Girls’ Trip - Chapter 7 (End): The Most Dangerous Game
Rivi Vataix
((Forest, Fana 6519-G))
After taking care of Tani’s arm with a dermal regenerator, Rivi looked back at Tani with deep concern in her eyes.
Vataix: ~~ Are you doing okay? ~~
Lekasa: ~~ I’ll manage. ~~
Vataix: ~~ I think you’re doing more than managing. ~~
Tani rubbed her arm. Though the wound was now gone thanks to the wonders of 24th century medicine, she could still remember the pain from the attacker’s knife vividly.
Lekasa: ~~ Remind me to thank the Second House for a lovely weekend. ~~
Rivi however didn’t answer as she looked down and saw the knife that the Hirogen had dropped. His rifle also lay nearby. He’d retreated back into the forest, and she was sure she’d managed to hit him. He was injured–and perhaps even defenseless.
She decided they couldn’t afford to lose the momentum. Now was the time to press on the offensive and follow their attacker back through the forest to end the threat definitively.
((Hirogen Scout Vessel - Forest Valley Clearing))
Having to move fast despite the pain from his injured leg was nothing new to Ravarj. With dawn beginning to show in the sky, he may have lost time, but in comparison to species he had hunted before, he knew he could move faster than most while injured.
However, he didn’t know how fast the sun-haired prey was moving behind him.
Finally, he made it to his vessel. With a wince he activated the access panel next to the main access door, which made it rapidly slide open with a his. With a groan, he stepped up into the ship, and grabbed at his leg while reaching for a medical kit.
He slowly lowered himself onto the floor of the vessel, and while opening the medical kit he looked up at his large array of weapons that were on the wall. Tetryon rifles of all shapes and sizes were on display, right above the large wall of different sized knives and sheaths underneath.
oO Once my injury is treated, I will re-arm myself and *destroy* them. No more toying Their death will be rewarding - for myself and for both of them. Oo
He pulled a device from the medical kit, just as a single warning tone sound around the cockpit. With a strain he pulled himself up from the ground, then looked at a nearby console.
oO Proximity sensors… Oo
The sensor scans showed that both prey were bearing down on his position. A grin appeared across his face. He looked at his large array of weapons again, and this time spoke out loud to himself.
Ravarj: You are brave prey…I am impressed.
He sat on a nearby chair to focus on his injuries, before warning klaxons sounded again - this time mouch louder, and non-stop. Ravarj leaned forward in his chair to look at the updated console display. It showed his hunting ship that was in orbit on the far side of the planet… and an array of Federation vessels having dropped out of warp into the system and heading at high impulse towards the planet.
Ravarj: Pah!
He threw the medical kit across the shuttle in frustration, before he limped over to the access panel next to the main entrance. After a few presses, the door rapidly hissed shut. He then limped over to the seat at the front of the cockpit and began activating the helm console. The ship’s engines came to life with a roar, before it lifted from the planet’s surface, the turbulence from the scout’s engines buffeting the nearby trees. The ship banked, then rolled, before rapidly moving out of the forest, high into the atmosphere towards his hunting vessel.
As much as he hated retreating from a hunt, an elongated battle with multiple Federation ships was an unwise risk. Once docked, his hunting ship would break orbit and leave the system as quickly as it could…
Back on the surface, Rivi watched through the scope of the phaser rifle as their assailant’s ship took off into the early morning sky. She hadn’t expected him to run off so quickly, and at first, she wondered if perhaps he was just merely heading off to another part of the planet for a brief respite.
For what seemed like ages, Tani and Rivi continued their unspoken communication, not yet fully trusting that they were safe. The chirp of Rivi’s combadge though finally brought an immediate sense of relief as Keehani’s voice broke through the silence of the forest clearing.
Keehani: =/\= Ambassador! This is Keehani. Are you receiving? =/\=
For the first time since Lieutenant Bonilla’s death, Rivi spoke aloud.
Vataix: =/\= Yes, Keehani. =/\=
She wiped away tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes.
Vataix: =/\= Yes, we are. =/\=
((Betazoid survey vessel Medara))
Keehani sat wide-eyed across from Rivi and Tani. Both looked worse for wear, and the aide could sense weariness in Rivi - which was understandable given the journey they had been through, and the plight of poor Lieutenants Bonilla and Dimuri. She was concerned for the ambassador’s welfare and was sensitive to Rivi and Tani’s tholtren, but there were still operational matters to be taken care of.
Keehani: We detected the Hirogen’s ship leaving orbit, should we send the Miombo and the Daintree to pursue, Ambassador?
Vataix: No, we aren’t prepared. Let’s retrieve the scoutship… and Bonilla and Dimuri’s remains and bring them home to Amity. Tell Ops to prepare a burial service.
Keehani silently nodded before she left back to the bridge to tell the captain.
Rivi continued to sit quietly next to Tani, her friend looking numb. That is, until Tani gasped when Rivi placed something on the table.
It was the Hirogen’s knife that he’d dropped earlier back by the river. Tani could still see her dried blood on its blade.
Lekasa: ~~ Ugh. I can’t believe you kept that. ~~
Rivi was staring at the knife, too, but her look wasn’t of disgust but resolve.
Vataix: ~~ Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to return it to him one day. ~~
((Meanwhile, Bridge, Ravarj Tribe Hunting Ship…))
Ravarj sat at one of the consoles, watching as his ship’s computer performed an analysis of the sensor data of the prey from the planet.
He was interrupted by a voice from the helm console.
Tarlok: It is surprising that you would abandon a hunt so easily.
Ravarj: ::Still looking at console:: Pah. Be quiet, hologram.
The black-haired holographic male Vulcan officer turned in his chair, wearing a red Starfleet uniform, the same as the crew of the Voyager ship.
Tarlok: Leaving two trophies on the surface will not help your cause to “awaken” the Hirogen, Ravarj.
Ravarj angrily inhaled through his nose, picked up the two Starfleet combadge trophies that sat loosely on the top of the console, then threw them at Tarlok’s head as hard as he could.
Ravarj: I said, *silence*! Do not make me say it a third time, or I will put you back in the holodeck and hunt you again.
After a long stare, he left the bridge and made his way toward his trophy room. On the wall of the room was a limited number of skulls.
As he admired his trophies, he came to the realisation that the Federation was more of a formidable threat than he had originally thought. Still, he wouldn’t give up his goal of returning the Hirogen to the old ways. He would need to expand his tribe of one.
On the ground was the piece of cloth the sun-haired prey had used to deceive him back in the forest. He picked it up and affixed it on the wall.
END!
CUE END CREDITS MUSIC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fd2kkLmSDQ
Tani Lekasa
Mediator, Betazoid Government
I238705TZ0
&
Ambassador Rivi Vataix
Chief of Mission & CO, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
I238705TZ0
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First Secretary Keehani Ukinix
Ambassadorial Aide, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
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RavarjHirogen Alpha
Tribe Ravarj
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