[End Act 2] Ensign Sairrek Syn - Pluck it out

[Ensign Sairrek Syn]

(( OOC: Backing up a little further than normal to try and wrap things up neatly ))

(( Alleged Monastery, Callis 1 ))

MacKenzie: Everyone gather your equipment. We found a space in the city with gear that is more secure... But we don't have much time - it will be dark soon.

Brexis: Aye Sir.

Brexis wasted no time gathering what little supplies remained.

Storm: I didn’t go looking for any, but I wonder if there’s any soap in that store. That would be worth its weight in gold at the moment.

Storm adjusted a loose strand of hair as she tenderly bent over to pick up her canteen.

Storm: And shampoo. Definitely shampoo.

Cole: I could kill for a good soak

The longer the conversation went on, the more difficult it was for Syn to follow the finer details. Its vacant eyes trailed from speaker to speaker at a snail-like pace.

Syn: ::dazed:: Are we leaving?

MacKenzie: ::to Cole:: Are you able to help it?

Cole: We ruled out it being something they ate. Judging by their pupil's response I think it might be a delayed concussion, but my medical experience is limited to a crash course from Dr. Morgan.

Brexis: ::To Storm:: Do you need me to carry anything else.

Storm: We don’t have too much to carry. We’ll want some firewood to get a fire started in the upstairs fireplace. But really, anything else we might want, other than food, is likely already there.

They did their best to maintain balance as Cole helped them to their feet. Their success in this task was owed wholly to Natasha, but before Syn could thank her she carried on pulling on Syn until they were draped over the security officer like a fur coat.

Syn learned something about themselves when the unyieldingly competent security officer tossed the restrained Suliban over their shoulder like a prize trophy. They weren't sure what that was yet, but it was glad its face wasn't generally visible.

oO I have no idea why people complain. All things considered, getting the Cole shoulder doesn't seem all that bad. Oo

Syn: ::leaning heavily on Cole:: Sure you don't wanna lock me up here, come back later?

As little as Syn relished the idea of being left alone on this planet for any period of time, their request was selfish. Twilight treks through the woodlands' edge instilled an urgent, primal, irrepressible fear in Sairrek for themselves and their compatriots.

Brexis: Nah, we are bringing you in case one of the creatures comes after us. You are bait, my friend.

After all but volunteering to stay behind for the group, being offered up as chomper chow stung. Syn knew they had no room to complain. Hell, the team would had every right to have fed them to the beasts back at the stream. Yet Sairrek couldn't help but feel whatever final vestiges of hope they held onto drain out of them like the last drops of coal-laden water from their canteen as the group carried on down the trail, laughing.

They bit their tongue and tried to focus on staying silent the rest of the trip.

Storm: Other than what little food we have, I don’t think we need to take much with us other than firewood and our canteens, don’t you think? I think the store has most anything we could need.

Cole: This place sounds promising. ::spinning a little to glance at Alex:: Hopefully you're not over-selling it.

Even though Syn had some confidence everybody was speaking at a normal pace, the words seemed to amplify, overlap, and distort in their head. A gentle but firm tug on them gave them the haptic feedback they needed for it all to snap into perspective. It was time to go.

Each step was punctuated by the hot, grating crunch of their teeth as black bits of coal worked their way into every crevice of their bone-dry mouth. The grains grinding against bone echoed the way everything else in their body felt.

The rare and precious specs of twilight guided Sairrek's weary eyes; the long shadows of the surrounding glade morphing into the shape of malevolent beasts as the group walked past. It took only a few moments before the danger was all their beaten, anxious mind could see, and all thoughts of staying silent were frightened clear from their mind.

Syn: ::giggling at the edge of sanity:: Hello, little beasties. ::turning to Brexis:: Aren't they cute like this?

Brexis: Sure thing buddy. ::booping them on the nose:: They sure are.

Their body went stiff and their brain froze, as if seeing SOOB interact with one of their dancing shadows completely shattered their world.

Cole: Shhh Bright eyes, those aren’t real.

Cole's extra piece to the puzzle helped ease Sairrek's fear. The void it left behind was subsumed by the freezing cold realization that they had long since worn out their welcome. There was no getting around it at this point, Syn should have stayed behind, or at least been eaten by the beasts. They were a drain on resources.

oO You know it and they know it. You actually want to help them, filth? Oo

They let the thought hang there, unable to follow it through. The procession continued on in silence.

