"How could you Berjo?"
"Lara... listen... it was one time,"
"ONE TIME? ONE TIME? WHY DOES THAT MAKE IT ANY BETTER?"
"Lara I'm sorry..."
"We're done Berjo. Done!"
"Lara...wait..."
Commander Caspius' voice rang out over the intercom, louder than the Red Alert sirens that were blaring.
"Now hear this. Now hear this. All hands, proceed to designated evacuation stations."
The words shook Lara out of her thoughts. She had been in one of the evacuation stations since the Red Alert. The shakes and rumbles of the attack on DS13 were scary, but she did her best to stay calm and act as an Officer should. And now was the time that she should do it again. Shaking her head free of the lingering words of her now ex-boyfriend, she pushed to her feet.
"Come on now," she said. "Please, make your way to the shuttles in an orderly fashion. Please, no pushing or shoving,"
The fear she could see on the faces of the people she assisted frightened her. It was all she could do to keep her own face from showing emotion. "It's okay," she heard herself saying. "Everything's going to be alright..."
The room shook with another explosion and Lara staggered into the side of the shuttle, her ears ringing. Opening her eyes, she could see people push and shove, fear etched into their faces. She found herself pressed against the shuttle as civilians pushed past to get to safety.
"Please... stay...calm..." Lara tried to regain control but a lone Ensign could do nothing against the forces of a fearful mob.
"Ensign," she turned to see a Commander touch her shoulder. "I'll take over here, I want you to go and make sure the section here is clear,"
Lara nodded. "Yes sir,"
The Commander gave her a small smile, which Lara returned. Head still ringing, she picked her way through the throng and fell into the corridor.
"Hey! You," she pointed at a crewman staggering through the door. "We need you all to evacuate!" she walked towards him. As she neared, the man fell into her arms.
"...need help... geology...lab...2" the man croaked before falling limp. Lara staggered under his weight and carefully put the man on the ground. She tapped his combadge.
"Any nearby craft, emergency medical transport," she said and stepped away, darting towards the geology labs. The man behind her dematerialised, but Lara did not notice. Berjo had been in geology lab 2.
13 Likes
Lara pushed past the walking wounded emerging from the labs.
"Evacuation station 082 is just ahead, you're safe now!" Lara said as she moved, her eyes firmly fixed on the doors ahead.
"Ensign, where are you going?" An LCDR grabbed her arm and blocked her path.
"Sir, I'm under orders to make sure everyone's evacuated,"
"Everyone's out Ensign; at least those that are still alive,"
"Sir, please... I have a friend in there!"
"If you had a friend in there, they are most likely dead. And you will be to if you don't turn back around,"
Lara looked up at the LCDR. "Sir. When I signed up to Starfleet, I did so in the knowledge that I may die. Please, let me carry out my orders and see who I can get to safety,"
The LCDR shook his head. "Listen Ensign, there is dying and then there's throwing your life away. Do not fall into the trap of doing the later under the pretence that it's the former," he let go of Lara's arm.
"I won't sir," Lara said determined and bolted off towards the door.
The geology lab was a wreck. The back wall had sheered off to reveal a hole into space, the other side of the station visible. It was like someone had cut a chunk out of the side of Deep Space 13, like a cake. Lara could see equally dazed figures on the other side. She tore her gaze away from the mystifying darkness of space and looked around.
"Berjo? Berjo!" she bellowed at the top of her voice, cupping her hands to her mouth. Overturned desks, chairs, lights hanging off by a thread, sparks from overloaded consoles all surrounded her. And bodies. Unmoving bodies draped across the fittings like cloth, carpeting the floor like rugs.
This is stupid, she thought. Maybe Berjo was one of the people she had seen leave? Maybe he had already escaped. Maybe... she glanced outside at the bodies hanging in the void of space. Maybe... A movement to her left snapped her out of her thoughts. A stirring of life in the inanimate room. She made her way towards it, trying to make out who it was through the light of the station filtering in through the forcefield that had been erected as soon as the room started to depressurise.
"Berjo?" she whispered. The pips on the blue collar indicated the person was an Ensign. The Bajoran earring confirmed the rest. Lara dropped to her knees. "Berjo! Berjo!" she turned him around and gasped. His neck was cut wide open and was bleeding profusely. Lara saw that he was lying on shards of glass, most likely from the station he was working at. His eyes flickered open to Lara, recognising her. His mouth opened to speak, but it was blood, not words that flowed it.
Lara's eyes were filled with tears as her hands automatically went to the neck wound to stem the flow of blood. Already she knew it was too late; Berjo's blood had covered the floor in a thick dark pool. "Berjo..." she whispered tears rolling down her eyes and falling onto the man's chest. Berjo said nothing, his eyes glancing once at Lara before his head fell to one side.
Lara took her blood stained hands away from his neck. Slowly, she stood up and backed away, looking at the lifeless body of her friend.
"We're done Berjo. Done!"
"Lara, wait..."
Why didn't she wait? Why didn't she turn back and look at him? Why didn't she stop? Her hand flew to her mouth as the thought caught in her throat.
"God dammit Ensign," Lara felt the arm of the LCDR grab her. "I knew this would happen. Pull yourself together, we need to stay alive. Do you know how to fly a shuttle?"
Lara turned to the LCDR and nodded absentmindedly.
"Good. The route to Evac station 82 is blocked. Evac station 83 is nearby but we have no shuttle pilots,"
Lara finally grasped what the man was saying. "Yes sir, I can fly," she said.
The LCDR nodded and pulled her out of the door. Lara took the last glimpse of Berjo before she turned and shrugged the LCDR's arm off. The pair of them ran towards the shuttle bay, the lone shuttle waiting for them. "Hurry!" someone shouted. Lara picked up the pace, dived through the door and into the pilot's seat. Her training kicked in and she expertly set the shuttle up, leaving blood marks on the console as she worked.
"Get us out of here Ensign," the LCDR said helpfully. Lara obliged and the shuttle shot out of the bay doors and into space. "Good work, now conta..."
There was an explosion behind Lara and she felt the shuttle lurch forward, entering a vicious roll. Trying with all her might, Lara tried to stop the roll. She couldn't. The last thing she saw was the station tumbling out of sight as the forces acting on her body took their toll and Lara's eyelids slid shut over her eyes.
"Evacuation station 082 is just ahead, you're safe now!" Lara said as she moved, her eyes firmly fixed on the doors ahead.
"Ensign, where are you going?" An LCDR grabbed her arm and blocked her path.
"Sir, I'm under orders to make sure everyone's evacuated,"
"Everyone's out Ensign; at least those that are still alive,"
"Sir, please... I have a friend in there!"
