Star Trek TNG: The Next Gamer
Episode 1.7: Lucky Rolls, Get Lucky
Tyson found a way to cheat.
He was nearing the end of an engineering shift. The replicator unit he was supposed to repair had so many parts that needed replacing, he would've rather scrapped the unit than spend the time taking it apart, repairing the components, and reinstalling it. Browsing his PADD revealed there was an option to do exactly that. He would have to travel to a cargobay to grab a new replicator to bring back to install. For a normal engineer, this would be a losing prospect, but having an inventory made it simple for Tyson.
Replacing the unit reduced his credit reward by seventy-five percent, but when he was done, he possessed a broken replicator. Since it was part of his daily quest he didn't need to use energy credits to obtain the new unit. The downside - even after repairing all the broken parts, the replicator wasn't functional. All the shipboard replicators were integrated into the Enterprise's EPS grid.
The solution was revealed accidentally when Tyson grabbed an engineering daily quest to repair a non-functional microfusion reactor. Two days later he had a collection of three microfusion reactors, two replicator units, and five holoemitters. He spent one shift doing engineering dailies, one in Cetacean Ops, and one in sickbay. Off-time was spent repairing the equipment he salvaged during the daily quests.
Tyson put his 2 unspent attribute points into Intelligence. His priority was the quickly approaching date with Deanna Troi. He hadn't seen her since leaving T'Pol that first day after the holodeck experience. He knew he needed to increase his Social skill, but hadn't found any way to do so yet. Barring Social, Intelligence was the obvious attribute to increase. His only skill at max level was Engineering. He was getting so much out of it, raising the cap was an easy decision.
+1 Luck
Engineering Skill Increased! 13-15 (Maxed)
+200 Experience x10 (14,850/37,000)
+2000(75% reduction) Energy Credits x10: 13,085 - 18,085
Restocking and checking the biobeds in Sickbay was also pretty much cheating. With his Engineering and Medicine skills so high, it was impossible to fail the simple task, but because the check was higher than his Medicine skill, it was power leveled. The two shifts maxed his level and earned a small chunk of experience and credits.
Medicine Skill Increased! 7-15 (Maxed)
+2500 Experience x2 (19,850/37,000)
+500 Energy Credits x2 (18,085 - 19,085)
Tyson considered his time in Cetacean Ops as well spent. He raised his Cetacean Language skill and was now able to communicate with the dolphins underwater, without nearly drowning. Excluding the end of his first day, when a major failure caused his hamstring to cramp while swimming down to one of the consoles. Luna had to help him out of the pool, ending his shift early.
He gained skill levels and experience, but the theoretical work earned him no energy credits. He was having difficulties raising his Physical Science skill. The navigation was so difficult for him, he didn't receive any increases. Tyson considered foregoing additional shifts in Cetacean Ops but decided to continue attending at least until he maxed his language skill.
Cetacean Language Skill Increased! 3-4
+2500 Experience x2 (24,850/37,000)
Athletics Skill Increased! 3-9
Computers Skill Increased! 4-8
T'Pol arrived at Tyson's quarters. He'd preemptively raised the temperature in his quarters to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. This was typically what he did when he knew she was visiting. Vulcan's evolved on a planet much warmer than Earth, with average temperatures around one hundred twenty degrees. Tyson's increased Constitution allowed him to tolerate the increase easily, though it was slightly outside of what he would consider comfortable. He found that by using the Your Hands Clean aura, any sweat he gave off would be dispersed immediately. An additional benefit was that it would keep his scent neutral. Vulcan females had an acute sense of smell; T'Pol experienced an acclimation period when was she first around humans.
Tyson had not been prepared for T'Pol's appearance when she arrived. The Hello Nurse! perk was bending reality again. When Tyson first laid eyes on T'Pol in the holodeck biobed, he couldn't deny how striking she was. Her appearance exactly matched what he remembered from the television show. Now though, she was breathtaking. Tyson didn't mean that in a figurative sense, the moment he saw her he froze up. It was like the first time he saw a gorgeous woman while going through puberty again. The primal part of his brain was warning him. Anything in nature that displayed open beauty was dangerous. The intricate silk patterns weaved by spiders spelled the doom for any passing flys. Tyson was trapped in that web and his instincts were screaming that he was going to be consumed.
