Puzzle Box
Posted on Thu Apr 23rd, 2026 @ 1:42pm by Lieutenant Siadra Molaur & Lt JG Fenora
Edited on on Wed Apr 29th, 2026 @ 10:55am
1,275 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - The One Who Got Away
Location: Office of the Chief Science Officer - Deck 11 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD003 0900 hrs
Time had passed, and Siadra decided to take back the Japanese puzzle box from the other science officer before it was opened. She was feeling a bit uneasy in not having it in her possession.
She knew that it disappointed Lieutenant Arendsen for her taking it back, before finding out what was inside. Siadra was feeling uneasy of it not being back in her possession. Much seemed to happen in regards to that box.
Drawing in a breath, Siadra stared at it, there had to be away to get to that last hidden area. She did need to get it open, there was another forensic anthropologist, Siadra wanted to get some help.
Going over her list Siadra saw the name Fenora. Fenora was the one instrumental in putting that fun holodeck of piecing the creation of Dr. Frankenstein. Siadra wondered if Fenora would like a crack at opening up the Japanese Puzzle box.
She tapped on her combadge.
"Lieutenant Fenora, would you come to my office please?"
While she waited, Siadra gazed upon the box made from teak wood, with iron hinges. The box was the size of a medium sized shoe box, with ornately carved, bamboo plants near an oriental style home, and a curved bridge crossing a river.
Fenora was reading an article on bone reconstruction when she got the call. She saved her place and tapped her combadge. "On my way." She hadn't seen the chief in a while as they were both working on different things and she was curious.
Stopping outside the lieutenant's office, she straightened her uniform and rang the chime.
The door opened right after the chime was pressed, Siadra having called out "Enter!" in a sing song voice.
"Hello Fenora, thank you for coming." Siadra giving a smile.
"I have an item that I would like to get opened. I've solved most of the puzzles to open this puzzle box but there is a section I want opened. I had someone else work on it but I reclaimed it. I needed it back in my possession, now that I have it back-"
She looked up from the box, "Are you good at solving puzzles?"
Fenora raised an eyebrow as she looked from the box to the chief. "Depending on the type of puzzle, yes." She nodded to the desk. "Is that a puzzle box?"
"Yes it is, there is a final area that I can't get to. I didn't want to use a transporter, or even use a scanning device to look inside. What fun would that be if you don't solve something organically." Siadra looking at Fenora. "Would you like to open the final part? I do need help on this matter."
"What have you found so far?" The Vulcan asked, curious.
"As in items that could be inside or the puzzles I've been able to figure out. Items, I've only found some jade earrings, as for the puzzles I got most of them, except for two." Siadra explained.
"I thought I had only one but then realized there was another one." she carefully moved the box towards Fenora, and indicated the chair across from the desk. "Please, see if you can open it."
Fenora took the box and carefully felt over it, noting the shape, The intricacy. The pattern. Twists and turns, she thought. And secret passages. Pressure points and hidden spaces.
She found an irregular spot and pushed, hearing an almost imperceptible click. "You found this one, yes?" she asked. It was more a request for confirmation than a question.
Siadra nodded, "yes" as she listened to each click that sounded when a piece was unlocked. The ones she was familiar with and had heard before.
Slowly and carefully, Fenora opened the compartments Siadra already found. But it helped her get a good feel for the type of puzzle box and what she might expect. Part of the complexity and value of a puzzle box was being familiar enough while still maintaining a uniqueness that made it a challenge.
"How many did you find?" Fenora asked, wanting to know how many more she would need to find.
"I have found seven, I don't quite know how many is left, from what I have heard sometimes they can be up to ten." Siadra responded.
She hoped that Fenora would be able to find the last one or ones.
"I do love puzzles and this has been fun and yet challenging." Siadra commented.
"Indeed." Fenora grew quiet as she focused on the puzzle box and what her fingers felt. The pattern was an excellent disguise, but ash she paid attention to the depth and pattern, feeling for anything that stood out.
Finally, she felt a click. "Here. I think I opened something." She handed the box to Siadra.
Siadra moved the box close to her and opened the final part, her eyes widened. She reached over to get some gloves putting them on before she reached inside. She pulled what was hidden a scarab made of lapis lazuli, its wings trimmed with gold inlay. Siadra looked closely where the wings were lying flat upon its back. She noticed hinges which indicated that the wings could be opened.
"I need to see just how old this is." Siadra looking towards Fenora. Care to find out? And see if there is something hidden behind the wings of the scarab?" admiring the beautiful blue of the stone the beetle was made of.
"Gently. The wings may simply be ornamental," Fenora said. "It looks Egyptian, likely from one of the dynasties. the computer should be able to date it." It was a lovely piece. Someone had carefully preserved it and the puzzle box for a very long time.
Siadra reached out to touch the wings of the scarab, she gave out a gasp. A memory blasted through her, it was from Aadru and it was painful.
She barely had the presence of mind to keep from dropping the scarab.
"Please, let’s take this into the lab, and examine it." Siadra looking at Fenora.
Fenora nodded. She noticed the reaction, but wasn't sure if she should comment on it.
"S-sorry. Just a rather strong emotion coming from one of the former hosts." Siadra remarked, seeming to pull herself together. "Now to find out what had caused such a reaction to this scarab." well part of her looked that way.
Her hand which was trembling was giving her away, the hand that was holding the scarab. "How about you take this, I'm afraid I might drop this." Siadra remarked.
Fenora gently removed the scarab from Siadra's hand and set it on a table. "I will leave you to your thoughts. If there is more I can do to help, please, let me know." There were more puzzles here than just the box, but they were for others to solve. So, with a quiet step, she left the doctor to her thoughts.
Siadra nodded watching as Fenora left. Her eyes went towards the scarab just staring at it. What did it contain, why was it placed inside the Japanese puzzle box. Why was it protected this way? Why was Aadru upset? One puzzle solved, and yet another was found. Layers... having to dig through them connected to Molaur's former hosts. Such a mystery.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Fenora
Forensic Anthropologist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Chief Forensic Science Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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