comm 004

[scanninggaydis]

Who: Felix Gaeta
Broadcast: Yes!
Action: The Vanquish
When: Morning/Afternoon of the 11th


Action
[Somewhere in the late morning today, there's a new face roaming the Vanquish. Or...a new-ish face? In any event, there's a teenage boy where there was not previously a teenage boy. No fanfare, no pudding, just a new body. It's not the right time for new crew-mates anyway, so that's strange too.

Felix is definitely cautious as he wanders around. He's not...look, he's not going to cry, he's too old to do that. Even if he is suddenly in a spaceship with no memory of how he got here. The signs definitely point to something not good happening. His posture is tight. Ready to defend himself or probably....probably just run. Not really the scrappiest of fighters, Felix.

When he comes across his first person, his posture gets even tenser. Maybe he just passed into a new room, maybe someone walked into the room he's currently in. He freezes for a long moment, barely breathing.

Assuming they don't immediately attack him - because why would you?? - he lets out a deep breath. Still tense, still scared. But gods, he needs to figure out what's happened to him.]

...Are you... [He really doesn't know what he wants to ask, this situation is weird.] ...I'm not supposed to be here.

[So. Not a question, then. But pretty much the best he can do under the circumstances.]


[Later, when he's at least had things explained to him, he's a little less cautious and a little more curious. He'll definitely be poking around all the areas of the ship with determination. He's been on ships before, but not like this! Not a ship designed for long-term habitation. Not ships where he's gotten to be on the bridge or in the engine room. It's the small silver lining to being...here. Suddenly. If he sees anyone else, he smiles politely, if somewhat awkwardly.]

Hi! I'm, um. I'm Felix. [The way he says it makes it clear that he already knows how weird this is.] What's your role on the ship?


Video
[When the video feed turns on for this particular broadcast, the face on the screen belongs to a young man. Or at least, a kid who looks to be roughly in the latter half of his teen years.

He holds himself with a certain amount of nervous poise, his back a little bit too straight. His hands are clasped in front of him on the table. Public speaking is not...his best talent. But he has some questions! Or, a question, really.]

Uh...hi. My name is Felix. Gaeta. I guess some people here might...already know me? But as an adult. [He strays from that nervous posture just a little, enough to rub the back of his neck, looking off camera for a couple of seconds.] Which is really weird. I mean, it's kind of cool, too. In a way. Because I have no idea how someone would pull this off. Like, did they mess with my DNA somehow? I know that it shouldn't be possible for them to reverse aging this much...but then again I know how to fly an entire spaceship right now, I shouldn't really know how to do that. And the part where I don't remember being here, that's not a DNA thing at all....

[...He's getting distracted, this wasn't what he actually meant to say when he decided to address the Fleet. Right! His question!]

But, um, anyway. Back home, we definitely have the ability to travel in space, but as far as I know, no one has ever come across another populated system. Not even way back before the Colonies were founded. It's really cool that this fleet passes through so many different systems. I was wondering if people could tell me about the most interesting things or people they've encountered.

[He loosens up marginally as he keeps talking, getting into the idea of space and exploration. By the end, Felix is leaning forward a little, curious and engaged.]

Thanks. In advance.

Comments

[passingthrough]

You are adorable. [Clearly enjoying this too much and not really answering the question. Just marveling at how he's younger than her now.] Look at your face!

[scanninggaydis]

[He...hm. Not a reaction he was expecting to get!

Politeness is something that's been instilled in Felix, especially towards his elders, so he just...pauses for a few very long seconds before he responds.]

Thank you.

[Polite but noncommittal. Definitely still a Felix.]

[passingthrough]

[She smiles at that reply.] Okay, I should stop being weird. At least as much as I can stop it. I'm Kitty. I know adult you. I don't know exactly how the glitch works. If it weren't for the part where you'll remember all of this once you're older again I'd think they were just replacing you with a younger version since they can bring people in from anywhere in the multiverse or in time.

[scanninggaydis]

[Once she introduces herself, he dips his head in a small nod.]

It's nice to meet you.

[The description of the Atroma's abilities gets him to furrow his brow a little.]

They really can do a lot...I guess it would just be too complicated for them to do that and then to somehow mess with memories later? I mean, too complicated and for no good reason.

