Chapter Twelve
Doone shuffled around on his bed, trying to get comfy as the door chimed. After taking a moment to realise what it was, he crept out of bed and over to the door. He grumbled whilst looking for a handle and couldn't find anything that seemed to resemble one.
"There's no handle," he shouted through the door. Tarya was tempted between just pressing the bell again and really irritating him, or putting him out of his misery. It was very late now, so she chose the latter.
"It's me Doone. If you want me to enter just say so."
"Oh, hmm, let me think…" She rolled her eyes as he made her wait. "Enter." He finally said.
When she entered he embraced her in a big bear hug.
"I'm just here to say I'm sorry I came back without warning and brought some random people with me."
"Hey, I'm just glad you came back. It was starting to get boring anyway; at least this is a change of pace." She looked deep into his amber coloured eyes. Whilst they still held depths of sadness, there was a contentedness she hadn't seen for a very long time.
"Tell me, how are things really on the surface. Have you had any trouble with the North or the exiled?"
"No, we've not heard from the North at all. Now and again one of the exiled will venture close to a village, but they soon turn around. Everyone is very vigilante."
"Did you really just come here to apologise for re-surfacing?" He knew her too well.
"I was wondering about taking them to Cray Academy first, then travelling to Bramble the following morning."
"Cray Academy! Well I guess that will tick a lot of boxes, but they don't know we're coming. Do you think they'll let us get to the door without firing at us, let alone let us in?"
"I've thought about that. I will go first and speak with the Fumus Master. Then I will come and get you all."
"If you think it'll work, it's a good idea, and it'll be more interesting for them than just sitting in a library or tavern talking… you trust them don't you?"
"I trust these people, yes... Can I stay with you tonight?" Whilst he was a bit taken aback, he'd never say no to this woman.
"Of course". They snuggled on the bed together, both seemingly content just to be in one another's company and Doone found it far easier to drift off to sleep.
The following day, Picard had chosen who was to accompany him down to the surface. Whilst everyone wanted too, he knew he had to choose but a few. "Counsellor Troi, Commander Data and Ensign Crusher, please report to transporter room one." It didn't take them long to appear, for the most part, they'd spent the morning packing a few things to take with them. They were also wearing civilian clothing so as not to startle the locals and draw too much attention.
"Jean-Luc," said Beverly, wrapping her hands around him before anyone else arrived. "Have I told you how handsome you look in your civvies?" He turned red.
"Are we able to use our transporters? I thought we'd need to transport inter-dimensionally?" She said, quickly changing the subject as the others began to arrive.
"We should be able to use our transporters. Tarya has spent the morning working with Geordi to integrate her device into the ship. She seemed to think it would be easy. Apparently, they've managed it. It will be less risky to use our transporters from within their dimension, than it will be crossing them." As he finished speaking their guests and remaining crew members had all arrived, but Tarya had reported to the bridge.
"Commander. We are ready to try the dimensional shift now."
"Great… and how do we do that?"
"You need to raise shields, then ask Lieutenant La Forge to activate the device. It should create an inter-dimensional bubble around the ship and when he adjusts the dial, we should shift."
"Are you confident it'll work?"
"Always Commander." He raised his eyebrows at her level of confidence.
"Okay... Lieutenant Worf; raise shields."
"Shields raised Sir."
"Geordi, work your magic."
"Aye Sir, activating the device." Geordi pipetted some equanime Tarya had given him into the device which was now integrated into the shield emitters. The stones began to shine purple.
"Turning the dial," he added. They all watched with anticipation as nothing happened. Riker was about to make a snide remark to Tarya when his attention was grabbed by the viewing monitor. In front of their eyes the universe slowly became cloudy and everything shifted, albeit very slightly. The sun remained and so did some of the brightest stars, but many disappeared. In front of their eyes emerged a very small M-Class planet, very similar to earth, but made of two main continents. The North was browner and appeared more baron. The south looked Green and lush and between the two was a vast ocean with several small islands dotted around.
"Incredible." Muttered Riker just as Geordi stepped off the turbolift.
"I'll be dammed, it worked." Said Geordi as he marvelled at the viewing screen.
"It certainly did," reiterated Riker.
"How come the Sun and some of the stars are still visible?" Queried Geordi
"Power," said Tarya, "With the exception of our orb and moon, you are now staring at the objects that transcend all dimensions, certainly the four we've been too anyway. I can't be certain, but as they are the biggest and most powerful, it must have something to do with the energy they emit. It also makes sense - sort of. If there were no pins to keep the dimensions aligned to one another, what would stop them from shifting out of alignment? We've also noticed, that when a star collapses or new one is formed, it does so in all dimensions. It must have something to do with linking them all together and again, the immense power emitted when it happens. When a star forms, for example, it can be seen to do so in all dimensions at once. It's basically all theory, but it's all we have."
"What you say does make sense, I guess. I can't wait to explore this further Ensign," Geordi said as he continued to marvel at the screen.
"Agreed Geordi, but for now Tarya, I believe you are needed in transporter room one." Commanded RIker.
"Aye sir," Tarya said as she made her way off the bridge.
"Ah, I take it your arrival means we have been successful?" Asked Picard, as Tarya entered the transporter room.
