The Hall of Monitors

This cave thing is a little freaky, folks. And I don't mean freaky-fun.

We've just reached what I am calling the Hall of Monitors. Actually, Wilmey came up the name. I originally said something like, "My God! Look at these amazing television sets! They seem to go on forever! And ever!"

Wilmey said, "You mean 'monitors'?"

Wilmey is always so damn particular about things. So I said to him, "Of course I mean monitors! What does it even matter?!"

And he said, "Fine... whatever."

Arg! That made me furiously full of rage and hot spite! Because I secretly know it does matter! All these little things matter. Because Wilmey was seriously starting to get on my nerves. Ever since he stopped being Super Mopher, every little thing he did just really bugged me. Like... when he takes his socks off at night, he doesn't unwad them; instead, he throws them, all wadded up, into his shows! What a slob! And he squeezes the toothpaste right in the center of the tube (at least I'm almost sure it's him)!

So I said, "Fine, fine... it's monitors! It's whatever the hell you want it to be... Wimpy."

"What did you just say?" he asked me.

"I said it's whatever you want it to be."

"No... you just called me 'wimpy'."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you—"

"Well you are! You're a big fat stupid wimp! Your a big wimpy wimp! And you crumple your socks, and you walk around with your shoelaces untied, and sometime you spit, just a little bit, when you talk, and then you——"

"Woah, rocketboy..., chill! This is very un-Kirk-like! Chill. Why don't we all just try to get along. We're in this together, whether we like this or not. Not everybody is crazy about you either, but we're in this together. Aren't we?" And no one has ever said such kind words to me. I wept. And then he held out his arms to me, and we hugged (and I assure you, it was a strong and masculine sort of hug—really more of a quick pat on both shoulders). After this, he said to everyone, "Now let's take a closer look at this 'hall of monitors'." And that's where the name came from... Hall of Monitors.

In truth, there were only about 300 monitors, lining the cave walls, but that's a fair amount—many more than is on the bridge of the Enterprise! It was a bit eerie, because there was no sound coming from them. But there was sound: music. It was "Love Me Tender" by Elvis (and a few other similar songs) but none of us could tell from they were coming from.

The monitors themselves seem to display images from all over the planet, but most of the locations were unfamiliar to us. However we did recognize a couple of locations... because we'd already been there. We were all surprised to see one of the locations at which we'd spent the night, but more startling still was the crash site of the Enterprise! One larger monitor showed us, all standing there, amidst the monitors. Strange.

What is this area? Who uses it? Where are we? These are all unresolved mysteries.

One thing is for sure... someone has been there very recently. There was a chair and a narrow desk in the center of cave; on the desk was a coffee cup which was still half full of warm coffee.

As Wilmey said, "We're all in this together." Anyone have ideas of what to do next?

Comments

[indrabar]

I confess, captain sir, the toothpaste thing was me.

[Alli]

My deduction: whoever was there either had something ferocious carry him off right before we got there, he is coming back shortly, or whoever it is is invisible. I suggest we take inventory of the things on the monitors, drink the coffee and look for a way out.
Ha! Still wadded, you say? You're not a true slob until you can slide your socks off just by scrubbing them on the carpet.

[william shatner]

Yuck! Sliding your socks off by scrubbing them on the carpet?!

You drink the coffee and it's delicious!

Leaving is easy: we could just head out the way we came. Or we could go deeper into this tunnel.

When we take a closer look at the monitors, we notice an odd room that, at first, appears to be perfectly normal. At second glance we notice that all the detailing in this room is painted. Moldings, wallpaper, wood floor, rugs. Even the furniture (though there isn't much of it) is painted... but we can't see very well.

Another monitor is of the stars.

Another is of the face of toy baby. It's very doll-like. Weird-stuff.

There's no movement in any of these.

[Joelson Carl]

Darn! I was going to request the coffee. Oh, well. The early bird gets the worm.

I'd like to see if we can located the source of the music. It may be emanating from a technology we don't possess.

After that, let's explore the cave further! I've gotten over my fright and am willing to be first, last, or anywhere in between.