[passingthrough]

I'd really expect complicated for no good reason to be their thing but mysterious overlords are going to be mysterious.

[mongoosecrow]

What, really? What's with the whole trend of ages changing lately?

[He isn't sure if he should feel very confused or very amused or both.]

[scanninggaydis]

Is it something that's been happening a lot?

[Felix's tone is curious. Maybe a little concerned, but mostly curious.]

[mongoosecrow]

Well there's you and there's Sokka. He got aged up by choice though.

By the way, I'm Gil. Since you don't know me right now, do you?

[scanninggaydis]

[As if it's his fault, Felix shakes his head a little sheepishly. It's got to be weird, after all, for other people. It's definitely weird for him.]

No, I don't. I'm sorry, sir. It's nice to meet you though.

[Sir. Enjoy that, Gil.

But then he tilts his head to one side, still curious.]

Oh, okay. I guess it's nice that it's done on request too. [Something occurs to him.] ...Do you know if anyone's ever been aged down by request?

video

[candothat]

[There's something eerily familiar about much-younger-than-yesterday-Felix's too-formal posture and not-quite-concealed nervousness. That's how Chekov delivered ship-wide announcements for the better part of his first year in Starfleet. It's how he still acts when he's talking to someone who intimidate him or when he's unsure of himself and hides behind formalities.

This is also similar to the very first broadcast he had made when, at the age of seventeen, he found himself in a foreign place called the City. How can he not reply?]

Felix Gaeta, hello. I'm Pavel Andreievich Chekov. We have met before--twice before, actually--but you were somewhat older both of those times.

No one knows yet how the Atroma--our captors--are able to bring us to this universe, manipulate our bodies and memories, or give us knowledge that we did not already have. Or... no, we do know that the augments are responsible for skills that we inexplicably possess when we find ourselves here, but how or why they work is a mystery. Their technology is far beyond anything that we have in my universe. Beyond what we can theorize, even.

[scanninggaydis]

[It...takes him a second to really parse Chekov's accent, to be honest. But it's interesting.

The way Chekov responds, though, is...it's nice? It makes him feel like he's being taken seriously - unlike certain other people kitty he's looking at you - even if it doesn't necessarily cause him to relax.

He nods his head to say hello. There's a faint, self-conscious smile on his face.]

It's nice to meet you.

It's amazing that they can do these things. It's just a little, um, questionable how they're using the technology.

[...He says that, and then he ends up looking over his shoulder for a second as if criticizing the Atroma - even mildly - where they can hear him might bring down their wrath. You never know.]

[candothat]

[Chekov spent too much time not being taken seriously because he was young and cute to inflict that on someone else, especially in this instance. Felix might be younger and less knowledgeable than he was the last time they talked, but intelligence isn't something that can be aged away.

He smiles back. It is a little like talking to who he was.]

You as well, always.

[Really. This is by far the most polite of the three meetings, which probably says a good deal about Felix's life.]

Very questionable, but they have shown no interest in listening to our opinions on the matter... or our opinions on them. [So on the bright side, their overlords aren't going to smite them for badmouthing them.] This has been documented more than once in my universe: a sentient race becomes more advanced than others, and it forgets that technologically inferior races are not so different from them in the ways that they think and feel.

[scanninggaydis]

[You as well, always makes that smile just a little bit wider. Maybe a little less self-conscious by a hair.

His ears metaphorically prick up when Chekov mentions what sounds like contact with multiple species in his home universe. Once again he leans forwards towards the camera, eyes bright.]

You've made contact with other lifeforms? Back home?

action

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha has a pretty good idea, when she sees the kid's face, who he is. And he's sort of right: he shouldn't be here.

But here he is.

At least he doesn't seem dangerous at first blush. Small favors.]

Hey, Felix. [A pause, then she glances at the console in front of her.] Technically, I'm a communications officer.

[scanninggaydis]

[He is a small, soft, 17 year old boy. The opposite of dangerous. (Of course, looks can be deceiving. But Felix's really, really aren't.)

When Natasha answers him, he nods. There's a small smile on his face as he peers at the comms console.]

Is it something you're used to doing?

