Log Date: 4/28, 4/30, 9/22, 5/10/99 [NOTE: Date weirdness here has to do with some of these scene having to be replayed in September.] Log Cast: Paul Nighman, Dane Noth, Kairne Saa'thul, Shenneret Veery, Urio'kosh Log Intro: Earth and fire, water and air; the five exhausted travellers in the midst of the ancient jungle crypt have made it through four elemental challenges to win into the place's inner rooms, discovering a wealth of books in a mighty library, along with an old computer that they have tried to... and failed in... bringing online. To their dismay, the computer exploded in the attempt and buried a shard of its screen in Paul's flesh, dealing him yet another in the string of both small and large wounds the already battered Corellian has sustained upon the journey. But the incident has yet again badly rattled Shenner, and Paul has had to take a few precious moments to try to brace the girl's faltering spirits, before they can continue on their way.... ---------- Calling out to the rest of the group, Paul Nighman's voice rings out, not as strong as it might normally be, but these are not normal circumstances. "Shall we press on? See if there is a way out of this labyrinth?" Dane nods, "Let's.." he grabs his rifle and checks it out, "I'm ready when you are." Kairne nods to Dane and Paul, "very well, I'm ready." Shen only clings to Paul's hand, looking shaken, and she bobs her head mutely at him without bothering to wait to see if the Corellian's gaze falls on her. Urio raises his head, clearly disappointed at first. Rising up he places the book back on the shelf, his motions slowing slightly. Turning toward the others, the younger Mandalorian nods, his eyes somewhat distracted, a half smile on his lips. "Yes .... let's." Knowing that Dane will insist, or at least be of the mind that he should lead, Paul simply extends one hand toward the archway in invitation to the Mandalorian to preceed him for a change of pace. "After you." Dane chuckles and starts towards the archway, with a slight incline of his head he acknowledges the doctor, "Well I'm glad that last one blew some sense into you Paul." he winks and readies his weapon as he starts into the archway. Snorting, as the two of them were equidistant when the computer blew, Paul trails after Dane, peering over at Shen as her tight grip as more than registered with him. There is the slight urge to draw away, to force her to stand on her own two feet, so to speak, but he doesn't. Instead Paul squeezes her hand before he starts moving toward the next room. Kairne taps Dane on the arm, "Easy now old friend, no need hurt his feelings." Kairne moves along with Dane, striding to catch up with Paul so that he can keep an eye on his two human friends. Perhaps Shenner is wrestling with the same sort of urge that momentarily crosses Paul's mind... for although she keeps her grip on his hand, she focuses her gaze ahead, her face settling into tense, stoic lines, her eyes dark and veiled and unreadable. Dane walks slowly, passing under the ornately carved archway and into the darkened space beyond it. Dane has left. Walking slowly, you pass through the ornately carved archway into the next room, which takes your breath away ... Crypt - Hall of Warriors This room is amazing ... simply amazing. It is a fantastic display, a testament, to the warrior might of the Mandalorian people. Hung all about the walls are tapestries depicting great battle scenes and moments of glory. Famous Mandalores, leaders, and warriors are captured in impressive detail. The colors, despite their age, are still bold and strong. It's hard to say which is more interesting, the tapestries, or what lines the room below them. In cases and on pedastals are examples of the armaments and weapons throughout their history, dating back to primitive shields, body armor, and bladed weapons, leading up to what was the latest technology during the Clone Wars period. Contents: Dane Paul Nighman Obvious exits: Archway Urio'kosh emerges from the shadow of the archway, looking about in awe at the incredible display. Urio'kosh has arrived. Kairne emerges from the shadow of the archway, looking about in awe at the incredible display. Kairne has arrived. As the party traipses into this new chamber, Shen's grip on Paul's free hand slowly but palpably lessens, and at last, wordlessly, she lets her own hand drop free of his. The girl casts her dark gaze about the room, but says nothing at all, and avoids looking at the Corellian at her side now... as if embarrassed, perhaps. Dane seems like a child on the holiday of givingand thanks, his eyes wide at all of the equipment in the room..he roams through the cases slowly, experiencing what each generation had to offer in the way of personal technology in awe. He looks to Kairne and smiles a bit, "I haven't seen anything like this since the Monolith.." Paul stops, staring about at the armaments with both a xenoarcheaologist's delight and a non-violent man's reticence. Frowning he keeps walking, his gaze and interest taken in more by the actively ancient pieces of primitive weaponry, tracing the line from stone and wood to forged metal, and down along the developmental ladder. Whistling softly, it takes the Corellian a moment before he shakes off the amazement. After all, it is rare that an expedition turns up such quantities in such fine condition. His eyes narrowing, Paul starts to explore the room, his eyes searching for a very -particular- armament. Urio'kosh's eyes narrow speculatively, but clearly his features are covered in disapproval. He moves from case to case, examining the weapons and armaments, but they neither fill him with awe nor delight. There is a brief moment where he pauses at a case, staring at a suit of armor that must have the height of technological development at the time of the Clone Wars. His gaze flickers over to Dane and Kairne curiously, a frown crossing his brow before he passes the display. "Truly amazing," Kairne exclaims, "A lot of this is ancient.. not seen in ages, even during our time Dane. I don't even think we knew some of this still existed. And even the most recent artifacts, I don't even recognize some of the technology and devices.. they must have been developed during the last days as last attempt.. or for the hope of the future." Kairne moves about the cases, reliving days past, and days never lived. Another room. Another room full of things she doesn't know a thing about. Shen stops more or less in the middle of the chamber, curling her arms around herself, trying to calm herself. _Paul doesn't understand, there -is- something wrong with me, I don't freak out like this usually, somethin' -is- wrong... I gotta stay calm, don't bother Paul... kark it..._ Dane nods to Kairne and examines a suit of armor much like his own, "I see they have some of the various models here.." he motions to a slightly larger sighting unit on the suit he's looking at, "I haven't seen one of these DS-20's for quite some time.." The Corellian makes a second sweep through the room, a hand reaching up to run through the tangled mass of his hair. Muttering under his breath, for the most part Paul cannot