TEST DRIVE #3 - Alien Bazaar/Ten Forward

[tenforward_m]

#1

Option 001. Alien planet, marketplace: So you're new to this whole space travel thing. The ship is cool and all, but there are hundreds of alien worlds out there. You want to explore. To see what the universe REALLY looks like.

Well, here's your chance! Your first stop is this lovely indoor marketplace, which looks kind of like a mall. There are stalls one after the other as far as the eye can see, and they sell all kinds of things: food, clothes, trinkets, animals, fabrics, jewelry, perfumes, books, etc etc. Some things look human, easy to recognize; other things look very alien. There are two levels, and constant chatter as people hawk their wares and discuss prices.

Do you want to explore? Poke at the weird shops? Buy a gift for a new friend? Flirt with someone at the food court? Maybe you see a pickpocket, and must run to the aid of the victim. Maybe there's some other villainy afoot. After all, a crowded marketplace is a good place for villains to lurk, causing trouble. Whether you're a hero or just an unassuming traveler, there proves to be some adventure for you on this planet.


2

Option 002. Aboard the Enterprise, Ten Forward: You have no idea what just happened. One minute you were home, and now you're on a spaceship, in the middle of a crowded room. It looks like a bar. There are people eating and drinking, some in uniform, others not. Some are clearly aliens.

You've managed to land in Ten Forward a long bar with barstools and a bartender, tables sprinkled throughout, and the far wall is nothing but windows out to space. It looks like a nice lounge, low conversation making the room hum.

Better ask some questions and find out where you are, or just tap the closest person on the shoulder and try to make friends. The bar is open.

Comments

[diplomaticalways]

"You know, you almost sound fond of him." Or, at least like he's enjoying the whole thing just a little too much. She pauses, eyeing him suspiciously as she begins to pace around the table.

"How do I know you don't have something to do with all of this?"

[in_the_wrong_q]

"Fond?" The man asks, frowning slightly. "Yes, I suppose that's a word that can be used."

He then grins once more. "Colonel Kira... how mistrusting! Let me assure you that I have no hand in bringing you here, or what happens during your stay."

[diplomaticalways]

She's not going to argue (for once) about there not being a certain look required of passengers on a starship. The mention of Q is just a little more important.

"Well, at least we have something in common. Though, the first thing Q's sense of humor brought to my mind was a shot from a phaser."

[electro_kinetic]

"I prefer the occasional satisfaction of beating something to a pulp physically," she shrugs. "Otherwise, yeah, from what I've seen a phaser sounds great. It's like a gun but without the nasty side-effect of leaving a hole in you the size of a softball."

She finds that funny. Interesting, because people are sometimes no less dead, but funny. It's the best of both worlds, taser and firearm, without the need for wires or gut-chilling lack of mercy. "So I take it you know of this Q, then."

[diplomaticalways]

She nods, not looking up from her drink just yet. This isn't her first trip through time, or even across dimensions for that matter. Still, without knowing the details, figuring out how to get back isn't going to be easy.

"There's got to be something we can do. Back on Deep Space Nine, we had some... Experiences with another dimension. They even managed to create a multi-dimensional transporter..." She trails off after that, as it's not as if she actually knows its specifications or anything.

But, there is one dim hope of finding someone who does. "You must have been here for a while, right? Have you met anyone else who's mentioned Deep Space Nine?" Of course, she'd initially tried contacting her crewmates over combadge, with no luck, but you never know.

[diplomaticalways]

"I don't think I believe you. You're even starting to sound like him."

Again, she'll level her face with his, much closer this time.

"Who are you?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"No, I'm afraid I've met no-one who say they're from Deep Space Nine." A slight frown. "I'm not even aware of a Deep Space Nine."

He sighs. "There is a subsection of Federation Law called the Temporal Prime Directive. If any Starfleet Officers are present from the future, they would be obligated to not pollute the timelines with knowledge of the future."

He motions at the uniform Kira's wearing. "At our current time period, the only uniform Bajorans wear are Starfleet, should they pass the Academy courses. Bajor is still occupied by the Cardassian Empire." He takes a sip of his tea. "If I'm to assume your emotions, and your attire, are correct, then this Deep Space Nine is from a point in the future."

He sets the mug down again, fixing his black irised eyes on Kira again.

