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Gracious Host

Summary: Thomas Majors takes a surveying mission to the recently discovered planet of Tavros on behalf of his employer to assess the danger for the rest of the team.

Cast: Majors

Air Date: December 21, 2653

Setting: Tavros

Lagoon - Tavros - <Tavros>

Hidden deep within the twisting paths of the jungle is a serene lagoon with a cascading waterfall. The water is a deep emerald green, only faintly tinged with blue. Small variants of fish can be seen in the water. At its deepest, it seems about twenty feet deep. In the shallower ends, it is smooth rock at the bottom which slants and leads up to an equally smooth rock shore. Trees and other exotic flora exists along the edges of the water. Flowers of vibrant blues and rich violets cluster together.

Along one ledge that leads up in the direction of the mountains are multiple waterfalls, each one cascading down into the lagoon below. The water runs white, hiding the cliffs behind. One, however, looks like there could be open space behind it.This also appears to be the local hangout for some wildlife. Various mammals come to the edges of the water to drink on occasion when it is quiet enough.

Contents: Exits:


Majors is clad in his smart armor, using its strength to carry weapons and supplies. In the Sivadian's hand is a rifle with a camera mounted on it.

The lagoon area is quiet, with only a few different animals moving along the edge of the water to have a drink. There is nothing out of the ordinary.

Majors points his camera gun in the direction of the animals. "Crikey mate! Look at that one." The Sivadian says into his mic before he starts moving along the water's edge towards the waterfalls. There is a splash from the water. Too large to be a fish. "Oi..." Majors agrees with the splash and keeps moving along. The Sivadian keeps a close eye on the water as he moves along the lagoon's edge.

Another loud splash from further down, closer to the waterfalls. Splash. Splashsplash. Many of them. There seem to be small shadows in the water, but it is hard to tell whether they are living or just rocks.

"Might want to check the waterways before anything else." Majors comments idly as he moves along at a quick pace. "I will try to gain an example on the way out. As it where... It is best to leave splashing alone. I can breath easy it would seem so there is no need of domes that I am aware of. If there is microbes, I assume I will be dead before I return to homebase."

Behind one of the waterfalls, a silhouette can be seen. It's vaguely humanoid, almost feminine shaped. And then it disappears, back into the cave system.

"Oi..... I do think I am loosing my shit." Majors comments for the camera. "There may or may not have been a woman behind that fall. As of yet, I do not see any major problem to colonization.... That said, I will need to go full screening before my return. Now.. let us see if I am seeing things." The Sivadian adds before he heads towards the cave.

Cave - Tavros

Hidden away behind one of the waterfalls is a manmade cave. The walls are all smooth, with no imperfections in the stone. It goes back about twenty feet before there is a large hole there it opens into blackness. No light shines from below to indicate what could be down there.

Even in the darkened cave, it's easy for Majors to see the smooth walls and trail of wet footprints leading further back, where they eventually fade away.

Majors lifts a bow slightly and switches the infra red on his rifle/camera. The Sivadian creeps along further and deeper down. "It would seem that we have prints... I would say I am not alone on this planet at the moment. The prints seem to be of something humaniod roughly my shape at." He whispers into his mic.

There is the sound of a soft breath on the air, pulling Majors forward. A silent plea to have him continue deeper into the cave and down into the blackened abyss below. Majors falls silent as he follows. The Sivadian shuffles along into the darkness his breath even but deep.

Underground Caves - Tavros - <Tavros>

After a descent down into darkness, it eventually leads to a winding labyrinth of underground caves. All are man made, leading to niches that clearly once were a location of some form of civilization. The further down into the caves one goes, the more intricate the natural and unnatural architecture is. Grand arches and vaulted ceilings mark many of these rooms, some adorned with altars of some sort. Other caves lead to side rooms that look like they could have once been homes for a blossoming family with space to live and interact.

No clear sign of life yet. But through the cave, there is the echoing sound of bare feet slapping against the cold stone. But around each corner, no one is there.

Majors pauses at the mouth of things and lets out a small sigh from within his helmet. The man glances behind him and wishes for a plain police box before he steps deeper into the darkness. "I am quite aware that you are here.." He says little above a whisper.

There is a set path that Majors is meant to follow, being led along by all of his senses except for sight. he still sees no one. Far down, there is a flicker of light. A solitary torch having been lit above an altar.

Majors lifts a brow and follows along. The Sivadian eventually stops and allows himself to be bath by the torch light. "Ello?"

"Lower your weapons," a voice says from the shadows. It is a heavily accented Terran Standard, each word rough. "You're not welcome here."

"I see," Majors comments slowly as he pretents to brush pack some frost steam from his face plate but in reality trying to turn on the suit's own recording system. "Very well then..... Old human stock? English is it?" He asks as he moves to slowly put down his puls rifle. The various other weapons hidden on him? They are left upon him.

"Why are you here?" the voice asks. Anger in the voice. "This is /our/ place. No right to be here. Ours."

"I am a simple explorer. If this is your place might you grace me with a name and face to go with your voice?" Majors asks as a hand hovers near on of his weapons hidden on his person. "I am Thomas Owen Conrad-Majors III of the Planet Sivad, Year of our Lord Four Thousand and Eleven."

"Amina," replies the voice. The more Majors listens, the easier it is to tell the voice as female. Shadows lurk all around, just on the outside of the light. There are anywhere between ten to fifteen of them, waiting, shifting restlessly, voices hissing back and forth to each other in an unknown language.

"Amina? Well.. I am sure you can see me, but I assure you that i cannot see you at the moment." Majors says as he listens. The Sivadian stands rigidly still at the moment, just a slightly shift in his stance to allow his camera to sweep across the room before him.

