Mountains
Inside the Wreck::Crew Quarters
Just aft of the cockpit lie the crew quarters: three small, sparsely furnished rooms. The doors into the rooms appear to have locked open, perhaps as a safety precaution during the crash.
These rooms have not escaped the damages of the crash. Personal effects are piled around the forward walls, sometimes intact, sometimes not.
Zilvar sits at the foot of the bed in the Captain's stateroom, eyes closed. His breathing is slow and even, but he does not sleep. He is aware of the world around: the slow sound of Kibra's heart behind him, the creak of the ship settling into the ground, the life outside. Nothing approaches closes enough to disturb him.
A quiet /chirp/ sounds in the stateroom, announcing the completion of a task started many hours before.
Zilvar lifts his head and looks around. The portable terminal rests nearby, a green light flashing at one corner of its display.
Kibra starts awake at the chirp, sitting up suddenly. "Wha!? No..no..please..no more..no more.."
Zilvar twists around and leans forward, grasping for Kibra's hands, "You are safe Kibra. You are safe now."
Kibra's eyes clear, and she gasps softly.."Zilvar?..I."
Zilvar smiles a little bit and squeezes your hands.
Kibra gasps again, shaking her head.."I'm sorry..what a way to wake up."
Zilvar holds onto your hands, "You were dreaming. About the trip."
Kibra squeezes your hand softly.."I think perhaps I still am dreaming."
Zilvar arches his eyebrows. "Oh really? And why do you think that?"
Kibra smiles, reaching up to stroke your cheek.."You."
Zilvar rests his elbows on the bed and smiles, "Oh? Am I such a wonderful sight?"
Kibra blushes to the tips of her ears.."Uh..."
Zilvar leans back with a little chuckle. He retrieves a package of food from the foot of the bed and tosses it to you. "You really do not have to answer that if it is going to embarrass you so much."
Kibra catches the package, unwrapping it. Her ears are still red, but her eyes twinkle as she says softly.."I find you very attractive, Zilvar."
Zilvar is in the midst of reaching for the terminal when you say that. He stops for a moment, then his own ears darken to match yours. He picks up the terminal and sets it on the bed, facing you. "If I said that I thought you were very attractive, I would be lying...
Zilvar halfsmiles. "You look much better than that."
Kibra blinks.
Kibra blushes all over again, and reaches for the terminal.
Zilvar smiles and takes up on of the food packages. As he eats, he makes several interesting faces. "Blech. I was right. Completely healthy."
Kibra taps with one hand as she eats some of the food. "Hmm.."
Zilvar moves around to join you on the bed. He looks over your shoulder as if he actually knows what he is looking at.
Kibra points.."Mphhp..pmhh.."
Zilvar blinks. "Oh really?
Kibra blushes and swallows.."Err..sorry." She points again.."There are a few last logs from the captain, including a file with the codes for the weapons locker. It looks like he didn't expect trouble, as the files aren't encoded."
Zilvar nods. "Does he give any indication what was happening?"
Kibra's eyes darken.."The last log contains a description of the last..session..in medlab. Just after they put me back in stasis, another ship attacked. Apparently he was able to identify it as a ship from a rival clan from my planet."
Zilvar tenses slightly..."...oh. Maybe this was not such a great idea after all."
Kibra shakes her head.."No..it's allright." Her voice is calm, but her shoulders are tense. "The logs seem to indicate that the other ship was damaged as well..and headed into the atmosphere just before we did."
Zilvar leans back and rubs your shoulders. "Oh..any idea if they made it down in one piece?"
Kibra leans back into the massage, eyes still on the screen.."It's not clear, it seems the scanners went down just after..it's possible, the other ship looked fairly intact."
Zilvar runs his fingers up your neck. "Great. If they came down in one piece, whoever was on that ship may decide to come make sure the job was done right."
Kibra purrs softly in spite of herself. She nods, sighing a bit. "We should be more careful."
Zilvar smiles a little bit, "And see what is in that weapons locker. It seems likely that any of your people who arrive will be armed with better than sticks and swords."
Kibra nods, tilting her head back a bit. "I agree."
Zilvar stops and leans forward. "So, do you think that you can get in?"
