Lt. Dohna T'Alia - Time casts a spell on you
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Don K
Nov 3, 2025, 9:51:11 AM11/3/25
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((OOC - took out some of the early "Any" tags, but put some at the end for other to join.))
((Salt Caverns, Endicronimas V))
It had taken a full three weeks, but T'Alia had finally coaxed herself out of her quarters and transported down to the "The Farm". She had opted to go below the surface to try Halotherapy, it was known to address a variety of issues including stress, depression and post-surgical healing. The smell of salt was heavy in the air and it reminded her of a day at the beach back on Bajor. The cavern was warm due to geothermal springs further down in the cave system. There were warm pools down there and even hot rock therapy, but here there was merely a dry warmth that was comfortable but not sweltering.
It was no surprise that there were people there, but what was surprising is that several were familiar to her. Faces she knew from the Compass Rose.
Dohna: Hello? Do you remember me? I'm Lieutenant Dohna T'Alia, I was an engineering officer on the USS Compass Rose.
It felt strange, saying her name out loud. Others had said it, but it seemed unfamiliar to her. Dohna T'Alia was someone she felt like she remembered distantly, not someone she actually was. Her counselor had warned her about this. It would take time to reconnect to herself, it was a normal result of medical trauma.
Holley: Dohna T’Alia. I remember you, yeah. ::gesturing to herself:: Ensign Georgia Holley.
Akani: Lieutenant Dohna? I… You're alive… I'm Ensign Akani Xira, if you remember.
She couldn't claim to know them well, but their faces were familiar. Another woman stepped out of the shadows.
Dom: ::nervously:: Ensigns’, El-Tee. It’s good to see you all recovering, sirs. It’s Crewman Ślimak—uh, Dom, engineering tech.
T'Alia smiled. She did remember Dominika Slimak. She was fairly certain she'd given her assignments. She hoped she'd been a good boss.
Dohna: It's good to see you. ::pausing:: I'm glad I'm not the only survivor.
Holley: It is nice to know I’m not alone. I’m sorry we had to go through it, though.
Akani: I… I honestly don't know how we're alive.
T'Alia was silent and then wondered if her demeanor was bringing the room down. She looked around. Apparently they had all decided that halotherapy was a good and safe place to start their recovery.
Dohna: Are there drinks down here? Maybe something that isn't one of Doctor Beck's vitamin concoctions? ::laughs::
Holley: ::a snort:: God, I hope so.
Akani: I… ::softly and quietly:: There should be.
Dom: ::cheaky grin breaking out:: I think I can help with that, sirs. Leave it to an NCO to know where to procure the real supplies.
While Dominika went in search of refreshment, the coversation continued. T'Alia lowered herself onto a bench. The briny air did seem to be easing her anxiousness about being out and about, or perhaps it was the company.
Akani: Have you interacted with Doctor Beck? I… I don't know what to make of him, but he seems… nice.
Holley: I know, he’s very nice. But he could do better about having some taste.
Dohna: Man, I'm jealous, I mostly got this crazy black haired nurse. I think she needed more help than me. ::chuckling:: What was Dr. Beck like?
Dom: I don’t know, he was nice enough. I like that Chief Nurse, Lt. Lavender—uh, Avae. She has style! ::unscrewing the cap:: Anyway, I’ve got something better than vitamin water. We could go find a bar, but first, I have this… ::holds up the flask:: It’s one of the last bottles of Crewman Evan’s Cargo bay Moonshine. ::eyes glistening:: I think it’s fitting if we drink it in his honour.
T'Alia raised an eyebrow. She had not heard about Crewman Evans. She wondered how many more names she'd hear, how many duranja lamps would be lit.
oO raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon Evans... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek … Oo*
Any: Response
Holley: So… ::she tapped her fingers against her leg:: done anything fun while we’ve been here other than this? I could use some recommendations. I haven’t really… gotten out much.
Akani: Not really…
T'Alia shook her head. At this point she'd been outside her quarters 10 minutes longer than usual, and she was wondering if she ought to return. A bottle was being passed to her, so for the moment she stayed put.
