ten_fwd_ooc | TEST DRIVE #10 - Cetacean Pool and Ten Forward

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test drives

TEST DRIVE #10 - Cetacean Pool and Ten Forward

Option 001. Cetacean Pool/Aquatics Lab: Of all the places in the world, you open your eyes and you find yourself in a medium-sized aquatics laboratory, filled with various living specimens along with various science officers bustling about trying to maintain order. There's much to explore here (and hopefully, in the crew's opinion, not break), but the main attraction is the large pool at the far end of the lab; enormous but tanklike in appearance, it contains several dolphins happily swimming about, seemingly without a care in the world.

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Option 002. Aboard the Enterprise, Ten Forward: You have no idea what just happened. One minute you were home, and now you're on a spaceship, in the middle of a crowded room. It looks like a bar. There are people eating and drinking, some in uniform, others not. Some are clearly aliens.

You've managed to land in Ten Forward a long bar with barstools and a bartender, tables sprinkled throughout, and the far wall is nothing but windows out to space. It looks like a nice lounge, low conversation making the room hum.

Better ask some questions and find out where you are, or just tap the closest person on the shoulder and try to make friends. The bar is open.

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"You, water person. Go be somewhere else."

In between the usual commotion, there was one irate scientist pushing through, furiously tapping away on his tablet. In fact, McKay was so engrossed in his work, that he hadn't even realized he was not on Atlantis anymore. Yet. A little detail he might not have missed had he actually bothered to visit their own aquatics labs just once. But he hadn't, so he didn't, and for now he kept jabbing his finger at the screen, trying to find the fault in their transporter system that presumedly had brought him to the other side of the city.

With an exasperated sigh he tapped his earpiece. "This is McKay. Apparently the transporter system is malfunctioning - again - and I know you think this is probably not the time to tell you 'I told you so' but then again, you thinking is what got me into this situation, so you don't have a say in the matter. And for God's sake, who authorized a SeaWorld in the oceanic labs? Because let me tell you right now, I have a list of about 457 projects that could put these resources to better use."

One of the scientists looked more than affronted and actually stopped to intervene but Rodney swatted at him like a fly he was trying to get rid of. "Hello, personal space, yes, thank you? Maybe Flipper over there appreciates your wet hands all over his breathing apparatus but I don't, so why don't you go back petting your krill or... whatever it is you do down here, actually, you know what, I don't really care?"

And with a pointed look at the guy he turned away and moved on. Still no answer and when he tapped his headpiece again his expression turned sour. "This is McKay, will you please respond and confirm I am not stuck down here with Aquaman's B-team for the rest of the day!"

"Rodney?"

There'll be a familiar-sounding Scottish accent just behind McKay as Carson is just staring at him, a bit dumb-founded. He got called down here to run a routine chemical check of the water, just to make sure the dolphins were happy with their living conditions... all perfectly routine, he was told, despite constant protests that he was a doctor, not a vet.

Still, here he was, dressed exactly like he would be on Atlantis, the one difference being the combadge pinned to his labcoat. And here Rodney was... as abrasive as ever.

This probably wasn't going to go too well.

It probably wasn't but at least Rodney stopped and turned, a bewildered frown on his face. "Carson? What are you doing dow-- Oh God, are we having a medical emergency?!" His eyes widened in sudden alarm and he poined back to the pool at the end of the lab. "Is it the dolphins? Did you create genetic killer dolphins, is that what's happening here?"

When he noticed the unfamiliar technology, however, he stopped. Funny enough, all thoughts of impending doom seemed to be momentarily forgotten when he snatched the badge, pulling it closer to inspect.

"What is that?" Slowly, all the pieces that didn't quite fit were clicking together. Rodney took another look around, at the lab, the people, Carson - and this time there was something a bit less hysterical, more genuine about the panic on his face. "What's going on?"

Nope. Not going to end well.

"Okay, Rodney... I need you to calm down. I can explain everything."

Carson is assuming his best calming tones for this, because, yeah. McKay can get quite hysterical. His hands are going up, using body language to help his intent to get McKay to calm the fuck down.

"You're not in any danger. No medical emergency." Yet. "Just... take a few deep breaths, okay?"

"I'm sure you'll be together again," she said. She couldn't lie to save her skin. But she could dance around the truth. Only dancing she'd ever been good at.

She carried him into the turbolift. "This might feel a bit odd," she said with a smile as she bounced the kid.

"Alright," she said with a nod. "Gloves first. Follow me, we'll get you gloves, and food."

She leaned back on her heels, quirked her lips and said softly, "I wasn't a thief either, until it was the only way to survive. Even then, we" ******* it! she had NOT meant to say "we" and that was visible on her face. "tried to take as little as possible. Just food. Just enough to not starve."

Barely. Some days she didn't think there ever would be enough food to keep themselves alive. And now that she was here, and there was food for the asking... she couldn't give them a mouthful.

