TEST DRIVE #10 - Cetacean Pool and Ten Forward

[tenforward_m]

#1

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.

Comments

[atadiscoverer]

"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.

[mockthedyingman]

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?"

[atadiscoverer]

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?"

[mockthedyingman]

"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..."

[atadiscoverer]

"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."

[mockthedyingman]

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?"

[atadiscoverer]

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.

[mockthedyingman]

"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."

[atadiscoverer]

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."