The Sky Spirits
Episode Name: The Sky Spirits
Written By: Eidolon
Cast: Adansae, Eidolon, Green, Nabrun, Revere, Torin and Ugluk.
Produced By: Starfleet
Directed By: Eidolon
Aired On: Sat Aug 20 01:20:17 2005
Stardate: 55202
Time: Fri Aug 19 20:48:38 2005
Stardate: 55201.6
Thursday, September 3rd, 2455.
The sky has long deepened into blackness, with the stars overhead twinkling brightly.
Around the campfire, a small group of people, dressed in furs, speak softly amongst themselves. A group of children run from the edge of the camp, excitement in their voices.
"Tell the story, Grandfather! Tell us the story of the Sky Spirits!" one calls.
An older figure shifts slightly on the log he occupies. "The Sky Spirits, eh?" he murmurs thoughtfully. "Oh, yes. The Sky Spirits. Well, it's very long story... are you certain that you can stay awake long enough to hear it all?"
A boy whines, "Please, Grandfather? Please tell us the story?"
"Very well," the old one relents with a bit of a gravelly chuckle. "It is an old story, passed down by my father, and his father, and his father before him. It all started a long time ago, on a night rather like this one..."
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Stardate 55201.6, USS Thomas Paine Emergency Evacuation Area Alpha.
The alarm klaxon blares with an alarm that one hopes to never hear on a starship: two short blasts and a blue alert tracer.
The evacuation alert is being sounded, while officers race to their designated escape pods.
"All hands, abandon ship," the computer repeats over and over again.
Nabrun is on the way to an escape pod. She's not stopping to guide people, not playing herd-Betazoid, she's just doing what she's supposed to be doing. Calm, quick, efficient...and looking just a touch unnerved.
At first, Adansae doesn't react to the alarm's warning -- that can't be real. Two short blasts followed by... an instant later, she's on her feet and running directly behind Nabrun.
Green doesn't run. She strides, swiftly, as she moves toward her proper escape pod. Now and then she darts out a hand to steady a passerby, making sure he or she moves safely on before doing so herself.
Revere is near the end of the corridor, herding people into pods. "Right this way, thank you. As soon as we've got you all loaded up, we'll launch the pods. Just stay calm, and we'll all be okay." In the middle of the chaos, he's wearing a rather bright, if extremely forced smile.
. o O Revere thinks, "Stay calm, stay calm."
Torin blinks making his way out from wherever room he was and looking up and down the hallway. He pauses frowning vaguely at the klaxon, he tugs at his ear muttering vaguely as he moves to join whichever line is leaving to the pod he's assigned for, his brows furrowed as he goes.
Green slips to a halt beside the pod hatch, looking around to see who else is approaching. "C'mon, people..."
Once outside the escape pod, Adansae pauses to make certain that chaos isn't breaking out behind her. Seeing that Revere is serving as a reassuring presence, she flashes him a quick smile of gratitude before slipping inside the pod.
. o O Green thinks, "I don't know what caused this evacuation. But I bet it's not phaser-proof, mhmmm."
Nabrun looks over her shoulder at Ada and smiles a bit. "C'mon, Raynne," she says quietly, then catches sight of Green. The smile flickers into worry, but blooms again at seeing Torin and Revere. "Thank you," she says quietly to Revere.
The ship rocks violently, and an EPS conduit explodes further up the corridor, flaring brightly before contained by a forcefield.
"Lieutenant?" Revere calls toward Green. "I'm the last one in on this pod. If you'll get strapped in, we'll get out of here." The smile is definitely strained now, especially because the ship is apparently exploding now. Nabrun and Adansae get brief nods of acknowledgement and a wave which is probably meant to say 'hustle'.
Torin continues to tug at his ear frowning. He pauses as he notes some of the familiar forms nearby offering them a weak smile continuing to look uneasy. He doesn't seem inclined to talk glancing around it for a few moments. He scurries a bit to make sure he gets inside.
. o O Revere thinks, "This place is about to blow. We've got to go."
. o O Revere thinks, "Ugh, I'm making rhymes in my head."
Green nods toward the counselors, then turns her head to lift an eyebrow at Revere. "Think again, Ensign. Get in. Why don't you assist the ladies, hmm?"
Adansae is already inside the pod by the time Revere is waving for her to haul ass. She doesn't notice -- she's too busy checking the safety equipment and getting herself strapped in. No sense taking chances when another disaster could strike at any moment, right?
. o O Green thinks, "Don't you dare argue with me, kid. I outrank you /and/ I'm the closest thing to a line officer anywhere near this pod."
Nabrun does the dive, as well, to strap herself in. "Please quit arguing over who's getting in first and BOTH of you get in before you're blown up. The longer you argue, the longer we wait. I'll be quite cross if I become space sausage." There's a hint of quaver to her voice, buried under the dry humor.
. o O Green thinks, "Cheesecake, on the other hand..."
. o O Revere thinks, "Sure, play hero, Lieutenant My-Gonads-Are-Bigger-Than-Yours. A lot of good you'll do us if you're dead, hm? But, then, what do I know? I'm just a dumb redshirt, and my collar's lighter than yours."
Revere raises an eyebrow. "You want to be out here when I close the door, ma'am, that's certainly your call," he replies rather amiably, waiting for Torin to get inside before he's swinging himself through the door into the pod. "But this pod launches in ten seconds."
