TEST DRIVE #15 - Holodeck and Ten Forward

[ten_fwd_mods]

001: Where were you a minute ago? Well, you aren't there anymore. Instead, you're standing in a very large, dark room lined with yellow. There are doors at either end of it.

Here's where things get a little choose your own adventure-y. You could:



1: Approach a console filled with buttons, located a few feet away. Press one, and it'll let you out of the room. Travel down a long hallway and you'll be in Ten Forward, the Enterprises' entertainment lounge. Have a drink, mingle and try to figure out why you're here.

OR

2: Maybe you just muttered some vague request under your breath. Maybe you wished aloud you were somewhere else. Or for help? If you did, might be in a fire station. Muttered something about killing whoever dumped you here? Surprise - you're in a slasher movie!

Though they're confusing, these visions feel about as real as they can be. And guess what - other people can experience those fantasies with you, as if they too were really there. How ever will you escape? Or do you want to?

[OOC: Welcome to the Holodeck! If you choose this option, whatever your character chooses to say out loud will cause a virtual reality program to load and play. While your character feels as if what they're experiencing and seeing is quite real, they're purely living through the latest and best in what he Enterprise has to offer in entertainment. Make sure to detail what your character's fantasy is, so that those threading with them will know how to react.

Open til next month's test drive!]

Comments

I am a cruel and heartless mun who has the whole thing written up in detail :(

[cridhe]

Well, that is one way to look at it. "Well at least they are comfortable. And it blends in a bit more when visiting different planets. They are a scientific expedition exploring space. And peace has always been relative. I am certain you thought you brought peace to Earth."

Sometimes we need to do these terrible things.

[paradoxlost]

It's nothing the Doctor couldn’t have told her, the Master is thinking. She may not be human, but she wasn't on the Valiant, couldn't have been part of events.

“What I took to that pitiful little backwater was to be a new start for the Time Lord race. I had no fancy-fancy ideals about peace on Earth. They were the means to an end. To be used. Stupid apes. ...Who are you? Apart from being some kind of bacteriophobe.”

It builds character - pun intended.

[cridhe]

Oh, my. Was that a button she had pressed? She is almost amused. Almost. "That is very strange indeed. Because I had the distinct impression that you wanted to destroy the beings that the Doctor cherished. No different than has been the case all of your lifetimes."

She looks down at her clothing, then up into his eyes. She steps closer, with a hint of a threat in her eyes. Impressive for someone so short. "These garments are not to protect me. They are to protect you."

<3

[paradoxlost]

“That was a jolly little side effect.” The Master is not one given to whining or feeling sorry for himself. He moves on. There’s always something else. Something to do. Fun to have. In that respect he's very like the Doctor. It's not for nothing they were once close friends. However, his intention to build a new Gallifrey had been heart's-felt. Despite the insanity.

He's the Master. And not entirely in possession of all his faculties. He doesn't back down to a pint-sized ..whatever she is. “Ooh! Scary. What are you going to do? Chinese burn?”

Erm maybe not slap, but perhaps a bit of a psychic blast, if okay? since he asked?

[cridhe]

"If that had only been a side-effect, then there was no need for what you did to... me... The TARDIS."

But then there was his query. "I could show you, if you would like? Show you why you require protection from me?"

She slowly removes her glove as she speaks. She has no idea if the power of the ring can override the power of her fury for what this hateful creature did to her. Though, she suspects she would be unable to kill him. No matter. She would accept a simple maiming. And the Doctor is not around to stop her. How convenient.

Ohyuss. Go for it.

[paradoxlost]

Any semi-intelligent fool would be a tad wary after she's spoken again. The Master didn't get where he is today without being careful, as well as curious. If this is a warning, chances are she won't kill him - if she has that power. But there's definitely the Doctor's scent, and his presence. Perhaps she does.

He needs to know. One thing he already knows, the Doctor won't sanction murder. That's another lesson well-learned from 'the Valiant' days. “Very well. Though it wouldn't do to make an enemy of me. Maybe you should bear that in mind.”

Additional permissions discussed via PMs - whenever we get there lol

[cridhe]

She tilts her head and considers him. He's far too eager. Which she finds confusing. She hesitates, not from her own convictions, but because of him. Very well, she'll toy with him a bit more. Besides. The Doctor would not approve of her taking the offensive. But, if she could trick him into touching her, well. That's another matter entirely.

She had learned things on the Valiant as well. She had learned things as he tore her apart to create the Paradox Machine. She knows far more than she should. And perhaps pushing certain buttons might work. She keeps her voice light and amused.

"Enemies? Oh, you silly little Time Lord. We went well beyond enemies ages ago."