be heard clearly. As he passes individuals snippets that sound like, "Where ...it?" and "... has ... here." are audible. His hazel eyes probe, and occasionally he stops and stares at a few individual pieces, but clearly they just don't seem right to him. There is a harsh sigh of frustration before Paul finds a table, setting down his satchel there and pulling out the water damaged historian's journal. He gingerly starts to pull the pages apart, scanning the contents for a clue, a hint .... something ..... -anything-. Kairne notices Paul is obviously searching for something and heads over to join him. "What..are..you.. looking for Paul?" Kairne bobs his head about, looking for some indication or clue as to what the Corellian is frustratingly searching for. "The weapons," he mutters under his breath, his head raising for a moment to impotently gaze about the room one more time. "Nothing here fits the description of the Force enhanced weapons! This can't be it! There -has- to be more." Dane says "Perhaps we just need to look around more..maybe thier hidden?" Kairne says "Weapons such as that Paul... would not be out in the open.. for many reasons.." Hearing Paul's aggravated declaration, and anxious to do _something_ to please him, Shen inches off towards one wall, her gaze roving over the weaponry despite her not really knowing anything of the array of armor and implements of injury and death on display. Taking a seat somewhat heavily, Paul cannot help but turn his gaze to Urio'kosh. As if on command, the younger Mandalorian turns, smirking at the Corellian before striding toward the pair. "Just like I said - nothing more than a myth to scare away small children, Dr. Nighman. Really ... I'm disappointed that after all this you haven't been able to let go of that pathetic excuse for this expedition." "Gods _damn_ it," Shen suddenly bursts out, whirling around, fists clenching, "shut _up_, Urio...!" The young woman's voice cracks, harsh with exhaustion and frustration. Dane says "I bet if we look around some more we might find them hidden..it seems this place has lots of secrets..I'm sure a few more are lurking around here." Turning about slowly, the Mandalorian raises one wry brow at Shenner's outburst, but there is something darker in his eyes that sparks unpleasantly. "You have a very professional -assistant- Doctor," he drawls softly to Paul. He doesn't even bother addressing the girl, simply turning away to stare down at the seated and rather defeated Corellian. Kairne turns to Urio, hearing his quaint remarks, and offers his own, "If you are so sure of that, why don't you just entertain us by searching a little, unless of course, you have a reason otherwise that we shouldn't be looking for them.. Would be dangerous weapons if they were in the wrong hands.." Quite suddenly the floor starts to shake beneath you, and you feel the ground giving way. The room seems strangely green hued, and you can hear a cruel laughter ringing inside your head, over and over and over again. "Do - not - inter - fere." The sick feeling in your stomach rises violently, a physical revoltion as if the terror were determined to break free of your body one way or the other. "You can karkin' bite me, you asshole!" Shen shouts, fists clenching. "We... have all damned near gotten ourselves _killed_, and you... well, _I_ ain't the one calling this _pathetic_! Screw you!" Her eyes overbright, hot, and teary, the girl whirls away again... or starts to. She staggers to a halt, eyes widening, her hands flying up to clamp against her ears. _NoooOoooOoo..._ Shrugging benignly, Urio counters, "I'm so glad that you trust me enough to grant permission for my participation. A more suspicious sort might think that I would ... " but Urio's words break off at Shen's retort, faltering for only a moment before chuckling and continuing on. "As I was saying, that I would find the weapons and use them against you or something ... You honor me sir. Course, I'm not the violent type," he notes, peering at the weapons once again with an air of disdain. "Nooooo... st... stop it," Shenner can be heard to whimper, her eyes pressing closed, her legs wobbling beneath her. "Stop it!" Kairne converses back, "I wasn't granting you permission.. I was asking for your assistance. We are all here together you know." Kairne remains calm at Urio's constant degrading of the situation. "If you stopped placing yourself outside of the group, we wouldn't feel as if you had some other purpose.." Kairne moves about slowly, pacing with his head at the floor, then at the tapestries.. "Weapons are not always violent.. they can be defensive.. and also teach us about the past.. and the future.." Kairne continues to look at the tapestries along the ceiling, trying to take himself partly out of the current situation. Dane turns to face the loud sounds of arguing and makes his way back towards the group. Seeing Shen he raises an eyebrow and looks between the troubled girl and Urio. He then starts over to her, hand resting on her shoulder, "Shenner, what's wrong?" The laughter rises in pitch, a eerily familiar voice growling, "You will cower before me child .... you will be mine ... I will take you body and soul." The ground bellow and quakes, the laughter circling within your head. Your body revulses, bile rising up to your throat. Before Dane can reach her, Shenner crumples to her knees, her arms moving down to clamp around her waist; she's turning positively green, looking nauseous, queasy... and terrified. "Nooooo," she whimpers again. Dane blinks, looking to Paul for a moment before kneeling next to the girl, he looks her over for wounds and the like before saying anything else. His chair scraping back, Paul is at Shen's side in a minute, crouching down along with Dane, staring in confusion and downright panic. His mind scrambles, and peering up at Dane he sputters, "Food poisoning maybe? Or some other kind of poison? She could have pressed up against something? Shiisa! Shen? Shen, focus on me ... what's wrong?" Turning with the pair, Urio stares down at the quivering girl with a bemused expression on his face, turning toward Kairne with a wondering gaze for a moment - whether at the man's earlier commentary or Shenner's behavior isn't clear. Shenner doesn't _look_ wounded. Ragged, filthy, and trembling violently, yes, but not wounded. As Dane and Paul converge on her, she looks wildly between the two, her gaze instinctively locking on the Corellian. "It w-w-won't stop," she babbles hoarsely. "C-c-can't you hear it? Stop the floor, w-w-we gotta get outta here, we gotta get outta here...!" Just as suddenly and violently as it began, it ceases. The wracking pain dissipates, the voice vanishes with nary an echo. The cold stone floor is solid beneath you, Paul and Dane staring without comprehension. Paul's hazel eyes look like they're about to pop out of his head, veins bulging on his forehead. "Aaaah?" Shen's babbling trails off into a choked little whimper, and she shoots a frantic gaze down at the floor, as if not believing what she's seeing. Dane shakes his head slowly, thinking that the pressure must have finally broke the