. o O Green grooowwwls.
. o O Revere waxes bitter for a moment.
. o O Green thinks, "Boy, you and me's gonna have a little... /chat/ later."
Torin arches a brow between Green and Revere. He shakes his head and lets out a quiet sigh, as he settles himself into a seat strapping in with quiet expedient dexterity. He doesn't try and take charge, or get involved for the moment just content to let the others handle it and hope they don't let them all get blown up.
. o O Torin thinks, "Ah, Starfleet at it's best."
"Let's go, let's go!" Adansae replies to Revere, apparently not wishing to be blown into meaty bits any more than her commanding officer does. She's strapped in and has a full death grip on her arm-rests.
Green gives Revere a brief look as she follows the men in, making her way briskly to a seat to strap in.
Nabrun takes a deep breath and looks around, apparently counting heads and taking stock of who's here.
Revere straps himself into a seat, and true to his word, the pod is sealed and launching in ten seconds. "Everybody, brace yourself. This is gonna be... bumpy," he calls out as he works the tiny control panel.
. o O Green thinks, "Barana, a junior counselor, a desk jockey, and Moroko Torin. One diamond amongst the coal. This is gonna be rough."
. o O Green thinks, "And before you squawk, you're the diamond, Barana."
. o O Nabrun projects, "I wasn't even going to say a word, Tay."
Green braces, and in doing so glances around to study the pod's complement. An eyebrow lifts a bit inquisitively as her gaze passes over the other women.
The pod streaks away from the ship, and the one small viewport reveals its ultimate fate -- a Jem'Hadar fighter streaks past, polaron beams ripping into its hull. The starboard nacelle comes off, and then the Thomas Paine vanishes in a flash of light and a ripple of debris.
Of course, the pod accelerates so quickly that everyone is pressed back in their seat by a rather sizeable g-force before the inertial dampeners kick in -- and there's silence for a few moments, at the very least.
Adansae couldn't be more braced if she'd cemented herself into the seat. At the sight of the Jem'Hadar fighter, she gasps; at the sight of the floating debris, she looks rather ill.
Torin snorts at the comment about bumpy. He shakes his head lightly and braces his feet checking his securing as the pod shoots forward. He grunts letting out a faint wince before the dampeners kick things in. He starts to look towards the viewport and winces looking away before the bright flash.
Nabrun flinches at the sight of the fighter, then turns her eyes to the others in the compartment. She finally breaks the silence. "Is anyone injured?"
Green watches steadily through the viewport, her lips thinning. The gravity, though, distracts her, and she lets out a breath. "I'm fine, thank you, Doctor. Mister Revere, let's see what's in the neighborhood. Passive scans for now."
GAME: Revere spends a courage point.
GAME: Revere contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
Torin offers lightly, "Let me know if there's any damage or I can help any Lt. Green." He offers lightly and glances to Barana, "I'm alright. I think... Klaxons are pretty loud on ships. I'd forgotten that." He admits weakly.
"Fine, fine," Adansae murmurs reflexively to Nabrun's inquiry. Her eyes are still fixed on the viewport, even as all traces of the explosion vanish from sight.
"Three Jem'Hadar Attack Ships, one debris field, thirteen escape pods, and a Class M planet," Revere reports flatly. "Which, we'll be deorbiting into its atmosphere in about a minute and a half, because that's the programmed flight profile." He's silent for a moment, and then his voice freezes over. "Make that ten escape pods. Seven. The Jem'Hadar are destroying the pods. Five."
. o O Revere's blood freezes.
Nabrun's breath catches at Revere's words, and the color drains from her face. No injured, apparently, so she defers to Green, looking in that direction.
"You are next on my list, Mister Torin," Tay says, though she doesn't look toward him as she unstraps to stand and move to a seat near Revere. Still addressing the civilian, she says, "If you would kindly assess our-" Restraps at Revere's words. "Bloody hell. If our beacon's on, get it off. Get us down there, Mister Revere."
Torin winces and grunts he tugs his ear harder and offers, "Does the pod..." He curses and nods trying to get out of his straps and get to the nearest panel that he can disable the beacon from.
Adansae gasps at Revere's report, her head swinging from the viewport to the person giving the bad news. "Are you sur--" She cuts herself off mid-sentence and mid-word; of course he's sure.
. o O Green thinks, "We don't stand a chance against those fighters. Much as I hate ducking tail and running..."
GAME: Torin contests his Systems Engineering vs Moderate and Fails.
"If we come in too steep, we'll burn up, and if we come in too shallow, we'll skip right off the atmosphere," Revere snaps as he works the controls. "We've got thrusters, no weapons, and no shields, ma'am. With that said, I'll do my best. Three pods left."
GAME: Revere spends a courage point.
GAME: Revere contests his Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Torin contests his Systems Engineering/Sensor vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Nabrun squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, then takes a few deep, slow breaths.
Green glances briefly toward Revere, though she only comments in her toneless voice, "Thank you, Ensign. You're doing fine. Don't hesitate to try to put the planet between us and the bogeys if you think it'll give you a few seconds leeway."
. o O Revere thinks, "What the hell, right? We'll just evade a Jem'Hadar fighter and keep from being blasted to bits only to burn up."
Adansae is pale and silent while Revere does his thing. Her lips are moving silently while she waits -- perhaps offering herself reassuring words, perhaps praying to forgotten Gods.
