Star Trek: Starbase 777 - village-streets

The streets were rather busy, the small town bustling with life. The newcomers could catch an occasional lingering look - something between apprehension and curiosity, as the people took in their uniforms and pips and whatnot.

Iki wasn't an engineer (most of the time) and their bedside manner was fucking terrible, so instead of going to those places, they wandered the streets. It's be good to document the place and the damage that'd been suffered for the report anyway, and if they could get roped into helping out somewhere here where it was busy, that'd be a nice bonus.

Being a curious and innocent creature who was pure of heart and had no potential for mischief. Eddie found himself drawn to the hubbub of the village streets. He wandered around getting a lay of the land and a feel for the vibe as he walked next to his partner in crime.

"I should get more familiar with meteorology. I don't know enough about abnormal weather patterns to guess at what caused some of this damage," Iki said, looking around the street as they tried to catch people's eyes without actually making eye contact. They weren't sure that people would feel comfortable simply approaching Starfleet officers to ask for help, but they also felt very weird imposing on ongoing repairs. Maybe they should find someone who looked like they were coordinating some ongoing efforts, to see if they could lend a hand. Iki may not have been the most physically impressive person around, but that Vulcan strength still had to count for something, surely.

The most prominent was the clean-up effort - people gathering some runaway things and trash, some of the teenagers having fun turning it into a race and a challenge. Up ahead, not too far away from what seemed to be the town center, was an effort to re-plant a few half-fallen trees in someone's backyard. A small-ish Orion woman was standing by the side, waving her left hand in a "that direction" motion.

Trusting that Eddie was enough of a dog in human form to simply trot after them, Iki set off for the Orion woman who seemed to have a decent grip on things. They held up a ta'al in greeting, waiting for the woman to notice them before they spoke. "Is there anything we can assist with?" they asked, graciously offering Eddie's helping hands too.

"You know if you'd listened more instead of pouting back in the wilderness guild you might have learned more about meteorology on exoplants and how different continental orientations impact global wind and rain patterns." Eddie was about to go into a long winded rant about ocean currents and the coriolis effect when Iki volentold him into helping. Ever the golden retriever he followed along, mildly annoyed he didn't get to talk about winds.

"Okay, so what I'm hearing is you're writing a report for Sa- for Chief tr'Lareth about the weather patterns of Fatum I and their meteorological origins? It's recorded now, you have to do it." Iki was a great multitasker, okay, they could saddle Eddie with more work in two different ways at the same time like nobody else.

4

She took in their appearance, before giving the two a curt nod: "If you're up to it, sure?.. We have a few trees that got knocked over, but it looks like they can be saved if we bring them up again. We have the tech to do it, but owner of the house also wants to find a way to protect these... any ideas? You can also give us a hand in a literal way, of course. Just clocked you two as scientists... right?"

"You would be correct in your observation," Iki granted easily, looking at the trees and pulling out their tricorder for a closer assessment. Were they decently sized, mature trees, or were they still very young? (edited)

They seemed to be a set of young trees - not small, not anymore, but not fully-grown either, as reported by the tricorder. The largest one stood at a height of about two people (standard sized, not Iki-sized metrics). They already had a well-developed root system and the beginnings of a rich crown, but lacked the robustness, and depth to said roots to properly hold them tight in the ground. In some places, Iki could see some damage on the bark - minimal, but as if done by blunt force...

"We should be able to re plant them they'll just need some extra care to make sure the wood under the bark doesn't rot." Eddie said he he also got a look at the trees. "We should also be careful not to break too many of the roots they'll take better to being replanted if we can save as many as we can." Eddie said as he began walking towards the trees in question.

"I see, I see," the Orion woman nodded to Edward's words, "any ideas how to keep them in the ground, though? If someting similar ever happens. Maybe we can hold them in place via cables or something. like a tent..."

"Cables could work if you can anchor them somewhere solid. Small tractor beams could work too." He mused as he walked closer to the trees trusting Iki would come too. "What caused the damage anyway? I wasn't expecting weather bad enough to uproot trees here?"

"It gets like that sometimes," she answered, lowering herself down to pat at the ground near one of the already re-rooted trees.

