COMMENCE VOYAGE

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know the Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 41.1 million square miles? No reason.

...

There's something uneasy in the air as you come to.

Well, "come to" is an interesting word in this case. It implies waking up, which is not exactly what happens. None of you are in beds, nor are you really asleep in the traditional sense. One moment you're somewhere else, doing something else with your time, and the next? You're somewhere on board a massive cruise ship - maybe lounging on a deck chair by the pool, maybe getting some Gains in the exercise room, maybe enjoying the tasteful décor in the buffet - and you have no idea how you got here or how you might get back. This is not your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she isn't here.

What you do have, apart from 25 other unlucky souls, is a small smartphone-like device in your pocket with only a handful of things on it: a clock reading 11PM, a pdf of a ticket in your name on a special Atlantic Liners New Year's Eve Cruise, an app labeled Passenger Profiles with some basic information on your traveling companions, and a message:

Welcome aboard, passenger! Please feel free to partake of any of the facilities while you wait for the big event! Remember: when midnight comes, you better make your way to the theatre at the back of Level 1 for the main event! The Captain and the First Mate will be there to take care of you all personally, and to help you ring in the new year in style!

Well, that's a start. But what you do until then, it seems, is up to you!

Comments

[queceracera]

Wait, Florida? [That can't be right.] Not New York?

[He's pretty sure Gideon lives in New York.]

[ltcommandroid]

No. The stars are in different positions than they are in my time, but I am very sure that we are not that far north. We are, in fact, moving further south.

[Which...doesn't mean a lot to Data, in truth, he's not even meant to be anywhere near Earth in the first place.]

Did you expect to be near New York?

[queceracera]

Not really? But I'm pretty sure the guy who wants to kill me lives in New York. [A beat.] I guess when you're rich enough you can live anywhere.

[ltcommandroid]

Someone wants to kill you? Who is he?

[Data doesn't...think this is necessarily relevant to the current situation. But that's no reason not to get a little more information.]

[queceracera]

The seventh evil ex. [After a moment, it's like he realizes that's deeply not enough explanation.] His name is Gideon Graves.

[ltcommandroid]

[None of this was enough explanation thanks]

What is an evil ex?

[queceracera]

You know. When you break up with someone but it's, like, super bad and it messes you up and gives you depression but also they were a bad person? I don't think most of Ramona's exes are actually evil. [A beat.] Except for Gideon. He sucks.

[ltcommandroid]

[well that's a lot of irrelevant stuff]

Unless this Gideon has the resources to put together something this elaborate, I doubt your friend's ex-partners are responsible for this situation.

[queceracera]

I mean, Gideon's super rich and evil. [Realistically, this absolutely tracks for Gideon Graves.] I wouldn't put it past him.

[Gideon Graves is the kind of person who puts a sword in someone's dress, just in case.]

[ltcommandroid]

...I will take that into consideration.

[still strong doubt!]

Can you tell me any more about him?

[queceracera]

Uhhhhhhhh he owns this place in New York called the Chaos Theatre, he wears glasses, he sounds like a douchebag, and I'm pretty sure he's dating my ex Envy now? [A beat.] Also he might be a cat.

[Note: Gideon Graves is not a cat boy.]

[ltcommandroid]

...I see.

[He does not.]

I will keep an eye out for anyone matching that description.