"If you had a friend in there, they are most likely dead. And you will be to if you don't turn back around,"
Lara looked up at the LCDR. "Sir. When I signed up to Starfleet, I did so in the knowledge that I may die. Please, let me carry out my orders and see who I can get to safety,"
The LCDR shook his head. "Listen Ensign, there is dying and then there's throwing your life away. Do not fall into the trap of doing the later under the pretence that it's the former," he let go of Lara's arm.
"I won't sir," Lara said determined and bolted off towards the door.
The geology lab was a wreck. The back wall had sheered off to reveal a hole into space, the other side of the station visible. It was like someone had cut a chunk out of the side of Deep Space 13, like a cake. Lara could see equally dazed figures on the other side. She tore her gaze away from the mystifying darkness of space and looked around.
"Berjo? Berjo!" she bellowed at the top of her voice, cupping her hands to her mouth. Overturned desks, chairs, lights hanging off by a thread, sparks from overloaded consoles all surrounded her. And bodies. Unmoving bodies draped across the fittings like cloth, carpeting the floor like rugs.
This is stupid, she thought. Maybe Berjo was one of the people she had seen leave? Maybe he had already escaped. Maybe... she glanced outside at the bodies hanging in the void of space. Maybe... A movement to her left snapped her out of her thoughts. A stirring of life in the inanimate room. She made her way towards it, trying to make out who it was through the light of the station filtering in through the forcefield that had been erected as soon as the room started to depressurise.
"Berjo?" she whispered. The pips on the blue collar indicated the person was an Ensign. The Bajoran earring confirmed the rest. Lara dropped to her knees. "Berjo! Berjo!" she turned him around and gasped. His neck was cut wide open and was bleeding profusely. Lara saw that he was lying on shards of glass, most likely from the station he was working at. His eyes flickered open to Lara, recognising her. His mouth opened to speak, but it was blood, not words that flowed it.
Lara's eyes were filled with tears as her hands automatically went to the neck wound to stem the flow of blood. Already she knew it was too late; Berjo's blood had covered the floor in a thick dark pool. "Berjo..." she whispered tears rolling down her eyes and falling onto the man's chest. Berjo said nothing, his eyes glancing once at Lara before his head fell to one side.
Lara took her blood stained hands away from his neck. Slowly, she stood up and backed away, looking at the lifeless body of her friend.
"We're done Berjo. Done!"
"Lara, wait..."
Why didn't she wait? Why didn't she turn back and look at him? Why didn't she stop? Her hand flew to her mouth as the thought caught in her throat.
"God dammit Ensign," Lara felt the arm of the LCDR grab her. "I knew this would happen. Pull yourself together, we need to stay alive. Do you know how to fly a shuttle?"
Lara turned to the LCDR and nodded absentmindedly.
"Good. The route to Evac station 82 is blocked. Evac station 83 is nearby but we have no shuttle pilots,"
Lara finally grasped what the man was saying. "Yes sir, I can fly," she said.
The LCDR nodded and pulled her out of the door. Lara took the last glimpse of Berjo before she turned and shrugged the LCDR's arm off. The pair of them ran towards the shuttle bay, the lone shuttle waiting for them. "Hurry!" someone shouted. Lara picked up the pace, dived through the door and into the pilot's seat. Her training kicked in and she expertly set the shuttle up, leaving blood marks on the console as she worked.
"Get us out of here Ensign," the LCDR said helpfully. Lara obliged and the shuttle shot out of the bay doors and into space. "Good work, now conta..."
There was an explosion behind Lara and she felt the shuttle lurch forward, entering a vicious roll. Trying with all her might, Lara tried to stop the roll. She couldn't. The last thing she saw was the station tumbling out of sight as the forces acting on her body took their toll and Lara's eyelids slid shut over her eyes.
7 Likes
"Good, you're up," The LCDR's face loomed over Lara.
"What happened?" she croaked.
"We went to warp, I can't seem to remember how. The shuttle lost control and we all passed out. We've been in low warp since then. I need your help to navigate us,"
Lara sat up, her head spinning.
"Careful..." he said helpfully. "Take it slow, but hurry up. The longer we're in warp, the further we're away from home,"
Lara's head snapped towards him. "We're still at warp?" she jumped up, flailing as her vision blurred again. It was fine, she didn't need to see. She had the console memorised. "Why didn't you take us out?" she jabbed a button and the shuttle slowed out of warp.
"I don't know how to pilot a shuttle, Ensign"
"Clearly," she said and slumped into the seat. "Can you get me some water?"
The LCDR scoffed. "Excuse me, Ensign? I am not a servant,"
"Do you want me to do my job?"
"That is a given. You are not doing anything extraordinary by doing so,"
Lara turned to see whether or not he had pointed ears. He did not. He was just a dick. With a pained glare, she turned back to her console. "We're in the Risa sector,"
"Risa Sector?"
"That is what I said,"
"Enough Ensign!" the LCDR snapped. "What's our status report?"
"Comms are down, as are shields and weapons. Impulse drive is online and so is navigation, so I can pilot this thing. Warp drive is still online,"
"Good," the LCDR glanced back at the other passengers. There was one crewman, another Ensign, and a civilian couple. They were all unconscious but had been laid out respectfully and comfortably by the LCDR. "I don't want to wake them if we don't need. I don't think any of them are engineers anyway,"
"It's fine, I can plot a course back to DS13 and we should get there okay,"
"Make it so, Ensign,"
Lara was about to tap on the console but froze. The blood had dried onto the surface. Berjo's blood. Lara carefully lifted her hands. The blood had mostly rubbed off, but there were still the dried stains. The smell of dried blood wafted into Lara's nose and she quickly put them on the console, trying to stop her tears from welling up.
"Ensign, we're not at warp..."
"On it sir," she said and tapped the console. "Course plotted for Deep Space Thirteen,"
"Maximum warp,"
Lara turned to him. "Sir, I'd not advise that. We don't know the status of our warp drive and with the warp running for so long, I fear that it might break,"
The LCDR shakes his head. "What the hell do they teach at the academy these days? Insubordination? I gave an order Ensign, just carry it out like a good officer!"
Lara was in no state of mind to argue. She punched the console and the shuttle jumped to warp. "Maximum warp, sir. Estimated time of arrival is seven hours,"
"Good... now, get some rest,"
Finally. The only sensible thing he had said, Lara thought. She was just about to get up when there was a huge explosion from the side and the shuttle dropped out of warp, spinning wildly. Lara was quick this time. Hammering the console with impressive skill, she corrected the shuttle before anyone could get hurt. Alarms blared.
"Hull integrity is 43%. We've lost all warp power, impulse power is minimal. And we've lost the left nacelle..." Lara reported before getting up and staring out of the window.