girl..he looks to Paul and shrugs slightly. Paul cannot take the matter so lightly, and grabbing Shen's upper arms he shakes her a little roughly, easing up as his arm and ribs protest. "Shen! Snap out of it! Wake up!" He's seen this behavior before ... he didn't like it then, and he doesn't like it now. Shenner's gaze shoots back to Paul, and she whimpers out tinily, "Th-the floor... the floor was shaking, Paul... it was shaking..." Kairne's attention breaks away from the tapestries as he hears Shenner's cries of pain and moves over to Dane to find out what the hell is going on. As calmly as he possibly can, Paul stares straight into overbright green eyes. "It wasn't shaking Shen ... you ... you imagined it. It wasn't really happening. It ... it's probably the stress and lack of sleep .. you're hallucinating ... or maybe you've gotten some kind of drug in your system somehow, and it's affecting your perception." The Corellian can't help but pray it is the latter, so long as it doesn't pose any other physical threat to the girl. Drugs wear off eventually. "Y-you didn't hear it?" Shenner moans, terror still filling her expression, distinguishable from previous terror only by the most acute observation -- slightly less mindless a fear. "You didn't hear the laughin'? You didn't _hear_ it?!" Dane stands and looks to Kairne and Urio, "This is going to get interesting." he states in Mandalorian. _Shiisa!_ Paul tries not to react to Dane's commentary, simply reaching up to press a hand to the side of Shen's face. He shakes his head, almost regretfully. "No Shen ... there was no laughter." He doesn't turn, but it is clear his address is to the Mandalorian's standing behind their crouched forms. "Do we have a toxology screening device with us?" Dane shakes his head, "Not for blood testing. All I have is a water tester in my survival kit." "But I _heard_ it, I-I-I swear to gods, I heard it, and the voice, it won't leave me alone...!" Shen cries. Tears are starting to fill her eyes and spill down along her cheeks, as well as the Corellian's fingers. Quietly as Shen begins to lose it right there in his arms, Paul whispers ever so softly in Mandalorian, "Urio ... I need a mild sedative ... now." To Shen he murmurs softly, "It's okay, it's going to be okay," as he draws her close. His embrace is awkward at best with his bound arm, but the Corellian encourages the girl to press herself against him, to bury her head against his chest. "You just need to rest, it's okay ... it's not your fault. It's not your fault." And it's true ... the Corellian is more than aware of where the blame lies in this case. Shenner does, indeed, press herself into Paul's half-embrace, her entire slender frame racked with shivers. But she still insists in broken, frantic tones, "I _did_ hear it, I _did_, it won't stop, Paul, won't leave me alone... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Turning away silently, Urio'kosh goes to his medical kit, removing some contents from therein. He wisely takes a circuitous course back to the kneeling pair, remaining discreetly out of sight. Drawing up slowly and silently behind the girl, Urio's pale gaze drops to Paul's raised hazel one, raising the injector with an arched brow. It clearly is not something that the Corellian wants to do, but there seems little point now. Answering with his eyes only, Urio nods, drawing closer with surprising stealth. For a pair that have never managed to communicate before, it is strange that they understand each other now without words. Paul lifts one hand to the back of Shen's head, leaving his arm about her back to hold her ... and to hold her in place. Without warnging, Urio grabs Shen's arm to steady it as he places the injector against her. There is a soft hiss and he withdraws just as quickly. Shenner starts, but too late -- her body gives a terrific _jerk_, and she howls in a surge of terror at Urio'kosh, "GET AWAY FROM ME!" Then her frame twitches again as the injector delivers its payload. Kairne says in Mandalorian, "someone restrain her until the sedative sets in, she's liable to hurt herself in her condition." Kairne motions to Dane and Urio, and reaches in. Gritting his teeth at the sharp pain, both physical, from Shenner's violent reaction, and psychic, from his own guilt, Paul continues to hold the girl, whispering softly, "I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry. I knew better." Kairne's advice is reasonable, but Paul hopes that it won't be necessary. "Everyone, just hold on a sec okay, don't scare her any more than she already is," rasps the Corellian in Mandalorian. "Get _away_, get away from me, get away," Shen babbles in panic, wriggling in Paul's grasp as Urio'kosh backs off. But only a handful of seconds pass before the young redhead inhales in startlement, her form abruptly sagging against the Corellian who's holding her. Shen's eyes do not close, but the girl now looks decidedly confused. The Corellian looks decidedly guilt ridden, but taking a deep breath he draws upon his reserves, his features slipping into an impersonal mask. "What are the effects?" he queries Urio, not knowing exactly -what- Shen was given. Whatever it was worked fast ... but Paul hopes that it won't knock her out or aggrevate the situation. Dane glances at Urio, "Yes what exactly was that?" he looks at the confused expression the girl's face and raises an eyebrow. Kairne stands at ease now, Shenner having calmed down. His attention is now directed at Urio, waiting for his response to his comrades questions. "Dirty rotten trick," Shenner can be heard to mutter, distinctly, but very low and bemused. The girl has slumped against Paul's chest, her brow furrowing, the panic drained out of her features and replaced by puzzlement. The others' voices sound on the edge of her awareness, and she's absolutely certain that she ought to be far more angry, far more upset, but somehow, she can't quite make herself become so. She concludes with a mumble of "No fair" more or less in the direction of Paul's neck. Replacing the injector into his medical kit, Urio murmurs "Busparine - it's a rather effective sedative for emotional states - leaves the patient cognizant and capable, but effectively numbs the emotional receptors, making things that are distressing just not seem terribly important." His gaze avoids the pair on the ground, flickering toward Kairne and Dane. "She should be neither a danger to herself or others now." Danger to herself and others? Shen frowns at Urio'kosh's seemingly distant words, wanting to growl at him, 'I got your danger right here, pal!' But that, too, seems strangely beyond her. She only petulantly frowns and starts trying to sit up, muttering dolefully, "I _did_ hear it..." Releasing her carefully, Paul waits until Shen seems steady enough and then he pushes away and rises, cradling his splinted arm. He really can't look at her right now, and turning away he walks gingerly over to where his book is resting. Dane keeps his eyes focused on Shen for a moment and then looks to Paul, "What now." his voice is low.." How long do you think she'll be calm?" Holding his throbbing arm tightly, Paul