"Since they're not too big, you can drive poles into the ground to keep the trees upright. Eventually, you want the tree to keep itself in the ground by its extensive root system, and regular trimming and watching for rot will be enough to maintain their verticality." Iki was listening for anything in the explanation of the weather events, but, well. They supposed it got like that sometimes in most places.

"Oh? Hmm... Oh, I think I get what you mean, yeah-yeah," hey, she seemed to like the suggestion! "Thank you. These are going to bear some delicious pine nuts one day, but, uh... you'll probably not be here to taste them, unfortunately. I have nothing else to give you as a gift that could really matter, I doubt you want the books... they are unsciencey. Sorry, rambling."

"Oh it's alright we're just here to help out there really isn't any need for gifts anyway. It's just what we do!" Eddie said as he began helping to replant one of the trees.

Yeah, yeah, they did all this for the purpose of having helped. Iki was a good person and all that. "What kind of books are they?" Not that good of a person, apparently.

"Oh, just... buncha fairytales and those silly illustrated mythological not-quite-encyclopedias from different species?" she was almost... shy? About that?

"Compiled information like that is scientific in its own right. There are several subdisciplines of anthropology dedicated to studying folk tales and their significance to the people groups they are from. What people tell each other to make sense of the incomprehensible provides priceless insight into the cultural values that are prevalent among the people one is studying." Iki said it nonchalantly, pushing up their sleeves slightly so assist with the lifting of one of the fallen trees. "You will likely want to dig up a large area around where you want the tree to stand. If the ground is too compacted, the roots will stay up near the surface, and the tree will remain prone to falling over during storms."

"... Okay damn, could've just said you want these and I'd still believe you," with some elbow grease and fallen leaves, eventually, the two ensigns were done! The Orion rewarded Iki with two thin and soft-cover books of the tales, volumes 1 and 2 respectfully, and a larger, hard-cover encyclopedia. Congratulations, you've got loot. She would then inform them both that it was about time to go to the central square, - for the leader of the colony to formally thank them, before the team could leave.

"Are you sure? I have committed the cover to memory now, I may always look them up on my own time later." All things considered Iki would love these books, but they did realise they were there to help, not to pilfer people's possessions. They meant it, too, and for good measure, they held the books up to the camera so the covers could always be looked back up.

"I'm sure, I'd prefer someone interested would get to care for them," she nodded. "I have a large library anyways, don't worry. I won't push! But I don't mind if you do take them."

"In that case, I will accept the gift. Thank you." Iki bowed slightly, then righted themself as they looked to the central square, where people were indeed seemingly gathering. "Come on, rock man, put those muscles away."

"You're not moving my rocks to put the books on a shelf." *Eddie pre emptivly said as he finished helping with the trees and stood to head to the town square." (edited)

"You're not even getting to see them ever again, they're going in my room," Iki bickered back as they made their way to the square.

The fog clogging the streets made it difficult to traverse, but they stuck close to Dmitri, trusting him to lead the way to the medical center. The weight wasn't ideal, but they could manage.

He was relying more on his internal sense of direction and muscle memory than any geographical landmarks, because he couldn't see them, though he would use what he COULD see as as much of a guide as he could. Hopefully, they wouldn't get lost on the way there...

Footsteps, traversing by their side, following them, but not quite; a respectful distance. She hummed, gently - a voice Dmitri hasn't heard in what felt like ages, ever since they had their last half-conversations...

He froze for a second - maybe a few - before continuing on. "You're not real," he muttered, looking pale as the fog. "You're never real."

"Just keep moving," Kirio reassured him gently, concern furrowing their expression behind the wet cloth covering their face. Poor guy. Imagine knowing somebody for less than a day and having their trauma manifest via fog in front of them. Sucks.

His sister angled her head like a curious puppy, yet the smile was... all the same. She kept following the three, just a little bit closer.

"Shut up," he snapped, before taking a shaky breath, which, in this makeshift mask, didn't make him feel any better at all. "Sorry. Didn't mean that. Let's keep going." He wasn't even sure if he was talking to Kirio, the fog, or his own racing thoughts.

She giggled, a wispy, odd sound: "Oh, be nice to them, Dima! Be kinder to them than you ever were to me."

