Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "Run Away To Fight Another Day"
Amanda Nordstrom
(( Dump Site near Æstin, Valaria III ))
Although Peri and her fellow officers hid behind a boulder, they couldn’t just leave. Others had shown up, and so had Kylar’ia, who distracted the guards from discovering the quartet sheltering there. Now, the others wanted to assist as they heard a scuffle between them.
Teeth worried her lower lip. As they stood there, Peri could hear the men shoving around the young woman who had come to their aid in the town when they sought answers for the strange famine. Once again, she had come, likely to assist them still, and she was in trouble. Yes, because of them. Did that mean they should continue to violate a directive by which they were supposed to live by? She didn’t want Kylar’ia hurt, but she also knew the rules by which she was bound. Glancing from one officer to another, she finally relented. She wasn’t in charge, Richards was. If he said to go, she would abide by his decision. Dark eyes turned to him.
Katsim: All right.
Richards: Like Riley said, I’ll wrap around and cause a distraction. Ideally, they’ll come to me.
Nis: What should we do?
Among the officers, Peri was likely the least useful in a fight, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t do what she could. The only advantage she had was a phaser, and she would wait to use that tool only at the last minute or if there were no other options.
Riley: Stay low. Use the rock line for cover. If Richards pulls them off balance, we close and remove her from the equation. Quick. Quiet.
Richards: Alright, sounds good. On Three.
They all heard Kylar’ia cry out in pain, which only strengthened their determination.
Richards: Three!
Riley shuffled into the shadows, drawing closer to the Valarians. Meanwhile, Richards took off toward the left. After scooping some pebbles, he tossed them, but no one noticed.
Richards: ::Whistle::
Nis: Uh … should we-- What are we doing?
Peri crouched where she was, uncertain what she should do herself, and prepared to take out that phaser. She didn’t want to use it, and if she could go without doing so, she would much prefer that.
Riley: Maybe this won’t go as well as I’d thought. Extracting K’ylaria was initially the plan, but it may no longer be that simple.
Frowning, Peri wanted to say it was likely better to let them be and deal with the matter they had come to deal with. At the same time, guilt plagued her at thinking such thoughts. Kylar’ia had helped them. BUt helping her meant breaking the prime directive. But they had already caused problems they shouldn’t have. Evidently frustrated, Richards picked up more stones, then began to shout.
Richards: Hey there! Over here! Did you guys not hear those rocks? Come investigate!
That certainly got the guards’ attention. They turned, glanced at each other, then moved closer to where Riley and Nis positioned themselves. Since Riley was in a different spot, Peri was able to peer around the edge of the boulder to get a better look at things.
Richards: What are you investigating over there for? This way!
Peri wasn’t sure if Nis was frustrated, impatient, or both, but the Trill rose and threw a large rock toward one of the guards. In response, a guard pulled out what looked to be a crossbow while the noblewoman’s attention focused on Nis and Riley, her words liquid with malice.
Noblewoman: You! You heretics! I thought you were the -guild-. I thought you would crystalize my -brother!-
By that point, the woman was so angry, she got into the fray and swung a fist, connecting with Nis’ cheek. Peri winced at the smack of skin upon skin.
Nis: Ow!
Kylar’ia/Richards: Response
Everyone fought, except for her. Peri glanced around, looking for something that might prove useful, but all she could find were some sticks and some more rocks. Behind her, she heard the sound of bodies tearing at each other, and by the time Peri found a stone that could be useful and grabbed it. Rising, she hurried around the boulder just in time to see both Noblewoman and Nis wrestling upon the ground, only to tumble down the slope and into the muck below. Peri started after them, but there were still guards to deal with, and she couldn’t just leave Richards alone. Two against one wasn’t a fair fight, and though Peri wasn’t a fighter herself, she had to do something.
Katsim: Hey!
Her voice lifted in a shout, the loudest she’d been in some time, and done in the hopes that maybe one would come after her.
Guards/Kylar’ia/Richards: Response
Noblewoman: Help!
The noblewoman’s cry rang through the night, but Peri ignored it. Nis and Riley were together, and though the woman was fierce, Peri knew she wasn’t a match for two Starfleet officers. Instead, she focused on the problems up on the ridge itself. Unfortunately, the guard glanced at her, smirked, then turned to face Richards again.
Katsim: Hey!
She called out a second time - only to be ignored.
Guards/Kylar’ia/Nis/Richards/Riley: Response
The rock flew. Peri flung it from her hand in an effort to use it as a weapon. Even though a phaser would be far more accurate and effective, she used every other option first. Flying through the air, it made contact just below the man’s neck on his back, and hit hard enough to sting. And get his attention. He whirled around, obviously irritated, and then turned upon Peri. Which was exactly what she had tried to do. Taking a step back, she watched the man closely as he approached her.
Guards/Kylar’ia/Nis/Richards/Riley: Response
Peri waited, her stillness strategic. If the man thought she’d be easy prey, the Bardassian was going to prove otherwise. Although not as strong as Wes or Richards, or as good a shot as Woolheater, she wasn’t completely helpless. Knowing better than to try to deal with the man hand to hand, she instead took a different route. As the man lunged for her, she darted away - and ran.
Katsim: Richards! Kylar’ia!
She called out, glancing back to make sure the one who came after her stayed after her, leaving Richards with only one guard to deal with.
Guards/Kylar’ia/Nis/Richards/Riley: Respons
-- Commander Katsim Peri Chief Science Officer USS Octavia E. Butler M239008AD0