[Video]

[damn_it_man]

[The pocketwatch feed comes on suddenly, fixed on a less-than-pleased face, lips pursed in the beginning of a rather sardonic expression. He's figured out that what he has in his hand is a communicator, he just doesn't know who he's communicating with.] I'd like to know whose idea of a joke this is. Because I'm not really seeing the punchline.

[A

Comments

Action

[talkstomuch]

Sorry to tell you, sir, this isn't a joke.

[Sam was just passing by, exercising. At her hip sat her Zat'nik'tel, just in case something wandered out of the forest while she jogged by.]

We're all prisoners here, no signs of possible escape. Not even the stars are aligned to anything recognizable.

[She crosses her arms and bites at her lip.]

You mentioned a starship. Which one?

[The uniforms screams: Not Earth.

Or at least... not Sam's and Jack's Earth.]

Action

[talkstomuch]

It's never so simple as that. There exist a near-infinite number of realities, that are each created to reflect a different outcome to a decision.

[Sam laughs softly.] Then you'll be glad to hear that there's a bar nearby. I'd be glad to show you.

Action

[damn_it_man]

[Infinite number. He knew there was a reason he went into medicine and not physics. But he does perk up a bit at her next words.] Sam, I'd consider you my best friend in the world if you did.

Action

[talkstomuch]

[And that theory is one of the reasons she went into theoretical astrophysics.]

Right this way then, Leonard.

[She grins and leads the way to the Black Stallion.]

Action

[damn_it_man]

[McCoy is all too happy to follow at this point. It gives him some time to mull these things over. It's all a mess in his head, but at the very least he's good at keeping his head in difficult situations -- aside from a bit of spouting off anyway. ...and occasionally ranting about the dangers of space travel, but he's mostly gotten that out of his system now.]

Have you been in this place long?

Action

[talkstomuch]

[Sam heads inside the bar and takes a seat, turning towards Leonard as she orders a Budweiser. She's not big on alcohol, especially after the harvest festival, but she'll join him in a drink.]

A little while, about two months.

Action

[damn_it_man]

[McCoy takes a seat as well, seeing about a bourbon for himself. He's not a heavy drinker either -- can't let it interfere with his mental clarity; one never knew when someone would need doctoring -- but some situations call for it.]

I see. Are there many other, ah... prisoners about?

Action

[talkstomuch]

Quite a few actually. I haven't gotten a head count but I'm guessing it's close to about a hundred people. And everyone is from different times, worlds and even different realities.

[Sam takes a sip from her bottle and sets it down just as quickly.]

Action

[damn_it_man]

That's fairly significant. [And a little mind boggling. Different realities, times. Well it'll make things interesting. He sips his drink thoughtfully.]

But we're provided for? In terms of the basic necessities, food and shelter...

Action

[talkstomuch]

It is. I have to wonder just what our captors are capable of to get so many people here.

[Sam nods and turns the bottle in her hand thoughtfully.] We are. There are empty apartments and homes all over the city. Some may need some cleaning up but they're all liveable. And the shops restock themselves in the middle of the night, you can take anything.

Action

[damn_it_man]

They must have their hands on some pretty impressive technology. [Leonard McCoy does not believe in magics.]

Restock themselves? Well that's fairly convenient, as hostage situations go.

Action

[talkstomuch]

Very impressive. Not even our allies are capable of taking someone without their knowledge.

[Okay, that's a lie. The Asgard kind of can but come on, they wouldn't do that here. Loki already got into trouble for trying that.]

Very convenient. After all, why go through the trouble of bringing us here only to let us starve.

Action

[damn_it_man]

[McCoy sips at his drink again, eyebrows lifting at her words.]

Suppose that's a good point. That would be a lot of trouble for nothing.

Action

[talkstomuch]

It would be. Although, that doesn't stop them from filling the forest with monsters to set an example for people who stray too far.

They won't starve us but they won't let us entertain hopes of escape.

Action

[damn_it_man]

Monsters... what sort of monsters?

Well, I suppose that makes sense. It'd be a lot of effort to go through to get us here to just let us walk straight out.

Action

[talkstomuch]

I haven't seen yet but they apparently get more and more vicious, the further and further in you go.