Torin flickers his fingers along the panel. He frowns darkly at it, "Bloody thi... ah. Yes. There we go. That should do it. Must be getting rusty. Let me know if I need to try and give you more power ensign. Granted if we try and push it too long...." He shrugs.
"Two pods," Revere calls. "Entry interface in ten seconds. One pod. We're alone." His control panel starts to chirp. "They're locking weapons. EI in three... two... one..." his voice trails off and his eyes squeeze very tightly shut.
Beyond the viewport, a purple beam blasts past the window, missing by possibly less than a meter, and then the view is obscured by flaming plasma as the pod cuts through the atmosphere.
. o O Revere thinks, "We're dead. We're so dead."
Green hisses as she leans forward rapidly. "Evasive maneuvers! Serpentine us, Ensign. It'll slow us a bit, but we're a bull's-eye right now. Mister Torin, I love your 'more power' idea. Leave us enough to land soft, but otherwise give Ensign Revere whatever he needs."
Adansae cries out when the blast rips past the shuttle, her head ducking as far down as she can bend... but then, somehow, the end doesn't come. She looks up -- slowly, uncertainly -- her eyes anxiously moving back to the viewport.
. o O Green thinks, "Somebody tell me again why I volunteered for this job?"
GAME: Jem'Hadar Attack Ship contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Revere's Intellect/logic & Vehicle Operations/shuttlecraft (given Advantage) and Succeeds.
GAME: Torin contests his Systems Engineering/Engineering vs Challenging and Fails.
Torin curses as they jump as they begin passing into the atmosphere. The young civillian braces himself as much as he can as his fingers fly over the control panels growling under his breath at the machine. For the record his cursing isn't very good, grunting, "I'll keep trying... not more's coming out of it. Damned pods."
"Trying," Revere calls before there's a massive percussive blast, and the pod starts to spin like a wild tilt-o-whirl on peyote.
GAME: Nabrun contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Difficult and Fails.
GAME: Green spends a courage point.
GAME: Adansae contests her Fitness/Vitality vs Difficult and Fails.
GAME: Green contests her Fitness/Vitality+A vs Difficult and Fails.
GAME: Revere contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Difficult and Fails.
GAME: Torin spends a courage point.
GAME: Torin contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.
GAME: Torin spends a courage point.
GAME: Torin contests his Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.
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"They fell from the sky in a meteor, sent to us by the Elder Gods," the grandfather says as he continues with his story. "It seemed as if they'd be dashed to bits, but at the last moment, the Moroko saved them by reaching out with his hand and landing their meteor safely."
The children are held spell-bound by this section of the story. "The Moroko was their savior, grandfather?" a small girl asks.
"Oh, yes," Grandfather replies. "If it weren't for him, the Sky Spirits would not have visited our people."
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With a low moan and a roll of her head, Adansae makes a slow return to this world. It's not easy, leaving the comfortable darkness that contains no pain and no fear, but once she has ahold of a thin strand of consciousness, she clings to it for dear life and pulls herself groggily to the surface.
Green will, later, be very glad she strapped in. It's so undignified waking up on the floor (unless there was one heck of a party the night before). A little groan seeps from her, before she opens her eyes to stare at her lap dazedly for a moment. Abruptly, her head snaps up, to which she quickly puts a hand. "Okay, that was a mistake." Her eyes swimmingly seek out the rest of the pod, searching for its contents. Namely, people.
Nabrun groans quietly and starts to come to. "Ow..." she murmurs after a time. "Injuries?"
Revere slowly straightens up in his seat, cracking an eye after a moment. "Only my pride," he mutters.
. o O Green thinks, "I really... must remember to thank whoever programmed this simulation."
Torin's fingers fly, a longer more intense litany of quiet grim curses, describing in depth the legacy and lineage of the computers various predecessors, circuitry, designs and pretty much anyone else involved. Luckily for him most of the people in the cabin pass out before he reaches the high pitched shrieking as the ship brings itself down. He sits eyes faintly wide in front of the ship and grunts, "I hate escape pods." He begins running through checking what systems are left and grins at Revere then leans back to slump a bit more against the side of the craft, "Lieutenant! I hope we picked a nice planet to crash on. I need a vacation." He says practically... upbeat. Other than that he just tries to relax slowly catching his breath.
"In one piece, Counselor. I'll keep that in mind, Mister Torin. Status, please," Tay croaks out, and unstraps to stand and test her balance.
Moving carefully in case something is broken, Adansae unstraps herself from the fallen chair and crawls away from the debris. "Everyone's okay?" Her voice is disbelieving, and she rubs at her eyes with the back of one hand in case they're deceiving her.
Torin ahs and chuckles, "Do that. Ah. She's...thrashed maybe worse than the runabout Harris took into the bad warp trip. I can.... probably get you the doors open. Anyone happen to bring a tricorder, or happen to remember how the atmosphere of the nearest planets were?"
Nabrun rubs her forehead and starts to push to her feet. "I have my med tricorder here," she murmurs.
Revere unsnaps his straps, pushing away from the seat after a few moments. "Hopefully this isn't some god-forsaken desert planet," he mutters. "It's a Class M planet. Oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere. At least we can breathe here."
. o O Revere thinks, "It's official... I have never been this sick in my life."
Adansae stands slowly, not quite steady on her feet until she reaches to a wall for support. "It's a Class-M planet," she repeats. "How bad can it be?" Oh, the famous last words.
