SIM:Adarnis - Radical Beginnings, Part Four

JP Lt. Cmdr. T’Lea/2nd Lt. Dade Adarnis - Radical Beginnings, Part 4

((Falling Rocks. The Aftermath – Hartlhei Caves))

:: The sound of the initial cave-in was horrifying enough, but the sounds of several smaller rocks falling into place further down the cavern was like hearing the final nail in the coffin.::

:: As the dust began to settle, T'Lea coughed and blinked open her eyes still not realizing what had happened. Something heavy was lying on top of her, and after a moment of gathering her senses she found that it was Dade. Only, he wasn't moving. She shifted a little underneath him, feeling something she probably shouldn't as she pulled a hand free, and reaching up she coerced enough leverage to roll him off. He was unconscious. She checked his vitals. He was alive.::

T'Lea: Hey. Dumbass. ::she patted his cheek:: Get up.

:: No response. She was starting to get worried. She let her eyes and hands feel for signs of injury. No broken bones, but when she lifted his head she felt something wet on her fingertips. She looked. Red. His blood was on her hand. He'd taken a blow to the head from one of the falling rocks. T'Lea's mind searched her memory for the proper response to his wound.::

::Somewhere he was running and falling over. His knees were scraped, his elbows were hurting but his chest—his chest was on fire. He couldn't breathe. He was still running, holding onto his abdomen like all his insides were going to fall through his skin. His cheeks were wet and he ached all over. But he had to keep going, he had to keep moving, he couldn't stop or they'd find him, they'd catch him, they'd kill him.::

:: Okay, okay. Head injuries. What did she know about head injuries. From personal experience they hurt. A lot. That wasn't helping. Okay, okay. Think. She put a hand to her forehead. Starfleet. Basic first aid. Concussions -- ranging from mild to severe. Okay, this was good, she was remembering stuff now. Swelling of the brain. Okay, that was bad. Lacerations. Stop the bleeding. Right.::

:: Digging around in her pack, after knocking a few small stones out of the way, T'Lea eventually found the first aid kit -- in Dade's pack. She popped the lid and behold: a little emergency response chart. The look on her face indicated that she'd struck gold.::

:: She quickly situated beside him and tilted his head for better angle. As she worked to sterilize and heal the wound, she swore at him, calling him all kinds of dirty names. Names that would make a foulmouthed, drunken sailor blush if he heard them. Unfortunately, the Marine wasn't awake to combat her colorful character assassination. A shame, really, she'd come up with some great new material.::

::Someone was waking him up. He opened his eyes and up above him he could see the ears pointing upwards; robed officials before he lost consciousness again. His chest hurt, he hurt all over. Spluttering, coughing, choking on his own fluid as it came up onto the floor next to his head. His eyes close again and opened just as quickly. He was lying in a biobed breathing through a machine. Every breath sounded like an orchestra of panpipes wheezing in and out but he felt safe, safe and warm.::

:: With the wound closed and healed, T'Lea found the scanner and waved it over the site of the injury. Luckily the readouts indicated that there wasn't a skull fracture, nor any life threatening swelling, but that didn't make her feel any better. His lack of consciousness could last for a few more minutes, hours, or days. Head injuries were weird like that – or so she'd heard::

:: After making him comfortable, T'Lea lit a fire canister for heat. The blaze burned bright and the warmth managed to cut through the cold in a radius large enough to reach Dade. She'd also unrolled a sleeping bag and successfully rolled him in it. Now, it had been forty minutes and he was still out cold. She'd exhausted all her dirty names, had even used a few different languages to express her negative feelings for him, and now she'd come to a rest beside him. His head comfortably placed in her lap, and her fingers gently stroking through his short dust-covered hair, while she thought about what the hell she was going to do next.::

::Fingers moving through his hair, he could feel nails scratching against his scalp. He opened his eyes gently and saw a woman standing next to him. He could barely move, barely open his eyes enough to see the dark hair and the ridges above her eyebrows. She was whispering to him, singing to him almost in a language he couldn't understand.::

:: Another hour went by. T'Lea had gone and returned again after fruitlessly searching for a way out. The way they came had been completely blocked by rocks and boulders that were bigger than either she or Dade could lift. Elsewhere, down the never-ending tunnel of darkness, things seemed just as bleak when several connecting passageways made a maze like turn for the worse. By then she was exhausted and hungry, and she knew she couldn't leave Dade alone for long, so she came back and settled in for the long haul, or at least until she thought of something better to try.::