"The only Federation officer from a ship that I haven't heard of said he was on the USS Defiant. The last ship of that name disappeared a few decades ago."

[diplomaticalways]

She won't comment on the violence.... Not that she's opposed to it, but that just sounded a little too enthusiastic.

"I've dealt with him once." She grimaces, irritated by thinking back on it. "It wasn't any less annoying then. But this... This is a new low. Even for Q."

[in_the_wrong_q]

And he's just going to smile pleasantly back at her.

"Tell me, colonel. How much do you know about Q? Besides his reputation, of course."

[electro_kinetic]

"So he is always this much of a troll," Nori says. "Because somehow I get the feeling he doesn't actually care what happens to those of us he's tossing around like especially squishy marbles."

[diplomaticalways]

"Well, your assumptions are correct. I'd offer to change out of my uniform, but I guess it's a little late for that." She smiles, despite herself, finally looking up to meet his eyes.

She'd been so distracted previously, she hadn't noticed that he wasn't simply Trill. Until the comment on her emotions, anyway. She'd become pretty good at hiding her feelings from most people, and she hadn't thought the momentary slip earlier had been too much of an indicator of how upset she actually was.

But, with knowing her emotional state is up for scrutiny, she shifts in her seat uncomfortably.

"What's his name?" She asks, trying to clear her mind. "The one from the Defiant."

[diplomaticalways]

"I know he has a strange obsession with Federation commanders, and that I'm not in the mood for his little tricks."

[empathic_pathfinder]

He feels her discomfort. It's hard not to, it's pretty strong.

"Forgive me, I'm half-Betazoid. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He smiles, hopefully reassuringly.

"As for the officer? Dr. Julian Bashir."

[in_the_wrong_q]

"Nothing about his species, his comrades?" He huffs. "That's... disappointing."

[diplomaticalways]

"You're right about that. All he cares about is how entertaining people are for him. Which means asking him nicely to send us home is probably not an option." She says with a small shrug. She's trying her hardest not to be immensely pissed off, since it's not actually going to help in this situation.

"I'm Kira, by the way."

[diplomaticalways]

"His species? There's more than one of him?" That's even worse news...

[in_the_wrong_q]

"Of course! You didn't know?" A sigh. "This is very disappointing."

[electro_kinetic]

"Fabulous, I know people like that," she says with a tiny eye-roll.

"Noriko. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but...well. I'm sure we'd both rather not be on this boat right now." Nori sure as hell would rather be somewhere else. Like Earth. Her earth, in case Tweedle Dee is inclined to pull more tricks out of his hat.

[diplomaticalways]

"No, it's not you, I'm..." She shakes her head, trying to find the words. "There's just a lot on my mind right now. But, Julian's here?"

That's good news, she supposes. And a nice change of subject.

[empathic_pathfinder]

Yes, a change of subject. That will be a good diversion.

"Yes, Dr. Bashir arrived around the same time as myself. He's very knowledgeable about Trill physiology, something I'm very grateful for."

Re: kid!Loki | Marvel Comics

[in_the_wrong_q]

"Someone really needs to have a word with Q..." Comes a voice from behind Loki. "...About bringing kinds through. It's really quite a predicament."

[funnythingsare]

People noticing, Tony is used to. He courts it, or he did, once. After all, he could have worn clothing that hid it better. But this comment, about the electrical field? That's interesting. "It's quite safe," he says. "My cell still works fine."

[forsoothforsure]

Loki turned, smiling brightly. And, so he thought himself, quite endearingly. "Isn't it, just?" he said. "Oh, that Q. Yes, let's do discuss it with him. Now would be great."

.......how did i miss that spelling mistake. It was supposed to be kids

[in_the_wrong_q]

"Of course, now may not coincide with Q's schedule." He folds his arms. "I can't just summon him."

Well. He can. But... He doesn't want to.

[electro_kinetic]

She chuckles, she can't help it.

"Yeah, I know it's safe, that I can tell." It's an interruption, but electrical output is not going to hurt her. Of few things can Noriko be entirely that sure, but her limit with lightning (artificial or otherwise) is one of them. Besides, as she holds up a forearm covered in what looks like a slim, articulated metal opera glove, it's becoming obvious that she's not exactly a bog-standard human. "I wanted to know what it is. I've never seen something like it in another person."