Inside Scoop

Posted on 18 May 2018 @ 1:11pm by Lieutenant JG Manuel Lucero & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt
Edited on on 21 Aug 2023 @ 2:10pm

2,760 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 16 - A Far Sun
Location: Pleione - Main Capital
Timeline: MD 01, 2300

ON]

Doctor Lensher took the alien woman's arm and walked out and down the street. He stopped with her and commented on some of the wares in the shops making comments especially at dress shops on the styles displayed.

They finally made it to a park and one could see the building that they had left earlier at the far end. It was taller than anything else in the city. There was a lake and several benches and he found one that was nestled a bit out of the way and took a seat.

"I have read enough science fiction about little green men and all, but while a bit green you do not fit the concept of little or man exactly," he actually chuckled a little more in relief then anything else. He took a breath and then leaned back watching the waterfowl on the lake swim and dip and then asked, "So you and rest of your alien friends are going to save us all? You can get the star to settle?"

"I don't know," Marisa admitted. "In reality, your sun should have destroyed this planet a very long time ago. I think your protectors have done something to keep the sun stable." She watched this planet's equivalent of ducks swimming on the water. "The question is, can it continue to help? And if not, what can be done that doesn't violate our laws of non-interference." She smiled wryly. "Although I'm doing that now."

Lensher looked sharply at the woman. "What do you mean violate laws of non-interference? You mean you and your oh so advanced kind would just normally watch us get snuffed out like some interesting but doomed experiment?" He shook his head, "Not sure I like your so called advanced ethics."

"No," she said quickly. "It's that we don't want to alter the natural development of any culture. We generally observe to learn because every culture has something to teach us. So, my talking to you like this, telling you about space travel, can be seen as a violation. I study cultures and their history. They are vital to understanding humanity. We came here to learn about what is going on and help if we can, but without letting anyone know we're here."

"So we are going to be footnote in some dusty book somewhere," he gazed off into the distance. "Perhaps fitting for all the wars that have been fought over what a little mud ball in a nearly unremarkable area of space. Fitting though I can not help but wonder who where those that built that monument." He nodded his chin toward the pyramid that sat visible. "Why did they come here? While it is said the protectors are divine, now with you and your group are here I wonder if another set of aliens had come here. What was their purpose in building that structure? As I mentioned it has sat there unchanged for untold ages. No one knows what is inside for no entrance has ever been discovered and no one has managed to even scratch the surface even with hammers and explosives."

"I don't know," she said. "That is what I want to find out. There has to be a connection between the pyramid and the sun. If I can find out what it is, I might be able to buy your people time." She looked at him. "I hope so, anyway. I really do want to help."

"Well going back there right now is out of the question. They may or may not have noted us and certainly are going to be even more suspicious then they already are. So tell me how did you get here? Some sort of ship? A flying saucer like thing? At least," he laughed, "that is what is portrayed in the science fiction. Might be handy if you had some big indestructible robot by your side or a ray gun or some such."

Marisa chuckled. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. "I didn't bring any weapons with me as they'd bee anachronistic." While phasers could be considered ray guns, they weren't at all like the type from the old sci-fi serials from this relative time period on earth. "The ship has a saucer section, but it's not a saucer in and of itself. And...I am green. Not right now, as I had to get my skin color changed. But normally, my skin has a greenish hue because of my blood. Just like your blood gives you a pinkish tint." She looked around for a moment. "No, we can't go back. But is there somewhere else that has ancient artifacts or runs?"

Lensher shook his head in the negative. "Not that I am aware of. The only thing is the pyramid which you saw...." he trailed off for a moment. "However, perhaps?" he sort of mused to himself with a question. "There is the museum of the protectors. They have some information that was handed down and also one can pick up a copy of the book that supposedly was handed down. The original is long gone but copies have been scribed back for more than a thousand years. The fancy editions still have copy of the original symbols perhaps that might help?"

