Incarnate

Transcription: News Net Worldwide

Original Air-Date: 2/10/2012 6pm EST


Eversole: “Welcome to News Net Worldwide, for Friday, February tenth, two-thousand twelve. I am Robyn Eversole with tonight’s worldview.

“In the wake of recent events which many have described as catastrophic, others going so far as to dub ‘apocalyptic’ in nature, the country at large is still struggling to get our collective minds around everything that’s taken place. Obviously, there are many questions circling around in the public consciousness, not the least of which concerning the nature and scope of the apparently ‘superhuman’ phenomenon, upon which no two authorities seem able to agree.

“In hopes of gaining some ground toward addressing what has so far proved to be a nearly incomprehensible subject, I am joined this evening by Doctor Lawrence Perez, director of the National Science Foundation and recently appointed to the Obama Administration as chief advisor on what has been termed “Meta-Human Affairs.” Doctor, thank you very much for joining us this evening.”

Perez: “Thank you for having me.”

Eversole: “I guess our first question should be the most basic and perhaps the most difficult question; Just what is going on here?” *laughs*

Perez: *smiling* “Yes, that is the billion dollar question, isn’t it?”

Eversole: “Absolutely! I mean we’ve had reports coming in from all over the country describing and sometimes even *displaying* via cellular video recording, people performing amazing feats and surviving seemingly unsurvivable trauma. Everything from the man seen hovering, stationary above the south-end of Niagra Falls, to the woman who walked away from being hit by a speeding truck. Our network even has exclusive footage of Louis Dyson, the Virginia accountant who seems able to cause explosions equal to several tons of dynamite simply by thinking about them. As one of millions of still, ordinary, everyday human beings living in America, how can I come to grips with phenomena like this?”

Perez: “Well Robyn, first of all I would say that your best course of action and the most important thing to remember is the same as it would be in the wake of any serious crisis facing our country, that being; to remain calm and to keep an ear to the ground for updates. This network and other major news outlets like it are great sources for anyone wishing to remain apprised of what’s happening… which should be everyone… and how you could be affected.”

Eversole: “In other words, don’t exacerbate possible problems by overreacting.”

Perez: “Exactly. Secondly, I would remind everyone within the sound of my voice that these phenomena, while certainly impressive and widespread, are very sparse. By that I mean; the scope and scale of some of these phenomena, and the departure from normality that they seem to present, can make an event seem to be happening right next door. Keep some perspective on this. I mean, here you and I are, Robyn in midtown Manhattan, and the nearest Metahuman phenomenon to take place since the Event, happened over a week ago and nearly a hundred miles away. So, keep in mind that, so far as things have gone, you are more likely to be struck by lightning, indoors on a clear day than you are to find yourself within two hundred miles of an emergent Metahuman occurrence.”

Eversole: “How many such occurrences have been reported so far.”

Perez: “Well,… in answer to how many have been reported, there have been thousands. However, if you’re asking me how many have been verified, that number is far smaller… something in the arena of two-hundred fifty.”

Eversole: “Has there been any correlation between areas of the country and the number of occurrences?”

Perez: “That’s not really information that we have in hand, as yet. Numbers are still being crunched on that type of thing. We have however, made direct contact with several individual Metahumans, who’ve come forward to various state and national institutions and have asked for help in coming to grips with their situation.”

Eversole: “Can you give us any details?”

Perez: “Not as yet. Obviously the privacy of these individuals is one of our top priorities at this point. Part of the task I’ve been given along with my appointment to the administration is to coordinate contact and assistance to-and-between the Metahumans who have come in. I do have something of an announcement to make, however.”

Eversole: “Oh?”

Perez: “My department has been working on setting up a press conference with one of our Metahuman subjects these last few days. *holds up a hand to cut off Eversole’s next question* Now, when I say that we’re working on it, what I mean is that we are preparing the subject in question before approaching any news outlets or making any specific arrangements. You must understand that this person is still very much in the process of coming to grips with what’s happened to them. It’s important that they be ready and that they feel comfortable with going before a national, and possibly worldwide audience and sharing intimate details.”

Eversole: “Intimate?”

Perez: “Of course. Why is that strange?”

