Don't own anything worth trillions and trillions
On the Lip of a Lion
Worf finished briefing his security detail just as the four survey teams entered the transporter room. A security officer was assigned to each team. Worf would monitor each team's movements by roving from site to site. The Klingon turned to Commander Riker just entering.
"Security detail ready, Sir."
"Good." Riker glanced at his assigned group. "Let's go." Without further talk, he headed for the transporter platform. Data followed to stand beside him. Two geologists hurried to take their place behind the officers. Next, Ensign Kyree quietly took a place on the transporter pad. "Energize." Riker ordered.
Riker frowned at his first breath of the hot dry arid air on the surface. Colorless off white rocks and ground stretched all around them. No grass, no trees, no vegetation could be seen. His feet hadn't even moved and a light cover of dirt dulled the shine on his shoes. It was a stark comparison to the other three planets. He gave a go ahead nod to the scientist waiting to begin.
"Data, Is the atmosphere enough protection from the suns?" Riker glanced up to the harsh glare in the sky.
"Yes, Commander. There is no reason to be concerned." The android answered as he took readings on his tricorder.
Riker smiled at Data's preoccupation. Then he noticed his security officer glancing around nervously flicking her ears. He watched Kyree for a moment. "Is there something wrong Ensign?" He asked.
"There is death here." Kyree said in a hushed voice as if something could hear. Riker felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He rubbed his neck to ease the sensation.
"Could you be more specific? Ensign?" Riker waited as she pricked her ears up as if picking up some sound he could not hear.
"No...I feel great danger." Kyree seemed hesitant to speak.
"From what?" Riker questioned as he looked around. Nothing was going to sneak up on them. No bushes to hide in. Large boulders gave no cover for anything. The only distinguishing feature of the landscape was a dried up river bed several meters to the north. He glanced back to the uneasy Ensign and waited for an answer. She gave him a shrug.
"I want an answer Ensign." Riker ordered. His stern voice caused Kyree to come to attention. Her ears flattened. Riker wasn't sure of the meaning of her body language.
"I can tell...sometimes...when danger is near." The woman reported with all emotion gone from her face as she stared straight ahead.
"Sometimes? Explain." His voice was still hard. He didn't like the sound of this. Kyree glanced nervously into his impatient face. Riker wasn't sure if she was afraid of him or not. He didn't want her to be but she had to have been use to direct and difficult questioning from the Academy. He waited.
"I can not always tell if danger is present." Kyree said. "When I feel it. It is real."
"Sometimes?" Riker asked.
"Always."
A sharp look crossed the Commanders face. He looked around. The landscape seemed so harsh but harmless. He stared back at the Ensign. Riker gave a slight nod, more to himself at making a decision. He tapped his communicator. "Riker to Lt. Worf, A code 2 security level is in affect." He ordered
"Aye, Sir." Worf's deep voice answered. "Is there a problem?"
"Not yet, just keep everybody one their toes. Riker out." The Commander turned to Kyree. "Continue your security watch."
The young officer nodded. Riker watched her move off to follow the survey team scientists. Her every move was guarded and cautious. Riker became uneasy watching her tense patrol of the area.
"Data?" Riker called to the android out of eyesight. The android soon appeared, still analyzing readings from the tricorder.
"Yes, Commander?" Data greeted him as he finished and looked up.
"Data, do you read anything...anything at all that could be dangerous?" Riker asked. Data surprised look gave him his answer.
"No, Commander. There is nothing here. The only abnormality is a strange energy flux under the gully to the north." Data said.
"What could cause that?" Riker questioned troubled.
"Commander, there is no reason for concern. Many geological features could create such readings." Data reassured him. "Is there a reason for your inquiry?"
Riker briefed Data on their newest crew's abilities.
"Yes, I read that in her personnel file." Data seemed unaffected by the information.
"Oh," Riker felt embarrassed. "I must have missed that. What did it say about her ability?"
"Star Fleet Academy could not accurately test her abilities."
Riker broke in. "How come?"
"In order to do so, the Holodeck mortality safety would have to be shut completely off. Otherwise there would be no real danger. The academy was not willing to put her or others at risk. They assumed duty would be the best way to test it."