A smile spread across Marisa's face. "That could be just what I need. Can we go to the museum now? Do we buy the deluxe edition there?" She wanted to get up and go now, if she could. Those symbols could be just what she needed to gain a basic understanding of these protectors--providing they were similar to other known symbols.

"Of course, I must ask something though first, do you have a place to stay or do you have your ship to get back to?" Lensher asked.

Marisa looked at him as she realized she hadn't heard from the Scofield in hours. "I don't know. Just a minute."

She touched her earring, activating her communicator. "Sandoval to Scofield." There was nothing. She tried again, with the same result.

"The ship had to move away from the solar flare. It was supposed to be back by now, but I can't contact it, so it looks like I will be here for a while longer," she said.

Lensher looked a bit puzzled. There was no ship and though this woman had produced what she claimed was green blood, the fact that her claim of being completely alien he was less convinced. Well maybe with a microscope looking at the napkin he took or perhaps later at his office she might let him run a few tests. That was for later, so he sighed and stood.

"Alright, well I have a back room at my office you are welcome to. Sometimes it is easier to stay there when I have a heavy load of patients then going home. Let us head toward the museum and get you a copy of the book."

"Thank you," she said, giving him a smile of gratitude. Having a place off the street would be good. It would give her somewhere to read and to see what she could figure out about how the pyramid worked.

He took her arm and guided her back toward the main part of the city. The museum was a few blocks away from the pyramidal building. It was large and filled with all sorts of items. Natural history, geological items, historical items all set off it sections with mostly dioramas fronted by glass. There was one section that said, 'The protectors' and they entered. There were pictures of the actual pyramid before the other structure was built around it and in one corner a piece of text on some sort of metallic looking sheet with a few symbols. The display stated that it was the only know remnant of the original book. There were brief displays of artifacts from various cultures and stories that seemed to be different with the only theme being that the pyramid had been put there to protect the people and eventually guide them. There was not much to go on. Lensher let his visitor take her time though to look at the displays.

Marisa tried not to take too long, but she wanted to have a good look at the pictures. She was fascinated by the original idea that the pyramid was there to protect and guide them. She wondered what else was the pyramid had done--or could do-- to help these people.

When they were done, she felt like she had a better understanding of these protectors, but she needed to read the book.

Lensher waited and then headed toward the museum store. He talked to the clerk there briefly and then bought one of the more expensive books. He gave it to the alien woman and said, "Here you go, this supposedly has scribed copies of the original along with what various scholars and theologians interpret those pages." He looked at his watch and then nodded, "Best we get going, there is curfew at sundown and it is a good walk to my office."

"Thank you." Marisa hugged the book, eager to see what it held. She didn't have her usual cross pack, so she kept her arms wrapped around it as she followed Lensher to his office. "Why is there a curfew?" she asked quietly when she had the chance.

Lensher just shook his head, "government is running scared, hard enough to keep people calm during the daytime, at night it is easier to just tell people to go home and hope for a better day."

It was not far to sundown but they stopped to get something to take with them to eat and made it to the doctor's office. He unlocked the place and made his way to the back and opened a door to a room. There was a bed, and off to one side a sink, shower and toilet. "Not much but hopefully will do. I do normally have clinic in the morning and get here early. There is staff but I usually try to beat them in. Well, I suppose wish you a good night and see you in the morning."

"This will be fine," she said, looking around. "Are you sure you'll get to your home before curfew?" She was surprised he didn't have any more questions for her now that they were alone.

"Just a quick block over so a brisk walk should make it with time to spare." Lensher replied.

There was banging on the front door and Lensher looked puzzled and held a finger up to his lips and closed the door to go see what was the commotion.
As he got to the front door he could see through the glass that it was not police but one of the group from the pyramid. He opened the door and motioned the man in.

"How did you get here?"

Sweat was pouring out of the man and he seemed to be winded. "Oh, Doctor... I-Err, asked around. Someone said to come by this way." Manuel talked fast as he kept looking at his watch. His eyes kept darting around the doctor in an attempt see behind him and into his office. His incessant fidgeting gave rise to an obvious sense of urgency.

