Daily Logs 8-27-15

I. Joseph and Rorin discuss the problem at hand
II. Rala throws Sarin's pipe into the pond
III. Erika invites Leslie for a sleepover


I.
Joseph: *is on lunch break, this is yet another "wtf this week" moment* *basically "well this is happening and it's weird*
Rorin: *his hair is all white again; Leslie dyed it black the day before yesterday but yesterday he woke up again with white hair... but it doesn't hold him back from his mission to find other people aware of the ongoing confusion* *enters the lounge, gets himself a drink from that pink replicator because why not and looks around, spots Joe and walks in his direction*
Joseph: *doesn't notice Rorin right off the bat, reading something on his PADD and scratching his head* *either this is a /really/ elaborate prank or they've all be put in a computer sim* *hopes it's not the sim*
Rorin: *walks up to Joe's table, stops and coughs quietly to make himself noticed*
Joseph: *looks up* Oh, hey. *and what the...* Correct me if I'm wrong, but...isn't your hair black? *why is it white*
Rorin: *exhales with a relieved small smile* My hair should be black, yes. But I keep waking up with white hair. *nods at a free chair* Would you mind?
Joseph: *headshake* No, go ahead. *looks at the PADD again before putting it down next to the empty plate* So, apparently I have a girlfriend who I did not know about until Sunday.
Rorin: *sits down, leans with his forearms against the table and chuckles, half amused half sour* I know the feeling. *sobers* How are you doing with it, though? Is it anybody you know?
Joseph: Apparently it's going...rather well. *understatement* And no, it's not. Or at least, I don't /remember/ knowing her, but apparently we've been dating since the Academy. *seriously wtf* *I had no time for dating back then no way.*
Rorin: That's quite some time. *tilts his head* But it sounds like it's no one from the Legacy? Do you write? Call? *all the questions*
Joseph: Well, apparently we write each other a lot and call when...possible. *ears redden at the last "letter" he got*
Rorin: And was it possible since Sunday? If you don't mind the question, that is.
Joseph: *doesn't mind* *nods* Yeah. Either this is a mass hallucination, a /really/ elaborate prank, or we're all stuck in another computer sim. *pause* ...I'd prefer the prank.
Rorin: Hm. *thoughtfully* I considered it could be an alternate universe or some spatial phenomenon, that, for some reasons, doesn't affect all of us or each of us differently. I wasn't able to scan any anomalies, though.
Joseph: *and yep* So no anomalies--at least none that we can scan. That leaves either a prank or mass hallucination. *idly wonders if this was Nate's doing, it'd be about his speed* *only it's happening to more people than just him, which means either Nate's somehow managed to make friends with a) everyone on the ship or b) higher-ups in Starfleet (unlikely), or someone else is pranking everyone*
Rorin: *small headshake* I'm sorry, but I don't think that it excludes the possibility of this being another simulation and it could also still be an alternate universe, or better, it could be that some of us keep phasing through spatial rifts. *small shrug* That would explain why some wonder and others don't find anything strange. It would not explain, though, why no one has met different versions of the same person /and/ the person they know.
Joseph: *nods* If it were that you'd think I'd have ran into myself by now. *and is struck by the fact that the idea seems normal* *he's done it a couple times, by now; first with the "what if" and then the genderbentverse*
Rorin: *small brief smile* I did, in fact, look for myself. But the only Rorin Loreno known on this vessel is me. So, for now, I'm going to believe that. *tilts his head*
Joseph: So the choices are mass hallucination, /really/ elaborate prank, or computer sim. Want to take any bets? *mouth quirks up in a half-smile, but there's no humor there*
Rorin: Heh. *grins briefly and shakes his head* I'd prefer evidence. But as far as guessing goes, I don't think this is a prank and I have trouble imagining all of us having the same mass hallucination. I'm aware that this explanation's been used before, but that doesn't make it sound more likely to me. I do think that, let's say, something is affecting our minds directly. May it be an anomaly or a simulation.
Joseph: *suppresses a shudder, albeit imperfectly* I never thought I'd say this, but I hope it's the anomaly. *no simulations, nooo way* *still having bad nights from the nightmare sim*
Rorin: *nods* Quite sure that I can see why. I'll keep searching for hints and luckily I'm not the only one.
Joseph: *takes a sip of his coffee* Have you run into anyone having the same "what the hell" we are?
Rorin: *nods* Yes. It took me a while, but the other day Dr Harrison found me and she is on our side of the confusion. The same goes for Commander McAdams and *names not even a hand full of officers he's been able to find*. What about you?
Joseph: So far only Lieutenant Naara. *winces* She...wasn't taking it so well.
