driftfleet | comm 004

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.]

[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.

[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.

[If Shepard knows why Felix ducks his head a moment, he doesn't acknowledge it either, just offering patience and understanding as he might need it.]

I do...and I think it both was and wasn't how you got here. I just woke up here too, but not on this ship. You did the same, but I'm guessing you don't remember because it technically hasn't happened for you yet.

When I saw you yesterday, you were much older, Mr. Gaeta. [It was a guess, but he was fairy certain of it.]

[Okay, that makes Felix's body language tense, his spine straight. His shoulders pulled in close.]

You know my name.

[It comes out a little accusatory, although after a second he winces because oh wait, maybe he shouldn't have admitted that Shepard was right in his guess. (Or, from Felix's perspective, his assertion.) But it's too late now, anyway.]

[Shepard's tone remains gentle, intentionally non-threatening, though he doesn't crouch down like he might with a younger child. His suspicions were confirmed and, until he knew any better, he had to assume Felix still had some of that pride he seemed to carry even now.]

I do. You live on this ship just as I do. If you want, I can show you where your room is.

[He'd...never actually been in Felix's room, for all he knew, the man kept it baron and impersonal, but he was taking a gamble that there might be something in there to prove he wasn't lying, if the poor kid even believed him enough to go along with it.]

Atroma, the group that brought us here, I think they're the ones who brought you and why you can't remember it. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I am trying to help.

...Okay.

[It takes Felix a long moment to agree. He still isn't absolutely sure he trusts Shepard but he also doesn't think he's going to get anywhere - or get any new information - if he just argues with him right here.

Seeing this room...it might give him new clues. Or maybe Shepard isn't lying at all. Felix isn't sure it's better if he isn't lying about this, though. But it would be...a better explanation than him being kidnapped? Maybe.]

[He's a little relieved the kid seems to be willing to listen to him, at least to a point. But he nods and makes for the door, glancing back to show he expected Felix would follow.]

It's this way.

[Shepard leads him to the door he memorized as Felix's, mostly out of habit of wanting to know where his crew could typically be found than for any other reason. Once there, however, he waits, indicating he'd follow the boy's lead this time, whatever he decided he wanted to do or trust.]

[Felix steps up to the door. There's still a lot of tension in his shoulders as he pauses before it. What if it's a trap, what if he's just going to be shoved in or locked in. (He can't explain not being locked in somewhere in the first place - if this really is a kidnapping - or why anyone would do it after the fact but then again rationality is hard to reach for in this circumstance.)

Finally, though, he opens in. Peers in for a few seconds, and then steps gingerly over the threshold. There's a certain way he does it, stepping to one side so that he can also sort of keep an eye on Shepard.

...It isn't as subtle as he wants it to be.]

comm 004

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