02. [video]

[oncearanger]

[The face of a man about sixty-five years old appears on screen. He's squinting at the blasted device through glasses that he's very glad he kept, but he would still struggle to make a text post at the moment---not with his old prescription. The voice is rougher, but still recognizable as Billy's to the few people he knows.]

Please answer this question for me: it's urgent.

Is extreme accelerated aging a known side effect of the transporter? I have several other hypotheses about my sudden condition, but this is the first I should test. And if you know of any cures for this condition, I'd appreciate a pointer. I'm drawing up my own attempts at a cure, but there's not much I can do with our limited supplies.

[He sighs wearily.]

I calculate that I'll age to the point of death within the next 36 hours, or sooner if it accelerates further, so there's not much that I have to lose.

((ooc: The aging is a canon event caused by his own tinkering at home gone wrong with a delayed reaction. And there's a canon medicine that would likely be at the Hold, but he hasn't a clue.))

Comments

[eyecontact]

[stare.

blink.

blinkblink.

Jericho's seen a lot of weird stuff, sure, but it's always been with his feet more or less on the ground – and usually the same planet (dimension-hopping notwithstanding, ahem). so this whole beverages-on-Mars thing? pretty wild.

his head tilts. he hasn't seen enough movies to discern whether or not Billy even looks the part for interplanetary adventures, so that's not it...

huh.

well. well...whatever, right? if there's going to be an easier way to fix those temporal troubles, it's a good thing in Jericho's book. he decides that's a good start, nodding agreeably.]

[oncearanger]

[Billy laughs awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.]

I'm sorry! I tend to ramble about minor details sometimes. But I'm all right, I promise.

[eyecontact]

[he dismisses that apology with a quick headshake, smiling crookedly.

with a little scuff of a shoe, he takes a step backward, feeling a welcome over-worn, a creeping heat up his neck and behind his ears.]

[oncearanger]

[Ah, Billy remembers that reaction from his younger years. He lifts his hand in a wave.]

I'm sure I'll see you soon. Thanks again!

[eyecontact]

[appreciative, relived, Jericho takes the cue, waves in turn, and takes his leave. at least he did something good! not a whole lot of superheroing going on lately, but...but, no. this is good. better, even!

even though the notion of getting old super-fast spooks him a bit. yikes.]