Chapter 2

In the distance the wind speeds were steadily climbing. The temperature in the Kal'ta Desert was rising as well. The small PADD laying in Lilly's lap began to chime as updated Weather Reports were coming in.

She dismissed the reports, choosing to focus on the work ahead of her. As she passed her Tricorder over the last area of the Orchid Garden, her PADD started sounding an Alarm. 500 meters away, a Sandfire Storm had erupted.

Serenity Jones was repeatedly paging her beloved friend and Commander.

"Computer, locate Lieutenant Commander Shade."

"Lieutenant Commander Shade is not on the premises."

"When was her last check-in?"

"30 minutes previously. Her access code was used in the Garage Bay. Reports show that Lieutenant Commander Shade authorized the use of the Colony's primary Aircar."

"Wait - what? She left?" Serenity's voice was riddled with concern for Lilly.

"Correct. Lieutenant Commander Shade used the Global Positioning System of the Aircar, licensed 23ET580, north to the Flower Gardens in the Kal'ta Desert. 35 minutes previously."

Serenity sat back in her chair and sighed deeply. She reached for her Communicator and dialed Lilly's number. The Comm. unit rang for 3 minutes and went to Lilly's Voice Messaging System.

"This is the personal Communicator of Lieutenant Commander, Doctor Calla Lilly Shade. Chief Botanist and Botanical Pharmacist stationed at the Science Colony in the Kal'ta Desert on New Vulcan. I am unable to answer my Unit at this time. Please leave a message and I will return it as swiftly as possible. I thank thee." Lilly's bright, effervescent voice echoed in the silent computer room.

"Oh Lil. Why haven't you come back? It's 10 minutes until Lockdown. Please come back. Or get to the City where you can Lodge with someone from the Embassy. Just, call me back if you're okay. Call me back if you aren't, and I'll come running." Serenity closed the Communicator and silently cursed being unable to leave her Station for the moment. With Lilly off-site, that left Serenity in charge of things until Lilly returned, or God forbid, was found.

The roaring of the Winds in the Desert were drowning out the sounds from Lilly's Communicator. She now realized just what the weather conditions were brewing. As she finished the last scan, she tossed everything into her knapsack and fought to pull herself to a standing position.

The winds tore into her skin, as the delicate Uniform covering her small frame did nothing to shield the blistering heat and devastating winds. She lifted the Hood that was a mandatory part of her Uniform, and pulled it up around her head. The wind still cut into her back and arms as she started running to the Aircar.

The air was thick with heat and sand, and the young Half-Vulcan struggled to draw a full breath of air into her lungs. As she coughed, sand would come back up into her mouth, causing her to gag, and beg for water. As she ran through the swirling clouds of sand, she collapsed with the realization that she was now completely disoriented. Before her pale eyes, all she saw were endless swirls of sand and plant matter.

Lilly began crying softly, tears rolling down her sand-stained cheeks. She pulled her PADD from her sack, and tried to access the map for the area. Slowly the PADD responded and she turned 60 degrees to her right, covered her mouth, and started running as fast as her bruised and beaten body could carry her.

Her arms and hands were bleeding from the abrasiveness of the sand, as it cut through her supple skin. There was a large abrasion on her left cheek and her lips were raw. She excruciatingly made her way to a cavern on the right side of the Desert. It hadn't been scouted completely, but for now, it was Lilly's only chance at survival.

She cleared the small cavern opening and made it 10 meters inside. The wind was screaming as it rushed past the 4 meter opening that was the cave entrance. Lilly collapsed on the ground, shaking, coughing and gagging on the sand still stuck in her irritated airways. She tore into her knapsack and pulled a bottle of water out; opening it, Lilly began to douse herself with the refreshing liquid.

Feeling spent, she laid down on the cool cave floor and slid her PADD and Communicator from her pack. She signed into her PADD, and accessed the current Weather Reports. The storm was expected to last for another 3 hours. Sure, her lungs felt like they were on fire and she was exhausted, but she could manage to wait for the storm to die down enough it was safe to leave again.

Flipping open her Communicator, Lilly tried to contact the Science Colony to no avail. Resigning herself to spending at least the next present moments trapped in the cavern, she placed her Comm. Unit back into her Knapsack. She pulled out the second bottle of water she had packed and took a sip, swishing it around her parched mouth gently. Spitting it out, and the sand it rinsed free, she tucked the bottle back into its place and stood on her shaking legs.

"Might as well get comfortable." Lilly called out to herself. The roaring of the winds was almost deafening as it ripped past the opening to the cavern. Lilly fluffed her sack up into a more comfortable pile, and laid down on the cool floor, curling up slightly. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing down, entering into a medium meditative state.

In the back of the cave, a pair of cat-like eyes blinked open. The eyes quickly adjusted to the pitch black of the cave. Rising on thick, muscular legs, the creature that Lilly had woken began to race through its well known lair towards the enticing smell that was soon to be dinner. It lifted its head towards the ceiling and inhaled the intoxicating copper tang of blood that tinged the air with notes of iron.

The pestilential cat creature slid through the winding passageways towards its unknowing prey. It growled softly, its paws treading skillfully over the stone floor. The feral beast parted it's jaws slightly sliding it's long, wet tongue out to moisten its thin lips. The hunger burning in its stomach was driving it wild. Its slick bright blue and brown spotted body curled through the last passage way. Finally reaching the ledge overlooking the wounded humanoid, it paused for just a moment before pouncing.

It landed on top of the young girl and ripped its sharp claws through her delicately supple skin. The le-matya had claimed its prey. Beautifully emerald green spilled from the three lacerations crossing her torso from left shoulder to right hip. She was lost to the world now. The le-matya was committed to its dance with death.

The young girl slipped into a deeper meditation, trying to slow the poison coursing through her veins. Every ounce of healing energy she had was going to slow her blood flow down long enough to slow the poison to give her time to be saved.

Satisfied with the damage it had dealt, the le-matya began it's deserved feast of copper rich blood it hadn't enjoyed in so long. Licking its fill of Lilly's blood, it retreated to its den in the back of the cavern. Full from the feast, it laid down and fell back asleep, for the moment.

Lilly struggled with the excruciating sea of flames coursing through her ravaged body. She'd lost two pints of blood. She was weak, delirious, and dying. Her breath slowed rapidly, her mind diverting all available energy towards saving what was left of her life. In a matter of moments, her head began to swim and what was left of the world faded to black.