Posted by Lieutenant Ilena Keelara Rox (Chief Medical Officer) in Main-Sim: The Deep Forest

Posted by Gamemaster Mr Centauri (Gamemaster) in Main-Sim: The Deep Forest

Posted by Lieutenant Ilena Keelara Rox (Chief Medical Officer) in Main-Sim: The Deep Forest
Posted by… suppressed (37) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The sounds of strange animal like sounds filled her ears first, they were not familiar but nothing in her mind sent danger signals. It was dark, but the soft smell of tree’s soil and dew filled the air, a light breeze brushed against her as she opened her eyes.

Stars filled the night sky, twinkling as if they new something she did not, she was in a small clearing filled with grass, and flowers that had closed for the night. Giant trees surrounded her some resembled pine trees and others had colorful purples and reds, currently mostly gray at first glance to dim lights. They had a soft glow to them that was barely visible. There was nothing else that could be seen, just forest and sky, plants and trees, All of them unfamiliar.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena sat up slowly. Ril whimpered next to her. She looked over and set a hand on his head. “Where are we, boy? Huh?” She could sense the dog’s unease and worry. She looked around again. First things first. =/\=Rox to Challenger=/\=

Nothing but static. She tried again with the same result. “Okay, well, we’re on our own, Riley. Come here.” She patted her lap and then ran her hands over every inch of the dog, checking for injuries. Finding none, she checked herself. First her head, though she was showing no signs of concussion.

“Well the last thing I remember was Cadet Neddleberg coming in with Cmdr. T’Sai and Vivica coming to help. What about you?” She asked Ril. The dog lookd at her with concern and nosed her. “Oh, yes, I was sick.”

She slowly pulled her legs beneath her and got onto her knees and then her feet. Ilena felt a bit unsteady. She knew Ril noticed because he was suddenly pressed up against the back of her weakest leg to catch her if she fell.

After a moment she felt steady enough to walk. “Alright, let’s explore just a bit.” She patted her pockets. Was she lucky enough to have dropped a triorder into her lab coat pocket?

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

There was no tricorder in her pocked but she saw one on the ground close by, she must have had it in her hand when she was taken.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

“Thank the four gods for small mercies. Ril fetch tricorder.” Ilena pointed to it and the dog walked over and carefully picked it up in his mouth and brought it to her.

Flipping it open she turned in a circle. She also allowed her mind to expand outward trying to sense if anything or anyone was there.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

The tricorder clicked on there was life all around her, nothing that appeared threating, there were not animals circling or stalking that should could tell, but a wide variety. She sensed what she would sense in a real forest as apposed to a holodeck. There was metal plating 10 meters below the surface which was soil of some sort, fertil and ripe for plant life. It was not detecting intelligent life, but she could still feel something skimming the surface of her thoughts.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena’s eyes went up with that. “Metal plating below the ground…maybe an underground structure. Maybe we should try and find an entrance. I mean, survival training says to stay put, but we need shelter. What do you think Ril?” The dog whinned and nudged her hand. Shelter was good if she had an episode. She listened to the emotions of the animals, not sensing hostility or stalking instincts. That something from before was still skimming her thoughts. Who are you? she asked.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

The trees swayed back and forth with the breeze. The smell of fresh water caught her nose it was ahead of her. Then her head felt like someone had dropped an anchor on it, she drove to her knees, what she sensed skimming the surface now poured into her mind so much so that she could not find herself. Pain racked her body and she collapsed to the ground. She woke and unknown amount the time later, Ril whimpering and licking her face frantically.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena groaned, her fingers curling into Ril’s fur. The movement calmed the dog slightly. Her body hurt. She was on the ground, she must have fallen based on how she felt. “Ril,” she said the dogs name so he would stop licking her face.

It took a long few moments before she was able to sit up. “Someone is out there.” She tried to contact the Challenger again with no luck. She grabbed the tricorder where she dropped it. “Alright, Ril help me up.” She was a bit unsteady and her head felt sore, but she thought she would be alright. “Let’s see if we can find that shelter.” Checking the tricorder she tried to see if there were any caves or areas where the metal plating was closer to the surface.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

There was a cave on the other side of the lake based on what she was saying the terrain her limited mobility it was around an hour walk around the shorter side. Swim would be shorter it was only a about 300 meters across.

She could still feel something on the edge of her mind again, this time she could sense it more clearly, It was looking for a way in.
Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Swimming would be faster, and Ilena did not sense any vicious animals, but if she had an episode while in the water, Ril wouldn’t be able to help her. They would both die. She would walk. She wasn’t worried about over doing it (too much); Ril would make her rest.