Eversole: *holding up his hands in a shrug* “Well,…”

Perez:“Imagine you’ve just been diagnosed with a drastic and life-changing condition. Speaking for myself, it would take me long enough to work up the nerve to talk to family about it. Far more so, a half-billion strangers.”

Eversole: *smiling* “Yeah,… but it’s not like these people have cancer or something like that.”

Perez: “It’s also not exactly like they’ve won the lottery. There are numerous things for these folks to consider, many of which haven’t even occurred to them as yet.”

Eversole: “Such as?”

Perez: “Well, expanding on my lottery-winner analogy; we’ve all heard the horror stories of how hitting the jackpot can cost you most of your friends and even close family as they come out of the woodwork looking for “their share,” assuming that blood-relation gives them some kind of claim on your windfall. Imagine that scenario, but now… the “jackpot” is something completely outside of human experience. It’s something that no amount of money could buy for you.”

Eversole: “You’d be dealing with a lot of envy.”

Perez: “Yes! And it tends to be an envy and jealousy that goes way deeper and to a more profound level than envy over lifestyle or the acquisition of a great job or a good looking mate. It becomes a kind of base-existential envy. A jealousy not of what you have but of what you are. The envious mind can be very eager to dehumanize the object of their obsession. Just look at what the masses have done in the past, to a Britney Spears or a Miley Cyrus. Once dehumanized, a person is far easier to see as an object or a material asset to be exploited. Of the Metahumans that we’ve been in contact with thus far, one of the most prevalent problems we’ve been seeing them deal with is death-threats. But, these aren’t just death-threats from anonymous strangers. Some have had death threats come from friends and even family after just a few exchanges over what they’re 'owed.'”

Eversole: “Wow…”

Perez: "Think about that for a moment. Think about that particular conviction; that... 'I'd rather have you die than see you become something I can't be,' coming not from a stranger in some remote corner of cyberspace, but rather from a cousin or uncle,... or even from a sibling. Not common. But, it's happening. It's out there."

Eversole: "Terrible!"

Perez: “Oh, it gets worse. One Metahuman gentleman’s twin brother committed suicide when he didn’t realize any special abilities even though his brother had. That man now has a mountain of guilt to deal with, that he doesn't even deserve. So, trust me, the situation is far more delicate for an emergent Metahuman than you may realize.”

Eversole: “Sounds like it. Well, we’ll certainly be eagerly awaiting the statements of the subject you’ve been prepping.”

Perez: *nods*

Eversole: “In a broader sense, how would you rate the presidential administration’s handling of things since the Event, so far?”

Perez: “Excellent. While certainly, there has been a tragic loss of life, as well as a great deal of confusion and paranoia throughout the country. It’s been a lot to come to terms with for everyone. However, I believe that the current administration has met the task as well as anyone could possibly be expected to. Great strides have already been made toward coming to grips with what’s happened and what may come tomorrow. All things considered, especially the fact that this situation is… *completely* and in no uncertain terms… unprecedented,… I would rate our President’s and his staff’s handling of things at one-hundred-ten percent of what anyone could reasonably have expected.”

Eversole: “What can you tell us about the nature of these phenomena? Where do they come from? What does it mean?”

Perez: *sits back and sips from his water before continuing* “That’s more difficult to answer. I can tell you that we have the best minds working on those particular questions as we speak. But, I’m afraid I don’t have anything specific to offer.”

Eversole: *sucks air through his teeth, smiling sheepishly*

Perez: *smiling and shaking his head* I know! That’s the last thing anyone watching this broadcast wants to still be hearing more than a month in, but it’s all we’ve got for you, at this time. I’m sorry. We’re examining everything from cellular mutation to quantum theory to… you-name-it. So far, and to be very frank, our facts are not much more extensive than those of anyone watching this show. But, we are exploring every reputable theory we have in hand, I can assure you.”

Eversole: “What’s next for you, at this point?”

Perez: “I’m actually meeting with the president later this evening to report on the current state of my department. After that, I’m heading to Virginia to meet with a panel of military commanders to discuss their findings.”

Eversole: “Doctor Perez, it’s been a pleasure having you. Thanks for coming.”

Perez: “Thank you for having me.”


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