Disclaimer: Star Trek and all associated characters and situations are the property of CBS studios. Star Trek Online is the creation of Cryptic and Perfect World. Tomb Raider and the situations therein are the property of Square Enix. All are here used by myself for entertainment purposes only, without permission or intent to profit. Stardates were calculated with the help of the TNG Stardate Calculator available on TrekGuide .com and may be slightly out of sync with those used in the game's lore.
The Lair of the Sun Queen
USS Nautilus, Shuttle One Crew, Carlin Drel's Log, Supplemental:
We...ugh...we're flying low and slow in the sh-shuttle...trying to make it to the monastery ahead of the Solarii. I've got to rescue Sam...get her away from Matan before they do anything to her. If something happens to her...I'll never forgive myself.
I've lost too many people to this planet already...too much of me. I won't lose her, too!
Carlin Drel sat on the floor of the wounded shuttle, her head in her hands, her eyes squeezed shut, and still the nausea came, assaulting her in waves. She groaned. Ursan had offered to stop or fly slower, but Carlin had insisted they keep moving as quickly as the battered little ship could fly. If Sam can give her soul for her friends, the least I can do is offer my stomach, she thought.
"We're almost there," Atria's voice broke through the fog of nausea. "We need your help finding it. You said there was a statue?"
Carlin forced herself to look up and open her eyes. "Yes...there! The golden...ugh...woman..." She grimaced as airsickness clenched at her throat. She forced herself to not to vomit the rations she'd eaten that morning and pointed ahead. "There should be a canyon. Follow it! The monastery should be right there."
Atria peered ahead, shielding her eyes against the wind. "I don't see it...but I see something else!"
"What?" Carlin said wearily.
"Well, that Sun Queen of yours is supposed to have control of the storms, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because there's a really big storm up ahead," said Atria. "It's circling right where you said the monastery is. I'm guessing its her version of a do not disturb sign."
"Well today we're going to be intrusive," Howard said.
Atria glanced back at the Doctor. "Not in this thing we aren't! The shuttle's barely holding together as it is. If we go into that we're dead for sure!"
"Set us down over the canyon!" Drel ordered. It would put them in a good tactical position without risking their craft in the storm. "We'll make our stand there!"
Atria nodded and shouted landing instructions to Ursan. While he began his decent, Carlin closed her eyes again, silently praying to the god of falling Trill that they would manage to land in one piece—and without her vomiting.
A few minutes later, her prayers were answered. The shuttle rocked as it touched down on the barren mesa to the east of the arid canyon, and then was blessedly still. Carlin sighed when her stomach settled itself. She opened her eyes and rose, moving to the hatch with the others. Everyone was going out this time, even Crusoe whose wounded arm was in a sling and McKensey who had be be carried by Ursan. Atria had dug a second pair of small disruptors from some secret compartment aboard the shuttle and given them to Howard and McKensey. They would need every hand, every eye, and every weapon they could muster if they were to win this. They gathered together at the edge of the cliff, taking shelter behind some rock outcroppings, and watched as the trail of dust that marked the Solarii trucks slowly approached.
"I give them half an hour before they reach here," said Atria.
"Good time for a last meal then," said Crusoe.
Drel nodded. It was generally bad form to send anyone into combat on an empty stomach. She opened her medkit and distributed the last of her ration bars, saving one for herself and one for Sam. Crusoe gobbled his down and McKensey and Howard ate theirs without complaint. Atria turned her nose up at the bars at first, but when she saw that was all there was, she reluctantly agreed. Ursan didn't even seem to notice his, lying on the rock beside him. "What's that?" he asked, pointing toward the approaching convoy.
"What's what?" asked Carlin, sitting up.
"One of the trucks has broken away from the others," said Ursan. "It's headed away to the east."
"I see it," said Carlin, squinting. "It looks like it's circling around."
"Maybe they're deserters," said Atria. "I mean, not all of Matan's followers can be blind idiots."
As much as she wished she could agree, Drel shook her head. "No one's pursuing them, and it looks like they left from the head of the column."
"It's Matan, then," said Howard. "The others are still coming this way?"
"All but that truck," Ursan confirmed.
"Then this is a diversion," Drel realized. She stood and wiped her forehead with a palm. "Of course! I should have known it."
"Known what?" asked McKensey.
"Matan's too smart to go up against the Oni in a full-frontal assault. He's seen what they can do, what they did to the Dominion here thirty years ago. He'd never risk it: not for himself, and not for the Chosen One that he needs to get alive to the Chamber of the Sun," she said. "He's sending his men up against the main entrance as a diversion while he sneaks in through the back way."
"Is there a back way?" Atria asked.
