U.S.S. Quirinus Stardate 10501.31

SEASONS OF SHADOW

CHAPTER THREE

"The Path That Led to Truths Unknown"

Host SM_Selan says:
=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\= RESUME =/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=

Cherry says:
@::is still sitting by the window waiting for Vee to come home::

Sulek says:
::standing in the reflective cave:: Kraight:  Any idea what this material might be?

Kraight says:
:: stands slowly, expecting to find one or more bones broken ::

Kraight says:
:: checks tricorder :: Sulek: Not yet, sir. The tricorder's readings are quite muddled. It may take some recalibration before I can make sense of this data.

Sulek says:
::steps out carefully into the cavern::

Jade says:
#::is sleeping in her cell::

Kraight says:
:: walks slowly along the cavern's periphery, making constant adjustments to his tricorder ::

Cherry says:
@::wonders how her ex-crewmates are doing::

Sulek says:
::presses com badge:: *ship* Sulek to exploration ship.

Cherry says:
@::moves into the kitchen::

Sulek says:
::receives no response::

Cherry says:
@::rifles through the knife drawer::

Sulek says:
::readjusts frequency on com badge and tries to boost signal::*ship*Sulek to exploration ship, do you read?

Cherry says:
@::slips a butcher knife into her belt::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: Pangborn peers out the window - "Stay here, I'm going to check outside ..."

Cherry says:
@::calls out::  Pangborn:  Be careful!

Host SM_Selan says:
ACTION: No response. The light continues to reflect off the various mirrors while when the trio glances around, they momentarily see a door on one wall and then it vanishes.

Cherry says:
@::returns to her vigil by the window::

Kraight says:
Sulek: I doubt we'll be able to contact anyone outside the cavern complex, sir. The tricorder is acting as though this chamber were ionically charged. We'd notice that ourselves, so that can't be it... but comm. signals are blocked, nevertheless.

Host SM_Selan says:
# ACTION: The Starfleet security personnel silently watch Jade as she sleeps. Marshall left only minutes before.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::frowns, watching the patrols with heightened mental interest::

Sulek says:
Kraight: I suspected as much, still all hypothesis should be tested.

Cherry says:
@::watches and feels uneasy::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: There is no movement outside as the sun has now set. It gets dark really quickly.

Sulek says:
::moves to one of the packs and removes the transporter signal boosters and sets them up::

Kraight says:
Sulek: Our eyes and instruments are unreliable here. I suggest that we each walk along the edges of the chamber, feeling for an exit of some sort. 

Cherry says:
@::unease deepens as twilight lengthens into night::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::waits for the encroaching darkness::

Kraight says:
:: looks down :: Self: Oh ho... what have we here?

Host SM_Selan says:
ACTION: Telarus mumbles something about - "We could always use the best tricorders ... our brains" and then rubs the side of his head and looks around.

Jade says:
#::stirs restlessly::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: A thud is heard outside.

Sulek says:
Kraight:  I thought we might see if the transporter can reach through.

Kraight says:
:: sweeps aside some sand on the ground :: Sulek: Sir! Look here!

Cherry says:
@::turns the lights off in the house and listens carefully::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: A scraping sound is heard against the outside of the house.

Sulek says:
::checks signal on the boosters, not enough::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: Then silence.

Cherry says:
@::tries not to give in to her rising terror::

Sulek says:
::he moves to where Kraight stands and places one hand lightly on the surface of a reflective piece.  It moves::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: The scraping is heard again, it's moving to the back of the house where there is an additional door.

Cherry says:
@::wonders if she locked the back door::

Sulek says:
Kraight: What is it?  ::shifts the piece and notes that the light is reflected in a new direction::

Kraight says:
Sulek: Sir... this writing in the floor... it's in an ancient dialect of Benzite!

Kraight says:
Sulek: It says, 'What Marks the Spot'.

