Post 355: Hikearumba! Part Three

Stardate: 70804.0900
Title: Hikearamba! Part Three
Author: Ensign Simon Biggs
Scene: On the way to the Tanaran Ice Cliffs: Trill
Time: After Part Two
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Blane and Simon started to cross the enormous ravine via the rope bridge.

Thankfully, this bridge was maintained well and they made the journey across without incident.

Simon took out his holo-camera and said "Hey, Blane say cheese!"

Simon pressed the button, and the camera clicked to indicate he'd gotten the shot. Simon then took a photo of the stunning view of the Ice Cliffs from the rope bridge, and then they continued on their way.

By the time Blane and Simon got across the ravine it was mid-afternoon. The two men had to find some shelter because the heat, combined with the changes in the oxygen concentration the higher they went, were rumored to be dangerous to people who weren't native to the planet. Stories claimed that the combination could cause people to become disoriented, even sometimes to the point of hallucinations with lengthy exposure.

They continued on toward the mountainous Ice Cliffs, which were only a few miles away now. On the other side of the ravine they found endless stands of trees, many of which were so tall that you couldn't see to the tops.

"Well so far so good, at least there's good cover over here." Blane said in a happy, but tired voice.

"Hey, why don't we stop for a little while? We've been up since dawn."

"That’s the best suggestion I've heard all day, Biggs."

They sat down on the ground at the edge of a river that ran through the hills here, all the way down from the top of the Ice Cliffs themselves. The mountains were clearly visible now in the distance, with what looked like a cave carved into the side- possibly man made. Blane decided to lie down and have a little nap, while Simon kept watch.

------a short time later---------

Simon saw what looked like a winged creature fly overhead. It swooped upward, landing in the high branches of the tree closest to them. It looked more like a dragon than any bird Simon had ever seen; but dragons were only myths. Weren't they? Maybe this was one of those heat induced hallucinations?

Simon picked his camera out of his back pocket, trying to angle it to get a shot of the mysterious creature, when there was a lot of commotion in the trees. Blane started snoring, which made the rustling in the trees stop. Simon thought to himself *Uh oh. That caught his attention. . .*

Simon gave Blane a nudge, but Blane just ignored it. Simon spotted a light source coming from the trees. . . and by the time he realized what was happening, it was too late. A fire ball came flying towards Blane's direction.

Simon quickly pushed Blane out of the way of the fire ball, just in time for him to see it hit Simon head on.

Blane watched in horror as Simon ran towards the river; clothing on fire, shouting in pain.

The lake quickly extinguished the flames. Blane put his hand into the water and pulled Simon out by the scruff of his uniform to see that he had second degree burns on his arms.

"Great job with the heroics, there Biggs, but you could've gotten yourself killed!" Blane opened his back pack and fetched his medical kit.

He pulled out first aid cooling bandages used to treat burns and wrapped them around Simon's arms. Simon laid on the ground, looking up at the sky and saw the winged thing fly off back wherever it came from.

"That was no hallucination."

"These look just like plasma burns. We should get you to a medical facility," Blane remarked. "You need dermal regeneration, the sooner the better." He tapped his combadge, but for some reason couldn't get a signal here.

"We must be too far outside the communications net," Simon said slowly, wincing in pain. "Or the mountains and trees are interfering, somehow."

Blane ripped open a packet containing a pill for him to swallow. "Take this, it'll help for now."

The pill dissolved under Simon's tongue and he nodded. "Many thanks, TC."

With few other options at this point, the two continued on after Simon's pain medication kicked in. Blane kept trying his combadge every so often as they slowly moved through the forest.

They were presented with two options as they reached a fork in the trail. They had to choose either going through the caves or climbing directly up the mountain. They decided to go through the caves.

Once inside, they discovered a brightly lit sign. It flashed on and off, cheerfully declaring: "This way to Tenaran Ice Cliffs! Tours available seven days a week!"

"So, this is how the civilians do it?" Blane said, shaking his head. "Tour groups!" They moved quickly through the artificially lit cavern and came out the other side. Once there they were shocked to find it bustling with activity. People, shops, and restaurants.

"I think that the Admiral was having some fun with us, sending us up the long way." Blane shook his head.

"Very funny indeed." Simon's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"There has to be a first aid facility here, let's find out." Blane said, as Simon began to feel cold and unsteady on his feet due to the burns on his arms.

They found the information kiosk just a few meters away. Soon after, Simon was in a medical examination room while Blane went looking for information about the schedule of transport shuttles back into town. They'd both had quite enough of hiking for one trip.

A short time later the two met again. Simon was bandaged up properly and given a hypo for pain, with instructions to continue dermal regeneration treatments in the days to come, because the risk of scarring was real with burns of this sort, even with the treatments.

"Did the doctor have any idea what did that to you?" TC asked, as he hefted Biggs' backpack as well as his own over his shoulder and led the way towards an enticing restaurant..

"He said it was a Trillian Fire Beast. They're really rare, so much so they're endangered."

"Seems that we were the endangered species with that thing around."

"Those forests are considered their protected, natural habitat. We're lucky we ran into just the one."

"I was lucky." TC replied. "Thanks for what you did back there."

The two men settled in at a table, ordered some drinks before dinner and replayed the pictures that Simon had taken earlier on the holo-cam. They talked about the stories they had to tell when they got back to the rest of the crew in town. They wondered what had become of Lt. Grace.

After a hearty meal of roasted meat and potatoes, the two men boarded the first shuttle back to the Embassy grounds with a new appreciation for nature, the local wildlife, and each other.

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Ensign Simon Biggs
Security Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791

~and just a bit of~

February Grace
(Filling in for TC Blane)
USS Independence