Flght or flight

Posted on Fri Feb 26th, 2021 @ 11:25pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant JG Sarah Wilson & Chief Petty Officer Ronson Mitchell & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: The Jungle
Location: Exiting the Cave

The rumbling increased, steadily gaining in volume as though the planet itself was unhappy and grumbling. Rhenora read the signs, there was a tremor building beneath them, the caves and rocky geology around them formed by such movement in the past. WHether it was an earthquake of great magnitude or enough to merely collapse the cave around them she didn’t know.

“Move!” She yelled, reaching for Remal and allowing him to assist her. They grabbed as much as they could by way of their meager supplies.

Res didn't need to be told twice as he took Sarah's arm for support as they moved due haste out of the cave. He wondered if they were going from the frying pan into the fire.

Rhenora moved as quickly as she could, leaning heavily on Remal's shoulder to avoid putting too much pressure on her leg. The wound was still only at the beginning stage of healing - too much pressure would land her right back where she was a few days back.

The rumbling grew in strength, animals and insects in the cave now making their own flight for safety.

" Ronson, Res - let's go!" She shouted over the loud rumbling.

Res move as quickly as he was able. Each step was agony and his back felt like it was on fire but he dare not stop or endanger the others so he struggled to keep up.

A large swarm of bees emerged from the back of the cave, frantic in their flight to escape the eminent demise of their huge hive, bats intermingling with the stinging insects. The Captain swatted at them as they enveloped the team, tucking her head to protect her face.

Res stumbled along in Sarah's grip as they both sought to escape the winged creatures in their own flight to find safety. He kept his head down even as he felt some of the insects land on his back but not sting though the pain he was feeling he doubted if he would have felt their sting. "Water." He gasped, "Need to find water!" He mumbled as he stumbled along.

" Let's get out of here and find some more cover first" Rhenora puffed as she hobbled along with Remal, significantly slower than her usual brisk pace. Just a few more metres then they would be out of the cave.

Res didn't answer the Captain, he needed to conserve his strength and get out of the cave and hopefully find more suitable cover.

Ronson stopped suddenly, seeing the knife he had been using still resting on a stone back where the group had been resting. He paused, considering the possibility of retrieving the teams only weapon before it became lost for good.

Remal marched forward, as fast as his wife was able. He had already considered picking her up as soon as they were beyond the small cave mouth. But h
Her concern for her people was also his concern as he looked back briefly. Sarah had Res, but Ronson had stopped. He could see the entrance up ahead, why stop? He yelled back, "Mitchell, move."

Res gritted his teeth as he hung onto Sarah as they made it out of the cave and into bright sunlight. He had to shield his eyes with his free hand from the bright light. "Wow, that's some bright sunlight." He mumbled to Sarah.

"It'll take a few moments for your eyes to adjust" she replied as they finally were free of the overhang. The Captain and Remal emerged a second later, both puffing from the exertion.

"Ronson!" The Captain all but screamed as rocks began to buck and move underneath them.

Res turned awkwardly to look back at Ronson. "What's he doing?" He questioned. "He needs to start moving faster than he is." He said to Sarah.

The Yeoman made a dash back the way they came, shielding his face from the insects. For a lengthy new moments he was completely out of view, only to emerge a minute later clutching the knife.

"Got it" He puffed as he caught up to the rest of the team who were making their way towards the river.

"Nice going Ronson!" Res cheered the man as he caught up with the group. "Now lets take a lesson from those bees and get out of here."

Ronson look Res' other harm, evening out the burdon between himself and Sarah as they half carried the injured Ensign to safety. " Workin' on it" He said with a smile, shoving the knife into his waistband.

"You did good, real good." Res told him as the trio put some distance between themselves and the cave. "Bet you get a promotion for all you've done while we've been here." Res looked at Sarah, "You too Doc."

Rhenora and Remal continued on behind the trio, conserving what energy they could as the Captain hobbled. The river babbled in the distance and for some reason Rhenora felt they should regroup there.

"Head towards the river, we'll rest there before deciding the next course of action" She ordered.

"You heard the Captain, head for the river." Res told his companions while trying to see if they were being followed. He couldn't see any pursuit, so far, so good.

