** I've been taking a few days when I start a new chappy. I just wanna re
read and try to improve. Typos, grammar, whatever. As long as the story
gets across... I'm happy. I'm sorry this one is kinda short, especially
after the wait but I really wasn't sure how I could go on to the next part
without cutting in a bad place. Hope the movement of the plot makes up for
it.
***4 Angela am hoping for that scene myself, but if it doesn't fit, I won't add it. ***Harm Marie.. hmm.. it's a thought. ***bjred, already said it, but you know I love ya hun. My girl, partner in crime. ***dhachth : TY, keep reading please. ***vikki: Cool..I love attention :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clues
Beverly moved from small wood cot to small wood cot, taking note of each patient in turn. She had easily found Constance. The young blonde female had been in the middle of advising a man with a broken leg with instructions of how often to drink the tea easily made from an indigenous tree in the area. The Enterprise's chief of medical was soon put to work.
Although the people living on the planet observed the rites of witchcraft stemmed from nature, the people did not turn away modern mechanisms. The conversation on Enterprise with Ellaina that involved a view-screen had told them that much. Along the windowed wall of the oversized log cabin was an example of another of the mixtures made between the modern and the ancient. Everyday medical instruments were built into the wall. Some items were neatly arranged on small wood trollies, others were held by more familiar means that the doctor recognized from her own holds of vaccines and modern potions widely accepted by the medical community she worked within.
Natural light streamed in through the numerous windows along the walls that stretched far enough to easily hold 20 beds on each side. Above each window hung lamps, a light source that was used once the sun lowered, they jutted out and were adjustable by the looks of the metal frame that held each one. All bed frames were constructed from wood, and all the bedding was made here. Even the quilts that covered the feather filled mattresses were hand sewn.
She also noticed that instead of the large displays used to keep readings in her own sickbay, most of the patients were unobserved. Only those with more immediate medical needs had their vitals scanned by oversized tri- corders. They were lying vertically and had some depth to them, but were built into wood stands that could be moved to whichever person needed it. Standard issue instruments, but having them as portable and held up by a stand was new. Quite a useful idea in fact, Beverly concluded, especially when this was the main medical facility for 5 different, but close nit, communities.
When she first arrived and was put to work, her bedside manner came out quickly. Asking questions and deducing what the problem was with each individual along with taking readings, she soon found out that the injuries sustained to many of the patients were burns of different degrees. Thankfully, no one was killed, and it looked as though the worst one hurt was a Hispanic man about mid 30's. He was near the building when the lightning struck. A hold for grains and wheat that went up faster then anyone could have predicted it would. He would have some mild scarring on one side of his face, but he would live and suffer no ill effects.
He, along with 17 of the 24 patients, were from a village just to the west of this one, a separate settlement, but one that worked closely with this one. As it appeared to Beverly, the colony was comprised of several different smaller colonies that all held the same basic beliefs, but ones that stemmed from different backgrounds. The cultural references and teachings were observed quietly and separately, but respected and shared as well. All five of the groups had been a party to the festival the night previous, none had been ready for the storm that followed.
"Here doctor." Beverly sat on the edge of the burned man's bed. She turned her head towards the voice of the young man who held a container of a salve and a cup filled with a steaming substance. "For Pedro." The boy indicated the man on the bed, still muttering in his pained state.
Beverly accepted the small ceramic bowl and took a delicate sniff. She thought she recognized the odor, and a vision of her grandmother came to her mind. The old woman was always making things from the plants and roots that grew near her home. She'd made a point to teach Beverly what she could. Now, this bitter odor mixed with a slightly flowery smell helped her recognize that this concoction would help with the pain directly in the would marring her current patient's cheek and neck and she began applying it.
After that was done, she tried to hold the man in a sitting position so he could take some of the tea. That seemed to strain him and after a few swallows, he fell asleep in her arms. She let him fall back to the bed with little assistance.