shrugs with one shoulder as the Mandalorian trails after him. "I don't know," he answers in Dane's native tongue. "Ask Urio ... and don't talk about Shen like she were unconcious or something - she still perfectly sentient, just sedated." Turning to look at the redheaded girl, Paul smothers a wince. "I'm going to see if I can't find something in the journal that might help us ... we should proably just keep on as we were." Dane nods and looks to Urio questioningly, "How long will the sedative last?" he shoulders his rifle and lets his eyes wander the room, "Will we have time to get her to a place she can rest for a bit and recover?" Kairne looks about, then bringing his attention back to the 3 people closest to him, "If she feels up to it, we should carry on as we were. Like Paul said, she's all here, just sedated." Glancing about at the dead-end room, Urio shrugs. "Well, I don't really see any way out at the moment ... so I suppose resting here is our only option." His gaze slides oozily toward the girl still seated upon the ground. "As for the girl, I suspect that the drug will be in effect for a few hours at least." Dane nods and folds his arms, "Well I'll start looking for any hidden doors.." he turns and starts off at one wall, slowly he starts to work his way around the room, carefully searching for any sign of a lever or release..occasionally tapping on the wall with his knuckle. Kairne acknowledges Dane, and brings his eyes to Shenner, "You feel that you will be alright sitting here as we examine the room some more?" Kairne motions about the room, indicating some of the various places he thinks might be interesting to seek out. "If you would need us.. we would be immediately available." Seating himself rather heavily, Paul starts to flip once again through his notes, hoping that it will turn up some clue that he had missed before. The girl under discussion merely sits there as commentary is exchanged, her head bowed slightly, her breathing slow, cautious, and slightly erratically paced, as if she's trying to take the measure of her body's responses. _They're talking about me,_ she thinks to herself, and finds herself surprised that they're doing it mostly in Basic... she'd gotten used, she realizes, to hearing them talk over her head in Mandalorian. The thought that she ought to be annoyed crosses her mind, but it just doesn't happen, and instead, she finally lifts her gaze to consider Kairne. Her expression has become cool... calm... almost as composed as that of Urio'kosh. "Don't mind me," she replies neutrally. "Guess I'll be just fine." As Dane's hand presses against one of the cases, there is a soft sigh and the case moves aside to expose what appears to be an opening, only there is another wall behind it. Dane smiles for a moment and then sighs, "I may have found something." he motions to the moved case. Paul's head rises at the announcement, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he was just reading through a passage that seemed a strange notation .... and perhaps just what he was looking for ... "What is it?" he queries, and the Corellian stands and approaches Dane, peering at the moved case and the peculiar wall behind it. Dane says "Just a wall behind this case. " he starts to push the case harder, "Who knows what's behind it."" Still sitting there quietly on the floor, Shen turns her head to consideringly eye Dane's discovery, her features fallen into a placid mask, her green gaze unreadable. She neither offers commentary nor shows any other notable reaction to the find. Nor does she show any interest in getting up. Kairne's ear perk up at Dane's announceent, and strides over to investigate his finding. "What exactly triggered it Dane? Perhaps there is a similar operation for the wall behind it?" Neither the case nor the wall move or budge in the slightest. As Dane presses against the case, Paul moves around it thoughtfully, examining it in greater detail. It contains a rather unique set of armor, one with sun markings upon it, and it seems inordinately grand. Peering, Paul queries, "Dane? Why is this suit so different from the others? With the markings and everything?" Dane shakes his head and gives up on the case, looking at the armor.."Give me a second. " he studies it for a bit, "It's the Mandalore's armor.." he looks to Kairne and the to Urio.. "Yes, I know it's Mandalorian armor," Paul replies, "Everything in here is ... but it's far more elaborate than the others." The Corellian presses fingers against his brow, not realizing that Dane is not simply stating the obvious. Urio'kosh's eyes focus on the piece, robes flying as he draws closer to examine it. Pale green eyes light up eagerly as he recognizes the suit, smiling in an almost nostalgic way. "Yes ... yes you're quite right, it is. But it's an older suit ... not that of the tru .... ah, the last Mandalore." It's decidedly strange to Shenner how swiftly a cool, clear, dark sort of peace has descended upon her mind. She still watches the others, but it's through a very slight, but still palpable distance, and somehow, the rest of the party has simply... lessened in importance. In the clarity that has settled across her thoughts, she finds herself reviewing what's been happening to her. _I've been having weird-ass fear fits. I've definitely been seeing weird-ass shit, and hearing voices and laughing. Nobody else has seen or heard anything. I've lost it at least once, and Dane and Urio'kosh say I nearly shot myself. Well, this sucks,_ she concludes, her brow furrowing slightly. Summation achieved. Hypothesis? _Paul thinks I might have gotten drugged... I don't think so, I've only been eating our supplies... and I didn't bump into anything, except when we fell into the pit. So unless Urio'kosh has been spiking our stuff, that just doesn't make any sense. Does this mean I'm going crazy? Well, that certainly sucks..._ Dane nods and looks from Urio to Paul, "No..-The- Mandalore..our ruler..the Lord Mandalore." he says this witha bit of reverence, "It's not just a suit of armor." Kairne moves in closer to examine the armor, closely examining it all over, paying particular attention to the sun and markings upon it. Kairne points to the sun, "You see this.. in the last few generations of Mandalore when the clans were united in fullness and harmony, it was decided that the Mandalore would represent this in himself, as a reminder to our people.. each ray of the sun represents a clan of Mandalore." The redheaded girl sitting silently on the floor draws a knee up to her chest and wraps one arm around it, reaching with her other hand to idly fiddle with her ocarina pendant. Having something in her hands seems to add her thought processes, so she brings the other hand to the ocarina as well, and begins working her way through fingerings. All the while she keeps half an ear on the discussion of the others, and she smirks at the reverent mention of the Lord Mandalore. _Royalty, huh? Hrmm. Way out of the league of this street rat. So._ Summation and hypothesis achieved. Plan of action? _I've been sedated and asked to sit still like a good little girl. Guess I'll just have to live with it; they're busy, and anyway, what -could- they do about it, anyway? I mean, if I'm going crazy, it's not as if any of them can do anything about it, can they?