[video]

[captaincocksure]

[Jim knows something's gone wrong the moment the whizzing incandescent sparks of the transporter beam fade from his vision.

Since when does a farming community have an ornate library?

He turns to his right to demand a report from Spock... but Spock's not there. To his left, to find McCoy's not there either.

He reaches for his communicator but its heft is unfamiliar in his hand. It's not his. But it's obviously a communication device of some sort. He fiddles with it, manages to turn on the voice broadcasting.]

Kirk to Enterprise, come in. Enterprise, are you receiving me?

[A pause as he waits for an answer and gets none. He tries a different tack.]

Cassiopeia 3 Colony, this is Captain Kirk, do you copy?

[That clearly doesn't get him what he wants, either. There's a faint sigh, the sort that comes when someone's preparing themselves to speak, and then the video comes on. Jim is perfectly in frame, looking directly into the device, shoulders straight, and he speaks with confidence and authority that almost don't seem to fit with his obvious youth. Clearly he's done this before.]

This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. I respectfully request an audience, whether via this communication device or in person, with a member of the governing body, ruler, or other authority of this location, or their designated representative.

This place was not my intended destination. If I've arrived here in error, I will need some information to help me figure out how to correct it. If I was purposefully brought here, please accept my gratitude for arriving unharmed, but I obviously have questions about the conditions surrounding my transport and I would like to negotiate the terms of my return.

[He pauses again, and his expression softens. This is clearly less Official Command Officer Business, and more a casual, polite request.]

...I appear to be in a library. If someone could tell me how to get out, and where to find the people I need to talk to, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Comments

Video;

[avoirfaim]

[ When Hannibal was a child, there were very few American products of any kind allowed in Lithuania, under Soviet rule. Star Trek was one of the few items of entertainment media that did. He knows the name, Captain Kirk, but he also knows that face is nothing like the one that belongs to William Shatner. Stranger things have happened in Wonderland already in his one month of being there, and so he takes everything into consideration, holding nothing as a surprise.

He smiles politely, though with the slightest hint of amusement as he connects via video. ]

Good evening, Captain. I assume others have already filled you in on our situation, but I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have.

video forever;

[captaincocksure]

Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.

Do we have any idea why we've been brought here? To what end?

[avoirfaim]

[ The shake of his head is slight. ] I don't know any reasons for certain, but I would not put it past the powers that be to hold us here for their own enjoyment and nothing more.

[captaincocksure]

[Jim frowns, disapproving and yet somehow not that surprised.]

That's inconsiderate at best. Possibly a gross abuse of the power it took to bring us here.

[avoirfaim]

The word you may be searching for is rude, Captain, though with the degree of power it would take to bring us here, I would say that what constitutes an abuse of said power would be entirely up to them.

[captaincocksure]

Point taken. Both points, actually. It is damned rude.

Have you been here long, sir?

[avoirfaim]

Just under two months, so not quite as long as some of our fellow guests.

[captaincocksure]

That's probably still two months too long, I'd imagine.

[He can't imagine anyone is happy about being here.]

[avoirfaim]

[ Oh, Hannibal can imagine a few who might be. ]

Not for everyone. While I would prefer to be home, some have no stable, comfortable home to return to. All that remains for them at home are falsehoods and danger, or even the void of the afterlife. I imagine some find this a long needed vacation from their lives.

[captaincocksure]

People wind up here instead of dead? ...Okay, yeah, I can understand preferring this, then.

[He probably would. He remembers dying--more correctly and significantly, he does not remember what death was like. Was it washed away with his resurrection? Or was there nothing to remember? The question haunts him still.]

How are you finding Wonderland? Do you prefer it, or do you want your old life back?