Cherry says:
@::sneaks through the house towards the back::

Host SM_Selan says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Walks into a monitoring room which watches Jade Morgan and shoos the security personnel out. He sits down, takes a flask out, takes a drink, shakes his head, and takes a deep breath. He looks awfully nervous as if anticipating something::

Kraight says:
:: looks at Sulek :: Sulek: I have no idea what that means, sir.

Host SM_Selan says:
# ACTION: Darkness finally comes, providing Wolverton an opportunity to make his move.

Sulek says:
Kraight: I have heard of X marks the spot, but not of what.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::sidles quickly up to a small, hidden patch of ground where his maps say a sensor conduit is hidden::

Kraight says:
Sulek: Yes. That's a common human idiom. But this is almost a question.

Sulek says:
Kraight: But the writing looks Vulcan, not Benzite.  It does seem to say the same thing.

Kraight says:
:: looks sharply at Sulek :: Sulek: Really? Yet I see ancient Benzite. We must be careful... something or someone may be manipulating our minds.

Cherry says:
@::removes the knife from her belt and holds it in her right hand as she nears the back door::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: There is a scratching at the back door.

Sulek says:
::he begins turning the crystal piece to cause the light to move around the cavern:: Kraight:  Quite possibly. ::motions to Telarus:: Telarus: Look at this writing what do you see?

Host SM_Selan says:
<Telarus> ::Glances at it:: Sulek: Federation Standard Terran.

Cherry says:
@::wielding the knife, suddenly pulls the door open::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::quickly wires in a repeater to feed the same sensor signal into the grid so the sensors won't spot him...as long as he takes a very specific route::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: There is nothing there.

Sulek says:
Telarus: And what does it say?

Cherry says:
@::peers out into the darkness::

Cherry says:
@::gets that hair standing up on the back of her neck feeling again::

Host SM_Selan says:
<Telarus> Sulek: The same question - "What marks the spot"? What does that mean?

Cherry says:
@::checks the door for scratch marks::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::runs a quick scan for confirmation that it's working::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: The door looks as if something metallic was rubbed against it. 

Sulek says:
::looks at both of them:: All:  Each of you be sure to try and record the writing on your tricorder.  It should make for fascinating playback.

Cherry says:
@::slowly closes the door::

Sulek says:
::moves to another piece in the cavern and adjusts it::

Host SM_Selan says:
<Telarus> Sulek: Sir, maybe if we move around these "mirrors" we can narrow down that door. ::Proceeds to try, nearly blinds Kraight when he repositions one and beams light directly into his face::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: A strange voice speaks from behind Cherry - "Heeeeeello there meeeessy"

Kraight says:
:: squints, grimaces :: Telarus: Lieutenant, please...

Host SM_Selan says:
<Telarus> Kraight: I apologize, sir. ::Repositions the mirror::

Cherry says:
@::whips around at the sound of the voice::

Host SM_Selan says:
@ ACTION: Two men are in the room with her. One is a large, pale, bald brute of sorts with long ape arms and an empty look on his face. Beside him is his complete opposite, a quite stout ugly hairy male who looks quite like a Troll. 

Kraight says:
:: records the writing in the floor with his tricorder ::

Lance_Wolverton says:
::decides it's as good as it's going to get, and heads for the building::

Sulek says:
Kraight: What if we position them so they do not reflect to one another?

Cherry says:
@Losers:  How did you two get in here?

Kraight says:
:: thinks for a moment :: Sulek: It may reveal some useful information. It will depend entirely on the incident angles of each mirror.

Lance_Wolverton says:
# ::double-checks his timing on the patrols and approaching a ventilation grate, looks both ways, and commences cutting it with a mini-plasma torch::

Kraight says:
All: We can still try walking the perimeter and attempting to detect an exit by touch.

