Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Not Here, and Not With Me
Addison MacKenzie
The Starfleet team and mini-dark one now being joined by its adult, it was now clear to MacKenzie that they needed to remove themselves from the situation before it became inescapable.
MacKenzie: Move away from the creature. Slowly. Let's make sure we're not standing between them and the water, if that's what it is they're after.
Storm: ::under her breath:: Thank you.
Syn: ::under their breath:: Aye, sir.
Cole: ::to Syn:: Time to go, Bright Eyes.
Brexis: Response
MacKenzie: I believe we've overstayed our welcome...
Storm: But slow movements. Let’s not antagonize Mama.
Syn: Captain, I-
Cole: ::one hand lowering slowly, palm out:: We should move, now.
Brexis: Response
The wind picked up slightly, carrying the warm air toward the creatures. The adult pawed at the ground and let out a long, low rumble, which caught the little one's attention.
Storm: I wonder if the sunlight bothers the mama. She’s not moving out of the shade.
Syn: ::frustration raising their voice above conversational levels:: That doesn't make any sense!
MacKenzie pursed her lips and shot a highly unamused look at the newcomer.
Syn: ::voice lowering back to normal volume:: Why would creatures that love heat, avoid sunlight? That's every livable planets' primary source of heat.
Cole: It might not be the heat of the sun, but the brightness. Some species have an inherent sensitivity to light.
MacKenzie: Indeed. Heat and light are not one in the same. We've not seen them much in the daylight, afterall, but they've seemed to enjoy our fire...
Brexis: Response
The little one looked back at the mama and lowered its head to drink again. Whatever the adult had been trying to communicate, the little one didn't seem very interested in it.
Storm: The further away from baby you are, the faster you can move as long as you’re moving away.
The group continued to move back in the direction of the camp, not wishing to disturb the dark ones, or attract their attention. The desire to continue to communicate that they were not a threat was a high priority for MacKenzie. The adult dark one persisted - stomping its large front foot accompanied by an insistent lower bellow.
Syn: They don't seem to respond the same way. ::under their breath:: What I wouldn't give for an anthropologist right about now.
Cole: I’d settle for a working combadge.
Brexis: Response
The child raised its head again and gave a sound in response, and the adult reared up on its hind legs. Clearly interpreted, the little dark one glanced at them before trotting off.
Storm: I think we’re almost in the clear.
MacKenzie turned to find Syn digging their fingers into their temples.
Cole: What the [Expletive Deleted] are you doing?!
Brexis/Storm: Response
Syn: ::defeated:: No reason to stay now. Let's get back, quickly. Regroup at camp.
Cole: What the heck was that?
Brexis/Storm: Response
MacKenzie didn't bother to listen to the conversation occuring behind her, choosing instead to use the rest of the walk as an opportunity to ponder just how much of a liability the newest member of their crew might turn out to be...
Before long, the team once again passed through the passageway and into their makeshift shelter. Behind her, the door closed with a thud and the Suliban made their way to the fire.
Instinctively, they took the scraps of sticks left laying around the fire and began tending it. Cole also stepped closer to the fire, opposite Syn.
Cole: ::calm, conversational:: Fire’s tired. Doesn’t mean it’s done.
Brexis/Storm/Syn: Response
Cole: ::quiet:: As a kid, my first night alone in the woods, I thought the dark was breathing at me. Turns out… it just wanted me to slow down.
MacKenize: Out here, I think the dark is actually breathing...
Brexis/Storm/Syn: Response
Cole: I know you want answers, we all do, but next time I will not hesitate or wait for the Captain's orders. I will physically remove you from danger if I have too.
MacKenzie knew an opportunity when she heard one.
MacKenzie: You want to tell me what that was about back there, Ensign?
Syn/Brexis/Storm/Cole: Response
Addison rolled her eyes. Normally she'd prefer not to dress down an officer in front of their colleagues, but there was a lot about this newcomer that she didn't know, and there was a lot about the circumstance that didn't lend itself to any form of normalcy.
MacKenzie closed her eyes and shook her head.
MacKenzie: I don't know how it worked on whatever posting you were stationed to last, but that behavior won't work here, and it certainly won't work with me. (beat) Anyone have any interest in exploring some of the ruins while we have daylight left? I'd like to learn more about the people who lived here... maybe see if we can find any tools that would be useful.
Tag, and TBC!
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A