"The drink is quite potent." The young man still at her side provided. ''It will help him mend, and when he wakes he should feel very little pain, but he must drink this at least 4 times daily." The young man laid a handmade leather pouch down on the table beside the bed that also held a monitor. "Then after the tea is gone, it will be time for him to come see Constance again. Oh, and the salve," He continued as an after thought. "It needs to be used as needed so the burn does not harden as it heals."
Beverly stood and nodded at him. "You sound like you are practicing." She looked back along the rows of beds. All had been seen to, and now mostly family were there to visit and help to care for their loved ones.
"He is learning." Constance said as she appeared from behind one of the wood burning stoves now aflame with a new mixture simmering on its top. The chimney's provided an outlet for the 2 fireplaces at each end of the long building, while 3 separate stoves were spaced out, giving reason for the other 3 chimneys.
"John has at least 2 more years of study, then, we will see." The blonde finished her statement and rubbed her hands on the gray apron that hung to her ankles protecting the long skirt and short sleeved top, both in a soft blue.
"And how long have you been studying?" Dr. Crusher inquired with curiosity. The boy would be about the age of entrance to Starfleet academy.
"Since I was 6." He smiled. "It's in the blood."
"Yes cousin, and you are doing well." The settlement's most practiced doctor stood beside her cousin. There was a slight resemblance between the two, but Constance was clearly the elder. She glanced at the still slumbering man. "I see Pedro has been seen to." She walked beside his bed and lifted one lid to pear into his eye. "No damage other then the burns then?"
"They are pretty bad." John said. "But he should be alright."
The blonde healer straightened up and turned back to the visitor. "I do appreciate your help doctor. As you can see we are set up for multiple emergencies, but we rarely have this many beds filled at one time. And usually Ellaina is able to help."
"Not at all. I don't often get to see the root's of medicine, excuse the bad pun." The doctor smiled.
Constance smiled back then peered out the window. "Ah, it seems they have finished." She motioned towards a window now displaying the group emerging from behind a cabin across the square."
Beverly took note that Ellaina had come back with the commander and Data. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to meet them in the square." The doctor explained.
"Of course, and thank you again." The blonde woman said before going back to a patient.
Beverly gave another short nod and smile to John then headed out of the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Magic?" Picard asked standing in the center of the main bridge trying not to sound surprised.
"I might not have believed it either Sir, but the light show they put on, well, it's pretty believable." Riker commented when he saw the doctor walking towards them from the hospital.
"Can you describe the phenomenon Number One?" Picard made the request, trying very hard to keep an open mind, although the events of the last few hours may have helped provide fuel for this task.
Riker went on to tell exactly what he'd seen in as much detail as he could while Ellaina added some here and there to complete the story.
At about this time, Worf stood at his post behind the command area and was receiving a communication from young Ensign Craigs. A boy with promise, but who's flighty nature and ability to turn simple evidence into a long and winding tail often caused the Security Chief more questions then answers. This would seem to be one of those times, but with a lack of a tale of any kind.
"Very well." Worf said and nodded to another member of security to take his place before notifying the captain he had matters to attend to. He'd heard the commander's descriptions, and still thought it all tales for small children.
The people below had done something to their own home, and now were putting on shows for amusement trying to convince the captain that an obscure practice most average people would find laughable was the cause.
The oversized Klingon continued down corridors towards the guest quarters. He'd almost been happy to leave the bridge. He had a great respect for William Riker, and did not like hearing that even he may be swaying towards the possibility of a magical influence.
Worf was not a scientist, and his people had belief systems rooted in tradition and ritual, but not magic. Things were substantial. Foes could be beaten, or tricked. They could not be made to magically disappear or hurt. These were physical actions, and beyond the belief that there was a stobalcore, a heaven, he did not believe in that which he could not find a reason to.
It was this final thought that went through his head before punching in the code that opened the guest quarters. As he expected, Craigs was inside watching over the four in his care. As unexpected, the four in question were alight with a yellow glimmering fog that seemed to have taken hold of them all. They each glimmered with dots of lights glinting spiradicaly.
His mind went right back to Riker's words form only moments before. "Translucent yellow. Fog, with random lights. Moved towards the sky. Points out the cause of the planet's problems."
