video | a finer world, part 2

[solarcharged]

[ Does this guy ever broadcast to the network from ground level?? APPARENTLY NOT because here's Apollo with yet another video message from somewhere dizzyingly high, this time sat on top of a brightly lit neon encrusted building in the heart of Jeopardy. Over his shoulder the sun sets over the desert in a picture perfect background landscape of bright pinks and oranges, but Apollo looks pensive despite the dreamy setting. He's been keeping an eye out for the so-called ghosts, you see, and maybe remembering a few ghosts of his own in the process. ]

An old friend once told me that saving the world is no good if we leave it the way we found it. She said 'saving the day shouldn't be the same as preserving the status quo'. Because what's the point in saving the world if you make no effort to change it? To make it better than it was?

That's why I joined her team, back home. I wanted to save the world and change it for the better. None of us could have done it alone but as a group... [ He trails off, turning a little wistful. ] As a group we were formidable.

But I know most of the teams currently operating here - [ you know who you are ] - are all pretty much Registered-only affairs. And that's fine if you're the Registering type...

[ Apollo's expression turns grim. Or as grim as you can look when surrounded by neon pink signage. ]

Personally? I've got no intention of swearing my loyalty to the government just because they want tame superheroes. But I still want to make a difference and if being a so-called vigilante is what it takes, then... I guess we'll see what happens next.

So consider this an open call. Is there anyone else out there who's Unsettled and wants to do their bit to save the world?

[ And yeah, maybe change it a little bit too. He hopes you're happy, Jenny Sparks. ]

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[lootsnshoots]

[A rueful chuckle, as he thinks about his recent failed attempts at diplomacy between the City and the Reef.]

We should all be so lucky.

I'm with Aegis.

[solarcharged]

Ah, Aegis. I hear a lot of good things about it. Commander Taylor seems like a decent guy.

[lootsnshoots]

Yeah, I like him alright. If I didn't I wouldn't have signed up.

[solarcharged]

What made you want to enlist with Aegis, if you don't mind me asking?

[lootsnshoots]

It sounded like what I already do back home, more or less.

[solarcharged]

[ Apollo huffs a faint laugh ]

Same, but without the government oversight. Hence this post.

[lootsnshoots]

Oh, you wanna hear a real joke? I was part of the government oversight back home.

[solarcharged]

Oh? So what did that entail then?

[lootsnshoots]

Mostly paperwork and boring meetings. But part of the Vanguard gig is mentoring up Guardians and setting them on the right path. Mind you there's not much we can do if they decide "screw it" and go off to do their own thing. But in the days before we got ourselves all organized, folks were usin' their power for bad more than they were usin' it for good.

[solarcharged]

[ paperwork, what's that ]

What, like teaching and training? Sounds like it was pretty rewarding at least.

[lootsnshoots]

[Something to con other people into doing]

Yeah it does feel pretty good when one of your rookies manages to bag a big bad from outer space, I will say that.

[solarcharged]

Like a proud parent, I'm guessing? You get that warm fuzzy feeling when your children are all grown up and killing evil bastards of their own...

[lootsnshoots]

I prefer to think of myself as the cool uncle, but yeah.

[solarcharged]

What's wrong with being the cool dad?

[ asks the surprisingly UNcool dad ]

[lootsnshoots]

[A soft laugh.]

In another lifetime. Besides, Team Dad is Big Blue's department. He takes it real serious.

[solarcharged]

Big Blue? [ squints ] I don't think I've met anyone called that...

[lootsnshoots]

You wouldn't have. He's my boss back home. Honestly? Not actually that big. But he is blue. And real strict, kind of a party pooper. But, y'know, a real good guy.

[solarcharged]

So where are you guys actually from? Any planet I'd recognise?

[lootsnshoots]

Earth, but waaaay ahead in the future from now.

[solarcharged]

Oh, tell me there's some good news from the future...

[lootsnshoots]

Oh. About that? Kinda, really, extreeeemely the opposite of good news.

[solarcharged]

[ SIGHING: ]

Well, shit. Go on then...

[lootsnshoots]

Humanity's hanging on by a thread, civilization's down to one last City, and we're constantly under threat from like four different killer alien invaders.

[solarcharged]

Oh, lovely. Just what Earth always needed. [ Drily: ] I bet that keeps you pretty busy.