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

#2. Holodeck program, "Dixon Hill" - Jean-Luc Picard

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Need some help understanding the holodeck? Your distinguished captain has joined you this evening, in dire need of a little rest and relaxation. He has dressed for the part he wishes to play, an old favorite standby for when he really needs to take his mind off things.

"Computer," he says, approaching the wall panel.

It chirps in response. "Program desired location?"

"Earth, United States, San Francisco, California." "Time period?" "1941, A.D." "File or access code?" "File Dixon Hill, private detective." Another chirp. "Enter when ready."

He enters the room, trench coat flapping behind him, fedora pulled down at a jaunty angle. He's in a suit, a fine suit, and there is an ever-rare smile on his face. The sights and sounds of 1941 fill the room, the streets of San Francisco alive and bustling. Street cars, automobiles, newspaper vendors, food carts; you name it, it's there. It all looks, sounds, and smells completely real.

Are you ready for an adventure? Perhaps you're already there.


[ooc: I couldn't resist pulling out Captain Picard's favorite program. Please, feel free to jump in, ask him questions, assume the roll of his plucky sidekick, whatever strikes your fancy!]

Re: #2. Holodeck program, "Dixon Hill" - Jean-Luc Picard

[zerocharliexray]

Finally, some clothes she recognizes.

And more than that: San Francisco looks just like she remembers, bustling cars, hawking vendors, and all. Men in suits and women in sleek dresses with wide shoulders and set curls make their way along the streets, and she could just about die happy, here with her red lipstick and carefully coiffed hair.

The Blackhawks uniform's been put aside for the moment, in favor of a blue patterned dress that fits snug at her waist and hips and cuts just at her knees. Her heels tap against the hardwood floor of the office as she walks across to the smoked glass door and raps her knuckles smartly just under the name Dixon Hill.

"Zinda Blake, reportin' for duty, Cap'n -- I mean, Mr. Hill."

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He readies himself to answer, but the computer-programmed receptionist seated at the desk beside his office door beats him to it.

"A Ms. Zinda Blake is here to see you, Dix," she says, swinging the door wide open.

"Thank you, Madeline," he says with a cordial nod. "Please, let her in."

"Right away, Dix."

He fixes the button of his suit jacket, smiling at Ms. Blake at last. "Welcome, Zinda."

[zerocharliexray]

Femme fatale isn't really Zinda's style, even with the patent-leather pumps and cherry-red mouth and platinum curls. She's grinning too wide for it to be seductive, and instead of an air of morose sensuality, she's projecting enthusiasm so complete it wouldn't be a surprise to glance back out the window and see twinkling Christmas lights and a town skating party.

"Gosh, I feel right at home," she says, going to the window and peering out so far she almost tumbles heels over head right out, before turning back to the Captain and giving a low whistle of approval. "You sure cut a fine figure in that get up, Cap'n! You sure this is all just from a book?"

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

"Oh, do be careful," he advises, reaching a hand out for her; however, he can see she has everything well in hand the moment she turns and ... whistles. Were he a younger man, he might blush. "I thank you, Ms. Blake."

He shrugs off the overcoat and hangs it on a coat tree in the corner of the room, but keeps the hat for now. "The Big Goodbye, yes. First in a series of books starring Dixon Hill, private eye. This is your first time on our holodecks, isn't it? They can be quite breathtaking in detail and scope."

She looks like she fits in, and that pleases Captain Picard. After all, he wouldn't be so rude as to exclude a, er, dame from an adventure set in her own time.

REPORTING FOR DUTY, SIR!

[tanteiotaku]

Shotaro had to learn the lay of the land of his new territory. And the best way to do that, he thought, was to just see what doors opened, and when. So he only caught a quick glimpse of the program that Picard had requested. But looking at those clothes, he knew he wanted to be a part of this.

So skidding in behind Picard came Shotaro, one hand on his hat. He looked all around him, getting his bearings. He reached out and poked an upright cart. It was solid. The hustle and bustle was so different from Fuuto, but it was exhilarating. In only a few moments, the look of confusion changed to an exhilarated grin. It was as if he had just walked right into The Long Goodbye.

He jumped out of the way of a bicycle and jogged to catch up with the Captain. "This is incredible."

EXCELLENT ^__^

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

When it looks like the youth might hurt himself from his own exuberance, Picard assumes a stern expression and prepares to chide him; however, Shotaro manages to dodge both cart and bicycle, and once the captain is fixed with that smile of his, well. It's hard to be too stern with him.

"It is, isn't it?" he smiles, making sure Shotaro has plenty of time to catch up to him. "So very lifelike, down to the last detail. I don't imagine it's anything like where you are from?"

Re: EXCELLENT ^__^

[tanteiotaku]

He shook his head, and still gawked around. He looked like a tourist, really. "No way." He was, truthfully, a bit anxious because the only times he'd dealt with changed reality like this were when there were monsters about. But if this were the Captain's design, then he thought he didn't have much to worry about.

"Not at all. This... room. Or this city. You said San Francisco?" He'd never really left his city, let alone the country before. Trips to help other Riders notwithstanding.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard's grin only grows more pleased. "That's right. San Francisco, California. It's on the Northeastern coast of the former United States of America."

