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

[decideformyself]

So he doesn't believe him? Well, that's a fair reaction. He'll just have to prove it to him. "It's Philip. And yours?"

[likeavirtue]

"Detective John Kennex."

He might as well throw in the 'detective' here. Sometimes that gets the pranksters to back off a little, or at least reveal a cue that John can sink his proverbial teeth into.

"All right, Philip" - is that his real name? a hacker name? Either way, John is filing it away for the reports - "we can do this the easy way or the fun way. Your call. Are you working for these people?"

'These people' obviously meaning the ones testing out this tech on him.

"You don't seem like the ringleader type."

[decideformyself]

Philip simply shakes his head at the question, but he looks downright amused at the rest of what Kennex says.

"I was brought here against my will the same as you, John Kennex. Me, a ringleader? What an amusing thought."

[likeavirtue]

"Yeah. Freakin' hilarious."

Kennex rubs his face.

"You seem a little too calm for someone being held captive." And a little too amused. Prisoners aren't generally amused to be imprisoned. Unless they're a little ... damaged.

And for all he knows, that could be the case.

He finds he has to shift a little. Staying rooted to the spot is only grating on the connection between his real leg and his synthetic leg. Granted he's been using the newer model Dorian gifted him, but it's still no replacement for an actual leg. And he's been on his feet for pretty much the entire day.

Which is why his mood is sour and his patience is thinner than usual, and thinning with every passing minute.

"Let's try this again. Where's the tech and who's in charge here?"

[decideformyself]

"I have been here for many weeks now." Philip spreads his hands in a gesture of honesty. "The 'tech'--" and what a strange way to put it, "--is all around us. If you are interested in anything in particular, I have been researching the replicators and holodecks for quite some time. The man in charge, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, is not responsible for your abduction."

[likeavirtue]

Maybe he should have rephrased his question a little clearer.

He can see that the tech is all around them, producing all of these images, holograms no doubt, of furniture and space as the boy put it.

And as for the boy ... well, Kennex thinks maybe he can trust him well enough to move from his spot and not back him into a wall and cuff him while he investigates the rest of this place on his own. He's not about to let his guard down by any means, one hand always in close proximation to his gun.

He takes a step forward. And then another.

"All right, Philip. You're gonna show me around if you're okay with that."

[decideformyself]

He just shoots Kennex an "Are you kidding me" look, at that. "It's considered more polite to ask."

[likeavirtue]

"Hey. Don't get smart with me, kid," Kennex warns him. "I could have you arrested for obstruction, whether you are or aren't involved with whoever brought me here and is running this VR landscape."

It's about now that Dorian would say something, if he were here. Try to smooth over the situation, as it were.

In a way, Kennex is glad for his partner's absence. Being forced to contain his anger, deal with it in other nicer, kinder ways is frankly annoying.

Of course, having back-up also means this situation could be dealt with quicker than it's going to be now.

[decideformyself]

Philip picks his beverage back up off the counter and takes another sip. "I'm in the middle of sampling the variety of Betazoid drinks available at this bar," he replies. "If you want a tour, it will have to wait."

[likeavirtue]

Just like that, this situation went from barely bearable at best to Hell.

Kids these days. Really.

If Philip were ... well, not a kid, he'd have been arrested already. Hell, if this wasn't such a sensitive issue - what with being transported from right outside his street to here - he might still arrest him, just to teach him a little bit of discipline.

As it is, Kennex has run completely dry of patience to deal with a mouthy kid, and shrugs.

"Yeah, you enjoy those drinks of yours then. Don't go anywhere."

John is just going to investigate this place on his own and find a flaw in this otherwise perfect image of a spaceship from the 80's.