She felt the presence and glanced around. I know you are there, and I will talk to you once I have gotten shelter. Especially since you keep making me fall and pass out. There was no ore to her feelings, just practicality tinged with excitement of new meetings. And being honest some worry because she was here all alone with no idea how she got here.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

As she went to move forward, she felt it again, like something was trying to penetrate her mind, and then the pain, her mind was overwhelmed with images she could not make out, thoughts that flooded in and out too fast. Feelings so intense that she could not distinguish if it was joy or grief, comfort or pain. And then everything went white.

Ilena cried out, her legs buckling with the strain. Be gentle!

Moments laters standing in the white space should could make out a woman, she was talk almost six foot,, Long red hair, beautiful, she carried an air about her, as sense of control, command, and responsibility.

“wasdfarg aarg iahag as gasdg asd g” the sound living her lips made no sense it was gibberish.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena knew they were in a mental space. Her first thought was for Ril who would be frantic over her collapsing again, and non-responsive. She watched the woman and listened, but her words made no sense. She tried to at least get a feel for the woman’s emotions. It was all a confusing jumble. She held her hands out palm facing open and away. “I am Lt Ilena Rox of the Federation Star Ship Challenger. Do you need help? I am a doctor.” She doubted the woman understood her any better. But tone, emotion, and body language went a long way.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

There was no reading anything from the woman she had locked away her emotions or at least if felt that way. She tilted her head slightly and held up her own hands.

“Werwsgafg sdfg dsfg sdg dsgf sdrdgsf ” she said once again filling the air with meaningless word. Rox could see strain on her face, she was obviously restraining her self in some way.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Whoever said telepathy made things easier, had never been a telepath. Alright time to try and create some connection. Similar concepts and words. Ilena pointed to herself. Her long hair, her obvious feminine features. “Woman.” Then she pointed to the same characteristics of the woman in front of her and repeated “Woman.”

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

The woman looked at her, looked at herself, and then gave a slight nod. In a instant thousands of pictures flood her mind, Rox could not make out a single picture they were moving too fast, but she new they were images. The speed made her sick to her stomach.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

In the forest, Ilena began to gag and wretch. Ril whinned and pawed at her, finally using his massive body to roll her over and then lay across her.

In the thought space, Ilena doubled over, holding her stomach with one arm and her head with the other. She sucked in a deep breath and held up a single hand open palmed, but quick and sharp. “Stop.” She tried to breath through it. She looked at the woman and then pointed to her own head. Then she waved and wiggled her fingers in a rapid and random movement over it. Then Rox shook her head ‘no’ several times. Then she repeated the gesture, but this time slower and steady and nodded ‘yes’. She hoped the woman would understand.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

The picture stopped and vanished, as did the white space she was now laying once again on the forest floor, and regaining her senses.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ril laying heavily over her, keeping her on her side. The smell of vomit filled her nose first making her gag. She had to fight to get Ril off of her so she could roll away from the smell. Her head felt like it was in a vice. She stayed until she was sure the throbbing had subsided and she could get up without hurting herself. First she took her tricorder and did a thorough scan.

“Come on Ril, we have to find that cave. I’m fairly certain that woman needs help, but if she keeps this up, I’m going to end up comatose out here in the open. Come on. We can make it.” She hoped.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

The tricorder showed no long term damage, just some bruises from the fall and some elevated adrenaline levels. The cave was still a fair hike away, but 45 minutes later she and Ril stood at the entrance, it was dark and smelled of damp fungus.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena was sore, tired, crashing from the adrenaline, thirsty, hungry, and worried about the woman whose mind was floating around out there. “Alright Ril, let’s rest a bit, yeah?” She lowered herself to floor of the cave, just inside the entrance. She used the tricorder to scan further into the cave and the fungus. She would have to test the water to make sure it was safe to drink.

Ril settled over her lap as she leaned back against the cave wall to rest. Just incase she tried her combadge again with no luck.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

Oddly enough she no longer felt anything around or in her thoughts, it was like it had left. Scan’s deeper into the cave quickly became distorted a hundred meters in there was a substance that the tricorder could not identify. The lake water was fresh and drinkable as were several near by berry bushes.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

“Alright, come on Ril. Water and something to eat. I’m not sure how much we’ll like these berries, but we’ll eat them anyway.” She got up and walked toward the lake. She carefully knelt and cupped her hands to drink after checking the water one more time. Watching her drink, Ril moved closer and did so as well. Ilena shook her hands to remove the excess water and then wiped them down her pants legs.