:: Back at the canister of fire she'd hoped that the smell of food cooking on the open flame would have stimulated Dade's senses, but he remained unchanged. Eventually, the chill in the air increased, getting the better of T'Lea's hot Vulcan blood, and she slipped into the sleeping bag next to Dade for warmth. Sleep came quick.::

((Later))

::Dade opened his eyes furtively and looked upward. The light from the fire was cascading like a waterfall of oranges and reds over the ceiling of the cave. He felt for his head, lifting his hand up but felt something else, or someone else. T'Lea asleep, her head nestled into the crook of his neck and her arm protectively stretched over his chest. He ran his fingertip from her wrist to her elbow, wanting her to wake up but watching her sleeping, the most vulnerable time he'd ever see her.::

::Slowly, he touched the side of her face and moved, close enough to be within a breath of her face and feel her, really feel her with no pretentious barriers in between. He kissed her lips and pulled back, watching her sleeping form, her chest rising and falling and stirring gingerly instead of quick and reactive. It occurred to him that she was peaceful, happy almost in the place she was. What did that say about the two of them?::

:: The woman began to stir -- something soft and tender against her lips had suddenly given her a reason to move again, as if enticing her out of a self-induced coma. Her eyes fluttered, a small groan, and then she closed them again. The palm of her hand gradually found the hard shape of a pectoral muscle interesting, if not slightly confusing. Taking a deep breath she reacquainted herself with the scent of the cave -- its musty, damp smell hanging crisp in the cold air, and the fire canister's warm flaming embers fighting for air supremacy. But it was the unmistakable flavor of Dade's cigarette smoke embedded in his clothing that washed T'Lea's memory back to the forefront.::

:: She jerked. Her hands quickly positioning themselves on either side of his body, propping herself up to see him face to face. He was conscious. It was nothing short of a miracle. Relieved, she exhaled and tilted her head away, silently thanking whatever god was responsible for this favor. She then looked at him once more just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating, and this time when their eyes met, what she found was unexpected.::

:: It was one of those rare moments in life when everything came together, when the veil of hypocrisy, and the mask of ego lifted, exposing the raw, and sometimes scary truth that lay just under the surface.::

:: T'Lea instinctively dipped her chin closer to his. Her lips hesitated against Dade's, unsure for a moment until she felt his hands take a firm hold. And then it happened. She felt herself seemingly let go and take charge all at the same time. The taste of him -- intoxicating. The feel of him captured and controlled beneath her – exhilarating. The warmth of him -- inviting. The strange, almost sixth sense awareness of each other -- curiously stimulating::

:: What had started out as cautious, light brushing of lips, quickly engulfed into an all-consuming, raging fire. They could not have stopped it even if they'd wanted to. No one could have. This event was as inevitable as a blue giant star going supernova, and just as wondrous.::

(( Later Still))

:: Flesh against naked flesh, T'Lea pried open her eyes fully aware and pleasantly satisfied by what had transpired twice in the past few hours. By now the canister fire had burned itself out, and the only remaining heat in the chilly cave lingered between two entwined bodies, under a plush down-filled sleeping bag.::

::The eerie light from a few scattered glow sticks painted the entire cavern in a pale green. The Romu-Vulc began to untangle her limbs from Dade's, careful not to wake him. His taut muscular form had really been a thing of beauty to behold, experience, and explore. She almost didn't want to move from their intimate position, but as her over-inflated ego started to puff up with pride again she just couldn't remain. Peeling herself from him, T'Lea quickly dressed, grabbed her backpack and a torch, and after a final confused glance back at Dade's magnificent sleeping mass, she then headed down the long dark tunnel to continue where she'd last left off.::

:: Flicking the light on, she began walking with the full intention of going back for Dade once she'd checked their options, unfortunately she'd gotten lost in thought, and had also lost track of time. No matter, he'd probably still be asleep by the time she got back. She'd pretty much burned all his reserved energy in the last `workout' anyway, but just in case, she did drop a few glow sticks along the way, as much for his benefit as her own.::

(( Take a Right at the Rock Dog))

:: Time alone. That's really what she wanted. That's really why she left. Something had happened during her experience with Dade, something she wasn't prepared for – something that disturbed her emotionally and mentally. Something that this time she couldn't completely ignore. Walking it off only helped a little. Finding a big broken boulder that looked like a rock dog, only amused her for a moment before the nagging feeling ached at the centre of her cold, callused heart again.::

:: She stopped and frowned at the big rock dog. Leaning in for a closer look she realized that this wasn't just a coincidental freak of nature – it was hand sculpted. Primitive, but definitely an articulation of art. On her right, just beyond the rock dog was a passage way. She dropped a glow stick and took the corner.::

