Lieutenant Ras El'Heem - Into the drink
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((Holodeck Complex, Program: Risa – Crucible of the Emerald Tempest, Indulgence of Chocolate-Coated Jama’haron))
There wasn’t any time to formulate a coherent plan as they scrambled down the shale laden slope. Running from a prehistoric creature on it’s own was frantic, doing it tied to two ensigns was downright frenetic. Every stumble would pull the rope taught between them, causing a cascade of tripping between the three and a hectic attempt at returning to one’s feet. Before they had reached the bottom, Ras’s pants were torn at the knees, and his left hand was embedded with tiny rocks and blooming blood. His prosthetic fared only marginally better. The world was a dizzying kaleidoscope of sky, and rock, and the horrendous shrieking from behind and above them. Ras tried to get his wits about him, scanning left and right for some way to escape. Kendrick was the first to see it as they neared the river shoreline.
Kendrick: Bridge ahead! Single file. Fast!
They were on it fast, Kendrick first, and Ras only a few feet behind. His hands steadied the log as he readied to step onto it. When he looked up, the ensign had stopped and was looking behind them. He almost urged the officer to move but something in his voice prompted him to look back as well.
Kendrick: You’ve got to be kidding me.
The sudden drop of anxiety in his voice was curious and when Ras spotted their assailant he was yards away, no longer chasing them but pacing the riverbank. Was the creature afraid of water? The rushing sound bringing back memories of being swept away? No. This was too calculated. Programmed. Ras watched the feathers flit in the wind and when it turned to follow the path of its pace again, he caught sight of the totem tied around his neck. He stood, wiping his hands against one another to dislodge the debris and sniffed once while he caught his breath. Ras steeled himself. It was a holoprogram after all, but the sting in his palm reminded him that there were still consequences.
Kendrick: So… who here feels like negotiating with wildlife?
Morda: Seems we’re at one of those “funnels” you
talked about before. Limited choices.
The rushing of water underfoot and the mist that splashed over his skin cooled him quickly.
Kendrick: Two options. One: we leave the overgrown chicken alone
and hope the next trial gives us a less… mobile souvenir.
The beast shrieked again, clearly angry that it had been leashed and could not finish the chase.
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.
The Kressari glanced Morda’s way, noting that he clearly hadn’t read the room or perhaps he hadn’t noticed yet.
El’Heem: No one’s losing a finger. It looks like it can’t come closer. We can make a plan and prevent injury.
His breathing slowed as he stepped down off the log onto the river rock.
Kendrick: Response
It wasn’t exactly a plan formed in a briefing room, but if the creatures leash held, the risk was relatively low. Ras nodded.
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.
They all signed waivers before this, so there was hardly any reason to question the ensigns critical thinking. Besides, he called him Ras, not Lieutenant El’Heem. That puts him squarely off duty. Ras’s hands found the rope that was stung between him and Morda and gripped it tightly.
Kendrick: Response
Ras took a few steps after the man, giving him slack to maneuver but ready to pull him back as soon as it was required.
El’Heem: Alright, Morda. Easy does it. It won’t kill you but a swipe of those claws and it’ll surely hurt.
His yes flicked between the bird and Morda as he continued to step slowly after him. The rope only gave so much slack between them and because of that, he had to put himself closer and closer to the danger ahead.
Morda: :: spreading his hands wide :: Ba weep granna weep ninny bong.
oO What…was that? Oo
The feathered lizard seemed to be thinking something similar because he threw his head back defensively, posturing over the man. And Morda’s response was to laugh. Whether out of nerves or sheer stupidity, he’d never know but it triggered further escalation from the bird, unfurling its massive wings and coiling its thighs to leap into the sky.
Ras planted his feet and bent his knees ready to pull the rope as hard as he could. He left less slack than before and watched as the beast began to rise off the ground with flaps of its wings. Dust and rocks alike, were swept this way and that by the gale created by it. For a moment, he let himself glance at the ensign and what he saw concerned him. He was planning on trying to grab the bird! At that moment, Ras tugged in an attempt to prevent Morda from taking off with the predator, but he had already gotten a hold of its taloned feet. The rope went taut in his hands, almost snapping as it struggled to fly with the added weight. Ras pivoted so the rope caught on his should and gave him more to pull with. Now Morda himself was a few feet off the ground. Through his strain, his eyes met Kendrick’s and shot him a nervous glance. This was not the plan.
Morda: Pull us down! I’ve got it for now. Pull!
There was no use, Morda was being lifted higher and the rope was now vertical above Ras. He had to think fast. Realistically, Morda should have let go, but the ensign seemed too stubborn to know what was good for him.
El’Heem: Kendrick! We need to pull them over the water. We can’t pull the bird down but maybe we can soften Morda’s landing. You understand what I’m saying?
He met Kendrick’s eyes and he knew that he understood. The two pulled with all their might, pushing back up onto the log bridge. They fought the beasts power, no time to steal glances to see if Morda was making his own progress. A few harrowing moments, Ras almost slipped from the slick log, but the lift caused by the tether around his waist prevented a full fall.
Kendrick/Morda: Response
Perhaps it was tiring, but they eventually made it to somewhere near the center of the river, where the water was deep enough to prevent Morda from a hard landing. He glanced up and could see his dangling feet and the bird fighting frantically, shrieking with anger. The man had made progress up its chest and was no longer hanging from the bird’s claws.
El’Heem: ::Breathing heavy:: It’s all up to him now. It’s a war of attrition for us.
Kendrick/Morda: Response
In anger, or tactic, the bird dropped a few feet suddenly and then flapped its wings so hard it caused a gust of wind that caused Ras to slip completely from the log into the rushing water. The freezing white frothed liquid swallowed Ras in an instant. He no longer had hold of the rope or an understanding of which way the surface was as he was swept away. He felt a strong tug on his waist that gave him a chance to orient himself. He grabbed the rope and tried to follow it but the current was too strong to fight. Ras’s vision began to fade as the breath in his lungs was spent. And then black.
If only for a moment. He opened his eyes, coughing as fresh air flooded into him. His hands found solid ground, and he crawled away from the lapping water. Ras rolled onto his back when it was shallow enough and breathed hard, taking mental stock of any injuries he might have. He stared up at the sky as the bird flew into the distance. He looked to his left, and then to his right. Both of his partners were also lying on the bank, drenched.
El’Heem: We’ll get the next one. It’s fine.
Kendrick/Morda: Response
Ras shot up, bracing himself with both hands and looked at Morda. Dangling from his hands was the totem.
El’Heem: You crazy son of a- ::coughing a bit of water from his lungs:: Good work. Both of you.
Kendrick/Morda: Response
((OOC: Loathe I am to end the potential for ore cooperative shenanigans, we are at the end of shoreleave and likely won’t have time to get the other two totems. I will leave it up to you two how we wrap it up, whether it’s an off screen “we did it!” or the holoprogram shorts out, that is up to you!))
TAGS/TBC
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Lieutenant Ras El’Heem
Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
K240106RE3