PO2 Lohkina: The Long Haul

[Tony Colella]

(( Unknown Island, Argratha ))

Well, they were all stuck together now. Not that Lohkina minded either lieutenant, but it was more that she would have preferred not to be shipwrecked. The threat of the mysterious attacker still loomed over them, but now that they'd reached land, they had at least been able to take cover as they considered their next moves. And Lohkina wanted, desperately, to consider those next moves. She wanted to get back to the Butler as quickly as possible and, if it was an option, never leave again.

Lohkina: Sure, no problem.

No problem that some extended time in Sickbay and/or a spa program on the holodeck wouldn't solve, that was. They only had to present themselves for a rescue, and survive until that happened.

No problem at all.

O'Reilly: We can bring whatever supplies we can carry, but we’ll need to keep our wits about us, we don’t know if they’re still out there.

Lohkina nearly groaned. O'Reilly wasn't wrong, and that was the problem. Their attacker had yet to make another move, but that wasn't as reassuring as it ought to be. The real test would come when they tried to call for help, though Lohkina wasn't sure exactly how they were going to do that, either.

The two lieutenants were also much more adapted for roughing it than Lohkina was, and as they began to walk, she reflected with mixed admiration and horror that they might well do this kind of thing for fun. However, it paid off, and quickly, as only a few meters away, they found a shallow cave in a rock face. 

Sh’shelor: We must also be careful of what is in there. Wildlife may not be friendly.

O’Reilly: We should move quickly (beat) well as quickly as we can. If they are still up there, whoever attacked us, I can sure as heck bet they’re still looking for us, to confirm the kill.

Lohkina: (a little sour) I bet you're fun at parties. (beat; normal) But yes, let's get moving.

It was close, after all, and even if the group was only partially mobile, Lohkina was ready and willing to help the lieutenants along. 

Sh’shelor: I am not able to walk, but I can guard the rear if I am carried. 

Lohkina: I can help. O'Reilly, how about you?

But before he could speak up, Sh'shelor had made her analysis.

Sh’shelor: First, medical treatment for O’Reilly. Emergency kits should have moldable splits. It will not be pleasant, but it will allow him to put some weight on the leg. Then, we should carefully move to the sanctuary of the forest.

Lohkina: Right.

Lohkina was marginally familiar with the contents of an emergency kit (and more so now), and although she'd never tried on a moldable splint, she wasn't in any hurry to give it a go. Or the rest of it, really. But needs must.

O'Reilly, however, seemed determined to be self-sufficient, and before Lohkina could move over to assist, he'd already prepped the splint and applied it, and even as Lohkina winced her way through moving to help Sh'shelor, O'Reilly positioned himself to take her weight, too. Between the two of them, they could get Sh'shelor to cover, no problem.

O’Reilly: You ready, on my count?

Lohkina: Yep, just say the word.

(( Hours Later ))

Nothing had attacked them. Or tried to eat them. Or simply blown up their little cave. All of these were good things, as far as Lohkina was concerned. She was also delighted to find that the cave was above the tide line, so at the high tide that had happened late in the day, they hadn't ended up soaked. The emergency kits were also better stocked than her cursory review had shown ... which she knew, now, because they hadn't been rescued, and there wasn't much to do except to plan for their survival so that they could figure out what to do next.

Night had fallen, and while O'Reilly watched the sky, he didn't seem to find anything worth remarking on. A shame, because Lohkina absolutely would've built a flaming message on the beach if the trio agreed it was a good strategy to try.

O’Reilly: Let’s sleep in rotating shifts, make sure we have someone on watch at all times. I’ll take first watch (picking up the rifle)

Lohkina: Very well.

Sh'shelor: Response (if you want!)

Well, that was it, then. They were there for the night, at least. And then, in the morning...

No need to worry about that just yet. They would leave the morning for the morning, and deal with it when it came.

Tags! and END SCENE for Lohkina!

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Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Lohkina

Diplomatic Aide

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)