"Great." Riker said flatly. He sighed and glanced at the team with the Ensign Kyree at guard close beside them. "I wonder what she senses." He said out loud to himself.
"I do not know, Commander." Data answered. Riker closed his eyes at Data's unwanted response.
"Continue with your scanning, Data. Just keep alert." Riker said.
Strange shadows were cast by the rock formations as the twin suns climbed higher in the sky as the morning passed. After four hours had passed Riker called for a break. He watched as the scientists hurried to the transport site. Lieutenant Gehring made a point of arriving before Ensign Kyree.
"Commander, could I have a word with you? Does the Ensign have to come back down with us?" Lieutenant Gehring started. "She's making us all nervous wrecks hovering about and jumping anytime someone so much as clears their throat."
"She has special abilities that let her sense danger. She feels there's a lot of danger here." Riker explained to the stocky man.
"Oh great, a empathic security guard." Lieutenant Gehring complained as he took his position to transport up. The rest of the party gathered and they returned to the Enterprise.
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Worf and Riker discussed the Oradican's abilities at length. They decided to talk it over with counselor Troi.
"I'm not sure what you are trying to ask me?" Troi looked from one to the other for clarification. Worf shifted uneasily without speaking. Riker took the hint.
"I'm not sure either. Is it possible she could sense a danger like she said?" He asked.
"Anything is possible. I've never heard of a sense like the one she describes in her personnel file. But it doesn't mean it isn't real." Troi said.
"That doesn't help much." Riker commented.
"Sorry." A thoughtful look crossed Troi's face. "Maybe I can be of some help. I have talked with her and have gotten to know her a little. From her files she lived on several terrible places. Barely surviving. As young as she was, having a developed sense of danger could explain how she survived."
Riker nodded. "Thanks for the try. We have to go. The break is almost over." Worf turned to leave first but the counselor stopped him.
"Worf? You believe her completely. Why?" Troi stared at him, wondering how Kyree had earned his trust so quickly. Riker waited for the Klingon's response too.
"I have fought with her. There was no fear in her eyes. I do not believe she would over react to danger." Worf said firmly. He continued his exit as Riker and Troi exchanged a quick surprised look and Riker hurried after the Klingon.
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Only a few new faces greeted Riker and Worf as they entered the transporter room. Worf had convinced him to keep the security team the same. Kyree looked a little surprised when she was still allowed to beam down with Riker's group. Soon all the teams became engrossed in their individual projects. Riker wandered around with Data. If something strange started happening the android would be the first to know.
Several hours passed. Riker had become bored with this planet. Rocks and dust not even interesting rocks, just plain rocks. Nothing that even made Data go into some long explanation of mineral finds. Riker leaned against a boulder as Data took some more readings.
"Data, this rock is just like that rock. What's the point?" He asked.
"That is the reason Commander. They appear to be identical. Any difference, no matter how small, tells something of this planet." Data explained. Suddenly he looked up toward the dried gully. Riker followed his gaze. The three scientists stood with their backs toward him. But he didn't have to see their faces to know they were angry. Their stance told him that. Kyree blocked their way to the gulch. One of the scientists moved slightly to one side. The Ensign had her phazor drawn.
"We better get down there." Riker said. He took off at a quick jog. Data quickly out distance them. Riker let him. Data could keep things from getting out of hand until he got there. Before Riker arrived he could hear the angry voices of the survey team. If the Oradican spoke the wind did not carry it to him. The people had calmed some when Riker arrived. But the sullen looks on their faces told him it wasn't over.
"Data, what's the problem?" Riker deliberately ignored the survey team and Ensign Kyree.
"Lieutenant Gehring and the other wish to go out on riverbed but Ensign Kyree believes it is too dangerous." Data said briefly.
"That's ridiculous! What danger could be out there? There's nothing out there!" Lieutenant Gehring shouted hotly. The others agreed.
Ensign Kyree stood solid. "The closer I have come to this...gulch. It is not a riverbed. The closer I come...I know that is where the danger will come from."
"It's not a river bed?" Data asked the scientists.
"No it's not. We haven't been able to determine what it is. That's why we need to go out on it." The other scientist answered calmer.
Riker stared at the young officer. She was trying so hard to do her job. Keep the survey team from harm, despite themselves. "Do you have to go out on it to take your readings?" He asked.
