As the grinding of rock continued, a dull scrapping sound that just filled the air, those not actively engaged in the task of lifting the large flagstone were gathered in a semi-circle and watching. Dawn had come quickly to the campsite, and with it the intent of getting into the space within the plinth the monolith was built on.

“You’re not mad we drilled into the flagstone?” Gabrielle asked the native Leytan, Fen, as they watched from the comfort of shade. Both of them were watching the flagstone rise slowly and carefully, lifted by antigrav generators typically used to lift large cargo.

“It’s not mine,” Fen answered, hands clasped around a large bowl. He’d filled it water after breakfast and had been sipping at it, luxuriating in the wealth of water freely given to him and his people. “The Watchers just…watch.”

“You never said what for,” Gabs prodded.

“You’re right, I never did,” Fen answered with a smile. He took a long, careful sip from the bowl, not spilling a drop. “We watch for signs of the Terrors and any who might try to worship them.”

“The Terrors?” Gabs asked.

“Myths and legends, nothing more.” Fen’s tone was light, verging on jovial even. “Ancient beings who many think once ruled our world. Fear was their primary tool for subjugation before they were overthrown and cast down. Really all just stories as far as I’m concerned.”

“But you still watch out for them?”

Fen smiled, looking to his companions briefly, then back to Gabs. “We watch for their followers. People who would use any excuse to commit atrocities on other tribes or settlements. But we also work to other causes, like carrying messages, or acting as guides across the lands.”

“Noble. Selfless even.”

“I don’t have to farm, or tend to herd animals,” Fen remarked. “And I get to travel and meet interesting new people, some from the void even.”

“I have an entire team of people aboard my ship who would want to spend days simply asking you questions. And weeks just living with you as well.”

“Why?”

“To learn about your people and cultures. To experience your way of life.” Gabs watched Fen’s confusion occupy his face. “My people value knowledge and experience. We like to learn whatever we can, where we can.”

“Even knowledge best left forgotten?” Fen asked.

“Ah, but if something is completely forgotten, how could one defend against it?” Gabs countered. “Besides, don’t you have to know something about these Terrors in order to know when someone is worshipping them?”

“So you have your own Watchers then as well?”

“Whole varieties of them!” Gabs confessed. “The galaxy is a weird, wonderful, scary, beautiful and fascinating place.”

“Galaxy?” Fen asked, the word untranslated, finding no match within the Leytan language.

“The dense band of stars, lesser-suns, in the night sky.”

Fen nodded, satisfied. “The God-road.”

“See, things like that is why I have people who would want to spend time with you. Heck, if I could, I would.”

Before more could be said by either side, the large flagstone was finally lifted clear, a faint sigh as air quickly flowed and equalised. Just that alone had a number of the Starfleet personnel looking at each other, consulting tricorders and mummering findings to each other. But nothing else followed as the team managing the lifting units, led by Samantha Michaels, moved the stone to the side and lowered it, a call from Sam declaring the site safe once the stone was settled once more.

“Well, that sounds like our cue,” a voice from behind Gabrielle and Fen said. Matt Lake already had a flashlight in each hand, held out for both. “I think I should say something about the mission commander not leading the exploration herself, but that does sound like red-shirt nonsense.”

Fen chuckled briefly. “I think exchanges like this are why my people should spend more time with yours as well. Your words make sense, but are confusing.” Taking the flashlight from Matt, Fen examined it and flinched briefly when it illuminated right in his face. “Ah, a light,” he said calmly, blinking. “Can I keep this one when you leave?”

Matt looked to Gabs, who thought about it for a second. “Don’t see why not. Though it will eventually stop working.”

“So have the others I have collected,” Fen said. “A memento of your illuminating visit.”

“A pun? Wordplay,” Gabs added at Fen’s confusion, smiling with his nod of acknowledgement. “Ready to see what lies under the Dagger?” she asked, using the local name for the monolith.

“I look for–”

Fen cut himself off as a sudden shift in the wind hit the encampment. What had been a gentle northerly breeze, just enough to keep the heat of the day from being insufferable, shifted to a southerly. The temperature noticeably dropped, and clouds started to form overhead as two fronts suddenly slammed into each other.

“That can’t be good,” Gabs commented as she looked up.

“I’ve never seen clouds form like this before,” Fen said.

“Never?”

“Never.” Fen faced Gabs, brows furrowed. “Could opening that passageway have done this?”

“Not by itself,” she answered.

“Some sort of defence mechanism?” Matt postulated. “To stop grave robbers? I mean, it can’t be natural. Republic would have warned us about weather long before now.”

The sudden peal of thunder overhead shifted thinking from speculation to response. They were out in the open, the wind picking up more and more and starting to howl through the ruins nearly half a kilometre away across the excessively large central plaza. The monolith stood beside them, a natural lightning rod immense proportion.

But none of this felt right.

Then another peal of thunder, louder and more concussive.

“Oh, I’m going to hate this,” Gabs muttered.

Matt looked at her, then nodded, arriving at the same conclusion. “Would take too long to mount up and driving away we’d be generating massive amounts of static in his wind. We’d practically be call it down on us.”

“Yup.” Gabs looked at the open passageway, then the thirty personnel around the campsite, some donning jackets, others securing field kit. “We need shelter.”

“No argument,” Matt agreed, whistled loudly, everyone’s attention falling on him and Gabs.

“Everyone inside!” Gabs ordered. “Rations, water and lights! Now, folks!”