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

[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.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan sighed, "It's my way of saying... maybe I know more of how they feel then you think."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," she agreed. "But the difference is you apparently realized that the decision of whether to sacrifice the few for the sake of the many wasn't yours to make."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan remarked, "Or can argue I just changed who the few are to be sacrificed."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"So, what, you think I'm being unreasonable?" Lyta asked.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Not really. Think we all need to keep cool heads around here till we have a better idea what's going on."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta gave him a weak--but appreciative--smile. It felt good to not be the only one who was a little concerned about what had been going on. "Thank you," she said. "It's kind of nice knowing I'm not alone on this."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan remarked honestly, running a hand over the back of his head, "Well for some of it, I was really concerned."

He had enough of his life in jeopardy back home, he didn't want it to be a habit here.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Well, I guess you and I are just going to have to watch each others' backs from now on."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Of course," He remarked with a grin. Nice back to watch too.

Whoops, didn't mean to let that slip out. Maybe she didn't catch it?

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta stiffened noticeably as she picked up on Nathan's stray thought and immediately her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. "Excuse me?" she said, attempting to feign 'pissed off.'

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan noticed the reaction he got, the flush more than the expression. Still he feigned ignorance at her comment.

"Hmm?"

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Nice back to watch, too?" Lyta vocalized his thought.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

He tensed at that, watching her.

Nathan shrugged and offered a politican's smile, "Just a random thought."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah?" she lifted an eyebrow while, at the corners of her mouth, there was a hint of a smile. "You really should watch those, you know. Especially around telepaths. We have this strange ability to pick up on stuff like that. And then, the next you know, you're uncomfortable, and then I'm uncomfortable because you're uncomfortable, and then you're uncomfortable because I'm uncomfortable because you're uncomfortable... And this whole vicious cycle starts."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Least till one of us thinks of a way to stop it."