Jade says:
#::settles back into a deep slumber::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::pulls of the grate with a quiet creak, and clambers in quickly, putting the grate back into position and tack-welding it in place::

Sulek says:
Kraight:  Agreed.  Turn the pieces to face away as you pass.  You go to the left, and I will go to the right.  Telarus:  You will mark where our entrance was.  Both: And watch out for other traps, not all may be triggered by stepping on them.

Cherry says:
@::considers how she might take them both down::

Kraight says:
:: nods, starts walking slowly around the perimeter, his fingers brushing the wall as he passes ::

Sulek says:
::moves off to the right slowly moving along the wall::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::as he scrambles slowly backwards into the vent, almost wishes he could just bang some heads together and be done with it::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ::Lifts a circular disc that glows blue light:: Cherry: Don't worry about that meeeessy. Allow ooooos to introoooduce ourseeeelves. I'm Mr. Troll. This is Mr. Brute.

Sulek says:
::tries to adjust each piece so that it will not reflect, carefully checking each before he moves them::

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: The chamber begins to darken as they position them not to aim at each other.

Kraight says:
:: stops at a mirror and adjusts it ::

Cherry says:
@::avoids looking at the disk::  Troll:  How appropriate.  Now get out of my house.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Telarus> Sulek: Sir, I was thinking, an X marks a spot. Maybe we could position four to intersect in the fashion of an X ..?

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ::Smiles:: Cherry: I'm afraid we cannot dooooo that. Now stand still, theeeees won't hurt a bit.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::finally gets to a point where he can turn and move forward::

Cherry says:
@::ducks low and makes a run for it::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: Jade suddenly finds herself on the bridge of the Quirinus that is abandoned.

Sulek says:
Telarus: Worth a try.  We will leave one by the original door in place.  Kraight:  When you reach the middle, leave that one.  I will do the same opposite of you.

Kraight says:
:: nods :: Sulek: Understood.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Mr. Brute> @ ::Smiles:: 'ay, a 'ase! 

Sulek says:
::continues moving::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ::Smiles as well:: Indeeeed, Mr. Brute, indeeeed.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::reaches the second grate that leads into a corridor::

Cherry says:
@::dashes for the bedroom, knowing there is a lock on that door::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: Cherry can hear them pursuing.

Jade says:
#::looks around the bridge::

Jade says:
#::wonders where everyone is and how she got here::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # ::The fat little Jebezennarian witch from the Construct is suddenly there:: Jade: Hello murderer.

Cherry says:
@::skids into the bedroom and slams the door closed::

Jade says:
#::turns towards the voice::

Kraight says:
:: continues his traverse of the edge of the chamber ::

Lance_Wolverton says:
::checks his timing and the corridor for personnel, then pries open the second grate::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # Jade: Did I not warn you?

Jade says:
#Self: Wonderful.....a nightmare.

Cherry says:
@::fumbles with the lock, but finally gets it::

Jade says:
#Yaga: Warn me of what? I don't recall any warnings.......

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # ::Suddenly right beside Jade, slaps her hard, then reappears where she was before:: Do not mumble under your breath nor think to yourself nor think for yourself. Time is of the essence.

Sulek says:
::reaching as near to center, skips that crystal:: Kraight:That one.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: She hears slow footsteps heading toward the door - "You are all aloooooone now, Missy. Weeeee killed your husband. Killed him deeeeeeeeeed."

Lance_Wolverton says:

Cherry says:
@::refuses to believe them.  Moves to the comm. unit and hopes against hope its now working::

Sulek says:
::continues on::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: As Wolverton opens the grate, he hears someone coming down the corridor in the distance. Way behind him, Zachary Marshall is returning, intending to head toward Morgan's cell.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The comm. unit is still jammed.

Jade says:
#::head snaps back:: Yag: Touch me again, Ugly One, and someone will die, that’s for sure. What do you want?

Kraight says:
Sulek: Aye, sir.

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: The light is becoming more focused. Four direct beams are aiming toward the center of the room.