The river was wide by relatively shallow at the point where they neared. IT was running swiftly and icy cold but only up to one's neck if they chose to traverse it. It took another hour to reach the banks, the Captain thoroughly spent by the efforts, sagging to the ground to catch her breath.

Res sat propped against a downed tree. His back was on fire but he refused to complain or draw attention to himself. He looked out at the river, his eyes focusing on something in it. "Captain." He said softly, "I think there is a body in the river."

Kaylen paled further beneath the palid complexion brought on by their flight. Her gut clenched and her mind reinforced its walls to protect itself from emotional turmoil. The 'Captains Mask' slid into place as she levered herself to her feet, wanting to see for herself who it was that met such an untimely fate. Whoever it was their life was ultimately her responsibility. The grey tshirt and black pants indicated it was Starfleet.

Res saw the color drain from the Captain's face. Her complexion even paler than before. "Ronson," He whispered "Go with the Captain."

The Yeoman nodded silently and easily caught up to his boss within a few strides, hooking an arm around her shoulders to support some of her weight and ease the burden of her mind. The body floated towards them, carried towards the bank by the current. Ronson eased Rhenora to the ground and stepped into the water, going waist deep to catch and flip the dead man over in order to identify him.

"It's Crewman Avar." Ronson said sadly, confirming the Captain's suspicion.

"Cad?" Res whispered stunned by the revaluation. "I was with him just a little while go. We split up to see if we could find anyone else." Res said hollowly.

" Yep" Rhenora fought against the urge to be physically sick as Ronson sent the body on its way down the river, arrows still protruding from his back. " I'm so sorry Res" Rhenora said quietly.

Res nodded, he was overwhelmed by the shock and loss of a man he had only known for a short while but had sincerely liked and now he was dead in a stupid game. Res forced himself up and walked to the edge of the river, He wanted to do something! But was at a loss as to what, when he saw a glint in Cad's hand ir waistband. "Ronson! Cad as a blade weapon. We came across it earlier."

Ronson was still in the water and now made a dash for the dead man, wanting to grab the weapon before it was lost to them. He just succeeded before the current swept Cad away for good. Ronson felt wrong stripping the dead man of his weapon but knew it was for the greater good.

"Good job." Res cheered Ronson's effort and then slumped to his knees. His wound and their mad dash out of the cave catching up to him.

Ronson threw the blade on the ground as he exited the river, his expression stoic and one of a man barely holding it together.

"Thank you Ronson" The Captain rose despite her pain and wrapped the young Yeoman in a hug. Ronson returned it stiffly, not wanting to crumble before this commanding officer. He clung onto control with a tenuous grip, thankful for the support but wanting to be left alone at the same time. He moved aside and sat next to Res, so only putting a hand on the young man's shoulder.

Res didn't answer but he was grateful for the support Ronson had shown. He nodded but kept his head down. "Why Ronson? That could have been me. Yet I'm alive and Cad is dead."

"This jungle is full of what ifs." Ronson lamented. "I should be back on the ship organising the captain's schedule and delivering coffee. Somehow I don't know if that's gonna be enough If we get out of here" the Yeoman agreed.

"Not if...when gentlemen" The Captain gently admonished. "Savar and Aurora WILL get to that damned idol and win this game and we can all go back to our lives. That's if you trust anything Haldeman said" she still doubted his sincerity. What had happened to him that he would turn on his own people?

"Yes, of course Captain." Res replied but without conviction. "I hope Savar and Aurora do get the idol. So this nightmare will be over.'

"They can and they will, we just need to keep ourselves alive in one piece until they do so" Rhenora reinforced, dropping to the ground beside the two men and resting for a few moments. The last few hours had taken their toll.

"I'm with you Captain and I'll do whatever is needed to get us out of here and back on the Liberty." Res replied firmly.

"For the moment, we rest and regroup and decide our next course of action. I have a feeling that earthquake wasn't natural and we were being flushed out." Kaylen admitted, closing her eyes for a few moments to regain her strength. Her leg burned as though someone were drilling into it with a hot blunt object. She focused on her breathing and tried to channel the pain elsewhere.
Her breathing slowed as her body forced her mind to rest. They had to take the time now so they could move again later.