

[whattheytellyou]

It's not your fault, Doc.

[She pauses, then adds uncertainly.]

For the most part, anyway. You can't come here and expect inmates to be on their best behavior, you know? That goes for all of us, not just you.

I'm fine, anyway. I've been in worse scrapes. You sound like hell.

Private

[whattheytellyou]

You mean the Doc, right? The blond?

Private

[whattheytellyou]

It's a lot to take in. The whole...future self thing.

I trust him. I think he screwed up, but I'm not going to point fingers because his inmate's a pain in the ass.

[timesbureaucrat]

Technically speaking, you can't trust anyone, here or anywhere else. Even the best of persons, even someone who cares about you personally, might betray you given the right circumstances and reasons.

[Totally deleted before sending. Because Narvin decides that it's far too revealing.]

Agent Kay is trustworthy, as is Sergeant Howie. Spike may punch you in the face if he has a problem with you but he probably won't stab you in the back. The Sexbys. Commander Data. Tirion.

[Narvin doesn't necessarily *like* all of these people. He just thinks that they're unlikely to plot betrayal.]

[whattheytellyou]

Thank you.

Have I met you yet? I can't remember. Sorry.

[timesbureaucrat]

Coordinator Narvin. And you are?

[whattheytellyou]

Sarah Harding. I'm new.

Should I call you Coordinator, or is Narvin okay?

[Private] This is gonna be a thing for her, for a while.

[gimmethemap]

I miss my hair.

[Private]

[whattheytellyou]

It'll grow.

Think about it this way: when summer gets here, you'll be cooler.

...Does summer come here? It's cold up top.

[Private]

[gimmethemap]

Sort of.

It can be just about any season in the CES.

[Private]

[whattheytellyou]

Well, for those hot summer days in the CES, you won't be worrying about having a layer of hair.

And in the cold, you can wear a hat.

[She's trying.]

[Private]

[notarrowette]

I'm all right. Are you?

There are a lot of people I trust here. Sometimes after things like this it's hard to remember.

[Private]

[whattheytellyou]

I'll live.

It's hard to remember that even when people screw up, it doesn't mean they're untrustworthy. The Doctor, for example. And then there are people you assume are trustworthy who don't deserve it.

[Private]

[notarrowette]

I have a feeling your "I'll live" is a lot like my "I'm all right." I have a feeling a lot of people are in the same boat.

The Doctor--the one everyone's gunning for--is actually a good friend of mine. I haven't talked to him, but I think he's probably doing a better job of beating himself up than any of us could.

...Like who?

[Private]

[whattheytellyou]

I'm not going to die from a couple of cracked ribs. I've had worse.

I spoke with him briefly, and I think you're right. He sounds like hell. He could probably use a friend right now.