Cmdr. Trake Promontory: Stanger Things than Dreamt of
Avander Promontory
((Greville House, Holosuite 3, Lar’s Parlour, DS14))
Blowing off some steam in a holo-adventure was just what the doctor ordered. Tricking his body into thinking they were in danger only to have everything all work out in the end would be cathartic. Speaking of things the doctor ordered, Dr. Nera had selected a haunted house adventure. They had already been subject to doors opening on their own, lights being blown out, and distant disturbing sounds.
Now they were in a disused dining room where the far door was pounding with something threatening to get out. Trake grabbed a rusted knife from the place setting and took a step back, grinning.
Promontory: I’m right behind you!
It was very brave of him, actually, it was almost a trope in these sorts of stories that the danger came from the least expected direction!
The doctor picked up a glass carafe and fell into place behind their security ensign.
The thumping continued to increase in volume and regularity until a particularly loud thump broke through, causing shards of wood and dust to fly in all directions.
Trake got a fleck in his eye and was surprised at how much it stung.
oO Maybe I should have checked to ensure the safeties were on… Oo
Well, he had wanted an adrenaline spike and this was certainly one way to get it.
He turned his attention to the doorway that had once held a wooden door. He had expected some sort of ravenous beast or large lurching lurker to be revealed as the cause of the thumping. Instead was a pale green and very translucent man, hovering over the threshold.
Trake gave a snort, which served to expel some lingering dusty wood flecks from his nose. oO I ain’t afraid of no ghost! Oo
The apparition raised a handless arm and turned back into the other room—apparently a kitchen—as if encouraging them to follow.
The good doctor gave himself a dust-off and Trake did the same. Their Orion security officer turned to them and stepped to the side, perhaps to let them have the next chance to take the brunt of wood and dust straight-on.
Vharo: Now that I've dealt with the threat, you two brave explorer's can venture forth. ::She shifted off to the side with a snort as she started to dust off her dress between picking errant wooden splinters from her hair. Quiet coughs and inaudible mutterings quickly followed.::
It really was too bad they their fabulous costumes had to get ruined
The doctor gripped his carafe tightly and moved toward the opening.
Nera: I'm very brave…usually on a Tuesday and a Thursday
Promontory: Oh good, it’s…
His voice trailed off as he realized he had no idea what Terran day of the week it might be.
He shrugged and followed the doctor through the doorway into an empty and decrepit kitchen.
It seemed to be a dead end… so to speak.
Again, Trake was struck by the detail in the holoprogram—rich, if pungent, scents assaulted his nostrils and cut through whatever lingering dust particles were there.
The center of the kitchen had an island countertop and prominently displayed was a single, dismembered hand.
Nera: That is…disgusting
The doctor went right up to it and began to examine the hand in detail. Trake, unconsciously snapped twice but nothing happened.
Nera: Almost looks mummified, which can happen naturally in very select environments. Usually, somewhere incredibly dry, incredibly cold, or with an unusual chemical composition. And you see how clean the..uh ::remembering that he wasn’t talking to a pair of doctors:: I’ll stop.
Promontory: So I take it this belonged to the ghost?
Vharo: Response
They examined the room, but other than a particularly used and worn meat cleaver in the sink, the kitchen was unremarkable. The doctor began to return to the dining room when another close by sound grabbed their attention and the doctor turned back.
Nera: It’s gone. The hand’s gone.
He looked around but to no avail.
Promontory: To be fair, quite a few things have been appearing and disappearing around here…
Maybe it had also been a ghost—although Ay had touched it, so maybe not…
Vharo: Response
There was a tapping now, a sort of “rat-ta-tap-tap” that seemed to be coming from all directions. Trake looked around, but couldn’t differentiate a source. He almost bumped into the doctor who was frozen, looking up.
The hand dropped from the ceiling, straight on to the doctor’s face
Nera: ::muffled shrieking::
More hands now appeared from the floorboards—part spectral, part solid, and grabbed at the doctors, pulling him by the ankles, across the floor and towards a cabinet, which swung open to reveal a set of stone steps descending to some sort of basement.
In a moment the doctor was completely gone into the dark.
Reverb hissed at the shadows that seemed to be growing thicker, emanating from the passage downwards.
Well, he had wanted an adventure. He looked at his new ensign and flashed a wild grin…
Promontory: Tallyho!
…and leapt into the darkness after the doctor.
Vharo: Response
[END SCENE FOR PROMONTORY]
[[ooc: just wrapping this up, will get to my Act I opener soon]]