text: [Themes: Science Fiction]
  
  He's not coming, you tell yourself. What the hell were
  you thinking? The one familiar piece of your life that you have on this ship, and you've screwed it up, Anne. Whether or not he walks through that door (which he won't!), you've screwed it up.
  
  You let out a long (possibly audible) sigh, searching for the answer in your drink. You know what you were thinking, You were thinking
  that it felt right, that it was a logical next step. You were thinking that things generally go your way, and that this would too.
  
  Action:
  
  [Author's Note: Ensigns Anne Blackwell and John Jemison have known each other most of their lives, but are they prepared for the changes that lie ahead after they're stationed together aboard the USS Enterprise?]
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You're not presently carrying anything, but you are slowly nursing a drink.
  
  Action:
  
  > About yourself
  You glance down at your gold operations uniform, but see nothing particularly out of the ordinary.
  
  Action:
  
  > Sing
  I didn't understand that.
  
  Action:
  
  > wait
  C'mon, Anne, he'll be here. He's... just taking awhile to finish
  up in Sickbay.
  
  Action:
  
  > think
  Oh, now you want to think things through? Possibly you should have done that last night.
  
  Action:
  
  > Drink
  (the drink)
  You take your first effervescent sip.
  
  Action:
  
  > Xyzzy
  Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, but now really isn't the time.
  
  Guinan appears at your table, startling you a bit. "How's the Moscow mule?" she asks.
  
  1 "Moscow mule?"
  2 "It's... good. Thanks."
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > leave
  It's been a long day on your feet, you'd prefer to sit.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > Reply
  I didn't understand that.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 1
  "Moscow mule?" you say, looking down at the glass in front of you as if seeing it for the first time. "Oh, my drink. Right..."
  
  "You told me to mix up something distracting," Guinan smiles. "But it looks like you were already pretty distracted to begin with."
  
  "Yeah, I guess I've got a lot on my mind."
  
  "You want to talk about it?" she asks.
  
  1 "Not really. It's kind of personal."
  2 "Maybe? It's... kind of complicated."
  3 "Is listening to my issues really part of your job
  description?"
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 2
  "Maybe? It's... kind of complicated."
  
  Guinan helps herself to the seat across from you. "May I?" She's already seated, so you just shrug and smile. "Thanks. You're Anne Blackwell, right?"
  
  "Yeah," you respond, surprised. You haven't been on this ship long, and didn't think you'd spoken to Guinan enough for her to be able to recall your name. You're not sure you've even ever introduced yourself.
  
  Not for the first time, you wonder why Starfleet uniforms don't come with name tags.
  
  1 "How do you know my name?"
  2 Just let her keep talking.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 2
  Curious as you are, you decide to just let her keep talking.
  
  "Good to meet you, Anne. My name is Guinan. I tend bar... and I listen." she smiles at you. You already knew who she was, though this is the first time you've really spoken to her at any length. "I've heard people saying you're smart. That they're expecting a lot from you, but that you're up to the task."
  
  1 That's good to hear. [Confident]
  2 That's good to hear. [Happy]
  3 That's good to hear. [Relieved]
  4 That's good to hear. [Pressured]
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 3
  "That's good to hear," you reply. "But that's not why I'm preoccupied."
  
  "Must be pretty complicated indeed to throw off a well-educated engineer like yourself," muses Guinan. You're not at all convinced that she's being sincere.
  
  1 "Yeah? Well, I must have missed the class on how not to ruin friendships at the Academy."
  2 "If friends came with engineering schematics I'd probably be
  more on top of this.
  3 "I'm kind of worried I've broken something I'll never be able
  to repair."
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 2
  "I guess if friends came with engineering schematics I'd probably be more on top of this." You meant for that to be a joke, but instead it comes across as sort of defeated and sad. Guinan smiles, aware of your intent.
  
  "Something tells me you'll be able to think your way through this one." As she says this, she nods toward the entrance to Ten Forward. Following her gaze, you see John.
  
  You turn around quickly, suddenly not so sure you want to go through with this conversation. But it's too late to get Guinan's advice — she's quickly moved on to helping other customers.
  
  A fan fiction created for the Star Trek Game Jam (2016). Alpha 3.0 by Jacqueline A. Lott
  
  Readers are encouraged to peruse the CREDITS and ABOUT text.
  
  After a moment of hesitation, you decide to wave John over to your table. This conversation has to happen sooner or later, Anne,
  you think to yourself. Might as well get it out of the way.
  
  John acknowledges you with a gentle smile and makes his way over to your table.
  
  1 "Thanks for coming."
  2 "Long shift in sick bay?"
  3 Say nothing—let him start things off.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 1
  "Thanks for coming." He gives you a quick hug and sits down across from you.
  
  "Sure thing. I was actually really glad you asked me to meet you here."
  
  1 "You were?" [Worried]
  2 "You were?" [Optimistic]
  3 "Oh yeah? Why's that?" [Casual]
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 2
  "You were?" you ask, trying to keep the relief out of your voice.
  
  John smiles, clearly trying his best to be reassuring, but you can tell he's angsting. "Yeah. I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it: last night got weird for me. I want to apologize. I'm really sorry I walked out on you."
  
  1 "It's okay. It's not like you didn't have a reason."
  2 "I sat there for a long time after you left."
  3 Don't speak. Let him keep talking.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > 3
  HERE ENDS THE PLAYABLE INTRO. THANKS FOR PLAYING!
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > Action
  I didn't understand that.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > Drink
  (the drink)
  You take another sip. The ginger beer in it has a very intense taste.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > Smell drink
  Unlike other public areas of the ship, where the air is filtered through the environmental controls, Ten Forward is filled with all sorts of scents this evening, from goulash to gagh.
  
  [John is expecting you to reply.]
  Action or Reply:
  
  > Kiss john
  John might not like that.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > eat key
  You can't see any such thing.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > eat john
  He's plainly inedible.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > eat yourself
  You're plainly inedible.
  
  [John is expecting you to reply.]
  Action or Reply:
  
  > check your inventory
  You're not presently carrying anything, but you are slowly nursing a drink.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > examine the drink
  It's some twentieth century concoction — fizzy, not at all
  unpleasant.
  
  Unlike the original, though, this one's made with synthehol. For a second you wonder if you should ask Guinan for the good stuff, but think better of it.
  
  Things aren't quite that bad. At least, I hope they're not.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > throw the drink at John
  (first taking the drink)
  Another swallow. You notice the hints of lime.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > drink the drink
  You notice the coolness of the copper mug in your hand as you take another sip.
  
  [John is expecting you to reply.]
  Action or Reply:
  
  > continue
  You take another pull on the drink.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > drink the drink
  Another sip. These really are pretty good.
  
  Action or Reply:
  
  > examine john
  You take another sip and note that the drink is starting to get a bit watery.
  
  Action or Reply:
  Action or Reply:
  
  John evidently hasn't had a chance to drop by his quarters yet; he's still wearing his blue medical uniform.
  
  You and John have been friends for as long as you can remember—after