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(no subject)

Who: James T. Kirk
Broadcast: Network - open to all
Action: all around the SS Red Fish + SS Heron
When: Right now, and throughout the following week

NETWORK BROADCAST ▹ VIDEO;

[ Jim's staring seriously at the camera as the broadcast begins, concern visible on his features. He might be easily recognizable to most everyone on the Fleet, but as soon as he starts talking, it will become obvious that he is not the same man, or at least not having the very same memories. Not of this place, that's for sure. ]

My name is James T. Kirk. I'm... not entirely sure how I got here, but for what it's worth, I'm one of the new arrivals.

[ He presses his lips, glancing around. ] This isn't the first time I've been brought to a universe other than my own, but I was wondering if anyone else here has had a similar experience. Coming here from a place that's not your reality of origin.

[ A pause, ] Specifically, has anyone here heard of Riverview, or the Quarantine?

[ He can't help a hopeful look. A familiar face, any familiar face, will be welcome. He's looking for a specific one, admittedly, but he's not holding his breath on that one. ]

Thank you in advance.

ACTION ▹ SS RED FISH

[ Once he makes that broadcast, he'll be exploring his new location, so he knows what he's dealing with. He can be found roaming the ship, poking his head into all the nooks and corners, and possibly trying to sneak his way into off-limits locations, if there are any. Stop him getting into trouble, or help him? Or just come say hi to a not-quite-new face. ]

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[What's more jarring--to Pavel, anyway--is remembering that he was seventeen when he first set foot in the City. Now he's somewhere between twenty-six and twenty-eight.

Pavel relaxes visibly with Jim's response. Part of him even wants to talk about some of it even though he, as a rule, doesn't like to share unpleasant things and has made it this far without telling the other Kirk much of anything. Maybe someday.]

I can tell you that I had a fiance. [Silly stories, however, are extremely shareable.] Twice, actually, but only for one day each time.

[ It would be jarring to Jim too, were he to really do the math and realize that. As Chekov doesn't state it, though, he doesn't focus on that.

But he does focus on the bit of information he offers up. His immediate reaction is to pull his hand and hide his ring, but he fights the urge, instead just curling his fingers in. ]

I'm so sorry. [ He actually debates on whether to ask anything about it, but his curiosity wins out, as always. ] Was it... the same person, both times?

[Nono, that wasn't the reaction Pavel had been going for! If he'd wanted to go the serious route, he would have mentioned the time he was married to Kitty for seventeen years. (Long story.) (Not a long story, more like a complicated one.)]

No, don't be, it was fine--just curses where we were given false memories! [Actually, that... isn't that fine by normal standards, but...] And no, it was different people. The first time was a little embarrassing after because Lena and I had never met prior to the curse, but the second was a good thing. Lucy and I liked being engaged for a day so much that we started dating.

Oh.

[ Jim frowns a little, then his expression eases, and he nods. Is that better? Maybe? Still sounds messed up as hell, but also... it reminds him of something else. Someone else, more specifically. ]

Oh! Oh, you really should talk to Victor about that, then. He was also trapped in a curse, given false memories, a false name, the works. He was trapped in that curse for about thirty years without even realizing, though he did eventually regain his memories. That... whatever happened to you, it must be similar to what he went through. Who knows, you two might find common links between your experiences.

Was this in Riverview, or was this in his home universe? [His curiosity is piqued.] Memory-altering, time-altering events were common in the City and not unheard of in Marina, but I have met very few people who experienced such things prior to being abducted by... whoever or whatever the beings operating these prison universes are.

His home universe. We had a lot of weird stuff back in Riverview, but never something quite like that.

[ Jim shifts in his seat, as though he's making himself comfortable for a long story. Or a complicated one, at least. ]

Victor lived in a place called Storybrooke for about three decades. His name there was Doctor Whale and he worked at a hospital. Everyone in that town was actually trapped in a magical curse, and were all given false names and memories. And they were all... characters. From fairy tales, children's stories, the like. You had Snow White and the dwarves, and there was an Evil Queen, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood... They all came from another world, called the Enchanted Forest.

