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

[empathic_pathfinder]

And Terzen looks up, giving Picard a half-smile.

"No, sir. Every attempt to raise the Pathfinder, or anyone she's been in contact with, has failed." He shakes his head. "If it was just her, I'd say they let their comms systems get broken down without me there, but..."

Starbase 742, Deep Space 2, Pantax 3... Terzen calls up the list, frowning.

"It seems every area the Pathfinder visited in the past week is uncontactable. At least from the Enterprise."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He nods stiffly, poring over the console as the other man speaks.

"It is entirely possible, Lieutenant Commander, that where we are in relation to the Starfleet bases you have come in contact with is not of the same dimension," he says, weighing the options carefully. "Ever since Q has boarded our vessel, we have had difficulty reconciling time and space with our new passengers."

Some, though familiar, come from entirely different points than any Picard would know them from. "Tell me again the condition you last left the Pathfinder in?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"Mostly as new, sir. The Subspace communications array needed retuning every week or so, we were scheduled to have an overhaul done at McKinley Station after we finished our cargo run to Outpost 6 on the Neutral Zone border."

Terzen reaches forward and inputs a few commands on the console. A detailed schematic of the USS Pathfinder is displayed.

"The computer recognises her, sir. It recognises me, my service record, the amount of times the Pathfinder has been overhauled... We've even got a subspace location off of her transponder." He sighs, rubbing his left temple. "If I am from a different dimension, Q's went through a lot of trouble to make it seem like I'm from this dimension."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"I wouldn't put it past him," Picard says lightly, though the sentiment is deadly serious. "However, you are right. It is a lot of trouble for something that will gain him little to nothing that I can see. Amusement? Who knows."

Picard straightens, sighing at the display one last time. "We shall continue our efforts to contact her. With luck, it will turn out to be nothing more than a minor malfunction."

[empathic_pathfinder]

"Thank you, sir." And then he smiles. "If not, I may have to request transfer to the Enterprise."

And that would be a complete shame.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He laughs quietly.

"There are worse places to be, Lieutenant Commander," he says. "Though we have very little experience with the Trill. Your arrival here has already taught us much we previously did not know."

[empathic_pathfinder]

"I don't need any special treatment, if that's what you're worried about, captain." Terzen says, with the slightest hint of a smile that meant that he's half-joking. "Standard humanoid practices will suffice, though I must request that if something should happen to the symbiote, you contact the Trill homeworld."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard holds up a hand. "No, no. Not at all. I would simply like to know more about the relationship shared between the symbiote and its host."

He would rather they did not dance around formalities, or over-concern themselves with the politics involved. Unless requested, special treatment can, at times, feel patronizing. "Would you care to join me in my ready room?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

Terzen is standing up, switching the console back to standby and tucking the chair back into it's place.

"It would be my pleasure, captain."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard leads the way, gesturing to either of the free seats facing his desk. His first order of business is retrieving a tea—Earl Grey, hot— from the replicator, and asking Terzen if he can offer him anything.

"This is the first time we've entertained one of the Trill on the Enterprise," he then says. "We are fortunate enough to have a Betazoid as this ship's counselor—perhaps you've met Counselor Troi?—but until this moment, knowledge of the symbiotic relationship the Trill share with their hosts was completely unknown to us."

[empathic_pathfinder]

Terzen declined politely, taking his seat opposite Picard's desk. He settles, mostly at ease, but still attentive. A learned skill in most Starfleet officers.

"I've heard of Counsellor Troi. Good things, I assure you." A pleasant smile. "The Trill are a lot like the Betazoids, captain. They're not a secretive race, they simply don't see the... need to reveal something that's completely normal."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"Hm," he nods, smiling politely. "Yes, I can understand that. And I do not mean to interrogate you, I assure you. I would simply like to know more about this relationship."

He has a sip of tea before setting the cup and saucer down on his desk. "Or perhaps you would be more at ease telling me more about yourself only?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"Curiosity is at the forefront of what Starfleet exists for, captain. Don't worry, I would never think you were interrogating."

Terzen shifts in his seat to get a bit more comfortable before continuing. "Answering questions about myself means answering questions about T'Karr. The second we were joined, we became one entity. There's no... differetiation between us. Our bodies and minds were linked the second we were joined... It was something the Symbiosis Commission was concerned about, I'll admit."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"Fascinating," he says, his awe completely genuine. "Why was the Symbiosis Commission concerned? Is this not normal?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"The issue was with my heritage. They were concerned that my Betazoid half would interfere with the telepathic and empathic connections between host and symbiote."

He pauses, frowning.

"There were no physical reasons, but they were concerned about mental and psychological problems. A union like this had never been attempted, and they were concerned it may cause rejection, or damage to myself or the symbiote."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He nods. "Yes, I see. With your heightened empathic abilities, forming such an integral bond with another individual, carrying their own memories and experiences, must have been quite a shock. But you were able to do so without complications?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"They were worried that the strength of the bond would be too much and damage the brains of the symbiote or myself... or that the two would be incompatible and essentially nullify each other."

A slight smile.

"The T'Karr symbiote volunteered. It thought the prospect would be an experience, and it was willing to forgo the risk. Eventually, the Commission was persuaded to allow me to continue, and, no. No ill effects."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"An experience indeed, I should think," he says, smiling softly. "You must be quite the asset for the Pathfinder. Does the T'Karr symbiote find the life of a Starfleet officer to be challenging?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

And a wide smile, there. "An assessment like that coming from Captain Picard? Sir, you honour me." He does seem genuinely happy. Jean-Luc Picard was one of the most well-known officers in the fleet, after all.

"T'Karr gets as much out of the experience as I do. Any new experience is good for the symbiote, they relish variety. He finds my interest in Xenolinguistics quite challenging."

Being a comms officer, of course, means Terzen took a major in Xenolinguistics at the Academy. One might never know when the Universal Translator might fail.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He raises a hand to gently wave off the compliment. "I merely speak the truth for what I see, Lieutenant Commander."

He's made no secret of the matter that he finds Terzen's unique circumstances fascinating. He would be delighted for the opportunity to see how he handles his duties, as well.

"Mmm, I would imagine so," he continues. "For one seeking experience, there are few greater studies they could pursue. Language is ever evolving, and new ones are discovered every day. May I ask how many hosts T'Karr has had previously?"

[empathic_pathfinder]

"It keeps me busy, sir. One never knows when the Universal Translator can't pick up certain nuances of linguistics, or if it fails entirely..." He smiles. "Keeping on top of it is a full time job."

There's a moment's pause as Terzen remembers the previous hosts, their names, personalities, experiences... all bubbling up at a mere thought.

"Three. The first one was a Warp Field specialist, the second, a shuttle captain, and the third was a famous composer for Trill piano." A slight smile. "My mother was thrilled when she found out I was joined to Herath T'Karr."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"Really? How very interesting," he remarks, both eyebrows arched. "Then there have been other Starfleet officers previously?"

He realizes this is not necessarily the case, but if so it marks an interesting trend. For a lifeform that craves experience, joining with Starfleet officers certainly would provide.