Lt. JG Natasha Cole - Four Corners, One Choice
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Natasha Schell
Jan 14, 2026, 11:04:07 PM (8 hours ago) Jan 14
to sb118-...@googlegroups.com
((Unknown Monastery - Callis 1))
Storm: One can only hope.
MacKenzie: Maybe they're nocturnal? If so, it might be easier to try to find food and potentially better shelter tomorrow...
Brexis: Daylight is safer either way. ::pointing to Cole:: I think she’s comin’ around.
Cole: ::barely audible, unfocused:: Wait one more heartbeat…
Storm: Hey, Nat…Welcome back to the land of the conscious.
Charlotte knelt back down next to Natasha and nudged her a little bit.
Natasha gasped sharply, pain slamming back into her body all at once.
Her shoulder burned. Her head throbbed. The smell of smoke and damp stone filled her lungs as she sucked in air greedily.
Someone was saying something to her.
Brexis: You alright?
She blinked, vision swimming, but starting to focus.
Cole: ::small nod:: I will be. Door still holding?
Storm: One hinge is cracked, and the door is off kilter slightly, but it’s still a formidable barrier between us and the local wildlife
MacKenzie: ::nodding:: No thanks to you.
Charlotte pointed between the fire and Natasha a couple times.
Brexis: Maybe you should get closer to the fire. ::beat:: But you know. Don’t fall in it or anything like that.
Cole: ::faint smirk:: If I fall in, feel free to mock me first, then rescue me.
Natasha gingerly leaned forward to get up. She braced herself with her right arm, the pain shot through her shoulder, it felt dislocated. Probably from hitting the column when she was thrown backwards. She stopped, braced herself with her other arm as well pushing herself up and sat down by the fire.
Storm: I’m going to get some more firewood from one of these rooms over here.
MacKenzie: It's dislocated. I can put it back, but it's going to hurt. You may want to brace yourself and look away...
Brexis: Smart woman.
Cole: ::looking at MacKenzie:: I know better to argue with you Captain.
She braced herself as the Captain dusted off her medical skills and popped Natasha’s arm back into place. MacKenzie placed one hand on Natasha’s collar and the other on her bicep. In a swift motion, she popped the joint back into its socket.
Cole: Mother [Expletive Redacted] … ::sheepishly:: Sorry, and thank you.
The pain was sudden and more intense then she expected as she immediately slapped the floor with her other palm. While the immediate pain subsided almost immediately, afterwards it settled into a dull throbbing pain.
Storm: There’s a bit more in that room, when we need it. And if you aren’t averse to burning humanoid remains, there are bones in there, too.
MacKenzie: We do what we have to do.
Brexis: That’s basically asking to be cursed forever… ::looking at MacKenzie:: but yeah… We will do what we have to.
Cole: ::flexing her shoulder carefully:: Okay. That sucked. But I’m functional, and that’s enough.
Storm: If we are going to take turns getting some rest, I’m happy to take the first watch.
MacKenzie nodded.
MacKenzie: We should, yes.
Brexis: I’ll take first watch with you. We can switch off in shifts to help keep everyone fresh.
Cole: ::looks to MacKenzie:: Guess that means we have second watch.
Alex took a walk around the perimeter of the inside of the building, while Natasha sat watching the fire.
Storm: Hey, Charlotte. Can I get some help in here?
Brexis: What’s going on?
MacKenzie, stood up and listened from nearby.
Storm: See these notches? ::pointing to the circular cut-out spots in the corners of the stone.:: I’m wondering if there are two more on the other corners under this shelf, but it’s too heavy to move.
MacKenzie raised an eyebrow.
Brexis: Let’s move this shelf and see.
Natasha stood up stretching, arm still dully throbbed. She walked over to the door, popping her head into the room.
Cole: Here, let me help. That thing looks incredibly rickety
Storm: On three. One, two, three.
The trio carefully moved the shelf away from the wall, Alex knelt down and checked for more notches and sure enough, there were two more notches in the back two corners of the same stone.
Storm: Four staves that match the notches in the four corners of the stone? Hey Captain. I think we might have found something in here.
MacKenzie popped her head into the room.
MacKenzie: What've you got?