With thoughtful defeat, Worf tapped his communicator. "Security to Captain Picard," He began then continued with no enthusiasm, and a touch of sarcasm pulled off in a way only a klingon could. With a low growl in the back of his throat, "I have located Commander Riker's missing yellow fog."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Check this out." Dawn said and giggled while writing her name in the air. It lingered for just a moment before the heavily yellowed mist drew back towards her. She smiled brightly at the last bit of the 'n' drawing back into the fog until once again the air was clear before her. The teen giggled again and looked up to gage the vampire's reaction.
Spike gave the girl a chuckle. The fact that she was smiling giving him enough reason to put away 'The Big Bad' for long enough to let the littlest Summers get what glee she could out of the situation. "S'fine Bit, but don't go making any of those little hearts with arrows. Too close to home."
Dawn laughed outright at that, then with a mischeviouse grin began another piece of artwork in the space right in front of the black clad figure's chest.
"It's a locater spell." Willow repeated. "I'm sure of it."
"So maybe Tara and Giles-" Buffy began with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
Willow shook her head furiously. "It'd be impossible. This place isn't even mapped, and a finding spell like this. I don't think even Anya would know how to get past the barriers between demensions for it to be of use."
They barely paid attention to Worf while he communicated with the captain, and was told to set the small screen on the desk for transmission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Red was right then." Spike said a little shocked as he studied the home showing behind the woman on the small screen, more importantly, the window behind her.
The four of them were now huddled together in front of the laptop talking to a woman who apparently lived in a log cabin. The bearded commander was standing beside her. Worf and Craigs stood on the other side of the desk looking on over the four as the transmission took place.
At the first Glance, Ellaina was shocked to see what the spell had found, and after a few words the spell was broken and the glow faded from Buffy and her enterage. Soon, explanations for the glowing effect were given and the Sunnydale clan had a point in the right direction.
Ellaina nodded. "Yes, we were searching." She seemed a little perplexed, but her confidence didn't waver. "I'm still unsure how you are connected, although the young commander has given us information on your unusual arrival." Her manner changed to one of curiosity. "Is it true, you were unaware you would appear upon the Enterprise?"
"Really, no clue." Buffy said honestly before giving her sister a half smile and looking back at the video image of the older woman. "We were whipping up a spell, but this was certainly NOT what we had planned." She finished.
"Really?" The priestess asked.
Willow interrupted. "It was supposed to transport, interdementionally." The red head shook her head with some confusion. "But I still don't know how us coming here would have any effect on rites that are used to give thanks for life on your planet."
"There is a bit more to it my dear." Ellaina provided. "But we can do nothing of it until you come here." She took pause before continuing. "Captain?" Ellaina said still looking at the screen.
"Yes Priestess." The six of them heard his voice over the com as the woman's image remained.
"I'd like to invite your guests to come to us. We may yet be able to still the planet before disaster. But I do not foresee a resolution before the window is closed, and I'm afraid that waiting until the next one is open would be too late."
They could hear the captain sigh quietly. "You are saying whomever transports could very well be stranded."
"Yes Captain Picard. But they will be provided for here. We do have a suitable place for guests set aside."
"Hold on." Buffy interrupted. "Are you saying you want us to do that.. 'beam' thing to you. Then just be stuck forever?"
"No my dear." Ellaina's attention went back to the blonde on her screen. "You will need to remain here until the 20 hours is up. After that you will easily be able to go back to the starship."
"What are we supposed to be doing there? Play tiddlywinks?" Spike asked still looking at the dimming daylight shining into the home of the woman.
Willow gave him a stern look. "They need to see why we might be connected. At the very least they are going to need to know what we did to get here, and figure out why our spell is interacting with theirs."
"That's quite right, Willow was it?" Ellaina asked. Willow nodded, blushing slightly under the praise of this obviously practiced witch. "But that will only give us an idea. We will still need to discern the most reasonable way to , well for lack of a better word, fix it."
"I have no objection to your request." They all heard the captain proclaim. "But it is not my decision." He seemed to be finished, but as an afterthought included a request of his own. "I do ask that some of my people are allowed to stay as well. After all, these people have come to the Enterprise and until their situation is resolved I feel it is our duty to ensure their safety."