Carlin nodded. "Sam said there had to be at least one other entrance, not counting the one we destroyed when we escaped from this place."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find it!" Carlin holstered her weapon, grabbed her medkit, and prepared to leave.
"Wait! You can't go alone," said Atria.
"I have to. If these Solarii get through, they'll control the Star of Yamatai at the least," said Carlin. "We can't let that happen. You have to hold them off as long as you can. Besides, more people means more risk of being spotted. I'll go after Sam and Matan alone."
"You won't get there ahead of them by foot," McKensey warned.
"I know," Carlin said, trying not to think too hard about what that meant for Sam...what she might endure. "I'll go in after them. I'll rescue Sam. If I'm not back here by nightfall-"
"We'll wait for you," Atria interrupted. She met Carlin's eyes. "You and your friends have saved both our lives, and that does mean something. We'll wait for you."
Carlin managed to smile. "Thank you," she said, knowing the gesture meant a lot coming from Atria. "Good luck to all of us!" she said. Then she set out along the clifftops, following Matan's truck around to the northeast.
USS Nautilus, Shuttle One Crew, Sam Hayashi, Stardate 81633.8:
This may be my final entry. I hope and pray that it isn't...but it may be. I'm going into the monastery, facing the Oni once again. If we make it past those demons, I'll face one greater still: a koh in the form of the Sun Queen of Japanese legend, intent on stealing my body for her own...God, please don't let her do it!
Tatoi watashi wa shi no in no tani o ayumutomo,
Waza wai o osoremasen.
Anata ga watashi to tomoni ora rerukaradesu.
Anata no muchi to, anata no tsue wa watashi o nagusamemasu.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me...
"Out!" Matan barked as soon as the truck had stopped moving. Mor hopped out of his seat beside Sam and made a show of holding his disruptor on her, but it was not his weapon that worried her (except, perhaps, in the case of an accidental discharge). Matan was far more threatening, even with his phaser tucked away out of sight. Sam got out silently and stood between them.
Matan took one of her arms, still tied behind her back, and tugged. "Walk," he commanded. She walked.
Mor took the lead. They were passing through an abandoned village much smaller than the one Carlin had described. Mor stopped to ogle over the ruins here and there, making commentary to himself as if already followed by his own imaginary holocamera crew.
Sam glared at the traitor's back. God, I really want to make it out of this, but if that's not in your plan, at least don't let this bastard get away with using my death to prop up his own network ratings! she prayed.
Matan jerked her arm again, pulling her onto a side path, heading down into a ravine. "This way, Doctor!" he instructed.
"Oh, of course!" said Mor, hurrying after them. He soon caught up and took the lead again. Unlike the other paths to the monastery, this one was almost completely unmarked. There were only occasional reliefs set into the walls depicting Himiko. All of them were set high up in the cliff face, out of reach and perpetually staring down at those who walked the ravine floor.
I guess that would make this the servant's entrance, Sam decided. It was certainly not nice enough to be the royal entrance, nor inviting enough to serve as a path for pilgrims.
The ravine ended in a sharp bend. Matan stopped just short of it and forced her to do the same, pressing her against the wall. "Stop, Doctor, and be silent. We wouldn't want to startle the Oni, would we?" he said.
"O-oni?...," Mor shivered. "No...of course not."
"Go ahead and take a peek around the corner," Matan said. "It should be safe."
Mor edged toward the corner, then stopped. "Why don't you look?"
"I have to hold the Chosen One, to see that she doesn't get out of hand," said Matan.
Mor nodded. He poked his head just around the corner, then immediately withdrew, pressing his back against the stone wall. "It's them!" he fairly squeaked. "The Oni! There are two of them right on this side of the bridge!"
"Don't be alarmed, my good doctor," said Matan. "These are the Stormguard, aren't they, Samantha? They serve the Sun Queen, don't they?"
Sam pressed her lips together in a firm silent line, but Matan wrenched her arms painfully up and to one side, nearly causing her to scream. She answered then. "Yes! Yes, they're the Stormguard! They serve Himiko...though I'm not sure what it matters, at this point-"
"Be silent," said Matan, putting a gloved hand over her mouth. He smiled at Mor. "Yes, the Stormguard, they guard the monastery and protect the Sun Queen's body. Now, they wait only to be introduced to the new queen—by the hero who brought her back to us."
"Ah, of course!" Mor said, his eyes lighting up. "I've encountered these archaic tribes before. Bring back their leader and they practically worship you as a god!" He smiled greedily. "Let's get some rewards, Doctor," he said to himself. Then, to Sam's shock and horror, he strutted right out into the open and called out to the Oni.
