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

[ltcommandroid]

No. I am aware of several entities that could manage this, but they are all very dangerous.

[Though like..........if this were a Q episode, Picard would be here.]

Interference with the past can be extremely dangerous, as well. Perhaps it would be for the best if we are not from the same dimension.

[scouserer]

[I want the Q-run Star Trek murdergame right now, thanks.

Constantine can't help but let out a snort, rising to his feet for the first time during this conversation. He's actually a little bit taller than Data! How surprising.]

For the best, I'm sure. Your little starships probably wouldn't be able to handle the level of occult magic I face on a daily basis.

[A pause.]

Though, if you think about it, wouldn't any potential paradoxes have already been sorted out? I mean, someone from the future traveling to the past would have already happened, technically. It's not linear.

[He doesn't have the strongest grip on this sort of thing, but in his head, it makes sense.]

[ltcommandroid]

[You'd think you'd build your robot taller but Data's dad was a fucking narcissist who made all his creations look identical to himself, like a creep, and we just never get into how much he sucked - anyway.]

Time travel is difficult, and generally not permitted, where I am from. But past studies have seemed to indicate that the future can be changed by time travelers.

[I think there's been like four separate Star Trek Time Travel Rules but that's how it was in that one TNG movie so. Fuck it.]

But in this case, that is probably not our most immediate concern.

[scouserer]

[Ah, Star Trek Travel Rules. Follow the Prime Directive, unless you're part of the Enterprise. Which Enterprise? Yes.]

Eh. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of time travel. It makes people think they can fix their mistakes instead of living with them and, honestly, just confuses everyone.

[Big words from a guy who literally cheated God, but okay.]

If it's any comfort, I doubt the captain wants to kill us right away. He wouldn't have gone through all this effort and still kept us alive. You happen to check your pockets, lately?

[That is, um...if Data's uniform has pockets????]

[ltcommandroid]

I fell through a rift in time once and ended up in the mid-19th century. The incident ended with my head getting blown off my body and lying undiscovered in a cave until the 24th century.

[So you could say he's not a huge fan of time travel either. For much more prosaic reasons.

also, uh. I don't think his uniform does have pockets.]

I am missing my weapon, and my tricorder. [uhhhh let's just say the phone is stuck in one of those holsters??????] Oh. This is not mine.

[scouserer]

[Constantine visibly winces at that.]

Ouch. At least you're still standing here, so that's worth something.

[Maybe??? Unless this is a different version of Lieutenant Commander Robot...or, whatever. Time travel sucks, he wants to get off this topic.]

Captain left us a gift. Wants us to all get acquainted and become dear friends for whatever he's got set up. [He sneers.] If I didn't know any better, I'd suspect he wants us to start snogging each other.

[ltcommandroid]

[Data pauses to look through this stuff for a moment. Luckily, he processes information super fast; an absurdly fast skim and he's done.]

It does seem as though they want us to get to know one another. Curious.

[scouserer]

Makes me believe that the man expects us to be here a while.

[Constantine rubs his chin, frowning lightly at Data and glancing out towards the dark ocean horizon.]

You're a robot, yeah? You happen to have a star map stuffed in that positronic brain of yours?

[ltcommandroid]

I have worked as a navigator. The stars would indicate that we are on Earth, off the coast of Florida, and moving south. Assuming, of course, that they can be trusted.

[maybe this is a holodeck episode]

[scouserer]

[A soft snort.]

At least we're moving away from Florida. Can you imagine?

[ltcommandroid]

I have read that Florida has an ancient reputation as a source of unusual phenomena. Is that true, in your experience?

[scouserer]

Sure. Some reports might even say that the source can be traced to one entity in particular...

[He pauses for effect, looking over his shoulder as if checking if there's anyone eavesdropping. Then, he leans forward, lowering his voice to a mock whisper.]

...Florida Man.

[He hopes that incites some sort of reaction in Data.]

[ltcommandroid]

Ah. The famous cryptid.

[He nods sagely.]