"Agreed." Ellaina answered quickly. Her attention once again went over the faces of the four young people looking back from her screen above the desk in her home. "What do you say? Are you willing to help us?"
Willow pleaded with Buffy in one glance, her eyes screaming 'PLEASE!!' The idea of meeting this woman was just too much of an opportunity for her. Dawn had a similar look and was a bit twitchy which meant she was already excited by the prospect. Spike looked a little fearful, but Buffy wasn't as concerned with that as she was with the fact that this was the first clue as to a way home. If they were connected, surely they could have answers.
The Slayer sighed heavily, her inner turmoil getting to her. "Alright. We'll go."
The tenseness in the air thinned and Ellaina smiled. "We can meet you in the square." She declared just as she was about to end the communiqué."
"Pet?" Spike addressed the high priestess before she could cut the transmission.
Ellaina looked to the screen once more with a curious face. "Yes?"
"Got one request of my own."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles lit the last candle in the Summers's family room. Each pillar was at the point of a familiar 5 pointed star formed by white sand like substance ground from the bones of a Meklan demon. Tara stood in the center still repeating her mantra while Anya and Xander stood near the stairs out of the way of the two performing the spell.
The clear blue glass-like crystal in Tara's hands was nearly the size of a bowling ball, but its weight was barely there. As Tara continued with her words and Giles stood back to join the other non magical members of the Scoobies, it began to rise up from her upheld hands and a small glow could be seen at its core.
The young Wiccan's words came louder and more quickly. She was taking gasps of air between phrases. Soon her shoulders shook and it was easy to see that the effort was draining her.
"Giles, is she gonna-" Xander began but the watcher raised a hand in the air signaling that the boy should be quiet.
It was then that Tara slumped to the ground, the large crystal following and landing just a few inches from her hands and she crouched down trying to keep herself from completely sprawling onto the ground. "Mas" was the last syllable she got out before falling completely to the ground.
Giles rushed to her side and helped to rouse the blonde.
"See. You interrupted." Anya blamed her boyfriend. "You aren't supposed to do that during a spell, or don't you remember the Olaf incident?"
Xander gave his love the evil eye before crouching next to Giles and checking on Tara.
Tara, for all her effort couldn't figure out what had happened. "Something is-is blocking me." She said while still catching her breath. "I couldn't reach past our dimension Giles." She shook her head and started to let the tears of fatigue and hopelessness fall.
"Blocking?" Giles asked. "But who would be doing such a thing?"
Anya came away from the stairs then and shrugged. "The place is probably just too new to be on the multidimensional compass's charts." She continued to the couch and tried to get comfy. She was quite aware that the group would want to stay here for the night, and quite frankly she was too tired to pretend to research for something she didn't think had an answer yet. Sleep was her new objective.
At her words, Giles craned his neck to face his young assistant. "What was that?"
Anya took a deep breath, a little perturbed. "Well, they made something of nothing. You can't find nothing. You have to wait for the nothing to be something to be found. And since it's a very new something from the nothing, it's still registering as nothing. You see?"
"Hu?" It was Xander's turn to be confused, again.
"Of course." Giles said and sat fully on the floor where Tara still was recovering. "Don't you see?" He asked the witch. "Until the boundaries have been set, we can't make any communication through a doorway. There is no where to construct it."
"Oh." Xander said.
"You understand the rules of dimensions now?" Giles asked sarcastically.
"Well no." Xander started. "But I do know that you can't build a door into a frame if the frame isn't ready to go up." He smiled at his own deduction.
"Ah yes, the wonders of construction once again invade the magical interludes of our life."
"At least I get it."
"S-so when can we try to find them?" Tara asked, now having regained her breath.
All eyes went to Anya.
The ex-demon contemplated the question for a few moments, seeming to study the coffee table before she smiled. "Taking into account that magic created it, and the time of year, also that it's the year of the Fah'Har," She paused again as she went over it again in her head. "I'd say by Thursday."