_ This gives her pause, and her veiled green gaze shifts to the Corellian; for an instant, her placid mask seems to flicker with a hint of sadness. _I'm sorry I'm dumping this on you, k'chaiya, when you're trying to work. Not very fair of me..._ It looks like just a suit of armor to Paul ... a fancy suit, but a suit nonetheless. "I see ...." he murmurs, his attention focusing more on the strange opening. "This -looks- like it's supposed to be an opening ... with the exception of there being a wall ...." and then the Corellian's voice trails off as a thought starts to insinuate inside his head. He looks about the room uncertainly, murmuring, "No ... it's too big ...." Dane kneels downand examines the wall, "Too big" he raises an eyebrow and shakes his head slightly, 'What are you talking about? Shen lifts the ocarina to her lips, blowing through it without producing any tones, still shifting her fingers methodically through scales. It's familiar and soothing motion, and while she does it, she keeps her gaze on Paul -- his familiar, soothing figure, battered and far more scruffy than usual though he might be. No, she muses, she's certainly not being very fair to Paul; going crazy on the job just doesn't strike her as something a proper archaeological assistant should be doing, especially if she's in love with the archaeologist. _So I'd better stop it. Can I stop it? I bet not. Probably can't just tell myself, 'Don't go crazy,' and expect it to work. Better assume I can't stop it. Which means... damn. Let's see...._ Walking back toward the journal, Paul calls over his shoulder, "There's a notation - a total aside of when Rolv'Tamuk Kassique met some engineers who informed him that they had been hired to design a room that could pivot silently and without betraying the motion. He didn't understand at the time what could be so important at a time of war ... but that may explain the wall ... you found the opening Dane, but the room is in the wrong location." As he draws closer, the sight of Shen sitting and silent playing brings him to a halt. Passing the book he draws closer to the redhead, hunkering down next to her, hazel eyes guilty. Dane stands up and looks around the room, his eyes showing that he gets the picture now, "I see..so all we need to do is move it.." he smiles, "Very clever." Shenner pauses the soft motions of her fingers, dark red brows rising inquiringly over the gaze she brings to meet Paul's. Reaching out with one hand, Paul cups Shenner's cheek, eyes brimming with self-reproach. "I'm sorry Shen ... I didn't know what else to do." There is a soft breath of air expelled. "Bet you're going to be really pissed when this wears off ..." Shenner's tranquil expression softens a little, but only a little, the surge of affection welling up within her at Paul's touch muted along with the rest of her emotions. For a moment or two she considers the Corellian's apology, and then offers him a small smile, one corner of her mouth curling upward; she lifts one hand off the ocarina, too, to cover his hand against her cheek. Almost serenely she replies, "It's alright, k'chaiya. Nothing else you could have done." _Good,_ she approves of her own words. Can't stress Paul out anymore. Her extremely calm and soothing response is almost more disconcerting than her panic. Almost. Paul's gaze remains affixed to hers for a moment longer. "Yeah ... you're gonna be really mad," he notes absently, conjuring up from somewhere a wry smile. Leaning forward as distance and furniture block their figures from the rest, Paul presses a kiss to her forehead. "Hang on, I'll be back to get ya," and he rises up, heading with renewed determination to the historian's notes, re-reading the words there carefully. Kairne continues to study the suit of armor, "Perhaps there is a connection between the armor and the room? Who else would have been entrusted with it's secret?" Kairne looks to Dane, and then to Paul. Dane nods and studies the armor, "Perhaps..perhaps." he starts to examine the case, "Let's see if we can get it open." Shenner lets Paul go, the slight sad smile lingering along her mouth. She returns her attention to the ocarina, thinking as she does so, _No, k'chaiya, beloved, I won't be pissed. I mean... it makes sense, right? I'm going crazy, so y'all shoot me up with something that'll calm me down again._ This reminds her she'd been considering a plan of action, and she ponders her options as she fingers out a scale once more. _I guess they could keep drugging me if they need to. Though I don't want That Bastard Urio'kosh coming anywhere near me with a needle. If anybody has to drug me, it'd better be Paul. I can deal with that, mostly. What else? Do I go with them, or wait here while they finish up looking?_ Something in the notion of being left alone gives her pause for a moment, too, though it's no more than a brief darkening of reaction somewhere in the back of her mind. _No. Guess I'll go with them when they move out again...._ While the Mandalorians study the case, Paul studies the notes .... and both groups find few answers. There is mention in the notes of the conversation, but nothing else. While the case does open readily, the armor appears to be exactly what it is ... there is nothing else inside of the case other than the frame on which the armor hangs. Sighing in frustration, Paul slams the book closed, his eyes ranging about the room curiously before settling on the end of the room. Shenner's ocarina starts producing a few very soft, barely audible breaths of sound as she begins blowing through it, warming it up in her fingers. Last item of the Plan... does she tell anybody, if she experiences any more Weird Shit? Her brow crinkles again as she reflects upon this. _They might notice anyway, since they sure have the last few times... though hmm. Will anything happen while I'm drugged?_ She glances, analytically, critically, around the room. Everything _seems_ normal. But much calmer, much more peaceful; Shen smiles sardonically, supposing that if any voices happened to boom out threats no one else can hear now, she can always tell them to go screw themselves with perfect equanamity. Dane says "I'm going to try something." he reaches out and takes up the helmet, looking into it, "Maybe it needs to be worn..it may be able to see something our eyes can't." he looks to Paul, "Worth a try at least.."" Kairne grabs Dane's arm lightly, "Hold on there old friend, we don't know if we can do that.. we must be cautious.. before someone wears it.. perhaps we should examine it closer, see if there is anything on it that can be used first." Dane raises an eyebrow, "On it?" he looks at the helmet, examiningthe outter surface for a bit, "I don't see anything." Urio'kosh rasps darkly, his eyes glittering as he glances over at the pair, "No." But his voice does not carry. It hardly sounds like his own, and for a moment he stands there before he carries himself closer rasping to Dane. "Wear it? You?! What gives -you- the