009. Video - Third Flight

[gabriel_gray]

[ Here is Nathan waving a little yellow slip of paper at the video feed to get everyone's attention. ]

I realise you're all dying or whatever so I'm gonna try not to take too much of your time. My brother Peter's gone missing. Left me this note saying not to worry, hold tight, yadda yadda. All well and good. But that was Friday, and there's still no sign. Doesn't call, doesn't answer his phone, didn't leave me any other way to reach him, so I'm wondering if one of you all has any idea how I can do that, or if you've seen him.

[ He can't even explain that Peter's lost Sylar and he's probably not completely in control of his abilities right now, because where would he even start? Nevermind that Peter underlined the parts about not telling anyone where their apartment was, or that Sylar was gone. ]

Couple of other things while I'm at it. First things first: I think you're all mad for thinking that this plague has anything to do with guilt. Maybe it just makes you feel extra guilty about shit you've done when you've got it, but I can't imagine it's the actual cause. God knows I've got enough to be guilty for, and not even a sniffle. Whoever tells you otherwise is probably some asshole trying to get money outta you.

And another question--has anyone had anything weird happen to their powers since getting here? I don't know, like this place is shaking them up? Playing mix and match? I could ah... I could fly before I came, and now I can't, and I think I'm... Picking up other things like my brother can. Things I shouldn't be able to do. Don't suppose anyone's gone through anything like it?

Oh, right. And for those who're curious I passed my resit for the bar. Took them a while to get back to me after the test but with most of the city down with this sickness... Never mind. You see Peter, tell him to call me.

[ He disconnects, and a few moments later a text message is pinged from the same address: ]

Hi again. Any tips for getting cats to like you? Furry little jerk took another swipe at me.

Comments

[gabriel_gray]

Tell me about it. I tell you what--if there's one thing my brother's good at doing it's getting himself in all kinds of trouble.

[doctor_mccoy]

I know the type.

I'm sure he's just off moonlighting with his pet lunatic, last I check they were both pretty indestructible, so it's funny to worry in retrospect.

[gabriel_gray]

[ That can't be it, but it's not like Nathan could say it out loud. He has a hard time even generating the right face--disgusted with a hint of 'why are we having this conversation?' ]

Indestructible or not, I could tell you stories.

[doctor_mccoy]

[It's okay, he doesn't seem any happier, but that's just his face. He glances at his wrist, even though there's nothing there.]

I'll have to take a rain check on those stories, sorry. But I'll keep an eye out for your brother.

[gabriel_gray]

Appreciate it.

Don't suppose you know anything about cats? There anything I'm supposed to do other than feed 'em? Am I supposed to take them for walks or something?

[doctor_mccoy]

. . . [Does he look like a pet whisperer to you?]

Just give them food and water, keep their litter box clean and they'll pretty much take care of themselves-- keep them inside unless you want something around here chowing down on them.

[gabriel_gray]

[ He nods, thoughtfully. ] Right. Don't let the cats out.

Sounds like advice I coulda done with for Peter, too.

[doctor_mccoy]

Yeah well, people are a bit harder to wrangle than cats are.

[gabriel_gray]

Speaking from experience?

[doctor_mccoy]

Lets just say I'm a professional people wrangler.

[gabriel_gray]

[ He laughs. ] Yeah, alright, I think I get that.

You get sick with this thing that's going round? No professional guilt wearing you down?

[doctor_mccoy]

No, don't have time to get sick when i'm supposed to be fixing everyone else that is.

[He shrugs, not quite getting why he's managed to stay healthy, he's got plenty of skeletons.] I'm plenty guilty, but there's not a damn thing I can do about it but waste my breath. I'll only feel like shit if we can't pull a cure out of our asses soon enough.

[gabriel_gray]

[ He bites his lip for a moment, then nods. It just seems odd that McCoy isn't sick, but then Nathan has no idea what his power is, and maybe that has something to do with it. ]

I still don't think it makes any sense. Just a good way to find yourself looking in the wrong place.

[doctor_mccoy]

What the guilt aspect? No, it makes sense considering the virus we're working with, and how it effects certain portions of the brain and responses it causes, which is why upped doses of serotonin and norepinephrine help dull the symptoms. Think of it like a more radical form of depression that manifests shitty feelings into flu-like symptoms. [that's not exactly it, but he tones down his medical terms around the redshirts.]

[gabriel_gray]

But is it the guilt that causes it, or is it just a fancy side effect?

[doctor_mccoy]

No, some asshole with a degree in mad science caused it. The guilt is just the catalysis, the symptoms are a reaction; feeding off negative emotions like feelings of worthlessness and self pity, which release certain chemicals in the brain that stir the whole hornet's nest up. Needless to say, the more baggage you're sitting on, the harder it hits.

[gabriel_gray]

Still doesn't really explain why I'm not sick. Didn't know you could get degrees in mad science, though.

[doctor_mccoy]

It means you haven't been directly exposed to the virus, you have a natural or ... god I can't believe I'm saying this "magical" immunity to it, or you're just a soulless heathen that doesn't properly comprehend remorse.

It doesn't mean you're not a carrier, not everyone that is exposed to a disease is going to show symptoms.

[gabriel_gray]

Soulless heathen, huh? Well, at least you're honest.

[ That would probably have been accurate a few months ago, but he's changed, right? He does feel bad for what he did to Peter. ]

Also I agree with you that you can keep your magical voodoo nonsense to yourself. Much better that way.