Ensign Kansas JoNz - Let There Be Light
Kansz JoNz
((Project Site Central Habitat, Marohu III))
The ruins that Enak and the Away Team traversed were intricate, each section growing more and more colorful and artistic. The further that they walked, the more intrinsic the carvings became. Some carvings depicted a single scene, while others would depict several scenes in a grouping.
The air grew slightly cooler, and JoNz detected that they were descending downward at a casual pace. Downward towards what, the Caitian had no idea. There was a part of her that was uplifted by the colorful mosaics and pictures that the team was observing. They soon found themselves within a large area.
Commander Katsim was about to make a suggestion, speaking out with “perhaps we should-” when the Cardassian was rudely interrupted by a stranger.
Vuq: Perhaps you should, indeed. Perfect timing.
Enak/Riley: Response
JoNz was surprised by the appearance of whatever his name was, and mentally noted that he was flanked by two others who also wore the same face paint as him. Her instincts flared and she hissed, but it was Arlill who spoke out over any reactions.
Arlill: And to whom do we have the pleasure?
Vuq: I wouldn’t move if I were you.
Arlill: Ok, ok, I’m not moving, you have nothing to fear from us.
Enak: We’re just archaeologists here. Just like the last time you were here. How’d you get past the shield anyway?
Riley: Response
JoNz was an Ops officer, not Security or a Marine, yet every instinct was screaming at her to react and fight back. It was her Starfleet training and maturity that allowed her to stay put for now and not further cause the situation to degrade, especially with that pistol pointed at the back of Commander Arlill's head.
All of this shot through - well, perhaps shot wasn’t the best word to use right now - JoNz’s mind at a rapid pace and the Ensign began slowly moving off to the side and slightly forward, bringing her away from the gathered group.
Arlill: What do you want from us?
Enak: Probably the artifacts.
Vuq: You’re a smart one, aren’t you?
Riley: Response
Her timing could not have been worse. As JoNs moved, several more of the mercenaries appeared from a side ante-corridor; one moved swiftly and intercepted the rash Ensign, striking the junior officer across the muzzle - and using her own momentum against her - with the butt of a compression rifle. JoNs felt the hard blow and blood blossomed in her mouth as she crumbled and was knocked flat on her back.
Arlill remained calm. I mean, the man really didn’t have a choice with the weapon aimed at his head, and spoke in a measured cadence to Vuq despite the flurry of movement.
Arlill: I’m afraid that they’re not our’s to give.
Enak: They’re not mine to give over either. And besides, they’re mostly worthless to you.
Katsim: We don’t know much about them either.
Vuq: Oh, but my dear, you have already provided far more information than you realise, and you have set us on a course to some answers.
Riley: Response
JoNz:::groans::
Enak: My team and I were never able to figure it out, and you expect me to believe that you’ll be able to figure out how to activate them?
Vuq: They have more value to us than you think.
Riley/Arlill: Response
JoNz: ::glares at the mercenary who hit her::
Enak: So what, you steal the artifacts, and then sell them to some stupid collector who just looks at them once in a blue moon? Have you no pride in what you collect?
Katsim: Don’t.
Riley/Arlill: Response
From her vantage point on the ground, JoNs was able to make out through blurry eyes as Enak was punched in the stomach. He might have rubbed her the wrong way, but the man didn’t deserve that treatment.
Enak: Probably deserved that.
Katsim: Leave him alone.
JoNz: ::flat on her back and looking up, speaks in a low tone to her attacker:: Whoa. Are you seeing this mosaic carving on the cave ceiling?
Arlill/Enak/Riley/Katsim: Response
Vuq: Let’s see, leave him alone and go with empty hands? No. You are going to finish what you started.
Arlill/Enak/Riley: Response
JoNz: ::stays put on the cavern floor for now::
The head mercenary ignored the drama with both Enak and the scuffle with the junior officer. Instead, the man stated exactly what he wanted.
Vuq: Finish what you started. You cracked the code. Where does it lead? You don’t have to show me. I can just shoot your friend here instead, and after that, the rest of them. You gave a start, I’m sure it wouldn’t take me too long to figure out the rest. Or, you could make this go a lot faster, and do what I tell you.
Arlill/Enak/Riley: Response
JoNz held her fore paws up and began to painstakingly move from a prone position to standing; the mercenary who clocked her allowed her to get up, but kept the compression rifle pointed right at the felinoid.
Vuq: Well?
Katsim: It’s a puzzle. A puzzle that has to be solved to go any further.
Arlill/Enak/Riley: Response
JoNz: ::spits out blood::
The other mercenary grabbed at the now standing JoNs and pushed her back toward the middle of the group.
Arlill/Enak/Riley/Katsim: Response
The mercenaries showed no signs of backing off and JoNs found herself thinking of the Kobayashi Maru training scenario…was this the Maru for the Away Team?
JoNs: Why do you need us to unlock these secrets?
It was a fair question and the cowed Caitian had asked with a matter of fact tone; there was no malice in the Ensign’s question as she was genuinely curious. Unless there was a reason that the mercenaries needed someone else to solve the riddle of these objects and their purpose? Why couldn’t they just take over from them and do it themselves?
As Commander Katsim stood at the dias, an intricate star of seven points shimmered and chimed, sending out a network of lightning along the walls.
Arlill/Enak/Riley/Katsim: Response