Tay gestures around. "Should be supplies stashed here. Counselors, medpacks please. Mister Torin, whatever engineering type tools you can lay your hands on that won't slow you down. Ensign Revere, vittles, and phasers all round. Including Mister Torin. Let's get cracking, folks. Those Jem'hadar can't be far behind."
Nabrun gestures to Ada. "Grab any supplies you can. We'll try making packs for carrying things," she says quietly, still shaken.
Torin nods, "Hut to, no rest for the weary." He begins to lever himself up carefully as he moves to search for any tool or equipment, "Yes sir. Just let me know when I should crack the door opens. I always liked surprises." He grins at Adansae, "You obviously haven't been with us long. I have my bets on energy beings. Don't think of bananas if you meet one."
Revere starts tugging out survival equipment, having been stored, conveniently enough, in black backpacks, but pauses for a moment. "We've finished the drill, haven't we?" he asks after a moment. "Shouldn't the program have ended by now?"
At Tay's orders, Adansae moves to gather her medpack and other supplies. Her expression is serious, almost grim. To Nabrun, she nods, and begins rolling the medical supplies and other necessities into bundles. She only looks up when Revere speaks; at his words, she frowns. "We're supposed to make this as real as possible."
Nabrun crouches to pack things up. "There's no such thing as a drill aboard the station, ENS Revere," she says quietly. "This is the real thing."
"What drill?" Tay says rhetorically, moving to settle against the hatchframe with Type II in hand. "Counselors, scan for hostiles please."
Torin grins at Revere, "It's never a drill he.... Like they said and you never know what's coming next. If you're going to be on S419, the dead walk the halls, and the unreal can kill just as fast as the real, get ready for it."
GAME: Nabrun contests her Personal Equipment/Medical Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.
"Alright," Revere replies, his brows furrowed as he hands out the backpacks. "Should be a Type II phaser and five days of ration bars in each pack."
Adansae, not having even a trace of Betazoid blood in her system, looks to Nabrun for the scanning.
GAME: Adansae contests her Personal Equipment vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Nabrun starts her scan, head tilting. "Group of humanoids, 800 meters. Not Jem'Hadar, but unidentifiable.
Green lifts an eyebrow. "Please tell me they're carrying or surrounded by enough tech that I don't have to worry about the PD on top of everything else," she says to the women. "Are they moving?"
"Not Jem'Hadar," Adansae repeats. "There's eight of them... five are adults, three children. They're in a group -- wait. They're moving this way, closer, closer."
Torin blinks at that and frowns, "Should be interesting." He grunts, "Well we've got a kit here and a transmitter. If we can get somewhere quiet hopefully I can boost it enough to reach friendlies. Probably want somewhere with cover though." He offers as he lifts the kit and moves the transmitter over nearer to the entrance waiting for the orders to open up and all.
Nabrun finishes packing what she can and stands. "My translator still seems to be in one piece," she says quietly.
Green pinches the bridge of her nose. "Is that a yes or a no on the former question, Ensign Adansae?"
Revere straps his phaser to his belt, taking a breath as he waits.
Adansae continues to frown down at her tricorder. "I'm not reading any technological devices on any of them, sir," she reports. "Still moving closer."
Green nods once. "Of course." She thinks for a beat, then moves to grab another phaser from the weapons locker. "Mister Torin, take that kit and transmitter. If anybody sees it and asks, it's a kite kit. Mister Revere, the hatch. If there's anything y'all think you need, grab it /now/ and vacate. Phasers in your packs." She follows the latter herself, for one of the weapons in her hands.
. o O Green thinks, "Yes indeedy. Thanks to the programmer with something extra special on top. Like a phaser inserted into an orifice."
"The hatch, aye," Revere replies as he hides his phaser, then tabs the door open.
Nabrun coughs quietly and gathers up everything - except for a phaser. Otherwise, she's packed and ready to go.
Torin grabs one of the phasers as well belatedly. He rests against the hull of the craft again frowning vaguely. He inclines his head and slides his phaser into his kit and slides it over his shoulder hefting the transmitter, "Kites. Sounds fun. Let's hope I don't get hit by lightning."
Adansae waits by Nabrun's side, likewise packed up and ready to go.
"No worries, Mister Torin," Tay says dryly. "If it turns you into a monkey, one of us will happily make a pet of you." Looking around, she says, "Alright, let's move. /Quickly/ get at least a hundred meters from the pod, and preferably behind shelter if there is any." Her gaze focuses on the counselors. "Soon as you're at a safe distance, we need a swift scan of the area. You're looking for shelter, get another bearing on those lifeforms, and someplace we can set up that transmitter. /Go/."
GAME: Revere has the merit of Athletic Ability at 2.
GAME: Torin contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Adansae contests her Athletics/Running vs Moderate and Dramatically Fails.
GAME: Revere contests his Athletics/Running+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Nabrun contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Green contests her Athletics/Running vs Moderate and Succeeds.
The team sprints clear of the escape pod, which is on a small incline. As they run, however, Adansae trips and goes rolling down the hill -- directly toward the aliens.
Green pauses briefly outside the hatch once everybody is outside it, to dial her remaining phaser up to overload. She gives the lifesaving pod a nod of thanks, and tosses the phaser inside, and /runs/. And blinks a bit, as Adansae goes rolling. Not that it stops her from sprinting. She just shakes her head a bit as she runs.