((Back at Camp))

::Waking himself up from a self induced coma, Dade stirred, opening his eyes a little at a time to the lack of fire and only small glow sticks littering the ground around him. His hand pressed down onto the sleeping bag and he pushed himself up, climbing to his feet, stretching his arms out into the air. He was tired and there were no prizes given for the reason. He ached all over but he couldn't complain.::

::But he knew the consequences of this. They'd been silently spoken between them. A moment of weakness and that was all it was. Nothing more. He didn't rely on her, he didn't feel anything for her, so why was he so worried that she'd gone off alone? Why was he dressing quickly and packing just to catch up with her? He shook his head to himself as he threw the pack over his shoulder and followed the glow sticks.::

::She was infectious, he knew that much. He'd let go, let that well guarded brick wall crumble beneath her but for one moment they'd been one mind, one body, one passion seeking to fulfill it's needs, wants and desires. It was lingering on every inch of him and he could get lost in her, but there he was following a trail she'd left for him to escape him before he woke. Maybe that's how she wanted him to stay; lost.::

((Altar Of Dog))

:: Maybe Dade's Deltan qualities weren't really all that non-existent after all, she wondered to herself as she explored the large chamber. That was the only explanation she could come up with -- one that would invalidate everything she was feeling and desperately fighting to kill right now. It was a good enough excuse to temporarily fool herself. Dade's Deltan-half had done this to her, made her weak and vulnerable – made her emotionally pathetic. It was his fault. She refused to accept any of the responsibility.::

:: Although… she cocked her Vulcan brow; she didn't regret any of the physical activities with Dade. Quite the contrary. She enjoyed every sensual and sometimes painful second of it, and given the right circumstances she'd do it again, minus these damn persistent feelings of course. Frell! What were they! Why were they bothering her now?! It's not like he was special or anything. He was just a guy. He was just in the right place at the right time. He was… right behind her.::

::The Marine's torch joined hers in the dark, lighting up their faces at once then plunging them back into darkness.::

Adarnis: Anything?

T'Lea: Found the sacrificial chamber.

::She aimed her light at the blood stained altar, and the carved-out alcoves filled with trophy bones and skulls.::

::Dade lifted an eyebrow.:: Adarnis: Nice.

T'Lea: These guys look pretty fresh though. Recognize any of them?

::It was a joke, however a poor attempt at one. Her light flicked to four dead corpses -- their clothes rotting into what was left of the flesh. She turned to Dade as he examined them.::

::He walked over, bent down and looked over the corpses with his torch. The smell was chronic but he'd smelt worse; a Marine after all. The eyes of three were closed but the stark, haunting stare of the last one sent chills down his spine. Something sparkled in the dark and he reached cautiously into the clothes of the last one for the object. A dog-tag of sorts but the symbol, the same symbol that was the central piece of his tattoo.::

T'Lea: The cave-in wasn't all natural was it.

::Dade removed the symbol from the neck of the corpse and pocketed it, examining the others for any indication of why they were there, who they were involved with, anything. Her statement felt like an accusation, that he was supposed to have known this would happen. That she'd have to be trapped down there with him; like it was planned down to the very last detail.::

Adarnis: No, it wasn't.

T'Lea: Any idea who?

Adarnis: Maybe but I won't know for sure until we get out of here.

T'Lea: Let's hope they think we're dead, otherwise we have more problems than just trying to find an alternate route out of here.

Adarnis: If killing us was their intention.

::She frowned at his statement and kneeled down, looking at something on the floor.::

T'Lea: Bat droppings. ::aiming her light up, there were no animals on the ceiling:: If we can find them, maybe they can show us the exit.

::He stood up, flicked his torch back onto the belt clip and dusted off his hands. He'd never get that smell out of them but at least he had something to work on. If these corpses had been chucked down here for some reason, he'd find out what. That symbol, that carving had something to do with it.::

::She stood and turned, he was right in front of her and for a second they did a kind of dance trying to get out of each other's way. Eventually, T'Lea stiff armed him and walked by.::

::Dade went to say something but he decided against it. Something along the lines of "you didn't mind being this close before." He followed her lead as she walked out of the Sacrificial Chamber.::

((Pathway))

::A small pathway lead out of the chamber and down a dark passageway with interconnecting chambers. Each one they explored, coming across innumerable bodies, each seeming to go back years. Dade checked the markings on each of them; the same symbol as the one in his pocket and on his back in permanent ink. Not every one of them had it.::