Before long, a new delusion joined the Suliban's black parade: a dark and foreboding avian. Even with their gaze downcast, the sharp, distant sound of its wings made the creature impossible to ignore. It followed the party even as they navigated the city ruins. By the time they finally arrived at their destination, dark had truly set into the night and Sairrek's vision had all but tunneled to a pinpoint. They were carried through the door without a second thought as to giving the place a look.

((Storefront - Callis I))

MacKenzie: Home, sweet home. ...Again.

The captain's voice came through with all the clarity of a can-and-string telephone. Cole set them down, but they were too exhausted to move.

Brexis: It’s not our ship… But it’s better than where we were. Thanks Sir.

Storm: If you find any soap, don’t hoard it all to yourselves. Hopefully, there’s more than enough to go around.

Cole: It might take a little time, but who knows what treasures we’ll find. ::setting Syn down and leaning them against the wall:: How are you feeling?

Syn maintained their upright position sheerly out of ineffable vertical inertia; terrified that the charge of breaking Newton's First Law of Motion would be the final straw and the exorcized Suliban would be left to die on the street. Hearing their name, Syn rallied their final shreds of resolve and oriented themselves towards Cole without meeting her eye.

Their lips parted, instinctually ready to give a sitrep to their Superior Officer. Before they could start, that spiteful presence in their mind made itself known. Instead, Syn just smiled weakly and waved dismissively at them as if to say, 'I'm fine.' It was the best performance they could manage with all the blood rushing from their head. It wouldn't have fooled anyone, but before they could continue the captain began to hand out assignments.

MacKenzie: Storm, secure the doors and windows. Cole and Syn, see if you can get a fire started. Brexis, see if there's a pot somewhere around here... I want to try cooking the berries down into a jam and see if that makes them more tolerable for our delirious crew member...

Suddenly being included as a contributing member of the group's plans short-circuited the bruised Suliban. It simply looked from person to person, empty gaze trying and failing to make sense of the world around them. They almost didn't notice Cole remove the restraints from their hands.

Brexis: Sure thing. Let me see what I can find.

Storm: Fireplace is upstairs. There was a kitchen-like room. It may already have a pot in it, Charlotte. Through that door down there, and up the stairs.

Eventually, Syn's eyes fell on their assigned teammate. She made her way over to the firewood and began to collect a supply. Cole gestured for Syn to join her.

Cole: That would be a great place for a fire actually. Come one Ensign lets go.

One ensign made the journey across their new surroundings to join Cole before it began to stack wood into its newly-freed arms. Its movements were cold, mechanical, and efficient.

MacKenzie: Oh, and I forgot the best part of our new abode - separate rooms.

There was a palpable exhilaration in the air at that particular bit of news. Even Syn might have done a cartwheel if it wouldn't have made them violently ill.

Brexis: Best gift you could have given me. ::patting her chest over her heart:: Thanks Sir.

Storm: I’ll take first watch down here. But if you scrounge up anything to eat, let me know.

Cole: ::Smiling:: Captain, you spoil us.

Syn: ::excitement:: My own room? I feel like a Lieutenant already!

Whether their reduced inhibitions were from the excitement of the moment or the afflictions of the week, Syn didn't care. Not in this moment. In this moment, they took the win and rolled with it.

(( Time-skip: the next day ))

The next morning, the others were briefed on orders from the captain before she set out on her own. Syn failed to report to the briefing. The officer sent to check on them arrived just in time to find Syn pawing at the wall next to the door, face screwed up in pain. Once Sairrek was sat down in their accommodations, they were able to unclench their jaw long enough to attempt speech. It was when they managed to squeak out,

Syn: ::pained:: Can't. See.

that the rest of the remaining group were brought into the loop. It was clear Sairrek's condition had deteriorated overnight, and what was left could only get one or two intelligible words out at a time. The others left to discuss the situation, which placed Syn squarely back in the last place in the galaxy they wanted to be: alone.

Whatever brave front possessed them last night had abandoned them. They sat against the cold, unrelenting brick wall and pulled their legs to their chest. As their head came to rest on their knees; silent, unearned, selfish tears began to flow from their defunct eyes onto their sooty uniform. They cried neither because of the fear which now lived in them as surely as every other bodily organ, familiar and indispensable, nor because their vision had abandoned them. No, those tears were frustrated.

They hated feeling so helpless, so useless that they were dragging the team down, and now they couldn't even make it out of their room on their own. Some resolute morsel of self-hatred wound its way into their soul that day, unwavering in its commitment to reminding them of their sins here on this cursed planet.

And in the midst of all the chaos and loss that surrounded them, the tenuous stability of self-flagellation felt like the open embrace of an old friend.

[End Scene for Syn]

-- ● --

Ensign Sairrek Syn
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240301SS3