"Survival Guide to P338451, Chapter 2 - Fishes"
(Previous Post: "Family Thoughts")
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Stardate: 62232.0920
During the Wilderness Survival class back at the Academy the Shillian woman had been told that the three primary ingredients for survival were shelter, food and water; knowledge that had already been passed down to the scientist by her father back on their home world which no longer existed. On P338451 shelter had been obtained in the shape of a small cave with a narrow entrance which had kept the stranded Starfleet officer out of reach of the larger predators during the nights. Food had been found in the form of berries and other native fruits since no provisions had been brought during beam down as Captain Rikar had expected for this to be a quick reconnaissance and Intel gathering mission. The only part left to complete the survival trio had been water, an essential ingredient and one that also proved to be the most difficult and dangerous one to obtain on the best of days.
Once the shape shifting Chief Science Officer had regained enough of her strength to polymorph once more, Maya did so in order to approach the small lake that had become one of her usual watering wholes. Carefully and with extreme diligence the Shillian in wolf form approached the watery edge all too aware of the dangers that already surrounded the intruder and those that waited for anyone daring enough to venture near the life sustaining liquid.
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Elliot had tried three times to gather more water and each time the tentacles had sprung from beneath the liquid horizon and attempted to grab a hold of the Chief of Operations. Although it had been clear that this had been very dangerous the Ensign had come to consider this little exercise in survival as a game, one of course that the Startfleet officer had every intent on winning.
As the Chief of Operations prepared himself for a fourth attempt his attention moved to the opposite side of the lake where he noticed a wolf-like creature attempting the same task as he had been. Out of sheer curiosity Elliot decided to take a moment to relax and watched to see if the woodland animal would prove to be more successful than the Starfleet officer had been. Ensign Thomas observed with trepidation the wolf inch its way closer to the watery edge, silently wishing the creature good luck in its efforts for failure would very likely result in death.
Nothing happened for several seconds as the wolf stood only centimetres away from the water, every muscle ready to spring into action should trouble arise.
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The shape-shifted Shillian remained as motionless as possible as the creature beneath the water could be barely discerned; its tentacles hovered beneath the surface as if taunting any would be creature to take a drink. Instinct dictated that no actions be taken but time and thirst had been against the Chief Science Officer who could feel her inability to remain in animal form grow with each passing second.
If Maya waited too long the scientist would likely pass out and offer an easy prey to the beast hidden beneath the water, but if the Starfleet officer acted too quickly an equally unattractive result could unfold. With only seconds left on her ability to maintain the animal form the Shillian woman made her move, her logic having given way to the most basic needs for survival.
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The Chief of Operations jumped as the tentacle snapped out of the water and took hold of the furry four-footed creature. As troubling as the scene might have been Elliot could not help but be impressed by the speed the creature had displayed in its attack leading the Ensign to feel most fortunate that it had not been him instead of the wolf
As the creature was dragged under the water towards it likely end Elliot noticed something odd about the wolf, something that drew him to watch with even more intensity to this battle of life and death. Aside from the fact that the Ensign had never seen the likes of a wolf like that one before on this world, the Operations Officer could not help but feel a certain familiarity with it. Only when Ensign Thomas saw a humanoid female emerge from the water for a brief moment that the officer realised what he had witnessed.
Without any consideration for himself Elliot dove into the water and swam as fast as he could to the rescue of the Shillian woman who had been in dire trouble.
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The shock of having the tentacle so quickly take a hold of the Shillian had caused the Chief Science Officer to revert to her humanoid form while the unseen beast pulled closer its next meal. Exhausted by the shape-shifting the Chief Science Officer offered as much of a fight as she could against the tentacles that threatened to pull her deep within the darkness of the lake. Occasionally the Shillian woman had been able to reach the surface to draw a new breath but fatigue soon claimed its prize and left the Starfleet officer utterly defenceless and at the mercy of the creature which had been hidden beneath the water.
Through a haze that the scientist believed to be a hallucination caused by oxygen deprivation, Maya saw a familiar face swim closer and closer. Darkness swept over the Chief Science Officer just as she associated a name with the face. The Shillian found it strange and odd that she would see the Chief of Operations of the USS ANUBIS in her last moment of life instead of her father.
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Elliot sat next to the limp form of the Shillian, his gaze still locked on the watery surface that he had managed to escape along with the Chief Science Officer. How he had accomplished this task had still been beyond his comprehension but still the Ensign found caused to be grateful.
"Ensign Thomas?" The Shillian weakly said as her eyes opened.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Elliot replied with a grin as he looked down at the woman to who he had given his shirt in order to cover her exposed form. :: Wonder if I could get court-martialled for what I did? :: The Chief of Operations thought to himself in regards to having seen a Lieutenant Commander in a rather vulnerable and exposed form.
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"To see the world in a grain of sand, 2008 post #009
Setting: P338451, Forest
Stardate: 62232.0920
Setting: P338451, Other side of the small lake
Stardate: 62232.0921
Setting: P338451, Original side of the small lake
Stardate: 62232.0922
Setting: P338451, Other side of the small lake
Stardate: 62232.0923
Setting: P338451, Underwater
Stardate: 62232.0945
Setting: P338451, Forest
Jessica Solarik
Lieutenant Commander Maya
Chief Science Officer
USS ANUBIS
and a heaven in a wild flower.
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour."
- William Blake (British, 1757-1827)