Dom: Here, sir. ::passed the flask to Dohna::
“The Paint Panty Remover — 40% Strength”. The writing on the bottle made her chuckle. It seemed Evens had a penchant for marketing.
Dohna: Thank you. ::taking a sip:: And T'Alia is fine. There is no logic in standing on ceremony at this point. So have any of us left our quarters?
She handed the bottle to Akani with a nod.
Any: Response
Akani: I… I suppose so… I guess I'm not really one to say. When I vaguely interacted with one of the medical officers and the counsellor… Neither of them had any suggestions.
T'Alia had more or less the same experience. She'd had a battery of medical tests and therapies, surgeries. Her counselor was a well-meaning Denobulan, who encouraged her to paint or draw. So far she'd only been able to make a dozen different pictures of the Dakeen monastery in the woods. It was near her farm growing up and she'd always enjoyed visiting it.
Dom: Well…if you officers are interested in some establishments of luck, there’s a Dabo speakeasy somewhere down here…or so I’ve heard. Or a Betazoid meditation circle, if you like humming and incense. ::shrugs:: if you prefer that sort of thing.
Dohna: I'm not sure I could be any more mindful at this point.
The speakeasy sounded like something Dohna T'Alia might have done, or at least the one that existed before now. This one was far less sure.
Holley/Any: Response
Akani: Should we ask around later?
Dom: I can show you the spot, if you’re game. But first… ::eyes drifting to the steaming mineral pool:: that looks amazing.
Once again T'Alia eyebrow rose. She rose and walked toward the steaming water. She stood at the edge for a moment and then tentatively placed a foot in the pool. The warmth was sharp, but only for an instant. Then it wrapped her foot like a blanket. She sat gingerly on the side and let her legs dip beneath the surface.
Dohna: That's nice, but I think if I get all the way in I'll never get out.
Truth be told, T'Alia had been having trouble regulating her body temperature. She was always chilly walking around, but too warm if she covered up.
Holley/Any: Response
Akani: Yeah… I suppose so.
The group now gathered around the pool was silent for a moment. Then Dominika spoke again.
Dom: ::passing the flask again:: That feels wonderful. Can I ask something? What do you all want to do now… after everything?
It wasn't the first time she'd been asked the question, nor the first time she realized she had no answer.
Dohna: I'm not sure. I've wanted to be in Starfleet since I was a kid. I don't know who I'd be if I left.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Dom: Honestly? I think I’m done with space. Done fixing things that’ll just break again. ::voice tightens:: Boldly going… straight to disaster. It all just feels like a cosmic scam now.
"Scam" seemed like a harsh word, but given what they'd experienced, T'Alia could certainly understand. Every cadet wanted to see the glories of the galaxy and few thought about the dangers. It was not logical to dwell on such eventualities. But now having experienced it, well it was something different.
Dohna: It's like the Emissary said, none of our experiences prepared us for this consequence. ::pausing:: I'm paraphrasing of course.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
She reached over to give Dominika's shoulder a squeeze.
Dom: Sorry, sirs—uh, El-Tee, Georgia, Akani. I just… feel bad about all of it. ::whispering:: About surviving.
Dohna: I think we all feel that way.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
It was hard to understand the plans the Prophets made and why things happened. In her logical mind, T'Alia knew it was a mystery neither she nor the rest of them could ever solve. It just didn't stop the mind from asking.
Dohna: The prophets teach us that we need to move on. We cannot exist here forever.
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Even in a place as pleasant as the caves, their physical bodies would need to move. Also their minds would have to move past their experience. How was anyone's guess. Right now T'Alia very much felt like she was adrift with no anchor.
Dohna: What if ::she stopped:: What if we asked to join the Ronin crew?
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Dohna: ::gently offering:: We'd know where we were. We'd have a purpose then.
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Tags/TBC
--
Lt. T'Alia Dohna
Engineering officer
USS Compass Rose
T239811VK2
*Bajoran prayer for the departed ""do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named Evans... take him into the gates of heaven..."
