Warnings: I can't think of anything. If you see something I didn't, let me know! This story takes place during season one.
Explosions in the Sky
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
Abraham Lincoln
How much does .07% of humanity really matter, you think?
It shouldn't be a lot of people, right? Besides, you have to consider the greater good. History is full of men who sacrifice themselves for the greater good, for the majority, for humanity. And I was made to make history – or so I've been told.
But then, I'm not the one who is to be sacrificed (hypothetically speaking, that is). I'm the one meant to decide, the one meant to walk them (or you? Are you a New Yorker? Oh, I hope not) through the fire and let them burn. And I have the power to do it. I'm the one whose words and actions could doom or save New York's population. What, that scares you? Haven't you ever heard of the glory of dying for the greater good? Oh, maybe what scares you isn't the possibility, but that I'm the one who is going to have the final word about it. Can't say I blame you, really.
All of that would be very easy to do – spare the ones that can be spared, doom the ones that must die (what? You were expecting noble acts and promises of salvation? You've got the wrong brother, friend), if were it not for one little thing: my brother's part of that (in)famous .07% - in fact, he's the bomb itself (you think I'm selfish? Sure, go ahead and call me selfish if you want). I wouldn't think twice about it if Peter (that's him, my little brother) wasn't the one bound to explode. You've never met him, I expect? Well, if you had, you would know that convincing him of running away wouldn't really work. Peter's a dreamer, you see. He's worse, actually, more dangerous than that: he's a stubborn, determined-to-save-the-world-and-become-the-hero-of-the-day dreamer. Of course I tried lying (I'm a politician, after all), but as you probably can predict, it didn't work either…
So, would you do me a favor? Tonight, when you're sitting comfortably in the safety of your own house, watching your favorite soap opera, take a minute to look at the sky and watch us shine for one last time.
