[ voice ]

[hostage]

[No video. Getting to be a habit with him these days, but really... who wants to see him looking like he does right now? Thank him later. If he sounded bad before, he sounds much worse now. The way someone would sound when they've spent a week vomiting. That's why he keeps the message relatively short and sweet.]

I tested the, um... the verstatsi. The U.E.'s drug.

In case the obvious needed stating: don't try it.

Full report coming once I can get my ass outta bed, but I can tell you it's about half-opiate, half-synthetic. The comedown's a total bitch and I ain't just talking like regular use. I mean like one shot and you're gonna need another fix in a few hours unless you like spending the next few days worshiping the porcelain god. Seriously, I'm a professional and this stuff... is bad. I don't think we got a lotta samples around here but take my word for it and don't mess around with it. I done H. This is worse than H. Way worse.

So that's your little P.S.A. and don't roll your eyes 'cause this ain't some D.A.R.E. bullshit, yo. I'm serious.

Comments

voice;

[alphonse]

You should listen to what the others are saying about seeing a doctor. Even if you don't think you need it, learning all they can about how to treat the early stages of the drug could be really useful in helping them save someone else.

[hostage]

There been a lotta Exiles already who came in like this. I ain't gonna teach doctors anything new and they sure as shit haven't figured out a treatment.

[alphonse]

Those Exiles have been on the drug for most of their lives, though, right? It's not exactly the same. Not to mention that they're probably a lot less comfortable with being checked out by strangers with weird abilities, and even that depends on our people being willing to reach out to them over the more established clinics. When we're this far from a cure it's better not to underestimate how much your experience might offer.

[hostage]

It'll be in my report.

[alphonse]

You're pretty stubborn, aren't you?

[hostage]

Ain't the first time I been called that.

[alphonse]

And you understand that by trying to do so much on your own you're making the process take longer?

[hostage]

Like I said, ain't nothing a doctor can do.

[alphonse]

Not if you don't even give them a chance.

[hostage]

They got lots of chances. People're dying all over the place 'cause of this and they ain't stopped it.

[alphonse]

I don't blame you for feeling frustrated, but being reckless with your own life isn't a solution either. There are ways to bring the problem to everyone's attention and get something done that would be a lot less painful for the people who care about you.

[hostage]

[What people who care about him?]

It is the solution. I totally got what I need to fix this. That's what I'm saying.

[alphonse]

[It looks like there are quite a few to anyone who pays attention to the network. But there's only so long that Al intends to keep lecturing an adult, so he simply makes a displeased noise.]

That seems like an awfully selfish way of thinking, but obviously no one can stop you. You'll have a full analysis of the drug in your report?

[hostage]

Yeah, I will.

[He sees no point in arguing about how selfish his actions may or may not be. The few that think his passing would be a tragedy only think so because he's deceived them.

...And then there's Saul, and Jesse doesn't know what Saul is up to.

Anyway, no harm done. He didn't end up dying and he didn't end up killing anyone, either. If he can see it through to the end and develop a decent methadone-esque drug for these people, the maybe two or three remaining friends he's got will forgive him for being... well, the way he always is.]