A single strut was the only thing that stuck out from the left side of the ship. The left nacelle was nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?" she croaked.
"We went to warp, I can't seem to remember how. The shuttle lost control and we all passed out. We've been in low warp since then. I need your help to navigate us,"
Lara sat up, her head spinning.
"Careful..." he said helpfully. "Take it slow, but hurry up. The longer we're in warp, the further we're away from home,"
Lara's head snapped towards him. "We're still at warp?" she jumped up, flailing as her vision blurred again. It was fine, she didn't need to see. She had the console memorised. "Why didn't you take us out?" she jabbed a button and the shuttle slowed out of warp.
"I don't know how to pilot a shuttle, Ensign"
"Clearly," she said and slumped into the seat. "Can you get me some water?"
The LCDR scoffed. "Excuse me, Ensign? I am not a servant,"
"Do you want me to do my job?"
"That is a given. You are not doing anything extraordinary by doing so,"
Lara turned to see whether or not he had pointed ears. He did not. He was just a dick. With a pained glare, she turned back to her console. "We're in the Risa sector,"
"Risa Sector?"
"That is what I said,"
"Enough Ensign!" the LCDR snapped. "What's our status report?"
"Comms are down, as are shields and weapons. Impulse drive is online and so is navigation, so I can pilot this thing. Warp drive is still online,"
"Good," the LCDR glanced back at the other passengers. There was one crewman, another Ensign, and a civilian couple. They were all unconscious but had been laid out respectfully and comfortably by the LCDR. "I don't want to wake them if we don't need. I don't think any of them are engineers anyway,"
"It's fine, I can plot a course back to DS13 and we should get there okay,"
"Make it so, Ensign,"
Lara was about to tap on the console but froze. The blood had dried onto the surface. Berjo's blood. Lara carefully lifted her hands. The blood had mostly rubbed off, but there were still the dried stains. The smell of dried blood wafted into Lara's nose and she quickly put them on the console, trying to stop her tears from welling up.
"Ensign, we're not at warp..."
"On it sir," she said and tapped the console. "Course plotted for Deep Space Thirteen,"
"Maximum warp,"
Lara turned to him. "Sir, I'd not advise that. We don't know the status of our warp drive and with the warp running for so long, I fear that it might break,"
The LCDR shakes his head. "What the hell do they teach at the academy these days? Insubordination? I gave an order Ensign, just carry it out like a good officer!"
Lara was in no state of mind to argue. She punched the console and the shuttle jumped to warp. "Maximum warp, sir. Estimated time of arrival is seven hours,"
"Good... now, get some rest,"
Finally. The only sensible thing he had said, Lara thought. She was just about to get up when there was a huge explosion from the side and the shuttle dropped out of warp, spinning wildly. Lara was quick this time. Hammering the console with impressive skill, she corrected the shuttle before anyone could get hurt. Alarms blared.
"Hull integrity is 43%. We've lost all warp power, impulse power is minimal. And we've lost the left nacelle..." Lara reported before getting up and staring out of the window.
A single strut was the only thing that stuck out from the left side of the ship. The left nacelle was nowhere to be seen.
6 Likes
The light assaulted Lara's eyes. "Get up, maggot!"
Lara tried to blink through the pain, before she felt something grab the back of her neck and lift her up. For a second, she was weightless, flailing in the air like an insect, before she was thrown roughly onto the ground, face in the sand and dust. Lara coughed as she got to her feet, her hair falling over her eyes to give them a moment of respite. Her senses slowly grasped where she was; a dusty arena, where people were jeering at her.
"And here we have a fine specimen, a Federation Officer! Bajoran no less! She comes as part of a package of four other Federation members, and, to top it off, we'll throw in a shuttle for free!"
The crowd went wild.
"All this, and more, at the Grand Auction, in three days time!"
Lara felt herself grabbed again, and looked up to see a very large Orion holding onto her shoulders. With little effort, he lifted her up and threw her back into a cage.
"Careful!" a small Ferengi galloped over to the cage. "You'll damage the goods," The Orion simply grunted and walked out of Lara's sight. The Ferengi regarded her with a toothy grin. "And we don't want to sell damaged goods. Not when we can fetch such a good price for such a pretty face,"
Suddenly, a cover fell over the cage, darkening it somewhat, though strands of light fell through the various rips and tears in the material. Lara felt a jerk as the cage started to move, rattling along the dusty ground, away from the auction square. Lara slumped down the side, regarding the other occupants. There was the crewman, the Ensign, and the civilian couple; Leena and Kanaar. The LCDR was nowhere to be seen.
Lara knew why. He was dead.
The attack happened so quickly, Lara barely had time to register what was happening. It was not like she could have done anything anyway. The shuttle travelling at impulse had hoped to come across a trade route, where they would be able to signal a passing vessel. They came across a trade route alright. One that was usually patrolled by members of DS13. Members of DS13 who were not there. The shuttle could not outrun the raider that was chasing them. A shot blew through the shields and disabled the already damaged shuttle. The LCDR tried to fight the boarding party. He had been killed instantly, the Klingon captain wrapping his hand around the LCDR's windpipe and crushing him. Lara could still see his twitching, the desperation in his eyes as his life disappeared out of his mouth with his last breath. Neither Lara, nor the other Ensign could do anything before they were taken aboard the enemy ship and flown away.
The next few weeks, had been a blur. The brig filled and emptied with prisoners. Some, like her, were too paralyzed in fear and turmoil to speak. Others were louder and brash. They did not survive. Lara remembered how another Bajoran woman's tongue was cut out, in front of her eyes, because she did not stop wailing about her son. After that, a lot more people took Lara's stance; to say nothing. The Bajoran woman was carted out days later, never to be seen again. Finally, the ship's brig was emptied, and Lara along with it. They were taken to the transporter and beamed down to another cage. A cage that was to be Lara's home until she was unceremoniously thrown out of it moments before.
Lara looked down at her uniform. It was ripped and dirty, from weeks of use. Her hair had grown and taken on a darker tone. Her Starfleet badge had been taken off her, and someone had tried to take away her earring, but Lara had come to life at their attempt and had bitten the hand that tried to take it off. Nobody tried again. The wagon stopped. Lara heard movement outside.
"Miss Henareya, the prisoners are here," the ratty voice of the Ferengi squeaked.
"Show me," another Ferengi voice sounded, a female this time. Lara braced her eyes. It did little to stop the blinding when the cloth was moved. Out of the dirty strands of her hair, she could see a well dressed Ferengi lady, with a whip at her hip, standing next to... the Klingon Captain that had killed the LCDR. Seeing his grin seemed to waken something in Lara. A kind of hatred. Hatred, that Lara had only felt towards Sam before this moment. But this was greater. Magnitudes greater. It ignited her. The cover fell back over the cage.
