Welcome to the Underworld....

Posted on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 @ 4:30pm by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Commander Hades,MD

3,247 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 103 - In The Darkest Days...
Location: First Federation, Erebus Colony
Timeline: MD04

ON:

Carolyn and Harris had been taken to the shuttle. The trip alone should have taken five days but thanks to the warp 13 capability of the Dassik ship it was substantially lower. "We'll be heading towards the colony soon." Harris sighed. "I better prepare you."

From the adjacent seat, she shot him a questioning look which lost something without the energy to really back it up. Stubbornness had kicked in to high gear at the thought of lying on the makeshift bed. At least sitting up she felt a little more human, a little more herself. As insane as she was starting to feel.

“More tall grey men? Or is it a warning about the size of Hades statue?” She teased with a tired smile.

He smiled, "Yes that." He turned the chair towards her. "First thing is first. You will have to change." He stood and walked back into the next section. He lifted one of the seats which was a trunk of sorts. He pulled out a ridiculous purple dress that belonged in the 17th century.

“I don’t think it’s your colour,” Carolyn said after a long moment of silence. While the patient scrubs she was in were far from ideal, or flattering, the dress in her mind was much worse. Yet he seemed entirely sincere and serious as he held it up. “Are you planning on us travelling back to the dark ages?”

She stood, one hand on the back of the chair. “And - no judgement here - but why do you have a dress?”

He sighed. "Actually it's for you. And...that was Hades' idea. Everyone dresses like this...even in the tech quarter which is only open during working hours and..." He paused not wanting to overwhelm her. "Okay so why don't you get into this...and we'll go from there."

With a resigned sigh she took the dress from him, caught a little by surprise at the weight of it. "Fine. But eyes forward, Doctor..." she warned him as she brushed past him and stood so they were standing back to back. Carefully laying the dress down over her makeshift bed she had to trust that he would do as she asked as she began to change.

Taking a deep breath she slipped on the dress, the material soft like silk against her skin which was unexpected. Not exactly a perfect fit, yet close enough. The bodice and most of the skirt which flared out from the waist was a rich purple colour, while the sleeves which reached just beyond her elbows was a pale cream shade with dark purple patterns etched into the fabric. The weight, she realised, came from what was possibly about six thousand layers to make the skirt flare out. She leaned forward, but her toes were out of sight under all the purple.

Where was the hallucination with a scalpel when you needed one... she chided herself for the thought. Knowing whatever Harris had given her was short term. A day, at most. And then -

"If you laugh at me, so help me I will take my chances out an airlock," she told Harris in warning as she turned back towards him.

Harris smiled. He turned. "You look beautiful. And you'll be the only one allowed to wear purple."

“The first part is impossible, but thank you for trying,” she replied. “And why only me? Make it easy to pick out the Terran?”

"Only the family of the first Monarch is allowed to wear it," he said. "Hades was specific. Wearing this will identify you as his family."

“Oh...” She fell silent for a long time. Thinking. After a long time she took a deep breath, focusing on Harris. “Okay. Let’s do what we have to do. Harris?”

He cupped her cheek gently. "Yes?"

“Whatever is going on inside my head, no matter what, you have to promise me that this baby comes first. Please.”

"You and the baby come first. It will be okay." He smiled. "Now I got to change."

The fact he hadn’t promised was not lost on her but she didn’t want to press it. Not yet. For that meant imagining no future with her unborn baby and she couldn’t quite accept it. Instead she smiled, “this I really want to see.”

Harris changed quickly. He was used to the clothing. He sometimes thought that this was Hades' punishment for the declaring him a monarch. Nevertheless he put on his knee high pink pants and black leather boots that held a gold buckle on top. The boots just reached the top of the knee. His shirt was a pale pink light material with ruffled sleeves that poked out of his waist coat with tales. On his head he wore a powdered wig and a black an gold hat that belonged more so on sailing ship then for ware. "Alright, don't laugh."

Carolyn stared at him, her fingernails biting into her palm and biting her lip to stop from doing exactly that. “Nope, not laughing. Not even on the inside,” she lied. “Very you. The wig just... wow.”

He growled and took the controls. "Hades has a sick sense of humour. We made him the first monarch and he made us wear this." He motioned with his hand. "It's.... yeah." He just said.

He signaled the Dassik ship and it opened its bays. "Here we go. I'm assuming you want to see the statue?"

“I guess so,” she said slowly as she glanced over her shoulder towards the back of the shuttle with a frown. Shaking off the feeling she sat down in the adjacent seat. “I imagine it would be larger than life and he probably hates it... how much time do we have?”

"We have time." The launch went well. They left the ship and soon were heading towards a welcoming planet. It was a lot like earth covered with Azure oceans but unlike Earth it had only three large land masses. "There are three parts to the colony." Harris said as they flew towards one of them. He pointed to a colony that seemed a lot like Vulcan. It was arid and red and several cube like structures dotted the sky line. "This I the technology quarter. Here is where our scientist and engineers work. It is open only for nine hours of the day for them to work. When you are there you will wearing a uniform much like a Starfleet one but all green." He flew that way a little to let her get a good look.