"Well that's not so bad. Today is," He checked the clock on the fireplace mantel. "Well Wednesday now."
Anya continued with a raised eyebrow. "June 25th, 2009."
"Ah." Was Xander's only answer.
***4 Angela am hoping for that scene myself, but if it doesn't fit, I won't add it. ***Harm Marie.. hmm.. it's a thought. ***bjred, already said it, but you know I love ya hun. My girl, partner in crime. ***dhachth : TY, keep reading please. ***vikki: Cool..I love attention :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clues
Beverly moved from small wood cot to small wood cot, taking note of each patient in turn. She had easily found Constance. The young blonde female had been in the middle of advising a man with a broken leg with instructions of how often to drink the tea easily made from an indigenous tree in the area. The Enterprise's chief of medical was soon put to work.
Although the people living on the planet observed the rites of witchcraft stemmed from nature, the people did not turn away modern mechanisms. The conversation on Enterprise with Ellaina that involved a view-screen had told them that much. Along the windowed wall of the oversized log cabin was an example of another of the mixtures made between the modern and the ancient. Everyday medical instruments were built into the wall. Some items were neatly arranged on small wood trollies, others were held by more familiar means that the doctor recognized from her own holds of vaccines and modern potions widely accepted by the medical community she worked within.
Natural light streamed in through the numerous windows along the walls that stretched far enough to easily hold 20 beds on each side. Above each window hung lamps, a light source that was used once the sun lowered, they jutted out and were adjustable by the looks of the metal frame that held each one. All bed frames were constructed from wood, and all the bedding was made here. Even the quilts that covered the feather filled mattresses were hand sewn.
She also noticed that instead of the large displays used to keep readings in her own sickbay, most of the patients were unobserved. Only those with more immediate medical needs had their vitals scanned by oversized tri- corders. They were lying vertically and had some depth to them, but were built into wood stands that could be moved to whichever person needed it. Standard issue instruments, but having them as portable and held up by a stand was new. Quite a useful idea in fact, Beverly concluded, especially when this was the main medical facility for 5 different, but close nit, communities.
When she first arrived and was put to work, her bedside manner came out quickly. Asking questions and deducing what the problem was with each individual along with taking readings, she soon found out that the injuries sustained to many of the patients were burns of different degrees. Thankfully, no one was killed, and it looked as though the worst one hurt was a Hispanic man about mid 30's. He was near the building when the lightning struck. A hold for grains and wheat that went up faster then anyone could have predicted it would. He would have some mild scarring on one side of his face, but he would live and suffer no ill effects.
He, along with 17 of the 24 patients, were from a village just to the west of this one, a separate settlement, but one that worked closely with this one. As it appeared to Beverly, the colony was comprised of several different smaller colonies that all held the same basic beliefs, but ones that stemmed from different backgrounds. The cultural references and teachings were observed quietly and separately, but respected and shared as well. All five of the groups had been a party to the festival the night previous, none had been ready for the storm that followed.
"Here doctor." Beverly sat on the edge of the burned man's bed. She turned her head towards the voice of the young man who held a container of a salve and a cup filled with a steaming substance. "For Pedro." The boy indicated the man on the bed, still muttering in his pained state.
Beverly accepted the small ceramic bowl and took a delicate sniff. She thought she recognized the odor, and a vision of her grandmother came to her mind. The old woman was always making things from the plants and roots that grew near her home. She'd made a point to teach Beverly what she could. Now, this bitter odor mixed with a slightly flowery smell helped her recognize that this concoction would help with the pain directly in the would marring her current patient's cheek and neck and she began applying it.
After that was done, she tried to hold the man in a sitting position so he could take some of the tea. That seemed to strain him and after a few swallows, he fell asleep in her arms. She let him fall back to the bed with little assistance.
"The drink is quite potent." The young man still at her side provided. ''It will help him mend, and when he wakes he should feel very little pain, but he must drink this at least 4 times daily." The young man laid a handmade leather pouch down on the table beside the bed that also held a monitor. "Then after the tea is gone, it will be time for him to come see Constance again. Oh, and the salve," He continued as an after thought. "It needs to be used as needed so the burn does not harden as it heals."
