Drive to Distraction

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Andrea poised over the package she had created before

she left the Arcadia. She opened the paper walls

wider and tried to remember what she had learned about

the Arcadyans. Though she wasnt sure what kind of

personalities she would encounter, the Counselor knew

she would be safe with strategic board games, a deck

of cards with intricate colors and designs, and "feel

good" items like lotions and bath salts. The middle

aged ensign decided to start with the entertainment

first.

 

Reaching inside the package, Andrea pushed passed the

deck of cards and brought out a small, wooden chess

board. She offered the vision to the towering Queen

before her.

 

"My Queen. Have you ever played?"

 

As the suspicious Queen considered the 24th century

actress before her, Andrea caught a glimpse of

interest in her eye. Glancing down at the package,

she noticed that the salts and soaps were in clear

view. But those would have to wait. Andrea had her

audience captured with curiosity for now, and she also

had the foothold of atleast holding that attention for

another "stage act". All she had to do was stall for

time.

 

With a shift of her eyes now, Andrea considered her

surroundings again. She noticed that it wasnt only

the Queens interest she had won. It almost seemed as

though these women were so busy throwing their weight

around, they had forgotten about the true luxuries of

life. If only the Counselor could help them

understand the details of their lives were

so...trivial: that keeping slaves might be empowering,

but it only served to hold them bound by the

restraints of constant supervising.

 

Queen Alanda's eyes raised from the board game to

Andrea's. Then, she smiled broadly and nodded.

 

"Please, proceed."

 

Andrea now reached in for the chess pieces and paused.

It occurred to her that her copy of this game

depicted a towering male king standing next to an

equally statured female. She looked up at Alanda,

considered for a moment about the Prime Directive, and

then brought out the checkers.

 

'Perhaps another time.' Andrea promised herself. She

set up the small pieces and began to explain the rules

of the game, being careful to drag out the pauses a

long as possible.