“Okay, let’s take a look these berries.” She had to check the readings carefully to make sure they were safe for dogs. Ril wasn’t too happy with berries for his dinner, but Ilena made a game out of it, using them as treats. They were not enough for the dog, but it would do.

The berries had a sour outer shell that quickly became sweat once the inside was revealed. They would certainly help keep energy levels up for now.

Afterwards they made their way back to the edge of the cave and Ilena sat down, resting against the rock behind her. She patted her lap and Ril laid across her. “Alright, let’s see if I can make any more progress with our friend out there.” Rox closed her eyes and stretched her senses out, searching for that illusive presence. Are you there? Do you need help?

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

“I am, I do, cave, deeper” she heard as if someone was standing next to her.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

I’ll find you. Ilena opened her eyes. “Alright Ril, water, a few more berries and then we have to find her.” A few minutes later they were venturing further into the cave. Ilena moved slowly, not wanting to trip as the cave got darker on the uneven ground. She had her tricorder out, scanning for life signs.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

There was a bio luminescent substance on the wall the present like fungus. Deeper and deeper into the cave she went until she came to a large cavern, high ceilings with stalagmites and Stalag tights covered the space making it hard to to see.

“Come, back , cave” she heard it plead again.

Then she felt something else, a shift in the ship’s movement, were they at warp?

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

A ship? There were in a ship? Where were they going? Where are you taking us? Where are we going?

She moved slowly toward the back, more cautious now. She wished she’d had Ril trained as a guard dog now instead.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

Stepping into the cavern was like stepping into a wall of soup. The air was thick with moisture that soaked the the skin almost instantly. Cool air circled about her making it impossible to tell where it was coming from. Water dripped all around her, echoing off the cave walls. Everything looked the same thankfully she had a tricorder. The tricorder should life signs all around and a large life form just ahead of her that was massive maybe 4 meters wide and 5 meters high.

She shivered in the cave and the damp. Whatever was in here was huge. Much bigger and probably stronger than she was.

Ril hesitated and gave out a small wine, and had no interest in continuing.

Ilena patted his head. “Stay, Ril.” If something went wrong, Ilena wanted him far away from whatever was in this cave.

“Stuck, come closer” she heard again this time the sound echoed all around her. Then with speed and force, something struck her hand and the tricorder spun out of sight it’s light reflecting off the walls as it disappeared into the darkness of the case and made a large crack as it struck something in the cave.

“Hurry” the voice echoed again
Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena gasped in surprise and looked around for what had caused that. “I need my tricorder. It’s a medical tool.” She turned in the direction it had been thrown, picking her way slowly through the gloom. Ril whined as she walked away from him. She could feel his unease at her leaving. She turned back. “It’s okay, Ril. Stay.”

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

Stepping through the dark became an exercise of will power, the ground started to become covered in a root, or vine like substance that she was having to step through it was growing thicker as she moved to where the tricorder was.

When she finally found it, it was in pieces on the ground no longer emitting the soft glow from it’s screen.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena muttered unhappily. She gathered all the pieces she could find and slipped them into her pocket. She wasn’t an engineer, but maybe she could fix it. They did take classes in basic maintenance and engineering concepts. She turned, “Ril, speak!” she called. She would use his voice to help her navigate back towards him and then whoever was waiting in the darkness.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

Ril barked twice, it echoed loudly of the walls making it difficult to identify where it was coming from, best guess was from behind here. Then she felt it, malice, deception, and hunger. The vines began to lash out quickly attempting to ensnare her legs and arms. Vine after vine gathered on her legs and arms, there was little use she could not keep up or run and soon her legs, arms and neck were firmly in the grips of the vegetation.

Ilena moved toward the direction she though Ril was. She fought and clamored and struggled with the creeping vines. The made her skins itch and shiver when they touched her. Then she felt it, the danger, the evil and began to run as best she could over the unsteady ground.

Ilena went down in a heap of vines and limbs. Why were things like this always happening to telepaths? Seriously?! She had a moment to contemplate being relieved that Adaril had died a long time ago. He didn’t have to wonder where she went or what happened to her. Maybe he would be waiting for her beyond the Great Fire.

A four meter tall humanoid shaped being stepped forth out of the darkness, the vines began to glow with a soft blue light. The vines seem to disappear into the entity. When the light became bright enough it was clear, the vines were the entity and the entity the vines. It had not formal structure no mouth to speak of just lose human like form maybe mimicking her own

Ilena turned to get the best view she could. It was huge, no, not huge. It filled the cave almost. Could it move anywhere or was it stuck by it’s roots somewhere? She glanced around trying to get a feel for the size, structure, and location.

