driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Dr. Crusher
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Now

[The first thing Beverly becomes aware of is how cold she is. Something must be wrong with the environmental controls. She rolls over on her side and opens her eyes. Time to call Geordi-

Suddenly she sits up in alarm. This is not her bed. These are not her quarters. And this is certainly not the Enterprise. A big picture window on the other side of the room, open to the familiar view of a star field flying past, tells her that this is a starship of some sort, at least, though the design is not like any she’s ever seen before.

Reflexively, she taps the place on her chest where her combadge would normally be located. Upon discovering its disappearance, she clutches at the empty space on her uniform. Take some deep breaths. One, two. Okay, what’s the last thing you remember? They were all in Will’s quarters, playing poker, and Deanna was triumphantly revealing a royal flush, then … nothing.

Standing up, she begins to search the area for anything that might give her a clue as to what’s happened. That’s when she finds the communicator, sitting on a small table near her bunk. Tentatively, she turns it on, ignoring for the moment the disconcerting fact that she knows exactly how this device works, despite its obvious differences from Starfleet communicators.]

Hello? If anybody is listening, this is Dr. Beverly Crusher of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I am trying to get in contact with my ship. Please respond.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The video's a little odd - is that - is that a tiny person sitting crosslegged in the middle of a normal pillow, or a normal person sitting on a giant pillow? ]

Is this going to be someone else complaining all over the broadcast?

[Beverly squints at the video, trying to gauge the size of the person she's talking to. Shaking her head, she decides it's not important, not at the moment. Whatever their size, she's a little offended by their attitude. Her jaw tightens.]

I'm sorry if I'm inconveniencing you, I'd just like to know what the hell is going on here.

Edited 2015-03-06 23:49 (UTC)

You are on a reality television show against your will, with your mind and thoughts augmented, unable to return home. That is what is going on. Soon you will be assigned to a ship, and then you will have duties accordingly, though those are quite unstructured and discipline is terrible.

[She stiffens at the word "augmented." Few Terrans associate that with anything good.]

... what do you mean by "augmented?"

I don't know what it's like for you. They just added something to my cortical stack.

[ She turns her head, lifting her hair. There's a mechanical implant at the top of her spine. ]

[She immediately lifts her hair out of the way and gently probes around the back of her own neck. There it is, a small subdermal implant below her left ear, not entirely unlike the implants she and Jean-Luc received on Kesprytt, though much smaller. She doesn't know what it does, but she doesn't care. It needs to come out.]

Can we get rid of it?

One of my crewmembers tried, and he cried like a baby. [ She doesn't seem that sympathetic. People have been plugging computer chips into her brain as long as she's been alive. ] I presume it causes intense pain as a defense mechanism.

[She nods thoughtfully. Better not try that then. Not right now anyway.]

Thank you for letting me know.

[Her face softens a bit. Even if this woman is a bit off-putting, she's at least been clear about what's happened to Beverly.]

And for explaining everything.

[ Being thanked takes her aback, slightly. She's surprised.

She covers it (badly) with bluster. ]

A communications officer must always be direct. Clarity is required.

[Beverly pretends not to notice her surprise.]

Of course. You're just doing your job.

My job is captain, now.

Which also requires clarity.

[ And other things, that she's pretty sure she doesn't possess but has been determinedly faking. ]

[She's starting to like this woman after all. Reminds her of Data, if somewhat more abrasive.]

Then I suppose congratulations are in order, Captain...?

[She waits expectantly]

ELN-1470.

[ At least, that's the closest thing she has to a name. ]

Well, Captain ELN-1470, I don't want to keep you from your duties.

You're not whining like most of the others.

Try not too be too hard on them. It is rather alarming to get pulled out of one universe and into another, especially if you've never had it happen before.

Well, it never happened to me before, either, but you don't see me attempting brain surgery on myself.

Everyone has different reactions to stressful situations. I can't say the thought didn't cross my mind.

Likely the augment is fused with my cortical stack anyway.

If I ever find a way to remove these ... [the word is still uncomfortable for her] augments, I can take a look at yours as well. Even if it is fused, I have some experience in biomechanics and cybernetics.

You can't interfere with it!

[ She is shocked. ]

That's everything I know.

[Realizing that she's crossed a line, she holds up her hands in a conciliatory gesture.]

I'm sorry. I promise, I would never attempt anything like that on you without your explicit consent. I won't mention it again.

[ It just scared her, that's all. She hugs herself. ]

...all right.

[Great. Good job, Beverly. This talk of implants, on top of everything else, has frightened her more than she would care to admit. She bites her lip, debating whether or not it would help to explain that.]

I am...

[She takes a deep breath, changes course.]

If you don't want to talk to me anymore right now, I understand.

What? Why? You seem efficient and competent.

[ This is actually a high compliment. ]

And interesting.

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