Lt Commander Ava Munro - Dark Figures and a Stranger
Ava Munro
(( Reception Room - Halls of Andorenne, The Golden Spire ))
A human heartbeat. The force that propels life through the body. A gentle soundtrack to a life. Mostly, it's undetectable. A loyal servant to the body.
Beat.
Beat.
Beat, beat, beat, beat.
When you hear a heart beat faster, and faster. You take notice. Ava felt her own heart pound against her chest, as adrenaline was pumped into her bloodstream, and the danger presented itself. Along with it her senses sharpened. Her muscles prepared themselves for action. She inhaled a breath, an attempt to steady herself for what may come next.
Delicate negotiations, and some kind of understanding, had evolved to chaos, confusion and danger.
With two of Chavrainne's aides drawing weapons. Not only against them but also Chavrainne herself. They were ushered to one side of the room.
Sympathisers to the Yurum, or something else entirely? There was still so much she didn't understand.
She looked at Cole and K'Wara, and she refused to let them be harmed.
Munro: :: spreads hands :: Let my officers go, they serve no purpose to you -
Aide#2: :: begging :: Please, just do what we say :: to Chavrainne with hatred :: We want you to see. All of you need to see.
The Aide, distressed and nervous, went to a gilded panel set into the wall and seemed to unlock a secret latch. The door slid open and revealed a secret passageway.
Inside, they saw the eyes of several Boraxians, all armed. They rushed forward into the Halls and Ava knew this was not a good development. Somehow it all felt … deliberate. The Yurum, the colony ship and now the negotiations. It all led to something greater and she wasn't sure it was entirely in the best interests of any Boraxian.
Cole: Holding Starfleet officers on your soil will bring observers. Is that what you want?
Aide#1: You need to be quiet and move. ::pushing Natasha’s shoulder::
Ava watched as the Advocate set her gaze on her aides and the figures that emerged from the passageway.
Chavrainne: ::scowling at the Boraxians in the passage:: Your faces are unknown to me. That alone is blasphemy. Within this Spire, there should be no stranger’s shadow cast. Who are you, that you dare march armed in the Matriarch’s halls, pointing your shame at guests who came in peace?
Munro: :: to the Aide, defensive :: Be careful :: to Aide#2 :: Tell your friend that we are not the enemy.
As Natasha was knocked off balance by one of the aides, she attempted to help the security officer. When she noted the sly look the ensign offered, as well as the finger pointed downward to the small of her back. A weapon?
K’Wara: Responses
Cole: Hey, watch it! You know how difficult it is to keep these uniforms clean?
Aide#2: Keep moving! ::glaring at Chavrainne:: And you… keep your forked tongue in your mouth.
((Secret Passageway - Golden Spire - Boraxian Cityship))
Ava was forced into the passageway with a shove and a stumble. Her fists balled reactively and she stilled the desire to fight back. The odds were not in their favour. But they would be, with a misstep or a brief loss of concentration and Ava would be there … and she would not fail to strike in that moment. The tide could turn in a matter of seconds.
Chavrainne: ::cold anger:: Whatever fury drives you, it clearly falls upon me. These officers are not your enemies, nor are they the answer for whatever end you seek. Turn your wrath toward me, if you must – but do not stain whatever cause you serve with cruelty to our guest–
Ava only heard the brutal crack of metal against flesh and bone. The advocate staggered back, her two left hands grasped at the wall for support.
She touched her face – her fingers came away slick with copper-dark blood.
Munro: Advocate, are you okay?
Ava offered her own hands for support. Her tricorder was still strapped to her side, she subtly tapped her combadge but as she suspected the comms had been jammed. She left the tricorder in its holster for fear that they'd take it from her.
K’Wara/Cole: Responses
They were plunged into darkness when the concealed panel closed behind them. Ava placed her hand against the wall and found stone. This place only grew more curious with every passing second.
Flanked by armed Boraxians, the small group of hostages were pushed forward into the darkness.
At first Ava thought the advocate stumbled but as she slipped her right arm under her upper right, and her own left under the lower left limb, she felt a weakness in the advocate.
Munro: :: gentle :: Easy does it, advocate. You took quite a hit.
Chavrainne: ::slightly dazed:: Thank you. ::softly:: I don’t… I don’t know who. Or why.
Ava kept the pace along with the others.
Munro: We can worry about that later. Can you keep walking, I don't think they're going to let us stop and I don't want them to strike you again.
K’Wara/Cole: Responses
The corridor was narrow and cold, its walls seemed to press into them. Ava lifted her hand to balance and felt herself squeezed between the advocate and the stone wall. It was like they were in some strange ancient castle.
Chavrainne: ::low, reverent dread:: We should not be here. None of us should be here.
K’Wara/Cole: Responses
The figures urged them through an arch that marked the end of the passageway. Crude symbols and glyphs etched onto the stone.
((Forgotten Chamber/Temple - Golden Spire - Boraxian Cityship))
Ava heard the Chavrainne catch her breath. Her eyes took slightly longer than the Boraxians to adjust to the dark. When they did, she could see a large dome ceiling and old mosaic walls that depicted scenes that seemed ancient and mythological. Deities?
Munro: :: awed :: What is this place? Do you know?
Chavrainne: ::frightened awe:: This chamber was sealed hundreds of years ago by a Great Mother’s decree. None have entered since then. None were meant to. ::quieter:: I was not even sure it truly existed…
Behind a pedestal, slightly raised in the centre of the room was a male Boraxian. He stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. He pointed to the wound on Chavrainne's head.
Stranger: :: furious :: Who did this?! I told you not to harm them.
The group mumbled and shuffled with unease.
Ava assumed this was some kind of leader.
Munro: Are you the leader of these people?
Stranger: We have no leader :: to Chavrainne :: That is her way not ours. We have freed ourselves from such things as leaders and notions of greatness. Among us, we are just Boraxian. Male, female, and Yurum. Equal. :: to his people :: now tell me, who struck her?
K’Wara/Cole/Chavrainne: Responses
As the figures pointed to the assailant. The Stranger approached, he placed a hand on the woman's cheek and stroked it gently.
Stranger: Under the eyes of the weeping mother, I offer you my forgiveness. Her tears shall wash your sin into the rivers of Ellet and carry them away to the Mournful Sea :: to Chavrainne :: Isn't that right?
Chavrainne: Response
Munro: I'm Captain Munro of the -
Stranger: Of the Federation starship Artemis.:: jovial :: I know who you are. I know all about Starfleet and the Federation. That's why I wanted to meet with you all :: grave :: But it's too dangerous here.
K’Wara/Cole: Responses
The stranger sauntered away, and the figures pushed and pulled at them, guiding them towards a shaft of some description. Or at least that was Ava's best interpretation of it.
In a flurry of activity she felt ropes being tied around her waist, at first she wasn't sure why and then she saw the pit. The stranger looked back at her.
Stranger: Don't worry Captain, you are perfectly safe with us.
The Boraxian threw himself over the edge and used his four arms to rappel downwards.
She felt arms push her forward until her boots were skirting the edge of the pit.
Munro: I don't think -
Before she could finish she was pushed forwards, she had to swing her body around and raise her legs, just in time, before her entire body struck the wall.
Chavrainne: Response
K’Wara/Cole: Response
Tags/TBC
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2