Side Game: Dystopia

[http://users.livejournal.com/_samalander/]

In the world you are entering, there is a Federation. There is an Enterprise. There is even a Captain Kirk.

But in this world, they are not as you know them.

George Lowther, 27, is the captain of the pirate ship known throughout the galaxy as the Enterprise. Of course, he's not the real George Lowther, and neither was the man before him, a fellow called Chris Pike. They're in the process of trading the identity, so Pike can retire, having made his fortune. The new Lowther, real name James T. Kirk, has hired on a crew, and they're off on their first voyage, affiliated with the Federation of Interstellar Pirates.

So. How's the crew doing? And, of course, who's fucking?

Comments

(frozen comment)

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Lowther, George

Sometimes you can't know for sure. Have to trust your gut and keep your eyes open. But when someone really means it...you can tell.

He'll help if we need, he's good to his word, but the lynchpin is the woman, my woman, of lack of a better descriptor. She's inside and will feed us the information we need and help as needed. THough with all the info we're gathering we shouldn't need much, we're going with our plan to get out in already place. Then we just have to pull it off.

Show the world something different then. Don't be Kirk. Be Jim. Take control of your life.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Lowther, George
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

You can tell, sure. But you've got like 300 years of observing humanity. And I don't even know if I trust you right now.

You're trusting a Fleet woman to get us out of Fleet clutches? Fine. But I don't trust her. I should at least get a name before I agree. I'd prefer to meet her. I can't do this blind.

You keep saying that. Take control. Pike, it doesn't mean anything. No one is in control of their life. There's the Fleet and the Federation and the universe. You can control everything you can reach and still be their puppet.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Lowther, George

I know, it's a thing that comes with time. But you have to keep trying, find whatever way works for you to see past the liars.

If she was going to turn me in she would've done it long before now. I'll give you her name in person. I can't promise a meeting, it's too hard to arrange, but we could likely have you two talk. She's been working from the inside for ages. She's...Jim she's having my child. Just told me today. I trust her with my life and have many times before.

Just because you might not have full control doesn't mean frighting for all the control you get isn't worth it. We have to chose our masters a bit but goddamn chose them instead of accepting what you're given.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Lowther, George
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Oh. You'll have a real kid, then. Well. Good on you.

MESSAGE ERASED UNSENT

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Lowther, George
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Are you fucking insane? You're having a kid and you wanna take one last stand against the Fleet and you expect me to help you? Fuck no. You kid gets a father. He deserves one.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Lowther, George

I want my child to get a chance at a world worth living in so yes, I am. The timing is shit, but she and I still intend to go through with this. No one's dying on this mission. I planned this for you, to help you, and now I just have another reason to set things right. If I can make this world any small step closer to sane before that child is born I'm going to do it.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Lowther, George
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Does your woman still want it? Would your hunter friend? Look, it's sweet that you wanna help me and all, but you have a family now, a real one, and you gotta put them first. Do what Saint George didn't. Be there. Let the world be fucked up. It won't matter to your son.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Lowther, George

She said to move the plans up actually. He'll go with what what we decide, he's going home to his own kids after this. Why I'm letting him take the payout, he's agot a disabled son finally learning to walk. We've been through this Jim, you're just as much my family as anyone else. Having this child doesn't mean you're off the list. I'd rather like you to be a godparent, not gonna lie. Look, I've risked my life for friends and less for years now, so, for my family, for you and this kid who's going to arrive in a few months? I can pull this one last gambit and still be there. I want to. I'm not going in there to die or to write the end of this. I'm going in to start something new. To give us all a chance.

Also it's a girl until we see a penis; mother's orders.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Lowther, George
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

It doesn't sit right with me. If you're a father now, be a father. Not a hero. Life is pain, Pike. Anyone saying different is selling something. You taught me that. So why does it stop being true now? For him?

You want a godparent who isn't even allowed to know where you're going? No. This kid gets adults who are there.

You're risking too much. Babies change the game.

Sorry, but this mother gets you. She doesn't get a say. It's a boy until I see proof otherwise.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

My ships got a spy, likely one of Komack's but not sure. If you hear whispers of anything at all that might help identify let me know.

Also I want to be honest so you should know before the plan gets any further: that girl of mine? She's pregnant. And we're keeping it. The timing is shit and may make us shift some things, but that's the short of it. Just found out today.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Right. I'll get the communications triplet to start scanning the frequencies, then, see if I pick anything up.

Cool. I call godfather.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Lowther, George

I'll be a father when the kid gets here. I get that you have caveats about this type of thing. And they're legitimate. But I'm not George, this isn't the same thing. Because I'm sick of fucking running. I'm tired of just getting by. Because every time I look at you I see so much potential in you just waiting to escape, gives me hope. Life damn well is pain, but it's also a hell of a lot of other things too. It's never going to be easy and I don't think for a second that this kid of mine will get to grow up without the fleet...but maybe their kids will. Maybe yours. It's worth a try.

Get the fuck off that issue. You'll know as soon we're settled, she doesn't even know where it is at this point. You're it's godfather. I want you to be.

Fine, you stubborn bastard. One of you is going to be severely disappointed when we find out.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

Thanks. We're watching ours too. But so far our two suspects haven't panned out.

Kid gets godfather, if he agrees. I'll let you be godmother though.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Got any other suspects?

Aw, but I want it.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

Working on it. Ran a list of known moles but no hits, we're checking backgrounds and files for flaws or holes now. Also watching our transmissions for anything odd. Should have more soon.

He's family. I would imagine you'll be honorary anyway, since i'm sure once we settle you'll be popping on by to give me hell.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Okay. Let me know if you get anything else.

Duh. And you'd better visit regularly. Otherwise Lucy'll cry. Do you really want to make a little girl cry? I didn't think so.

So you having a boy or a girl?

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

Will do.

Yeah, yeah, we'll work something out. No crying Lucy.

Don't know yet. She's calling it a girl though until she gets proof otherwise.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Good. I don't like it when she cries. She has enough reasons to anyway without Uncle Chris refusing to visit her on top of them.

And what do you want?

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

I know you don't. Oh don't be a drama queen. You don't need to ransom me with threats of sad puppy eyes.

I don't really know. As long as the three of us are fine in the end I don't think I care too much. I have an honorary son already but wouldn't mind my own. Never had any kind of daughter; the thought of it's certainly not a bad one.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

I was just covering my bases. And I'm not being a drama queen, things are just rough right now. I'm hoping they'll be better once this whole thing plays out, though.

You'd be hilarious with a daughter. She'd be your little princess and you'd never let any guys within a quandrant of her because they might get ~ideas~ about her.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

How rough? I though things were going alright. Everything will be better if we pull this off.

So sort of like how you are with Lucy then?

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

Things have been rough since the accident, you know that. They've gotten better but not better enough.

I will never have to be like that with Lucy because she is going to stay six years old forever. She said so herself. (Shut up shut up shut up let me live in my fantasy world where my daughter is never going to grow up and start attracting guys to her).

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Pike, Christopher
Recipient: Giotto, Tony

I do. Fair enough, but little bit better is still better than nothing.

You are so doomed. But hey, at least you're plenty capable of scaring away potential suitors.

[(Anonymous)]

Sender: Giotto, Tony
Recipient: Pike, Christopher

I'll be glad when we can get out to the planet and settle down. I wish I could bring my parents with me, but they refuse to leave their home, even if it will be a better life out there. Ah well, I guess it's their decision.

True. "I spent twelve years capturing pirates" is a great way to intimidate.

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