Cherry says:
@::resists the urge to throw the comm. unit against the wall::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: Marshall passes the grate that Wolverton has apparently chosen to remain in.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Does not notice Wolverton at all::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # ::Grins a horrible toothless grin at her:: Jade: Ah, there's the fire that will ignite the pit. Is it not ironic that you are the one that makes it all clear?

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::waits for him to clear, then drops himself into the corridor, shutting the ventilation access behind him, then dashing down his predetermined path, using shadows as needed...::
::

Jade says:
#Yaga: You are giving me a headache with your riddles, Old One. If you have something to say, say it already.

Cherry says:
@::moves to the bedroom window and looks out::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # Jade: I speak clearly, feeble one. Your mind will not accept what I have to say. That is why you kill them all. Kill them all to bring it back. Bring them back to make it clear to HIM. He must see.

Sulek says:
::looks at the beam of light:: All:  Well we will know where center is.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # Jade: If HE sees then we have a happy ending.

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: The floor gives out beneath Sulek, Telarus and Kraight.

Sulek says:
::nearly two thirds around....Falls::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The glowing blue disc smashes through the window and just barely misses Cherry's head, imbedding itself into the far wall. The massive Mr. Brute peers in and smiles at her through the window.

Kraight says:
:: almost loses his tricorder as he falls ::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::is coincidentally following Marshall, and begins to suspect they have the same destination::

Jade says:
#Yaga: And who is he?

Cherry says:
@::slashes at Brute's face with the knife::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Yaga> # ::Hands her a rose::

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: THUD.

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: The trio land onto small dunes of purple sand. Surprisingly, there is no debris crashing around them or on them ... as if it was all snatched out of thin air.

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: A warm wind blows through the corridor they find themselves in.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Mr. Brute> @ ::Cries out in pain and falls back through the window::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::still inadvertently following Marshall::

Sulek says:
::rolls as he hits but still feels the wind knocked out of him momentarily...stands slowly:: All: We seem to have found the what.

Cherry says:
@::tries to calm down enough to think straight::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Feels as if he's being followed. Stops and turns around, peering down the dark corridor. Sees nothing, and continues on::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: She hears Mr. Brute moaning outside for a moment, then silence.

Jade says:
#::bemusedly takes the rose::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::plastered against the wall for a moment, in very dark shadow::

Kraight says:
:: lies still for a moment, gathering his wits yet again :: Self: Would it be too much to ask that we get from point A to point B, just once, by walking?

Cherry says:
@::turns and steps closer to the disc::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: As Jade takes the rose, her finger is pricked. A single droplet of blood drops to the carpet. It's "splash" is the light sound of an explosion. Yaga speaks - "Now wake up."

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: And Jade wakes up.

Sulek says:
::reaches down and sifts the sand through his hands and then takes a small sample::

Cherry says:
@::looks at it carefully::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The disc glows at her presence.

Kraight says:
:: sits up ::

Kraight says:
:: starts scanning with the tricorder again ::

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: A weird groaning is carried on the warm wind as if something ancient were buckling somewhere in the distance.

Jade says:
#::blinks::

Cherry says:
@::knows Ben has a tricorder stashed somewhere in here.  Looks around for it::

Sulek says:
::thankful that he was still carrying a pack, but the transporter boosters didn't seem to make it down::

Jade says:
#::doesn't move for a second as she thinks about her dream::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The door to the room is smashed down. Mr. Brute has returned to the inside. He enters and suddenly Cherry feels a blaring pain in her mind as if someone has gotten in there with sharp, cracked, nails.

Kraight says:
Sulek: Sir, the tricorder readings have cleared. We're in an underground passage of some length. There are a number of chambers opening off the passage, at intervals.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Enters the brig:: Jade: I see you're awake again.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::listens from the shadows::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: Suddenly all the main lights go out in the building, and the back-up lights come on. Main power has been cut.

