driftfleet | (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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.