1st Session | Voice

[trillbulations]

[The voice on the journal may be attempting to sound authoritative and in control; it does not manage do do so by any stretch of the imagination.]

Is there a signal? Can anyone hear me?

You're talking to a book, Ezri. Made of paper. Do you really want it to answer?

Umm. I mean, I am Ensign Ezri Dax. I'm with Starfleet. Uh. Starfleet. Right. [A sudden rush of words.] I'm a little turned around, because I really have no idea how I got here. Which seems to be the running theme in this book which I am talking to because I have nothing else to try.

Just find some reeds, a bit of sulfur, and make a flare. At least then you'd be doing something. Equally inane, but better than sitting around talking to a book. Because that's crazy.

[She lets out a sharp breath.]

Okay. Assuming that, somehow, this book is some manner of communication device, I could use a little help finding the village. Which is in the book. And populated by people kidnapped and given wings. Like the ones I have. Out of nowhere. Because wings were exactly what I needed to make everything come together. Wings. Described in a talking book. With a camera. A camera in an old paper book. A book that keeps rewriting itself. All this while wearing a sundress in a forest. Therapeutic. Yeah, that's what we'll call it. Therapeutic.

At least I didn't call myself Curzon. Baby steps, Ezri. Otherwise, you'll miss losing your mind. I'm sure it'll be interesting.

[She groans, and there is something of a pause. At this point, she doesn't seem to think she is still broadcasting (if she ever actually did).]

Calm down. You've been trained for this, Ensign. See if they talk about any peaks on that map that will tell you how far down the range you are. After that, all you have to do is pick a direction. There's a river, or stream, into the town, coming down out of the mountains, and the forest seems to be mostly south of that. So mountains to the right, and walk. And ignore the bugs. You'll be fine.

Okay. Fine. Not like I'm going to run into a palukoo, so I'm fine. Besides, if I do, I can always eat it. There goes the food problem. Okay. Up, let's go! Let's move, Ensign!

[The sound ends here, likely as she closes the Journal.]

Comments

voice;

[universal_charm]

_{[ He meant to cut in way sooner, but she just kept going, and maybe it was better for her to talk it out herself than have him suddenly pop up. So he waited, and when she finished he finally spoke - ]}

Ensign, where exactly is your location? What do you see around you besides a lot of trees? Can you hear a river at all or see something like a town between the trees? You'll want to follow the river down and to the town, and it sounds like you've figured out you're to the north.

_{[ A) She's call herself that and B) sometimes people responded better to their ranks in crisis. Kirk was willing to do that if it helped, though he wasn't a formal guy. He'd introduce his own rank in a minute. ]}

Voice

[trillbulations]

[Once you let her get started, Sir, you'll regret it...and considering how scrambled she seemed earlier, she reaponds fairly well to a talking book now.]

I am in a forested area. I see the mountains, not sure how far from them I am. No equipments or tools, except this...book. Oh. You heard everything, didn't you?

Re: Voice

[universal_charm]

Yeah, the book acts as a rudimentary two-way communicator, or en mass if you want it too, which you kind of have been doing, so pretty much everyone heard.

Well, the good news, the Malnosso usually don't drop off people to far from the village, so you can't be that far off. The bad news is that it's not really easy to orient yourself if you're new, but you seemed to do an okay job. He said you should head south, so try that. So long as you aren't heading up, you're going in a good direction.

Voice

[trillbulations]

Of course they did. Good job, Ezri.

[A soft groan.]

It can't be worse than two weeks in the Amazon basin for my survival final. But staying out of the mountains I can do. Thank you.

[Voice]

[voiceinthedark]

It's alright. At least you didn't take one look at the houses and bolt up a tree like I did when I arrived. [Admittedly, there were circumstances.]

There should be some waystations on your way to the village. And signs.

Damn, if I had proper cameras out there...

Re: [Voice]

[trillbulations]

[Ezri considers this for a moment.]

Probably because I'm in this dress. Not conducive to tree climbing.

[She sighs]

I'll watch for signs. What kind if waystations?

Re: [Voice]

[voiceinthedark]

Probably also because you weren't expecting to get eaten if you headed into town.

Uh, they're built out of stones. Might have some food and stuff there. Maybe better clothes.

[Voice]

[trillbulations]

Eaten? Is that actually a concern here? Because I can tell you without a doubt that I don't want to get eaten. And when I can say something without a doubt right now, that means I really mean it.

[And yes, she has seen enough in nine lives to be willing to consider such a statement at face value. That probably says a great deal about the lives she's lead.]

[Voice]

[snapturtle]

[Someone else from Starfleet? That's interesting. But from where and when was she from?]

Breathe Ensign. Talking to yourself isn't exactly Starfleet protocol.

[Voice]

[trillbulations]

[Well, that was something of a relief. Someone who at least acted like they knew something about Starfleet. She'd been unsure if there would be anyone who did, reading some of the journal.]