"Yes, yes, we get it, I'm a terrible person, we all know this," he grumbled, walking. She was right, though. Groznin had thought so, upon two seconds after meeting him again. And why wouldn't he? He'd done nothing but antagonise him since they'd met. Why? Why was he like this? He knew why, but it didn't make it any better.

They were going to say something about not wasting his breath, but the hospital was in sight. The security officer moved quickly to the door, pounding on it. "Hello!? We're with Starfleet— two of us, but we have someone who fell asleep with us. Please let us in..!"

Silence, at first. The ghostly apparition giggled, skipping closer to them, when-- "Hurry!" a hiss and a grab at then all, as the group was forced inside of the medical center.

Ok. No distractions. Straight ahead. To Rami's house. Kirio is Locked the Hell In.

That was good, because they were both Locked the Hell Out of the medical facility now. Hopefully they wouldn't be LtHO of Rami's house. Who the Hell is Rami, anyway?

Maybe if Kirio focused on nice thoughts the fog won't get them. What are nice thoughts? Rainbows and sunshine and a cool breeze... Beaches.. Little tiny animals doing biiiig stretch...

The street was... transformed. The fog bathed it in ghostly pale color, the houses turned gray and washed out; here and there, glimpses of figures walking around the street. The whispering became near constant, a hushed sound. Something, occasionally, could be seen out of the corner of the eye... "Anyone?" a voice, sudden, echoing through the emptiness. Was that..? "Help! I got separated from the away team!.. Please..."

Nah. He'd already done his good deed for the day with that other guy. He wasn't a search and rescue specialist, and if he followed that voice he'd probably need to be searched for and rescued. He continued on, ignoring the voice.

Kirio raised their head, perking up. Their stomach twisted. It wasn't. It probably wasn't. It maybe wasn't. But if it was, and they left him out here... They exhaled, hands shaking slightly as they tightened their grip on the box of masks. Birdsong, sunlight, warm thoughts, anything that isn't an endless expanse of white...

"Lieutenant?.." Maiek's voice rasped out, as his figure's silhouette appeared in front of them, coming out of the fog but not yet out in the clear. "Please tell me it's you..."

He hesitated for a second. Didn't he just say he wanted to look for this guy? But the apparition's speech patterns didn't quite match up to Maiek. Not that he knew the priest that well, but he felt like he was the kind of person to be strangely nonchalant when he found them - not this 'oh, woe is me, please help me' nonsense. He kept going, grabbing Kirio's arm if they didn't follow.

Kirio allowed themself to be tugged, mumbling some vague resemblance of an apology. They squeezed their eyes shut— tight— then opened it again, clearing their head with one swift motion. The detective began to walk faster.

The figure stayed right in front of them, right in their path to Rami's house. Maiek looked... rough; his robe damp from the cold mist, pale hands holding it close around himself to quell the shaking in his shoulders. The pale yellow of his lit cigarette reflected in the dull brown of his eyes. "Please tell me both of you are real..." he pushed through his teeth. "I'm done running into ghosts..."

Kirio was very, very close to shoving the box into Dmitri's arms and seeing what was up for themself. Even though the haze around them made it difficult to see, the eyes... The detective drew their phaser, holding the box protectively. "If it's you, you'll move out of the way to let us all get to shelter," they said in a shaking voice, as if they weren't quite sure themself.

He kept his eyes on their environment. They were paying too much attention to the priest right now; something else could sneak up on them. "Kirio, it's not him..."

Disbelief blossomed on his face, before some mirth returned to Maiek's eyes as he chuckled something tired: "Please. I am defenseless. I have nothing to hurt you with..." He shifted his robes, showing that he had no weaponry attached to himself underneath it; only his charms, something white and solid situated on string, clacked ominously against one another. He then shifted to the side, extending his arm in a mock showing of a freed up road: "Here. Now please, detective, lower your weapon."

Violet eyes narrowed, and their hand remained steady. The eyes were suspect enough, but if they could sus out one more thing... Under his robes. Were his tattoos there?

Hard to tell. The tattoo was mostly on his back, after all, from what Kirio had seen. There was something vaguely serpentine on his collarbones... "For hell's sake, Mizax," the subject of their scrutiny seethed out, ripping the cigarette out of his mouth and throwing it on the ground. "Please lower that phaser!.."