[Adam Wilmer]

I want to try and dismantle one of the monitors, see if it has cable feed going somewhere, and if so, follow that feed to its source...

[Alli]

*ahem*- my point exactly, Wilmey. Perhaps I didn't clarify: I meant the OTHER way out. Why would the NSK want a cave full of monitors? Oh, for the heck of it, of course!
No! There has to be a path/secret door/spinning fireplace/neon sign somewhere that leads to their command hq.
The coffee had a slight hint of cinnamon, by the way.

[william shatner]

Nothing behind that monitor but a bunch of wires. But you nearly electrocuted yourself by doing such a stupid thing with the power on like that! At least we all got a laugh when you were thrown against the opposite wall and were knocked unconscious.

Joel... what do you do to search for music? It seems to be coming from everywhere at once?

[Adam Wilmer]

Well... first, I pick myself up... and then I start using my hands to examine the rock walls of the cave, looking for seams, maybe a hidden door...

[indrabar]

And no one bothered to open the drawers of the desk? Look what I found!
*hands official looking documents to Captain Shatner*
What do you make of it, sir?

[Danxia]

I think the cinnamon in the coffee could be of immense significance. And I thought I could smell nutmeg before . . . can I borrow that cup for a moment?

[Danxia]

Where did "+" go, by the way?

[indrabar]

Cinnamon? My gosh! We're on Arrakis! Heaven help us all!

[Danxia]

Wait! This room with painted detailings . . . I knew I'd seen something like this before. It's an art technique known as 'Trompe l'oeil'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe_l'oeil

Which is very interesting - because this is (in principle) the SAME TECHNIQUE used by the N.P.S. when they made the INVISIBLE CAMOUFLAGED ROCK BRIDGE in Nabataean City.

http://rockbridge-tinselman.blogspot.com/2006/11/khan-found.html

Let me deal with these guys! Where's that monitor showing this room? OK, then, if I turn my head this way . . . perfect: the camera must be coming from this direction.

--OK, you evil intergalactic park-rangers! Come out and face our collective wrath!!

Now we wait.

[Joelson Carl]

I guess I didn't think out "how" to find the source of the music. Silly me. Scratch that idea.

While Danxia stares at the camera, I'll help Wilmey in his search by pounding on the walls with my hands to see if I can hear any hollow noises indicating a hidden area.

[Alli]

Eww... coffee grounds in the bottom of the cup.
Whoever was sitting at this desk was very bored; there's some sort of graffiti scratched on the edge. Take a look cap'n-- whaddya think? Looks to be some sort of cyrillic or glyphic script....

[Adam Wilmer]

Here Alli, let me take a look... you and I have some experience with this kind of writing after all... it might be a form of ancient Go'auld...

[Alli]

In that case, there is a 75% probability that it simply says "kri!", which could mean any number of things, which.... okay, so that wasn't much help.

I believe indrabar has some experience in runic-type things as well.

[indrabar]

Yeah, but I can't see them while you're all crowded around the desk. Oh, and those papers I found in the drawer, nothing but a really long grocery list. That and more electricity bills.

[Danxia]

Well? What does it say?

[indrabar]

Can't quite make it out....
"Beware the something something when it is something red something.... hrm... electric capacitator.... green cheese and something... will allow....defeat of the enemy....all hail our glorious leader someone something, down with the something something..." Darn these coffee stains! Can't read a thing!

[william shatner]

Hey... I have an idea! Why don't we all walk further down the tunnel! Instead of loitering around this "hall of monitors"?

[Adam Wilmer]

Hey! I just got a great idea! Why don't we walk further into the tunnel!

I'm heading in...

Oi! It's so dark, and smells like old cheese and feet...

[Alli]

Oh, that's just Earl...

[Joelson Carl]

Earl? Did I miss somebody?

Parts of the walls seem faintly reflective back here, even with the gloom. Is this... yes... it appears to be... dilithium crystals!

[Rupey]

Runes . . . crystals. . .

This is clearly just a New Age supplies shop. I say we blow it up, for the good of our great nation.