Well, it is a rather commonplace coping mechanism used by humanoids during times of stress. All things considered, it's actually kind of normal. Besides, I've done it off and on for two centuries. I ised to practice oratory for hours when I had some big piece of legislation to bull through. And you spend half you time talking to yourself raising children. That's what it felt like, anyway.

[A pause.]

But that's probably not what you meant.

Re: [Voice]

[snapturtle]

No, it wasn't.

[she could have done without that explanation but parts of it confuse her. That is until she sees the spots.]

You're a Trill?

[Voice]

[trillbulations]

Sorry. I'm a counselor. Well. Assistant counselor. On leave. Uh. But, I guess I thought taking about something liek that might help. Because I'm apparently an idiot.

Uh.

[She pauses at the question.]

Uh, yes. I am, actually. Joined. Newly joined. It's obvious?

[Written]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[Unlike everyone else's responses, this one comes written in.]

Looks like everyone else is guiding you into town, so if you want some information about the place, there's a good guide that explains the situation here.

[Written]

[trillbulations]

[The response takes some time, at the least because it takes her time to connect any new writing to her...outburst. Her writing seems somewhat ill-practiced, but is still still fairly neat.]

I think I read some of that earlier. I know I saw the maps. They weren't the best, but I could read them. Mostly.

I don't like the sound of an Integration Center. That is never a good name.

[Written]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[There's a delay as well as Ginia goes about her day.]

I don't think anyone calls it that, at least I've never heard it. Welcome Center is the friendlier version.

[Written]

[trillbulations]

It's listed as a place. Where people can look for a place to stay. I think.

[A pause while she apparently checks.]

Yes, that's what it says. Though it is also noted as being called the 'Welcome Center', apparently. I will try to remember that. It sounds less foreboding.

Very important distinction to make in a prison, probably.

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[Starfleet. Well, this seems to be a running theme. He starts up a video feed

Luke lets her finish before speaking up, taking the stern, authoritative tone of a military man.]

Ensign Dax, relax. That's the first step, keep yourself from panicking. Everything's going to be completely fine.

[Video]

[trillbulations]

[As Ezri answers, she's not really looking at the book, but squinting at something off in the distance.]

Relax. I'm relaxed. I mean, I am moving. And I have an idea where, and it's fine. Well, yeah, I've been kidnapped and surgically altered, and so I can't say I'm exactly sure I really should relax, because then I'm going to get sloppy, because I'm not paying any attention and then...

[Needless to say, at this point, she trips. Picking herself up, she realizes that there is a moving picture in the books. A moment later, she realizes it probably means that whoever is in the picture can also see her.]

Relax. Right.

[She forces herself to take a deep breath.]

Really, usually I'm better at this than...this.

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke's lips curl into a faint smile, and he nods.]

I believe you, Ensign. Just pick yourself up, take a breather, and look where you're going. There's nothing out in the forest that'll hurt you, unless you decide to pick a fight with a bear. And you know better than that, I think.

[He waves at something off camera, a bleeping sound in the background.]

Can you see any landmarks around you? Mountains, rivers? A small town?

[Video]

[trillbulations]

I'm not so sure about that. I married Worf.

[She clears her throat and looks off to the side, where she'd been looking before.]

The mountains are over there. None of them seem to have names I can find, so I can't be sure where I am, but since I'm in woodland, and I can see them, I'm fairly certain I'll either find the village or the stream out of the mountains if I keep them to my right.

[She smiles, a little shyly, and her tone is something between defensive and playful.]

I have read a map or two in my time. And several others. The peak closest to the fore abrest of me has a slightly jagged edge on the ridge to the...well, I assume South, if the mountains are East of the village. I don't know how deep in the woods I really am. I'm in a sundress. I didn't want to climb a tree unless I had to.

[ Voice ]

[rashness]

... Are you still lost? I could come try'n find you or something.

[ Voice ]

[trillbulations]

Hmmm?

[Fumbling for the book takes a moment.]

Um, hello? No, no, I think I have a pretty god idea, now. Um. Thank you, though.

[ Voice ]

[rashness]

Oh uh... okay, if you say so. I'm sorry you got stuck here with us.

[ Voice ]

[trillbulations]

Well, I think I know where I am, and someone is coming to meet me. I even found a nice, big stick in case something shows up before that.

[A light laugh; it sounds a touch forced.]

I promise not to hold it against you. I'm Ezri. You wouldn't mind...talking a little. While I wait?

[She doesn't sound scared, exactly, just nervous.]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune isn't exactly following a lot of what's being said, but that's all right--she's rarely on top of what's going on in the normal course of things.

It would be nice if she could offer something helpful, but instead, all she replies is:] Good morning, Ezri! It's very nice to meet you. My name is Grune!