Ah, fuck, right. Kirio pressed their lips tightly together, blinking tight to reorient their focus. "You've been out here long enough, you should know I have every right to be wary," they shot back. "How am I supposed to know you're not a hallucination?"

"What-- fuck," he made a slight step forward, which turned into a stumble. "What more proof do you want, Mizax?.."

"Kirio," Dmitri said, tugging Kirio away. "If he was really Maiek, he'd be half-asleep and raving mad by now!"

"Oh-h-h-h," he crooned, the tension of his voice disappearing into something... other, "You two are no fun, really, no fun..." And the priest shifted, the material of his robe giving way to feathers and scales and something serpentine - before it lunged forward.

"Fuck— FUCK!" Kirio stumbled in their effort to run forward, stashing their phaser in the box to hold onto it with two hands as they booked it to the door. "Go, go, go!!"

He ran. Having lots of spare adrenaline at the moment, it hadn't taken him long to react. The only problem was that he had an oxygen mask in one hand and probably a canister in the other, or perhaps on his back - either way, slowing him down. That couldn't be as bad as it was for Kirio, though, holding a whole box of them. "If it catches up with you -" he panted - "Abandon the masks! You're more important!"

It's mass flew right over their hunched forms, and landed somewhere behind them at an awkward angle. Gruffing out some unholy sounds, a mix between a snake's hiss and a bird-like gurgle, it turned it's ugly head towards them and tried to take flight.

"Yeah!" Obviously, they had no intentions of doing that, if their fellow officers had masks they would be out and about right now. If they all fell asleep and died, it wouldn't be of any help to anyone. Nonetheless, Kirio was used to carrying things around and running very quickly, so they were mostly okay, if you ignored the sting in the corners of their eyes. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. You knew from the beginning, and yet...

He was quickly running out of stamina. He wasn't the most unfit, but let's be honest: years of being a general practitioner on a planet where not much happened did not lend itself to an active lifestyle. It was a problem of the modern world, and also a problem right now. Not to mention, breathing this rapidly in an oxygen mask might lead to an overdose. That was a fine sacrifice for not breathing in hallucinogenic sedative gas, but not ideal. "Shootitifyoucan!"

RIGHT. YEAH. Kirio whipped around to fire at the thing best they could, cranking up the settings on their phaser to max stun.

It did react - being hit right in the head it let out a piercing shriek, which broke off into a warbling croak. "My town, all mine," it seethed, voice snappish, an amalgamation, it's clawed wings thudding the ground like twin mallets, "Mine-mine-mine, get out, get out!"

He looked back. "Your town? Wait - Armin?" Not his fucking name. "Armin Floss? Priest-leader-whatever?" Okay, you don't need to piss it off.

"Doesn't matter, just goooo—!!" Kirio was hitting the ground hard (with their feet) (not their body), trying to make a break for the door. How far away? If they were getting close enough to hear, they would start shouting.

It moved awkwardly, a being unsure of it's own body. It heaved itself into the air, and Kirio could feel a slice on their shoulder as it flew right above, failing to grab them. It landed on a house's wall with a frustrated, child-like wail. And... there! In front of them! The house the doctor described!

He stopped running upon seeing the house, though his heart ran on without him. "W-wait, wait - can it get in? Will we bring it in?"

"Not if we move fast enough—! HEY, HEY, LET US IN!" Kirio seized the doctor by the sleeve, pulling him along. "HURRY UP, THERE'S SOMETHING CHASING US!"

He let himself be dragged, keeping up with Kirio by virtue of pure adrenaline. His feet hurt. His heart beat-beat-beat. His lungs burned.

"I tore him apart," it spat out, vindictive, neck cracking at an unnatural angle to look at the two officers in front of it: "Tore him limb-to-limb while he searched for you. Failure, utter failure!"

2

Successfully on the porch of the house, Kirio turned on their heel. "Shut UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Their throat tore as they fired at the creature, phaser turned up as high as it would go.

It opened it's ugly maw and prepared for a pounce... Just as the door flew open to drag the officers in.

As they were pulled through the door, he pulled his mask off and lobbed his oxygen canister at the creature as hard as he possibly could.

