☆ ᴛᴇsᴛ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇᴍᴇ 01 ☆

[statusreport]

Welcome, cadets! Wanna dip your toes in the pool? Have a new character you wanna try out? Interested in the setting but not sure if your character's a good fit? Welcome to the first official Test Drive Meme for Illyria, for all your test drive needs! There are a few prompts for you to choose from below, or you can make up your own starter if none of the choices tickle your fancy. Threads from this meme can be counted as game canon if you like, if you apply and are accepted, so you don't have to meet someone again for the first time. Reserves are open at this time. Have fun!

☆ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛs ☆
A. Arrival: You wake up disoriented, finding yourself on what appears to be a medical bed. As you try and sit up, a young woman with blond hair pulled up in a tight bun stops you, urging you to take it easy. You were found in the cargo bay unconscious with a few other people, and while she's not sure where you came from or how you got here, you're here for the long haul, now. As you look around, you see a few other people in beds like the one you're lying on--do you recognize anyone from home? Or are these people complete strangers? Do any of them know what's going on, or how you got here? The only way to find out is to ask them!

B. Mealtime: The Illyria isn't a big ship, so the mess hall isn't very large, but there's room for a few tables with chairs, and there's a bank of replicators along one of the walls. You can ask for anything you want, from a simple cup of coffee to turducken to some nice fresh gagh. Looks like some other new arrival is having some trouble with their machine, though. Gonna give them a hand? Or maybe you've gotten your plate of food, but the only open seat is at an occupied table--perhaps introductions are in order. Mingle! These are going to be your crewmates for a long time, it seems.

C. Going up? Man, this ship is a mess! That trip across all those galaxies sure did a good job wrecking things. You're not sure about these turbolift things, but it beats climbing ladders and crawling through tubes to get to the other decks. As you step into the lift, maybe there's someone already in there--or maybe someone steps in after you, but either way, you're not alone as the lift begins to ascend. Things seem to be going well for a moment, and then there's a loud screeching sound and the lights go dark as the lift stops dead in its shaft. Well, now what? Do you and your company try and fix the lift? Do you try and call for help? Do you crawl up into the shaft and try and make your way to another deck through the Jefferies tubes? Who knows what peril may lie in the corridors between decks--do you take the risk, or wait to be rescued? Time to see if you're Starfleet material or not!

Comments

[boundlesspotential]

None of that made any sense, but one thing Alain had said struck him hard. "Did you say Makoto? Is Makoto okay?"

[threatlevelminimal]

He nodded. "He was brought back from the Ganma World safely." And that was all he was going to say about that particular adventure.

"More concerning is the lapse in your memory," he said, looking for a segue. "You remember nothing of Grateful Soul, or the matter regarding Grimm's insubordination?"

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru breathed a sigh of relief. He slumped against the turbolift wall, which reminded him where he was and where he'd been headed. "Oh, uh... deck eight, please," he said, and the lift started to move.

But Alain's questions were confusing. Was there a lapse in his memory? "Nothing. If you're trying to trick me, this is a really weird way to do it..."

[threatlevelminimal]

He considered explaining things, but some of the topics he would have to cover made his heart twinge. And even then, it wasn't likely he was going to believe him.

It could be that whatever power responsible had separated their timelines. "I likely do not have a way to prove to you that I am not responsible for, nor attempting to capitalize on this absurd situation." He found a separate part of the wall to lean on, with his arms crossed, with a distinct pout on his face.

[boundlesspotential]

Something about the way Alain responded, the expression on his face as he tried to figure out how to explain... something about it made him seem trustworthy.

It was absurd, but somehow it was true all the same.

"I'll believe you for now." Takeru smiled. "I can't explain what's going on, either. And this place seems really different from when I wound up in the Ganma world before, so..."

[threatlevelminimal]

That was reassuring, he supposed. This was tough enough without unnecessary animosity between himself and his only reliable ally. He stood up straighter and nodded. "This only makes our need to return home all the more pressing." What, was that elephant in the room meant to be ignored?

