Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - The Moss That Bites, The Vines That Catch (Part I)

[Tahna Meru]

((The Vineknot, Gateside Dimension))

The trio of Gorkonites hadn't been Gateside for long, but already Meru didn't like it here. They'd lost sight of the gateway shortly after entering, along with the other teams, and everything in this world was strange and most likely deadly. 

And she felt like she was being watched. Was it simple paranoia, or something more?

But there were missing civilians to find, from the first group that dared venture through the gateway. They had tools to help them on their way from Commander Marshall’s team, and they’d all been inoculated. They weren’t entirely unprepared, even if they still weren’t quite sure what to expect. Even if she still felt those unseen eyes on the back of her neck. Prophets help them all. 

Tahna: It’s possible that what we find won’t be the scientists at all. It might only be their transponders. Either way, we’ll recover whatever we can. 

They might find something else in the guise of the scientists…they might find nothing. 

Meru looked up at the vines and took the first step inside. The vines didn't react to her presence (all hail small mercies), not in any way that she could see. She'd almost expected them to reach out and grab her, but it was as still as any other forest. 

V’Lar: It appears safe, Lieutenant. Step forward. I will follow.

Pace: Thank you, sir. Here we go!

It only took a few more steps for Meru to notice the change in sound, like they were surrounded by a deep humming noise. What purpose did that serve, she wondered? Meru trusted the other two to investigate with their tricorders, while she kept her attention on the environment herself. Resisting the urge to take scans of her own was difficult, but she didn't trust this environment one bit. 

V’Lar: The density of the xenoflora is acting as a sonic dampener. However, I am registering a localised, low-frequency vibration.

Pace: It doesn’t pair well with the watching I have to admit. It’s… unsettling.

Meru nodded.

Tahna: I know what you mean. 

She thought she'd escape the feeling of being watched when she entered the vines. Instead it was almost worse. With more environmental hazards and obstructions, it was harder to say with any certainty that they weren't being watched right now. She was sure at least the vines were aware of their presence, even if they hadn't taken action yet. 

V’Lar: I do not believe it to be anything sinister. The acoustics appear to be the friction of the vines undulating against one another in an enclosed space.

Several more cautious, quiet steps forward, her hand resting lightly on her phaser (as if that would prove very useful). She noted when they passed into shadow. The vines grew together overhead, forming a thick canopy, casting them all in darkness. It was deeper, more impenetrable than she would have expected. The vines didn't let any of the ambient crimson light through at all. 

V’Lar: Activating our suit illuminators will improve our visual range but simultaneously increases our optical signature to any indigenous fauna and flora. Do you advise we proceed under low-light conditions, or risk illumination?

Pace: We may have to risk illumination, sirs, I can hardly see the fingers on my hands.

Tahna: I don't think light will make us significantly larger targets. Anything that lives in this zone can likely sense our presence without them, and we will be useless if we can't see. The benefits outweigh the risks.

V'Lar: Indeed. A low-yield illumination setting is the most prudent compromise.

Meru activated the light on her suit. She kept it fairly dim, just bright enough to navigate by, hopefully too dim to draw the attention of absolutely everything that might be lurking here. She thought she heard something when her beam of light cut through the shadows, a shuffling… perhaps it was her imagination. She didn't want to seem excessively paranoid, or needlessly worry her team. She was sure if V’Lar had heard it, and the doctor undoubtedly had keener hearing than her, she would say something shortly. 

Pace: Transponder signal is still transmitting loud and clear, and seems to be elevated still.

Tahna: Thank you, Lieutenant. We'll proceed with caution. 

Pace: Aye sir, illumination at the lowest setting, just in case.

Why were they traveling upwards? Was it by choice, or had the vines carried them off? Were they even still alive? Or were they just risking their lives for a bit of technology, a bit of closure? 

Closure was worth something, Meru reminded herself. And if these were her people, she wouldn't have any second thoughts about going after them. There was something about this place that was getting to her. She didn't like it. 

Pace: These vines, are they covered in the moss?

Meru frowned and paused in her trek, peering at the vines. She hadn't noticed it before, but…their surface composition here was similar to the moss they'd examined in the lab. Was it truly the same organism, or was it just similar in appearance?

V'Lar: The localised radiation is still interfering with my tricorder. However, visually it appears consistent with the moss we previously encountered within the outpost's medical laboratory. Given our lack of empirical data regarding its properties, I suggest caution.

Pace: Aye, sir. Careful’s my middle name, especially in this dimension.

TBC

--
Lt. Commander Tahna Meru
First Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G239801TM4