ten_fwd_ooc | Test Drive #7 - Ten Forward and Captain's Yacht

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test drives

Test Drive #7 - Ten Forward and Captain's Yacht

Option 01. Ten Forward: The first thing you see is a bar. A large, lively bar filled with many different faces and many different smells, sights and sounds. This is Ten Forward, the Enterprise's off-duty lounge; feel free to get acquainted with your fellow travelers and try to find somebody who's in charge: this is your new home now, after all...

Option 02. The Captain's Yacht: Oooh, you sneaky stowaway! You've found yourself in a very exclusive part of the ship: Captain Picard's personal craft, used for short jaunts when a shuttle just won't do. (One must retain some decorum, after all.) It may not be as large as the Enterprise itself, but there are sure to be some surprises aboard once people start snooping.

[OOC: The Captain's Yacht is located at the very base of the Enterprise's saucer portion, so if you put someone in there you can also play them trying to get back to somewhere they know!]

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She follows of course. "Much further ahead than you are." She answers easily. "That's a few months or so in the past for me."

She makes a face. "I've been informed if I tell you what happens it won't change anything but--" A sigh. "I'm sure you know things don't stay peaceful for long."

Ray was unsure how he got there, but the suddenness of his appearance in the strange room convinced him that this had to be another kidnapping attempt. Of course, the fact that no one seemed to pay attention to him as he appeared, and that no one restrained him, well, that went a long ways to changing his mind. But still, where the hell was he?

Ray was in his civies, prototype laptop clutched against his chest now, and was unsure how to respond. Carefully glancing around, he set his laptop down on one table, then transformed into pure living raylight, and shot outside for a moment. He passed through the wall easily. He found himself in some kind of field surrounding the ship, and could tell that outside the field, they were moving very very fast.

They were really in space! Holy crap! Ray shot back inside, then settled to the seat next to his laptop, shocked, looking normal again.

"What the hell is going on?"

"So you're not telling the future in your spare time?" She raises an eyebrow, smirking a little. She wouldn't mind hearing about her future, only if she believed it wouldn't change anything.

"Oh I'm well aware," She said with a nod. "So, have there been any wars here?"

"Dylan tends to use white when he plays Go. I've gotten used to black. Unless you have a preference? I'll have to teach you Go sometime. You might like it."

Of course, it was easier to cheat at Go than it was at chess. People tended to notice when pieces went missing. To a Nietzschean, a game was never just a game. He wondered if that was how this woman viewed it. Or if this was simply fun.

Her lips twitched into a hint of a smile. "We shall see," she said. she shifted the board so that the darker pieces faced him. Strength in darkness," she said, somewhat obscurely, running her finger along the top of her Queen. "You go first."

It would be a good point to note, for any observers that the chess set before them was not a standard chess set, for one thing, there was no king. The Blood had no concept of kings. There was the all important Queen who was the strongest piece and the most vulnerable, taking the roles of king and queen both in traditional chess. There were Warlord Princes who were the next strongest piece, but were as numerous as pawns would be elsewise.

Theiorn grimaced and stood behind the Queen, hoping he would have the self control to not strangle her. Chess was not a game to be played across the genders, as everyone knew.

He probably should say something more reassuring but he doesn't want to lie. "I've had similar things happen but there was always a spell cast before I ended up somewhere else. I know my friends will try to find us." She might not be one of his group but they wouldn't leave someone behind.

When he's sure that she isn't going to panic, he begins to look around. Nothing looks familiar even if it looks like some of the clubs Simon had dragged them to. "I don't know. It's not anyplace I've been before."

"Im not familiar with these pieces." There were all sorts of strategy games he was familiar with, different incarnations of chess and go, among others, but this. This was different.

"You may have to teach me. You teach me your version of chess, and I'll teach you Go." Rhade was one to agree that one was at a disadvantage when strategy games were played between genders, however, it was the opposition and difference that made it worth playing. To keep each at the top of their game.

His eyes flicked up to Theiorn. "Although I think your friend would prefer I go wash my hair."

She ignored the comment about what Theiorn would prefer and waved her hand over the board. "I would be happy to teach you, Prince, provided you can be reasonable while playing, and not loose your temper."

Theiorn growled. "One would not loose one's temper if females played rationally."

"The Queen is the strongest piece, of course one should use her to keep the others safe."

"If the Queen dies the game is lost! She is to be protected!" Theorin roared.

"Then it's just as well I am not playing with YOU." she smiled at their new companion. "You will be reasonable, of course?"

"I see you two have a difference in opinion. Of course, I'm always reasonable." Telemachus flashed a smile at the Warlord Prince, totally daring him. "I however would agree with your friend here." It was the exact conversation he had with Beka before he got winked here. Beka wanted to risk her life to save others. Rhade wanted to keep her safe and stop her from needless endangering herself.

His argument hadn't won him any points and Beka had to resort to ordering him. Telemachus wasn't happy. Actually, he wasn't happy right now either, remembering it all.

"If you are agreeing with him, reasonable is the one thing you are NOT being," she said, snippily.

She snickers some herself. "I don't think I'd make a very good Oracle." After all, she isn't the one with the powers for that. "It would be a neat party trick."

Belle looks a little wary at the mention of wars. "Not that I know of currently but I haven't had much time to sift through the electronic library yet. This ship is pretty peaceful except for some guy trying to choke a bunch of people a few days back. I think he ended up in the brig with a few others."