"We've done all we can from here." Lieutenant Gehring said impatiently.
"Perhaps a probe would suffice." Data suggested.
"We tried several. The energy field interfered with the navigation of it. We can't get it where it needs to be." Lieutenant Gehring explained. "Commander look." He pointed out to the gully. Everybody turned their gaze to the gulch. "There is nothing out there to hurt anybody."
Several large rocks were the only things Riker could see. Reluctantly Riker had to agree with Lieutenant Gehring. What could hurt them?
"Why don't I take your probe out to the middle. Would that help?" Riker offered. It would be a way of testing this danger sense of the Oradican.
Lieutenant Gehring seemed agreeable. "Yes, it would."
"I do not recommend it, Commander." Kyree spoke for the first time. She was not prepared to aggressively prevent a superior officer from venturing into danger.
"I know Ensign." Riker said. "I'll be careful." He held out his hand for the sensor. Lieutenant Gehring quickly produced one and instructed him how to activate it. Riker moved to the edge and picked his way down the steep embankment. A shower of rocks came from behind him. He turned slightly to see Kyree following him.
Riker waited for her to join him at the bottom. "Ensign, if it is so dangerous down here, why are you coming with me?"
"It is my duty to protect you, Sir." Kyree said. She rolled her shoulders as if trying to get rid of an eerie feeling.
Riker glanced up at the others a half meter above them. The wash would get only a slightly deeper in the middle. "Let's go then." He started across. Kyree kept close beside him with her phasor in her hand. Stepping cautiously around stones and cracks Riker tried to hurry. Several meters from the middle, as his foot hit the ground, he pulled to a stop. The texture and feel of the footing had changed. The Ensign noticed too. He heard a slight gasp as she came beside him.
"This is not good, Commander." Her voice was barely a whisper.
Riker didn't like it either. He didn't know if something was really wrong. Or if Kyree was just spooking him. He looked back to the bank. They were too far to turn back. "Steady on." He ordered. Gingerly Riker continued. The soft spongy soil had more cracks. It made them have to step unevenly and off balance. Finally the pair made it to the middle. He knelt and placed the sensor. With a quick touch he activated it. He looked up at the Ensign glancing around in anticipated dread
"Let's get out of here." Kyree didn't have to be coaxed. But she still allowed him to go first. Barely away from the probe, Riker felt a tug on his arm.
"Commander, do you hear that?" Kyree asked. She bumped into him as he stopped to listen. "Do not stop!" She pushed him onward.
"What did you hear?" He asked. Riker kept moving. Before Kyree could answer Riker heard an ominous rumble from below. They started to run for the bank. It was still twenty meters away. Without another warning an explosion of liquid burst from beneath their feet, drenching them. Before they had time to react another burst knocked them off their feet. In a matter of seconds the dry gulch was transformed into a raging torrent.
The first soaking had splashed into Riker's face. Before he could clear his nose and mouth he was swirled off his feet by the watery stench. He struggled to the surface choking. Riker fought hard to keep his head above the water. A ferocious undertow pulled at his body. The water rushed him along the gulch. He spun around so he faced his direction of travel. He saw Kyree swimming hard a few meters a head of him. Riker thought about Kyree's prediction of danger then he tapped his communicator.
"Riker to Transporter Room, Emergency beam out for me and Ensign Kyree." Riker was greeted by silence. He wondered if he could hear it over the rushing water. He pulled it off his uniform and tapped it again. This time he held it close to his ear. Nothing. This danger Kyree had warned about was getting very real Riker thought as he looked for a means of getting out.
The group on the bank watched the two make it to the middle of the gully and set the sensor. Lieutenant Gehring immediately began monitoring the readings from the probe. Data watched over his shoulder and frowned.
"The readings are very strange." The android commented. Data looked up to check on his commander. He saw them start to run. The next moment they were engulfed and were being rushed down stream.
"Enterprise, Emergency Beam out of Riker and Kyree." Data ordered as he began racing along the bank to follow the distressed pair.
"I can't get a lock on them, Commander. Something is interfering with the signal." The transporter attended came back.
"Data, Report." Picard's voice followed.