Carolyn gazed out at the alien world, able to see sand dunes off in the distance beyond the structures. The sunlight reflected off of the myriad of structures, all of which seemed out of place in what she imagined was the scorching heat of a dessert. "How many people work there?" she asked, unable to really gauge the true size of the buildings or the layout to beginning imagining how many people it could house.

Before he could answer she noticed how untouched the surrounding areas seemed to be. Thinking of the cities back home it seemed odd that any connection to the other parts of the colony seemed absent. Or well hidden. And the sky was clear as day, not another shuttle or ship of any kind in sight. "And how do they get home?"

He smiled, "A transporter but...a gateway of sorts It's like walking through a door and coming out across the continent. As for how many there are 103 scientists currently. Since the day we came here we've grown as a colony. " He veered away from the dessert and crossed the ocean to a new land mass. This one was lush and green. Several mountains and majestic waterfalls. "This is where we live." He flew low enough for the people tending fields dressed in 17th century clothing to look up. Some waved others continued to work. The houses were simple yet sturdy. "This continent has no technology except the transporters. We work the land, we read by candle light." He veered right giving her a view but taking her towards the wonder of the colony. A large stone mansion. "That over there is Hades' residence...when he's here."

"Definitely not in Kansas anymore," Carolyn murmured as she stared out at the mansion. Unable to quite reconcile the building with the owner. And while Hades did not live there all year round, clearly someone - several people in all likelihood - would have to be there to maintain it. Because it was a work of art and the gardens around it created a myriad of colour.

She turned to face Harris, curious. "How do you adjust? From this," she gestured around the shuttle, "to a life without it all of the technology at your fingertips?"

He smiled, "It's easier then you think. It's a rest for us. There are those who work in the tech centre and the medical centers but... well we come home to the simple life." He grinned wickedly. "Ready for the statue?" He waggled his eyebrows as he set course for the center of the town.

“Is it bad?” She asked, unable to truly picture a Hades statue. Did he pose for it? No, surely not...

"Oh...you'll see." It was the size of Earth's statue of liberty...maybe slightly less but not by much. He swerved right just as it started coming into view. A large statue of Hades sitting on what appeared to be a thrown. Half the time he thought that was the reason Hades avoided coming back.

“He seems... taller, in person,” Carolyn murmured, finally finding her voice after just staring for what felt like forever.

Harris laughed. "Yeah. He hates it. The council insisted." Grinning he continued, "We'll get a closer look soon. Let's get to medical first."

They veered off and stopped just over the ocean facing a continent of pure ice and snow. It looked...deserted. "Erebus Medical. This is Doctor Richard Harris."

There was a moment of pause. "Copy, we were expecting you. Stand by."

“Where exactly is this medical facility?” She asked curiously. She glanced into the rear of the shuttle, momentarily distracted until Harris had time to answer her question.

He smiled, "Underground." Just as he said it a whirlpool opened in front of them a hole so deep that you couldn't see the floor. "Ready? Into the belly of the beast .... of sorts." He aimed the nose down and launched full throttle into the hole.

“No,” she replied, closing her eyes as he headed straight into the heart of the whirlpool. She felt sick to her stomach, resorting to thinking of an old song her mother used to sing as a distraction from the thought of being underwater. Why water? “Is it over yet?”

The shuttle leveled out and he landed on the oceanic bottom. "Open your eyes."

Feeling the shuttle settle, and a distinct lack of drowning, she cautiously opened her eyes. Her eyes widened, startled by the realisation that the small shuttle was resting on the sand of the sea bed, seemingly in a little bubble.

It took a moment but a force field activated around the shuttle. The water filled in and the shuttle began moving through the ocean. A myriad of unusual creatures made their way around the shuttle as it moved towards the bay that was hidden within the ice.

“This is insane,” Carolyn breathed, leaning over to peer out as a school of fish, each one a rainbow of colour, swam alongside the shuttle.

He smiled, "We have all our medical facilities under water. Our Shuttle area is in the ice. We should be there in a few minutes." He gently touched her hand. "Remarkable huh?"

She nodded, glancing down at her hand. “It’s ... a lot,” she admitted with a small smile. “We are in the ocean, Harris. It’s amazing.”

He grinned. "Glad you think so. That part was my idea."

“You like the ocean?” She asked curiously.

"That and it was strategic. Wait till you see what else we've done." He finished speaking just as the shuttle began to enter a large bay. "We're here." He looked out front seeing a group of people and an actual red carpet. "And that is why Hades doesn't like to be here."

“Harris, what is that?” Carolyn asked, gesturing towards the welcoming committee.

"The Council and a few other choice delegates. You travel under Hades' banner...you're now a celebrity."

“What?!” She almost squeaked. “But - nooooooo. I.... Nope. I’m not a celebrity. In need of a hairbrush, a shower maybe....”

He laughed, "Relax you could Vomit and they'd frame it." He sighed. "It'll be fine. It's just...protocol. As I said Hades insisted you wear purple that means that you are family." He stood as the shuttle came to a halt. He offered her his hand. "Ready?"

She sighed, taking his hand, “I guess so.”