Beverly stood and nodded at him. "You sound like you are practicing." She looked back along the rows of beds. All had been seen to, and now mostly family were there to visit and help to care for their loved ones.
"He is learning." Constance said as she appeared from behind one of the wood burning stoves now aflame with a new mixture simmering on its top. The chimney's provided an outlet for the 2 fireplaces at each end of the long building, while 3 separate stoves were spaced out, giving reason for the other 3 chimneys.
"John has at least 2 more years of study, then, we will see." The blonde finished her statement and rubbed her hands on the gray apron that hung to her ankles protecting the long skirt and short sleeved top, both in a soft blue.
"And how long have you been studying?" Dr. Crusher inquired with curiosity. The boy would be about the age of entrance to Starfleet academy.
"Since I was 6." He smiled. "It's in the blood."
"Yes cousin, and you are doing well." The settlement's most practiced doctor stood beside her cousin. There was a slight resemblance between the two, but Constance was clearly the elder. She glanced at the still slumbering man. "I see Pedro has been seen to." She walked beside his bed and lifted one lid to pear into his eye. "No damage other then the burns then?"
"They are pretty bad." John said. "But he should be alright."
The blonde healer straightened up and turned back to the visitor. "I do appreciate your help doctor. As you can see we are set up for multiple emergencies, but we rarely have this many beds filled at one time. And usually Ellaina is able to help."
"Not at all. I don't often get to see the root's of medicine, excuse the bad pun." The doctor smiled.
Constance smiled back then peered out the window. "Ah, it seems they have finished." She motioned towards a window now displaying the group emerging from behind a cabin across the square."
Beverly took note that Ellaina had come back with the commander and Data. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to meet them in the square." The doctor explained.
"Of course, and thank you again." The blonde woman said before going back to a patient.
Beverly gave another short nod and smile to John then headed out of the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Magic?" Picard asked standing in the center of the main bridge trying not to sound surprised.
"I might not have believed it either Sir, but the light show they put on, well, it's pretty believable." Riker commented when he saw the doctor walking towards them from the hospital.
"Can you describe the phenomenon Number One?" Picard made the request, trying very hard to keep an open mind, although the events of the last few hours may have helped provide fuel for this task.
Riker went on to tell exactly what he'd seen in as much detail as he could while Ellaina added some here and there to complete the story.
At about this time, Worf stood at his post behind the command area and was receiving a communication from young Ensign Craigs. A boy with promise, but who's flighty nature and ability to turn simple evidence into a long and winding tail often caused the Security Chief more questions then answers. This would seem to be one of those times, but with a lack of a tale of any kind.
"Very well." Worf said and nodded to another member of security to take his place before notifying the captain he had matters to attend to. He'd heard the commander's descriptions, and still thought it all tales for small children.
The people below had done something to their own home, and now were putting on shows for amusement trying to convince the captain that an obscure practice most average people would find laughable was the cause.
The oversized Klingon continued down corridors towards the guest quarters. He'd almost been happy to leave the bridge. He had a great respect for William Riker, and did not like hearing that even he may be swaying towards the possibility of a magical influence.
Worf was not a scientist, and his people had belief systems rooted in tradition and ritual, but not magic. Things were substantial. Foes could be beaten, or tricked. They could not be made to magically disappear or hurt. These were physical actions, and beyond the belief that there was a stobalcore, a heaven, he did not believe in that which he could not find a reason to.
It was this final thought that went through his head before punching in the code that opened the guest quarters. As he expected, Craigs was inside watching over the four in his care. As unexpected, the four in question were alight with a yellow glimmering fog that seemed to have taken hold of them all. They each glimmered with dots of lights glinting spiradicaly.
His mind went right back to Riker's words form only moments before. "Translucent yellow. Fog, with random lights. Moved towards the sky. Points out the cause of the planet's problems."
