001 -- video; night.
[ At first, there is nothing but static, flaring louder and louder, and the picture onscreen dissolving into fuzzy gray and black lines. It rises and rises, hitting almost ear-piercing pitches, until, abruptly, it stops, and the picture resolves itself into a man. There is a faint rustle that may or may not be wings. He peers at the device, head slightly tilted, eyes narrowed, then smoothes a hand over his tie. ]
Hello.
[ There is a long, baffled pause at the absence of his voice. For a moment, it seems as if he would simply cut the feed there. But then he obviously thinks better of it, and squints at the device for a moment. ]
Where am I, and why am I unable to speak?
Hello.
[ There is a long, baffled pause at the absence of his voice. For a moment, it seems as if he would simply cut the feed there. But then he obviously thinks better of it, and squints at the device for a moment. ]
Where am I, and why am I unable to speak?