VIDEO: 001

[fource]

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner. It's nice to meet you all.

It's only been a few days since I arrived in this universe, and I acknowledge that I'm still adjusting. There are a number of differences between the Earth Sphere that I'm familiar with and this world, some of which could put my home to shame. The level of medical care available here alone should be a cause for celebration. At the same time, I see report after report of conflict between the people who were born on this planet and those of us from other universes, which... [he probably can't just say "means this place still needs some work," so after a moment of frowning off to the side of the camera, he just moves on to the crux of his navelgazing.]

...My understanding is that my fellow new arrivals and I will be invited to a "swear in" within a few days, where we are asked to declare our loyalty to the laws of this country in exchange for certain benefits. I'd like to announce my intention to decline to swear this oath-- not out of disrespect for this country and its laws, but in protest on behalf of the native citizens. If we want to address the root of the difficulties between natives and imPorts, in order to even the differences between us, it must fall to the side with more power to make the first move. With that in mind, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of accepting free housing, guaranteed employment, and a living stipend for my presence here if those same rights aren't extended to the native citizens in this country. We didn't choose to come to this universe, but neither did they, and I can't accept the idea that we are awarded privileges that they are not. It’s no surprise that our relationship is rocky if the foundation that starts it is so unequal.

I would like to make my intentions clear now so they are not misunderstood. I can only speak for myself, but this seems to be the least I can do.

With all of that said... [for a moment, he looks uncertain, like a normal teenager instead of someone who just rattled off a bunch of nonsense about political responsibility] they mentioned that no one back home notices that we're missing, and that when we return, it's as if we never left. How is that... has anyone been able to confirm that's the case? For everyone?

Thank you all for your time.

Comments

[fource]

[It's strange, but hearing that he can go to the moon if he wants to is a relief he wasn't expecting; the lunar base wasn't exactly a highlight of his life, but at least there's something up there in this universe's version of Earth besides vacuum.

But that's nothing compared to the level of travel that Kanan seems to expect.] Millennia? You're far ahead of us, then. We've only just started talking about colonizing Mars. I can't imagine what it must be like to be used to interplanetary travel. We just have colonies in Earth's orbit and the base on the moon, and I thought I had it bad.

[fource]

[He smiles sheepishly; it's his turn for his own little inside joke.]

Well, I'm not looking to break the law just for the sake of doing so. That was my idea behind explaining my reasoning here. But, [he's suddenly a little more cheerful, ready to commit to this direction of the conversation] I do appreciate hearing everyone else's! I'm assuming you're registered, then?

[kanyounot]

It doesn't bother me all that much. It bothers my fiancee a lot more - she's a pilot, flying is sort of in her blood, so she's a little... stifled, here. But other than that, it's not bad.

[wronganswer]

[ She definitely doesn't think most people care about the law. At all. But then, she's from a ludicrously high crime environment. ]

Dogs, huh? That's not too bad. Is there a reason you landed that one? It seems like they're all a little appropriate.

[fource]

That's reassuring. I didn't realize that we wouldn't remember being here, though. So it's like this is a dream that we'll forget once we wake up and go back to what we were doing the night before.

If that's the case... it's really this world that should be concerned about our presence here, isn't it? They're the ones who have to live with the consequences.

[fource]

I'm sure. Do you travel together? Are you from Earth originally?

[kanyounot]

We've been partners for ten years, living and working out of Hera's freighter.

And no, neither of us is from anyplace like Earth. We don't have any planets called "Earth" where we're from.

[fource]

Hmm, I'm not sure. I love animals, but I've never worked with them before. There are a number of things that I have more experience with than training therapy dogs. [But still, he was looking forward to working for "Hounds for Hurting Hearts."] What about you, Anderson?

[fource]

Not at all? [For some reason, this possibility didn't occur to him.] --Oh. No wonder you said your galaxy. Wow. Where are you from?

[kanyounot]

[ Kanan chuckles. ]

Lots of places. We're pretty nomadic, back home. I don't even know exactly which planet I was born on. I was raised on a planet called Coruscant, but I haven't been there since I was a kid.

[ghoulking]

Yes, of course. Or being missed at home. However, the Porter doesn't seem to influence our original world's timelines like that - because it would certainly be messy since it pulls people from all points of time.

