Ensign T’Fearne - Divergence [Part 2]
teayl.thorn
((The Vaults, B’Hala, Kendra Province, Bajor))
The air in the chamber was thick with tension. Almost imperceptible to their current senses—a sound filtered through the sudden stillness. The stone walls, ancient and worn, seemed to subtly amplify a furtive noise in the space. There it was again—a faint shuffle, followed by the soft scrape of footsteps against the floor. Someone—or something—was moving through the dimly lit passage leading to the cavern’s entrance, trying to remain unnoticed so as to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Lorana's voice cut through the silence.
Lorana: Hello?
Alieth: Who is there?
The science officers stood motionless, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. T’Fearne, her security training kicking in, calmed her breath. She longed for the acute hearing she had once taken for granted, but in its absence, she relied on a different method—camouflage. She stood casually, hands tucked inside her sleeves, as though absorbed in contemplation. Hidden by the cloth, her fingers tightened around the rough-hewn handle of her concealed weapon.
Then the footsteps could be heard again, more than one set now. A soft rustling, the flutter of robes brushing against the stone floor. Vedek Dana swept into the cavern, her deep orange and golden embroidered robes catching the light of the lanterns that swung gently overhead. Three other Bajorans in scholarly robes followed her into the space.
Rekha: Apologies Priestess. My guards had informed me that you had arrived. As I've spent many hours in these vaults I thought I'd offer my assistance, I can help in your endeavours :: turns to the three behind her :: To that end, these are my personal guests, they have travelled from the southern cities to be here. Scholars.
Vrozek/Lenik/Other: Responses
Lorana: Pleasure to meet you.
T’Fearne could sense some unusual undercurrents of reaction in the vaulted room. Dana was still hard to read, though she guessed at displeasure from the context of their last conversation. Luxa was watching the newcomers with growing recognition, and Sybil let out a quiet sigh. There was clearly something interesting about these newcomers that T’Fearne had missed. Their expressions seemed somewhat guarded, but that was most people's demeanour since entering the Eastern Temple.
T’Fearne::: Following her teammate's lead:: 1Hanyu, I am Ensa Teefern. :: politely nodding::
Alieth: Response
Nemes: Nice to meet you.
Lorana: It's wonderful to see such … great scholars. Your reputation is vast and great. We were hoping to see you on our visit.
Rekha: Ah, that's wonderful.
The Vedek had seemed displeased earlier—and now, in contrast to her words a slight expression of distaste lingering on her face. Just then, a guard approaches and whispers into her ear.
Rekha: I must leave you to attend to other matters. There is a disturbance in the city :: clasped her hands :: The people are frightened.
With that, she turned on her heel, leaving with the guard, seeming to dismiss them as quickly as she came. Her long robes swirling behind her like a ripple in a quiet pond, swept up a cloud of dust. T’Fearne felt a surprising pang of sympathy for any guard walking behind her through these tunnels. But her attention quickly shifted back to scrutinizing the newcomers. She had one strong guess as to who these people might be based on her colleague's reactions.
T’Fearne::: Quietly venturing a risky guess:: Is there something that we all have in common? Visions of the 25th century, perhaps?
She casually drew a Starfleet insignia in the dust on the table in plain view of the researchers, then swept the surface clean.
Alieth: Response
Nemes: She mentioned a disturbance in the city. That doesn’t sound good, to be honest. Let's try to get out of here as fast as we can and without interfering any more with the timeline.
Vrozek/Lenik/Other: Response
Lorana: That's a good idea. Ensign Nemes you're with me. Lenik, you too :: to Alieth :: I'll try and locate the chamber. Good luck.
Nemes : ::highly motivated :: Aye.
T’Fearne gave Nemes’s shoulder a reassuring pat.
T’Fearne: Be safe and good luck.
Alieth/Vrozek/Lenik/Other: Response
With the matter settled, Luxa, Nemes and one of the Bajoran researchers, Lenik, stealthily left the chamber, taking advantage of the lull in the guards’ patrols. T’Fearne wondered, looking at the Bajorans from the 25th century, if she could consider them found at the very least. The full rescue would have to wait and include their whole team as well.
Commander Alieth, T’Fearne, and the other partially rescued researchers turned their attention to figuring out a way to help the Bajoran people and somehow save the city.
T’Fearne::: curiously:: How long ago did you arrive in B’Hala? And what have you been doing here since?
Alieth/Vrozek/Other: Response
T’Fearne: oO Saving the city. Whatever that means.Oo :: pausing to recall her thoughts on Alieths comments before the arrival of the lost researchers about how the “City” might not refer to the buildings themselves, but to their citizens:: …save the city or save the people of B’Hala? :: untucking her hands and turning to stare at Alieth then at the two researchers:: How is that prophesy worded again?
She turned back to the scrolls she had been searching on the table and unfurled one she had read earlier and discarded. A small scroll woven of yellowing parchment wound around ivory bones inscribed with a simple proverb, but describing the Bajoran people's close and spiritual connection to the land.
T’Fearne: Bajorans share a profound connection with their homeworld. Yes? :: Looking to Vrozek:: This proverb tells of how The Land and the People are One. Could the people be the B’Hala that we should try to save as we know that the city, the buildings at least will fall, be swallowed by the ground, not to be uncovered for nearly 20,000 years?
Alieth/Vrozek/Other: Response
Just then, another tremor hit the city, the scrolls and parchments rattled on the stone table, and cold chalky dust swirled in the air. It initially felt like a minor tremor, but a loud CRACK echoed from the passageway outside the cavern entrance. The vibrations switched from a distant underground rumble to intense loud cracking as one stone, then another, began to tumble as the archway Vedek Dana had exited through disappeared in a rock fall. As the entrance collapsed, large rocks began to fall from the ceiling, bouncing and tumbling into the chamber where Alieth, T’Fearne and the two researchers remained. The lanterns jerked crazily on ropes and in their brackets, snuffing the room into flickering chaos.
The former Vulcazoid turned quickly, yelling to watch out as the entrance began collapsing inward towards them. Reaching out, she grabbed for one of the researcher's robes to try to help them escape the danger tucking behind the sturdy stone table. Small and then larger rocks hit her shoulder and then her legs as the collapse moved hungrily towards them. Pain flared briefly as something struck her temple, and everything went sparkly inside her eyelids for a moment.
The tremors stopped, but it still felt like something was shaking her head. She heard sounds, people shifting, calling out, and dust heavy on her eyelashes and in her lungs, making her cough. Only a few lanterns flickered feebly in the gloom amid the rubble. Wiggling dizzily to a crouch, T’Fearne used her sleeves to wipe something wet and strangely iron-smelling out of her eye before looking around. The entryway was completely sealed, and several meters of rockfall had encroached into the cavern. It looked unlikely they would be able to get out that way.
T’Fearne: Can anyone hear me? Commander?
Alieth/Vrozek/Other: Response
[[Tag, You’re It! / TBC]]
((OOC: 1Hanyu—Bajoran for Hello,))
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Ensign T'Fearne
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14