Secrets of Life

Posted on Sunday January 15th, 2023 @ 10:05pm by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: The Caves of Mion Nova
Timeline: Current

[ON]

Steven had been silent for a while. The science officer in him had taken over. He then remembered there was others around him.

" Sorry caught up in the moment here. This place is a wonder. Yes. The bio neural link between the two. Whatever is in here seems to be trying to use that to communicate. My only worry is once this is over. Korial may not wish to go back to keeping silent." Steven said.

"We've got to do something and maybe the symbiont knows something we don't. Especially if it is the conduit for communications," Jo suggested.

Jason started keying in some commands into his tricorder, "The neural dampener should keep some of the more aggressive urges under control, the energy field seems too be the trigger."

Niali was suddenly so very tired, she sat down on the floor of the cave and wanted to give up. She had been fighting with Korial for three years now, day in and day out; each encounter worse and more persistent than the last but, there on Mion Nova there seemed to be something in the air that allowed him to hold a more complete sway over her mind. She looked down and closed her eyes. When she opened them a few minutes later The cold gaze of Ajic Korial looked out from them. “Jo?” He whispered quietly in Niali’s mesmerizing voice. “Help me escape from these restraints, you know your XO should not be confined like this, it is wrong. Help me and we will discover beautiful things together?”

Steven ran a tricorder over Niali. " I do not like the look of these readings. Her energy levels have dropped. At the moment she is stable but if this continues we could have problems. But if we give her something to restore her. We are fuelling Korial which could also lead to problems. Whatever we do next had better be quick." He said.

Tag Jo

Jason walked over too Niali "If Korial wants to come out and play then let's do this." Jason pulled the restraints off harshly "If you step outta line I'll stun you so hard you'll wake up in a holding cell on the trill homeworld."

Niali stood and slowly looked at Trensu, Steven and at last Jason. “Lieutenant Elliot if you speak to your XO like that again I will bust your ass down so hard you will be cleaning the heads for the next twelve months. Is that clear Lieutenant?”

Jason looked over "Your under the influence of unknown alien forces, I'll take what ever steps are necessary to get us all out of here safe." Jason pointed too a small scrawl in what looked too be blood "One of two spirits must be wary of this place." Jason
said fluently.

Steven watched the conversation between Elliot and Niali. He paid close attention to the XO her body language seemed off. Edgeware gave her a scan with his tricorder to make sure.

"Hello Korial I am afraid as temporary medic on this trip. You wont be able to do such a thing to Jason. Check with Naili if you wish. But you will find a medic even if he or she has a lower rank. Can belay any order from an officer. If they feel said officer is under the influences that are causing them to behave oddly. Now we need your assistants but be warned. Any attempt to hurt us or Niali we can do without you." Steven said

Niali slid down the rock to a sitting position, she growled, stretched her arm out and made a fist violently and pointed it towards Steve. “You will find you need my help before the end Starfleet. Don’t forget I am Niali and she is me, my protege in the interrogation business. I am getting stronger every minute.” She laughed, a strange concoction of the pair of them. She stretched her legs out and shut her eyes. “I can afford to wait.”

Steven looked at the scrawl Jason was pointing to.

" What do you think this means Jason?" He asked

"Judging by what's going on there's an influence on some level that is causing Korial and Niali to be in conflict, I've seen it before." Knowing the next question he continued "About nine years ago my father and I were on one of his expeditions with a Trill biologist who fell under similar influences, a species dad dubbed 'the wanderers' had crashed in on a planet near the trill system, other than a high level of mental development and high level technical knowledge we never found out much, we blew up the cave after taking a few scans, we found the same markings there we have found here, in my pack are four seismic charges, were going too seal the cavern and get the hell out of here."

"One thing I did learn was how too keep a trill from having a total mental break down, the neural suppressor keeps the mass of signals in balance, its not perfect but it's a better option than having the host and symbiont intact, unfortunately dad's notes are a bit sketchy on how he did it." Jason said as he place the device on Niali's forehead.