[ he hums softly ] They have historical reasons to like us, i suppose. Of course, back then it was a whole different group of imPorts and not as destructive as we are.

[fource]

I noticed that. As far as I'm concerned, I'm hundreds of years in the past. [He's also 30 years behind his canonmate, but he's not aware of that yet.] But that's better than going missing in my present back home.

[But he frowns; in his experience, people's opinions can turn against public figures in a span of weeks. It almost feels... unfair, but he regrets that thought as soon as it occurs.] How long has this been going on? Our group hurting things.

[wronganswer]

Oh-- nothing worth talking about, [ she says dryly. ] Animals sound nice.

At least for a little while, I think I'm going to concentrate on working on my mind-healing-- the Porter gave me that ability-- signing up with RISE, and maybe seeing the countryside.

[ghoulking]

It happens. There are some who come from way before this time.

Our group of imPorts have been arriving since 2014. And even then, we were all unruly.

[d33tached]

I would hope that that much would be obvious given the circumstances, yes.

And yet you question another impossibility?

[Look, all he's saying is that, around here, it's easier to just accept that this shit may as well be happening.]

As I've said, it's been confirmed by many ImPorts before you.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah... [He rubs the back of his head.] It's been a wild ride. And a long one.

Some people blame the Porter for all the problems here. They think getting rid of it would fix things. Fortunately, the government keeps it locked down.

[fource]

I suppose the difference is that I can tell that I'm not home for myself, but can only rely on other people's experiences to guess about what's happening back home. But if everyone says the same thing, I'll trust in those experiences. There's nothing I can do about it here either way, after all.

[burger_king]

Yeah? Like what? [ Some people have tried to convince him too, but so far he's heard nothing that applies to the population as a whole. Individual reasons? Sure. ]

[vdova]

I'm new, same as you. I personally see no reason to tie my hands completely — if I need to listen to what the government says in order to do the right thing, I'll do it. For now.

voice.

[functusofficio]

It's always good to see someone speak their opinion so clearly and so calmly.

While the arrangement that has been come up with is perhaps not the most even handed one possible, though, I would ask you to consider what would happen to many imPorts who arrived without it.

Without a place to stay and some money to begin our lives here, we otherwise arrive with very little. Many imPorts are unable to make the transition into living in a completely new place where their former credentials may mean nothing without some amount of support. Particularly children, for instance, who arrive without guardians.

I can see an argument being made for the aid only being extended for so long, certainly, but for it to be removed entirely would be to place many new arrivals in very dangerous situations and prone to choosing criminal activities -- one of the reasons these safeguards have been put in place.

As well, those of the native population who fall on difficult times are able to apply for benefits along very similar lines.

[fource]

[He laughs, slightly sheepish.] In turn, I'm glad that we're able to discuss it.

It's good to hear that something similar is available to the native population. That wasn't always the case in my home universe, so I'm glad that it's available here. What you're saying about supporting new arrivals makes sense, but it still feels... difficult for me to accept the idea that we're given all of this in exchange for an oath to the government. Both for new imports asked to work along with a system they know little about, and for the government to accept accountability for the unknown imports.

[he does frown behind the voice recording, legitimately concerned.]

But I didn't think about children. How young are some of the arrivals? I didn't even realize that children could come here too.

[fource]

Like the benefit of saying that imPorts are accountable to something. [Which wasn't actually the argument, but it was the point that Quatre took from it.] People feel more comfortable if it seems as though everything is under control. That would go double for us-- if we choose not to work with the government, we seem more unpredictable. I don't follow that line of thinking, but I'm sure that other people will.

...Also someone said there were children here. It doesn't feel right to say they shouldn't get support. [but it's totally fine to say that other people shouldn't.]

[fource]

And it's AD 2018 here? [he'll have to get used to thinking in AD, at least for the time being.] Four years seems like a long time to put up with us, much less continue to praise us for it. The people who are dissatisfied make more sense to me, from what I understand.

[fource]

They're giving us an option, and we shouldn't discount that. It says something that we have a choice. [He smiles a little wider, purposefully cheery.] In any case, it feels strange to say welcome when I'm just as new, but we can figure it out together.

[fource]

Isn't the Porter what would allow us to go home? Or is the idea that breaking it would send us all back? Unless people are that comfortable living in this world...