Ensign Talon Morda: Flappy Bird
Eston Melton
((Holodeck Complex, Program: Risa – Crucible of the Emerald Tempest, Indulgence of Chocolate-Coated Jama’haron))
:: Gulping a deep breath ::
oO “The welcoming committee encouraged cooperation. I wonder if that extends to the fauna.” -- Idio. Oo
:: Another lungful of heavy air ::
oO “He also said "non-lethal" in more-or-less the same sentence” -- Dummy. Oo
Soooooo many sharp clack-click-clacking teeth chomped behind them as the trio heeded El’Heem’s apt suggestion to RUN! The still air abruptly wasn’t: wafting against his face as he ran, with metronomic gusts from behind with each wing-flap.
Kendrick: Bridge ahead! Single file. Fast!
Morda looked around El’Heem’s bulk to see the fallen-log bridge Kendrick had identified. Kendrick clambered up easily and started across; Morda quietly willing his own nerves and balance to let him get across without his anxious mind second guess--
He discerned the flap-flap at his tail changing tenor as El’Heem was jumping onto the log. Morda prepared to follow suit, but he caught sight of El’Heem slowing and Kendrick entirely halted -- and looking behind Morda.
Kendrick: You’ve got to be kidding me.
He didn’t seem frightened -- instead, almost darkly amused. Morda carefully swiveled his own head, feeling a change in atmosphere if not humidity. And, yeah, he saw it: the creature was pacing, and now moving with more restraint -- impatient terrifying dignity was almost how he’d label it -- he could clearly see a collectible trinket a-dangle from its neck.
Kendrick: So… who here feels like negotiating with wildlife?
Morda: Seems we’re at one of those “funnels” you talked about before. Limited choices.
Kendrick: Two options. One: we leave the overgrown chicken alone and hope the next trial gives us a less… mobile souvenir.
The creature’s screech seemed deliberately reactive. Another mark for impatient.
Kendrick: Or two: we go back, try to take it off our new friend’s neck.
Morda: At least we see one of them now. No telling whether the next ones will be as easy to spot. Though getting it is something else. It’s scary-looking … but it also stopped. Maybe we can talk to it. Solve a riddle or something. Or sacrifice an off-hand finger.
El’Heem/Kendrick: Response
Morda: Well. I’m closest. I’ll give it a try. Ras, if it looks like I’m in trouble, give a good hard pull on that rope.
El’Heem/Kendrick: Response
Morda turned back to the scaly, feathery, toothy, flappy-bird thing and slowly trod toward it. The line behind him lost its slack. The saber-toothed avian stopped its own pacing and fixed its eyes squarely on Morda. He rifled through the various trade languages and dialects he’d picked up at OSF bars and from ship crews, and realized he was parsecs from the fringes of where any of them were spoken. Still: had to start somewhere.
Morda: :: spreading his hands wide :: Ba weep granna weep ninny bong.
The very scary creature, who on close examination looked to maybe be some kind of proto-Risian Firespray Hawk, was definitely staring him down. It inhaled through its nares, then jerked its head back with such abruptness Morda was reminded of a Terran flamingo. He chuckled at the incongruous image.
The sharp noise triggered an entirely new response: the firespray flapped its wings, hoisting itself into the river of air. Its head and beak passed just over Morda’s head, and something similarly animalistic told Morda it was about to disappear into the sky.
oO No you don’t! Oo
Moments before, he’d prepared himself to leap onto the log. This time, he leapt at the bird. He didn’t get far -- El’Heem had kept the line taut, ready to yank him from danger -- but Morda had enough oomph to get a grip around one of the creature’s feet. It took a few stretches, but he hoisted his other arm up and snagged the other foot. The firespray’s talons poked at his exposed wrists and arms, hard.
He wasn’t nearly massive enough to pull the bird to the ground, leading to a second pain point: his waist. He was now stretched between his death-grip on the bird’s legs and his anchor to El’Heem below.
Morda: Pull us down! I’ve got it for now. Pull!
A sliver of his mind wondered if they could use the rope binding the trio to wrap up the firespray long enough to free the token from its neck. He’d hoped the could show cooperation with the environment, but it seemed they key really would be cooperation and strategy among his teammates.
TAG/TBC