" Who Would Have Thought That A Single Stone Could Do So Much? "
(Previous Post: " Operational Investigation ")
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Stardate: 60298.1912
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 11, General Use Lab
The Captain had been very clear in his orders to the senior staff requesting that everyone return to their quarters and find a way, any way, to rest and unwind. The mission they had just completed had not been an easy one by any stretch of the imagination and the Commanding Officer knew that there was a strong possibility that the ANUBIS would be sent out on a new perilous journey as soon as they docked inside NEW ALEXANDRIA. That was one of the problems with being onboard an Intel ship, so they all needed to make the best use of what little free time they had, a reality that included himself.
The Shillian woman had returned to her quarters and lingered around for a few minutes before leaving for an environment that would be more accommodating to the scientist relaxing, her mind unwilling to stop as her body had been told to. Although the veil of doubts that surrounded the malfunctions which had allowed the two Romulan agents to escape had been a most puzzling, the head of the science department had found herself completely consumed by the mystery surrounding the Yal-Tonil, or as it was more commonly referred to: the Mind Stone. Because of this the Shillian scientist had gone to the only place on the ship where she could pursue her research while at the same time claiming to be on some way relaxing.
Surrounded by the holographic representation of a half dozen artefacts claiming to be the Mind Stone, and several PADDs containing the data collected on the item in question, the scientist had resumed her efforts to confirm the identity of the one item that the Intelligence Liaison Operative had brought back from TOLAR IV. According to what Enaii had said, the artefact had not been the one sought but one equally important: the Mind Source. Due to the fact that the legends surrounding the creation and use of the Mind Stone were exceptionally numerous and ancient by most scales, the Shillian scientist had found it very difficult to confirm with absolute certainty the identity of the item.
"I thought the Captain told everyone to get some rest," the Marine Commanding Officer said, his shoulder leaning against the opened doorway to the science lab. Not having expected anyone to be there, the Shillian woman almost jumped out of her skin, her attention having so solely focussed on her research that she had not noticed the door opening or the man entering. "Let me guess, although this looks like work it is not, at least not to you," Prav continued, walking into the room and letting the door close behind him.
"This is not work," the Shillian said, "I mean it is work but it is not the kind of work that I get tired doing and since the Captain said that we were to find a way to relax and unwind I figured that solving this mystery that has been consuming my thoughts would allow me to hit fish with the same projectile."
"Two birds with one stone," the Marine said, correcting the expression the scientist had unsuccessfully tried to use to justify her being where and doing what she had been.
"I would never hurt a bird in such a way," the scientist said, a horrified expression having descended onto her face at the thought of a stone bouncing from one creature to another. "Anyway I do not like fish."
"So it was lucky for you that you were not with us on the BARRACUDA," Pravat said with a chuckle. "We were surrounded by a few hundred of them, each one longer than this room, wider than David and twice as mean looking as Tes'Kara."
A chill worked down the spine of the Shillian woman as the image of the sea serpent formed in her mind, making her very grateful that she had not been selected for the rescue mission that found Lieutenant Onison and Ensign Summers.
"So any progress?" The Marine asked, leaning over the workbench where the Shillian had been studying the holographic artefacts.
"Many of the symbols on the stone tablet brought back by Lieutenant Commander Enaii match the description of the artefact referred to as the Mind Source, the problem is that many of the legends about the Mind Stone do not mention this artefact at all while others not only speak of both the Mind Stone and the Mind Source, but also describe a third, smaller artefact that was essential for the proper working of the whole. I mean if there had been only a handful of legends to translate, decipher and make sense of I would have been done a while back, but the Yal-Tonil is referred to in over 200 legends that span almost ever race of the galaxy. Some of the mentions of the artefact are found in T'kon and Promellian ruins making them to be several millennia old." The Chief Science Officer said in what had felt to be a single breath, something that the Marine had gradually become used to since his arrival on the USS ANUBIS.
"Have fun," Pravat said with a large grin, scientific research not having been something that he found relaxing. "If you feel like doing something truly relaxing, I will be in the gym," and with that the Enaran Marine left without looking back, his voice trailing in the wind as if he had suddenly wondered why he had come here in the first place.
The Shillian woman had begun to consider the offer made when the sound of something being transported into the room shifted her attention away from the door and back onto the workbench. On top of the desk, in the middle of the six holographic artefacts a seventh item had appeared along with a PADD containing a very short note.
[/\] Found this on TOLAR IV. Enaii. [/\]
The eyes of the Chief Science Officer opened wide when she recognised one of the symbols on the new item as one she had seen earlier on the tablet the scientist had been researching. Without wasting a moment, the Shillian snatch the item from the table and began examining it with great intensity believing that maybe, just maybe, the Intelligence Liaison had given her the missing key to solving the mystery that she had been faced with.
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Jessica Solarik { maya_992003@yahoo.com }
Lieutenant Maya
Chief Science Officer
USS ANUBIS
"To see the world in a grain of sand,
and a heaven in a wild flower.
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour."
- William Blake (British, 1757-1827)
2005 post #028
