Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in MPT - ‘Festival of Frights’ - Holodeck 1 - All welcome

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in MPT - ‘Festival of Frights’ - Holodeck 1 - All welcome

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in MPT - ‘Festival of Frights’ - Holodeck 1 - All welcome
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(snip)

He reached down and laid a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“But believe me when I tell you, Gen, that whatever form your fears take, I am big enough and strong enough to face them down. So when that day finally arrives that you feel ready to share, you come find me, eh? And I will pause time itself to listen. I will set aside everything to give you my ears.”

Gen watched him sadly, as he swore to protect her, as though he understood something he didn’t.

He winced, then let out a roar of awkward laughter. “Well now, that was an image I could have gone the rest of the night without conjuring up, eh!”

Casela winked conspiratorially at Gen and Zachariah and moved down the path and into the forest. The temperature dropped and the fog laid heavily among the trunks and roots. The wind caused the heavy branches to creak and sway, allowing the full moon the create macabre shadows on the ground. Casela thoroughly enjoyed the effects and then was suddenly gone. Slipping unseen and quietly into the forest, off the path to find a tree to climb. And then up she climbed, silently to find a stead perch on a large sturdy branch, relaxing against the trunk so she swayed and moved with tree as the wind blew. The shriek of a screech owl could be heard from somewhere above and to the left of the group still on the path.
Lt Synthi-er, CNS

Gen walked with Cobb as Synthi-er disappeared. She didn’t seem startled, her sock clad feet silent as the proverbial grave on the ground. Slowly, she inched her hand into the captain’s. Her fingers icy cold. Moving her head to look at him she gave him a small smile, just enough to upturn the corners of her mouth.

”are we scared yet?” she asked.

Gen

Zachariah laughed, although the sense of mirth never reached his eyes. “Aye, I fancy the situation warrants an air of anxious caution at the least,” he replied, casting a glance over his shoulder at the quickly fading lights. With his free hand, the captain reached into his pocket and located a small flashlight, flicking the switch with his thumb and sending a narrow beam of yellow light onto the damp, muddy ground before them.

“What do you reckon, Gen?” he asked, his light sweeping over the various paths and gaps in the trees they could take. “Which way?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Carefully the girl looked left and right then pointed down the most dark and twisted looking path that seemed to end in total black.

Gen

Cobb’s eyes followed the young girl’s finger down the darkest and most unsettling path, squinting slightly as he attempted to peer into the void. Of course it would be this way!
“Alright then,” he attempted to muster calm as he strode off into the cold, velvet blackness, his own hand tightening slightly around hers. “Let’s go.”

After a moment or two of walking, he called out, slightly tremulously, “Cas? Where the hell did you get to, eh?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Gen walked with him, observing him as much as their surroundings. “Does the dark scare you captain?” She asked. As he called for Casela she looked upwards.

Gen

Thankful for the gloom that, in that moment, masked his reaction, although had Gen’s focus been directed upwards she might have caught the brief glint of his eyes as they widened in consternation at her questioning. Not that the subject itself was without merit, but perhaps more appropriate for a warm and well-lit tavern over a tankard or several of ale.

Does the dark scare you captain? With every breath, he would have replied, were honesty not his enemy in this place. Not because it would see me run from it. But more that it tempts me TOWARDS it, begs to swallow me whole and keep me within its smothering embrace for the remainder of my days.

As it was, Zachariah merely shrugged and offered, “Well, sometimes seeing is half the battle won. To be blind is to be vulnerable and most try to avoid such a lack of control. Myself included.”
He laughed. “And how about you, Miss? Does the dark scare you?” he inquired, already suspecting the answer but asking all the same for the enjoyment of conversation, even with a teenage curiosity such as Gen.

Gen didn’t even pause to consider this. ”The Dark isn’t scary.” she said. They kept walking ”The things in the dark are scary.” she added as she often did.

Casela looked down at Gen from her position in the trees and winked. She moved silently overhead. Her voice seemed to carry on the slight breeze through the trees, giving the indication she was near, but not exactly where, “Oh I’m still here Zachariah. I’m never far if you need me.” If he were to look up he would see her moving along the larger branches, relaxed and moving with the branches as she vaulted to another tree, almost silently. The only noise just enough to indicate maybe a squirrel or bird moving among the branches. But she would look very relaxed and carefree in her tree top exploration. He might also be reminded of her skills and knowledge from their time by the campfire so many weeks ago.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Cobb shook his head, not surprised in the least to find his counselor swinging from the treetops. “How is the view up there, Robin Hood?” he called up to her. “See anything we would welcome a warning on?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Casela laughed at the seemingly teasing nick name, but the truth of the name wasn’t lost on her either. Oh how the crew had absolutely. no. idea. But with a laugh she called down, “The only thing scary up here, is me. But you might want to watch out in about 20 feet.” Of course that was probably 20 feet along the main path, but it could be along any of the branching paths they would pass. Just out of eye sight from them she would descend a tree and they would find her leaned against a tree trunk, one foot propped against it. She hooked a thumb farther down the path. “They are waiting up there.” She grinned and winked at Gen. “But I think the captain is more shaggy haired than they are.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Gen grinned at Casela. ”Can we scare them!?” she asked suddenly not a creepy prophet of doom but rather an excited girl. She pulled excitedly at Cobb’s hand and gestured at the direction Casela had indicated.

Gen