It would be shame not to go any further. But if Niali was going to be at risk from whatever was in here with them. Then it was indeed time to return to the Oberon,

" I think it is time for us to leave. The XO could suffer long term harm if we stay longer. As Jason said lets get the hell out of here." Steven said

Niali was herself again for a moment. “Jason, you need to find out what is going on here, if just for your father. Sedate me if you need to but we can stay a little longer.” She looked at him and smiled.

Jason put the neural suppressor on Niali's forehead "You'll feel like your in a trance but it's a better option than stunning you or sedation, plus Korial will be able communicate, I'd rather blast any way in here permanently closed."

Niali breathed a sigh or relief. “He’s gone Jason, thank you. Now let’s finish it.”

Jason looked at steven and Trensu, "There are a dozen seismic charges aboard the ship along with two photon grenades, before you ask I have a bad habit of planning for the worst."

Steven gave a nod.

" Whatever is here obviously wants to be left in peace. Could your items be set then beamed in here?" He asked

"They're in a transport safe case, but I'll need help setting the charges though." Jason said pulling out his tricorder.

Niali growled. “You’re all scared children frightened of your own shadows, call yourself explorers! Jason your father would have been disappointed in you, just blow things up is the way you decide to end what could be a considerable breakthrough if you took the time to look, really look and finally see.” She turned to Steven “and you, I thought you wanted to be a scientist but no you’re just a failed medic looking for a place to hide.” She turned to Trensu. “Call yourself a Captain, you should be taking charge instead of being led …..you, you!” Niali sat down now silent.

“ Is that so. Well at least we still have our original bodies sir. Unlike you having to share yours. Jason let’s get those charges down here. I’ll help you set them up.” Steven said

The quick flash of the transporter revealed a black tote with a generic Starfleet logo on the sides appeared, Jason walked over and flipped the latches and lifted the lid "Okay maybe I over packed, These are satchel charges, pretty straight forward, pull the arming pin wait for the blue light to turn green and I'll blast this place off the map." Jason stood "I'm going too string the photon grenades around the opening."

Niali stood and walked back to the runabout lay down on the bunk and went to sleep.

After what seemed like an eternity the charges were set, Jason had rigged up a mechanical timer for the grenades that would go off seconds after the charges, he checked each one making the necessary adjustments then turned too the remaining members of the expedition, "Once I hit the plunger we have thirty seconds, I'll bring up the rear, lets move!" Jason said clapping his hands for emphasis.

The remaining group were at a slow but steady run, the crunch of gravel and broken branches indicated they were at the entrance too the caves, Jason turned and called out "FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!" the depressed the plunger on the remote, back in the cavern there was six small beeps simultaneously followed by the crack of the satchel charges then two seconds later the bright flash followed by detonation of the photon grenades.

Jason could hear the rumble, followed by the outer pressure wave, little more than a rush of warm air, then the main waves came belching out of the mouth of the cavern and the rumble of the ground as the dust cloud seconds later came blasting out knocking Jason staggering back but not knocking him down, he turned "What the f....."

Was it Steven’s imagination? Or did he hear something scream? Edgeware was laying on the floor feeling as though a giant had come along and pushed him over. But there was something else. For the first time since they had found that cave. His mind felt clear as if he had just woken up. From a very good nights sleep.

“ I don’t…. Jason… I feel like a dream has just ended….” Steven said trying to get to his feet but failing.

Jason pocketed the remote and started too walk back too the ship, he found his pack on the ground picking it up he pulled a bottle of whiskey out he unscrewed the cap and took a massive pull from the bottle. He offered it to Steven "That was fun, next time let's go somewhere with room service."

The shuttle lifted off shaking the dust of Mion Nova off and headed out into space. The planet below was still as the storm had blown itself out. Deep below the destroyed cavern something moved, slowly at first as though testing out the rubble. Then, slowly, ever so slowly began to move towards the light. Free at last.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Ahkhsu Trensu
Commanding Officer. USS Oberon.

&

Lieutenant Commander Niali Korial
Executive Officer. USS Oberon.

&

Lieutenant Steven Edgeware.
Science Officer. USS Oberon.

&

Lieutenant Jason Elliot
Intelligence Officer. USS Oberon

&

Ensign JoAnne Grant
Chief Operations Officer. USS Oberon