Kibra sighs softly.."Well. The codes are here. If there are no booby traps, then yes, we can get it."
Zilvar scoots to the side of the bed and stands, offer you his hand, "In that case, tell me how to get into it and stand off to the side."
Kibra puts her hand in yours, looking into your eyes. "I don't even think so." She stands. "We do this together or not at all."
Zilvar smiles a little bit. "Would it help if I said please?"
Kibra shakes her head. "Not in this case."
Zilvar smiles. "OK. Together then.
Kibra nods, gesturing.."After you."^
Zilvar backs out of the room and pads into the cockpit, turning to face the recessed cabinet. He looks at you and smiles, "Ok. What do I hit?"
Kibra follows and stands next to you, "The rectangular blue first."
Zilvar taps the indicated key, "ok?
Kibra says, "Then the green square and blue square."
Zilvar nods. *tap*tap*
Kibra takes a breath. "And finally, the red and yellow circles."
Zilvar leans a little bit to the side, blocking your direct view of the lock. He taps both circles, body tense.
Kibra says, "That should do it.."
Zilvar draws his hand back. Suddenly he turns and dives for you, catching you up in his arms and falling to the floor just as the cabinet explodes with a dull *WHUMP*. Searing heat fills the air for a fraction of a second, followed by a suffocating feel ing as the air is drawn out by the fire.
Kibra hits the floor with a soft oof, gasping for breath.
Zilvar waits for a moment, then raises his head to look around. The fire was clean...it burned itself out with only traces of smoke...it also took out the entire weapons locker with it. A melted chunk of slag oozes slowly down the wall as it cools. "Oops."
Kibra laughs softly, arms slipping around your neck. "Oops."
Zilvar turns to look down at you. "No ray guns. I really hope that we do not get any company any time soon."
Kibra says, "We'll make do."
Zilvar sighs. "I suppose. I was half expecting that though."
Kibra's eyes twinkle.."I couldn't guess, with that using your body as a shield trick."
Zilvar chuckles, "I feel better about being the target of opportunity than letting you be an opportune target."
Kibra laughs up at you, "Why thank you, Zilvar."
Zilvar smiles a little bit. "I do not think I would take it very well if you were hurt."
Kibra shifts a little..."Oh? You would?"
Zilvar shifts his weight and leans back, pulling you into a sitting position before unlocking his arms. "Why yes. Does that surprise you?"
Kibra chuckles softly.."No." She stretches, rubbing her neck.."You do need to work on your landings, though."
Zilvar looks at the remains of the locker. "I was a bit rushed."
Kibra laughs and nods, still rubbing her neck. "Oh? Well, then, I can't wait to see what you come up with when you have more time."
Zilvar blinks a few times. He chuckles softly. "Something a bit softer, I would imagine."
Kibra winks and nods.."I would hope." She surveys things.."Well, that's it then."
Zilvar offers you a hand up as he stands, "I think we should raid the medlab and supplies room as quickly as possible. If anyone from the other ship decides to look for survivors, I would feel better in the open.
Kibra puts her hand in yours, nodding. "Agreed."
Zilvar pulls you up. "Do you think you can do this?"
Kibra nods. "Yes."
Zilvar keeps ahold of your hand as he advances down the hallway toward medlab.
Mountains
Inside the Wreck::Medbay
One of the largest and best protected rooms in the ship, Medbay appears to
have been spared much of the wrath of the crash. Several small piles of
debris are littered around...items that were not secured. A cabinet hangs
open, the teeth in it's dark maw showing that even many of the secured items
were destroyed. On the far left wall is a large open tank with several
consoles surrounding it. All of the consoles stand quiet and dark.
Two bodies lie in the center of the floor, sealed in preservative plastic.
Kibra keeps up with you, but her eyes darken with each step toward medlab.
Zilvar steps into the medlab and looks around. He squeezes your hand gently.
Kibra takes a deep breath and steps into medlab.
Zilvar squeezes your hand a last time, then lets go. He turns to the right and starts opening cabinets. Most of the contents are shattered or otherwise useless, but anything that looks like an instrument he takes out and sets on the counter for later examination.
Kibra retrieves various supplies, placing them on the counter.
