001 | Video

[backwardscompatible]

[The woman in the feed appears calm and collected, for all that she appears to be a new face. Her tone is pleasant but businesslike- she's playing the Professor today, at least for the moment.]

Hello, Tranquility. This is Professor River Song, requesting some information. I've read the welcome document but I'd like to go a bit further than that. In particular, I'm interested in whatever is known about the history of this ship and its original destination. But I'd also like to hear about life aboard the ship in general, and how long people have been drawn aboard like this. Tell me your stories.

Comments

[Video]

[blindleads]

[This one's nodding into the camera with a frank look.]

This is Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, Enterprise. Welcome aboard, Professor. Wish I could help you out, but I'm still learning my way around myself. Seems like we're all going to be operating a little in the dark for a bit.

Re: [Video]

[backwardscompatible]

Lovely to meet you. Hopefully we can shed a little bit of light on what's going on before too long then. Or at least get up to speed so we can work on it at the same level as everybody else.

Re: [Video]

[blindleads]

People seem quick to share what they can. The ship seems shorthanded, so any help that's possible is welcome. Mind if I ask if you've got a specialty, professor?

Re: [Video]

[backwardscompatible]

Archaeology. Know of any tombs on board?

Re: [Video]

[blindleads]

That'll earn a little smile.]

I'm afraid not. Maybe there will be some artifacts at the next outpost we stop by.

voice;

[redhotsummers]

If you're new, look at your tattoo. It will tell you how many months people have been around here.

...we don't know what happened to the old crew.

Re: voice;

[backwardscompatible]

There are new people drawn in every month, then? Is it the same amount every time, or does it fluctuate? Is there any pattern?

voice;

[redhotsummers]

Um...it seems to fluctuate. It's around the same time every month--every jump. People from earlier months might be able to tell you more. I'm a 6.

Re: voice;

[backwardscompatible]

Thank you, that's helpful. Then people just appear in the tanks? No one ever sees them being put into them?

Videoo

[bottlearum]

I've been 'ere...

[Hold on. Let him think.]

...nine months?

Re: Videoo

[backwardscompatible]

[Wait she knows that face. But time to act like she doesn't while she tries to figure out wtf is going on and if this is who she thinks it is. Still, he gets a proper smile]

One of the first to arrive, then. What can you tell me about your time here?

[bottlearum]

We be on a ship. In space. We ain't heard nothin' from the Cap'n since we 'rrived and occasionally things'll happen that'll try t'kill you.

[He shrugs. Just another Tuesday for him, really.]

[backwardscompatible]

What sort of things would those be? [Can't help sounding a little bit eager rather than concerned]

video; sorry that this is so late >>

[51stcentury]

I've been here for as long as any of us have - nine months give or take, save for the Captain and First Mate - and if they have any idea where we're headed, they're not sharing.

Re: video; sorry that this is so late >>

[backwardscompatible]

[Oh now here's a familiar face. But so young, and not showing any signs of recognising her.] And you don't find that a little bit suspicious? How much have they said?

video;

[51stcentury]

They might as well not be here at all, for all that they let us know. Maybe they don't know themselves, maybe they're just not telling. It's kinda more than a little irritating, though, especially the longer you have to put up with it.

[If she shows any signs of recognition, he doesn't catch onto them - he's too busy being irritated with Ward and Resnik and their lack of anything even resembling being helpful]

Re: video;

[backwardscompatible]

[She's more relaxed than she was in her original message, but aside from that she's playing at not knowing him for now]

Well, that fills me with confidence. Is there a reason we haven't seized control from them?

video; late tag sorry bb

[the_vishual]

Professor? Of what?

Re: video; late tag sorry bb

[backwardscompatible]

Archaeology. I don't recognise this ship's architecture, so I'm mostly looking for other information that might help me place it.

video;

[the_vishual]

With all due respect, you won't find it, miss.

Re: video;

[backwardscompatible]

That sounds like a challenge.

video;

[meddler]

[ Hold on.

At first, the Doctor can't quite believe what he sees. Or rather, he can't quite believe what he hears. But there she is. Truthfully, he really shouldn't be all that surprised.

After all, she is River Song. And it seems that just like a bad penny (or in this case... he's really not sure what sort of penny she is, but he better quit while he's ahead because he is just about to let one analogy get carried away way too much), she's always there to turn up.

But she's a professor now. Spoilers.

Has it happened for her yet? No. It couldn't have. Could it?

Well, there was only one thing to do. ]

Now, wouldn't you like to know my story, Professor Song?

[ smooth. But not really. His face gives it all away.

Just a little, at least ]

Re: video;

[backwardscompatible]

[It's just unfair how the sight of him makes her breath catch in her throat. He's younger than last time she saw him- no new haircut- but aside from that it's too hard to say just where he might be in his timeline with her. She tries anyway, mind racing with possible options, hoping against hope that he's not the continuation of this latest trend of being further back almost every time they meet (he still clearly knows her, she can take that much as comfort).

Of course, she doesn't let any of these thoughts show through the grin that appears on her face when she sees him. The act is second nature to her, a necessary product of their complicated lives.]

Oh sweetie, I already know your stories. But you can tell me about this ship as soon as we know where we are today.

[She's already reaching for her diary, flipping through it.]

video;

[meddler]

[ Oh, and there it goes. That diary. She really should give him credit that he hadn't peeked into the book when he had the chance. It was tempting, mind you, but he wasn't quite such a renegade time lord that he'd risk a paradox just for that.

Well, that and the fact that it would be dull if he knew every single adventure he was going to go on. Some things were better left a mystery. ]

Pandorica. [ only that wasn't quite right anymore ] Amy and Rory's wedding.

[ she told him that "everything changes". Was this what she meant? ]

Re: video;

[backwardscompatible]

[She can't help the stab of disappointment that comes with the realisation that the man in front of her has no idea who she really is to him. But she hides it well, continuing to flick through the pages as if she doesn't know every word written on them backwards.]

Oh yes, the wedding. I'm sorry I missed it. [Twice over, but that's not for him to know just yet.] Let's see, you've done the crash of the Byzantium then...