Back out onto the street, huh. It wasn't enough to make their knees shake. It was a situation they were in before, and they'd be fine. Unfortunately, they were with company, and no matter how much they wanted to cry, they... couldn't. They had to be strong. They had to be quick. Kirio exhaled, and as everyone joined them, began to move.

Twelve followed the Lieutenant out then. Mask secured in the face of the fog, they started to follow them!

He followed Kirio, sticking close by. He still seemed a little agitated, but his eyes were more focused and his heart was slowing down. He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, moving some hair stuck to the slick sweat, wishing dearly that he could have a shower. Not wanting to alert the monster, he didn't say anything.

The streets were still full of silhouettes and whispering voices, but nothing called out to them in particular. There was no beating of wings, or crowing of a triumphant voice. Fragments of nonsense and giggles in the streets, and nothing more...

... Kirio didn't say anything out loud about how it was suspiciously easy, and as soon as the thought threatened to surface, they slapped it purposefully away.

... Now that they were safely out of civilian earshot, everyone was caught up to speed — about the alleged mysterious disappearance of Professor Deima and the circumstances surrounding it, the shapeshifting creature in the dark, and they made it back to the house in one piece.

He & Kirio were the first to lead the charge, oxygen masks in hand - though it was less of a charge and more of a confused fumble.

Whoever had the tricorder should be checking it now... and finding a way to go.

To the streets! Tavek was somehow given an oxygen mask at some point in that confusion before they left the house with the red roof, despite not having to breathe. He still had it with him, though, in case he encountered someone without one, or if someone else’s failed. It was always good to have backups.

“Is it bad that I forgot you couldn’t breathe?” He blinked at Tavek, following along with the group.

“I forget I can breathe. Or fake it, at least.” He replied, walking in front of Ed so he’d hopefully be nice fog creature bait instead of his fleshy friend.

1

Call him the historic capital city of China, because he was Peking over Paco's shoulder to see the tricorder scans.

“That’s so real. So do I, sometimes.” He chuckled, “And I actually need it.”

“That seems like a design flaw.” He joked quietly as they continued on.

“I think humans are just, uh… like that. It’s like telling someone that they’re blinking manually.” He shrugged, “Must be nice to not have to do that stuff, honestly.”

Shocei followed the group closely, but not too close. Both because she still felt a certain vibe between some of the other officers, and because it felt safer to have some room. She wasn't quite sure what she expected to happen, but facts had little to do how she felt about this situation.

A weak ping... but it was there. Unmoving, a general direction of where he could be. Not too far away from the medical center, actually... but not quite it.

Iki had definitely been here the whole time, but had been moving around somewhat on autopilot. They also had their tricorder in hand, if only because they'd heard the word "tricorder" and figured that was part of their job. At the ping, they kind of. raised it in the direction of the ping. As opposed to calling out as they normally would.

Still pinging. Still there... onward, then?

They really should probably be communicating something, probably, instead of just walking off... "This way," they mumbled, before setting off in the direction of the ping.

2

Groznin moved with the crowd, shooting a glance at Dmitri every so often. They would find the priest and get out of here soon. Or at least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

He felt eyes on him, but ignored them. He needed to keep his own eyes on the prize. That dragon wasn't around right now, but he kept an eye out for it.

Twelve followed in silence, Dimitri kept in their peripheral vision out of concern, as they silently progressed. At Iki's mumbled observation, Twelve then glanced their way. "Understood." Twelve lacked further indication at the moment that something happened to be amiss with the ensign as well. But even with this, their mind promptly started to go round and round in circles as it considered the possibility of another person who might not be operating too well. Might have been affected by something. Twelve profoundly disliked how much information they lacked on how to assist the Lieutenant, the possibility someone else also might be in a state wasn't something that appealed to her. Also for that matter, she lacked any evidence that'd have indicated that was a issue. Well, anything that she'd have considered significant enough to have merited it, yet her mind insisted on pacing in circles as it worried. Twelve quickly discovered themselves to be getting annoyed then. With herself. (edited)

No sight of it. As they walked, however, taking a slight detour from the medical center... there, in front of them, was a cemetery.

Oh, great. A cemetery. A place of death and mourning. The best place. His favourite place. Ugh. Alright, in we go. (edited)

"Everyone do your best to stay on the path, and don't disturb the graves," Kirio mumbled, "'cause it's rude." Good job, man.