video

[expellerhead]

Interesting that more people have been leaving than arriving lately.

Twelfth Cycle winding down, maybe?

[first time using video in the eighteen or so months he's been here. maybe a direct challenge? his 'paycheck' reflects low low ratings, if those are even real, considering he never ever does anything interesting.]

I'm a little shocked to find myself around, honestly. I'm boring. How does Atroma tally up those who leave and those who stay, anyway? I'm pretty sure some ratings high-rollers have ducked out. Randomized for the drama? Seems more like shoddy management than a deliberate choice.

It's almost like there's nobody watching after all.

Comments

[Video]

[expellerhead]

They've done a song and dance about us receiving 'fanmail' before. We're led to believe that whatever it is, it's broadcasting live.

[Video]

[fightorflug]

"Could be a studio test audience? It is a corporation's job to make their business sound more productive than it might actually be. Fanmail doesn't necessarily translate to widespread success."

[Although thankfully, Black Hat Organization didn't have to inflate it's own importance.]

"Has the fleet ever visited a world that knew of it? I've been here since Yadrolla, but I haven't encountered any evidence for it."

[Video]

[expellerhead]

Nothing past vague mentions. One world had corporations that just remembered the name of Atroma as a terraforming company.

[Video]

[fightorflug]

"Terraforming? Hm. Perhaps there are smaller subsidiaries at work too then. Our sponsors perhaps."

[But even if they could prove that, what would be the point?! What else, what else..]

"What about a.. change of audience? When your show fails on one network, sometimes you get picked up by another, yes? What if we're meant to appeal to a different demographic, a different galaxy to broadcast to this time and the current one has become bored of us?"

[Video]

[expellerhead]

We've got too little evidence to even speculate that. Even if we could, I don't see the point in it.

We didn't ask to be here, and we didn't ask to stay. I don't care how well their financial endeavors pan out.

[Video]

[fightorflug]

"No, but you seem a smart fellow. You have to admit knowing a captors motivations do make them considerably easier to deal with. It's worth discussing."

[By its nature, business has always had been something more evil than good. Flug knew one of these topics very well.]

"You did say even those who draw in the most ratings have begun to vanish. Wouldn't it make sense to believe they're being shipped to another facility to be made better use of elsewhere? If financial endeavors are what drive Atroma, then perhaps persuading them to take up something more lucrative is our way out."

[A shrug.]

"That or ensure none of the footage is usable."

[Video]

[expellerhead]

To be perfectly frank, I don't believe we're any part of a 'reality TV show' as they claim. I do believe we serve some other purpose of course, but reality TV?

[Video]

[fightorflug]

"Why not? In the end, we're kidnapped labor being exploited for monetary gain, what difference does it matter what they call us?"

[A shrug.]

"I see no other resources being gained. They aren't harvesting our souls or any kind of life source-- if they are they're being terribly inefficient about it. We're not being trained in any kind of combat. That rules out gladitorial combat or foot soldiers. It could merely be the first phase, I'll give you that. Making the most of our waiting room, as it were?"

[Video]

[expellerhead]

A lot of us here are already trained in combat. Have you gone by the gym a few times? There are always people in it, and quite a few faces.

Not to mention that it would make a huge difference if we were actually on television or not. It's incomprehensible to believe that if we were actually broadcast to an audience of even part of a galaxy, that there wouldn't be some sort of ethical uproar.

[Video]

[fightorflug]

"For you, perhaps. When you run with some of the circles I have, you'd be surprised what different cultures can be 'ethically okay' with, when they regard another species as inferior."

[He shouldn’t be surprised by that response, really.]

“Shame. I had hoped a Hero might have more of a different viewpoint to offer."

[But it’s always the same. Morals first, bigger picture second.]

“In any case, I do intend to conduct a few investigations of my own. If there is an area you think our efforts should be focused on, I’m willing to consider it.”