Cherry says:
@::clasps one hand to the side of her head, holds the knife firmly in the other and scrambles for the window::

Sulek says:
::takes out tricorder and scans, too:: Kraight: Any suggestion as to what might be in these side passages?

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Looks around:: What in the hell.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ Brute: Mr. Brute, stoooop her!

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The pallid behemoth rushes toward Cherry.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::winces, knowing exactly what the power outage means, and hoping Marshall leaves pretty darned quickly::

Cherry says:
@::dives for the window as she realizes what was causing Ben's headaches::

Kraight says:
Sulek: The readings are not yet defined enough to say, sir.

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: There is an explosion in the distance. The sec. officers immediately depart the room, telling Marshall to stay here.

Sulek says:
::looks down the distance of the tunnel:: All:  I believe our best course is to try and stay in the wider passages.  These would most likely be the main passages of the civilization.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: Cherry makes it out the window, landing and rolling through glass shards and cutting up her arms.

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::waits for the officers to get out of immediate earshot, knowing he has to act quickly::

Cherry says:
@::quickly gets to her feet and starts running, unaware of her injuries::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::once clear, he attempts to set a new record for quietly and quickly rendering a man unconscious::

Kraight says:
Sulek: I concur.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Zachary Marshall> # ::Stares at Morgan:: Morgan: Do you realize what you've do -- ::Is knocked out by Wolverton::

Sulek says:
All: Then we should keep moving.

Jade says:
#Marshall: Forget to pay your power bill? ::said dryly::

Lance_Wolverton says:
Jade: We've got to go, NOW.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: The entire window frame and part of the wall explodes outward as Mr. Brute attempts to chase Cherry into the jungle. 

Kraight says:
:: stands, dusts himself off :: Sulek: Where you lead, I follow, sir.

Jade says:
#::looks at Marshall and then back at Wolverton::

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Telarus> ::Brushing himself off:: Sulek: Ditto, sir.

Jade says:
#::stands up quickly:: Wolverton: You can get court marshaled for this.

Cherry says:
@::keeps running::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::grabs Jade and departs quickly, foregoing his original departure plan:: Jade: We'll worry about that later.

Sulek says:
::Begins moving off down the tunnel:: All: Then this way.

Kraight says:
:: follows, as promised ::

Jade says:
#::gasps and tries to keep up::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#Jade: If we don't get you out of here now, you'll be dead.

Host Mr_Troll says:
<Telarus> ::Follows as well::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::desperately recalling the map in his mind as he works his way to a corner office he saw in it::

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: Cherry seems to outrun Mr. Brute as she gets deeper into the jungle.

Cherry says:
@::senses she has a good lead now, so scrambles up a tree::

Jade says:
#::looks at him:: Wolverton: Dead? As in literally?

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::arrives at the office, with its transparent aluminum windows, parks her behind the wall, sets his phaser on overload and throws it into the corner next to the windows::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#Jade: Literally. ::dives for cover with her::

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: As Wolverton & Morgan disappear down the corridor, the two Romulans who had been watching Morgan's cell earlier enter the room. They see Marshall lying their unconscious. One looks to the other, then pulls out a disruptor and vaporizes Marshall's head - "Mission accomplished." The Romulan then vaporizes his companion, and turns the disruptor on himself.

Host Mr_Troll says:
# ACTION: The phaser overloads and the windows vaporize.

Jade says:
#::hits the floor and thinks about what he said::

Lance_Wolverton says:
#::grabs Jade and departs through the rubble::

Jade says:
#::thinks that certainly sucks::

Host Mr_Troll says:
ACTION: The tunnel leads them into a gigantic underground canyon with hill tops and ancient bridges which seem to cross the gulf.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: Cherry finds herself swaying with the jungle tree. A cool ocean breeze moves through the trees, making noises that could simply be the sounds of nature or be a predator stalking it's prey.

Host Mr_Troll says:
@ ACTION: Only time will tell.

Host Mr_Troll says:
=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\= PAUSE =/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=