"May I enter?"
Her voice freed him. He'd locked up just inside the doorway blocking her entrance. He attempted to recover. "Sorry. I was distracted by your hair. I like this style. Please, come in."
And he did. The typical Vulcan bob-cut was gone. Her hair was now lighter and longer, reaching beyond her shoulder blades with a slight curl near the ends. All she needed were long bangs framing her face and Tyson would wonder if she'd been replaced by her mirror universe counterpart.
That was something to think about. The mirror universe was an alternate universe; a dark reflection of what the Federation could have become if their morals tended more toward violence and domination. In the mirror universe, after Zephram Cochraine's first warp flight when the Vulcans made first contact, the humans attacked and stole their technology to make rapid advancements. They then went on a warpath, subjugating the neighboring alien races. Luckily, that was a problem for future Tyson. He didn't remember there being any mirror universe episodes during The Next Generation. They wouldn't show up again until Deep Space 9. There were plenty of other looming threats to worry about before then.
Tyson complimented her hair as it was the most obvious change in her appearance, but it wasn't the only one. Other, more subtle changes to her face included a softening of her jawline and a lowering of her hairline which served to reduce the slight prominence of her forehead. She retained her angular cheekbones, but the perpetual bags under her eyes had faded. Speaking of her eyes, Tyson wasn't positive, but they looked a little bigger. T'Pol always had almond-shaped eyes, but now they looked taller while maintaining a similar shape. Their angle shifted to be lesser than but matching her eyebrows.
Her skintight clothing did little to hide the changes to her body. Her arms,, which were previously waifish thin were now larger. Not so much as to be considered muscular, but closer reflecting the fact that she was thrice over as strong as Tyson. Her fitted pants did nothing to disguise her wider hips and more pronounced gluteal protrusion.
"Thank you," T'Pol replied curtly.
His eyes wandered as she walked by. If T'Pol had been human, she may have smiled as she approached her seat at the kitchen island. She felt an affinity for Tyson. He went out of his way to make her comfortable. From using ingredients in the meals he cooked that suited her diet, to adjusting the temperature of his quarters, speaking her language, and using his abilities to mask his scent. The one thing he overlooked was his mental discipline. She was only weakly telepathic, but his thoughts and emotions were openly projected while she was within arms reach.
Tyson prepared their meal. He needed to replicate a blender. Smaller appliances, like utensils and flatware, were easier to create on-demand than to clean and store after every meal. He preheated both ovens and brought a pot to a boil. He peeled and sliced sweet potato, carrot, and beet. The sweet potato and carrot went into the boiling water. The beet went into the oven at two hundred degrees. As he cooked, Tyson told T'Pol about the shifts he'd taken across the ship.
"Why exactly are there dolphins on this ship?" she asked.
"I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but around a hundred years ago humanity encountered a powerful alien that was trying to communicate with a language that sounded like whalesong. During that mission, a Vulcan assigned to that Enterprise was able to telepathically communicate with the whales. Through the use of the universal translator and telepathy, we were able to decode their language. Humans knew dolphins were intelligent creatures, nearly on par, but were never able to establish communications until that point. It's my understanding that now, similar aquatic mammals are stationed on most starships. Their natural multidimensional environment gives them an inclination towards stellar cartography and navigation."
"I see. And how many Enterprises have there been?"
Tyson held up his fingers as he recounted, "Hmm. Your Enterprise was one. Kirk's Enterprise was launched about a hundred years after your time, which was destroyed, and a refit was issued so that's three. Next came the Enterprise-B, which Kirk died on, that's four. The Enterprise-C which was destroyed by the Romulans is five. The ship we're on is the 6th iteration."
As he mentioned the Enterprise-C, Tyson's thoughts returned to the mirror universe. That ship appeared in a single episode of TNG; it involved time travel and an alternate timeline where the Federation was at war with the Klingons. It wasn't the mirror universe, but it was the closest TNG ever came to it. Tyson couldn't remember what season that episode was in but knew it wasn't season one.
T'Pol dragged Tyson back into the conversation. "With such a history, one must wonder how long this Enterprise will last."
"About another seven years, give or take."
"How can you say that with such certainty?" T'Pol asked.