"When will I be paid?" the ratty Ferengi asked timidly.
The Klingon bellowed in coarse laughter.
"The Triskaidecarch will pay you once these officers are sold, and we receive our payment. You will receive your cut," Henareya responded. The cart jolted again and Lara felt herself on the move.
She spoke for the first time in weeks. The words were nothing more than a faint whisper.
"We need to escape,"
Lara tried to blink through the pain, before she felt something grab the back of her neck and lift her up. For a second, she was weightless, flailing in the air like an insect, before she was thrown roughly onto the ground, face in the sand and dust. Lara coughed as she got to her feet, her hair falling over her eyes to give them a moment of respite. Her senses slowly grasped where she was; a dusty arena, where people were jeering at her.
"And here we have a fine specimen, a Federation Officer! Bajoran no less! She comes as part of a package of four other Federation members, and, to top it off, we'll throw in a shuttle for free!"
The crowd went wild.
"All this, and more, at the Grand Auction, in three days time!"
Lara felt herself grabbed again, and looked up to see a very large Orion holding onto her shoulders. With little effort, he lifted her up and threw her back into a cage.
"Careful!" a small Ferengi galloped over to the cage. "You'll damage the goods," The Orion simply grunted and walked out of Lara's sight. The Ferengi regarded her with a toothy grin. "And we don't want to sell damaged goods. Not when we can fetch such a good price for such a pretty face,"
Suddenly, a cover fell over the cage, darkening it somewhat, though strands of light fell through the various rips and tears in the material. Lara felt a jerk as the cage started to move, rattling along the dusty ground, away from the auction square. Lara slumped down the side, regarding the other occupants. There was the crewman, the Ensign, and the civilian couple; Leena and Kanaar. The LCDR was nowhere to be seen.
Lara knew why. He was dead.
The attack happened so quickly, Lara barely had time to register what was happening. It was not like she could have done anything anyway. The shuttle travelling at impulse had hoped to come across a trade route, where they would be able to signal a passing vessel. They came across a trade route alright. One that was usually patrolled by members of DS13. Members of DS13 who were not there. The shuttle could not outrun the raider that was chasing them. A shot blew through the shields and disabled the already damaged shuttle. The LCDR tried to fight the boarding party. He had been killed instantly, the Klingon captain wrapping his hand around the LCDR's windpipe and crushing him. Lara could still see his twitching, the desperation in his eyes as his life disappeared out of his mouth with his last breath. Neither Lara, nor the other Ensign could do anything before they were taken aboard the enemy ship and flown away.
The next few weeks, had been a blur. The brig filled and emptied with prisoners. Some, like her, were too paralyzed in fear and turmoil to speak. Others were louder and brash. They did not survive. Lara remembered how another Bajoran woman's tongue was cut out, in front of her eyes, because she did not stop wailing about her son. After that, a lot more people took Lara's stance; to say nothing. The Bajoran woman was carted out days later, never to be seen again. Finally, the ship's brig was emptied, and Lara along with it. They were taken to the transporter and beamed down to another cage. A cage that was to be Lara's home until she was unceremoniously thrown out of it moments before.
Lara looked down at her uniform. It was ripped and dirty, from weeks of use. Her hair had grown and taken on a darker tone. Her Starfleet badge had been taken off her, and someone had tried to take away her earring, but Lara had come to life at their attempt and had bitten the hand that tried to take it off. Nobody tried again. The wagon stopped. Lara heard movement outside.
"Miss Henareya, the prisoners are here," the ratty voice of the Ferengi squeaked.
"Show me," another Ferengi voice sounded, a female this time. Lara braced her eyes. It did little to stop the blinding when the cloth was moved. Out of the dirty strands of her hair, she could see a well dressed Ferengi lady, with a whip at her hip, standing next to... the Klingon Captain that had killed the LCDR. Seeing his grin seemed to waken something in Lara. A kind of hatred. Hatred, that Lara had only felt towards Sam before this moment. But this was greater. Magnitudes greater. It ignited her. The cover fell back over the cage.
"When will I be paid?" the ratty Ferengi asked timidly.
The Klingon bellowed in coarse laughter.
"The Triskaidecarch will pay you once these officers are sold, and we receive our payment. You will receive your cut," Henareya responded. The cart jolted again and Lara felt herself on the move.
She spoke for the first time in weeks. The words were nothing more than a faint whisper.
"We need to escape,"
6 Likes
"Please help," Lara croaked. "He's not breathing," she pleaded at the guards. She was crouched by the Crewman, her hands on his neck, checking for a pulse. The guards did not move. "Please! You... wouldn't want your master to lose some of his assets, would you?"
That seemed to stir her guards, and they looked at each other briefly, before turning and opening the cell door and entering. One stood blocking the door, his rifle in hand, the other nearing. "Move," he roughly pushed Lara sideways and she flew into the wall, the wind knocked out of her. She cursed in Bajoran, looking at the guard through sharp, painful breaths.
A yell from the door turned the guard's attention away, long enough for the Crewman's eyes to flick open and try to grab the gun from the guard. At the door, the other Ensign had lept at the guard and the two were struggling for dominance over the rifle. Lara looked at the guard who had entered and lunged at him, her shoulder crashing into his side and her arms wrapping around his legs, pinning them together. She twisted and the guard fell backwards. A perfect rugby tackle. Her thoughts flickered quickly back to Bajor, and to Sam teaching her and her siblings how to play rugby. She wondered if he would be proud of her. The Crewman snatched the gun up and shot the guard instantly. The guard stilled, dead. Lara looked up to see the Ensign win the wrestling match against the guard and smacking him across the face with the butt of the rifle.
"Kill him!" the Crewman yelled.
The Ensign turned to look back at the Crewman, furrowing. "No," he said, simply, smashing the rifle into the guard's face. The guard slumped. "We're not murderers,".
"He's an enemy!" the Crewman protested.
"And he's been taken care of," the Ensign snapped back. "Let's go, we've got a chance. Aruyo, get the civs,"
Lara nodded, hobbling over to where the couple were huddled. "Come on," she whispered. "We have a window,"
Leena looked up at Lara. "He's weak..." she said about her husband. "He'll slow you down. You three go,"
Lara shook her head. "No... we're all getting out," she reached down to grab Kanaar's arm, and lifted him up, balancing him on her shoulder. He was light, no doubt due to the lack of food they had, but Lara was also weakened and the pair of them swayed dangerously. Leena quickly grabbed the other and the two staggered out of the cage. The Ensign was darting between cages, opening them to free the other prisoners.
