MIDROS remained quiet during the journey, and eventually the green illumination of her lenses retracted to pinpoints and then to black. Only the regular movement of her breathing indicated she was still alive. The group traversed the open desert and entered the beginning of the foothills as the sun of the planet finally sank passed the horizon, washing the twilight with pink and purple hues. Without the sun, the two moons shone brighter than Earth's moon, and the group found it very easy to move through the terrain.
As they proceeded further into the rock formation, they found it to be cut into twisting and confusing channels. Sh'Siquar'Na moved ahead of the group, pausing occasionally as needed for them to catch up. She paused, looked over her shoulder at them and held a hand up, speaking in her own language for a moment, before looking up along the walls of the ravine. She ran, and leapt several feet upward, before grabbing onto the rock wall. She made her ascent quickly, looking much like a monkey as she used a combination of her hands and feet and, at one point, only her tail to swing from one point on the rock wall to another point as she navigated any firm hold she could locate. Once gaining the top, she crouched down and looked around.
She looked down at the gathered group and called out. Mandy heard the small whine of servos activating, and MIDROS stirred, before raising her head with fully illuminated lenses. She said, "MIDROS translate." Sh'Siquar'Na spoke for a few moments with several clicks and pops, and then began to climb down the rock wall. MIDROS said, "Sh'Siquar'Na says, aliens there is a cavern up ahead, which might be a good place to make shelter. It may be occupied by denizens of this planet, so it would be best to proceed with caution. MIDROS translation of the words of Sh'Siquar'Na complete."
The alien dropped away from the rock wall, and landed gracefully. She straightened, pulled the metal rod from its sheath and moved forward along the rock channel. As she moved, the rod elongated fluidly into the battle staff she'd wielded earlier. She moved around a bend in the channel and slowed to a stop. She looked over her shoulder at the humans and spoke for a moment, which caused MIDROS to announce, "MIDROS translate. Sh'Siquar'Na says, aliens cover your ears, and watch the tunnel entrance."
Sh'Siquar'Na watched the humans for a few moments, until they had complied with her commands. She then turned toward the tunnel entrance as well, crouching down defensively and began to sing. Even with their ears covered they could hear the song, which sounded as if three different voices were creating the music. The sounds layered together, fluctuating between melody and harmony, and even with their ears covered the humans began to feel themselves becoming unnaturally curious and wanting to investigate the song, even though they knew its exact source.
Sh'Siquar'Na continued her song for a minute or so, and each human found themselves slowly moving in her direction, and found themselves completely distracted from what they were supposed to be doing. Sh'Siquar'Na stopped her song, and it was several moments before any of the humans were able to feel completely in control of their conscious will. Sh'Siquar'Na straightened, as her battle staff fluidly shrank back down to the short rod, which she slid back into the sheath on her right thigh. She spoke for a few moments and moved toward the entrance. MIDROS said, "MIDROS translate. Sh'Siquar'Na says, aliens it should be ok to enter the tunnel. If there were something of intelligence within, it would have answered my mesmer. MIDROS translation of the words of Sh'Siquar'Na complete."
As Sh'Siquar'Na walked toward the entrance, she gathered as much drift wood and other small items of vegetation she could. She disappeared into the darkness of the entrance.
