Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in MPT - LS Trickster - Security Rounds - Remington

(snip)

He noticed her reaction, and though he wanted to see what it was that made her pale, decided to check that out himself later. Recording the signature to track it at a later time, he suggested, “Let’s follow Bella and her ‘mother’.”

As they set out again, he asked “How long ago did you say her mother passed away? Is it possible that she was really dead, but only appeared that way?”

Remington (CIO)

“Bella’s mother died a few days after she was born. Bella was 3 months old when Zanya found her and brought her here, 2 years ago now. Karrah sends out enquiries whenever new children arrive. Wouldn’t she have come sooner than 2 years?” Lanshay knew the reality and she also knew that the other children, herself included, always hoped their parents would come back, but life didn’t work that way. Lanshay nodded and turned heading west and around several of the hills until cutting through, following no more than well worn deer path south west until they came to a pond. The tricorder had shown Bella and her mother had already passed the pond. Lanshay, slowed now, staying to the trees rather than the open ground of the bank. They could have come back or slowed down. But there was no sign of them until they reached where the path continued on the other side. Lanshay spotted Bella’s bear about 20 feet into the path. She was no tracker, but she could make out the larger foot prints and smaller ones on the trail. Remington would recognize that Bella was attempting to stop, or perhaps was struggling with her ‘mother.’ Lanshay continued to lead them quietly. She was quite good, her feet making no sound on the leaf and twig strewn ground.

Icarus picked up the teddy bear, realizing it could come in handy in convincing Bella to come with them.

Eventually they caught up with Bella and the woman. Lanshay put a hand on Pinkerton’s arm and hunkered down still in the trees. In front of them was obviously an old mine entrance that had been closed off at some point but was now open and Bella was doing her best to NOT follow the woman inside. “The mine was closed up when I was 1. It’s always been closed.” She spoke in a hush as she looked around, the rocks that had been used to wall up the entrance were haphazardly out of place. “We had an earthquake about 3 months ago. I guess no one came to check on it.”

“No I don’t wanna. The air burns!” Bella’s small voice carried to them. Poor Lanshay was doing her very best to be still but it was obvious that last comment was almost too much. She pulled her sleeve up for Pinkerton to see her forearm. “The mineral mined here was corrosive. The minors used protective clothing while they worked. Occasional exposure won’t kill you, but it burns and scars, it hurts the eyes and throat.” Her arms were covered in very old tiny white scars. But the mine had been closed when she was 1.

Bella was crying in earnest now, but the woman just held onto her arm and dragged her toward the mine entrance.
Story Teller EvilJen

Seeing the child in near hysterics, Icarus could barely contain himself. Handing the bear to Lanshay, he said, “I need you to count to 10, then call out to Bella to get their attention. I’m going to get here free. When she reaches you–run!! Run as fast as you can back to thee village. I’ll be close behind you, but don’t stop until you get back. Find Zanya and the others, tell them what happened, got it?”

Lanshay took the bear and nodded at him, a little wide-eyed, but to her credit she didn’t balk. She began to count soundlessly: 1…2…3… She paced carefully and quietly so that when she called to Bella she’d be in front of her, instead of behind her wasting time as Bella tried to spot her. 4…5…6… Bella was yanking against the woman. Her ‘mother’ didn’t even appear to be phased by it, physically or emotionally. Lanshay could tell she was near hysterical. 7…8…9… She peered around spotting Pinkerton…10…

He moved quietly into the brush. When he was 15 feet away from Lanshay, still undercover of the foliage, he drew his phaser at drew a bead on Bella’s “mother’s” shoulder, hoping the shot would release her grip and give the child a chance to get away. . . .

Remington /Pinkerton

“BELLA! Bella come here! Look, I found your bear.” Lanshay stepped out of the trees, calling the little girl. The phaser shot hit the woman square on, but she didn’t let go of Bella. Instead, after a brief pause, she disappeared. Bella seemed frozen, stunned by her mother’s sudden disappearance. Lanshay didn’t wait, she ran straight for Bella, scooping her up and turning to run, but not five steps later a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Lanshay looked up into the eyes of Bella’s ‘mother.’ The stare, or really lack of, sent a cold shiver down her spine. “Let go of me!” Lanshay jerked her shoulder, keeping Bella tucked tight away from the woman. The woman looked at Lanshay and a momentary look of confusion appeared and she released her and disappeared again. Lanshay didn’t question it but ran.

As she ran, the woman kept appearing, and though Lanshay didn’t take the time to think about it, she noticed that the woman was different every time, her hair, her clothes, sometimes injured, sometimes not. Pinkerton could follow them easily because every time she appeared, Bella screamed. The woman appeared again, suddenly, hands reaching out to snatch Bella away and Lanshay turned, abruptly into the trees. She would never make it to the village by herself. She ran till she reached the river and then east, following the rapids, until she found what she was looking for: three large trees had grown closely together and created a small cave. It was just big enough for Bella, and Lanshay shoved her into the cave, “go, go, Bella, get inside.” Lanshay turned and backed herself against the opening, staring in horror at the new version of Bella’s mother. She hair was stringy and patchy, wiry and brittle. Her eyes were sunken and blank, even more so than before. Her skin seemed just as grey and brittle. The dress she wore was thread bare and rotting away. Through the holes in the decomposing dress Lanshay could see bone, dried and cracked. She screamed as the woman’s hands, nails much longer than they should be and the flesh shrunken and pulling away from the nails as the body dried out, grabbed for her. The woman’s breath was putrid and like her nails, her gums had pulled away from the teeth giving her mouth a savage and vampiric countenance. She was nothing but a walking corpse. The woman simply grabbed Lanshay by the shoulders and tossed her aside, and then reached into the hiding space, trying to reach Bella, who had been been quiet but began to scream again.
Story Teller EvilJen

Raauhl and McHarrie disappeared in the swirl of blue. They reappeared in the hilly forest to the south of the village. They could hear water rushing over rapids and found themselves staring at the scene unfolding before them across the river. They could either cross the river across the rocks that were wet but large, or go upstream to try and find a calmer place to cross. (OOC: either is safe, just for discription).
Story Teller EvilJen