THE STEPHEN RATLIFF DRINKING GAME!

Note: This game is not meant to be an endorsement of the consumption of
alcohol. That being said, no one can be condemned for resorting to such
libations to ease the pain of a Ratliff fic.

Drink each time that one of the following happens ---

* All the characters present introduce themselves.

* Marissa recites her names, titles, and/or accomplishments.

* Marissa's Kobayashi Maru time is mentioned.

* Another character falls all over themselves praising Marissa and her
abilities.

* A list of the starships and their commanders is given.

* Ratliff describes a room the characters are in, or the clothes they are
wearing, in excruciating detail.

* Ratliff spells a word or the name of a character differently from a way in
which he spelled it previously.

* A character or planet is introduced whose name is a silly anagram.

* Strawberry juice makes an appearance or is mentioned.

* All the adult officers on board the starship are removed or incapacitated.

* Every time Marissa kills a Romulan or a Traecke officer.

* A character from another series (TOS, DS9) makes an appearance.

* Marissa appoints someone to a position or an assignment on her crew for an
absolutely ridiculous reason (they have a high score on a video game, they
have their eyes crossed and tongue sticking out in their picture, etc . . .)

* A reference is made to Marissa's virginity, menstrual cycle, or
undergarments.

* Someone calls Marissa "Risa" and she tells them how much she hates that
nickname.

* Picard chides Marissa about not being able to keep her room clean.

* Marissa's little friend Shanya Sachs plays a practical joke on someone.

* While reading "The Captain and the Doctor", every time Ratliff uses the
phrase "The Captain and the Doctor."

* Ratliff thanks a former teacher or dedicates a story to him or her.

* Ratliff compares his work with that of Mark Twain.

* You read any part of a Ratliff story which causes you to scream in abject
horror.

Todd M. Pence
Fairfax, VA
toddpence@pipeline.com