Test Drive #7 - Ten Forward and Captain's Yacht

[ten_fwd_mods]

Option 01. Ten Forward: The first thing you see is a bar. A large, lively bar filled with many different faces and many different smells, sights and sounds. This is Ten Forward, the Enterprise's off-duty lounge; feel free to get acquainted with your fellow travelers and try to find somebody who's in charge: this is your new home now, after all...





Option 02. The Captain's Yacht: Oooh, you sneaky stowaway! You've found yourself in a very exclusive part of the ship: Captain Picard's personal craft, used for short jaunts when a shuttle just won't do. (One must retain some decorum, after all.) It may not be as large as the Enterprise itself, but there are sure to be some surprises aboard once people start snooping.


[OOC: The Captain's Yacht is located at the very base of the Enterprise's saucer portion, so if you put someone in there you can also play them trying to get back to somewhere they know!]

Comments

[overprotective_hunter]

Alec really isn't sure where he is. It doesn't look like anywhere in New York unless it's one of those mundane science fiction shops that Simon likes to go to. But even those aren't this smooth and polished looking and none of those serve drinks.

He barely registers the details before the room suddenly goes dark. Pulling his witchlight out of his pocket, he lets out a slow breath as pale, white light spills from between his fingers. Looking around, he realizes that it doesn't look like they're about to be attacked by demons but that doesn't explain why the power has gone out. "What's going on?"

[dresdensluck]

"I think we've likely been somehow summoned elsewhere, and the, ah, power overload of it, has interfered with the power here." No way was Harry admitting first off to his problem with tech. He concentrated on pulling his power in, and felt relief as what looked like emergency lights came up.

"There, you see, they got it back. Of course, the question is, how did we get here." The man questioning him seemed just as confused as Harry, so Harry would operate under the assumption the man was also a kidnapee.

[overprotective_hunter]

"Power overload? I've never seen that with a summoning unless it was for a high level demon." He really doesn't want to think of a Greater Demon lurking somewhere in the dark. The witchlight in his hand flares brighter as Alec scans the room for anything that might be slinking up on them.

Once the lights come back on, the witchlight fades, but Alec keeps it curled in his fist just in case. "I'm not sure. Nothing should have been able to get through the wards to drag me here."

[dresdensluck]

"I've got no idea what sort of power source they have here. Maybe it interacted with the summoning agent?" Talking shop with an absolute stranger was odd, but somehow refreshing.

"Maybe whatever it was didn't get through your wards, but went around them. Like, it... followed a different wavelength then the one the wards protected against?"

realizing where they must be, Harry sighed. "It may have been science, instead of magic."

[overprotective_hunter]

"Summoning agent?" He'd watched Magnus work and read a few spell books to know the basics of a summoning but those spells were for summoning demons, not people. Which was worrying enough without considering the fact that someone had somehow gotten through Magnus' wards.

"Not mine, the High Warlock's wards." Saying that aloud somehow made the thought worse. Someone stronger than Magnus. Taking a slow breath, Alec reminds himself that he has to stay calm. It could just be different wavelengths and not someone who could hurt Magnus.

"Science? Can Mundanes really drag a person from one place to another with some kind of technology?"

[dresdensluck]

"Some thaumaturges use summoning agents to give themselves a boost, and with wards like that, maybe they really needed it." Through wards was bad news, especially is this High Warlock knew what he was doing as well as having a fancy name. Which... didn't always follow, but Booker had enough to deal with right now.

"Maybe not any, ah, Mundane, but someone powerful enough? That's something I learned a long time ago. There's always someone more powerful."

[overprotective_hunter]

Thaumaturges isn't something from the Codex or in any of Magnus' books, which worries him more. They've earned too many enemies over the past few months for Alec to not be concerned. "They'd need a boost to get through Magnus' private wards."

The pause over the word Mundane causes Alec to give the being a curious look. Downworlders knew the term and since they'd been talking about magic he'd assumed warlock or fae. "Even the powerful have weaknesses. At least whoever did this hasn't hurt us." He leaves the 'yet' unspoken.

[dresdensluck]

Harry nodded, glancing around, but other than some concern for the momentary blackout, the people here seemed... blase. "Seems like this must not be the first time this happened. I wonder if this sort of thing happens often."