"My name is Doctor Mor! I come to you in peace!" the Ferengi shouted. Sam could hear leather creak and metal plates rattle as the Stormguard warriors came to their feet. "I bring you your new queen!"
Oh no! Sam thought, sure for a second that the madman Matan was going to drag her out there and get her butchered on the spot. Instead he pressed her even closer against the concealing stone wall and lurked behind it himself. She saw a cold smile creep onto his face and she suddenly understood what he was doing. Why the bastard—!
There was no stopping it now. Sam could hear the footsteps of the Stormguard, circling Mor. The Ferengi, puzzled, but still confident, called out again. "Your queen!" he prompted. Matan did not make a move and still the Oni did not draw their weapons, though Sam knew their hands were probably already on the hilts. Meanwhile Mor was becoming frustrated. He muttered some kind of oath under his breath, then said, "Oh, what is it in Jah-pan-ese?...Oh! Your Joou!"
Swords hissed from their sheaths as the Stormguard shouted battlecries. Mor screamed and there was the sound of tearing flesh. Matan grabbed Sam's arm and pulled her away from the cliff, around the corner. They rushed behind the Oni and past them as they finished cutting down the hapless Ferengi. They started onto a rope bridge, Matan pushing her across ahead of him. He drew his phaser from his sash and turned back. He fired twice. Sam heard the Oni drop. Then the Cardassian tucked his phaser away again and urged Sam to go faster.
Sam went along, not wanting to be caught in the open, exposed on that bridge when more of Himiko's Stormguard came to investigate the deaths of their fellows. As soon as they were on the other side, among the ruins of various supply sheds and outbuildings, she tugged against her bonds to glare back at Matan. "Mor was a jerk, but you're a monster!" she accused.
"And do you think you're a hero, Samantha?" Matan growled. "Everything I've done, I did to survive." He jerked on her arm, pulling her into one of the buildings. "How many lives have you taken to do the same?"
Sam swallowed. That was not something she enjoyed thinking about.
"There are no heroes here," he said when she didn't answer. "Only survivors."
Matan continued to lead them through darkened passageways, moving by touch. Soon, they came to a large gilded chamber. The statues of more than a dozen women stood there, standing in a circle, each statue made from solid gold, each a regal lady in flowing robes...each a queen—or more, as she now knew: each the same queen, hosted in a different body.
"The Queens of Yamatai's past," Matan said, smiling. "Soon, Samantha, you shall take your place among them."
Sam pulled against him but could not break free. "This isn't right, Matan," she said. "Himiko's dangerous! She's angry, she's vengeful, and she has real power—power we can only imagine!"
Matan snorted. "You let your fears control you, Starfleet," he said. "A mere mortal for a Queen? A good trade for our freedom, I'd say."
Sam gritted her teeth. "I am not a bargaining chip!" She tried to kick at him, but he sidestepped casually, using his grip on her bound arms to pull her off balance.
"No, you are a chosen vessel, and soon the Queen will fill you with Her spirit!" he hissed.
Once she'd regained her balance, Matan directed her out through a set of heavy doors and into the open air. To her surprise, Sam saw it was snowing. Despite the dusting of flakes clinging to the ground and falling from the swirling black clouds above, Matan stopped to remove his shoes, grunting and touching his side as he did so. Then at last he straightened and pulled Sam onto an ancient stone bench, forcing her to sit as he pulled her mismatched boots off as well. "No shoes," he said. "From here on, we tread on holy ground." He motioned broad granite staircase leading upward, through a series of gilded torii. Sam flinched as her bare feet touched the cold snow and colder stone, but she had no choice. She had to keep climbing.
When they reached the top of the staircase, above the highest spires of the monastery below, they came to a large, round building: a temple, Sam would have called it anywhere else. The doors were blown open by a sudden gust of wind and Sam and Matan hurried inside. Once inside, they found themselves in a huge open room, surrounded on all sides by great shuttered windows. A sudden gust sprang up again and the doors closed behind them with a groan and a resounding boom. Sam began praying desperate prayers in her mind, too afraid to speak aloud in this place.
"This is the place," Matan said, though even his voice was a reverent whisper. "The Chamber of the Sun. Come!" He pulled on her arms, guiding her through the dim room to its center. Sam felt a design set into the floor beneath her feet, a gilded sun with rays. At its center, was an image, probably human - doubtless the Sun Queen. Sam looked around and saw a stone casket laying in front of her, it's top leaning against it, open. She saw a female body lying nearby, naked and mostly decayed, a clear stab wound in its chest. Hoshi. She bit her lip. God, please let her find rest...and please let me finish what she started!