They stood at the doors as they began to open.

A tall and striking Andorian man walked into the shuttle as the door opened. He smiled wildly his antennae twitching wildly. "Oh! You are welcome! Lady Carolyn, Lord Hades has told us all about you. Most welcome!" He gave a slight bow. He glared at Harris. "You were early! We almost didn't make it here in time."

Harris sighed, "That was the idea."

The Andorian walked over and smacked him upside the head.

Harris yelped. "Hey!"

"I am Thurvas my dear," he said taking Carolyn's hand. "Come along I shall present you."

Carolyn shot Harris a pleading look as the Andorian guided her towards the bay. Present her? She wondered why that even surprised her. “And What is your position, Thurvas?” She asked, hoping her question wouldn’t offend. She wondered exactly what Hades had said but maybe she was better not knowing.

He smiled, "I am one of the six council of elders members. I'm also the head of off planet relations." He stepped out first. "Presenting Lady Carolyn. Her most graciousness is here to seek our aid. Lord Hades has granted her high honours and as such we welcome her."

He held out his hand for her to join him.

The small group of council members and about twenty others bowed deeply before applauding.

Carolyn glanced over her shoulder at Harris, a questioning look in her eyes and no idea what she was supposed to say or do. “Thank you for your kind welcome,” she managed as she stood beside Thurvas, sure her cheeks were burning red as she longed for Harris to rescue her from this.

A tall woman stepped forward. She was at least seven feet, very thin. She had long pastel orange hair and an elongated face. As she moved she dripped elegance and grace. She walked in front of Carolyn and then turned to the crowed. "There is time for formality. She is here for our help and I doubt that Hades would be pleased if she was denied that help due to protocol." Within minutes the crowd dispersed.

The woman who had warm chocolate eyes turned. "There now. I think that's better." She bowed. "I am Adari." She smiled, "I am from the planet Korai here in the First Federation."

“Thank you,” Carolyn said with a grateful smile. Beyond her name and a high chance the woman was someone of importance, Carolyn knew nothing about her but she was thankful regardless. As the others left the bay she felt more relaxed and less like being in a Petri dish. And there was something inherently kind about Adari. It was hard to place but it was there. “Carolyn. But you all know that...”

As Harris appeared beside her she glanced up at him with a tired smile, “hope you didn’t bow,” she whispered to him.

Adari smiled, "We do indeed. Come, let us head to the med facility."

Harris smiled at Carolyn. "I know you too well to bow." He grinned roguishly.

Adari lead Carolyn to what appeared to be a gateway. "Follow my lead." She turned and stood by the gateway. "Medical facility 117." She walked through the slim gate that was no more then a few centimetres wide and disappeared.

Harris motioned. "Your turn."

Just a transporter, she told herself as she stepped forward. To where she had no idea but Harris seemed willing enough. So with that, she took a deep breath and stepped through.

As Carolyn appeared at the other end her dress was gone. Now she had on a pastel purple one piece suit that seemed to match the one Adari was wearing only Adari had on a powder blue that made her own pastel grey skin seem to shimmer along with her orange hair.

Adari smiled, "Welcome to the medical bay."

Carolyn was staring, she knew. Again. Mostly because to her right was nothing but ocean, seemingly held at bay by some invisible force. It gave the impression of a giant aquarium - except they were the ones inside it. It was beautiful and humbling and magical and ... perfect.

Adari smiled, "Touch the field. It will not harm you." It was Adari's favourite feature.

Stepping closer, Carolyn glanced back at Harris. At his nod of encouragement, she reached out, her fingertip lightly brushing against the field. She expected some sort of reaction but nothing like what actually happened.

From the exact spot she had touched, a ripple seemed to emirate outwards in pale colours until they disappeared out of site. It was like touching the calm surface of water and after a few seconds all was calm again. With an expression akin to the one she had waking up on Christmas Day, she touched it again, this time noticing how some of the marine life seemed to be attracted to the lights. A school of fish just like those they had seen from the shuttle seemed particularly enamoured with it, chasing after the wave of colours before drifting away.

“Harris! This is incredible!” She grinned as she glanced back at him. “You try.”

While she waited she touched it again, this time not letting go and instead making random patterns before letting it all settle. “Listen...” she frowned, tilting her head as she touched the field again to confirm what she thought she’d heard.

Coincidental or not, she could hear how a barely audible response was produced in response to her touch, yet if she varied the pressure she applied and the movement of her hand, the tone shifted. “It’s amazing,” she told Adari with a bright smile.

Adari smiled peacefully. "Yes it is a feature Doctor Harris here took time with. He designed our medical facilities."

Carolyn glanced at Harris, “keeping secrets?” She teased him.

He grinned sheepishly. "I..."

Adari smiled again, "He is modest." She motioned. "Come let us go to my office. Hades has sent me your file and have been doing some pre-work."

With a final touch on the field, Carolyn turned her back on it trying not to look concerned. “Pre-work?” she asked as she followed alongside the woman, making sure Harris was still with them. He was, although not alone. Not that he’d know it... she quickly turned her attention back to their host as they entered her office, hoping all of this effort was not for nothing.

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