"Commander Riker and Ensign Kyree have been engulfed by a torrent of water. They are heading down stream. I am managing to follow on the bank." Data was also considering several options. He could attempt to rescue the two. With his superior strength he knew he could swim to them and back. He glanced to a movement in front of him to his left. Worf ran to intercept Data. Data kept parallel with his floundering crewmates. Worf joined him still running without effort. He pointed at the pair in the water, and came to a stop.
"The Ensign has caught a hold of something." Worf gave a sigh of relief as she grabbed Riker as he came rushing by her. "Good!" He knew it would give them time. But his hope was short lived. Her grasp of his wet uniform was precarious. The surging water's force threatened to pull him from her grasp. The two watching helplessly from the bank could see her hold on the long up right projection slip too.
"The transporter can not beam them out?" Worf asked. Lieutenant Gehring panted up beside the two officers.
"The liquid is mostly water. Several other elements in it." He paused to draw a breath. "It's ionized. Possible it has done damage to the circuitry in the communicators."
"The communicators are water proof." Data said.
"But the other elements act almost as a bonding agent. It wouldn't take long for it to form almost a shield around it." Lieutenant Gehring explained.
Data frowned. There went his plan to go in after the pair. "Captain, I am open for suggestions."
"What about a shuttle craft?" Picard responded.
"I do not think they have that much time." Data turned his attention back to the two in the water. Kyree seemed to have improved her hold on both Riker and the projection. She was still fighting to bring him closer so he could grab it too. Suddenly a whirlpool formed in front of Riker, adding to the drag pulling him forward. From the middle burst a massive set of teeth. Lunging toward Riker, opened wide, the fangs hit its target. Riker screamed in pain and terror as the razor edges closed around his right thigh. The Ensign's grip tightened on his shirt but the pull was too much, his uniform started ripping. Acting quickly Kyree rapped her legs around the projection and made a desperate grab for Riker's arm with her other hand. Riker felt he was being torn in two. The pain in his leg was unbearable. He felt Kyree's grip slip followed by sharp pain as he felt cat like claws gouge into his arm.
On the bank Worf drew his phazor and fired at the headless teeth. The Klingon dropped his arm in dejection. The phazor had no affect. Data and Worf stood watching the horror unfold unable to help.
"Save yourself Ensign, that's an order." Riker managed to yell above the noisy torrent. The Oradican did not answer or acknowledge she even heard him. Riker knew she had to have heard him. Her hearing seemed to be better than Data's. Then he felt he sink her claws in farther. With an abrupt yank, Kyree jerked him. The jaws clenched tighter, a sickening crunch reverberated through his body. Then he was suddenly released from the teeth. Riker found himself pressed hard against the projection with Kyree's arms holding him to it. He grabbed a hold too. He felt weak and dizzy. Like the life was quickly draining out of him. The Oradican looked wildly about for help. She spotted the people on the shore. She could faintly hear their voices.
Yelling as loud as she could. "Commander Data can you hear me? I can faintly hear you."
"Yes, I can hear you Ensign." Data said. Worf and the others gave the android a strange look.
"Kyree is speaking." Data started then listened again to something the woman was shouting. "I will speak up." He said in a louder voice. "We can not transport you out because of the Ionization of the water. It forms a shield around metal." He explained briefly. They saw Kyree sag in fatigue. "She can not last much longer, She had been injured too" Data said softly to the others. He listened closely to an incoming message. He brightened visibly. "You may have something Ensign." He turned to Lieutenant Gehring. "Would the communicator still work if it had not been in contact with the water?"
"Well...Yes, it should. The energy field shouldn't affect then." Lieutenant Gehring said confused.
"Lt Worf please, give me your communicator." Data held out his hand. Puzzled the Klingon plucked the pin from his uniform.
"What are you going to do?" He questioned.
"I will attempt to throw it to her. Transporter room, stand by to transport to sick bay, on my mark." Data stared at the pair for a moment judging the distance and all the other factors affecting the throw. The others stepped back. While a human would have seemed to put all his effort into the throw, Data made it seem like a coin toss. Everyone held their breath as the badge flickered in the light as it sailed over the water. Kyree was ready. It stung as it smacked in her hand. The next moment Riker and Kyree were transported to the medical unit on the Enterprise.
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