"What are you doing?" the Crewman was yelling. "We're wasting time! The other guards will be here soon. We need to escape now, before we're caught,"
"I am not leaving anyone behind," the Ensign replied shortly.
Lara was unable to add her thoughts to the conversation, struggling under the weight of the man. The Crewman didn't move to help. Instead, he ran to the door, looking out. Lara thought for a second that he would run off alone, but he didn't. He looked impatient. The others seemed to share his sentiment; as soon as they were released from their cages, they fled, the other Ensign struggling to calm the other prisoners down enough to lead them.
"You just don't have enough authority," one of the prisoners said as she ran out. The Ensign reluctantly agreed and dispersed the handful of people he had managed to convince to listen. Lara, the civilian couple, and the Crewman were the only ones left. The noise and yells outside told the DS13 group that the other prisoners did not have the same idea of stealth that they had.
"Our cover is blown, let's go now!" the Crewman snapped. The Ensign nodded, embarrassed at not being able to control the other prisoners and let the Crewman lead them out. He gingerly helped Lara and Leena with Kanaar, and the five of them made it out of their prison into the camp. There was chaos, with prisoners fighting guards, people lying dead on the floor, fires burning and sending thick black plumes of smoke into the night sky.
The Crewman, now at the front, lead them down the side, away from the fighting away from the camp. Just as they reached the outskirts, a gun discharging forced them onto the ground. A large Gorn stood between them and the exit.
The Ensign was first off the floor, racing towards the Gorn, firing his gun. The shots bounced off the Gorn's armour. The Crewman followed suit, opening fire on the Gorn.
"Go, whilst he's distracted," he yelled at Lara and the two civilians. Lara nodded, and the three of them hobbled around the firefight, ducking under the fire. They were successful and managed to make it out, only to find themselves looking down a rather steep canyon. Any jump across would have fallen short, with the end being a messy death at the bottom. The bones far below told Lara what she already suspected. The only way across was a primitive rope bridge.
"Go! Go! Go!," Lara turned to see the Crewman yell, pushing past everyone and bolting across the bridge, not looking back. Lara wondered where the Ensign was, but didn't waste any more time. Kanaar had regained some strength by now, and with his wife supporting him, they got to the other side without trouble. Before Lara could cross, she heard a yell.
Turning, she spotted the Ensign being strangled by the Gorn. Looking once across the brdge, she turned to run towards the Gorn at full speed, leaping and crashing into the big reptile. Lara bounced off him, like water against glass, and was sent sprawling to he floor, wheezing in the dust. To her credit, the Gorn was taken by surprise, and dropped the Ensign to steady himself as he swayed slightly. Now Lara was in his sights. He bore down on her like a freight train and Lara scrambled back in order to get away. Her hand struck something cool and looked down to see the gun the Gorn had held once. She grabbed it. It was a shotgun. As she pointed it at the Gorn, she wanted to squeeze the trigger, but thoughts and memories flooded back to her. She froze. Just as the Gorn looked ready to crush her, it stopped and yelled in pain. The Ensign had jumped onto its back and slapped the side of his head.
"Run Aruyo, run!" the Ensign yelled and Lara was awoken from her spell. Scrambling to her feet, she picked up the gun and jammed it into the Gorn's eye, who reared up in pain. The Ensign jumped off its back and rolled out of the way as the Gorn shook his head, angry. "Let's go!" Grabbing Lara's arm, he shoved her onto the swaying bridge. "I'll hold it, you go," the Ensign barked, holding the bridge steady. Lara blinked several times before doing as she was told. She had gotten three-quarters of the way across when the bridge started to sway again. Looking back, she saw the Ensign had let go and was contending with the Gorn again, as behind him, more guards were fast approaching. The Ensign had seen this, as he rolled to one side, letting the Gorn storm past.
"Run, Lara," he said simply, before driving into the Gorn and sending them both sprawling onto the bridge. The bridge couldn't take the weight of three of them and snapped. Lara felt a moment of weightlessness as the ground beneath her gave way, before finding herself moving downwards. Reaching out, she flung her gun away, and her fingers curled around a strand of rope, and she slammed against the side of the canyon, hanging from the remanents of the bridge. She couldn't see the Ensign or the Gorn anywhere. On the other side, the guards looked at the gap in the canyon and yelled. One of the guards stepped back and bolted at the gap, launching himself at the other side. He was close to making it, but fell short, slamming into the rock next to Lara. His arm flailed for some purchase on the rocks but found none, and he fell backwards, the triumph in his eyes disappearing and replaced with fear. Lara closed her own eyes and shivered. Looking up, she could see the Crewman. He was saying things, Lara guessed, from the way his mouth opened and shut, but Lara heard nothing. She slowly started to climb up, when the rocks around her exploded and showered her with chips and flakes. The guards on the other side were firing on her. Lara hastened the climb, watching as the Crewman fired his own gun to buy her some time. As soon as she got to the top, she was pushed down the hill and found herself behind a small embankment, shots flying overhead.
"Let's go!" the Crewman hissed pressing the gun that she had thrown into her hands and set off. Lara looked at the other two, who shrugged and followed. Lara had no choice but to do the same. Her mind had shut off completely by now and was running on standby. She didn't want to think about anything.
That seemed to stir her guards, and they looked at each other briefly, before turning and opening the cell door and entering. One stood blocking the door, his rifle in hand, the other nearing. "Move," he roughly pushed Lara sideways and she flew into the wall, the wind knocked out of her. She cursed in Bajoran, looking at the guard through sharp, painful breaths.
A yell from the door turned the guard's attention away, long enough for the Crewman's eyes to flick open and try to grab the gun from the guard. At the door, the other Ensign had lept at the guard and the two were struggling for dominance over the rifle. Lara looked at the guard who had entered and lunged at him, her shoulder crashing into his side and her arms wrapping around his legs, pinning them together. She twisted and the guard fell backwards. A perfect rugby tackle. Her thoughts flickered quickly back to Bajor, and to Sam teaching her and her siblings how to play rugby. She wondered if he would be proud of her. The Crewman snatched the gun up and shot the guard instantly. The guard stilled, dead. Lara looked up to see the Ensign win the wrestling match against the guard and smacking him across the face with the butt of the rifle.
"Kill him!" the Crewman yelled.
The Ensign turned to look back at the Crewman, furrowing. "No," he said, simply, smashing the rifle into the guard's face. The guard slumped. "We're not murderers,".
"He's an enemy!" the Crewman protested.