Rorin: *sighs, concerned and stressed, why now, why this week, he doesn't need this* Is she all right, though? What happened to her?
Joseph: She's...human. Far as I can tell, she's fine, but...*shrugs* I'm no psychologist.
Rorin: *nods slowly* Is she still in Security?
Joseph: Far as I can tell, yeah. *sips coffee*
Rorin: *breathes deeply, nodding* All right. I asked because Kelsey is now in Sciences and access to the surveillance cams or armory can be useful. *shakes his head* I hope she's managing, though. I startled when I saw my hair had changed and it is only my hair, not my entire species.
Joseph: *e_e cripes* *you should've seen him when he realized he had a "girlfriend"; he almost passed out after going red in the face* Let's just hope that whatever this is, it's reversable.
Rorin: *nods* I agree, without a doubt. *or else he might have to give the idea of being a father some more thought, it's unclear...* Ah, but aside from having a girlfriend, has anything else changed for you?
Joseph: Apparently my parents are now Starfleet instead of cops, but apart from that...no.
Rorin: Heh. *sounding serious, thoughtful* Perhaps I should call mine. But I think I worry for what I might find.
Joseph: Cross fingers that it's nothing bad? *small smile* *drains coffee* In any case, I should probably think about getting back to my shift, break's almost up.
Rorin: Ah... *blinks* All right. Would you message me if you find someone else who's with us?
Joseph: *nods* No problem, sure. *rises* Good to know that I'm not the only one knowing things aren't right.
Rorin: Heh. /That/ is true. I was very relieved when I found out. *grabs his untouched drink and gets up* And thank you for messaging me. I can message you, too, if I have any news.
Joseph: *nod* Thanks. *picks up his dishes and starts for the recycler* Here's hoping we figure out what's going on.
Rorin: Yes. *takes a deep breath, nodding, and follows him* And soon, I hope. I just got some bad news from home, so this *gestures around, meaning their current problem* is inconvenient. But we'll figure it out.
Joseph: *frowns* What bad news? *returns the stuff to the recycler*
Rorin: Well. It's less about Betazed than Ascone. But the time I spent there was intense and its people are very important to me, so I consider it my second home. Anyway, the planet might be in another crisis with its neighbor planet. *disposes his drink*
Joseph: That doesn't sound good.
Rorin: *small headshake* No. I meant to tell you, actually. Because I might have to leave for some time. *sighs quietly*
Joseph: *frowns, can tell Rorin's taking it rough* I hope everything's all right, though.
Rorin: *so rough ._.* So far it is, more or less. But if it starts changing, I might want to be there or at least not here, where I could get cut off from any contact for weeks. I do plan on coming back, though.
Joseph: *small nod* That's good. The coming back part, the bad news not so much. *glances at watch* In any case, I really should go, I'm due back on shift. Good luck with your troubles, if there are any.
Rorin: *small smile, nodding* Thank you, Joseph. Likewise. I'll see you around.
Joseph: *returns the smile and offers a wave, before leaving the lounge to return to his shift*
Rorin: *waves at Joe and when he's left, takes a deep breath, stands there for another few seconds and then decides to continue his search in the gym and leaves*


II.
Rala: *camped out in the arboretum with about five of her strays, these are all under the age of ten and they're running around enjoying the grass and pond and trees, Rala is sitting perched on a large rock near the pond overseeing them all and making sure no one kills themselves* *she always remembers having this many kids, though almost all of them are adopted* *she has made Fallan grandfather to about eight of them and passed around others to various friends to make sure every one has a grownup person besides her*
Sarin: *She had been in a corner, doing her weird alien meth again, but she's interrupted by children running and playing in her general vicinity. She gets up and starts to wander around until she finds Rala. She stares at her camp with a distant look.* ...It's you.
Rala: *Mama Rala does not approve of drugs. They are bad for developing minds, which she has a lot of* *narrows her eyes at Sarin* Yes?
Sarin: ...You have a lot of kids. *Doesn't remember Rala having so many kids, or kids even being allowed here, but her mind is fucked anyways so she doesn't give it much thought.* You know. They can eat some of the tree bark here. Get their first taste of what it's like to be high. It's not a very logical choice to let your crotch fruit run about here.
Rala: *stands and leaps off the rock, landing just in front of Sarin* My children eat things that are bad for them, they will learn their own lessons. *doesn't even bother to point out they're not all biologically hers, this person is clearly an idiot*
Sarin: *Staring at something behind Rala. She takes her pipe to her lips, takes a long drag, and blows smoke rings.* That's a good way to raise them. Let them find out for themselves. Discover their own truths. Do you want a hit? *She offers Rala the pipe.* 'S supposed to put you out for days.
