damn all green-skinned teenagers on this ship [closed]

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Picard sat at a table in the Sensoriums, the area now keyed to appear like an original Enterprise recreation room. Rubbing his temples to soothe the migraine he felt on the way, the captain idly wondered if all teenagers were like this. As much as he could respect someone having a healthy concern for the security of things like communications networks, the Brainiacs seemed to have little to no semblance of respect for the privacy of others. Now, Picard found himself in the unenviable position of teaching that respect to them.

Comments

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Brainiac 5 enters the Sensoriums reluctantly. He knows logically that he should try and make an effort to get along with this new crew, they all have a common goal in mind after all, but as far as he's concerned there's a difference between that and easily going along with orders passed down by others he doesn't know. Especially when those orders are to do with matters he's always been left to handle on his own.

It doesn't help that this discussion will also involve his counterpart, who seems to have less problems with the situation than he does. It's another difference that feels like it's working against him.

Fortunately the other isn't here yet, so he's optimistic that the Captain might wish to speak with them separately and he doesn't have to do this in front of someone else.

"You wanted to speak to me?" There's a pause of only a half a second or less before he adds, "Captain."

[cabbage-butt.livejournal.com]

Brainy arrives, seemingly put out--this is after having to transfer all his files to a safe location, mind you--sans his omnicom.

He doesn't say a word, merely nods to Picard.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Picard didn't lecture. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't even get up from his seat. Instead, he turned to regard them, nodded with a warm smile, and then gestured to the table, where a strange-looking board game (http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9684/fmtng3dchess1.jpg) seemed set up. "Tell me," the captain asked, almost oblivious in his cheerful question, "do either of you know how to play?"

[cabbage-butt.livejournal.com]

"Tri-D chess. I usually opt to forgo such diversions, but I have played on occasion."

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Brainiac 5 blinks, clearly taken aback. He's used to Lightning Lad or Cosmic Boy dealing out lectures and neither tends to waste time with pleasantries first. His eyes flick over the board as his counterpart speaks first.

"I'm more familiar with the traditional version, though I doubt it's difficult to adapt," he says.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

"It's not difficult. Please, both of you, have a seat. We can discuss why I brought you here while I show you how to play, Mister Five." Picard glanced at the board again, his brow furrowed, until he reached up to it and shifted over a pawn that was sitting in the wrong spot. That was better.

[cabbage-butt.livejournal.com]

Brainiac has a seat off to the side to watch. B5 may have the first game.

So he can learn from his mistakes.

"Why have you brought us here, Captain? We're well aware that we're not to hack into the personal files of others."

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Brainy takes a seat at the board and observes it for a moment. He's fairly certain he can pick up the rules in no time, but he's still not sure what Picard is trying to achieve with the game. But it doesn't hurt to play along, so he moves a white pawn and settles back before speaking.

"I agree, we both understand our mistake in hacking into your personal files and it won't happen again." He'd take measures to avoid getting caught if he ever did need to do that again after all.

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

Picard ignored both Brainies and responded by shifting a black knight. "This is a game I'd play whenever Lwaxana visited my ship and desired something to do in order to pass the time. As much as she might have been a nuisance in other regards, she was always an excellent opponent. And yet," Picard continued, still not looking directly at either Brainiac, "when she first offered to play this game with me, I never even imagined I would be saying yes. Can you imagine why?"

[cabbage-butt.livejournal.com]

There's the briefest shake of his head.

"I haven't the faintest idea, but I presume the answer will reveal some sort of moral revelation about getting along."

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Hmm. The nature of the game made play subtly different from that of normal chess... He shifts a bishop, part of his intellect working on adapting to the differences and predicting the best strategy for the game.

Of course he's still more than capable of paying attention to the conversation.

"I agree with my... with Brainiac 5's presumption."

[clear-horizons.livejournal.com]

With the movement of another pawn, Picard was ready to start in on his strategy -- both in the conversation, and the game. "Lwaxana Troi is a Betazoid. A natural telepath, and a powerful one at that. She doesn't even have to try and she can still hear thoughts coming at her. What are the odds of anyone being able to best a telepath at any sort of game of strategy?"

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

"Telepathy is an advantage in this type of game, but hardly ensures an automatic victory," Brainiac 5 answers, bringing a knight into play now.

"Knowing your opponents moves doesn't mean you also have the skill to counter them effectively, not to mention that some of us have the ability to think of several different things at the same time, which can be confusing to anyone attempting to 'listen in', as it were."

[cabbage-butt.livejournal.com]

"Or someone may be resistant to telepathy for similar reasons," Brainy says. "But I can see how one who lacks such capabilities may find that a significant challenge."