. o O Green thinks, "Well, I did say /quickly/. Can't say the Ensign is disobeying the order."
Nabrun winces and starts running after Ada. If she's going alien bowling, well, the Betazoid is going to be the gutter guard.
Revere takes cover behind a rock, pausing to look back. "Oh, hell," he mutters as Adansae rolls away.
Torin grunts, and arches a brow at Tay's comment. He coughs and tugs at his ear not quite sure what to make of the comment as he sets to follow. He blinks in surprise as he chugs along and notes someone spilling down the hill. He blinks in surprise, "Ah.... Oh bloody." He starts to slow, and turn and blinks as Green keeps going he does his best to keep after Green offering, "Uhmm..." He offers between breaths.
Head over heels over rear over shoulders -- Adansae is a tumbling ball of flailing limbs on her unplanned meeting with the aliens. Apparently, she's too surprised by this turn of events to even yowl or yelp.
Green slides to a halt behind a rock, glancing back briefly toward the pod. "Not now, Mo." She looks around, to locate personnel, then down the slope. "Must be Monday," she mutters, and starts to pick her way carefully down the hill, keeping low. "C'mon, boys."
As the pod erupts in an explosion, Adansae comes to rest on the legs of a rather large, bipedal male, wrapped in furs and armed with a pointy stick. He grunts at her, somewhat menacingly.
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"He looked down at the first of the spirits, and knew he was looking at something special," Grandfather explains quietly. "He knew they'd been sent by the Elder Gods to be our saviors."
"But, Grandfather, she had just fallen down the hill!" an older boy protests.
Grandfather smiles. "Of course she had," he replies. "But, what you must realize is that to come to us and be so very vulnerable showed trust on the part of the Elder Gods that we would not harm their emissary. It was a test, and they were to be judged worthy or not based on their actions."
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Nabrun skids to a stop a few feet in front of the man, and just behind Ada. The Betazoid crouches and reaches out, almost as if she'd grab the human and drag her back. However, she pauses - waiting and watchful.
. o O Ugluk is in awe of the figures before him.
Adansae stirs from this most recent affront to her person and dignity faster than she did from the crash, but if you look closely, one can almost see the ring of birds chirping around her dazed head. She peers up at the alien with eyes that aren't quite focused.
Revere follows after Green. "If they're hostile, are we going to engage them?" he asks softly.
Torin offers a quiet, "Sir." He says and stays after Green a frown remaining he concentrates on his footing and arches a brow to Revere for a moment another quiet smile as he keeps his eyes flickering out several times lifting to look at the sky curiously.
. o O Torin thinks, "No, we're going to tickle them until they are friendly. And I thought I was a kid."
Green pauses behind a tree, watching the counselors with the natives for a moment. "No, Ensign Revere," she murmurs. "Mister Torin, if you have something to offer, make it fast."
Ugluk tilts his head to the side as he watches Adansae, then leans over to put her back on her feet, saying something softly in his own language. After a moment, the translator offers what it makes of what he's saying. "Sky spirits, we welcome you to our home. Thank you for responding to our prayers."
. o O Green thinks, "Barana, what are you-" She pauses as the man speaks. "Hrm."
Nabrun slowly rises to her feet as Ada's picked up. She's watchful and wary, and utterly smacked across the face with a dead trout at the man's words. No, there's no hiding the surprise, not at first, anyway. "Are you hurt?" she asks Raynne quietly.
Adansae accepts Ugluk's help with a grateful smile -- a smile that falters a bit at his welcoming words. She darts a wild glance about for Revere -- where is the Cultural Affairs expert when you need one? Oh, right there. "Thank... thank you," she responds, uncertain and still badly shaken.
Torin shakes his head, "Nothing, just acknowledging the not now part. But friendly or not, those people are going to be pretty exposed if the Jem'hadar make a pass."
Revere runs a finger under his collar. "Not to be negative, but we're about hip deep in a first contact/prime directive problem, Lieutenant," he notes quietly.
Green nods grimly at Torin's words. "Yeah. And that /is/ something I'll get engageful about." She straightens, giving herself a bit of a shake. "About to, Ensign? We really must work on that optimism of yours. C'mon, both of you." That said, she steps out from behind the tree, and makes her way toward the group.
As soon as he's got Adansae standing again, Ugluk kneels -- and all the people with him follow. "We have long desired a blessing from the Elder Gods. Thank you for hearing our prayers." Of course, as more appear, his face hits the dirt. "Praise be to the Sky Spirits!"
. o O Revere thinks, "Well, this is certainly going smashingly well. I hear Ludaveco Prime is nice this time of year."
. o O Nabrun projects, "Tay? Stay back for now. I'm going to try to get us out of this."
Adansae's uncertain, dazed expression gives way to near panic as the alien kneels before her. She sends a glance to Nabrun that one doesn't need an ounce of Betazoid blood to interpret -- OH-NO!
. o O Green thinks, "Stay quiet for now? You're going to try to get us out of this? Gimme a greeting sort of nod if I'm reading you right."
Torin inclines his head to Green but seems content to be quiet. He adjusts his 'kite' absently as he approaches and smiles, "At least it seems she's making friends." He pauses and lowers his voice towards Revere and Green offering, "So about now is the time we hear what dire doom is approaching these people, and that we are the ones who must save them, I take it?" He asks as he catches the edge of Ugluk's praise.