"And he's been taken care of," the Ensign snapped back. "Let's go, we've got a chance. Aruyo, get the civs,"
Lara nodded, hobbling over to where the couple were huddled. "Come on," she whispered. "We have a window,"
Leena looked up at Lara. "He's weak..." she said about her husband. "He'll slow you down. You three go,"
Lara shook her head. "No... we're all getting out," she reached down to grab Kanaar's arm, and lifted him up, balancing him on her shoulder. He was light, no doubt due to the lack of food they had, but Lara was also weakened and the pair of them swayed dangerously. Leena quickly grabbed the other and the two staggered out of the cage. The Ensign was darting between cages, opening them to free the other prisoners.
"What are you doing?" the Crewman was yelling. "We're wasting time! The other guards will be here soon. We need to escape now, before we're caught,"
"I am not leaving anyone behind," the Ensign replied shortly.
Lara was unable to add her thoughts to the conversation, struggling under the weight of the man. The Crewman didn't move to help. Instead, he ran to the door, looking out. Lara thought for a second that he would run off alone, but he didn't. He looked impatient. The others seemed to share his sentiment; as soon as they were released from their cages, they fled, the other Ensign struggling to calm the other prisoners down enough to lead them.
"You just don't have enough authority," one of the prisoners said as she ran out. The Ensign reluctantly agreed and dispersed the handful of people he had managed to convince to listen. Lara, the civilian couple, and the Crewman were the only ones left. The noise and yells outside told the DS13 group that the other prisoners did not have the same idea of stealth that they had.
"Our cover is blown, let's go now!" the Crewman snapped. The Ensign nodded, embarrassed at not being able to control the other prisoners and let the Crewman lead them out. He gingerly helped Lara and Leena with Kanaar, and the five of them made it out of their prison into the camp. There was chaos, with prisoners fighting guards, people lying dead on the floor, fires burning and sending thick black plumes of smoke into the night sky.
The Crewman, now at the front, lead them down the side, away from the fighting away from the camp. Just as they reached the outskirts, a gun discharging forced them onto the ground. A large Gorn stood between them and the exit.
The Ensign was first off the floor, racing towards the Gorn, firing his gun. The shots bounced off the Gorn's armour. The Crewman followed suit, opening fire on the Gorn.
"Go, whilst he's distracted," he yelled at Lara and the two civilians. Lara nodded, and the three of them hobbled around the firefight, ducking under the fire. They were successful and managed to make it out, only to find themselves looking down a rather steep canyon. Any jump across would have fallen short, with the end being a messy death at the bottom. The bones far below told Lara what she already suspected. The only way across was a primitive rope bridge.
"Go! Go! Go!," Lara turned to see the Crewman yell, pushing past everyone and bolting across the bridge, not looking back. Lara wondered where the Ensign was, but didn't waste any more time. Kanaar had regained some strength by now, and with his wife supporting him, they got to the other side without trouble. Before Lara could cross, she heard a yell.
Turning, she spotted the Ensign being strangled by the Gorn. Looking once across the brdge, she turned to run towards the Gorn at full speed, leaping and crashing into the big reptile. Lara bounced off him, like water against glass, and was sent sprawling to he floor, wheezing in the dust. To her credit, the Gorn was taken by surprise, and dropped the Ensign to steady himself as he swayed slightly. Now Lara was in his sights. He bore down on her like a freight train and Lara scrambled back in order to get away. Her hand struck something cool and looked down to see the gun the Gorn had held once. She grabbed it. It was a shotgun. As she pointed it at the Gorn, she wanted to squeeze the trigger, but thoughts and memories flooded back to her. She froze. Just as the Gorn looked ready to crush her, it stopped and yelled in pain. The Ensign had jumped onto its back and slapped the side of his head.
"Run Aruyo, run!" the Ensign yelled and Lara was awoken from her spell. Scrambling to her feet, she picked up the gun and jammed it into the Gorn's eye, who reared up in pain. The Ensign jumped off its back and rolled out of the way as the Gorn shook his head, angry. "Let's go!" Grabbing Lara's arm, he shoved her onto the swaying bridge. "I'll hold it, you go," the Ensign barked, holding the bridge steady. Lara blinked several times before doing as she was told. She had gotten three-quarters of the way across when the bridge started to sway again. Looking back, she saw the Ensign had let go and was contending with the Gorn again, as behind him, more guards were fast approaching. The Ensign had seen this, as he rolled to one side, letting the Gorn storm past.
"Run, Lara," he said simply, before driving into the Gorn and sending them both sprawling onto the bridge. The bridge couldn't take the weight of three of them and snapped. Lara felt a moment of weightlessness as the ground beneath her gave way, before finding herself moving downwards. Reaching out, she flung her gun away, and her fingers curled around a strand of rope, and she slammed against the side of the canyon, hanging from the remanents of the bridge. She couldn't see the Ensign or the Gorn anywhere. On the other side, the guards looked at the gap in the canyon and yelled. One of the guards stepped back and bolted at the gap, launching himself at the other side. He was close to making it, but fell short, slamming into the rock next to Lara. His arm flailed for some purchase on the rocks but found none, and he fell backwards, the triumph in his eyes disappearing and replaced with fear. Lara closed her own eyes and shivered. Looking up, she could see the Crewman. He was saying things, Lara guessed, from the way his mouth opened and shut, but Lara heard nothing. She slowly started to climb up, when the rocks around her exploded and showered her with chips and flakes. The guards on the other side were firing on her. Lara hastened the climb, watching as the Crewman fired his own gun to buy her some time. As soon as she got to the top, she was pushed down the hill and found herself behind a small embankment, shots flying overhead.
"Let's go!" the Crewman hissed pressing the gun that she had thrown into her hands and set off. Lara looked at the other two, who shrugged and followed. Lara had no choice but to do the same. Her mind had shut off completely by now and was running on standby. She didn't want to think about anything.
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Lara aimed her makeshift bow at the animal. It looked up for a brief second before Lara's fingers let go of the arrow.
The animal bolted and Lara lowered her bow. It was hopeless. She trudged over to where her arrow had impacted the tree to see where it had landed. The arrow had broken, it's fragile shaft cloven in two. She'd have to make another one. Sullenly, she walked back to the camp.
The light was fading fast and the already dark forest grew darker and darker by the minute. Lara wasn't too far in, but already the trees were growing tightly together, with hooked roots tangled in the underbrush, set for a weary traveller like Lara to just slip and break her ankle. Not this time. Lara finally made it out of the forest and scrambled down the shallow rocky face to the sandy wadi. A short walk away following the meandering stream upwards, the stream disappeared into a cave. A cave that Lara had begun to call home. She had to.
The smoke from the fire rose out of the cave, and Lara ducked to enter. The Crewman was there tending to a makeshift spit, that had some charred pieces of meat on it. He looked up when Lara entered, his hand move to his gun. He slackened when he made out Lara, though his face fell into a scowl when he saw that she carried nothing.