More chatter in the language and Amina speaks again. "Put down your contraption, or they will run you through," she orders. There is once again anger in her voice.

Majors sets the camera down next to the rifle and takes a step back. "Well. Seeing as I have done a little for you, I should hope you do a little for me." Majors comments

"You are in no room to try and bargain, Thomas Owen Conrad-Majors III," Amina replies shortly. "Who else knows about us?"

"There is a good number that know of the planet and many more that will follow me if I go missing." Majors says calmly. "If there is anything my people love, it is a mystery. If I disappear, that is what I will become."

"Then we return you to them," Amina murmurs. "Maybe in pieces. Send them a clear message."

"I come in peace, but if you attempt to harm me, I will defend myself. I may fall, but far more of you will." Majors says darkly.

A brief moment of silence before Amina speaks again. "What do you plan to do with us?"

There is a small hiss as Majors unseals his helmet. "I will show you my face if you will show me you your own in return.... As for what I shall do.. Tell me your story and you may be able to choose for yourself." The Sivadian comments.

"You can speak with authority for the others?" Amina asks, hesitancy in her voice. There is a step forward. Her figure is illuminated, outlined by darkness. She is slender, standing at about 5 feet 6 inches. No features are recognizable yet.

"I can only account for myself and what I will tell them at the moment." Majors replies as the figure steps out. The Sivadian remains where he is. "But I find myself a good liar at times. But in spite of this.. I will tell you nothing will stop others from coming. I can though perhaps help you gain a firmer hand... Well.. I shall assume you are a Miss?"

There is further hesitation before Amina inches her way into the light. Her skin is a rich mocha color, matching her straight black hair and dark brown eyes. In many ways, she could be described as beautiful, with delicate features and soft, full lips. Ink of dark blue is tattooed all across her body, looking like ancient writing and art. She is quite naked, but at least she has quite a body to show off.

Majors lifts a brow at the sight before him. "Well now..." The Sivadian murmurs softly as he eyes the woman with more than a bit of interest. "We are a small group at the moment Miss. We look for a home for our scattered peoples... Tell the tale of your race. If nothing else tell me your name so I may remember it for the epics that will surely come.... You are from Earth, Falisade or one of her worlds?"

"We have always been here," Amina replies. "We do not think of a time before this. We were a strong people, but we faltered. We are failing." She looks back toward the other shadows. "We live in the shadows to protect us."

"Then perhaps my people can help you. Why must you live in shadows then Miss?" Majors says as he blinks his eyes trying to get use to the light level. "A.. woman of your...features should not have cause to hide under normal conditions of course." He says idly.

"We are dying," Amina says. "Slowly. We abandoned our villages above ground and came here. Away from the elements. To be safe."

Out goes an armored hand towards Amina. "Is it beast or is it weather Miss?" He asks trying to exact information. "One does not living in caves for the sheer joy of it... Unless you are a dirty Odarite I suppose..." Majors muses.

Amina hisses and backs away rapidly from the hand, back into the shadows. There are angry stirrings from the waiting figures. Sounds of weapons leaving belts. "Disease," the woman says. "Disease. Deteriorating. Slowly."

"I see." Majors says slowly as he glances at his detached helmet and frowns to himself. "If I were given a bit of information and.. a little of your blood.. I could talk to the healers of my kind." The Sivadian lowers his hand.

"No blood," Amina's voice rings out clearly. "No blood. You will bring one here to us and they will fix us. We promise that it will be unpleasant if you do not."

"Very well. I will leave at once to bring one. Will you send guards Miss...? I did not recieve your name my grace?" Majors asks.

Amina frowns in the shadows. "Amina," she says again. "You will bring us the cure or we will attack when you touch down again."

"I see. I can not bring a cure unless I am given a sample or one of your people come with me. All things come with a price." Majors states as he tries to ease his helmet back on without notice.

"You will bring a cure," Amina's voice rings out again. "Or you do not land. This is our place. We will not let you back unless you fix us."

"I will cure you, but one of your people will have to be brave enough to risk my company. That is the price of things if you will not give me blood." Majors says as makes sure the helmet is in place. "We must have something to work with. We are wonderful, but we are not magic workers."

Amina shakes her head. "No. You will not touch us. If you will not cure us, we will keep you here until you say you will."

Majors digs into the medkit on his hip and pulls out a vial. "Press this against your flesh. It will sting, but it is all I need. Allow me passage back to the jungle with the sample and we will be right as rain luv. If not.. Well you will have to suffer my presence longer and then deal with those following me. Granted they will be better organized and far more ready to deal with the wilds of your world."

There is a hiss of frustration but Amina takes a couple steps forward to try and snatch the vial out of Majors' hand. She holds it up to her own arm, following directions to give a blood sample. She hisses again, this time from the pain.

Majors extends his hand and waits for the vail to be returned to him. "Not so bad after the first time I assure you Miss Amina." The Sivadian says. "What do you call your people?"

The question baffles Amina. "We are us," she replies. "We are the people. No name."

"Vague I suppose." Majors keeps his hand out. "Well. I suppose once I have the sample I will be back shortly with a cure. Allow my ship safe passage once more and.. well we can put this behind us luv. Perhaps dinner in a few weeks? Well.. not worry on that just yet I suppose."

Just as cautiously, Amina deposits the vial back into Majors hands. "You will cure us," she says firmly. "A cure."

"I will try." Majors agrees and places the sample back into its case. "I shall see about moving along then? Care to offer a guide back?" In any case the Sivadin tries to make is way back to the ship. "A pleasure Miss Amina. You have been a most charming host and a sight for very sore eyes."

"Take him back to beginning," Amina orders of those with her. They drift off into the shadows. "You won't see them, but we see you. Go now. Bring us our cure."