...Oh, I should have asked for your name too. Sorry.

[His smile becomes apologetic, at least a little bit.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha is used to looks being deceiving, but in his case... it's not just the packaging that doesn't seem dangerous.]

It's all right. It's Natasha, though.

[She taps the dash smiling a little herself at his reaction.]

It's not exactly what I'm used to, but it's close enough not to be strange. Besides, I've been doing it a while here.

[scanninggaydis]

How long is a while?

[He is a child of many questions. It's generally something he tries to rein in on a day-to-day basis but...Natasha doesn't seem annoyed. Yet.]

Action

[dreamofakuze]

[Karman had been going about the ship as he normally did. True, he spent a lot of time in the engine room fulfilling his duties, but he couldn't stop himself from being everywhere else too, like the ship might explode if he didn't have his hands in everything. This was what happened when you got spoiled by having the best pilot in the Alliance and then losing him. But everything was going as expected.

Until he came across a child. He knew everyone on the ship by sight, at least, this kid wasn't wrong: he isn't supposed to be there.

Shepard stops in his tracks and slowly sets aside whatever had been in his hand, his eyes still trained on the kid. He was definitely familiar...]

No...you're not...but that's okay. Where are you supposed to be, son?

[The kid had a brave face, but Shepard knew fear when he saw it, Shepard definitely had to give him kudos for keeping his cool as well as he was.]

[scanninggaydis]

[At the very least, Shepard doesn't seem threatening. But that's not a lot to go on and Felix still doesn't know a lot about what's going on. He doesn't relax.

The question takes him a few long seconds to answer. He's trying to decide what's safe to say, what makes sense. What to give away. This one doesn't seem dangerous.]

Home. [It's an automatic response, but then he seems to realize that isn't helpful. Not unless Shepard already knows where home is for him. Which he could, if he's the one who orchestrated this. But on the off-chance he isn't:] The Twelve Colonies. Caprica.

[In order of ascending specificity. Although he stops short of mentioning his city.]

[dreamofakuze]

[Shepard waits patiently for something more than just 'home,' but even once he hears it, it means nothing to him. Well, almost nothing. The kid said 'Colonies.' Felix had said his fleet protected their colonies.

He gave a small sigh. So, this was the kind of 'weirdness' this place could pull. Crowley wasn't exaggerating, roll with the punches was right.

He kept his expression even, but open, kids were supremely perceptive when they wanted to be.] I'm sorry, but you're a long way from there right now. [But first things first. He offered his hand with the same regard he'd offer the man he was suspecting this was.]

I'm Commander Shepard. I was brought here like you were, I promise you you're at least safe here on this ship and I'll be happy to answer any questions you can think of. [And then, a little softer.] I know it's overwhelming.

[scanninggaydis]

[Felix doesn't really let down his guard just yet. He has a little more information, but he's not sure he trusts it.

...That being said, it helps a little that Shepard is treating him sort of like an adult. He's not mean, but he's not coddling him. A few more moments and Felix reaches out his hand to shake Shepard's. It's a slow movement though. The look in Felix's eyes is wary, like he's ready for Shepard to pounce and hurt him. He does go through with it though.

It is overwhelming (and Shepard's tone makes him duck his head for a second, fighting the way that the sympathy kind of makes him want to cry) but Felix doesn't acknowledge that at all.]

...Do you know how were you brought here? I...I don't remember anything, I just woke up here.

Only a lot late

[goldenglasses]

Good to see you're still the same Felix as a kid. So wide eyed and excited to learn. [Not at all a grump who's seen too much to go back.]

But I suppose the water planet where we could all breath under water was one of my favourite planets.

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[That first comment gets a small, kind of tentative smile. Felix doesn't really know what to do with people talking about him versus the older him. Or even comparing them positively.

Luckily, he is quickly distracted by the second half.]

How did that work?

[goldenglasses]

I honestly don't know. Maybe it was some property in the water? I was too busy being amazed I wasn't drowning to think too much about it.

But I was granted a gift on that planet and now I'm suppose to be able to breath under water no mater where I am!

[scanninggaydis]

...A gift? Like...something physical? Or...

[He trails off, because his next thought is "magical", but that's a little bit silly, isn't it?]