"Where's the food?" he growled.
"I'm sorry..." Lara whispered. "I couldn't catch any..."
"You idiot!" the man snapped. "What do you mean you couldn't catch any?"
"It was too fast,"
"Then be faster,"
"I can't..."
"Oh, but you can eat our food supplies fast enough, can't you?" the Crewman hissed.
"I'm... sorry," Lara sniffed.
"Just... go. You're another mouth to feed. You're not eating until you start replacing what you eat,"
"But..."
"No buts!" the Crewman stood. "Go. Maybe tomorrow, you'll catch something!"
"Please..." Lara begged. "I'm h..." A slap sent Lara flying backwards into the water. The Crewman stood over Lara. She scrambled back, her hands slipping on the wet pebbles.
"Go. Before I kill you and be done with it," the Crewman reached for his gun. Lara's eyes opened wide, and she pushed back off the ground, pressing herself against the cave wall, moving back, further in. She turned and ran.
The cave was branched out into a number of passages a few meters in. The survivors had all taken a passage each as a room, and Lara hastened to her room. It was small, barely big enough for Lara to stand straight. The walls were often slick with water, and Lara found breathing difficult. The ground was soft though, and she had dragged in a few leaves to make a bed. Hungry, wet, and cold, it was here she curled into a ball. Her face stung from the Crewman's slap. Her hands were cut from sharp rocks in the pool she had landed in. Her fingers and toes had chafed blisters, her right wrist raw and bloody from the bowstring.
She was clean though. There was a pool in one of the passages where Lara had a chance to bathe. The water was ice cold, but she was glad she could strip her clothes and wash her body and her hair. When she had bathed, she was able to wash her uniform, removing the blood and grime of weeks in captivity. It was a welcome change, but Lara had caught a cold soon after which lasted days after and had got the Crewman increasingly angry, so she resorted to just washing her hair and her clothes when she had to.
She shivered and hugged her knees. Tears ran down her face. Her stomach rumbled. Her mind wandered to places she felt happy. To her family. To her siblings. To Sam.
A pang of guilt punched her in the gut, harder than any punch the Crewman could throw at her. Sam. She hated herself for the words that she had said to him. The times she had pushed him away. All she wanted now was for him to hold her tightly, and protect her from everything. The hunger. The loneliness. The abusive Crewman.
Her mouth whispered the well-versed words of a prayer, in Bajoran. She prayed to the Prophets to guide her. To save her. To bring her back home. Though she knew that words could not save her, deep down in her heart, she knew that the Prophets were watching over her, and with that inkling of comfort, she fell asleep.
The animal bolted and Lara lowered her bow. It was hopeless. She trudged over to where her arrow had impacted the tree to see where it had landed. The arrow had broken, it's fragile shaft cloven in two. She'd have to make another one. Sullenly, she walked back to the camp.
The light was fading fast and the already dark forest grew darker and darker by the minute. Lara wasn't too far in, but already the trees were growing tightly together, with hooked roots tangled in the underbrush, set for a weary traveller like Lara to just slip and break her ankle. Not this time. Lara finally made it out of the forest and scrambled down the shallow rocky face to the sandy wadi. A short walk away following the meandering stream upwards, the stream disappeared into a cave. A cave that Lara had begun to call home. She had to.
The smoke from the fire rose out of the cave, and Lara ducked to enter. The Crewman was there tending to a makeshift spit, that had some charred pieces of meat on it. He looked up when Lara entered, his hand move to his gun. He slackened when he made out Lara, though his face fell into a scowl when he saw that she carried nothing.
"Where's the food?" he growled.
"I'm sorry..." Lara whispered. "I couldn't catch any..."
"You idiot!" the man snapped. "What do you mean you couldn't catch any?"
"It was too fast,"
"Then be faster,"
"I can't..."
"Oh, but you can eat our food supplies fast enough, can't you?" the Crewman hissed.
"I'm... sorry," Lara sniffed.
"Just... go. You're another mouth to feed. You're not eating until you start replacing what you eat,"
"But..."
"No buts!" the Crewman stood. "Go. Maybe tomorrow, you'll catch something!"
"Please..." Lara begged. "I'm h..." A slap sent Lara flying backwards into the water. The Crewman stood over Lara. She scrambled back, her hands slipping on the wet pebbles.
"Go. Before I kill you and be done with it," the Crewman reached for his gun. Lara's eyes opened wide, and she pushed back off the ground, pressing herself against the cave wall, moving back, further in. She turned and ran.
The cave was branched out into a number of passages a few meters in. The survivors had all taken a passage each as a room, and Lara hastened to her room. It was small, barely big enough for Lara to stand straight. The walls were often slick with water, and Lara found breathing difficult. The ground was soft though, and she had dragged in a few leaves to make a bed. Hungry, wet, and cold, it was here she curled into a ball. Her face stung from the Crewman's slap. Her hands were cut from sharp rocks in the pool she had landed in. Her fingers and toes had chafed blisters, her right wrist raw and bloody from the bowstring.
She was clean though. There was a pool in one of the passages where Lara had a chance to bathe. The water was ice cold, but she was glad she could strip her clothes and wash her body and her hair. When she had bathed, she was able to wash her uniform, removing the blood and grime of weeks in captivity. It was a welcome change, but Lara had caught a cold soon after which lasted days after and had got the Crewman increasingly angry, so she resorted to just washing her hair and her clothes when she had to.
She shivered and hugged her knees. Tears ran down her face. Her stomach rumbled. Her mind wandered to places she felt happy. To her family. To her siblings. To Sam.
A pang of guilt punched her in the gut, harder than any punch the Crewman could throw at her. Sam. She hated herself for the words that she had said to him. The times she had pushed him away. All she wanted now was for him to hold her tightly, and protect her from everything. The hunger. The loneliness. The abusive Crewman.
Her mouth whispered the well-versed words of a prayer, in Bajoran. She prayed to the Prophets to guide her. To save her. To bring her back home. Though she knew that words could not save her, deep down in her heart, she knew that the Prophets were watching over her, and with that inkling of comfort, she fell asleep.
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Lara stood at the edge of the grave, putting her arm around Leena's shoulders as the latter placed the last rock on the pile. Kanaar had died of his wounds earlier in the evening. The Crewman had advocated in eating him. Leena was adamant that they needed to bury her husband, and that she needed to do it straight away.
The Crewman wasn't that heartless. He had grumbled and not helped the pair move the body, but allowed them to at least bury the man. He even gave a small eulogy that was only a few words short of being respectable.
Now, however, he was being a pain. Nightfall was fast approaching and they were not in the safety of the cave.