He was always seeking to kidnap her from her pilot, seeking to harm her in his efforts to command then Universe. Now her voice takes on a quality of malice.

"But one thing I remember. Under all your bravado: you were always so scared. Hidden behind your cruelty was always the current of fear. Aren't you just the little bit scared now?"

Pretty much now, I think... :p

[paradoxlost]

Oh, there's fear alright. But during the Time War, when the Master had turned tail and run to the ends of the universe, he had looked upon the face of true horror. There's little to match that kind of terror, and it has made the Master less afraid of other things than perhaps he should be. She will detect all manner of things from him. Fear, yes; confusion, wariness, wonder, an irritated who, who, WHO?? She's not a Time Lord. Not the Rani. Not the Doctor in a new body. Her insult only confirms it.

The drumbeat increases in intensity with his rising hearts-beat. For the last few seconds the Master's focus has been entirely on her face. Studying her while she removed the glove. Now he steps back, and sees the ring.

The ring with the design any Time Lord would find familiar. Despite the feeling of the Doctor's presence, the Master is not expecting to see it and because of the ring he used to wear, it serves as some kind of trigger.

“Where did you get that?” He hisses, any confusion turning to rage. “Did he give it to you?” And he moves to grab hold of her hand, to read the design...

LOL the cat's not done playing with her mouse yet. Patience XD

[cridhe]

The TARDIS withdraws her hand behind her back before the Master can touch her. She takes a step back. Not out of fear, but because she wants to know where this will lead and if she allows him to touch her too soon, it's all over.

He shouldn't have been able to recognize the ring. It wasn't a signet ring. Unless he remembered where the ring actually came from. It is possible the Master could have been there. They had been best friends. The Doctor would never admit to his sentiments, but they existed. This simple ring was one of them. The Master would probably accuse the Doctor of being too much like the humans.

"Of course he did. I am not a thief when it comes to possessions. I tried to refuse it..."

But, the Doctor had been quite insistent. She supposed it was actually working since the Master had yet to figure out who she is, and as much as she could tell her abilities were rather limited.

Awesome. This is taking me to places I haven't explored yet.

[paradoxlost]

The Master takes the woman's backing away as his gaining the upper hand. He's angry now, and perhaps a little more heedless of danger then he might usually be.

“Where is he?” He demands, with the sudden paranoia of the unhinged, advancing on her; tall and overbearing compared to her slight form.

“Did he do this?” He indicates the Enterprise in general. “ I mean... trapping me on a vessel full of hostages? Very not smart. Something must have gone wrong. Yes. That's what happened, isn't it ...Isn't it!”

XD Me too. Also, you'll learn more about Who Lore than you ever wanted :| sorry.

[cridhe]

She is not afraid. He should be able to tell that much. But she does cower a bit. It's more out of a sense of protecting a flesh that she believes to be far more fragile than it is.

"Which version of him? There are four aboard this vessel."

There was no reason to lie about that, she'll not mention how many versions of the TARDIS are here. That would be silly, especially since she is the only one any of them have access to.

"If you wish to direct your anger towards the being who did this, it is a creature from this universe identified as Q. At first blush, he seemed similar to Time Lords, but as I have done more research, it is possible that he may hold closer comparisons to the Guardians of Time."

She pauses and then repeats it. Because compared to her all Time Lords are idiots. "Of this universe. We have been pulled to a universe where that which was fiction becomes a reality."

I gobble most stuff up. I've just installed the TARDIS datacore app...

[paradoxlost]

Her statement does stop him in his tracks. And now the pounding beat in his head has subsided just enough; yes, he can tell her body language isn't indicative of fear.

“Four!” He's appalled. That's one more than last time.* Now he has a sweeping mental picture of facing one more Doctor every time this happens. Maybe at least there will be more of the Master too, at some point. She may get an impression of a small group of them in some far-flung galaxy.

Neither is the Master pleased to be the plaything of something as powerful as a six-fold god. Then it dawns on him. “You and they ...are just as much a prisoner as me.” A manic giggle rises in his throat. “Oh, that's priceless.”


*Previous RP canon.

Warning: they're not official at all and I've found GLARING errors - just like Wikipedia

[cridhe]

She frowns at his revelation. "Why should it be 'priceless'? All of us are trapped. We are at the mercy of the laws that govern this ship."

Hopefully that will be enough of a warning.

Bummer. I'll stick to the general internets and hope for the best.

[paradoxlost]

“It's fun-ny.” He enunciates, as if talking to a small, rather stupid child.

“I find myself stuck on a tub like this with four of him, and one of you... Whatever you are. And you're all just as stuck. Imagine. Four of him! and he's still trapped. I can imagine the bickering.”

