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?"

"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."

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?"

Carson sits through this patiently, although he does roll his eyes as Rodney confirms he is who he says he is... Not that he blames him for being distrustful, but... well, It's Rodney.

Parting his labcoat, he sticks his hands in his pocket. "The Federation Starship USS Enterprise."

And he's going to wait for that to sink in.

"The--" Rodney's eyes widened. "Really?"

Then, just as quickly, his face fell and turned deadpan, eyes heavy-lidded with annoyance. "Carson, I am having a very bad day. I certainly don't need your particular brand of humour to remind me of it."

And he's met with Carson's own deadpan look.

"I can prove it." He shifts, folding his arms. "Computer, state vessel name and designation."

An acknowledging beep, followed by a, no-doubt, familiar-sounding voice. "USS Enterprise, United Federation of Planets. Galaxy-class. Registry: NCC-1701-D."

Edited 2015-05-04 21:46 (UTC)

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.

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."

"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?"

"Eh," John shrugged and gave him one of his lazy smiles. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that." There is no point in panicking Rodney just yet with the length of time he's been trapped here.

"It's improbable, not impossible," he said. "Do you really think I've had the time to find a new ship, name it and do it up fancy?" He barely has enough time to eat a turkey sandwich some days ."You know what this means though, if the Enterprise is real, then Batman is real."

"That is a juvenile and speculative chain of cause and effect without any correlation." And beat. "A very awesome chain, maybe, but that's very much beside the point right now."

Rodney shook his head, then froze, a new horrified expression washing over his face. "You're not the Captain, are you?"

[ooc: Just to say all of the canon mates love Rodney and we'd love to have you here.]

"Science isn't everything Rodney." He's prepared for the backlash for his blasphemous words. As he sees it the two most important things in Rodney's life are science and food.

The smirk grows, and becomes full blown and it's so very tempting to lead Rodney into believe he is the captain. "Yes, Rodney the Starfleet Federation allowed me to take over their flagship." Deadpan.

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)

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?"

"I am not here of my own free will, I assure you. And I am not behind bars as the captain of this ship has not seen a reason to put me behind them." And that was even after Sheppard had informed Picard of the Wraith's nature. But then Todd did go to great lengths of proving himself not to be a danger to the crew and passengers, for perfectly practical reasons.

Though he was fairly sure he's still under surveillance.

He gave a snort. "Really, the people of Atlantis could learn a thing or two about hospitality from this captain and his crew."

Rodney's lips curled in renewed contempt and he crossed his arms firmly in front of his body. "Yes, well, or maybe the captain of this ship could learn a thing or two about not being an idiot. Which he obviously is."

That was it, really. No more lab work without a gun ever again, in case the universe randomly decided to do this to him. Whatever 'this' entailed. "Why am I here?"

The Wraith chuckled, a low and rasping sound. "Personally I find him quite agreeable." Obviously.

In response to McKay's question, Todd just shrugged. An oddly human gesture. If it was something learned, or more natural to him wasn't clear. "Random chance. Or more likely as a part of some big, cosmic joke. Like the rest of us."

Jonas still hasn't encountered many of the types of animals that exist on Earth, and he'd have to admit that on board the Enterprise was not necessarily the place he would have thought he'd have that rectified. But he'd asked if he could learn some more about the navigation systems of this ship, in the hope he could perhaps learn perspectives that would assist him in his own work with Major Carter back on Earth.

He'd expected the dolphins, because he'd been warned. He hadn't expected to see a face he recognized. Or to hear a voice he knows. They'd only worked together the once, but Jonas has an excellent memory for people. And Doctor McKay is ... memorable.

"Doctor McKay?" Jonas says, taking a couple of steps towards the scientist. "I don't think you're going to get a response."

Edited 2015-05-08 14:26 (UTC)

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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.

hello! o/

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sorry I was away on my summer holidays

Why hello there!

ohai! :D

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You know, I could have sworn I tagged you >.<