People always told Kaylin that they didn't need to read her mind to know her thoughts, and they were right. Her face was a complete open book; the sorrow, the pain, the regret she was feeling, knowing that there was no longer any way to help them... no longer any need to help them... was visible and obvious.

"Explain? So this is your fault. Oh, what did you do? Where are we? This isn't Atlantis!" Rodney narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms in response to the calming gesture.

"Who are you? You went out to MGX-623 with Major Lorne earlier today -- well, not you, obviously, but you -- so who are you?" He squeezed his eyes shut with a pained expression, muttering to himself. "Please don't say replicator, please don't say replicator, please don't say replicator..."

"Rodney, calm down."

A bit more forceful, because, really? Well, this was Rodney.

"I didn't do anything, and it's me, Rodney." He frowns, sighing. "We're not on Atlantis, no. We're in another universe." Something that's happened before. "Look, just-" He lowers his hands, exasperatedly. "I'm not a Replicator, Rodney. Do you have a Life-Signs Detector? That'll prove it."

"Anything is possible if you believe." Greg appeared overly confident about it and completely unconcerned with the possibility that he wouldn't see his brother again. He wiggles in the woman's hold kicking his feet with a wide smile.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" Greg giggled as they moved up and he was bounced in the air. It was like flying!

Sheppard wasn't a huge fan of the fish tanks on board the ship, it looked like a giant tuna can to him and he usually strode past the door without a seconds thought. McKay's voice stops him dead, he would recognise it anywhere, especially when he was still trying to order other scientists around. You could take Rodney out his universe but you couldn't take the Rodney out of well Rodney.

"It's more like Aquaman's C-team," he said as he came up behind Rodney and made a movement to take the pad out of Rodney's hands to get his attention. "Make that his C-alternate-universe-team. You may have been a little too busy to notice but we aren't on Atlantis anymore Rodney." And John is looking at him like he's glad to see him. He's been stuck here for over six months now.

Kevin's a little too self absorbed at the moment to read anyone else's face. Plus, the no gloves thing is still bothering him.

"I found a better way." Rather than stealing, he sold his art. Sometimes. Most of the time, he goes hungry, but that's okay too. He'd rather do that than steal. He can't get past that core morality.

"Where are the gloves?" He pushes himself off the window for the first time in the conversation and takes a step away from it. He tends to slouch, and tucking his hands deeper in his pockets makes it even more pronounced. Singed ends of his bangs flop into his eyes and he just watches her, not approaching, but at least not retreating any more.

McKay squinted distrustfully, not even bothering to hide his skepticism. With a frown bordering on a glare he shoved the life signs detector into Carson's face, rapidly glancing back and forth between screen and his friend's face. When he confirmed the steady dot on the device he lowered it, clearing his throat, but looking absolutely unapologetic otherwise.

"Fine. Not a replicator," he huffed. Which was good, so even though he was still agitated he started to relax. And think. "So. Another universe, huh? What do we have?"

These days it was pure reflex, slapping John's hand before it could block his view of the screen, as if Rodney was defending a tray of freshly baked cookies. "Sheppard, I swear, if you don't unlearn to mash your greasy fingers all over my--... wait, what?"

Rodney glanced up and frowned at John before taking a closer look around. "Alternate... oh, again?" His voice pitched up with indignation and he scoffed. "You know, once, just once, can other universes please sort out their screw-ups without getting us involved? This is getting ridiculous! How did we even-- when-- will you stop with the happy face!"

It might have been six months for John but no more than six hours for McKay since he'd last seen his friend. Without context it was difficult to understand the (in his eyes) weird look he was getting. "What's wrong with you? Did they drug you?"

Rodney was a lot more accurate with his slaps than he was with a pistol. John pulled his fingers away at the last second. "There was only one time I tried to touch it after toaster and jam. One time. It wasn't like I spilled coffee all over your copy of Batman."

HIs smile widened. "Calm down Rodney, can't I be happy to see you? You are going to be happy about his particular screw up, trust me." He gestured towards the wall where the Enterprise's name was engraved he figured Rodney was going to be about as excited as he was when he arrived. "Guess where we are."

After nearly six months on board, familiar faces weren't such a rare thing anymore, simply because faces had become familiar. But, to see a familiar face from before, that was a different thing.

Too bad it wasn't the face of someone he actually liked.

"No, you are stuck on The Enterprise," he said flatly as he read through information on the PADD he had in his hand. "Most likely for a great deal more than only for the day."

The PADD was returned to a hidden pocket in the heavy, black leather coat, and finally the old Wraith looked up. "Greetings, Doctor McKay." It didn't hurt to be civil.

Edited 2015-05-01 20:18 (UTC)

Amy gives an acknowledging nod. "Makes sense. If I wanted someone to let go of me I wouldn't be really gentle." The cat's not trying to kill her, though, so Amy presses on with the bouncing, careful not to go overboard and get too rough with it. She has nieces and nephews herself. Tons.

"Yep - seven plus me," Amy says. The mixed feelings she feels about this situation seem to radiate off of her in waves. She smirks. "Have you ever turned Thanksgiving into a triathlon?"

