(Video)
[The feed kicks on to the face of a young girl. She was outdoors in a open space that was "OK" in size for Nova City. It was probably a park. In her hand was something not typically seen everyday - a large broom with a bicycle seat attached to it.]

I apologize if I'm interrupting anything with this, but does anyone have any phobias? If so, how do you go about working through it?

(Action)
[Anastasia can be found in the park. A good enough out-of-the-way place that was thankfully empty at this time. If any accidents happen, she'll be okay knowing she won't be taking anyone down with her.

Holding the broom vertically, it was just a little taller than she was. She positioned it horizontally, with the bike seat facing up. There was a unique pin attached to the broom and is important to what the girl is about to do. She lets go of the broom, and it is floating just high enough off the ground that it's at knee level. She breaths in deep and sighs heavily, turns her back to it and sits down onto the bike seat, being the princess that she is and riding side-saddle.

Manipulating the magic of the pin, she makes the broom carry her just high enough that her feet left the ground, but she didn't go any higher. In fact, in a fit of panic, she hopped off and the broom collapses onto the ground. She turns and just stares at the broom with a lightly closed hand over her heart.

How can something so easy be so hard to do now? How can one accident several months ago effect her like this?]

[he is sleeping on a cream sofa in the middle of a black void. There is a single lamp, lit, casting a pale circle of light around him and not much else. Right at his head is a night stand with curved legs and a book of Edgar Allen Poe Collected works 1317-9794.

In his sleep his eye lids twitch and his head turns as if in some dream. His hand curls, arm falling off the couch to brush his knuckles against the floor, fingers out almost as if he's reaching for something and then, with a ragged gasp, his eyes fly open and he half whispers a strangled:]

Clara!

[he falls off the sofa and then hurries, half falling, to where his communicator is]


[locked to 11]

Where are you?! Where are you, you silly bow tied bastard?! Come on! Answer me!

[open video]
[Some time later and the camera focuses on him sitting on a stool with nothing but the void behind him, the lantern just out of view as he plays a hesitant song on his guitar]

A wise man said, not so very long ago, with great power comes great responsibility. It's a straightforward message when you think about it. If you have the ability to do good, you should do good. Especially if you have the capacity to do a lot of good. You should.

It means also, you shouldn't be selfish with what powers you have. You need to understand the balance and the imbalance your abilities can cause. If you have super strength, you can rob a bank to get yourself out of debt, or even to afford that vacation in Outer Bermuda, but at what cost?

You can--

[he swallows, plays a few more chords]

You can save the universe, save a life. Save a hundred. Save a billion. But the ones who are most important to you, when they leave--die... become trapped, uploaded-- [he smiles] Even if you had the ability to go back and change the one thing you did--even if you remembered how, you shouldn't. That's just common knowledge. [he taps his temple with a forefinger before he resumes playing]

Because if you do, you risk upsetting everything. Causing a chain reaction. Bringing about the end of the universe even. Time can be a prickly thing.

Only... my question is, when you start being a hero-- when do you get to stop? When do you get to say sod it and break every rule you have just to fix mistakes or give a few more days, months, years to the people you love?

When do you get to retire? When do you get to say. That lot over there needs my help, but I'd rather be sunning myself in Outer Bermuda or swim with the crystal dolphins? So sorry, maybe next week, maybe never. Can't tell, I'm booked.

When do you get to say, no more? That I am staying just as I am. Right here. Right now. No more helping. No more caring about the rules. No more fighting with the past or worrying about the present or bothering with the future.

When do you get to say, I'm tired?

[he continues to play, without speaking for a long time and then, finally:]

I wish I had an answer for that.

[and reaches off screen to shut off the light]