"You are very lucky, your young lady alien friend, and yes I know and presume you are one is in the back come on. I do not have much time before curfew." Manuel stopped his fidgets and heavy breathing for long enough to give a shocked expression before closing his mouth and nodding as the doctor led the way to the room in the back and tapped gently on the door. "I have a surprise for you."

Marisa stiffened, not sure if it was a good surprise or not. She opened the door and looked in surprise at Manuel.

Then she turned to the doctor. "How did he know to come here?"

Manuel piped up instead, first speaking to the doctor. "You'll have to forgive me for the bit of mistruth at the door, Doctor. I had no idea that you knew who we were." He turned to Marisa. "I scanned for the photoplasmic trail your mini-tricorders have been giving off since you activated them back in the alley." Manuel pointed to her earrings. "Those were a brilliant idea." Then he quickly lifted his right wrist with the face of the leather-strapped watch that he had shown off in the transporter room now glowing with a few simple lines of sensor output. "Great minds think alike."

Marisa raised an eyebrow. Tricorders didn't leave photoplasmic trails unless rigged to do so. It wasn't a natural output of their function. "I will have to adjust them when we get back." She didn't want to leave any sort of trail that could be detected by the Protectors, or if anyone on the planet could detect advanced tech. "Where are the others?" she asked.

Manuel sighed and looked dismayed as he paced around the room. "Their interrogation must've not gone as well as mine had as they weren't released when I was. It's reasonable to presume that they're still detained, but for how long, one could only guess." He looked back to Marisa. "I wouldn't worry too much about the trail. It's more than likely just an effect of you miniaturizing the EM sensors. Energy states of quanta tend to fluctuate when a group of electromagnetic sensors are compacted together and then focused on the same area, to the point of producing trails of round plasmoids. But I'd check with engineering, just to make sure it’s not too dangerous... Or too traceable... Actuall--"

Lensher listened for a moment but then interrupted. "As fascinating as this all is I best get home. As for you two, keep back here, lights on in the front will attract the night watch. I will be in early, good night all." He nodded and then turned to head out, locking the main door.

"Thank you," Marisa said. "Good night."

"Have a good night, Doctor." Manuel spoke right before the door had shut.

Manuel quickly moved around checking the mechanical locking mechanisms on all of the doors and windows before returning to the back room.

"So, anything new, LT?" He said sitting hard upon a stuffed chair with his fingers interlaced behind his head.


The Next Day, 0600

Lensher had called his nurse and receptionist late last night and told them not to bother coming in today. He needed to do other things at the clinic and would not be able to see patients. That task being taken care of he got up early the next day and got ready to go into his clinic. He wondered if his visitors would still be there. Just in case he stopped by a shop that sold pastries and got an assortment hoping that they would agree with some sort of alien digestive systems.

As he got to the door everything looked fine and hopefully it was. He unlocked the main door, entered turning on the lights and calling out, "Just Doctor Lensher, if you are still here I have something that might pass for breakfast that is..."

Marisa had read late into the night, not needing much sleep. She looked up and smiled. "We're still here. Thank you."

"Thankfully, still here." Manuel added.

Lensher brought the box of pasteries back and knocked on the back door before entering. "Hope these meet with your digestive and taste abilities. So young man, do you bleed green or purple or some such as well?"

Manuel gave the doctor a genuine laugh. "No no, Doc. My blood is the good ol' red and ferrous kind, probably like yours and most other oxygen-loving carbon-based multi-cellular life forms in the universe. Vulcans are very special in that regard, along with a few others. But, I'm glad to hear that you're not very xenophobic. Do you meet alien species out here often?" The question was only half-joking.

The doctor did not have a chance to respond when an odd chirp echoed and scratchy voice said: =^=Away team, away team, please come in.=^=

Marisa carefully activated the communicator in one earring. "This is Sandoval."

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant (j.g.) Manuel Robert Lucero, V
Asst. Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Doctor Lensher
Pleione citizen
[NPC Allyndra illm Warraquim]

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