Zilvar makes a complete circle of the room, then leans against the counter. "OK. Now did we find anything useful?"
Kibra hmms, looking at the counter.
Kibra sets a few things aside.."Well, we have these first aid items already, but we could use back ups..Everything else is not very useful."
Zilvar nods, "OK. Is that all that we are likely to find in here?
Kibra's eyes darken, and she shakes her head. "No."
Zilvar nods and moves into the supplies room. "OK. Then let us see what is in here."
Mountains
Inside the Wreck::Supply
The supplies room looks to have been spared much of the damage of the crash. The crates and cannisters that filled this room were secured beyond even Nature's ability to move, though there is no way to know about the contents inside.
The containers are all marked with symbols to identify their purpose to those that know how to read them. A few of the containers appear to have been opened, and packing material is scattered about the floor.
A heavy bulkhead seals the way further into the ship. It is warm to the touch.
Zilvar looks around. "We should not stay in here for long."
Kibra nods, rapidly moving to several of the containers. "Agreed."
Zilvar stands near the entrance and watches you. "If you find anything that you think might be useful, I will carry it up front."
Kibra chuckles softly and nods. She pulls out two packs, two blankets, some lightweight towels and sundry other supplies.
Zilvar watches you with a smile, collecting the various items. "I would not have thought of any of these, actually."
Kibra chuckles and pulls out two last items: small pillows. "Thank you."
Zilvar laughs softly. "Creature comforts. I will not say it was the last thing on my mind, but it was not far from it."
Kibra smiles, blushing a bit. "I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to roughing it."
Zilvar chuckles, "After a week in the woods, I probably would have wished I could say the same."
Kibra smiles, looking around again. "Hmm..I wonder what else.."
Zilvar folds and stuffs things into the packs while you look around one last time.
Kibra says, "Can you think of anything else?"
Zilvar shakes his head, "Nothing comes to mind, unless you see any more crates of food. We may not always have time to hunt, and I would rather have too much than too little. Even of this tasteless stuff."
Kibra nods, breaking open one and pulling out more packets of food. "There." She looks around, spying a crate off to one side. "Hmm.
Zilvar takes the profferred food, noticing your attention is over --> there. "What?"
Kibra breaks into the crate, the wood splintering with a kick of her boot.."I don't know."
Kibra hmms.."It looks like some clothing..cloaks and such. We'd better take them in case the weather changes."
Zilvar nods, "Good idea. We are pretty close to a mountain range. The weather could be unpredictable."
Kibra pulls two cloaks, choosing the heavist and best made. "Well..I think that's it."
Zilvar nods, closing both of the packs. "OK. Let us collect those medical instruments and get out of here. I cannot shake the feeling that company is on the way."
Kibra nods, picking up one of the packs. "Allright."
Zilvar moves into medlab and takes about half of the sorted out devices, storing them in side pockets on the pack. "You have your sword...is there anything else we need from the staterooms?"
Kibra says, "Maybe the computer terminal."
Zilvar hmms, "Will it work, if separated from the ship?"
Kibra says, "Probably for a bit, on battery..but I guess...I'd like to have it..in case I need evidence.""
Zilvar looks at you as he seals the last of the pockets and slings his pack to his shoulder. "Evidence?"
Kibra nods, slipping her pack over her shoulders.."For what they did to me."
Zilvar nods and takes a detour to the captain's stateroom to collect the terminal. He switches it off and tucks it into the back of your pack. "OK. Let us get out of here."
Kibra nods, heading toward the ship's exit.
Zilvar follows, wincing as he steps into the bright light of day.
Kibra blinksblinks a bit. "MMM...what a lovely day."
Zilvar lifts his nose for a moment, then nods. "Oh yes. Much better than the inside of the ship."
Kibra says, "Definately much better."
Zilvar chuckles softly. "To the clearing then, and follow the stream down the mountains?"
Kibra nods. "Sounds good to me..I will probably need to rest at the clearing."
Zilvar nods and starts off, climbing up the wall of trees surrounding the ship. "I expected that. I will pack up what we have there while you catch your breath."
Kibra follows, climbing a bit easier than before.
Kibra turns to look at the ship one last time, sighing softly.