((Salt Caverns, Endicronimas V))
It had taken a full three weeks, but T'Alia had finally coaxed herself out of her quarters and transported down to the "The Farm". She had opted to go below the surface to try Halotherapy, it was known to address a variety of issues including stress, depression and post-surgical healing. The smell of salt was heavy in the air and it reminded her of a day at the beach back on Bajor. The cavern was warm due to geothermal springs further down in the cave system. There were warm pools down there and even hot rock therapy, but here there was merely a dry warmth that was comfortable but not sweltering.
It was no surprise that there were people there, but what was surprising is that several were familiar to her. Faces she knew from the Compass Rose.
Dohna: Hello? Do you remember me? I'm Lieutenant Dohna T'Alia, I was an engineering officer on the USS Compass Rose.
It felt strange, saying her name out loud. Others had said it, but it seemed unfamiliar to her. Dohna T'Alia was someone she felt like she remembered distantly, not someone she actually was. Her counselor had warned her about this. It would take time to reconnect to herself, it was a normal result of medical trauma.
Holley: Dohna T’Alia. I remember you, yeah. ::gesturing to herself:: Ensign Georgia Holley.
Akani: Lieutenant Dohna? I… You're alive… I'm Ensign Akani Xira, if you remember.
She couldn't claim to know them well, but their faces were familiar. Another woman stepped out of the shadows.
Dom: ::nervously:: Ensigns’, El-Tee. It’s good to see you all recovering, sirs. It’s Crewman Ślimak—uh, Dom, engineering tech.
T'Alia smiled. She did remember Dominika Slimak. She was fairly certain she'd given her assignments. She hoped she'd been a good boss.
Dohna: It's good to see you. ::pausing:: I'm glad I'm not the only survivor.
Holley: It is nice to know I’m not alone. I’m sorry we had to go through it, though.
Akani: I… I honestly don't know how we're alive.
T'Alia was silent and then wondered if her demeanor was bringing the room down. She looked around. Apparently they had all decided that halotherapy was a good and safe place to start their recovery.
Dohna: Are there drinks down here? Maybe something that isn't one of Doctor Beck's vitamin concoctions? ::laughs::
Holley: ::a snort:: God, I hope so.
Akani: I… ::softly and quietly:: There should be.
Dom: ::cheaky grin breaking out:: I think I can help with that, sirs. Leave it to an NCO to know where to procure the real supplies.
While Dominika went in search of refreshment, the coversation continued. T'Alia lowered herself onto a bench. The briny air did seem to be easing her anxiousness about being out and about, or perhaps it was the company.
Akani: Have you interacted with Doctor Beck? I… I don't know what to make of him, but he seems… nice.
Holley: I know, he’s very nice. But he could do better about having some taste.
Dohna: Man, I'm jealous, I mostly got this crazy black haired nurse. I think she needed more help than me. ::chuckling:: What was Dr. Beck like?
Dom: I don’t know, he was nice enough. I like that Chief Nurse, Lt. Lavender—uh, Avae. She has style! ::unscrewing the cap:: Anyway, I’ve got something better than vitamin water. We could go find a bar, but first, I have this… ::holds up the flask:: It’s one of the last bottles of Crewman Evan’s Cargo bay Moonshine. ::eyes glistening:: I think it’s fitting if we drink it in his honour.
T'Alia raised an eyebrow. She had not heard about Crewman Evans. She wondered how many more names she'd hear, how many duranja lamps would be lit.
oO raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon Evans... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek … Oo*
Any: Response
Holley: So… ::she tapped her fingers against her leg:: done anything fun while we’ve been here other than this? I could use some recommendations. I haven’t really… gotten out much.
Akani: Not really…
T'Alia shook her head. At this point she'd been outside her quarters 10 minutes longer than usual, and she was wondering if she ought to return. A bottle was being passed to her, so for the moment she stayed put.