He needed to explain his meta-knowledge in a believable way. "One of my abilities granted me limited precognition. I've seen a snapshot of a single possible future. In that future, this ship is destroyed in a battle with a renegade Klingon vessel."
T'Pol seemed to accept that explanation. Apparently to her, a vision of the future is more plausible than traveling through time. She asked," Should you be telling me this."
Tyson raised his hand in a so-so gesture. "The captain knows. He asked me not to speak of it with the crew, but you're not a member of his crew. I consider two possibilities. One is the closed time loop. Events, as I saw them, are meant to happen and will progress as they had in my vision regardless of our presence or any actions we take. Or two, our presence alone created an alternate timeline and has already changed the course of events regardless of any actions we may commit. In both cases, our indirect presence has already determined the course." "
"A logical conclusion." She replied.
Which possibility was his reality? It would be revealed when something he changed either altered a major event away from the outcome he remembered… or didn't. The question was what event could he use as a marker? It would have to be something major. Wolf 359? That was a few years away. One of the movies? The Motion Picture era was over and TNG movies wouldn't be starting for about seven years as he mentioned earlier. Someone's death! Tyson remembered Tasha Yar was the first major character killed off. That happened in season one or two, hopefully, he'd recognize when that episode was starting and could do something to try interfering and see what happened.
Tyson thought as he cooked, or rather cooked as the thought. He removed the sweet potatoes from the boiling water and placed them in the blender, but didn't activate it. He seasoned two chicken breasts, one for T'Pol if she decided to have some meat, and seasoned asparagus in a separate tray. Both went into the oven set at four hundred degrees.
After twenty more minutes, he removed the beets from the oven to cool. Then Tyson prepared the salad dressing. It was a mixture of balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, and olive oil. Watercress was topped with chopped walnuts, the cooled beets, and crumbled feta cheese, then drizzled with the prepared dressing. This time Tyson remembered to use his Eternal Grilling Tongs to place the beets on the greens.
Cooking Check: Major Success.
Cooking skill has increased! 5 - 6
They sat side by side and began eating the salad. Small talk shifted towards an unusual aspect of Tyon's recent activities.
"What is the purpose of gathering holo equipment?" T'Pol asked.
"A super secret project I'm working on."
She gave him a look that implied his answer was insufficient.
"The captain banned me from using the holodeck. So. I'm planning on converting my quarters into a mini holodeck. I've got the power consumption piece figured out and I'm halfway to gathering the microfusion generators I'll need. A few more holoprojectors and all that's left is to find a solution to the computing issue. It's amazing how much processing power is needed to run a holodeck program."
"Aren't you worried about how the Captain will respond when he finds out about your project?"
Tyson shrugged. "I'm technically following orders."
Tyson removed the carrots from the boiling pot and turned off the heat. The carrots went into the blender with the sweet potato. He added brown sugar and butter. The asparagus was removed before the chicken. It was darkened just around the edges of the spear but not wilted. The roasted chicken and asparagus were plated with sweet potato carrot puree.
Cooking Check: Critical Success.
Cooking skill has increased! 6 - 7
"Mmmhm." As an adult, T'Pol had rarely lost control of her emotions. When the first scoop of the purre hit her tongue, she let out an involuntary sound of satisfaction. Tyson's eyes got wide at her momentary lapse. The puree was sweet but not overly so. The asparagus was crispy but not dry, and the chicken released savory juices as it was bitten into.
The world turned gray and froze around Tyson. The only time he'd experienced this sensation was when he'd needed to use Luck to re-roll. He hadn't intended to spend a Luck point, so he was unsure as to why. A notification appeared, assuaging his confusion.
Perk Evolution!
Culinary Creations - Culinary Visualization
Perk: Culinary Visualization - You can cook a lot of things, for all sorts of pallets. You can adapt any food you know or learn about so practically any species remotely capable of ingesting it can enjoy and benefit from it. Your major successes with Cooking skill brings your food to a level where it brings about a visual sensation of the food, its ingredients, and the chef's intention. The power of these images and the effect on the ones eating increase based on the skill and success of the Cooking process. Visualization is only visible to the chef and the ones affected by their food.
