savetheearth | action --> video;

[ACTIONSPAM -- for Hospital]
[He all but jerks up out of sleep, unconsciousness, whatever it was, with a sharp gasp, and the only thing keeping him from sitting straight upright is the sudden stabbing pain in one shoulder, and the back of his head. There's a split second in which he's sure all those injuries are real and not some dream --]

[-- then there's the white wall of the hospital room. Breath. Pain. None of those would happen if he were dead, would they?]

[He settles slowly back down, eyes a little glazed and startled, fumbling around for a phone that isn't there. He has to call -- ]

[VIDEO START]
[And sometime after the initial shock wears off, and his phone is retrieved, a very disheveled looking man lying in a hospital bed, bandaged and pale, is holding the device up in one hand, like he's trying to see himself and record at the same time.]

[This is a terrible time for selfies, sir.]

I suppose that asking if anyone can hear me is a foolish question. However... I'll ask it anyway.

[He smirks a little.]

I'm so very intrigued to find out who it is I'll be speaking to in such covert means. A secret network? You have my attention.

Takenaka Yuji -- [He inclines his head, as best he can.] -- At your service.

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That strange things are happening, and there is a vast amount of public unrest.

[He pauses, with a short laugh.]

So very mysterious, isn't it? Like a scary mystery novel, but we're the cast.

Unfortunately, my partner wanted to be equally mysterious. I'll accept anything you're willing to give.

[Not entirely true, but. He wants to see how well stories match up, here.]

[Quite a way to put it, indeed - in a kind of politeness he lets out a short, faint laughing sound, with a tiny and anxious smile on his end - before he takes that answer and finds his thoughts still unable to find a handhold.]

...Did -- they tell you -- what... -- types of strange things - are happening?

[A pesky way to start and unconvincing as helpful, most likely, but he'll try to recover with some spot to start...]

[The phrasing is... strange. But that's all the more reason to be classy, and charming. Right?]

[Right.]

Mm, a bit. He was insistent that I be cautious, as well.

Are you all right?

[Pang of self-consciousness - which he tries to shake off, pick up higher and hastier than he started - ]

-- Yes, sir - ! I, uhm -- apologize -- I was only - [...Trying to find some way to start, but that might be apparent enough - and for a flicker he half-considers returning the question and reins it back - the man sounds fine, enough at least that any questioning ought to be able to wait until he's attempted to make himself a help.

Swoops and settles on a go-to.] -- Did he -- tell you about the pulses? ...Or the - "Echoes". They -- have - the same meaning... -- You should - have... felt one when you learned the number.

Ah, come now... there's no reason to apologize. I'm merely concerned, not at all annoyed.

[Which is true, even if he wasn't doing his best to be as polite as possible. And coherent as possible.]

Something to that effect, yes. They occur, and more are likely to come, if I understand correctly?

They will -- that's - correct. -- They often take the forms of - or they -- cause us to -- experience - visions, learn - knowledge or - skills that we couldn't've normally -- find objects -- or - mutate. -- The visions are the most - common -- I think. [He's had some practice giving this rundown, isn't bumbling it as badly as he may have another topic...]

They er -- are - according to a pattern - for each of us. -- Like they all come from a - specific source -- uhm - there are people - who are -- theorizing -- ...that they're - visions from past lives or - alternate - worlds, but - nobody -- knows - anything, yet -- except that they happen.

Mutate. Well. Isn't that morbid.

[He tries to keep his tone blithe, though. Like that's totally not concerning at all.]

I can't say that I appreciate the sudden mental images of horrible injury, but, well. What can one do?

[He falls silent then. A past life? He'd never really believed in such a thing, but...]

[... that could explain the whole feeling of dying, though.]

If they come from a source, shouldn't it be traceable, somehow?

[Actually a very fair question - and one he hadn't anticipated to be asked to and is at an upended loss to answer. The man's tone meanwhile makes it easy enough not to hang too long on trying...]

...I, uhm -- I wouldn't know - sir -- ...I don't think that anyone's -- tried... -- We - don't know how they "work" yet let - alone what they really come from... - I can't think of how they - would be traced...

Ah, yes. That would be a problem. One must understand the nature of a signal, before one can track it.

It would be interesting to find out, however.

Of - course it would... [Stated as a perhaps slightly obsequious affirmative and with a small bobbed nod on his end.]

... -- My name is Anthony - by the way... I'm - sorry I didn't - introduce myself back - sooner - sir. It's erm -- ...nice to meet you. [Always seems an odd phrase to use in introductions over this, but still feels like a natural and polite enough one.]

Then, clearly, we must discover the signal's nature, before proceeding, hm?

A pleasure to speak with you, as well. You've been helpful.

[And from the tone of his voice, it sounds as if he's thanking Anthony for handing him a detailed encyclopedia on the happenings here.]

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