/nods/ that's what I do. I only link it to give general ideas.

[cridhe]

"Not as much as you would think. The Enterprise is a big ship. And when it comes to being stuck, you are focused on the wrong thing. If you understood the ramifications of your words, you would look more worried than pleased."

Because the power it would take to get four versions of the Doctor stuck in one place? Kind of terrifying and impressive.

It seems okay for stuff you think you know, but just need to check.

[paradoxlost]

“Believe me, I've seen what it's like with just three of them.” It's not in the Master's nature to worry about a given situation. Yes, it might seem terrifying and awesome to a human (although he's certain that's not what she is now) but to a Time Lord, it's a hazard of a big and scary universe. Very bad things happen. He assess these situations, and exploits them as best he can.

He might complain loudly, or sulk violently, or mock those in the same environment, but for now, at least, he's more curious than fearful. And deranged enough for plenty of coping mechanisms to kick in.

His more immediate concern is this being in front of him. She does give him the jitters. “Please, I've been trapped in far worse places. On a pathetic piece of rock known as Malcassairo -at the end of the universe; and compared to the Time War.. .this is a doddle.”

true, like I said, it's like wikipedia. so, good to double check.

[cridhe]

She scoffs. "A 'doddle'? You are thinking more like a human than a Time Lord."

Yes, she is being intentionally offensive. "Think. Four Doctors, three TARDISes - the same TARDIS, in the same time. And yet, a Time Ram is not happening. Aren't you the tiniest bit curious about the amount of power it takes to hold such a paradox in place?"

More power than she has, that is for sure.

Yupyup.

[paradoxlost]

That does raise his ire. “What? You want me to flap about like a wet hen? Look around you! People are sitting around quietly with drinks and canapes! Of course I'm curious, but it's obvious to any gnat-brained cretin the paradox is stable.”

A creature with the power of the Guardians - who is very likely not a Guardian, or even of Galifreyan origin, is alarming, but the current locale is clearly not dangerous. Learn first, then start blubbing. Not that the Master blubs. “Now tell me who you are, or run along.”

[cridhe]

Now she does smile. "You haven't guessed yet? You don't know? Years of chasing and fighting the Doctor across the universes. All in an effort to take one thing from him and you do not know?"

She steps in close again. "Should anyone in all universes have a claim on your life, it is I."

Because while the Doctor might have forgiven him for The Year That Never Was, she did not forgive him for turning her into the Paradox Machine.

[paradoxlost]

He stares at her. It's infuriating. The Time Lord mind can fully understand that different universes can bleed into each other. Had he been aware of what she is, his mind could even accept that certain entities can assume physical form... but not the thing that she is.

Something she said about this being a universe where fiction becomes reality, has been simmering away beneath the rhythm section in his brain, but that can't be it.

“Tell me. Or show me.” He feigns an irritable disinterest. “But for the love of Omega, stop boring me.”

[cridhe]

Now she laughs. "You still do not know! Oh, this is rich. Well, you did not count did you? Four Doctors and only Three TARDISes? Do you honestly think the Doctor would ever be separated from his TARDIS if he had a choice?"

So, she's from the Doctor's personal future. Hardly matters, she figures that's why his box isn't here.

"Simple answer he is not. More accurately, I should have said 'Three Police Boxes.' There are four TARDISes."

[paradoxlost]

“No.” Now there's genuine shock, and the fury is directed internally. Like the time his counterpart failed to notice one of his duplicates, clad in security uniform and helmet - was taller than the others.

Oh, the Doctor would have a field day. What a moron he's been... and with simple maths!

If it was the least bit feasible. But- “it's not possible..” now the Master takes a step back from the slightly built, seemingly non-threatening woman in front of him.

[cridhe]

"Of course it is. This is the second time I have had flesh form."

Technically true.

"Though the first time I had it thrust upon me. Not unlike what you did in turning me into the Paradox machine. He called himself 'The House'. Ask me what I did to him?"

It is a dare as much as it is a promise of things that await the Master.

[paradoxlost]

He's still angry with her too, for being swallowed up by the Eye of Harmony. That incident might have had much to do with his brutal treatment of her. The Master is truing to asses what this human form can do. If she has the same kind of power in this body... he doesn't care to contemplate what she might be able to inflict on him.

"You keep away from me," he hisses at her. The Master doesn't need to ask. He knows what raw, untamed power is harnessed by a TARDIS.

[cridhe]

She smiles proudly. "And finally he understands. And Time Lords had the audacity to treat us like servants. Funny thing. All those times you tried to steal me away from my pilot and now you tell me to stay away from you."