With thoughtful defeat, Worf tapped his communicator. "Security to Captain Picard," He began then continued with no enthusiasm, and a touch of sarcasm pulled off in a way only a klingon could. With a low growl in the back of his throat, "I have located Commander Riker's missing yellow fog."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Check this out." Dawn said and giggled while writing her name in the air. It lingered for just a moment before the heavily yellowed mist drew back towards her. She smiled brightly at the last bit of the 'n' drawing back into the fog until once again the air was clear before her. The teen giggled again and looked up to gage the vampire's reaction.
Spike gave the girl a chuckle. The fact that she was smiling giving him enough reason to put away 'The Big Bad' for long enough to let the littlest Summers get what glee she could out of the situation. "S'fine Bit, but don't go making any of those little hearts with arrows. Too close to home."
Dawn laughed outright at that, then with a mischeviouse grin began another piece of artwork in the space right in front of the black clad figure's chest.
"It's a locater spell." Willow repeated. "I'm sure of it."
"So maybe Tara and Giles-" Buffy began with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
Willow shook her head furiously. "It'd be impossible. This place isn't even mapped, and a finding spell like this. I don't think even Anya would know how to get past the barriers between demensions for it to be of use."
They barely paid attention to Worf while he communicated with the captain, and was told to set the small screen on the desk for transmission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Red was right then." Spike said a little shocked as he studied the home showing behind the woman on the small screen, more importantly, the window behind her.
The four of them were now huddled together in front of the laptop talking to a woman who apparently lived in a log cabin. The bearded commander was standing beside her. Worf and Craigs stood on the other side of the desk looking on over the four as the transmission took place.
At the first Glance, Ellaina was shocked to see what the spell had found, and after a few words the spell was broken and the glow faded from Buffy and her enterage. Soon, explanations for the glowing effect were given and the Sunnydale clan had a point in the right direction.
Ellaina nodded. "Yes, we were searching." She seemed a little perplexed, but her confidence didn't waver. "I'm still unsure how you are connected, although the young commander has given us information on your unusual arrival." Her manner changed to one of curiosity. "Is it true, you were unaware you would appear upon the Enterprise?"
"Really, no clue." Buffy said honestly before giving her sister a half smile and looking back at the video image of the older woman. "We were whipping up a spell, but this was certainly NOT what we had planned." She finished.
"Really?" The priestess asked.
Willow interrupted. "It was supposed to transport, interdementionally." The red head shook her head with some confusion. "But I still don't know how us coming here would have any effect on rites that are used to give thanks for life on your planet."
"There is a bit more to it my dear." Ellaina provided. "But we can do nothing of it until you come here." She took pause before continuing. "Captain?" Ellaina said still looking at the screen.
"Yes Priestess." The six of them heard his voice over the com as the woman's image remained.
"I'd like to invite your guests to come to us. We may yet be able to still the planet before disaster. But I do not foresee a resolution before the window is closed, and I'm afraid that waiting until the next one is open would be too late."
They could hear the captain sigh quietly. "You are saying whomever transports could very well be stranded."
"Yes Captain Picard. But they will be provided for here. We do have a suitable place for guests set aside."
"Hold on." Buffy interrupted. "Are you saying you want us to do that.. 'beam' thing to you. Then just be stuck forever?"
"No my dear." Ellaina's attention went back to the blonde on her screen. "You will need to remain here until the 20 hours is up. After that you will easily be able to go back to the starship."
"What are we supposed to be doing there? Play tiddlywinks?" Spike asked still looking at the dimming daylight shining into the home of the woman.
Willow gave him a stern look. "They need to see why we might be connected. At the very least they are going to need to know what we did to get here, and figure out why our spell is interacting with theirs."
"That's quite right, Willow was it?" Ellaina asked. Willow nodded, blushing slightly under the praise of this obviously practiced witch. "But that will only give us an idea. We will still need to discern the most reasonable way to , well for lack of a better word, fix it."
"I have no objection to your request." They all heard the captain proclaim. "But it is not my decision." He seemed to be finished, but as an afterthought included a request of his own. "I do ask that some of my people are allowed to stay as well. After all, these people have come to the Enterprise and until their situation is resolved I feel it is our duty to ensure their safety."