Rala: *goes to swat the pipe out of Sarin's hands* Do not smoke in the presence of me or my children.
Sarin: *Stares at her own hand like 'where the fuck did my pipe go'.* ...Don't be such a buzzkill. It's like you said. They will learn their own lessons.
Rala: *snatches up the pipe and tosses it into the pond behind them* *sends a silent apology to Elspeth, if in fact Elspeth is still who she is* They will not learn from you contaminating their lungs.
Sarin: Of course they will. They'll see the ultimate truth behind the universe. They'll be one with the fabric of space, time, and unreality. They'll know true logic. Plus it clears your sinuses. *She points to a very, very slight nosebleed.*
Rala: You are unwell. *scornfully*
Sarin: I am not. I'm...one with everything. *Rolls her head back, wobbles in place, seems to smile a bit, but goes right back to frowning.*
Rala: You are not fit for duty. I will escort you to Sickbay.
Sarin: I'm doing my duty pretty well. *Is not*
Rala: *turns to the kids and whistles sharply, the oldest one detaches from the pack and runs over to receive instructions to watch the rest and then runs off again, little chest puffed out with inflated importance* *Rala turns back to Sarin* You can walk with me, or I can take you there.
Sarin: I'm not going. *Gives Rala a sharp look,* I'm not doing anything to harm you. Leave my business to me.
Rala: You are harming my children with the smoke and your toxic ideas.
Sarin: *stares at Rala's kiddoes.* ...They look fine to me. *She sees four kids where there is supposed to be one.*
Rala: Leave this place.
Sarin: *Has no idea where her pipe went.* I'd like my pipe back.
Rala: It's in the pond. Go get it.
Sarin: *Stares at the pond. Then strips naked, in front fo teh children, and walks into the pond to get her pipe*
Rala: *rolls her eyes and walks over to her kids to herd them into the forest so they don't start asking questions they're not old enough for yet*
Sarin: *Flails around in the water, doesn't have the coordination needed to swim, but she thankfully finds it someplace that's too shallow for her to actually drown in, and she stumbles out of the pond, shivering.* Are you happy now?
Rala: *doesn't consider Sarin worth wasting her time anymore and has disappeared into the trees*
Sarin: *Maybe Rala was a hallucination. She keeps talking for a while to hallucinated Rala.* You're no better than a tribble with your strange collection of children. *stares at something for a bit, then starts to walk out the door. Still naked.*
Rala: *dun curr*


III.
Erika: *is in the lounge. In front of her is a yard-tall double helix of some intricately glimmering crystalline... something. She's is gingerly poking at it with chopsticks.*
Leslie: *lumbers into the lounge in search of food and a drink, so heads directly to the replicator to get a massive amount of food, and a mug of tea, and then looks for a place to sit*
Erika: *reaches out, and takes a crystalline sphere out of the construct. Miraculously, it does not fall over. She pops it in her mouth, where it makes a sound like shattering chandeliers* Hey. Leslie. Care to join me?
Leslie: Uh, sure. Thanks. *moves over to Erika's table and sets her things down before pulling out a chair and lowering herself into it* How are you?
Erika: *the entire crystalline structure ripples, shifts, and is now a slightly-smaller helix, the hole having patched itself. Erika lifts a single blonde eyebrow* Puzzled. How's the baby?
Leslie: Uh, sure. Thanks. *moves over to Erika's table and sets her things down before pulling out a chair and lowering herself into it* How are you?
Erika: *the entire crystalline structure ripples, shifts, and is now a slightly-smaller helix, the hole having patched itself. Erika lifts a single blonde eyebrow* Puzzled. How's the baby?
Leslie: *takes a drink of her tea* Getting bigger. *makes a face* And active. What is that? *nods at her crystal thing*
Erika: I'm not sure. I was following a recipe, and this is what I was left with. I didn't really understand all the... chemistry involved. *another sphere has formed where the first was plucked: she pulls off another* Tastes like, hm. Reheated antifreeze, all sweet, with a hint of something very high-proof. Rubbing alcohol, maybe.
Leslie: How very toxic.
Erika: Oh, no, I checked it over with Sickbay first. They said it probably shouldn't synthesize anything I can't process. *the helix ripples, and shrinks again, almost imperceptibly* Probably not great for the whole uterus thing, though, so I won't offer any.
Leslie: Thanks. I'm kinda happy with my food here anyway. It doesn't look so artistic or alive. *forks up a mouthful and chews*
Erika: *expirementally leans in and licks the thing. It makes a whistling sound, and rotates 180 degrees* Ah. Hm. Done a paternity test yet?