right to be Mandalore? I forbid it!" Dane glances at Urio with amusement, "You forbid me? " he shakes his head, "If I gave a damn about your opinion that would matter..besides we do need to get out of this." Turning to Kairne, Urio tries reason, though his frame virtually trembles with uncontrolled rage. "Lord General ... is this how you and your man show respect for Mandalore? By blithly choosing that one of you should be the next ruler, our next Mandalore? What right does the Major have to such a title??" "Sure," Paul murmurs softly, his eyes focusing carefully on a pattern in the ornate molding going around the room. He slowly slips off the table, walking toward the far wall. He pauses as he reaches Shen, asking the girl, "Hey ... you see the sun pattern that's carved into the molding? At the mid-point in the wall? Does it look to you like it's missing a piece over there?" his finger pointing at the wall across from them. Dane looks to Urio, "You seem to forget the old traditions Urio...when there is no Mandalore the one who finds the armor has the right.." Jutting out his chin, Urio barks. "And which one of us found it first?! We've all found it? Does that mean that we are all Mandalore? Does that mean that the infidel humans become the next Mandalore? I think not." Glaring darkly, he hists, "You forget your place warrior ... things have changed since you have been here. We no longer make such choices lightly. The past burned up becuase of such as you." Shenner blinks, pausing in her almost inaudible playing, to lift her gaze to Paul again. Surprised that he's actually asking her opinion on something, she gives him another calm one-sided smile, and turns her gaze in the direction he indicates, asking, "Do you mean a piece missing out of the molding itself, or just out of the carved pattern?" Kairne returns Urio's glare, stating firmly, "My man acts on his own will, not by my orders. Don't judge the amount of my respect for our ways by his actions, as they are not mine." Kairne overlooks both Dane and Urio, then proceeds to both, hands gesturing his upset manner, "The armor should not be worn, it is not the time, nor the place, and it is not 'safe' to wear.. you should both know that." Kairne says "And who are you to argue who becomes Mandalore Urio? Or even you Dane? That is not the goal of our quest, so why have you brought that into your mind?" Urio takes a step back, for a moment affronted by Kairne's reprimand, and he opens his mouth as if to argue his claim. But it shuts, a veiled expression of calm seeping over him as he instead simply nods. "You are quite right Lord General. This is neither the time or the place. And the risks," he adds with emphasis, "are -far- too great." "A missing sun, to be exact ..." Paul murmurs. "From here it looks drawn in ... but not actually carved." Dropping one hand in invitation, Paul waits, hazel eyes flickering down to the girl and thoughtfully back up again. The young redhead drops her ocarina lightly back to rest against her breast, and reaches readily for Paul's hand, using it to lever herself up to her feet. Green gaze still on the distant pattern, she tilts her tousled head a bit in thought. "I kind of see what you mean," she affirms, beginning to sweep her placid stare along the length of molding, distantly curious to see if any of the other suns might look similar. Dane eyes Urio coldly, "When this is over we're going to settle somethings boy. Your lack of respect is going to cost you. " he looks to Kairne and sets the helmet back in place, "Let's get out of here." His hand is dry and almost hot, a quiet comforting strength in his grip. Drawing closer, Paul squints up at the molding. Indeed it does seem that the sun shape, instead of being carved, has simply been drawn. It's very subtle and most people wouldn't have necessarily noticed it. In fact, it has been shaded to even appear to be three dimensional. Only finally approaching it can the truth be truly discerned. "You see any others that look weird?" Paul queries the girl, turning and walking the perimeter slowly with her. Shenner shows no inclination to drop Paul's hand from hers, though now, her fingers merely curl quietly around Paul's, rather than clenching them in desperation. She stares longly at the drawn, shaded sun, taking the time to note its details, before she finally reports calmly, "No, I don't think so. None of them look like that one." Kairne looks back to Dane, "Have you learned nothing from this journey? Forget these silly idle remarks, and focus. We have not the time for such bickerings any more." Kairne looks back over to Paul, to see if he has made any progress on their predicament. Urio'kosh's response is only to smile, his eyes still slitted as he gazes quietly at Dane. "You were unwise to draw my interest toward yourself," he rumbles almost inaudibly. "It will be you who suffers for your "lack of respect"." Nodding in agreement, Paul returns them to the missing sun spot, calling over his shoulder to the others. "Kairne? Any luck with the armor?" Dane nods, "I've learned Kairne..but his lack of respect is going to cost him." he then shifts his rifle slightly and glances around the room, heading off to look for a way out. Clearly the Corellian is thinking through the puzzle quietly inside his head, running through what they know and what would be logical. He takes the discovery step by step and then suddenly his hand squeezes Shenner's and Paul looks down at the girl with a slight smile, his eyes gleaming with a sort of satisfaction. "Hey Dane ... did the suit open the wall or the case?" Kairne calls to Paul, "Possibly, if I knew if there was something to match up." Kairne, hearing Dane's retort, turns to him and glares, "Old friend, it is unwise to carry this any further.. it is a waste of energy.." "Do me a favor? Someone examine the case and see if you find a sun, like the ones decorating the armor? Should be about, oh, five inches in diameter?" Paul squints at the suns above him, leaning to Shen and murmuring, "Close enough I guess ... maybe six." Shenner hadn't been paying too close attention to the activity surrounding the armor, but now, as she sees that look Paul gives her and the gleam in his eye, she smiles back up at him. Her attention shifts from him to Dane and back again, taking in Kairne for a moment as well, her oddly serene gaze taking on an intelligent interest. She nods sagely to Paul's murmur. Dane shakes his head, "I'm not sure Paul..let me check.." he then makes his way to the case and begins examining it. Sighing softly, Paul squeezes Shenner's hand and turns, releasing it, to go and look at the case as well. "I'll be back," he offers the girl over his shoulder, turning once again toward the bickering trio of Mandalorians. Shenner lets Paul as calmly as everything else she's done in the last several minutes, squeezing his hand in reply and still wearing a slight one-sided smile. The young redhead offers no commentary, though, but rather, simply stands there fiddling with the ocarina dangling at her breast. Her green eyes retain their placid stare, oddly steady, oddly opaque of regard. Dane examines the