Dom: Here, sir. ::passed the flask to Dohna::
“The Paint Panty Remover — 40% Strength”. The writing on the bottle made her chuckle. It seemed Evens had a penchant for marketing.
Dohna: Thank you. ::taking a sip:: And T'Alia is fine. There is no logic in standing on ceremony at this point. So have any of us left our quarters?
She handed the bottle to Akani with a nod.
Any: Response
Akani: I… I suppose so… I guess I'm not really one to say. When I vaguely interacted with one of the medical officers and the counsellor… Neither of them had any suggestions.
T'Alia had more or less the same experience. She'd had a battery of medical tests and therapies, surgeries. Her counselor was a well-meaning Denobulan, who encouraged her to paint or draw. So far she'd only been able to make a dozen different pictures of the Dakeen monastery in the woods. It was near her farm growing up and she'd always enjoyed visiting it.
Dom: Well…if you officers are interested in some establishments of luck, there’s a Dabo speakeasy somewhere down here…or so I’ve heard. Or a Betazoid meditation circle, if you like humming and incense. ::shrugs:: if you prefer that sort of thing.
Dohna: I'm not sure I could be any more mindful at this point.
The speakeasy sounded like something Dohna T'Alia might have done, or at least the one that existed before now. This one was far less sure.
Holley/Any: Response
Akani: Should we ask around later?
Dom: I can show you the spot, if you’re game. But first… ::eyes drifting to the steaming mineral pool:: that looks amazing.
Once again T'Alia eyebrow rose. She rose and walked toward the steaming water. She stood at the edge for a moment and then tentatively placed a foot in the pool. The warmth was sharp, but only for an instant. Then it wrapped her foot like a blanket. She sat gingerly on the side and let her legs dip beneath the surface.
Dohna: That's nice, but I think if I get all the way in I'll never get out.
Truth be told, T'Alia had been having trouble regulating her body temperature. She was always chilly walking around, but too warm if she covered up.
Holley/Any: Response
Akani: Yeah… I suppose so.
The group now gathered around the pool was silent for a moment. Then Dominika spoke again.
Dom: ::passing the flask again:: That feels wonderful. Can I ask something? What do you all want to do now… after everything?
It wasn't the first time she'd been asked the question, nor the first time she realized she had no answer.
Dohna: I'm not sure. I've wanted to be in Starfleet since I was a kid. I don't know who I'd be if I left.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Dom: Honestly? I think I’m done with space. Done fixing things that’ll just break again. ::voice tightens:: Boldly going… straight to disaster. It all just feels like a cosmic scam now.
"Scam" seemed like a harsh word, but given what they'd experienced, T'Alia could certainly understand. Every cadet wanted to see the glories of the galaxy and few thought about the dangers. It was not logical to dwell on such eventualities. But now having experienced it, well it was something different.
Dohna: It's like the Emissary said, none of our experiences prepared us for this consequence. ::pausing:: I'm paraphrasing of course.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
She reached over to give Dominika's shoulder a squeeze.
Dom: Sorry, sirs—uh, El-Tee, Georgia, Akani. I just… feel bad about all of it. ::whispering:: About surviving.
Dohna: I think we all feel that way.
Holley/Akani/Any: Response
It was hard to understand the plans the Prophets made and why things happened. In her logical mind, T'Alia knew it was a mystery neither she nor the rest of them could ever solve. It just didn't stop the mind from asking.
Dohna: The prophets teach us that we need to move on. We cannot exist here forever.
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Even in a place as pleasant as the caves, their physical bodies would need to move. Also their minds would have to move past their experience. How was anyone's guess. Right now T'Alia very much felt like she was adrift with no anchor.
Dohna: What if ::she stopped:: What if we asked to join the Ronin crew?
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Dohna: ::gently offering:: We'd know where we were. We'd have a purpose then.
Dom/Holley/Akani/Any: Response
Tags/TBC
--
Lt. T'Alia Dohna
Engineering officer
USS Compass Rose
T239811VK2
*Bajoran prayer for the departed ""do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named Evans... take him into the gates of heaven..."
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