The Search for the Scientists (part 1)

Posted on Thu Sep 26th, 2019 @ 5:37am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant JG Pippa Patterson & Lieutenant Trei Jansum & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville & Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

1,073 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind

ON

"The caves are about five clicks away. With the undergrowth, we may be better off hiking in," Amber said.

Trei nodded, but thought of something. Without a doubt, Amber would have picked up on it. His "Aha" moment was that loud. "Perhaps a knife, or a sword to help whack through it? What is that Earth knife called again?"

Paris raised a brow slightly and whispered softly to himself. "I'll feel safer already." in a bit of a sarcastic tone.

"It's called a machete," Amber said. "But if the scientists have been coming and going from these caves, there may still be a path we can follow."

She went out the door the scientists last exited. There were a couple of paths. A quick search with her tricorder showed Amber which direction was the caves and she headed out, expecting the others to follow.

Trei thought for a moment, then nodded and followed, phaser held in his hand. "I'd suggest we be on the watch for animal predators. I saw rather large feline tracks around the compound when we were looking around."

Nichelle was quick to be out the doors; if the team might be hurt it was darn toot'in she would be there on site.

Right behind Yew all." She mentioned while hefting her bag onto her shoulders and a Tricorder in hand as well. "Ah hope they did not wonder off in an odd direction?" She decided the people with Phasers can deal with danger she does not like to do harm so a weapon is all but useless to Nichelle.

Paris followed quietly behind the group, hands tucked in his pockets, humming softly to himself. Nothing else more to do really then listen to the banter between them and keep his eyes and ears opened. Besides, lingering behind them, gave him a slight advantage. He could easily slip away unnoticed should trouble commence.

Amber made enough noise to warn snakes and predators and scare them off while keeping an eye on her tricorder so she would be aware of any dangers ahead. It was hot and muggy, but other than that, fairly routine. When the cliffs could be seen through the foliage, Amber slowed. She wasn't sure what to expect up ahead, and she didn't want to walk blindly into an ambush. She scanned the area carefully. When the readings showed nothing amiss, she moved ahead to a large rock outcropping near the side of the cliff. "We'll stop here for everyone to catch their breath, then go in. I'd like two people to stay outside.

"Patti, you stay here. If we're not back in two hours, inform the captain and go back to the camp. Understood?"

Patti wasn't sure she wanted to stay in the jungle alone, but she nodded. "Understood, ma'am."

"Two hours?!" Paris replied, with a smirk, as he looked to Patti and added. "And here I was thinking this was going to a quick death." He gave her a wink before leaning against a tree. He crossed his arms over his chest and began to hum softly to himself.

Patti wasn't sure if she should laugh or not.

Amber didn't like the joke, and she didn't like Paris reminding people about death right now. They knew how dangerous it was, they didn't need to be reminded. Her temper rose. "Anyone who wants to stay here is welcome. I'm going to check the cave entrance before we go in deeper." She made sure her light and knife were readily available and headed to the cave opening, not waiting to see if anyone was going with her or would join her in a few minutes.

Paris raised a brow before shouting. "So... we're not stopping to catch our breath?" He looked around before adding. "Seems a bit argumentative, don't you think? Telling us to stop but going anyway. If you really wanted to keep going why bother telling us to stop at all?"

She paused and turned around. "I stopped enough for me. I'm going to look at the entrance," she turned and continued along the path.

"Are you no longer a Betazoid?" Paris said as he stopped leaning against the tree and began to slowly walk to her. "Did you change to an Android? Vulcan? Are you suddenly a hologram?" He kept walking to her, keeping onto his smile, as he continued. "Your skin looks fine. Your ears aren't pointy. So that can't be it? So I guess the only thing left is Hologram?" He stopped and looked around, holding his hands out, as he looked back to her. "I don't see any holo-emitters. So that can't be it either. So why the rush? Concern? Anxiety?" Paris stopped next to her and slowly took her hand. "Going in there at full speed won't help? Your mind will be all over the place and it will just cause you to miss something you might regret later on. You need to rest, just like the rest of us, and the rest will help ease your mind and clear it for new information. The new information you will no doubt gather once you enter that cave." He pointed to the cave before adding. "Everyone needs a rest, it was a long walk, you included. Take a few minutes, if you need, but it will help you in the long run." He smiled softly to her and shrugged slightly. "You know I am right, and if you still are Betazoid, you will be able to tell I am being sincere and cautious. I want to figure out this mystery as badly as you do, but rushing ahead, will cause you to make mistakes. Mistakes we may not be able to avoid. The same mistakes the scientists may have made that led them to this."

She wasn't going in full-speed. "I don't want to rest any more," she said. "I want to have a look at the cave opening." She was outwardly calm, but still angry and she didn't appreciate his humor right now. Later, probably, but not now. "Don't patronize me. Yes, I don't doubt you're sincere, but you're not me. If you want to rest, rest with the others. I won't be far away."

(To be continued...)|

Lieutenant Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Trei Jansum
Chief Security Officer

Lieutenant Paris Deville
Chief Flight Control Officer

Tessa Nichelle
Medical Officer

Lieutenant JG Patti Patterson
Operations Officer

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