inside of the case for a few moments and pushes on the base with his foot, then pauses to listen. Kairne turns back to the armor that was heatedly debated over, overlooking it for some sort of clue that fits with what Paul has found. As Paul draws close, the Corellian spots what he's been looking for, being able to see it clearly in his head from the pattern that he and Shen had been studying, but articulating exactly what he's looking for? Well, that's why he came over. "Hold on a sec," he mumurs, drawing over a chair to climb up upon, peering at the upper trim more closely. Dane motions to the suns, "how about these Paul..." he runs his fingers along them, "They look about the right size." "I think they are Dane, I think they are. " Paul's hand hovers uncertainly over the central sun piece, which is a little larger than the other. Then he drops his hand to the case, his expression slightly surprised and relieved. The sun beneath his palm seems willing to move and Paul works it carefully until it comes off. Shifting it to his free fingers, he uses his one good arm to clamber down off the chair again. "Okay gentlemen, cross your fingers ... or whatever it is Mandalorians do for luck?" Dane steps back a bit, eyes scanning the room for a reaction as the sun is moved.. Kairne turns his attention back to Paul, "For your sake, I hope the outcome is.. what we want.." Kairne moves himself toward Paul, positioning himself as ready in the event that something should go wrong. The Corellian has something else in mind, his steps carrying him away from the case, back toward Shen. Kairne's protective gesture, however, doesn't elude his notice, Paul offering his Mandalorian companion a heartfelt smile. The likes of which hasn't crossed his face in some time. "Whatcha got?" Shen greets Paul the moment he comes sufficiently near her, that glint of interest kindling in her face again, offsetting the uncanny calm that's fallen over her. She leans slightly forward on her feet, as if to get a better look. Dane waits silently, eyes tracking the Corellian's course towards Shenner. Showing the contents of his palm to Shenner, Paul calls over his shoulder, "Maybe a trigger ... at the very least part of the puzzle. Laying in his palm is a gold sun, the same as the Mandalore's crest, the same as the wood molding. Now it's just a question of putting it in place. Casting his gaze about, Paul searches the immediate area for something to climb up upon. "Ooh," murmurs Shen, in apparent approval. She watches Paul study their immediate surroundings, her attention focusing specifically on where his eyes are going, and she remarks laconically, "So you need somewhere to put it?" She, too, scans what's directly near her, both at Paul's eye level and her own. "I know just where to stick it," Paul drawls wryly, pointing out the anomoly they uncovered moments before. "I just need a way to get -up- there." Shenner hrmms. She looks at Paul. Then at Dane in the armor. Then at Paul. "One of y'all lift me up and I'll do it," she offers. The younger Mandalorian sighs and heads toward Paul and Shenner. "I'll help," he murmurs, seeming to be one of the few available that is neither injured ... and who also has a strong desire to be away from his fellow Mandalorians for a change, even if it means mixing with humans. Kairne says "what are you thinking Paul? Should we make a human ladder?" Glancing up at the molding, the Corellian figures it's probably about twelve feet from the ground or so ... "I don't think that will be necessary .... and not terribly feasible either with some of us injured, namely you and me." Glancing over at Shenner, who had the idea in the first place, Paul queries, "Whatcha think Shen? If Urio stood on a table or something and you were on his shoulders?" At any other time, Shenner might have... exploded. First, she swings her gaze almost sharply around to Kairne as the warrior addresses Paul, but she says nothing, only.... stares at him longly, her expression unreadable. And only when Paul speaks up, including Urio'kosh in the proposal, does she turn to eye the young Mandalorian. Her face is still placid, but now there's a darkening to her eyes, a brief and fleeting hint in her expression that something within her has shut off... grown colder. She keeps her regard on Urio'kosh, too, and says coolly, "Whatever works." Drawing up slowly, his robes swirling around him almost regally, Urio'kosh eyes Shenner's cool resolve. His gaze is assessing, but for once not judgemental. Pulling up a nearby desk, his light green eyes raise up to touch upon the missing sun spot and then drop back to Shen. He reaches over, accepting the gold sun from Paul and stares at it uncertainly for a moment. Climbing up gracefully on the table he reaches down a hand to assist Shenner up, murmuring softly as he does so, in a quiet and oddly reassuring tone, "You have nothing to fear from -me-." Shenner slips the ocarina back into her shirt, giving Urio'kosh as good as she gets in the way of assessing stares. Somewhere in the back of her mind, remembrance of his disdain at her lack of professionalism is still sharp and clear, but when it makes it out to her consciousness, it does so merely in the form of a sardonic curl to her mouth. And although she _thinks_ to herself, _Oh, yeah, I don't have anything to fear from you because you -sedated- me, you asshole,_ the thought remains unspoken. Instead, she merely reaches up to wrap her fingers around Urio'kosh's hand, needing no more support than that to scramble adroitly up onto the desk. Paul hands over the sun, watching the two curiously. Drawing away fractionally so as to better view the molding and the missing sun spot, he murmurs softly, "Careful you two." Urio's mouth cracks in a smile, and it seems almost as if there were something going on behind that pale pale green gaze. Some kind of internal struggle. Blinking slowly, he drops to one knee, indicating that Shenner should climb up onto his shoulders, but before she does so, he whispers to her softly. Urio'kosh mutters to Shenner, "I apologize for that ... and other things, but they were quite beyond my control." Shen can be seen to pause before moving to climb up onto the young Mandalorian's shoulders -- pause, and stare hard at him, eyes widening at whatever low words he murmurs to her. Where before her expression had been shuttered and cool, now it goes entirely inscrutable, her cheeks ever so slightly paler. "Dunno what you're talkin' about," she murmurs, very lowly, her tone utterly neutral, and she immediately moves round to climb. "Let's get this dealt with." The younger Mandalorian chuckles again, a darker sound, his eyes steadying somewhat with a brighter gleam to them. Balancing the girl easily, Urio passes up to Shenner the gold sun piece. "I don't think I can stand the suspense much longer," he urges her in a mirthful tone. Eyeing the pair a little uncertainly, Paul simply mutters, "Shen, try placing the sun into the open spot ... there are some prongs on the back of it ... should be some matching ones in the wall." Turning his gaze back to Dane, Paul calls out, "I figured it couldn't be the suit ... that would be one of the first things a thief would go for in here ... close the case up again? I also think it won't move even if the trigger's been put in the right spot unless everything is back where it was when we entered." The young redhead hadn't ever really believed that one's skin could "crawl" -- until now. Something about Urio'kosh causes just that sensation along the back of Shenner's neck, and she distantly finds herself wondering exactly how bothered she'd be if the drug weren't in her system. There's a fraction of an instant in which she hesitates, before taking the sun from the Mandalorian atop whom she's now poised; then, her voice settles back into its previous calm. "Right," she calls down to Paul, squinting at the back of the sun-thing and finding the prongs he mentions. Then she lifts her green gaze to try to find matching holes in which to align them, as the Corellian suggests. The drawing of the sun is exactly like the sculpted versions flanking both its sides, which are exactly like the sun in Shen's palm, save the difference in the material it's made out of. The gold sun is cool to her fingers, warming up slightly as she continues to hold it. The prongs are rather thin, and while it looks like there are some holes in the painted sun, it's hard to tell for sure if they match up. One thing is for sure, there is definitely a top and bottom to this symbol, the rays of the sun each having a somewhat distinctive squiggle to them. Dane nods to Paul. "Sure thing." he carefully sets the pieces in their proper place, continuing to watch Paul and the ladder of people. "Well, here goes nothin'," Shen murmurs, reaching to align the sun and push it -- gently -- into what looks like its proper position. Standing quite still, Urio'kosh starts to hum under his breath, a strange little melody, a little sour. It's hard to tell if it is simply written that way or if the younger Mandalorian simply can't carry a tune. The rest of the room, however seems intensely quiet in response. As you press the sun into place, you feel a tingling along your nerve endings, the song that Urio hums beneath you grating unpleasantly in your ears. It's as if a thin line of electricity were passing through you, though it's hard to say which direction the flow of power is going. It isn't an unpleasant sensation, but it is quietly unnerving. Shenner frowns softly, taking her hands back from the sun sigil, and reflexively rubbing a palm against the front of her shirt. "That do it?" she calls down, glancing about, and adding, "Alright, pal, lemme down." There is a peculiar laugh, but Urio lowers himself down so that Shen might dismount from his shoulders. "I sure hope so," Paul murmurs, noting that the sun is, at least, a perfect fit and a perfect match. His hazel eyes watch the pair for a moment, a touch of worry mixed in amongst those green flecks. He reaches up a hand to assist Shen down from the table, turning to call over to Dane, "Is the case closed yet?" Dane shuts the door of the case with a quiet click, offering Paul a nod, "Just closed it." he replies and steps back, eyes searching the room inetntly. Shenner climbs warily down, and eyes Urio'kosh strangely for a moment, stepping away from the table and still frowning softly. For a few minutes there is silence. Urio'kosh drops down from the table easily, robes flapping as if thinking about taking off. The Corellian's gaze drops, frowning as nothing seems to happen. He allows time to pass, waiting for something, anything, to happen. It doesn't. Turning he suddenly notices that Dane hasn't -closed- the case yet, to the wall that is. He has simply closed it back up so the suit is put away again. Cursing softly he starts to walk over toward Dane and Kairne. "Shen, did you see anything?" he calls back hopefully, curiously, trying to control the scowl that is determined to settle across his features. "See... uh... no, nothin'," the girl murmurs. Dane glances at Paul and shrugs slightly, pressing on the rim of the case to make sure it shut all the way..he then moves to push the case back in place... Dane presses the case firmly against the wall and nods to Paul, "Everything is in place doctor." Paul continues to head toward the pair, staring at the case. He stops for a moment, placing a hand down on a nearby shelf to see if he can't detect a tremor of movement. The case doesn't so much as even tremble. Sighing, the Corellian's gaze opens again, disappointed. "Damnit ... doesn't seem to be working," he growls, closing in on the offending case. "Open it up again? Maybe I missed something," he sighs. Dane nods and pushes the case open again. He makes sure to presss it as far back as it will go, ear straining in an attempt to listen for any sign of action from the case or the mechanism it's theorized to be connected to. Shenner glances over her shoulder at Urio'kosh, then squares her shoulders and follows Paul across the room. The case opens when the trigger is pressed as before, but this time when it slides open, its doorway frames an actual opening in the wall. Dane glances at the opening and then to Paul, a smile on his face, "Guess you were right again." he unslings his rifle and looks to the others, "Guess I'll take point again." Urio'kosh trails silently behind Shen, joining her at the strange opening with a pleased expression. Kairne nods to Dane, "And I'll take up the rear." Peering within, Paul shrugs, muttering, "Stairs ... guess it's single file then," and with his bound hand he offers the right of first place to Dane. Shenner blows out a breath, then manages a slight crooked smile of her own as she reaches Paul -- though the girl's gaze flicks briefly over her shoulder, noting Urio'kosh's presence. With nothing left for her to carry, she simply prepares to follow the Corellian. "That was pretty amazing," Paul breathes in astonishment. The room pivoted silently, perfectly, with no visible movement at all. Then again, considering some of the things they have encountered on this journey, the event is perhaps not so extraordinary. Perhaps they never moved at all, but a doorway was released? It is only upon glancing up that Paul sees the golden sun - now -above- the case, rather than on the opposite wall. The Corellian simply blinks. Dane steps past the case and into the previously hidden doorway behind it. Dane has left. Paul Nighman steps past the case and into the previously hidden doorway behind it. Paul Nighman has left. You step past the case and into the previously hidden doorway behind it. Crypt - Stairwell A narrow staircase confronts you, heading up into pitch blackness. There's no telling how far up it goes. Contents: Paul Nighman Dane Obvious exits: Up Hall Urio'kosh joins you at the base of the stairs. Urio'kosh has arrived. Kairne has arrived. Dane moves along slowly, picking his way through the darkened stairwell..he reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small glow rod. Dane climbs up and up, drifting in and out of sight. Dane has left. Paul Nighman climbs up and up, drifting in and out of sight. Paul Nighman has left. [Up and up the party goes, into the darkness. To be continued...]