by maven

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: The Jenna Krayg stories utilize characters which are copyright © by Universal / Renaissance. No infringement is intended.  They take place in a setting designed by the FGN for online role game playing.

SUBTEXT and VIOLENCE DISCLAIMER: Subtext only.  Very sub.  Very text.

EXPLANATION AND FURTHER DISCLAIMERS:  I like my roleplaying characters to have a past, not be born full grown from Zeus' forehead.  This is post was written when then Counselor Krayg took a vacation soon after becoming the starbase's executive officer.

FEEDBACK, COMMENT AND FLAMES: Email at maven369@sympatico.ca

I apparently, however, don't want to actually go on vacation. Or if I do I am arranging things to have a rotten time. Perhaps this is my revenge on Itano for suggesting this; coming back grumpy and irritable.

I am solo camping on the nothern expanse of Castle Andrew's land, a place the Captain says is virtually uninhabited and not very hazardous to the inexperienced hiker. Which, Academy survival training aside, is what I am.

I am attributing my recent talks with Diarmud Talens with my interest in experiencing nature up close rather than some twisted psychological reason.

I asked the computer for a suggested list based on geological data of the area. I replicated the suggested clothing and supplies and packed them into the backpack. The only thing I overrode was the colour of the pack. The computer was defaulted to Starfleet black and grey. I wanted red.

Just like Rach's.

So maybe this is for some twisted psychological reason. End log.

7 years ago
The staging area was a sea of grey and black uniforms and backpacks. All except one pack, a dirty and stained red pack that dropped at Jenna's feet as the owner squeezed a place on the bench.

"What's up?"

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"Because, Jen, you look like a ghost. Any paler and you'd probably trip your SOS monitor," Rachel said, guesturing at the biometrics transmitter firmly attached to Jenna's uniform.

"I'll be fine."

Rachel regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment; formulating and discarding strategies before simply reaching over and patting Jenna's knee.

"Listen, I'll go down in your party. That will put us within 10 kilometers. If you get bored or anything just signal me on the biomonitor and I'll mosey on over to play cards. Alright?"

Jenna nodded. As well as monitoring the lifesigns of the cadets they could also be used by the cadets to either call for help from the orbiting ship or from their fellow cadets. And, following decades of tradition, the cadets had formulated a convulted coding system in order that they might communicate.

"Now, remember. Its a hard beam down so keep relaxed and let your knees take the landing impact."

"Yes, mom," Jenna said, starting to smile.

"And keep your socks dry."

"Unuh."

"And don't eat all your desert rations at..."

"Rach? Thanks."

"Tsk. What are friends for?"

Personal Log
The ride to Bajor was uneventful and almost dull. The pilot, bending a few rules, beamed me directly to a small clearing some three hours hike from the castle proper. By avoiding landing at the castle he also saved himself a half hour and would be back to the base all the quicker.

The clearing is noisy; wind rustling the branches of the trees, insects and rodents chittering and birds making various sounds. Not that the base is quiet. Far from it. But these were unfamiliar sounds. Unfamiliar but not unpleasant.

According to the map there should be a stream about a half hour away. I shall locate that and then find a suitable camp site. End log.

7 years ago
It wasn't the four foot drop. It wasn't the heavy pack. It wasn't even the rodent burrow entrance.

However the combination...

~I will not call for help in the first five minutes.~

Gingerly Jenna pushed herself up and onto her knees, shrugging off her pack. Her left foot was throbbing in time to her pulse and little sparkles of light and pain danced in her vision. Gritting her teeth she rose to her feet; balancing most of her weight onto her good foot and counterbalancing herself with the pack.

"I will not call for help in the first five minutes," she repeated aloud as she made it to the shade of a tree, collapsing against the trunk and sliding down to a sprawled recline. Opening the main pack she pulled the first aid kit from its recommended place at the top and administered a painkiller.

"I will not call for help in the first hour," she amended as the pain slowly subsided. She covered herself with the emergency blanket and, hoping it would still her stomach, drank a bit of water and then drifted into a light doze.

Personal Log
Next time, if there is a next time, I'm bringing a tricorder. All trees look alike. End log.

7 years ago
The sun was considerable higher when Jenna awoke. The medication was wearing off and she could feel the damaged ankle straining against the leather of her boot. A quick glance at her chronometer assured her that her pride induced timelimit was over and also that her water bottle had spilled over while she slept. Drinking the last mouthful of water she began tapping out the message.

Personal Log
The campsite is nice; peaceful. I have grown accustomed to the noise and, as the sun sets, find it vaguely reassuring. Being out of doors, expecially at night is still a bit unnerving so the proof that other life is out there, albeit mainly small mammals, is a comfort.

I didn't even attempt to capture a fish but did manage to cook the one I brought in a stasis container over a fire which I started all by myself. I am feeling rather smug at that accomplishment although it is not as easy as Rachel made it look.

I'm a bit tired after the walk and the unfiltered air so I'll turn in now. End log.

7 years ago
"Hey."

Jenna woke with a jerk, batting the hand off her shoulder instinctively and jarring her ankle as she made an abortive attempt to rise. When the stars and pain subsided she opened her eyes.

"Hey," Rachel repeated. "What did you do?"

"Remember Alice in Wonderland?" Jenna asked. They had studied the novel in one of their elective courses. "The rabbit holes are smaller here."

Shaking her head Rachel began to run her hands lightly over Jenna's head and limbs.

