Ficlet: You Have Died of Dysentery

[bibliodragon]

This started from the thought that Daybreak only happened because the Twelve Colonies never played Oregon Trail. Which of course made it a small leap to the Grade School Galactica 'verse.

Title: You Have Died of Dysentery
Author: bibliodragon
Rating: Gen
Spoilers: None
Word Count: 100


Oh how Billy Adama hated computer time with Laurie Roslin.

“You can’t even buy 1600 worth of bullets! What about food?”

“Hunting.”

“Hunting takes too long. And stop shooting at everything, you can only carry 100 pounds.”

“Games wrong, I could carry more than that in real life.”

“Stop fording rivers! Great, you’ve lost half the party.”

“Kept breaking legs, anyway.”

“The wagon wouldn‘t break so much if you‘d slow the pace.”

“Stop distracting me! Great, now I’m dead.”

“Billy Adama, if I ever had to do this with you for real, I better be dead before the wagons loaded!”

Comments

[sln1.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually familiar with 'Oregon Trail' but I'm satisfied that I worked out what it is from the context. It reminded me of a computer game Dad's cousin had about twenty years ago, which was set in Medieval England and required the player to gather an army of knights, provision the army for battle and then set off to fight, probably the French. This cousin was a teacher but I'm not entirely convinced that this game could have been an educational tool because during one run through, his knight went into a tavern seeking some piece of information and said something to the buxom barmaid which made her slap his virtual face!

But I digress. What a very clever and insightful return to this universe, with this role playing game providing the perfect way to mirror the story of 'our' Bill and Laura - the situation and their differing attitudes. Your last line adds a painful final jolt to wind things up perfectly.

Great work. Thank you

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got it, I was worried it would be hard to follow without knowing first had the evil that is that game. Though there is an online emulator if you want to get really, really frustrated ;).

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha!

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

:D

[wernotalone.livejournal.com]

Amazon trail was the bane of my childhood existence, but it was a thousand times less frustrating than Oregon trail.

Loved it because I also hated computer time

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Heh, I was just too old to really get the benefits of the computer age during Primary School, all my memories are of playing frustrating turn based games on an old BBC computer in the corner, and we were always forced to share. It was a joyous day indeed when we got our first class Apple Mac, during my last year there. But I suppose it did mean Computing in Secondary was better.

[cynicalangel88.livejournal.com]

OMG. As soon as I read the title I yelled ‘Oregon Trail’ at my computer and clicked the link. Thankfully I’m the only one in the office today. Great drabble, very funny and it brought back a lot of memories of playing Oregon Trail as a kid. The game was just like you described, too funny.

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Heh, I just hope the Oregon Trail flashbacks weren't too traumatic for you (what do you mean the rivers too deep it's three frakkin' feet!)

[angeltrisha9.livejournal.com]

They're so cute!!!! and he doesn't know it yet, but when she's gonna be old enough to wear a bra, he'll be all over her. :)

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

And he'll have a brand new nemisis: bras!

[northeto.livejournal.com]

Now you have me imagining BSG as a giant, messed up space version of Oregon Trail. Only more evil, since you don't where it is you are heading.

I loved Oregon Trail as a kid. I think I still have the game disc around somewhere...

The reminder of Laura's demise is particularly striking coming from the mouth of a primary school student.

Nicely done as usual. I'm excited to see that this series now has it's own title.

[bibliodragon.livejournal.com]

Hmm, someone should make a turn based BSG version of Oregon Trail (Baltar has died of syphilis).

[northeto.livejournal.com]

(Baltar has died of syphilis)

Heh. Totally would have happened.

(Unable to find the shortcut, one of your party members turned on the other. Gaeta has lost his leg.)

(While resting, your party was attacked by bandits. Saul has lost an eye).

I kind of want a "Battlestar Trail" icon now.