"We can't interfere," Revere mutters at Torin. "Whatever problems these people have are their own."
Nabrun holds her hand out for Ada's arm, though glances over her shoulder and nods to Green once, as if greeting the woman. "I think we need to go," she tells Ada quietly.
Green nods back to Barana, then looks toward the men with her. "Ixnay," she mutters, as she closes the distance to the counselors. After a second, her face cracks into a beatific smile.
As soon as Nabrun's hand is offered, Adansae seizes it much as she would a life preserver while drowning at sea. "I think you're right," she agrees through gritted teeth -- gritted because she's still locked into a smile.
. o O Green thinks, "And now my face hurts."
Ugluk looks up with surprise, his eyes going wide. "You cannot leave," he protests. "You've only just arrived. Please, come to our village -- let us prepare a meal for you. Rest. Your trip must have been wearying to you."
Torin arches a brow at Revere. He seems content to remain quiet, and follows studying the rest of the group watching Adansae curiously to see how injured she is.
. o O Green thinks fast. "Messengers. We're just /messengers/ from the gods, Barana. They have to prove themselves worthy of our help, blah blah blah."
. o O Green thinks, "Or the help of the Sky Spirits, rather."
. o O Green's head starts to hurt.
Nabrun pulls herself up slightly, chin out a bit as she looks to Ugluk. "We are messengers," she says quietly, attempting to inject a note of authority into her voice. "And now we wish rest. You are to return to your village and leave us. We will come to you."
. o O Revere mentally sighs.
Adansae has certainly had better days, but she doesn't appear to be seriously injured. She does, on the other hand, appear seriously conflicted and seriously grateful when Nabrun replies to the alien for her.
. o O Green thinks, "Not quite what I had in mind, but I like your version better."
Green settles in her stance, staring steadily at Ugluk.
. o O Revere thinks, "While we're at it, let's promise to conquer their Prime Evils."
Revere doesn't approve, judging by his expression, but he remains silent.
Ugluk returns to his facedown position in the dirt. "Yes, of course. As you command," he replies before he stands. "We will await your arrival." Without further ado, he gestures at his compatriots, and they take off in a run.
Nabrun glances over her shoulder at Tay, blinking for a moment. "I'm hoping that bought us some time," she says softly. Revere gets a brief look, as do the others.
Adansae continues to cling to Nabrun's hand as she watches the aliens' departing backs.
Green lets out a breath. "Very well done, Lieutenant," she gives Nabrun an approving nod, watching the natives go. When they seem to be at a safe distance, she says quietly, "Barana, discreetly please, make sure Ensign Adansae's alright. Mister Revere," she eyes him, "Tricorder scan. Find us a place for Mister Torin to set up his transmitter, please."
GAME: Revere spends a courage point.
GAME: Revere contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Fails.
Torin turns and watches offering, "Well they're under cover. We best get some ourselves, too." He offers uncertainly but otherwise seems content to be quiet and wait for where he should set up.
Revere tugs a tricorder out of his backpack, frowning at the screen. "What's the best place to set up a subspace transmitter?" he asks Torin. "I'm not exactly an engineer."
Nabrun pulls out her tricorder, trying to keep it at least somewhat hidden, and runs her scan. "Nothing broken," she says softly. "Might I recommend that we change into something as quickly as possible, if we can? Did that pod have any kind of replicating capabilities?"
Adansae shakes out her arms at Nabrun's pronouncement, clearly relieved by the news. "I'm fine," she murmurs before looking back to Green and awaiting her decision.
"The pod I just destroyed in a big fireball to keep the natives from seeing it?" Tay inquires. "I didn't notice. Mister Torin, please give Ensign Revere a hand." Adansae is given an encouraging nod.
Torin offers, "Little to no, radiological interference. Flat surface, if it's under an outcropping that's fine subspace isn't so susceptible to physical interdiction. If possible, we'll want to align it where we can get as much of the sky for it to search and transmit on as possible." He offers carefully and begins peering around before offering, "Here want me to try a hand with the tricorder, ensign?"
GAME: Revere contests his Personal Equipment/Tricorder+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Nabrun blinks at Tay, and clearly has what is known as an oopsie moment. Back to where the pod was she looks, and then the Counselor sighs quietly. "Minor abrasions, Raynne," she murmurs. "Let me know if anything starts hurting."
Revere scratches at his chin as he scans. "There's a cave about a kilometer to the southwest. It's a climb, though... almost two hundred meters above us." He tosses the tricorder to Torin. "If that looks like a good place to you, I guess we should head that way."
Adansae doesn't laugh at Nabrun's words, but her eyes spark with humor -- their current situation is a bit too dire for her to complain about bumps and bruises.
. o O Green chuckles. "No worries, Barana."
Green looks toward Torin, awaiting his pronouncement.
Torin glances towards Green and smiles, "Haven't had a good hike in awhile. That should work, cover from weather, stable ground." He levels the tricorder studying it for a moment, "And I don't see any major interference, perfect."
A *climb*? Adansae doesn't allow herself to sigh, but a grimace washes over her expression and Nabrun has no problem picking up her feelings of dread. "I'll keep an eye on my feet," she mutters. "...Traitors."
Revere tightens the straps on his shoulders. "Alright, then."
Nabrun glances at Raynne's feet as well, then smiles a bit. "Stick close," she tells the junior counselor. "I'll walk behind you."
