[ video ]

[hostage]

So here's the thing, right. I mean, yeah, the Initiative kinda kidnapped us. But they say they didn't do it on purpose. And I believe them, 'cause nobody in their right mind would wanna recruit me into their army on purpose. Some junkie loser. Ask anybody who saw me my first few weeks here, okay, all shitting in my pants scared and useless with the shakes. I couldn't hold a gun steady if my life depended on it.

So they didn't exactly bring us here on purpose. But what do they do when we end up here?

[He raises his hand to the camera, counting off on his fingers:]

They patch us up, bring us back to life. Hey, that's a big deal for some of us, ain't it?

They give us some swanky ass apartments. Yeah, we got roommates, but do you see what the rest of everybody's living in? We got some damn nice cribs in comparison, yo.

They give us money. Just like that. Like, "here you go, go buy a sandwich."

They give us weapons. You ain't never been a prisoner if you think that's something they'd do if they meant to keep us prisoner. Okay, nobody arms a prisoner. They'd be taking away our weapons if they were trying to hurt us all on purpose. And look at this shit -

[He holds up his own gun for the camera, popping the magazine out so the poison darts inside are visible.]

- All high tech. They ain't just giving us sticks to go out and defend ourselves with. This is some quality craftsmanship.

[He sets the gun aside.]

And you hear how I said "defend ourselves"? Yeah. Those U.E. sons of bitches are coming after us. They bombed the shit outta this place we're living in like my first week here. I mean, look around. You can see what they done to this place. To the people in this world. And they got the technology to do that to our worlds, too, unless we do like the Initiative says and go on missions and fix this shit.

And you know what else? You got a problem with the Initiative, you can just talk to 'em. Yeah. They ain't gonna hurt you. I was having some problems when I got here, so I went and talked to them, and guess what? They gave me everything I asked for! That's all it took. So yeah, maybe they can't send you home right now. But they'll help you out best they can.

Look, we're pretty much their only hope here. They wanna do right by us. So just... stop talking about dumbass rebellions and start - I don't know - communicating.

Comments

[whatsupcroc]

I hope people end up listening to what you've said.

[hostage]

It's their funeral if they don't, I guess.

[whatsupcroc]

Think the Initiative wouldn't bring them back?

[hostage]

Would you?

[whatsupcroc]

Yeah. If they're going to really die, send them home and don't turn it into a power game here.

[hostage]

They can't control whether we go home or not, but why save the life of the guy who's turning on you? It's a favor they're doing us, bringing us back. So if you're trying to mess 'em up? Why should they keep you alive? It's bad for 'em. That's just common sense, yo.

[whatsupcroc]

If we're dying because they brought us here? Nu-uh, until I hear that being dead-dead here doesn't change things back home... though I don't get how any of this honestly works.

[hostage]

I'm just talking about the ones that die doing stupid shit. And I ain't even saying it'd be right to let 'em die. It's just... that's what people do. They kill you when you go against them.

[whatsupcroc]

Except when they start doing that and the majority of us don't agree that'll be really bad. For the Initiative, and for us.

You don't have to. Not always, though yeah, sometimes it's a kill or be killed. And sometimes one death, or a few dozen, is slightly less horrible than the death of millions.

( She shrugs, shaking the thought off. Thus she smiles after that particular gem. )

On the upside, you're not planning to do stupid stuff and getting yourself killed, right? So I don't have to worry about you!

[hostage]

Yep. Not me. I like this place. I like the bosses, too. And most of all, I like it all peaceful and quiet.

[whatsupcroc]

Think that's what it'll end up being if they win?

[hostage]

Sure. One of these days, we'll change something in the past and come back and it'll all be fixed. It's gotta happen sooner or later, right? Then all of us can just sit back and enjoy our mansions.

[whatsupcroc]

And we won't just get sent back?

[hostage]

Maybe. If they figure out how. Probably up to us, if they do.

[whatsupcroc]

They'll figure it out!

( Collette firmly believes this. )

Which means some of us are fighting for our own futures, too.

[hostage]

Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we definitely are.

[whatsupcroc]

I still don't think the UE would just get their way the way the Initiative fears, but yeah. We're all definitely fighting for some kind of future.

[hostage]

It's a chance I wouldn't wanna take. And being here, seeing what they do... Even if all we were doing was fighting for the people in this city, that's enough for me. They need help.

[whatsupcroc]

Even more after that trip to Russia. There's a lot of the newer guys who don't do so well.

( She bites down on her lip. )

They're really sick.

( They're not all making it, either. )

[hostage]

I know. And it's... I don't even know how we're supposed to help 'em.

[whatsupcroc]

Volunteering.

[hostage]

Doing what?

[whatsupcroc]

Whatever we can, or anything we're good at. People always can use more hands to help out with projects and taking care of each other. The hospital can always use volunteers, and people to help run supplies to the newest arrivals, stuff like that.

[hostage]

Yeah, I guess... I mean, I just wish I could do something real important. Like something that'd really help.

[whatsupcroc]

That does. Way more than you probably believe. Shaking things on a world level doesn't mean so much as helping one person's day be a bit brighter, sometimes.