realityshifted | (no subject)

[The perusal of the brochure warrants a pause at the section about "robots", though he supposes he must be an exception to the rule. He would have to be to be here, he assumes.]

I suppose this is not the first time I have phased from reality... [It's said to himself as he looks over the other brochures, and even balks a bit at Nathan's. They explain everything and yet minimal information simultaneously. He finally abandons the brochures to investigate. He taps his communicator, first.] Data to Enterprise, come in, Enterprise.

[He waits for a moment, listening to the buzz of the communicator with a muted look of confusion.]

Greetings? I am Lt. Commander Data of the USS Enterprise. I am seeking assistance.

[He frequently sounds formal. Voice kind, not entirely flat but close to it. It's just a touch nasal, but not offensively so.] I am afraid that I am lost. [Even with a guide, he supposed that was the best way to describe this manner of situation.] I found a shop aboard Deep Space Four and it led to here, wherever here might be. Could someone please respond if anyone is within audible range. [He pulls out his tricorder to scan.]

I am getting no logical readings with my tricorder, they are in constant fluctuation. [Said to that someone that might-be-listening-but-he-wasn't-sure-was] Air quality is indeterminate. Gravity is indeterminate. Life signs are also indeterminate. Presence of atmosphere at all is indeterminate. And... I do not specifically recognize any of the visible star formations. It would take me approximately five hours to run a full analysis of one small area though to judge whether or not the positioning could be indicative of an earlier or later point in the Milky Way galaxy.

[He closes the tricorder and replaces it in his utility belt, as it seems that it would be useless here.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A number of the residents were forced to fight each other to the death in some barbaric spectacle. They could not leave the Plane, and if they did not participate, their home reality would have been destroyed. A similar situation happened several months ago.

There was no way to prevent one's involvement. [Data sounds more than a little put off by this.]

None that was known to us. But access to the the Plane is... beneficial, on most occasions.

Beneficial? How so? [At least Omega was thoroughly informative. He was grateful for his patience with his inquiries.]

While you're here, Time does not pass in your home reality. It makes getting work done remarkably convenient.

[He "hmm"s thoughtfully at that. It makes sense.] Has interaction with the Plane and those that can find it affected other realities?

Strong emotion and prolonged contact seems to trigger reality mergers. Parts of your own reality will begin to be found in the other's, and vice versa, until the point where your realities are completely merged.

[His brows raise] Can you give me an example? [That could be potentially problematic, if someone came from a particularly dangerous reality. Perhaps when here it would be best to deactivate his emotion chip. He was beginning to consider it.]

I experienced a merger with another of my species from much further along in my timeline. At first, only a small area of our respective ships overlapped -- an area of the gardens. Then that area expanded to the entire gardens and surrounding corridors. I attempted to reverse the merger by avoiding contact, but the Plane would not... allow it.

[He's wearing a bit of a scowl at that. The Plane gave him nightmares for weeks until he returned.]

What species are you? [He had assumed Omega human at first. It was hard to tell, with his tricorder acting as it was and he was a bit ashamed of himself for the assumption.] And you have access to a ship?

I am a Time Lord. [It's said without an ounce awareness of how pompous that sounds.] And yes, but she cannot be brought to the Plane. Not any more.

[He ignores how pompous it sounds, as there are worse names in the galaxy. Most of them start with Borg and end with Queen.] I am sorry. [Because if he came that close to her, it would have been a considerable loss.]

[Omega waves the apology away, unconcerned. His ship is still safe, thankfully.] She is still present in my reality. I had guessed, when I created her, that she would not be able to access the Plane once she had reached a certain level of awareness.

When you created her. [Both a statement and a question. She was a member of his race, but he had created her? He was growing increasingly curious, and confused]

[Omega blinks, a bit puzzled by the response.]

Of course. Time ships cannot build themselves.

[Data stares] ...I believe I am going to have to start asking questions more specifically.

However, I do thank you for your patience in answering many of my inquiries thus far.

[Right, Omega's decided that non-Gallifreyan conversational cues can be weird.]

It is no trouble, and it benefits everyone to be properly warned.

[He pauses, then remembers that he should probably introduce himself.] My name is Omega.

[He offers his hand in standard human greeting.] I am Data. [He had mentioned that, but his name was frequently taken to be the word.]

[He hesitates for a brief second, before recalling that a handshake was a human custom and returning it. His skin is pretty chilly, for a humanoid.]

A pleasure. Am I correct in assuming you are from a human world?

I was constructed in a human science colony on Omicron Theta. [His net is still buzzing with ideas concerning time ships.]

[With no small amount of interest;] I've not heard of it. You are remarkably advanced for human craftsmanship. [That's actually a compliment, from him.]