:: T'Lea didn't say much as they continued to explore. A few comments here and there were all she spoke, just enough to appear present in the moment. Mostly she tried to ignore the man she'd just been intimate with, but the more distance she put between him in her mind, the worse she felt.::

:: A hideous sucking chest wound, she thought as they walked along. That was the best way to describe it. It felt like some kind of alien was gnawing away at her guts and at any moment it was going to burst through her torso and devour her in one slimy, disgusting slurp.::

::As they turned a corner, the darkness parted in front of Dade's eyes and in one of the doorways he saw a flash of something he shouldn't have. A bearded man stood in the doorway looking at him before he turned and walked into another passage. Dade's heart pounded in his chest, a deafening drumbeat that he couldn't quell if he tried. It couldn't have been… He almost ran to the doorway, flashing his torch inside and seeing the man's back as he turned another corner.::

:: The sharp movement from Dade gathered T'Lea's attention at once. She opened her mouth to speak, but before a word could be uttered the Marine was darting down the passageway like a bat out of hell.::

T'Lea: Dade? ::she fumbled with her light, and then scrambled to catch him.:: Dade! Wait!

::He followed blindly, keeping his torch trained on the last corner, the last step the man had made as he took them round the maze-like interior of the cave. Dade's mind replayed that action over and over in his mind; his beard, his wide eyes, his dark clothing making his face look darker than it used to be, he knew, he couldn't forget.::

::Until finally the man looked over his shoulder one last time and pointed into the room he'd led them to before he was gone. He hadn't moved he was just gone. Vanished. Into thin air. Dade moved to the doorway and flashed his torch inside the chamber. On the wall was the same symbol as he'd found on the corpse. Below was an inscription, carved into the rock.::

:: Puffing for air, T'Lea bounded around the corner and then charged into the room with flashlight blazing. There was Dade. Just standing there staring down at something in the floor. She approached with concern, and touched his low back, until she realized what she was doing and quickly pulled her hand away.::

T'Lea: What is it? What did you see? Why the hezma did you take off like that?

::He knelt down and touched the engravings carefully, following it with his fingertips as he read it to himself.:: Adarnis: It's in Deltan. "I have no regrets. The Adarnis Project is complete."

:: T'Lea's brow didn't just jump, it leaped into a whole other galaxy. What the hell was that supposed to mean, she was about to say, but out of respect caught the statement in her throat.::

:: Kneeling down, her flashlight moved along the crude inscription in the stone floor. She couldn't read Deltan. It wasn't exactly one of the more common Federation languages to study at the academy. She flicked her light over to Dade and suddenly all the other annoying, nagging, feelings were replaced with a big creepy one.::

:: Did he say, Adarnis Project? Did she just sleep with a lab rat? Twice! She stood and backed away, giving him space, but still carefully watching the man as he absorbed the room with his violet eyes.::

::Dade stood up and frowned, flashing his torch around the small room. It looked like a cell. There were other carvings on the walls; numbers, Roman numerals, Romulan letters and various calculations. Dade took out the holoimager from his pack and set in the middle of the floor. It only took a few seconds for the imager to create a 3D digitized holomap for use in the holodeck.::

::As he picked up the instrument again, something caught his eye on the floor and shone the torch down. The name "Daedalus" etched in blood on the sandstone floor with "Architect" and beneath instructions on how to get out.::

T'Lea: So, what is this place? How did you know it was here?

Adarnis: I always thought I was named after a baseball player in the 1970's.

T'Lea: ::confused:: What?

Adarnis: He knew how to get out, so he must have escaped.

T'Lea: ::shaking her head:: The baseball player? Dade, you aren't making any sense.

::Dade held out the dog tag he'd taken before from the corpse to T'Lea.:: Adarnis: It's on my back; I got that as a tattoo while I was drunk in port and it's all over this damn place.

:: She took the tags, flipping them over, and immediately she recognized the symbol. A frown creased her face as she skimmed her light around the room, only to find the same emblem on the wall. So preoccupied was she with her own inner-turmoil that she hadn't even noticed the link to Dade's tattoo, which she'd gotten very familiar with earlier.::

:: She looked up at Dade. Somebody was frelling with him, and now they were frelling with HER whether they liked it or not.::

T'Lea: Hey.

::She grabbed his hand, turned his wrist over and firmly placed the dog tags therein. She could tell this place was starting to worm its way into Dade's brain.::

T'Lea: ::squeezing his hand closed:: Do you know how to get us out of here?

::He looked at her, straight in the eye. Positive this time.:: Adarnis: Yeah.

T'Lea: Then let's go. We'll figure this out later.