Multiple investigations

Things had been going smoothly - too smoothly in fact, to the point where Dustin was somehow not surprised when the call came in. They’d spent the better part of two days loading the cargo holds with material from the abbey, and he’d even had a chance to take part in one of the abbot’s rituals; apparently ceremonially pouring water over the balcony symbolized the transient nature of the place or something. It’d seemed vaguely mystic, and there’d been enough incense burning at the time that he felt like it was a ceremony rather than just emptying out washing up water, so he’d chalked it up as a honour to be reported back to EarthGov. On the whole, the abbot and his followers were nice enough aliens - which was why when things suddenly went wrong it was all the more concerning.

“The abbot needs to see ya, Dusty, said to ask you to come sharpish if ya could.” Rye said, bending to lift another crate from the bay they were currently unpacking. Dustin nodded and lifted a box of his own - there was no reason not to take stuff into the new abbey if he was going anyway. The new site was carved into a cliff, and it was cool as he stepped through the entrance. Inside, one of the younger acolytes took his burden from him before gesturing in the direction of the abbot’s new quarters. “The abbot…” the young alien began, before Dustin interrupted with “wants to see me. I know, I’m heading there now.”

When he pushed open the door to the abbot’s room, he had been expecting to see the kindly old alien sat behind his desk, which indeed he was. What he hadn’t expected to see was the bloodstained robe lying in front of him, nor the worried pair of monks hovering nearby. “What…” he began, at which point the abbot looked up from a careful consideration of the damaged and bloody garment, antennae twitching. “Ah, ambassador. Thank you for coming so swiftly. I… fear I have an additional request, if you would hear me out? I know we have already taken much of your time.”

Dustin shook his head. “We’ve been getting reports in from our scouts - there’s a few potential signals they want to follow up on before we move on, so I was planning on delaying our departure by a day or so anyway. I assume the request has something to do with… that?” He gestured to the robe, and the abbot nodded sadly. “Indeed. One of the brothers was found on the lower levels quite badly hurt. Our infirmary is tending to him and has stabilized his condition, but if we could request the aid of your medical team? I know when I was on your ship you spoke quite highly of your doctor and facilities, and it would be a boon to have him conscious and well as swiftly as possible.”

The abbot’s face grew heavy at that point. “I do not yet know what happened. The neophyte who found him said that he had left a blood trail coming from the level below where he had collapsed, and his injuries are odd.” Dustin raised an eyebrow, so the abbot explained. “We are no strangers to dangerous fauna and flora on these worlds, ambassador. There are larger predators who could harm our brothers and sisters - but they avoid dark and cold places. Additionally, their fangs and claws would not have left as clean a wound. And yet…. The wound does not look to have been made by any blade or tool I am aware of anyone within the abbey possessing.”

With a glance at the other brothers present, the abbot retrieved a tablet from his desk and offered it to Dustin. “Images of the victim’s injuries. Whatever caused them was certainly enough of a threat that we need to see it driven out from our monastery, but I fear none of our number are fighters. Your security chief is a most fearsome warrior is she not? If you are as you say staying in the system, could we call on your aid to hunt whatever beast or demon has injured my flock so?” The wounds shown on the tablet were extensive; Dustin glanced at them then had to look away or risk losing his lunch. The creature - or attacker - had done their best to turn the monk’s chest into a chess board. What little he’d taken in before turning his head indicated that the abbot was right - the wounds were too clean to have been a beast but no weapon Dustin could think of would form a pattern like that.

“We’ll help.” He said automatically - it was unlikely that this was related to the monsters he was searching for, but even so a strange threat this close to Earth required a proper response. “Have your people pull back to the upper levels for now, and nobody travels alone - assuming you haven’t already done that?” The abbot gave a thin smile. “I had already issued the instruction to travel together; I had hoped that by doing so we would remain safe enough to continue to move goods into storage so as not to waste more of your time than is needed.” Dustin shook his head. “Don’t worry about the time now. I’m going to head back to my ship and get a team together - and something to fight back against whatever is skulking around in your basements.”

Dustin left the abbey at a brisk pace; he didn’t want to panic the novices who were chatting jovially in the sun as they hauled the less important material to the outside of the abbey, ready for higher ranking members of the order to sort it and convey it to it’s proper place in their stores. Ignoring the lowered cargo pod, he went instead to the turbolift and was about to hit the button to travel up before he thought better of making the trip alone. Tapping his communicator, he summoned Rye over from where she’d been preparing to drag yet another crate into the abbey, and together they rode up to the ship.

The bunny girl had been curious about why he’d summoned her, but he opted to save the explanations until he’d gotten the senior staff together in his ready room. Briefly going over the details, he glanced at the group and began to issue orders. “Bleu, get a team together and go check up on the victim. If needed, evac him to the medbay for further treatment. Anything you can do to get him conscious safely so we can get more information would be handy. Naera, Sammie - I need you two to keep an eye on the ship. Keep the cargo being unloaded steadily Naera, we need an officer in charge down there and everyone else is about to be busy so I need you to step up, we can make do with automat meals tonight if we have to. Sammie, I want you up here on the bridge with an eye on the scanners just in case this thing is something hostile and tries to skip town. They won’t pick up lifesigns under that much rock, but anything weird we should spot.”

His pilot looked bemused, then glanced at Meli. “What’s he expecting me to see through a few hundred feet of solid rock, science officer?” The Velca’s gaze was flat as she replied. “Weave bubble collapse most likely. In the unlikely event we get a repeat of the encounter we had previously, the sensors are pre-set to trace the jump. If that happens, we’ll want to know where they’re running to as soon as possible.” Dustin nodded, adding “I don’t want the junior crew to be panicking or starting a rumour-mill about the possibility of person-sized weave jumps; hence you watching over who ever is managing the sensors while we’re down there. If one does happen, make sure the information remains contained for now.”

Pausing, he ran an eye over the rest of the assembled crew. “Yril’k - get a squad together and meet Meli and me by the abbot’s office. We’ll go and double check the plans of the abbey to make sure I’ve not forgotten anything. Emely, Trea’k, I need you to work with the abbot. Once word of this gets out - and it will as soon as we all show up mob handed - there’s going to be stressed and panicking novices. I’m relying on you to keep them calm until we can figure out what’s going on.” Pausing, he glanced up at the ceiling for a moment before adding “I’m going to head to the armoury first and grab our weapons. Anyone think of anything I’ve missed?” The assembled group shook their heads, and departed for their assigned tasks. As Meli followed him towards the armoury, her ears flickered between worry and pride. Pausing in the doorway to the weapons lockers, he glanced at her. “What is it, love?” She smiled at him before saying softly “It’s just that you’re doing so well at being in command. From the images you showed us, I think it unlikely that it’s the same entity as before, but you’re not leaving anything to chance.” Then she turned, gesturing to the massed rows of weapons and added “mind if I pick mine first?”