Transmission: 1. Filter: Open. Encryption: None. [VIDEO]

[ex_sorted385]

[ Toshiko puts on her most sincere, "I'm friendly and come in peace" smile for the camera. The two people on board who know her well might notice the tension present behind it. ]

Since I've only just arrived and it seems there's a lot to learn around here, I'm hoping someone out there can answer a couple of questions for me. Just simple ones right now, really.

What do you all do for fun, in your leisure time? Is there a library, or games? Darts, pool table, that sort of thing maybe?

And, um...I know there's been a little talk about it, but is there any alcohol on board? And if so, is it available for public consumption or do I have to beg someone for a drink or two?

Comments

[ex_sorted385]

Despite what my parents had hoped for me, very much a math lady.

[ She takes a deep breath as they ride the lift, looking a little sheepish. ] I've really been dominating the conversation. You should tell me more about yourself.

[compressibility]

[He takes a moment]

What do you want to know?

[ex_sorted385]

Well...you could tell me about what you do when there's not a war on. Or you can boast about the work you do for the military, it isn't like I can tell anyone who matters. A girl's giving you carte blanche to tell her about yourself, there isn't anything you're dying to share?

[compressibility]

I own a weapons manufacturing company, but we do other things. I built a car that flies.

[Speaking of flying]

I have a plane. I love to fly.

[ex_sorted385]

Flying cars, really? I wonder which agency suppressed that bit of technology. We still have just ordinary wheels-on-the-ground cars.

I grew up around planes because of my parents, but I've never flown all that much. Not more than just what you need to get from one place to another. What do you love about it?

[compressibility]

Well it had a few kinks to work out.

[Pause]

The detail, the freedom. The fact that my personal assistant can't find me.

[ex_sorted385]

Maybe you'll get some inspiration while you're here, take it back with you and fix those kinks.

[ She smiles at his answer. ]

I'll tell you a secret -- being here is almost like having a vacation. Not that I have a personal assistant to get away from. But I think I sort of understand what you mean.

[compressibility]

Sounds to me like you needed a vacation.

[ex_sorted385]

I haven't gone this many days without something urgent or bizarre or hazardous to either health or sanity happening in...years. Don't get me wrong, I like what I do, but I wasn't joking when I said it's been ages since I even went to the cinema.

[compressibility]

That explains it.

[He grins a bit]

Haven't seen the soft side of a beach that wasn't littered in shells since I was in high school.

[ex_sorted385]

It's a shame we don't have a beach here.

[ She stops in her tracks as they step out of the lift, a thoughtful grin forming. ]

But apparently we do have holodecks.

[compressibility]

We can have drinks there.

[ex_sorted385]

[ She hadn't thought of that. Tosh's face lights up at the suggestion. ]

That's a brilliant idea! Do you know, has it got preprogrammed settings or do we have to program it ourselves?

[compressibility]

I haven't the slightest, but between you and me, we'll puzzle it out, right?

[This is why they pay him the big bucks.]

[ex_sorted385]

Computer programming's one of the things I was recruited for. You supply the ideas and I'll write the program. Might take a little time but it'll be worth it, yeah?

[compressibility]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[If he gets to see programming, then it's more than a good idea.]

Just down the hall, bar's that way.

[ex_sorted385]

[ Give her a chance to show off a little and Tosh will let him see all the programming he wants. ]

So I guess they just...let us order something and they give it to us? Since it's obvious there's no monetary system in place. Which is good, because my bank is a very long trip from here.

[compressibility]

That's right. It's sort of a "we're just here to occupy time" kind of a bar. They were popular back in the bunker.

[ex_sorted385]

I've never been to anything like that, sounds interesting. Though I was at a canteen once.

[ When they approach the bar, she tilts her head questioningly at him. ] I think I'll defer to you on what's palatable. Suppose we ought to get something we take with us though, seeing as how we're going drinking on the beach. And I hope you're either good at descriptions or can show me a picture, otherwise you're going to get your choice of Dover or Tarui.

[compressibility]

[He grins and heads up to order a couple of drinks - Long Island Iced Teas, they remind Howard of a misspent youth]

You've never been to Coney Island? I can deal with Dover.

[ex_sorted385]

I've never been to the U.S. at all. I've heard of Coney Island but I don't know anything about it other than it's an amusement park or something.

[ She takes her drink and consults the map on her comm for the nearest holodeck. ]

But I bet if you tell me about it, and give me a chance to see if there are any pictures in the digital library here, I can probably write you a program for it in a few days.

[compressibility]

There's a beach and a boardwalk, too. I like South Carolina better, at least for the water, but nothing beats a day at Coney Island in the summer.

[ex_sorted385]

We've a boardwalk in Cardiff not far from where I work. I have a feeling I'm going to miss being able to look out my window and see the water, I had a gorgeous view of the harbor from my flat, too.