Green nods approvingly. "Good. Ensign Revere, please take point. Sorry, Lieutenant Nabrun, you're after him. Mister Torin we'll keep in the middle, and I'll pick up the rear after Ensign Adansae. Don't clump, and let's keep up with some steady scans. Let me know if we pick up anything interesting, please. Let's move out."
GAME: Revere contests his Athletics+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Adansae contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Torin contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Green contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Nabrun contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.
The group takes off through the wilderness (the surrounding area being rather akin to a pine forest on Earth with coniferous trees) and climbs. It takes the better part of an hour due to treacherous footing, but they make it without incident to the cave.
The cave itself is nice and deep, not to mention wide, and near a stream which bubbles musically nearby. The best part is that it doesn't appear to contain any animals, especially the varieties with sharp, pointy teeth.
Adansae falls into the lineup without comment or complaint, her eyes -- as promised -- fixed on her feet to the exclusion of all else. By the time the group reaches the cave, she's both drooping and limping, clearly so exhausted that she's near collapse.
Torin smiels at Adansae lightly and hops along at a quick space. He in fact seems to be clearly enjoying himself taking in the area and the wilderness with a pleased look. He does offer as the approach the cave, "Well not so bad a vacation spot, Lieutenant. I'll let you slide this time. But I'd want to learn more of the locals." He does give Adansae a sympathetic and faintly worried look.
Nabrun starts to crinkle her nose at Tay's pronouncement, when it comes, but stops just short. Instead, she smiles and settles into line where indicated. For all that it's a forced march, the Betazoid seems to enjoy it.
Revere wipes his brow once he's inside the cave, taking a deep breath as he scans the interior. "Nice afternoon stroll... if this is what passes for afternoon on this world. We'll have to figure out the orbital period and inclination at some point, if we're forced to stay a while. Might be nice to anticipate the weather we aren't prepared for. At any rate, I don't read anything hiding in here that could kill us, but this cave does go back into the hillside for at least 500 meters, if not more."
Green seems neither to like nor dislike the march. It's just something that has to be done. She spends most of the time keeping an eye on the surroundings, then once they reach the cave, she takes a look around. "So far, so good." She pauses to listen to the men, then nods. "Take a breather, folks. For all we know, the Jem'hadar are still up there just waiting for us to signal our location."
Adansae isn't more than a few paces inside the cave when she leans against a damp stone wall and slowly crumples to the ground in exhaustion. "Just... give me... a moment," she manages, her tone apologetic and more than a touch embarrassed.
GAME: Nabrun contests her Personal Equipment/Medical Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Torin smiles at that and glances around for a spot as he goes to place the transmitter down and puts his kit to the side. He offers, "I'll get it set up, and let you know when it's ready to begin transmitting, then sir?"
Nabrun doesn't go in, just yet, but pulls out her tricorder and scans - again. "Nothing in the vicinity, Sir, except bugs and plants. It's us and the wildlife."
Revere tugs out a packet of water and kneels next to Adansae. "Here you go," he murmurs. "Drink up. It's not exactly Risa, but it could be worse." He puts an encouraging hand on her shoulder, smiles, then stands once more.
. o O Revere worries about Adansae.
Adansae takes the water-packet from Revere with a grateful smile, then gulps down its contents in a single, greedy gulp.
"Sounds wonderful, Mister Torin," Tay nods, slinging her pack off to pull out a ration for herself. "And if you can rig a remote trigger for that transmitting, I'll personally buy you a banana daquiri when we get home." For they /are/ getting home. That confidence echoes in her voice. "Oh, bless you, Counselor. I have never been more fond of bugs and plants than I am at this moment."
Torin coughs at that, "Ah, thank you sir." He offers lightly and settles to his setting up the device quietly watching it he doesn't take his eyes off the device and offers, "Should be simple enough to do, sir. Tricorder should be able to set it off."
Nabrun grins over at Tay then studyes Raynne for a moment before crouching and getting her own supplies in order. It looks like she's taking time to rearrange and repack.
. o O Nabrun projects, "Cover our trail?"
. o O Green takes these moments to gather her thoughts, a little wearily. "Hmmm? Come again, Barana?"
Adansae, meanwhile, has closed her eyes and leaned her head against the stone wall. Another few minutes and she's likely to be snoring.
Revere unslings his pack, gently placing it on the ground. "Home sweet home."
. o O Nabrun takes a minute to draw up a mental image of the trail they took to get up here, with a flashing sign over top going Starfleet Officers Here.
. o O Green thinks, "Ah. Why do you think I want a remote trigger? We'll be far from here before we set it to transmitting."
GAME: Revere contests his Presence/Willpower vs Impossible and Fails.
GAME: Adansae contests her Presence/Willpower vs Impossible and Fails.
GAME: Nabrun contests her Presence/Willpower vs Impossible and Fails.
GAME: Green contests her Presence/Willpower vs Impossible and Fails.
GAME: Torin contests his Presence/Willpower vs Impossible and Fails.
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"They remained apart from us for many long days," Grandfather tells the children. "But we waited faithfully for them to come to our camp. They had promised that they would when they were through resting."
"What did they do during those days?" a girl asks as she rocks back on the log.
Grandfather shakes his head. "No one knows," he replies. "But, after a time, we decided to make contact with them, and present to them a tithe to show our devotion and loyalty. Still, though, they would not come out of their cave except very sparingly -- and somehow, they knew when we were watching."
