captains log | 009 | voice

[goldshirt]

Tranquility, this is Jim Kirk.

Anyone injured or still suffering side effects from the fear gas should check in with medical. Scans are showing the gas is out of the ship's circulation now, but we can never be too careful. For anyone wondering, we do have a suspect in custody, but he's currently recovering from a high dosage of the toxin.

[he pauses, a clear indication that he's changing topics.]

We all knew we were being watched. Despite this recent information, nothing's really changed. Nevertheless I encourage everyone to stay alert and try not to travel alone. This thing is trying to make us nervous, lets try not to give it what it wants.



( Enterprise Crew, Re-l, Chase, John, Sherlock, Natasha, Kasumi, Dean || eta "Nick", Jack Harkness, Ianto, Magneto, Raven, Megamind, Roxanne, Tali, Hotspur, Isaac, Tony Stark, Aberdeen || flags to WARD and RESNIK )

[the filter is a simple one and used solely to make this post private from any civilian prying eyes. Jim knows it will be hacked, and he isn't about to toot his own horn publicly when people are panicking. he's flagged people both versed in this scientific bullshit and outside, because Jim knows as well as any that sometimes it takes an outside view to see outside the box.

just in case anyone hasn't spotted it yet, he fires off a LINK to the hidden documents, along with the translation, making it plain English instead of happy morse code.]

This isn't the first time this thing has mentioned me.

I'm not opening speculation about what the list means, we've got enough of that going on, but whatever this is has purposely left out the clues we need to figure it out. I think Chase has summed it up the best possible way: we're being laughed at.

I tried running another trace but the only thing I keep coming up with is static. Whatever this thing is, it's either part of the ship or has been here for a damn long time. It's coding is almost identical to the network's build.

Comments

[redhotsummers]

The idea is the same, though.

[Alex's jaw is set, watching Jim just as carefully.]

And there is always something to resist. It just means you have to figure out what exactly it is.

We're prisoners. Someone is using us to man the ship. To say there is nothing to resist is like saying that we don't need to leave here.

[Alex isn't always the most articulate; he knows that--but he's trying to do his best.]

That works too.

[goldshirt]

[he has a point, and Jim concedes it. they were resisting, in a way. just- not against something they could see. not against something they could control.]

As of right now, we don't know the caused the malfunction to trap us here. There are theories that it's that entity on the ship. The one we can't track. But we aren't sure.

Ward and Resnik have access to parts of the ship we don't. They're also the reason we're still flying and not floating aimlessly through space. I'm not telling you to trust them, most of us don't, but if what you're suggesting is the idea of mutiny I'm going to stop you before you get started.

[redhotsummers]

Are you sure it is a malfunction? Because I doubt they are telling us the truth about anything.

[Alex nods, listening. Most of it sounds to him like they are just feeding everyone a load of bullshit to get a crew for their ship.]

I'm not thinking of a mutiny--someone told me already that someone tried and failed.

This is about being smarter and biding time rather than lashing out.

[A beat. Alex feels a bit nervous, and some of his confidence seems to leak away, then.]

I guess.

[goldshirt]

[Jim can see that this kid tries; that he's been forced into the role he's trying to assume right now, that it's not necessarily something he's comfortable with. and it's almost funny, to compare it to himself, because Kirk had found the opposite to be true in himself.]

We've been through a number of jumps, and just by looking at the mechanics we can see it's a mess, nevermind the details on how to make a wormhole and use one. [he's not going to try and explain it] We're ninety percent certain it's a malfunction

[redhotsummers]

Okay. I guess I'll have to take your word for it.

But--

[Alex debates bringing this up, then decides to anyway. Just one last idea.]

What if this is all some simulation. It's all been designed to look like this. Like one big fucking game. Can we prove that we aren't all plugged in somewhere? That this is all just some joint hallucination.

[goldshirt]

[it's honestly not something he'd considered before. simulations weren't in his repetoire, and weren't something that Starfleet had ever warned about. simulations were done in training, but what Alex was suggesting...

Jim look sat him for a long moment.]

No, we can't.

But even if we were, I wouldn't sit around waiting for an endgame either.

[redhotsummers]

I know--but if we're plugged in, now the hell do we get out?

[Alex rubbed then back of his neck.]

Sorry. I'm just bringing up stuff, without any real answer. I do--I do mean that we should try to organize, somehow. Just in case.

[goldshirt]

[Jim smiles, and it's somewhere between bemused and patient.]

We'd never get anything done without asking questions.

[redhotsummers]

They also get smacked around for asking the questions.

[Though Alex doesn't say that like he has a problem with it. And he has a hunch that Kirk is used to it, too.]

[goldshirt]

You know, I never did understand that.

[he catches the hint easily, lobbing it back like playing catch with a baseball.]

[redhotsummers]

Usually means they don't have the damn answer; which pisses them off. Heaven forbid we poke holes in their little plans.

[He leans against the wall, giving a low laugh.]

Just trying to do them a favor.

[goldshirt]

[Jim grins. it isn't terribly often he finds someone coming from his same angle of thinking. he was half certain he'd been one of a kind at the Academy. never give up.]

Anything else you wanna ask me while we're out here?

[redhotsummers]

Not really. [He shrugs.]

Just was hoping that someone was thinking of forming some group. Worse comes to worse, I guess I can sign up for security, or something.

[goldshirt]

I think a few people have ideas about groups. [he says carefully.] The problem is that we've got too many who want to be in charge, and that have different ideas as to how this should work.

[he watches Alex for a minute.] Your friend Magneto, for example.

[redhotsummers]

I've known two different versions of Erik before this one--one of them was raving psychopath.

[Alex snorts.]

He's got issues--and I'm not saying he'd be a good leader, because frankly, he may just decide his hatred of humans trumps survival. But...maybe he'll choose to be pragmatic.

[goldshirt]

[well that statement certainly puts it out in the open, doesn't it. not that Jim didn't think it was a fact before, but hearing it from someone else's mouth- his hatred of humans- Kirk silently files that away.]

Lets hope.

[because the last thing they need is more strife]

[redhotsummers]

Yeah.

And if it doesn't turn out that way?

[Alex shrugs.]

Let us deal with him.

[Him and Mystique, if he's already started to brainwash her.]

[goldshirt]

[Jim's expression turns slightly bemused at that.]

Who's "we"?

[redhotsummers]

Mostly Alex and myself--maybe Charles.

Look--I don't agree with his ideals, but I do think we should deal with our own kind, before letting others get involved.

[goldshirt]

[Jim's not sure how he feels, still, about the our kind thing. to him, they're still people, still part of Earth- but he knows it isn't like that for them.

but if it was his crew, he'd be the same way, so he nods.]

Fair enough.

[redhotsummers]

[Alex gives a slight smile, and a nod.]

Thanks.

I should probably get going but--I appreciate you talking to me about this stuff, Kirk.

[goldshirt]

Anytime.

[he nods and glances back at the control panel he'd had open previously, before returning his attention to Alex. it's as much a 'yeah we can end this' as anything else.]

You know where to find me.