Not... Victor, though. He came from the Land Without Color. And yes, it was literally what it says on the tin. [ He tilts his head a little. ] I take it his name doesn't ring any bells. The story of Doctor Frankenstein and his monster?

[Pavel listens closely and does not doubt a single word. A curse that spanned three decades and made everyone affected think that they were fairy tale characters? Sounds legit.

He shakes his head.] No, I'm not familiar with that story.

[ Jim nods. It doesn't surprise him that Chekov's never heard of it. ]

It's an old story, where we're from. A novel. I'd see if I could find it for you, but Victor's story is a little different.

[ Still a lot to digest, though. Victor's done a lot of morally dubious things in his past, it tends to make people feel uneasy. ]

Not a Russian novel, obviously. [Of course he would have at least heard of it if it was.

Since Pavel doesn't know about the story, his only uneasiness comes from a general understanding that 'different' seldom means 'better.'] Is there anything about this story of Victor's that is important for me to know?

No. British literature, though very famous. It was considered an early work of science fiction, and it was written by a woman. Which was pretty unique and impressive at the time, considering we're talking about the early 19th century.

[ Jim knows he can't possibly explain all the nuances of the story. Maybe finding a copy will be the easiest way, until then he struggles a little on how much or how little he should tell Chekov. ]

The novel tells the story of a doctor, who was obsessed with the idea of mastering the power of life and death. Through very unorthodox means, he built a grotesque creature and brought it to life. There's more to it than just that, though. I could talk about it all day and not do it justice.

A very old story.

[Not that the age of literature matters. Everyone in Starfleet is familiar with the works of Shakespeare, after all.]

I will endeavor to find this story and read it. Is that true for your Victor? Did he bring a creature to life? [He's curious, not wary. If Victor did build some kind of monster, Pavel's going to have a couple of questions to ask the man.]

Yes, quite. Very good, too.

[ Victor's story is a little different, though. Not in every ways, but in ways that really matter. To him, anyway. ]

Not... exactly. [ He tilts his head. He won't tell Chekov all the details, mostly because they're Victor's to share. ] He brought someone back to life. With some moderate success. But that was a long time ago.

Moderate success...

[His tone implies that he is extremely curious and would like to prod, but realizes that this, perhaps, is not the time or place.]

Sorry, I shouldn't be so nosy when you have just arrived in a new universe.

Don't be. I don't mind. [ Jim smiles reassuringly instead. ]

You can ask any question you want, but... well, maybe Victor will more capable of answering them for you. Only he knows just how much he's willing to share with you about his story.

[He is reassured!]

Okay, I do have a question for you. [One that's very important, but also potentially unkind depending on the answer.] In your year and a half in Riverview, did you see any of the others?

[ Jim's smile wavers slightly, but Jim nods, looking down briefly. ] Yes. Bones arrived with me. But he left months before I did. I also... I met others from our reality, though different points in time. Farther ahead in the future. They also left before me.

I'm sorry that he left before you did. [Pavel has seen more than one Kirk lose a McCoy; he can only assume this iteration took it just as hard as the others had. After a moment's hesitation, he reaches over to pat Jim's forearm.] That they all did.

[Someday he'll have to ask if Kirk has met anyone from later versions of the Enterprise, or even from the Voyager. It'd be nice to hear about some of them again.]

It's fine. [ He heaves out a breath and his shoulders drop a little. He smiles, more resigned than anything. It's not completely fine, not really, but it's been a long time now.

He still wishes he could've had a proper goodbye. Not just wake up one morning and not have Bones by his side. Even if he's worked through it, sometimes it still feels like it left a lot of things unresolved. ]

Anyway, water under the bridge. [ He smiles wider and sits a little more upright, lifting his glass. ] This is... kind of a new beginning for me. So I'll drink to that.

[These universes don't leave a lot of room for goodbyes or resolution. It's never really fine, is it? Just varying levels of bearable.

Pavel is happy to go along with a conversational shift. He lifts his glass to Kirk's.] To new beginnings, then.

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