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru winced. "...yeah." If he was missing memories, then how many days did he really have left? He was afraid to ask.

And that's when the lift screeched to a halt. The lights flickered for a moment before dying completely.

[threatlevelminimal]

Alain looked around, startled. "Takeru?" he reached out in the darkness in the general direction Takeru had been in. With his other hand, he reached to touch the wall. Okay, it was only dark, not further strange occurrences.

He pulled the Necrom Eyecon out of his sweater and activated it for the meager light it would provide.

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru's arms flailed out in front of himself. When he saw the flash of light from the eyecon he relaxed slightly.

"I... think the power went out. Hello?" He cupped his hands in front of his mouth and called out to the computer. "Uh-- computer? Are you there?"

[threatlevelminimal]

Unfortunately, there was no answer. Alain kept holding the eyecon out and went to the door to attempt to open it. To add further frustration, the doors came together flushly, and there was no way to get enough grip to prise them apart. Eventually, Alain gave up with a frustrated noise.

And then he pulled out the Mega Ulourder. Stop him from blowing a hole in the door.

[boundlesspotential]

"Ahh-- Alain, Alain, wait!" Takeru grabbed his arm and tugged him back. "You're human now, right? We don't know what this ship is made of. You could get hurt."

But they had to do something... "I'll go take a look," he offered.

[threatlevelminimal]

He frowned, but acquiesced. He supposed he had a point. "Very well," he said, returning the driver back to its usual hiding spot in hammerspace. He remained near the door though, so his light was still useful.

[boundlesspotential]

"Be right back." With that, Takeru vanished from sight and passed through the doors.

He found himself sticking out of the floor from his waist up. So the lift was stuck between floors. He pulled himself up, phased back into visibility, and pressed the button to call the lift to his location. But nothing happened.

This was going to be a problem for Alain...

[threatlevelminimal]

He trusted Takeru, but he couldn't help but be anxious about this predicament. He couldn't see much more than six inches in front of his face, and it was beginning to get warm in here. He started to pace again.

He looked up at the ceiling, for some other kind of solution. There was a conspicuous square panel. That could be useful. He started climbing the wall.

[boundlesspotential]

He jabbed the button a few more times, even tried pounding on the control panel, but nothing happened.

Maybe if he could find someone in charge. He phased back into the lift to tell Alain he'd be stepping away.

[threatlevelminimal]

By then, Alain had gotten the upper panel loose. It clattered on the floor. As he'd thought, there was a passage up here. No doubt the same as the lift used to traverse the ship. He just had to climb up and find another door.

[boundlesspotential]

He couldn't see the light coming off of the Necrom eyecon anymore. Takeru summoned his Ghost Driver to give off some additional light.

...oh, jeez.

He flew up through the ceiling and reappeared beside Alain. "Hey, what are you doing?!" he demanded.

[threatlevelminimal]

"Getting out," he answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. He pulled himself up through the hole and on top of the turbolift.

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru groaned, but he grabbed Alain's hand to help him up. It would suck if he fell. "You're gonna get hurt like this... Just go back inside and I'll go find someone who can fix the lift, okay?"

[threatlevelminimal]

He took his hand back as soon as he could without falling back into the hole. "I'm not utterly incapable," he replied with some scorn. It wasn't like he hadn't noticed how weak Necrom now was compared to Takeru and Makoto.

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru didn't have any context for that. He just stared blankly. "I know that, but there's a way simpler solution than what you're planning."

[threatlevelminimal]

He just raised an eyebrow, waiting for Takeru to explain himself. He looked slightly aggravated, but then again that wasn't that unusual.

[boundlesspotential]

Was Alain really this dense? ...What was he asking. Of course Alain was this dense.

Takeru sighed.

"I'll go find one of the people who's from this ship," he said. "They probably have people who can fix problems like this."

[threatlevelminimal]

Alain considered that for a moment, but quickly dismissed it. He turned and made for a ladder on the wall. He was getting himself out of this mess.

[boundlesspotential]

Takeru sighed again, louder this time. He started climbing up the ladder after Alain. "This is dumb."