Dismissing the notification caused the world to be re-saturated and time continued. T'Pol's body was encompassed with a warm glow. She floated into the air above the stool. The seams holding her clothes together separated and the cloth flowed off her form to disappear before hitting the ground. Her perfectly sculpted form was revealed to Tyson. Unfortunately, while her voluptuous outline was visible, the glow hid any details. It was like watching an anime that had been censored for television. The glowing aura shifted and solidified into a plush blanket wrapped around her entire body. Beyond the blanket, the image behind T'Pol shifted. A desert city, her parents and sister, the Seleya, Enterprise, Archer, and Tucker. There were several images in-between that Tyson hadn't recognized, but he felt what they represented. She was experiencing the comfort he'd been trying to offer her since she arrived.
As suddenly as the moment began, it passed. T'Pol was back on the stool, fork in hand, fully dressed. She quickly schooled her impression but her face gave subtle signs of embarrassment. Tyson wisely didn't comment.
Increasing companion reputation beyond the Kindly level requires companion-specific quest completion.
Requirements met! (Quests 2/1)
* Save T'Pol
* Defeat all the Vulcans without Deaths
Increased Reputation with T'Pol (Kindly - Warmly)
Tyson spent most of the meal answering her questions and talking about what he'd been working on. Nearing the end of the meal the discussion shifted toward her activities. T'Pol spent most of the day studying history and technological advancements. She'd missed nearly two hundred years and had much to catch up on. Tyson hadn't spent much time looking over history, relying on meta-knowledge to fill the gaps.
"How have you been feeling? Honestly. It was documented that you had paranoia issues following the Trellium exposure."
"I still haven't experienced that, nor am I feeling as I had while being on the Seleya. However, I have experienced moments of emotional control lapse, and had difficulty sleeping."
"Control lapses are slightly concerning. Can you tell me more about them?"
"I don't believe they're related to Trellium exposure. For one, the lapses have only occurred when I'm in your presence. I may be experiencing some bleed-through of your thoughts and feelings. It isn't uncommon for Vulcans to create telepathic connections with those they're close to."
Tyson nodded, "I'd still like to do another check tomorrow in sickbay, just in case."
"Agreed."
"Is there anything I can do to help with your sleeplessness?"
T'Pol hesitated. "Before I came here, I was having neuro-pressure sessions with Commander Tucker. They were mostly for his benefit but I believe being displaced as I have may be contributing to my restlessness."
"Could you teach me? Perhaps I'll make a suitable replacement."
T'Pol agreed and launched into an overview lecture on neuro-pressure. It was more in-depth than anything he recalled from the Enterprise television show. Tyson assumed it was because T'Pol knew he had some medical knowledge.
Neuro-pressure was a massage and manipulation technique to stimulate sensory nerves. The chart T'Pol showed on his PADD reminded Tyson of the wall posters he'd seen when getting acupuncture. The maps of pressure points were similar to meridian charts. His anatomy knowledge allowed the theoretical session to move quickly. Soon he was removing his shirt so T'Pol could demonstrate.
The neuro-pressure technique involved hand positions which reminded Tyson of playing chords on a guitar. C7, E, and G with an added thumb, a full hand pincer grip, fine pincer grip, two hooked fingers, and two fingers bent with the thumb applying pressure forming a backward E. When she finished demonstrating T'Pol went into his bedroom, changing into a cami top and shorts she replicated. He recognized the outfit as the same one she wore during the neuro-pressure sessions on the show.
She sat on the floor with her back to Tyson. Even with the addition of his kitchen, there was still several feet of open space in the lounge area. He kneeled behind her and placed his hands on her traps, beginning with a relaxed full-hand pincer. After a brief warm-up period, he dove into the techniques she instructed him on earlier.
Medicine Check: Critical Success!
Medicine skill cannot exceed governing attribute, Intelligence (15)
Tyson lost himself in the focus of implementing everything he'd been taught. His hands moved through the hand positions and pressure points with confidence boosted by the gamer system. T'Pol lost herself in the feeling of Tyson's ministrations. This was not an amateur effort she experienced. Weeks of practice with Trip had yielded a fraction of these results.
