Finding Darkwa

Posted on Sun Mar 22nd, 2026 @ 10:59pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Ensign Janelle Barett

993 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Not All Orders Are Easy
Location: Planet

Deanna and Janelle exited the blind and made their way down the hillside, the terrain still familiar, even though it was much darker now. The weather had cleared at least, but it was still fairly cool out. Deanna was moving at a quick clip, more like this was a tactical training exercise.

Janelle matched Deanna’s pace without comment, her attention shifting ahead to the settlement below. “If Darkwa is still planetside, he’ll have heard the disruption at the bar,” she said evenly. “We may not have the element of surprise.”

"He may not come willingly, and we won't have the same element of surprise as we had when we got the others, but one way or another, he is coming with us" Deanna replied as they continued towards the settlement.

As they reached the outskirts of the settlement Deanna took up a position behind a large tree. "I hope you did well in your covert tactical training at the Academy. We are moving in under stealth. Ready?"

Janelle gave a short nod, her attention already tracking the movement and shadows across the settlement’s edge.

“Ready, Commander.” She said, moving first. She slipped from cover with controlled precision, keeping herself low as she advanced toward the nearest structure.

Deanna ducked into the shadows as they entered the settlement, hiding against a building. She began telepathically scanning everything one she could reach, getting a layout of the town mentally. "Far side of the settlement, brazier outside illuminating the entrance. Three occupants, Darkwa is inside."

“Three,” Janelle murmured, just loud enough for Deanna to hear. “We take them quiet?” She adjusted her grip on the phaser, angling slightly to give Deanna room to move first.

"Phaser on stun, ensign. We use them only if necessary" Deanna replied. She took a look around, "Alright, move. Keep to the shadows."

Janelle gave a small nod and moved, keeping tight to the wall as she advanced toward the far side of the settlement. The glow from the brazier flickered ahead, just visible between the structures. She slowed as they closed the distance, dropping slightly lower as voices carried faintly from inside. Janelle glanced back once to confirm Deanna’s position, then shifted toward the edge of the entrance.

As they were in position at the corner of the building, Deanna activated her tricorder and took a quick scan, offering a low frustrating groan as she looked at the readings. "Damn, we have a problem. The door is barricaded and trapped, as are all other ways into this building."

Janelle frowned slightly, her eyes moving over the structure, quick and methodical. "We could try drawing them out?" She said quietly, "Unless you have another idea?"

Deanna considered the situation. "Drawing them out risks alerting the roaming sentries. We are going to have to do something a bit rash. I'm going to set my phaser to wide beam and create an opening in the wall. Once I do, we'll enter and stun everyone inside, grab Darkwa and transport out. At this point I am fine if they consider any of this a bit of sorcery."

Janelle nodded as she stepped in closer to the wall. “Understood,” she said raising her phaser slightly. “I’ll take left on entry.”

The wall gave way within just a few moments. Janelle moved in right behind it, “Don’t move!” she said as she entered. Someone turned and she fired on instinct. The stun took him clean and he dropped hard. She shifted her aim, scanning. “Left clear.”

Deanna entered and stunned a large man to the right. She looked around quickly, "Very good, ensign. Keep a lookout." Deanna moved slowly as she walked towards the opposite wall that was dark. "Dr. Darkwa, you've caused us quite a lot of difficulties. Time for you to come quietly."

Janelle kept her phaser trained on the darkened corner, her voice remaining level. “You heard the Commander,” she said. “Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be.”

A figure shifted in the shadows, stepping just enough into the low light to be seen. “You shouldn’t be here,” Darkwa said, his voice steady despite the phasers trained on him. “You’ve seen what’s out there. You think walking away fixes that?” His gaze flicked briefly between Deanna and Janelle. “I stayed because someone had to.”

Deanna scoffed. "You have no secrets from me doctor. I know the truth of it all, and you will endure the consequences of your actions, even those you felt justified in. These people will endure despite the storms and other phenomena this planet encounters. You were meant to watch these people, not be amongst them. Now, damage done, time to leave this place."

"Betazoid. I should've known they would send a Betazoid to this place" Darkwa replied. "I am not leaving. These people need me."

"Need you? Don't delude yourself doctor. They were fine before you were here, and they will be fine with you gone. Now, we are leaving, one way or another" Deanna replied emphatically.

Darkwa screamed, "No!" He leapt at Deanna, rage in his eyes and his arms outstretched as if to attack her.

Deanna fired her phaser and then braced herself as Darkwa's stunned body fell into her. "Always have to do things the hard way" she grumbled. She looked over at Janelle, "Are we clear?"

Janelle scanned the room once more, then lowered her phaser a fraction. “All clear, Commander,” she said. “He’s the last of them.”

"Time to go" Deanna stated flatly. =^= Celes to Washington. Three to beam up. =^=

Deanna, Janelle, and Darkwa dematerialized in a blue hue. When they materialized, they were on the Washington in transporter room 2. "Ensign, take Darkwa to sickbay, let them check him out. Once he is cleared, escort him to the brig with the others. I'm going to report to the captain."

They had completed the mission, though nothing had gone as expected.

 

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