TEST DRIVE MEME #4 - The Arboretum/Ten Forward

[ten_fwd_mods]

Option 01: Aboard the Enterprise, The Arboretum: In exploring the Enterprise, you end up on Deck 17, section 21 alpha: the arboretum. Instantly upon entering you can tell this room is different from all the others. For one thing, you're now standing on grass. It's no illusion, no simulation; it's real grass, leading up to a small pond in the center of the room. All around you grows a variety of plant life, trees and bushes and hanging plants, flowers and herbs and even what one might consider weeds. The arboretum is, for all intents and purposes, a botanic garden, used both recreationally for passengers to relax and enjoy, and scientifically for research and study. After all, the scope of alien plant life is impressive, from the Cyprion cacti down to the Earth variety roses.

The room is well lit and large, with benches to rest on and small walking paths. Children are grouped off in one corner working on botany projects, while some passengers are seen kneeling in the dirt carefully tending to their garden patches. There are even windows along one wall, allowing for a view of space while the room itself gives the illusion of daylight. It's the perfect spot to relax, read a book, or grab a spare spade and dig in the dirt. Or perhaps you've been looking for the right moment to say hello to the passenger standing off by the venus flytraps.





Option 02: Aboard the Enterprise, Ten Forward: Or maybe not. You've just arrived, and you have no idea what just happened. One minute you were somewhere else, and now you're in what looks like a spacious, well-appointed bar. The hum of the crowd is inviting, and the drinks look invigorating. There are people eating and drinking, some in uniform, others not. Some are clearly aliens.

Try to find out why you're here, or catch a drink at the bar; there's always something happening here.

Comments

[kepthimhuman]

"Subject of whose interest?" He really has a problem with people who play around with the lives of others.

"We're in space. How could it be worse?"

[goldencobra]

"A guy called Q. He's apparently responsible for everyone turning up who shouldn't be. I was on my way to Boston before I came here."

The man looked human. He'd probably heard of Boston. He was glad he didn't need to say Storybrooke. No one knows about there.

"We're on a spaceship. It would be worse if we were in actual space."

[kepthimhuman]

"Boston? Aren't you a little young to be traveling by yourself?" Focus on one thing at a time, that's how he's going to get through this.

[goldencobra]

"I'm ten." He's totally old enough to travel on his own. You're not his dad! Especially if his dad says so.

"Besides, it was an emergency. Sort of." Not really but adults like that sort of thing.

[kepthimhuman]

"I think most places say you have to be eleven." Henry's not the only one with some sass.

"An emergency, sort of. Well that makes it better."

[goldencobra]

"Depends on what state you're in. I come from Maine and there it's ten." He's keeping up the act well. It's fun.

"Thought you might say that."

[kepthimhuman]

"I don't think it's a state-by-state policy." Maybe he should ask his grandfather about that.

"Why's that?"

[goldencobra]

"I'm just telling you what my dad told me." He shrugged.

"Because that's what adults do." Another shrug.

[kepthimhuman]

"Maybe your dad was wrong." His father was wrong more than once.

"Every adult ever?"

[goldencobra]

Henry snorted. "That'll be a first."

"Every adult I've met."

[kepthimhuman]

"He's never wrong? Everybody's wrong sometimes."

[goldencobra]

"Depends on what you're wrong about, I guess. Little things like if he can remember what's in the freezer doesn't matter. And the big things he's always been open and honest with me about."

Henry shrugs a third time. "Maybe he's wrong and I don't realise it?"

[kepthimhuman]

"Sounds like you have a good one then."

[goldencobra]

"It does sound like it, doesn't it?" And yet he doesn't seem to happy. "He was good until I found out he wasn't. It's kinda complicated." And not something he'd discuss with a stranger. But he carried on anyway.

"Don't suppose your dad did bad things before you were born but he was still a great dad but then you found out about those bad things and you weren't sure if he was still the great dad you thought he was?"

[kepthimhuman]

"I wouldn't know about before I was born." It's not like his father ever admitted to him that he'd broken his own ankle on purpose, and that's not really a bad thing anyway. Just a cowardly one.

"He just did them after I was born."