Beyond the feelings elicited by his perfectly placed fingers, T'Pol couldn't ignore Tyson's everpresent thoughts about her. His intention to relieve her tension was evident. But, deeper he was still projecting his desire for her. It was an ever-present cloud, lingering whenever they were together. His respectfulness around her made it easy to ignore, but at this moment she couldn't. She wouldn't.
T'Pol had been sitting lotus style with her hands palm-down on the inside of her knees for the whole session. As Tyson neared the end of the massage he was about to remove his hands from her back. Before he could, she reached up, one of her hands hooking the back of his neck, the other around his head. She gently pulled his head down, hers turning and rising. Their lips met, opening, tongues entwining.
His right arm encircled her ribs, just below her bust. His other hand snaked under her arms and his palm sat at her jawline. Using his pointer finger, he traced the outside of her ear. He knew they were more sensitive than humans and he was enamored with their elfin shape.
The kiss deepened, T'Pol responding to Tyson's caress. Feeling emboldened, Tyson raised the hand on her ribs to cup her breast through the camisole top. Despite her petite frame, her breast was more than a handful. He felt her nipple begin to harden between his fingers. Wanting more, he moved his hand to the base of her cami and began raising it, revealing her toned abs. She raised her arms and broke the kiss allowing him to remove her shirt.
T'Pol stood. Her upper body was bared for Tyson. He appreciated her perfectly shaped breasts. They had a slight upturn and didn't sag in the slightest. She wiggled her hips as she shimmied out of her shorts, leaving her completely nude.
Tyson moved to stand but was stopped by T'Pol placing a hand on his shoulder. It was not just the gesture that stopped him, she physically halted his movement. Her next action shocked the man.
It was one thing knowing theoretically Vulcans were more than double the strength of humans. Empirically it was a different experience. T'Pol deftly tore through his shirt followed by his jeans, Popping the button and zipper giving way under her force. She pulled down his pants and boxers, gravity ensured the tattered remains of his shirt hit the ground at the same time.
Seven seconds. He went from being fully clothed to being only in his birthday suit. Her demonstration of strength wasn't complete. She pushed him onto his back and swiftly moved over him.
Skill Unlocked!
Perform (level 1) - A skill dictating how good you are at entertaining. This skill governs acting, singing, dancing, musical instruments, and adult activities. Skill level cannot exceed governing attribute, Charisma.
Perform Check: Major Success
Perform skill has increased! 1 - 2
Tyson
Title: Recruit
Race: Human
Level: 4 (24,850/37,000)
Energy Credits: 19,085
Hit Points: 110/110
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 11
Luck: 4
Unspent Attribute Points: 0
Status Effects:
(none)
Skills:
Observe: Lvl 10
Meditation: Lvl 0 - Locked
Engineering: Lvl 15 - Maxed
Computers: Lvl 8
Physical Science: Lvl 3
Martial Arts: Lvl 7
Athletics: Lvl 9
Medicine: Lvl 15 - Maxed
Social: Lvl 2
Cooking: Lvl 7
Energy Weapons: Lvl 2
Melee Weapons: Lvl 8
Stealth: Lvl 8
Perform: Lvl 2
Language Skills:
Cetacean: Lvl 4
Klingon: Lvl 2
Vulcan: Lvl 5
Perks:
'Out of Nowhere'
'The Anti-Worf Effect'
'Universal Translator'
'Culinary Visualization'
'Your Hands Clean'
'Grand Theft Starship'
'Hello Nurse!'
Drawbacks:
'Q and U'
AN: Mondays still suck, so here's another chapter!
Reviews, follows, and favorites are appreciated. Next update Wednesday.
This was my first stab at something explicit. I can visualize the comments on how it was too fast. As previously stated, I roll for everything. For the dinner, he rolled ten over the DC, followed by the Crit which earned the Perk. Then with the neuro-pressure, another crit with max skill level. 18, 20, 20 is a ridiculous roll sequence and I felt that kind of luck really needed to be rewarded. Odds for back-to-back crits is 1 in 400; framed like that is it so far-fetched? Maybe. *shrug* still fun for me.
Question for reviewers: Fade to black or full explicit?
How do you like the system? Do you want more of the math included (rolls and DCs), or do you like how streamlined it is?
This Episode's pics, larger set. (NSFW)
Imgur dot com (and add the link to the end if you're interested!)
Episode 1.7: /a/jsQZ7Ve