"Yes Captain, we are ready to transport."
"Where do you suggest we transport?"
"We are going to transport to a small woodland area just outside of Cray Academy. It is our only ancient learning institution still in operation. I think will be more interesting for you and a place where many of your questions can be answered."
"Wow, I've never been to Cray Academy either," said Christoph, excitedly.
"Do I get to go too?" Asked Starnel.
"Of course," added Tarya, with a look of confusion.
"Ooo I am honoured, mixing with the elite. Had I known I would have worn something smarter."
"Starnel, you could outwit and outsmart the students in this academy without a second thought, and many of the masters for that matter. They will be honoured by your presence." The knot that appeared in Starnel's throat surprised him.
"Captain, if I transport our lot down first, we can make sure everything is safe, then request for you to join us. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course." With that said Tarya walked to the transporter terminal and began inputting the co-ordinates. She then joined her people on the pad. Picard waited a few moments, then instructed. "Engage."
It had worked, Tarya and her friends had indeed transported on the edge of a woodland area. The moment they had, Tarya's eyes began to glow blue.
"Is everything okay?" Asked Christoph.
"Oh fine, I'm going to need some leverage to get across that dammed bridge without being shot. I'm just asking for some help." As she seemed to be busy communicating with something, the others had a quick look around. They could neither see nor sense anyone.
"It seems secure; I think we're safe to transport them down," recommended Doone. Tarya had finished doing whatever it was she had been doing.
"Tarya to Captain Picard - you are safe to join us."
Within a few moments, the five members of the federation had beamed down. It was very dark, Picard couldn't tell if night was deep, or if it was nearing morn, but their moon illuminated well and small, firefly like creatures scurried around. It was quite beautiful.
"Come." Tarya gestured for them to follow her. They all headed towards the edge of woodland that eventually opened into a large green expanse. At the centre of this Expanse was a deep, dark and eerie lake.
"That is the Wistful Well", explained Doone, "its properties are dark and protective. No-one knows what truly lies beneath, but sometimes, in the dead of night, large bellowing sounds can be heard that have no explanation."
"Do you not want to get to the bottom of the mystery?" Asked Wesley. "I know I'd want to know."
"You see that water boy," added Starnel. "You see how black it is?" Wesley nodded in acknowledgment. "Back off!" He made everyone jump and Beverly put in an instinctive arm around his shoulder. "That's what it is telling us. All the bodies of water on our orb are crystal clear, completely and utterly. They invite us in, but not this one. We respect our orb boy and in turn it respects us." He ventured closer to the lake as he spoke and they wearily looked to one another.
"Please forgive Starnel," pleaded Tarya, "he's a penchant for the dramatic."
They now stood at the edge of a very long stone bridge that crossed the lake. It led to a large island rock. On top of that rock stood an imposing stone building with two wings and five towers. It was very dark and the structure could only really be seen in silhouette, but light from quite a few windows illuminated the walls, just enough. In the distance they could just make out large mountains that spanned the entire horizon. Either side of the lake stood tall trees, trees that stood nearly as tall as the largest tower on the building.
"That is a magnificent building." Observed Deanna.
"It is, we don't have many like it mind you, this is by far the most extravagant." As Tarya spoke, a gigantic horse-like creature whinnied and drew their attention, it stood where the mountains in the distance met the trees. It was clearly horse-like, but had a full set of antlers that appeared to smoke in the night. Tarya's eyes shone again and the creature began to canter around the lake until it stopped only a few meters away.
"Dear smokey," said Christoph, "is that an Antourian smokey?" Tarya smiled and walked up to it, stroking it's forehead.
"It is." She addressed the crew. "The Antourian smokeys are larger than regular smokeys and descend from the great beast of their line. Whilst they are free to do as they please, they choose make their home in Cray Academy's pastures and stables. They are proud to fight alongside us when such a time arises.
"I need your help old friend," Tarya respectfully asked and it dropped its head to her hand, almost as if it was saying, 'anything.'
"I am hoping that by riding this Smokey to the academy we won't get shot. The guards are always alert and the protection properties of the lake mean you can't contact them easily. There is normally a password to gain access, but that's bound to have changed since I was here last. I will cross and speak to the Fumus Master, when I return, I am hoping we can all cross together." With that said, she hoisted herself onto the smokey, then they walked to the bridge and slowly began to make their way across.
The remainder of folk watched on, part in curiosity and part trepidation. Everything was quiet and still, no-one said a word. At first, it seemed as though she'd make it all the way, but around half way across, quite a few purple lights began to appear from some of the turrets and windows. They looked to Doone.
"Well they've spotted her. They should recognise she is on one of their smokeys so they shouldn't fire - hopefully."
"You don't sound convinced," said Picard.
"Hmmmm," was all he offered back, but their attention was drawn by a flash of purple. Where Tarya stood in the centre of the bridge a pattern emerged, illuminating the vastness with a purple glow.
"That's what we call the Latorian Star Constellation," explained Starnel. "I'm assuming it's the last password she had."
"Fascinating," noted Data, "we know that as Libra."
After a few moments the purple glows started disappearing and they watched as she continued across the bridge.