Looking around it seemed that the creature was centered in the larger life form she had seen on the tricorder. What was standing Infront of her was more of a construct it was using to communicate.

“I was hoping for a stronger mind, it has been so long since I have had something other than small furlings to feed on.” it said its words echoing both in her mind and the cave. It looked and sounded nothing like the woman you had seen.

“I’m so sorry to disappoint. I guess you’ll have to just starve.” So typical. Oh it was scary, and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she wouldn’t give in to the fear. A stronger mind? What was it used to? Ilena was by no means the strongest telepath, but she was considered average, and Betazoid’s were considered some of the strongest telepaths in the quadrant. “Maybe you should try to eat your own mind.”

Ril whimpered in the distance as if something had startled or struck him.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

“Ril GO!” she yelled the command and used an empathic mental touch to try and urge him to get out of the cave.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer
“Ohh some strength in you after all, ” it said , “Good” she felt it psychically connect to her through the vines, her arms, legs and throat burned with heat from the connection.

She cried out at the physical pain. Some kind of nurotoxin maybe? It burned painfully even as she felt the forced connection.

“Such an interesting creature, such compassion for someone you don’t even know, I wonder if she will have the same concern for your life.”. the creature shifted closer to her lifting her off the ground and leaning her toward him. “Let us have a look deep inside, and please do put up a fight” it jabbed “It tastes so wonderful when they put up a fight.”

There was another woman? Someone else was here? Ilena needed to stay focused,so she could help them both. If it could see into her mind, she could see into its. She wouldn’t fight..not yet, not u til she understood it a bit better.

Somewhere on the other side of forest a lone figure speed quickly through the trees, “I have to hurry,” the person thought.

Ril stood outside the cave, just out of reach of the roots and vines and barked in distress and in warning. He paced back and forth staring into the cave, constantly sniffing the air.

---

“Is something wrong with your meal?” Adaril asked. “You haven’t touched any of it?” Adaril asked.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena was 16 years old. Adaril, now 21, was at the Academy, and her family had brought her to Earth to visit him. She had missed him. He had been in her life from the day she was born. She adored him. They were going to be married once Adaril graduated the Academy.

She looked up from her plate shyly. They were sitting alone together in the Academy grounds. “I’m nervous.” The last time she had visited him, his friends had made fun of Adaril because of her. She had been so happy to see him… she’d embarrassed him and not meant to.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

He looked at her, “We have known each other for years, ” he noted. “I’m excited to get to know what’s happened since last we were together” he smiled and took a sip of water. “You look amazing!” He said. She had changed a lot since they were last together.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena blinked at him, her face flushing. There was something else to his tone she didn’t quite recognize. She couldn’t sense him, what he was feeling or thinking. Things were so strange here. Rili had told her about how different non-telepaths were. Maybe he was closed off because of that? “Just school. I’ve been enjoying my music studies. I had my first concert before we came to see you.”

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

He locked eyes with her, “I wish I could have been there” he noted. ” how was your performance?” he asked, “I want to hear all about it” he said leaning in closer to her so he could here every detail.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

Ilena smiled. “I wish you had too.” She missed talking to him, he seemed so different now. Still her Adaril, but more. “It was good. I played a piece by Rodred Ogei.” He was a famous composer for the Dersea. The Dersea was a complicated instrument. 8 strings along a neck that was roughly 5 cm wide with 32 cm neck. It had no frets making it a skill of fine finger dexterity and hearing to ensure proper notes. It was long like an Earth Cello, but plucked rather than bowed.

“I enjoyed it. I played with three other Derseaians. It was a difficult piece, but the conductor said I did alright. I was so nervous.”

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

Adaril smiled and listend intently, it felt like he was hanging on her every word. “Tell me more, what else, what else have you been up too” he asked taking a bite of food.”I hope you can cook this good” he noted as he took a bit.”This is so good” he said as he ate more, and drank a red liquid. He stared at her his eyes admiring her, she had grown so much.

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire

The memory fractured a bit. Young Ilena laughed nervously. “Adaril,” she swallowed, “You know I’m horrible at cooking. Don’t you remember when I tried to make you those oskoid fritters?”

“Besides, you’ve always been possessive of the kitchen. You don’t like anyone in there while you cook.” She watched him drink the strange liquid, it reminded her of blood and she suddenly felt sick.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

“mmm this is good,” he said “Want to try?” he said holding the big chunk of meet infront her mouth.. “You should it’s so good.” he said smiling broadly. “Did you miss me?” he asked suddenly

Mr Centauri GM extraordinaire