TEST DRIVE #2 - The Holodeck/Ten Forward

[tenforward_m]

Where were you a minute ago? Well, you aren't there anymore. Instead, you're standing in a very large, dark room lined with yellow. There are doors at either end of it.

Here's where things get a little choose your own adventure-y. You could:



1: Approach a console filled with buttons, located a few feet away. Press one, and it'll let you out of the room. Travel down a long hallway and you'll be in Ten Forward, the Enterprises' entertainment lounge. Have a drink, mingle and try to figure out why you're here.

OR

2: Maybe you just muttered some vague request under your breath. Maybe you wished aloud you were somewhere else. Or for help? If you did, might be in a fire station. Muttered something about killing whoever dumped you here? Surprise - you're in a slasher movie!

Though they're confusing, these visions feel about as real as they can be. And guess what - other people can experience those fantasies with you, as if they too were really there. How ever will you escape? Or do you want to?

[OOC: Welcome to the Holodeck! If you choose this option, whatever your character chooses to say out loud will cause a virtual reality program to load and play. While your character feels as if what they're experiencing and seeing is quite real, they're purely living through the latest and best in what he Enterprise has to offer in entertainment. Make sure to detail what your character's fantasy is, so that those threading with them will know how to react.

Open til next month's test drive!]

Comments

[morphitudinous]

Billy felt just slightly embarrassed upon spotting another person in the simulation, but his curiosity won out in the end. There really weren't that many people who weren't crew members on this ship, and he didn't recognize this one.

He pushed off toward a globe nearer the stranger, floundering for a second to wrap his hands around it. The man's words confirmed his suspicions. And of all the strange situations to be forced on aboard this ship...this probably wasn't the best of introductions. He needed to set this right.

"Hey there. We're aboard a starship called the USS Enterprise---more specifically, inside a computer simulation aboard the Enterprise. I'm guessing you were recently warped here too?"

[flameandsteel]

Starship? The Enterprise? Maybe they had technology like that in Esthar, but... Squall stopped that train of thought right where it was. Bad habit, trying to impose logic on dreams, but he couldn't help it. Even now, he was trying to categorize things, make sense of his surroundings, fit it into some larger picture.

Interestingly, the stranger seemed adept at getting around. Squall watched him, took notes. Adaptability was vital to successful operation as a SeeD. "Right. I was warped here. So what's the purpose of this simulation?"

Assuming, of course, that the simulation had a purpose. Because it had to. Why would anyone bother otherwise?

[morphitudinous]

This guy didn't seem worried about the situation, unlike almost everyone else he'd met. That had to mean he was used to the unusual, right?

Billy answered with that smile again. "I wanted to practice maneuvering in zero gravity, in case anything ever happens to the artificial gravity aboard the ship. And I've also dreamed of doing this for years," he admitted bashfully.

"I can end it for a while if you'd rather get your bearings on the ground," he offered after a moment.

[flameandsteel]

Squall put a hand on his hip as he listened to Billy's explanation (even if the effect was lost somewhat, floating as he was off the ground). Dreaming about zero-G was eccentric, all right, but the reasoning seemed sound. Squall appreciated utilitarianism as a general rule.

"So the Enterprise is a military ship?" He debated taking Billy up on his offer. On one hand, he was more comfortable on solid ground. On the other, didn't this kind of scene usually end up with everyone falling over in an ungainly heap once the gravity was turned back on?

[morphitudinous]

Billy puzzled over the question for a moment, folding one arm over his chest. "I can't be certain. The crew is tight-lipped about what information they'll allow the new arrivals to know. But they do have military-like uniforms and a command structure."

He sighed. "They claim our arrival was the result of a space-time anomaly, and they'd prefer to send us home, but the same anomaly completely killed their engines."

[flameandsteel]

Hmm. Squall didn't always get along with military -- it all depended on who the client was. But he did understand them, which was at least one step above his dealings with unpredictable elements like the Owls.

"Do you know who's in charge? I might need to talk to him later." Because of course the captain of a starship would want to talk to Squall why wouldn't he.

Squall puzzled over the idea of a space-time anomaly for a moment, then decided he wasn't likely to understand the details. All he wanted to know was: "Did they say when they were going to fix it?"

[morphitudinous]

"The captain's name is Picard. He's a bald gentleman wearing a red and black uniform, he's difficult to miss. He doesn't mingle among us often, but he may be willing to speak to us soon."

Which didn't sound all that promising, but Billy would take what he could get.

"And if there is an estimated time of repair for the engine, I don't know it. They have security keeping us from getting too far with any unauthorized investigations as well."

But that didn't mean he'd stopped trying. No, he was still taking every opportunity to listen and learn about their predicament. With a sharp intake of breath, he pushed off, bouncing between the globe he'd been clinging to and another hovering some distance to the left.

[flameandsteel]

Discouraging news, but perhaps not unexpected, considering the way Squall's luck had been running lately. Security Squall could get around, so long as he had the right information and equipment. But it would be best if he could get what he needed without resorting to... well, extreme measures.

He was a professional, after all.

In any case, this Picard guy sounded like a real VIP. Probably a stickler for the chain of command.

"So in the meantime, you're doing... this?" Squall pushed off one of the globes and managed to fit in a brief somersault before moving to the next one. Partly it was to get used to his new surroundings. Partly it was because he'd always had a flashy streak when it came to this kind of thing.

[morphitudinous]

Billy smiled brightly and met the challenge, twisting and vaulting around with his year of gymnastics training. This guy really was good. "Yes, at least until I think of another simulation that might be useful."

He shook his head, waving---perhaps a little less complicated than vaulting close enough to shake hands. "My name's Billy, by the way."

[flameandsteel]

Squall didn't actually shake Billy's hand -- he didn't like doing it, it was A Thing -- but he did gave Billy a nod of acknowledgment. "Squall. I'm a SeeD from Balamb Garden."

He thought it was okay to give that much information out. People weren't always happy when they saw SeeDs, but they did generally respect them. "Who are you with?"

Or maybe a better question would have been 'where are you from?', only old habits died hard.

[morphitudinous]

"A seed from a garden?" A dubious expression crosses his face. "I don't really have the context for those terms, I"m sorry. What I'm picturing is doubtlessly inappropriate."

[flameandsteel]

"(He's never heard of Garden?)"

At least Squall had a pat answer rehearsed for this one. "We're a paramilitary force operating worldwide under contract for various clients. A lot of the time they're governmental organizations."

In other words, mercenaries! Some people might have a problem with beating things up for fun and profit, but Squall was not one of those. "...I guess some people don't like us that much, but we fill a useful niche."

[morphitudinous]

"Oh, I see. Definitely not what I expected from the name, but I know there are people with similar backgrounds here."

Billy can relate too---being from a secret team of superheroes isn't quite the same thing as an organized military, but he's no stranger to being drafted into battle. He can't mention that, though.

"I'm actually just a high school student. I run an inventing lab and workshop out of my parents' garage, though."

[flameandsteel]

Oh. Well. Squall wasn't quite sure how to relate to normal high school students -- all the ones he knew were of the distinctly abnormal variety. Still.

"So you're a mechanic? What do you specialize in? Vehicles?"

Always nice to have grease monkeys around, though if he were sticking around here for any length of time, someone who was a weapons enthusiast might be more useful.

[morphitudinous]

"Vehicles, yes, but I've also worked on communications systems. My main problem at the moment is updating my knowledge to match the technology level of this world."

Letting Billy near weapons development would be a dream come true for him...and he's done a bit in secret, but that must never get out.

"For the most part, though, we've been confined to our quarters and a bar. It's not as exciting as I hoped space travel would be," he shrugged.