"Everyone has a weakness. If you can reach them, sure." Sometimes it isn't worth it to try, though.

[overprotective_hunter]

This isn't the worst situation he's found himself. No one's trying to kill him even if it's worrisome that somehow someone had dragged him here. "It might but why us? I'm not important enough to waste that much magic on."

"Not if, when or how." It might take time but if they had to, they'd find a way back. "They're not keeping me here forever."

[dresdensluck]

"I don't know. Life rarely makes sense, and this seems like one of those moments. But we should at least ask someone." He tried to wave down someone, and a man in uniform stopped. "Excuse me, but can you tell me where we are?"

"Oh, new, huh? Well, I'll call the welcomers and they'll get someone here right away." The person taps the shiny pin on their chest and it chirps. "Malone to Sickbay. We've got another new person in Ten Forward."

"This is Sickbay, can you escort him down?"

"Sure." The man turned back to harry. "I can take you down to sickbay where they can answer more questions for you."

Harry backpedaled. "Ah, can you just point the way?"

[overprotective_hunter]

It still doesn't make sense. Everyone else in the group is more important, more talented, than Alec. Yes, he has his own talents, but he can't do magic or fight like the others.

His expression turns distant as they get the details of what happened. The man in the uniform doesn't seem to notice that Alec is also a newcomer. For a few seconds he debates whether to say anything or pretend that he's supposed to be here so that he can find out more about the situation.

But he can't abandon someone, especially when he'd been helping Alec. "There's two of us and you should answer more questions before we go anywhere."

[dresdensluck]

The man looked startled, but then nodded. "What sort of questions did you have? And are you a newcomer, too?"

Harry nodded. "He is. And what brought us here? And can it be reversed, now? If not? When, and by whom?" He paused, then asked one more. "And why are we here?"

The man sighed, rubbed his face, then explained carefully about Q, and about how he had been a pain in the ass of Starfleet since he first appeared, and similarly how he recently was more so. How he had decided to make their lives 'interesting', by bringing in people from all times and places. And no, he didn't know if people could be sent back, or how. But maybe when Q showed up again, they could ask him.

The crewman, whose name was apparently Carlos, explained further that Q had not said anything about why he was doing this, other than amusement.

Harry's face grew increasingly long as he listened, and he sighed, facepalming. "So we have a person like a god making lives difficult for everyone with no known weaknesses? And who just does random things like this?" Harry really did not need this. He had no idea how this would affect his Winter Mantle, and he had no idea if Mab even existed here and now.

[overprotective_hunter]

It's probably best that Alec doesn't ask any questions since everything he hears just adds to his frustration and anger. He isn't going to be stuck here no matter what powers this Q might have. At least he manages a polite 'thank you' when Carlos finishes his explanation.

"There has to be a way back." Alec isn't sure if he's trying to reassure himself or those around him. "We can't stay here." At least he sounds calm. Years of having to be the voice of reason with his siblings makes his tone automatic even if he feels anything but reassured. "There's always a loophole." There has to be. He couldn't have literally gone through hell just to be sent here.

[dresdensluck]

Harry nodded. "And maybe we can find it, but we'll have to be smart, ask questions, and see what we can find out. And that means being very... careful." Harry shook his head. "For now, I think it's best if we go with the gentleman, and see what we can learn."

Harry wanted them out of the limelight, as well, just remembered as weirdos, and not necessarily as problem children.

[overprotective_hunter]

It's rare that someone has to be the voice of reason for Alec. Usually he's the one advising caution and that reminds him that he needs to think. "I know." Letting out a frustrated sigh, he manages an apologetic smile. "Sorry. There's someone waiting for me. Makes this hard."

Which isn't something he likes admitting when he has no idea what kind of danger they might be in but it's a believable excuse for his behavior. He can't be the only one that got kidnapped that wanted to be back with their loved ones. "Good idea." In theory but Alec's still going to be cautious.

[dresdensluck]

Harry gestured for the crewman to lead them out and as soon as he was a short distance away, his voice was quiet as he spoke to his companion.

"I know, and this is far from over. But for now, we need to learn more, and get access, and the only way we can do that is by not seeming like an immediate threat." Harry nodded to the man. "But we're not forgetting, and we're not done." Then he started after the crewman, thoughts already running in his head.