Scratching an itch [Open]

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Namely the itch for space, for air. Nathan had been going over a check list for things to keep an eye on around the ship, but even politicians like to unwind from time to time. He heard the notice about the podpop, more arrivals to meet with later. In the meantime, his steps had taken him to the Sensoriums. Remembering the deep Nevada skies, he called it up, his surroundings becoming gritty sand, and rocks. Bare hills in the distance, with sparse vegetation.

Then in an instance, he took flight, and a sonic boom sounded in the crisp blue sky.

Comments

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Oh really?" she said with a lift of her eyebrows. "And just how often might that need be?"

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"When I have to." Usually when cleaning up messes, often somebody else's.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta narrowed her eyes at him in playful suspicion. "You're evading the question."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"How so? I gave you an answer."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"No, you didn't," Lyta countered. "I don't know about you but, where I come from, 'when I have to' and 'when I need to' pretty much mean the same thing. You just gave me the same answer twice."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"You asked how often it happens. And well, it happens more often that I want it to. Seems like there's always something else to take care of."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

She gave an understanding nod. "You always feel like you have to clean up everyone else's messes?"

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"How...wait don't answer that."

Nathan had to remind himself for a moment.

"Yeah I do. Especially when it comes to my family."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Relax," Lyta said, reaching out and patting his leg. "I didn't scan you. You told me earlier that you've always had to look out for your brother and you just said you always have something to take care of... I just read between the lines."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Ah, smart of you then," Nathan remarked approvingly with a small smile. Trying not to react to that pat since it was just a friendly one, right?

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

She smiled. "I suppose it's a good thing you're so used to cleaning up after other people," she said. "Considering the number of teenagers that Stacy decided to throw on board with us--powerful ones, nonetheless--I get the feeling we're going to be mopping up a lot of messes."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Hell, just look what happened in the medbay. Already on clean up duty now."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know," Lyta answered with a nod. Her smile fell away as the subject of the incident in the medlab came front and center. "According to Brainy and Kal, Kal was completely justified in doing what he did. I don't know if they just don't realize that it wasn't just Brainy who could have gotten hurt or if they just don't care."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Still think Kal jumped the gun, and could have killed him. And sure, bad enough I had people trying to kill me back home. Like to think we had enough of crewmates trying to do the same."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Of course he could have," Lyta agreed, standing up and folding her arms across her chest. "And he could have killed you, too, in the process and without Brainy to help him we could have lost Sam. But to talk to them, they make it sound like, because that didn't happen, that proves they weren't being reckless."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan sighed at that, and ran a hand through his hair.

"Maybe I should go talk to them again. Make sure we're all on the same page here. Neither of them can afford to make mistakes like that around here. Specially with the larger number of people awake."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "I already tried. All I got were some speeches about what great heroes they all are and how many lives they've all saved. It's like, to them, saving a billion lives gives you the right to cause the deaths of two or three."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan grew quiet at that, remembering the decision he nearly made.

"More like .07 percent," He muttered.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"What?" Lyta asked, turning around to face Nathan.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan explained, "First of all, I didn't go through with it. Remember how I helped my brother? I got an offer to do the exact opposite before then. To let half of New York be destroyed as part of some plan to help the rest of the world."

He added, "Said I'd eventually be President, by going that way."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta's brow furrowed. "How could letting half of New York be destroyed help the rest of the world?" she inquired.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan started to pace around, and explained, "The idea was that this tragedy would cause everyone to come together and unite. This one man, Linderman, he and my mother were backing. Saying that compared with the world, it would only be .07 percent."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

She nodded slowly. "But you said you didn't do it. Right?"

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, at nearly the last minute," he admitted.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

She nodded again. She didn't know whether to be happy that Nathan had decided to do the right thing and not go along with the plan or angry that he'd ever considered go along with it in the first place.

"Is this your way of saying that anyone can make a mistake?" Lyta asked.