Brexis: ::Gesturing to the stone:: Looks like each corner of this stone has a pretty deliberate little notch in each corner. Could be something.
Cole: ::crouching slightly despite her shoulder protesting, eyes tracking the cuts:: Those don’t look random. Someone taking time with those could be a mechanism of some kind.
Storm: Response
MacKenzie: What do you make of it?
Brexis: Lieutenant Storm suggested the staves match the notches. Maybe we should stick them in and see what happens?
Cole: What’s the … ::beat, shaking her head:: Nope not going to finish that thought.
Storm: Response
The commanding officer rocked her head back and forth.
MacKenzie: How do you think they were used? What might that tell us of the people who lived here?
Brexis: Well, based on how little we know already, I don’t think we can deduce much unless we actually see what happens. ::gesturing vaguely:: But, that could open us up for more potential problems. Like our friends outside. Whatever this is may tip them off to something.
Cole: ::straightening slowly:: If this place was meant to keep something out… or keep something contained… then whatever this is might be part of that system. ::beat:: Which means ignoring it could be just as dangerous as activating it.
Storm/MacKenzie: Response
Charlotte took in everyone's ideas before turning to Natasha.
Brexis: Where are those staves at?
Cole: ::already moving:: I converted them into spears, old habits die hard, but they’re still intact. ::glances over her shoulder:: And reversible, if we need too..
Natasha held them out in front of her.
Storm/MacKenzie: Response
With the staves in hand she handed one to each of the women.
Brexis: Let’s do one at a time. But everyone stay alert and listen.
Cole: ::nods once:: Agreed. If anything changes, sound, pressure, temperature, we stop.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
She stuck the end of the stave into one of the notches. It fit perfectly. She turned to the other three and nodded towards them.
Cole: ::after a breath:: Okay. That’s two.
She didn’t let go right away. She watched. Listened. Felt the stone beneath her palm, half-expecting it to vibrate or warm or do something dramatic.
Nothing.
Natasha glanced at the other two women.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
When the fourth stave was finally placed nothing happened … immediately. After a heartbeat or two the air felt different as the stone started to shift with the sound of stone grinding against stone.
Cole: Well … we can’t un-ring whatever bell this is.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
Tags/TBC
----- ◌● -----
Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4
Storm: One can only hope.
MacKenzie: Maybe they're nocturnal? If so, it might be easier to try to find food and potentially better shelter tomorrow...
Brexis: Daylight is safer either way. ::pointing to Cole:: I think she’s comin’ around.
Cole: ::barely audible, unfocused:: Wait one more heartbeat…
Storm: Hey, Nat…Welcome back to the land of the conscious.
Charlotte knelt back down next to Natasha and nudged her a little bit.
Natasha gasped sharply, pain slamming back into her body all at once.
Her shoulder burned. Her head throbbed. The smell of smoke and damp stone filled her lungs as she sucked in air greedily.
Someone was saying something to her.
Brexis: You alright?
She blinked, vision swimming, but starting to focus.
Cole: ::small nod:: I will be. Door still holding?
Storm: One hinge is cracked, and the door is off kilter slightly, but it’s still a formidable barrier between us and the local wildlife
MacKenzie: ::nodding:: No thanks to you.
Charlotte pointed between the fire and Natasha a couple times.
Brexis: Maybe you should get closer to the fire. ::beat:: But you know. Don’t fall in it or anything like that.
Cole: ::faint smirk:: If I fall in, feel free to mock me first, then rescue me.
Natasha gingerly leaned forward to get up. She braced herself with her right arm, the pain shot through her shoulder, it felt dislocated. Probably from hitting the column when she was thrown backwards. She stopped, braced herself with her other arm as well pushing herself up and sat down by the fire.
Storm: I’m going to get some more firewood from one of these rooms over here.
MacKenzie: It's dislocated. I can put it back, but it's going to hurt. You may want to brace yourself and look away...
Brexis: Smart woman.
Cole: ::looking at MacKenzie:: I know better to argue with you Captain.
She braced herself as the Captain dusted off her medical skills and popped Natasha’s arm back into place. MacKenzie placed one hand on Natasha’s collar and the other on her bicep. In a swift motion, she popped the joint back into its socket.