The old man is silent for a moment, then shakes his head. "The days stretched into weeks, then months, then years. Slowly, gradually, they came to accept us as we had accepted them. The Jack was the first to leave their encampment for our village, and he used his magic to create for us a waterway to irrigate our crops. The Raynne was next, helping us to learn to calm our inner voices. The Moroko taught us how to build strong buildings that would stand against the wind. The Tay showed us a new way to defend ourselves from our enemies, and the Barana brought us new plants and medicines to save our people from the evil humors."
The children smile. "What happened to the Sky Spirits?" a young boy asks.
"The Elder Gods came to call them back," Grandfather replies quietly.
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Revere returns from his work in the fields, running his fingers through his beard. "Another good harvest," he murmurs to himself as he looks back at the plants with obvious pride. His uniform still fits, although it's not really uniform any longer, it's so ragged, dirty, and torn. The Starfleet communicator still shines brightly on his chest, however.
Adansae welcomes Revere back from the fields with a kiss on the cheek. "We need it," she informs him with a tired smile. Her work keeps her just as busy, but she rarely complains anymore. "Hurry and get washed up -- the others are waiting for us." By 'others', there's no doubt who she's talking about.
Green has long since shed her uniform in favor of native clothing. Today, she's been hunting, but without success, and she makes her quiet way back into the village empty-handed, wending her way toward the village square.
Nabrun is in a modified version of her uniform. She's wearing the jacket, but the pants have long since gone the way of the dodo. Into the square she comes with a small selection of what appears to be plants.
Torin walks along towards the central square gesturing with his hands extravegantly with one of the younger members of the village. As usual his conversation seems fairly specific describing necessary knowledge to concoct some new device half his make and half the locals. A light smile on his features hopping along as he goes.
"Do we ever," Revere replies with a grin, heading for the well. "I think that we'll do best with the..."
Whatever he was about to say is drowned out, however, by a musical shimmer on the air -- a sound that reaches back into an area of their minds that quite likely have cobwebs from disuse -- a Starfleet transporter beam which wisks them all away.
The room goes dark for a moment, then the computer's voice chimes. "Simulation complete." Before them all stands a rather non-descript fellow in a blue uniform, offering a nod to each of them. "Thank you for your participation," he offers.
Adansae stares at the uniformed man in a daze, not yet comprehending that that other life is over -- all eight years of it -- is over.
Green falters mid-step, and looks up from what was a moment ago feet-packed ground. Her gaze finds the man for a moment, then she nods in return. "It was certainly... a unique experience."
. o O Green thinks, "I hope."
Nabrun takes a slow breath and looks around. "That was..." she says quietly, and looks over her shoulder, almost wistful. "Everyone alright?"
Torin stumbles as well and blinks several times. He looks around the area carefully and reaches up to brush back through his ear and tug at his ear, "Strange.... strange. That's.... ah quite a simulation." He then lets out a sigh and offers, "They were close to water power. They would have made a very interesting mill I think." He says in mild complaint.
Revere touches his uniform, frowning at it before he touches his cheek. "I miss the beard," he murmurs before he straightens up. "But, yes, I think I'm okay. Just a little... how long have we been in here?"
Green pauses to give Torin the /oddest/ look. "Yes, I'm fine, Counselor," she says absently.
Adansae looks rather a long ways from all right, if one judges from the stricken look in her eyes and her greenish-pale skin, but she nods to Nabrun all the same. "I need to be back to teach the..." Blinking several times, she shakes her head as if clearing it of cobwebs.
"Six hours," the man replies with a smile to Revere. "And before you ask, no, you didn't fail. This wasn't an evacuation drill, or how well you upheld the Prime Directive. It was a test to see how you'd deal with being in a survival situation on a planet, cut off from Starfleet contact, and you all performed admirably. Well done -- you upheld Starfleet principles to the best of your ability in a tough situation." The man smiles, then tugs a small cube free of the holodeck's arch. "The lingering disorientation will pass in a few hours. Thank you once again."
Torin smiles faintly at the look and sighs continuing to glance around and tug at his ear before looking back to uniformed fellow he arches a brow at the comment and can't quite help it he begins laughing.
Nabrun shakes her head slowly and smiles a bit. "It was..." The smile fades to a sigh. "So, anyone up for a cup of coffee?"
. o O Green thinks, "Couldn't have just dumped us in the middle of a glacier or something?"
As Torin laughs, Adansae's eyes fill with unshed tears. "So, we can return ho-- back to our quarters?" Her voice trembles slightly.
Green looks back toward the blueshirt. "Thank you," she says softly, and gives Barana Nabrun a nod. "Tea, anyhow."
Revere glances at Adansae before his gaze drops to the yellow grid on the holodeck. "I'm not thirsty," he replies quietly. "Thank you, though, Counselor."
Torin gets an odd look from the officer before he nods to Adansae. "Of course you may. If you'll all excuse me?" He tucks the cube into a base, then heads for the exit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Will they ever return to us, Grandfather?" the final child asks as he looks at the village elder, his face falling a bit.
"Perhaps, child," Grandfather replies with a smile. "One can never tell."
The star overhead continue to twinkle brightly...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
...while in the satchel of the Starfleet medical officer, the datacube that holds the program continues to run in a small base, departing with him to his next port of call.