"Yeah, Beka didn't take it well either," Telemachus muttered. Ordinarily, Rhade knew how to fix this--but he was pretty sure her bodyguard over there would disapprove of any comforting or romantic gestures he made.

Although the ensuing fight would certainly be interesting. "Perhaps we should do something else. A walk in the gardens perhaps?" His eyes flicked up to Theiorn again. "Alone."

"Beka was the Queen you were serving?" Theiorn asked.

And it wasn't Theorin who he had to worry about disapproving at the moment. Temper sparked in her eyes. "Oh no, Prince, you said you wanted to play chess, and you agreed to be reasonable," she smirked. "So you are going to sit, learn chess, and be reasonable." There was a strong unspoken "or else" hanging in the air between them.

"I wouldn't exactly call her a Queen, her head's big enough as it is, but yes. Matriarch. She must be protected at all costs--not that she agrees with that statement. At all. "

Still, Rhade remained seated. His family and the other Nietzscheans that settled on the planet Tarazed were taught values similar to Rhade's great great great great grandfather, Gaheris. Contrary to the other Nietzscheans out there, who were nothing more than bullies and had forgotten the way, the meaning of what their species and growth was all about.

Telemachus raised his eyes to her, giving her a hard glare and a small growl, before nodding. "Yes, Lady."

She narrowed her eyes at him slightly at that.

Theiorn relaxed ever so slightly behind her. Perhaps he had an ally here after all. Man didn't smell like a Warlord prince, but if he agreed to serve.... *Prince?* he sent, spear to spear, to see if one with no psychic scent who otherwise seemed to be Blood could communicate mentally.

Rhade scrunched up his nose. That was an odd sensation. Almost like when they went to that other universe and Trance had, what had she called it? Held their minds together like the gravity that holds a planet in orbit.

That hadn't been a fun memory. Beka had gotten unknowingly possessed--and he thought she was just simply nuts. He didn't claim to understand females, and just figured Beka was, well, crazy.

Telemachus noticed her eyes narrow. Not his problem. Not yet anyway.

Theiorn sighed. So much for that.

She eyed his expression warily. "Queen," she said gesturing to the piece, and then proceeded to explain the rules of play, sliding him strategy tips that Theiorn over-spoke for a more male perspective.

"I'm beginning to think I should be playing with your friend over there, but I enjoy a challenge. By the way, does your friend have a name or shall I make one up for him? How about Skippy?"

But he paid attention to her, nodding as she explained the piece and perhaps poor strategy in his opinion.

"Females are more important. Risking your Queen, metaphorical or otherwise is a poor strategy that will impact generations."

"The Queen has more power to protect and defend," she snapped sharply.

"I am Theiorn, current first escort to Lady Aiylisha."

"Then why rely on others? Why not just go out and conquer with your Queen?" Telemachus asked. "I'm not saying you--or your piece-- should be kept in a Tower, but there is a time and a place to rely on others. I would assume that like myself, Theiorn here is stronger than you. If I may suggest? Use it. Everyone has their skills, their abilities, just as these pieces you are explaining to me. "

It was different in Go. Each piece was the same.

"But I'm starting to think we're not talking about chess anymore." He looked at the other man. "Escort? Where I'm from that has a different context, you might want to further explain."

Edited 2015-01-02 02:47 (UTC)

Theiorn spoke quickly to avoid letting the Queen answer.

"Chess conversations rarely remain about chess, this is why the genders rarely play together. Escorts are part of the triangle that most closely supports the Queen. A Queen rules by her court and is protected by it. The first circle is at minimum one Queen and twelve males. The three who serve the most closely to the Queen are the Steward who assists with paperwork and organization, the Master of the Guard who is in charge of her defense, and works with her to make schedules for the other males and to defend the territory. We all report to the Master of the Guard as well as to the Queen, and either a Consort or First Escort. That male escorts the Queen to functions and cares for her day to day well being. The First Escort does not serve in the bed, however, and the Consort does. All other males in the first circle are regular Escorts and the Queen should always have an escort when she is out among strangers."

She turned to glare at Theiorn.

Telemachus had no problem with your typical or non-typical monarchy. The old Commonwealth, before it fell, was led by the Vedran Empress herself, as well as the council of Triumvirs. Tarn Vedra was a monarchy, and while he grew up on Tarazed, it was still the only planet for quite some time to serve and follow Commonwealth law, Vedran Empress or not.

"My people have something similar. A Pride is led by the Matriarch, and protected by the Alpha male. The two are not necessarily linked or related in any way."

"Some territories or provenances have a Warlord Prince who isn't the only Warlord Prince, but the dominant one who holds responsibility for it, on behalf of a Queen."

That surprised Telemachus. "I'm sorry? I don't understand. I'm not sure that would be possible for Nietzschean Prides. The Matriarch is responsible for assuring the Pride's continued superiority and has the final say on prospective mates."

Telemachus remembered Jillian bringing him before their Matriarch, doing the genetic scan, weighing his worthiness, skills and successes. "Does your Queen not have a similar function? Or is your Queen more of a state figurehead? Ruling law and order?"

He understood not all societies had the same focus on reproduction and genetic superiority that Nietzscheans had.

She just stared at him. "Your leaders choose couples against their wills?" she asked, horrified. "I may come in to settle a situation if a Warlord Prince has staked a claim and has become too violent while waiting for the woman's decision, but to order two people together would be akin to r****ing them both!" She was horrified.

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Test Drive #7 - Ten Forward and Captain's Yacht

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Ray Terrill | DC Comics | Option One

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