Cole: Mother [Expletive Redacted] … ::sheepishly:: Sorry, and thank you.
The pain was sudden and more intense then she expected as she immediately slapped the floor with her other palm. While the immediate pain subsided almost immediately, afterwards it settled into a dull throbbing pain.
Storm: There’s a bit more in that room, when we need it. And if you aren’t averse to burning humanoid remains, there are bones in there, too.
MacKenzie: We do what we have to do.
Brexis: That’s basically asking to be cursed forever… ::looking at MacKenzie:: but yeah… We will do what we have to.
Cole: ::flexing her shoulder carefully:: Okay. That sucked. But I’m functional, and that’s enough.
Storm: If we are going to take turns getting some rest, I’m happy to take the first watch.
MacKenzie nodded.
MacKenzie: We should, yes.
Brexis: I’ll take first watch with you. We can switch off in shifts to help keep everyone fresh.
Cole: ::looks to MacKenzie:: Guess that means we have second watch.
Alex took a walk around the perimeter of the inside of the building, while Natasha sat watching the fire.
Storm: Hey, Charlotte. Can I get some help in here?
Brexis: What’s going on?
MacKenzie, stood up and listened from nearby.
Storm: See these notches? ::pointing to the circular cut-out spots in the corners of the stone.:: I’m wondering if there are two more on the other corners under this shelf, but it’s too heavy to move.
MacKenzie raised an eyebrow.
Brexis: Let’s move this shelf and see.
Natasha stood up stretching, arm still dully throbbed. She walked over to the door, popping her head into the room.
Cole: Here, let me help. That thing looks incredibly rickety
Storm: On three. One, two, three.
The trio carefully moved the shelf away from the wall, Alex knelt down and checked for more notches and sure enough, there were two more notches in the back two corners of the same stone.
Storm: Four staves that match the notches in the four corners of the stone? Hey Captain. I think we might have found something in here.
MacKenzie popped her head into the room.
MacKenzie: What've you got?
Brexis: ::Gesturing to the stone:: Looks like each corner of this stone has a pretty deliberate little notch in each corner. Could be something.
Cole: ::crouching slightly despite her shoulder protesting, eyes tracking the cuts:: Those don’t look random. Someone taking time with those could be a mechanism of some kind.
Storm: Response
MacKenzie: What do you make of it?
Brexis: Lieutenant Storm suggested the staves match the notches. Maybe we should stick them in and see what happens?
Cole: What’s the … ::beat, shaking her head:: Nope not going to finish that thought.
Storm: Response
The commanding officer rocked her head back and forth.
MacKenzie: How do you think they were used? What might that tell us of the people who lived here?
Brexis: Well, based on how little we know already, I don’t think we can deduce much unless we actually see what happens. ::gesturing vaguely:: But, that could open us up for more potential problems. Like our friends outside. Whatever this is may tip them off to something.
Cole: ::straightening slowly:: If this place was meant to keep something out… or keep something contained… then whatever this is might be part of that system. ::beat:: Which means ignoring it could be just as dangerous as activating it.
Storm/MacKenzie: Response
Charlotte took in everyone's ideas before turning to Natasha.
Brexis: Where are those staves at?
Cole: ::already moving:: I converted them into spears, old habits die hard, but they’re still intact. ::glances over her shoulder:: And reversible, if we need too..
Natasha held them out in front of her.
Storm/MacKenzie: Response
With the staves in hand she handed one to each of the women.
Brexis: Let’s do one at a time. But everyone stay alert and listen.
Cole: ::nods once:: Agreed. If anything changes, sound, pressure, temperature, we stop.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
She stuck the end of the stave into one of the notches. It fit perfectly. She turned to the other three and nodded towards them.
Cole: ::after a breath:: Okay. That’s two.
She didn’t let go right away. She watched. Listened. Felt the stone beneath her palm, half-expecting it to vibrate or warm or do something dramatic.
Nothing.
Natasha glanced at the other two women.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
When the fourth stave was finally placed nothing happened … immediately. After a heartbeat or two the air felt different as the stone started to shift with the sound of stone grinding against stone.
Cole: Well … we can’t un-ring whatever bell this is.
Storm/MacKenzie/Brexis: Response
Tags/TBC
----- ◌● -----
Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4
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