Matan forced her down onto her knees in front of the open coffin. Then he moved to inspect it. Sam saw a faint, unnatural light shining from it and knew it could only mean one thing. Himiko was in there, in her last body, and with her, the Star of Yamatai. Matan smiled and began his incantation. "Oh Great Queen! Through the trials I have brought you your vessel!" he began.
Sam took advantage of his preoccupation. She hadn't had a chance to do so before, but now she reached under her obi now with her fingers, grasping the hilt of the concealed tanto - the weapon the Solarii had never seen she had, and the one Mor had simply forgotten. There was no sheath, and the blade slid silently from the folds of silk. She grasped it in her right hand. She slid the back edge along her bonds. Rope fibers parted easily before the razor-sharp blade.
"Pour forth, and return to this mortal coil!" Matan was chanting. Inside the coffin, the glow of the Star grew brighter. Sam saw shadows of movement. "Pour forth, and be reborn! Pour forth, and fill up this vessel! Pour forth, and awaken!"
Sam cut through the last of her bonds and jumped to her feet, tanto in hand. At the same time, the movement in the coffin became a motion, and the corpse sat up. It seemed almost perfectly preserved, a woman at the onset of her old age frozen in time - then she saw the face. There were no eyes. No nose. No features at all except a mouth. The head turned to Sam and the mouth screamed. Parts of the featureless face pealed off like old paint, revealing the ashen interior. Hands no longer guided by human eyes reached upward, protecting the glowing white jewel at the corpse's throat. Sam aimed her tanto there and swung.
Matan was there, suddenly. He knocked Sam's hand aside, sending the tanto spinning from her grip. Then he struck her with a back handed blow, throwing her to the floor. Sam shook herself, flexed her bruised jaw, and was about to get back to her feet when she saw the old Queen raise her arms as if in an incantation. The mouth screamed again and the Star of Yamatai lit up the room like the rising sun. Blue white tendrils, as much like water as arcs of electricity, shot forth from the stone, seeking Sam out. They struck her and the pain came, and with it, a presence.
Oh shit! Sam thought, then the pain became overwhelming and she began to scream as well.
Author's Note: As per chapter 23, the Oni are immune to polaron-based Jem'Hadar weapons, but not necessarily other types of modern weapons, for reasons that will be revealed in a later chapter.
It's not immediately clear to me from playing Tomb Raider what Matthias' plan for the endgame was. He slips in past the Stormguard using Dr. Whitman as a diversion (as Matan uses Mor here), but also appears to use his Solarii in a more frontal attack. This is my interpretation the combination. As in the game, most of the protagonists except Lara (played here by Carlin) are left to stem the tide of the Solarii while she goes in alone after Sam.
The quotation in Sam's log is Psalm 23:4 and is identical to the quotation in chapter 25.
Sam's conversations with Matan are based on Lara's in the game—but without the question of why she tries to talk Matthias down instead of just shooting him. Her and Matan removing their shoes before entering the Chamber of the Sun is a reflection of the fact that both their character models are barefoot at this point in the game (Matthias' since he revealed his true nature as leader of the Solarii and Sam's ever since she was recaptured). Many cultures, ancient and modern, have held that one should remove their shoes when treading on sacred ground. Speaking of sacred things, torii are archways or free-standing gateways in Japanese culture that mark the transition from the profane to the sacred at temple or shrine entrances. Multiple torii denote an increasingly sacred space. Since Himiko was worshiped as a goddess and kept the Chamber of the Sun as her sacred space, it makes sense that she would place multiple torii on the path to herself.
Just to be clear on the irony here, Hoshi's body is naked and unarmed because Sam is wearing her clothes (the kimono marked with the bloody hole above the heart, which at some point was recovered either by the Dominion or the Solarii without them realizing its significance) and holding her weapon (the Stormguard general's dagger—or tanto—which must have been returned to him after the disaster so he could commit seppuku with it). In the game, Hoshi's fate is ambiguous. One possible interpretation is that the body the Sun Queen appears in during the final scene is actually Hoshi's—that the handmaiden didn't trap Himiko by stranding her in her previous vessel after killing her new one, but by trapping Himiko in her own body by killing the new vessel immediately after transference. This is a rather nightmare-fuel ending for Hoshi and it implies that Himiko can inhabit a body that is fully dead. I chose to avoid these implications by making Himiko's body that of her former vessel before her attempted possession of Hoshi. The facelessness of the body harks back to Hoshi's tale in chapter 17.
Readers who were paying close attention last chapter will have realized that Sam was still armed, as she's mentioned as having concealed the general's tanto on her person after finding it, but it is not among the weapons Mor removes from her when she surrenders. Of course, in the game, Sam Nishimura doesn't try to take out the Sun Queen this way, but I couldn't see Sam Hayashi going down without a fight.