Further proof to the amazing detail of the room is how it gets everything right, down to the faintly briny scent in the air. There wouldn't be many fish markets where Dixon Hill's office is, but they cannot be far. A pair of women walk past, their hair done up in Victory Rolls and pin curls, and their laughter sounds real. Everything about this place is entirely real.

"Come, where would you like to go first?" he asks, eager to begin himself.

[tanteiotaku]

The only familiar part of this was that Pacific breeze. He stops gawking long enough to finally match Picard's stride. But he was still grinning from ear to ear. He really wished Philip were here to see it. He even almost pulled out his phone to call him, but then he remembered the circumstances and decided against it.

"Anywhere someone is making this city cry," he answered. That bounce in his step was not particularly hard-boiled but quite genuine.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

He chuckles in all good-humor. "Then we shall stop at my office first. If Dixon Hill is on the case, that's the best place to begin."

He guides Shotaro across the street, taking care to avoid streetcars and bicyclists, stepping around the steaming manhole cover and passing up the newsstand where the newsdealer tries to stop him for a chat. Dixon Hill's office is on the second level of a nearby brick-and-mortar building, up a flight of creaking wooden stairs, down a tasteful hallway, and adjacent to the lobby where his secretary works.

"Mornin', Mr. Hill," she says in a thick accent. "Rex has been lookin' for ya. An' who's this strapping young man?"

"Good morning, Madeline," Picard grins, stepping aside when she starts craning her neck to see Shotaro. "Madeline, I would like you to meet a colleague of mine. This is Detective Shotaro Hidari."

"What a mouthful," she titters. "Hiya, Handsome."

[tanteiotaku]

Every inch of this was exactly like the books he'd read and the movies he'd seen. He tried to keep cool, though. He had a character to play, after all, right? Another visiting detective, probably.

He got a bit better at keeping his wits about him in this busy street, eyeing a couple of those old motorcycles as they whirred past. He let out a low whistle. "Those look like a lot of fun." Probably not as much power as the Hardboilder, but at their size they didn't need a lot.

He grinned over at Madeline. "You can just call me Lefty, if you want," he crouched low over her desk and gave her a wink and a tip of his hat with his left hand, holding his tie in place with his other. She was super pretty.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

Picard rolls his eyes. Madeline, on the other hand, shoots him a winning smile.

"Well, Dix, I like the company you're keepin' these days," she laughs, keeping her eyes on Shotaro. She sets her chin in her hand so she can look up at him through her long eyelashes. "All right, Lefty. Say, how'd you come by that name?"

"Shotaro," Picard's voice cuts in. He clears his throat. "Detective, won't you please?"

He gestures to the office door with his hat. Beyond it is Dixon Hill's desk, part of a spacious room with rustic decorations, although it's somewhat dark despite the two street-side windows.

[tanteiotaku]

He's in the process of settling in to sit on the edge of Madeline's desk when Picard reminded him of just what was going on. He gives her another quick tip of the hat. "Maybe we'll talk later over some drinks."

In the office, he looked around to take it all in. He trailed his fingers across the top of the desk and takes a step or two toward the chair before he rethinks stealing the Captain's chair.

"Nice office," he finally said, flicking his hat off and clipping it to his belt. He leaned in to get a good look at a couple of the photos on the walls.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

If he were being perfectly frank, he admires the boy for his moxie. He remembers the days of his own youth, when there was no conquest left untouched, whether that conquest be duty related or that of the fairer sex.

It is rather a good thing that he does not take the captain's chair, however.

"The holodecks are programmed to recreate everything precisely as it appeared in the source material," he says, circling around his desk. "The detail is astounding. When you are familiar with the program, you can even change chapters and access different aspects of the story as you see fit."

He smiles enthusiastically. "Would you like to see?"

[tanteiotaku]

He smiled. "Lead the way, Cap-- Mr. Hill. Let's see your stomping grounds." He was glad to see that he was taking time to enjoy himself despite everything happening on his ship right now. He felt a bit more like trusting him was a good decision.

He was going to have to find this Dixon Hill in the Enterprise's records. That wasn't a name that had come up in any of the books he'd read before.

[tea_earlgrey_hot]

The captain is always an immaculate officer on duty, taking his responsibilities seriously. That isn't to say he has no sense of humor, however. His first officer sees it, indeed his chief officers all know that he can let his proverbial hair down from time to time. Though he will not suffer jokes about the lack of hair to let free.

This is his preferred means of recreation, and so that means Detective Shotaro is treated to some of the captain's freer expressions. Excitement, delight, anticipation... mischievousness. He glances toward the ceiling and calls:

"Computer, reconfigure. Load chapter ten, Dixon Hill's office."

There is a chirp of recognition, and then immediately behind Shotaro the door flies open to admit a gangster wielding a tommy gun. It's pointed straight at Shotaro.

"You're t'rough duckin' me, Hill!"

[tanteiotaku]

Even knowing that the holodecks had safeguards so that nothing really was going to injure him, didn't really keep Shotaro from jumping into action with that gun. He didn't skip a beat. He pushed the muzzle of the gun down and to the side, and swung his left fist into the guy's face.

He jerked on the weapon to get it out of the gangster's grasp and tossed it aside out of reach. "Who do you think you are, busting in here like this? It's time for you to count up your sins!" He stuck his left hand out and gave it a flick.