"Agreed." Ellaina answered quickly. Her attention once again went over the faces of the four young people looking back from her screen above the desk in her home. "What do you say? Are you willing to help us?"
Willow pleaded with Buffy in one glance, her eyes screaming 'PLEASE!!' The idea of meeting this woman was just too much of an opportunity for her. Dawn had a similar look and was a bit twitchy which meant she was already excited by the prospect. Spike looked a little fearful, but Buffy wasn't as concerned with that as she was with the fact that this was the first clue as to a way home. If they were connected, surely they could have answers.
The Slayer sighed heavily, her inner turmoil getting to her. "Alright. We'll go."
The tenseness in the air thinned and Ellaina smiled. "We can meet you in the square." She declared just as she was about to end the communiqué."
"Pet?" Spike addressed the high priestess before she could cut the transmission.
Ellaina looked to the screen once more with a curious face. "Yes?"
"Got one request of my own."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles lit the last candle in the Summers's family room. Each pillar was at the point of a familiar 5 pointed star formed by white sand like substance ground from the bones of a Meklan demon. Tara stood in the center still repeating her mantra while Anya and Xander stood near the stairs out of the way of the two performing the spell.
The clear blue glass-like crystal in Tara's hands was nearly the size of a bowling ball, but its weight was barely there. As Tara continued with her words and Giles stood back to join the other non magical members of the Scoobies, it began to rise up from her upheld hands and a small glow could be seen at its core.
The young Wiccan's words came louder and more quickly. She was taking gasps of air between phrases. Soon her shoulders shook and it was easy to see that the effort was draining her.
"Giles, is she gonna-" Xander began but the watcher raised a hand in the air signaling that the boy should be quiet.
It was then that Tara slumped to the ground, the large crystal following and landing just a few inches from her hands and she crouched down trying to keep herself from completely sprawling onto the ground. "Mas" was the last syllable she got out before falling completely to the ground.
Giles rushed to her side and helped to rouse the blonde.
"See. You interrupted." Anya blamed her boyfriend. "You aren't supposed to do that during a spell, or don't you remember the Olaf incident?"
Xander gave his love the evil eye before crouching next to Giles and checking on Tara.
Tara, for all her effort couldn't figure out what had happened. "Something is-is blocking me." She said while still catching her breath. "I couldn't reach past our dimension Giles." She shook her head and started to let the tears of fatigue and hopelessness fall.
"Blocking?" Giles asked. "But who would be doing such a thing?"
Anya came away from the stairs then and shrugged. "The place is probably just too new to be on the multidimensional compass's charts." She continued to the couch and tried to get comfy. She was quite aware that the group would want to stay here for the night, and quite frankly she was too tired to pretend to research for something she didn't think had an answer yet. Sleep was her new objective.
At her words, Giles craned his neck to face his young assistant. "What was that?"
Anya took a deep breath, a little perturbed. "Well, they made something of nothing. You can't find nothing. You have to wait for the nothing to be something to be found. And since it's a very new something from the nothing, it's still registering as nothing. You see?"
"Hu?" It was Xander's turn to be confused, again.
"Of course." Giles said and sat fully on the floor where Tara still was recovering. "Don't you see?" He asked the witch. "Until the boundaries have been set, we can't make any communication through a doorway. There is no where to construct it."
"Oh." Xander said.
"You understand the rules of dimensions now?" Giles asked sarcastically.
"Well no." Xander started. "But I do know that you can't build a door into a frame if the frame isn't ready to go up." He smiled at his own deduction.
"Ah yes, the wonders of construction once again invade the magical interludes of our life."
"At least I get it."
"S-so when can we try to find them?" Tara asked, now having regained her breath.
All eyes went to Anya.
The ex-demon contemplated the question for a few moments, seeming to study the coffee table before she smiled. "Taking into account that magic created it, and the time of year, also that it's the year of the Fah'Har," She paused again as she went over it again in her head. "I'd say by Thursday."
"Well that's not so bad. Today is," He checked the clock on the fireplace mantel. "Well Wednesday now."
Anya continued with a raised eyebrow. "June 25th, 2009."
"Ah." Was Xander's only answer.