Leslie: No. *raises an eyebrow* Are you interested to know whose it is?
Erika: *laughs* Well, seeing as it can't be mine, of course!
Leslie: ...I gathered that much. *puts more food in her mouth and then talks around it* I meant, more like, why do you want to know?
Erika: Oh, so I can send them a card. It seems like the considerate thing to do.
Leslie: *snorts* *small grin* Would it say "congrats on having viable genetic material" or "good luck with the crushing responsibility of fatherhood"?
Erika: *waves it off* I'm sure Sciences will have whatever's going on under control in a week. Two, tops. Maybe just a card that says, "Cherish while it lasts."
Leslie: That could have multiple meanings. *runs a hand through her hair* So...you know? That something's up?
Erika: Of course. Everyone's having weird memory issues. *she absentmindedly snaps a piece off of the helix, which hisses in a distinctly angry manner as she crunches it* You don't remember getting pregnant. People don't remember me being Erika. Fallan doesn't remember being a cat.
Leslie: *blinks* Fallan...? ...never mind. You made it sound like it would be fixed and I wouldn't be pregnant anymore. But it sounds like you remember being Erika? So what if it's fixed and I remember getting pregnant? Which, by the way, how did you know I- oh never mind.
Erika: *twirls her finger in her hair* Good point. Well, there's two competing theories. Actual changes, and memory changes. If it's the former, your problem is solved, and I become... well. Hopefully you understand why I prefer the memory theory.
Leslie: Absolutely.
Erika: How about you?
Leslie: What about me? I'd definitely like to remember getting pregnant, but I'd also prefer to have a choice in whether or not I'm carrying a baby or not, and right now I don't feel like I have a choice. But speaking of which, what told you that I don't remember any of it?
Erika: Well, you do have a choice. We have the technology to provide it. And it's obvious. Everyone has either complete memories, or a cut-off as of four days ago. Since I trust my memory implicitly, and can't recall you being, ah, enburdened, I assumed you didn't either.
Leslie: Brave assumption.
Erika: Brave? Necessary. If I start doubting my memories, it won't be pretty.
Leslie: Assuming that I don't remember. Maybe I did. Or maybe I- hm. Maybe I remember you as someone else.
Erika: *she taps her skull* I have to trust what's in here as gospel. It tells me who my friends are, and who my enemies are. It tells me when I'm doing good, and when I'm breaking down. *she leans back in the chair, a much-diminished helix in front of her* There was a saying I heard at a prison camp, once. "My best thinking got me here." I can't have that lack of trust in my faculties.
Leslie: I can respect that. *drinks tea* And from what I know of you, good for you.
Erika: *laughs* It does mean that I'm a bit at odds with at least the majority of people, since it seems no one has quite the same memory of reality as me. *she clears her throat, and whistles a high-pitched note: the helix shivers, and collapses into a dozen crystal spheres.*
Leslie: That must be rough.
Erika: Hm. I'm used to it. Hoenstly, I'd be more surprised if something went my way for once, eh?
Leslie: You'd be entirely suspicious.
Erika: I'd shoot first and ask questions never.
Leslie: Isn't that what you always do?
Erika: Not at all. I do my best to follow the directions of the officer leading the party. Unless they're wrong.
Leslie: Uh huh. *drinks tea, then follows it with more food* That, of course, makes perfect sense.
Erika: like I said, I have to trust my brain. It hasn't shot anyone I care about yet.
Leslie: ...I feel like I should have an argument against that but I can't think of anything.
Erika: Besides. Me as a guy? Can you imagine? Ugh.
Leslie: Eh. I, uh, I can imagine that /very/ well. *focuses on her food*
Erika: *laughs* Right. False memories, sorry. Man, and you thought /I/ was intimidating, imagine me with six more inches of height, and what, like thirty extra kilos of muscle?
Leslie: *small grin* It's not so bad. Actually.
Erika: Well, I bet he could bench press more... Hm. Maybe not all bad, then.
Leslie: No, maybe not. *checks the time* Ugh, I overestimated how much time I had. Sorry to cut this short, but I gotta run. ...Figuratively speaking. Do you mind?
Erika: Oh, not at all. *the marbles have coalesced into one head-sized sphere which is vibrating rapidly* We should have a sleep-over again sometime. Like in the old days.
Leslie: *eases herself up from her chair and coughs from surprise* Ah. Um. ...You'll have to tell me about these sleepovers another time. And then I'll let you know. *smiles* I'll see you around. *picks up her plate and cup and heads to the replicator*
Erika: *nods* Hopefully, you all will get your memories back soon.
Leslie: Yes, that would be ideal. *leave*