Aquae Sulis - Part Two

Posted on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 @ 5:39pm by Brigadier General Kaden Ross

1,135 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 103 - In The Darkest Days...
Location: Bath, Earth
Timeline: MD3 0755 hrs

[ON]

Stepping out of the ship Freya took a deep breath of fresh air, it was good to be back on Earth again. The sun was shining and the skies were blue, the warmth felt good on her cheeks. “Ohh I’ve missed this!”

Kaden emerged behind her fixating his hand phaser to his shoulder holster before fastening up his double breasted leather jacket. It felt good being back on his home planet part of him wished he could go see his family or maybe even go to his place in Idaho and take his truck he missed driving for a spin. But he wasn't going to leave Vox alone with Varena to find this clue just to go do so.

30 Minutes later and the group was in the centre of Bath.

"So, dip our toes in the Waters of Sulis. I guess that means the ancient Roman baths." Vox commented.

Kaden rubbed the back of his head. "So we traveled all this way to take a bath? What sort of idiot wrote this thing?" He asked looking at the map over Vox's shoulder.

"It's probably not being literal" Freya looked at Kaden. "We have to interpret the clue as best as we can."

"Exactly." Vox replied. "My guess is that we are looking for some kind of clue in or around the Roman Baths. Now this is all about a challis so focus on that. " he added.

Kaden rubbing his chin in thought shrugged. "Okay, well being a native of this planet I would think someone would of noticed any sort odd alien text at some point." He looked at the Roman bathhouse museum off in the distance. "You know that place is crawling with people going to be hard to take a close look."

"It doesn't have to be alien in the way we understand it. The clue used Latin. The Romans wrote and spoke Latin. We are looking for an inscription." Vox replied.

"I hope you know what you're looking for Ross" Varena looked at Kaden. "We don't want to be missing any important clues!"

"Well if you try to refrain from stealing something I am sure we may get a nice look in there, Varena." Kaden shot back.

The group entered the site of the ancient Roman Baths, which after over 2000 years, they are in remarkably good condition. The group began to look around the baths and the museum. Vox brought up the map on his pad and looked again at the first clue. It's then he noticed something he had first missed. A symbol was at the end of the clue. Two squared brackets with a wavey line from left to right. [~] "Hey guys, have a look at this." he said gesturing for them to look at the map. He pointed to the symbol. "Look for an inscription that has this somewhere near it. "

Freya took a closer look at the symbol before making her way around, this was one of the places she'd wanted to visit but never had the chance to until now. So far she wasn't having much luck but then she wasn't skilled in treasure hunting like Vox and Varena.

Kaden was scanning the museum pieces with his tricorder when he came across the [~] on a Roman statue of Venus. "Uh, Vox, I think I found the thing you are looking for." He said.

Vox headed over to the statue. "Yep, that's it."

He looked around the statue until he got around the back. Across the top of the base was the following inscription 'Deae fertilitatis perducit victoria'. He scans it into his the device he had on him.

"OK, the inscription reads 'The Goddess of fertility leads you to victory'. My guess is this has something to do with Venus, so does that mean we have to go to planet Venus?" He asked the group.

Kaden rolled his eyes he was starting to feel uncomfortable about this adventure especially if it meant going to the second planet from the sun. "Okay, timeout, now coming to a Roman bathhouse is one thing. But the idea going to a rock with 863 degree temperatures on the surface and clouds made of sulfuric acid is something else." He pointed out.

"The clue says to go to Venus, but necessarily on Venus. " Vox added. "But, I don't know about anyone else, I am not leaving without a souvenir. Anyone spot a gift shop?" Vox continued.

"I did" Freya grinned as she appeared with a bag full of souvenirs and a chocolate lollipop, which she was busy nibbling on. "Out that way."

"Seriously?!" Varena shook her head and sighed. "Trust the pregnant woman to find chocolate! We're on a treasure hunt here not a fun holiday jaunt!! Anyone wants me I'll be back on board the ship looking over this clue in more detail."

"Me too" Freya grinned as she passed by the two men and headed after Varena. "Don't worry my love, I didn't forget you." She waved the bag as she looked at Kaden.

Vox looked at Kaden. "So, once I have my souvenir we can get back to the ship."

Kaden placed his tricorder back on his utility shoulder harness and fastened up his jacket. "Sounds good, I'll go see to it the ladies back to your ship will you be fine, Vox?" He asked.

"Sure. Besides, Tenaran has a lock on me all the time and is capable of emergency transport. I won't be long, an hour at the most." Vox replied.

Nodding Kaden patted him on the back and smiled. "Very well, I best go catch up to the others before Freya probably tries to throttle the life out Varena for calling her a cow or something." He started for the direction Freya and Varena went waving Vox farewell.

Vox turned and headed into a gift shop. Once he had found a suitable souvenir, he sat and had a coffee in a small cafe with a view of the Roman Baths. He was soon then on his way back to Tenaran. Climbing up the steps and into the ship, the steps then retracted.

He taps a nearby coms pannel "I'm back folks, ready to go?" he asked.

“Ready as we’ll ever be” Freya smiled as she arrived back in Command and took a seat. “I think the fresh air and a journey home did me some good. Let’s go find our next clue.”

“Some of us were ready an hour ago Vox!” Varena sighed. “I don’t like hanging around.”

Kaden removed his leather jacket draping it over the back of his seat and sat down. "Unless you stole something what's the big rush? Might as well try to enjoy ourselves while we can."

"Ok, lets get going then shall we" Vox replied.

{OFF}

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