Trever doesn't have any nieces or nephews yet, but five younger cousins (the eldest being ten) which are kinda like nieces and nephews considering the age gap. In many ways the family is quite confusing.

He also has mixed feelings about it but more in the he needs to act like his dad's side of the family in public but really would like to act like his mom's. Considering how different the two families are -one believes diplomacy means shooting someone in the knee instead of flat out killing them for example - it's a hard balance to maintain.

"No. But we do run an obstacle course every year. You get points for style and finishing."

"It's unsettling, actually, and I doubt that very much." Rodney rolled his eyes but decided to humor Sheppard. Following his gaze he looked at the engraving on the wall.

Turned back to Sheppard, because really, what was so great about...

His head whipped around once more as the name started to sink in. "What?" He stared, dumbfounded, at the wall, back at John. "That's impossible. That's not what's happening here. You just named another ship and now you want to rub it in. ... Right?"

Despite being a very complicated man living a very complicated life, Rodney McKay divided the world into two very basic, very simple concepts: Things that were acceptable - and things that were absolutely not. A mint condition first issue Batman comic? Acceptable. The Nobel Prize? Very acceptable, yes, quite, thank you. Catastrophic failure averted within the last two seconds of impending doom? Arguable, but ultimately acceptable.

A Wraith on the loose with everyone around him being okay with it? So many levels of unacceptable that Rodney skipped all the stages of shock, denial and anger straight away to acceptance. Acceptance denied.

"What are you doing here and why are you not somewhere that has bars surrounding where you are?"

The turbo lift moved, bringing them to the proper deck for the medical bay. She grinned and bounced the kid some more as she stepped out of the turbo lift.

"As I said, we have to get some. There are things called replicators, apparently they can make anything other than weapons, but so far I've only tried it for food."

She turned and headed towards her quarters, glancing back, to make sure he would follow.

(Testing two cannon points, feel free to reply to either, or both, just specify, please.)

CP 1-

"What devilry is this?" Liam asked, under his breath as he looked around the rather... odd... place he found himself. He had been just about to board his ship with news of an exciting and rather secret assignment, but stepping off the gangplank...

His brother's voice vanished, as did the comforting snap of the sail, the scent of the ocean air...

Instead he found himself in... well... he was rather unsure what to call this odd place. In of doors, certainly, but without the faintest stirring of the air, he rather thought they were likely below ground to boot. No ship's cabin, for the air smelled off and there was no gentle rocking beneath his feet, some sort of storage area, he supposed, save for two things - no scent or sight of anything being stored, and people moving about as though it were early morning in a tavern.

He had to go into one, every now and again, to fetch out a sailor who needed reminders as to punctuality and other aspects of good form. He had no ship with such dens of ill repute himself. And yet... there was none of the violent revelry he had come to expect of such a place, no one seemed to be fighting or shouting out of turn.

What the devil was going on?

CP 2 - Pain. His world had become a narrow black tunnel of pain. He should have listened to his little brother, should have trusted his remaining blood... But if he couldn't trust King and Country... what was left for him?

Not that there was much time for that to matter. He could feel the plant's poison working it's way to his heart. He had been with his brother just seconds before, dying amid warm sun and the comfort of the only person left that he could trust, the only person yet who cared if he lived, beyond needing a captain and a sucker.

Now he was... he wasn't sure. Darker. Was this death? Was this dying? At what point... would the pain end?

"I'm so sorry.... my brother...." he whispered, with what he presumed was his last breaths....

He's headed into the lounge for, well, a fake drink at least (because honestly there's not much else to do around here but drink not-alcohol) when he hears a voice. A familiar voice he'd never expected to hear again. That voice is enough to freeze him in his tracks and get him to turn his head to see where it came from.

"Liam." It's barely above a whisper itself, but then the panic sets in as he runs over to kneel beside Liam. "Liam! Can I get some help over here please?!"

He struggled to open his eyes again. Help? Who would Killian be asking for help from? The boy? Would the boy come, after Liam refused to take his word? He tried again to open his eyes, with all the pain it was harder than it should be... and took more than one attempt.

He reached for his brother, to clasp his arm one final time, but his hand didn't even close half the distance. "I'm sorry," he rasped weakly. Had he said that already? It needed saying... He should have trusted Killian.

He felt his eyes closing again, and lacked the strength to fight the descent of his lids. Half mast and descending fast.

"No no no, Liam, you don't need to apologize, you never need to apologize." It figures it would happen this way. Liam would come back to him just in time to die again.

He catches sight of a few of the crew members headed in their direction. "Liam, they're going to help. Just stay with me a little longer." A place with this kind of advanced magic must have some way of stopping dreamshade. If only they could get here a little faster...

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TEST DRIVE #10 - Cetacean Pool and Ten Forward

Dr. Rodney McKay | Stargate: Atlantis | 01

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I am ridiculously happy right now.

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hello! o/

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Why hello there!

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ohai! :D

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Option 2

Re: Option 2

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