"You don't have to do a first aid inspection," Jenna protested. "It's just my left ankle."

"Rule number, umm, three. Never assume. Check for secondary injuries that the victim might not be aware of. Like this goosegg on your forehead."

"Would explain the headache?"

"That would explain the headache," Rachel agreed cheerfully. "I am thinking that there are no concussion and no broken bones as they would have beamed you out in a medical evacuation if there were. However, you are pushing the limit, so don't break a nail. How do you manage to get yourself into these messes?"

"Genetics. Runs in all my families."

"Well, it's getting dark and cool and you're fairly close to shock. Let me set up a camp and get some rations heating."

"I, um, spilt my water."

Rachel sighed a very theatrical sigh and handed Jenna a water bottle before turning to rummage through her backpack.

"There's a spring about an hour from here but I'll have to wait until morning to get more," she said as she set up a small fire area, expertly starting a fire. I picked up some wood on the way but I'll have to gather some more."

"Hey, Rach. Thanks for coming."

"Well, you had a number of other cadets quiet willing to be your white knight. But I told them that I'd look after you; roomie responsibility and all. Besides, what are friends for?"

Personal Log
I am sure that Bajor is happy about the abundance of healthy small mammals that infest their planet. Especially the nocturnals ones. Next time I'm bringing a tricorder and a phaser. End log.

7 years ago
She awoke abruptly, the pain in her head and ankle pushing her that last millimeter into consciousness that she had been trying to enjoy. Looking around she saw the plate of rations by her side and, across the dying fire, Rachel's empty bedroll.

For a moment she panicked. The endless forest and unfamiliar sounds and smells and the absolute sense of abandonment utterly destroying a lifetime of self assurance in an instant. Sitting abruptly sent another bout of shooting stars as both her ankle and head protested the sudden movement. Biting down on the nausea she slowly opened her eyes and saw it, scratched in the dirt.

"Water. Eat. Don't move."

Pulling Rachel's pack to use as a backrest Jenna ate.

Personal Log
I awoke abruptly, heart pounding and a feeling of absolute terror and solitude. I wished that I could remember my dreams, the night terrors that wake me in the small hours.

According to my chronometer I've had about three hours sleep. Between the wild life and my subconscious I don't think I'm going to get much sleep on this planet.

I had thought, hoped really, that the nightmares were gone. They've certainly decreased over the years and I haven't had one since arriving at the Starbase, not even durning the invasion. If they continue when I get back to the base I'll have to check in with Elbrum. End log.

7 years ago
The survival exercise was a ten day event and by the seventh Jenna was able to hobble around on the makeshift crutch that Rachel had fashioned. Speed was minimal and the range only that of the clearing but she could at least give herself the illusion that she was being of some assistance.

"What do you wanna be when you grow up?" Rachel asked abruptly. They had just finished a ration stew supplemented with some fruit that Rachel had found and Jenna had cleaned.

"Commander of a starship. One of the five year explorers."

"And be responsible for all those lives?"

"Not much difference being responsible for two hundred or a ten man squad or just yourself," Jenna had answered with a shrug.

Rachel had pondered that for all of three seconds before disagreeing. "Sure it's different. Different for me at least."

After a few minutes of silence Jenna turned to Rachel. "What about you?"

"I want the squad accepted onto a space going training mission."

"That's a pretty short term goal," Jenna laughed. "Don't you have anything beyond next semester?"

"Oh sure," Rachel had said seriously, "I want to get old."

Personal Log
My ten day vacation has three more days and the time is dragging. I can see why people go on nature retreats - there's nothing much to do but think. Maybe it's different when you're with someone.

Wait, I know it's different.

I have grown accustomed to the chittering of the nocturnal beasties and there has been no return of the night terrors.

7 years ago
"How are you able to sleep like that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Actually, now are you able to sleep at all? I mean those birds were screaming at each other all night."

"You mean the gentle cooing between dusk and moonrise?"

Jenna scowled and Rachel merely smiled back placidly. Which of course irritated Jenna to the point where she shifted her leg and faked a wince of pain.

"You all right?" Rachel asked, moving towards Jenna in concern.

"Yeah, it... ah, I thought it was going to hurt more than it did."

Rachel pondered that as she settled back into her spot across the fire.

"Ironic, isn't," she asked, "that I have trouble sleeping at the Academy and you sleep like a rock?"

"Guess it's what you're use to," Jenna agreed softly.

"Well, I'm use to this," Rachel said, gesturing at the outdoors, "and you're not. And you'll be safe and sound in your artificial environment in a day or so."

Personal Log
The shuttle ride back to the base was uneventful. Bol nearly disembowled me in his eagerness to greet me. In only a week he has gained about an inch and five kilos. Hopefully he's reached full height.

The vacation was... restful. It brought back a lot of good memories. Not that I think I'm going to go camping again anytime soon.

I had heard that the Castle was haunted. Maybe it is. But the only ghosts for me were memories. And not scary ones at all.  End Log

7 years ago
They had packed up the camp site and were waiting for the transporter signal.

"Come camping with me sometime?"

"You mean, for fun?"

"Yes, for fun. Come home to Proxima with me over graduation leave. I'll show you my the trails around the settlement."

"For fun," Jenna repeated.

"You are having trouble with this concept, I can see that. Never mind."

"No!" Jenna said. "It sounds like a good idea actually. Please?"

Rachel smiled. "Okay, we'll do it. And don't worry, it's not the least bit scary."

The End

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