Zilvar preceeds you down the other side, ready to catch you if you slip. At the bottom, he dusts himself off and smiles, "Why did you look so sad up there?"
Kibra slips a bit and catches herself. "Did I? I didn't realize."
Zilvar dusts you off and nods, "When you looked back. You had the air of someone leaving behind something you did not know you had missed."
Kibra says, "Part of me died in that ship. I guess that just might be why I'm sad."
Kibra stalks off down the trail, tail lashing a bit.
Zilvar starts after you, sighing softly. To himself he whispers, "It did not die. But it took a serious beating."
Kibra trips and falls over a hidden root, tumbling down a small hill.
The trip to the clearing is uneventful. In the daylight hours, most of the forest predators seem to prefer to hide and wait for passing prey. Once or twice, Zilvar detours a little to avoid something in the path ahead, but beyond that there is little to tell you that the forest is alive.
Kibra picks herself up, dusting off her knees.
Something drops from a tree, apparently. A small dark shape drops from above and lands in the bracken alongside the path.
Kibra starts, drawing her sword and falling into a fighting crouch.
Zilvar turns to see what has fallen, holding his hand out to Kibra, "Hold on. I do not thing it is dangerous."
Kibra nods, slipping her sword back into it's sheath.
Zilvar steps over, testing the air for scent and watching for movement.
Amid the thousands of scents in the forest is that of mouse. Nothing out of the ordinary... or is it?
Kibra sniffsniffs.."Something smells..almost familiar."
Zilvar kneels down and looks around. "Yeah. Mouse. First one I have smelled since I got here."
Kibra shakes her head.."No..something's wrong..a fear smell, almost.."
The scent is wafting from a clumb of bushes where where the falling thing landed.
Zilvar moves forward, parting the branches. "What self-respecting mouse would not be afraid of you?"
Kibra blinks. "That wasn't very nice. I don't eat mice."
Zilvar chuckles, "It may not know that."
Kibra frowns at you. "As if wolves aren't fear inspiring."
Laying there on the spongy loam is a small mouse indeed. A mouse dressed in pants and vest, and not moving...
Zilvar looks curious and reaches down to pick up the well-dressed mouse, "Oh..I never said I did not scare mice to death."
Kibra nods, moving closer to you to look at the mouse.
Ben_Mouse lays in Zilver's paw, chest barely rising and falling. The mouse looks bruised and charred.
Zilvar tilts his head to the side, "Kibra...will any of those toys we picked up work on a mouse?"
Zilvar looks up, "It appears to be a week for reunions."
Kibra nods.."Yes, I'm sure they would." She blinks a bit.."What do you mean?"
Kibra peers closer.."Ben? It's Ben?"
Zilvar lowers himself to the ground and nods. "Yeah. Pretty sure, even if he is well-done."
Kibra nods, kneeling next to you. "I..didn't recognize him at first."
Zilvar says, "Did we pick up anything to help with burns back there?"
Kibra shakes her head.."No..I'm afraid not."
Zilvar stands up, "OK. Tell me if I go too fast."
Kibra says, "Let's take him back to the clearing, we can improvise better there.""
Kibra nods.."Allright."
Zilvar starts off through the thicket, moving noticibly faster through the underbrush.
Kibra forces herself to keep up, though it's clearly an effort.
Zilvar pays close attention to both Kibra and Ben's states, slowing his passage several times so not to run the snowkitty into the ground. Fortunately, the two were close to the clearing, and arrive after only a short time.
Kibra walks into the clearing, ears drooping a bit. She drops her pack and collapses next to the fire.
Ben_Mouse hasn't minded the rapid passage, oblivious to everything.
Zilvar throws his pack off and sets Ben down near the fire. He moves over and retrieves the medical kit, opening it up and setting it on the ground nearby. "OK. Let us see if we can help him any."
Kibra nods, eyes weary. "Allright."
Zilvar glances at Kibra. "And after that, you get a nap."
Kibra looks at Zilvar, eyes tired and a bit..sad, perhaps.
Kibra says, "Let's start with a scan, I believe."
Ben_Mouse is safe, warm and alive by the fire, not at all aware of what adventures await... or even where he is.