"Hurry you fools," he said, looking around, "If you don't start moving now, I'm leaving you to the wolves,"
"We should go," Lara whispered to the weeping lady.
"I don't want to leave him..." Leena replied hoarsely. "My love... my darling love..." she collapsed onto the ground, stroking the rock pile tenderly. "How can I live without you,"
"We'll all go and join him if you don't get a move on," the Crewman yelled.
"We will have time to honour his memory later," Lara whispered, reaching down to help pick the lady back up. She let herself be lifted, and the trio made their way back to the cave. The sky was darkening as the sun fell from the sky and stars began to shine through the fabric of the night. The route back to the cave wasn't long, but it was treacherous as they scrambled over shingle and gravel.
"Halt," the Crewman stopped suddenly, and Lara ran into his back. She recoiled instantly, preparing for an angry swing, but the Crewman wasn't paying attention to her. He was looking at the cave. "They've found us..."
Lara took a peek around the Crewman. The entrance to the cave was swarming with pirates. As Lara craned her neck to see a bit better, her foot slipped. Rocks cascaded downhill in a small avalanche.
"They're over there!"
The Crewman turned. "Run," he yelled and pushed past Lara and Leena. Lara lost her footing completely and began to slip down the hill, rocks cutting her leg. Her fall was stopped suddenly. Lara looked up to see that Leena had grabbed her. The pair climbed up, and began to run. Behind them was a hungry targ, bearing down on them quickly.
"Up here!" the Crewman yelled, and Lara saw that he had climbed up a ledge. Lara couldn't reach the top.
"Climb on my back," Leena said to Lara. "Pull me up when you reach the top,"
Lara didn't argue and did as she was told, clambering onto the lady's back. She was stronger than she looked. Lara managed to grab the ledge and pulled herself up, before turning around to grab Leena's arm. She began to hoist the lady up, slowly, because the Crewman was no help. Suddenly, Leena screamed in pain. The targ hand grabbed onto the lady's leg and was trying to drag her down.
"Help me," Lara said to the Crewman. "Shoot the targ!" Tears had begun to flow down Lara's cheeks, as she saw Leena scream and squirm in pain, the targ clamped to her calf.
The Crewman appeared and aimed his gun and fired without hesitation.
Lara had expected Leena to get lighter as the targ was shot off. Instead, she seemed to get heavier. Leena's face changed from one of pain, to one of confusion. Her fingers fell slack and slipped out of Lara's hands.
"No!" Lara heard her voice ring out, as the targ lept at Leena's falling body. She was spared from any other scene, as the crewman grabbed her hair and threw her backwards.
"She was only gonna slow us down," he said by way of explanation for his dark deed. "She was injured and old. She's bought us time. Let's go," he said turning and dragging Lara forward.
"No..." Lara muttered, looking back at the ridge, shrugging the Crewman's hand off.
"Ensign, don't make me shoot you too," the Crewman aimed his gun at Lara.
"I... I..." Lara balled her fists. Rage was burning through her. She wanted to kill this man, this abusive, cruel man. But she couldn't. Instead, she ran, and the Crewman followed behind.
The Crewman wasn't that heartless. He had grumbled and not helped the pair move the body, but allowed them to at least bury the man. He even gave a small eulogy that was only a few words short of being respectable.
Now, however, he was being a pain. Nightfall was fast approaching and they were not in the safety of the cave.
"Hurry you fools," he said, looking around, "If you don't start moving now, I'm leaving you to the wolves,"
"We should go," Lara whispered to the weeping lady.
"I don't want to leave him..." Leena replied hoarsely. "My love... my darling love..." she collapsed onto the ground, stroking the rock pile tenderly. "How can I live without you,"
"We'll all go and join him if you don't get a move on," the Crewman yelled.
"We will have time to honour his memory later," Lara whispered, reaching down to help pick the lady back up. She let herself be lifted, and the trio made their way back to the cave. The sky was darkening as the sun fell from the sky and stars began to shine through the fabric of the night. The route back to the cave wasn't long, but it was treacherous as they scrambled over shingle and gravel.
"Halt," the Crewman stopped suddenly, and Lara ran into his back. She recoiled instantly, preparing for an angry swing, but the Crewman wasn't paying attention to her. He was looking at the cave. "They've found us..."
Lara took a peek around the Crewman. The entrance to the cave was swarming with pirates. As Lara craned her neck to see a bit better, her foot slipped. Rocks cascaded downhill in a small avalanche.
"They're over there!"
The Crewman turned. "Run," he yelled and pushed past Lara and Leena. Lara lost her footing completely and began to slip down the hill, rocks cutting her leg. Her fall was stopped suddenly. Lara looked up to see that Leena had grabbed her. The pair climbed up, and began to run. Behind them was a hungry targ, bearing down on them quickly.
"Up here!" the Crewman yelled, and Lara saw that he had climbed up a ledge. Lara couldn't reach the top.
"Climb on my back," Leena said to Lara. "Pull me up when you reach the top,"
Lara didn't argue and did as she was told, clambering onto the lady's back. She was stronger than she looked. Lara managed to grab the ledge and pulled herself up, before turning around to grab Leena's arm. She began to hoist the lady up, slowly, because the Crewman was no help. Suddenly, Leena screamed in pain. The targ hand grabbed onto the lady's leg and was trying to drag her down.
"Help me," Lara said to the Crewman. "Shoot the targ!" Tears had begun to flow down Lara's cheeks, as she saw Leena scream and squirm in pain, the targ clamped to her calf.
The Crewman appeared and aimed his gun and fired without hesitation.
Lara had expected Leena to get lighter as the targ was shot off. Instead, she seemed to get heavier. Leena's face changed from one of pain, to one of confusion. Her fingers fell slack and slipped out of Lara's hands.
"No!" Lara heard her voice ring out, as the targ lept at Leena's falling body. She was spared from any other scene, as the crewman grabbed her hair and threw her backwards.
"She was only gonna slow us down," he said by way of explanation for his dark deed. "She was injured and old. She's bought us time. Let's go," he said turning and dragging Lara forward.
"No..." Lara muttered, looking back at the ridge, shrugging the Crewman's hand off.
"Ensign, don't make me shoot you too," the Crewman aimed his gun at Lara.
"I... I..." Lara balled her fists. Rage was burning through her. She wanted to kill this man, this abusive, cruel man. But she couldn't. Instead, she ran, and the Crewman followed behind.
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"They're here," the Crewman said, poking Lara with his shoe. "Get up. We need to go,"
Lara wiped her eyes as she got up. Dawn was just breaking. Lara felt like she got no sleep. They had been running for most of the night, with their captors close behind. It was only after they had run into the desert, when the stones underneath turned into sand, did they seem to evade their pursuers. Even then, they had to try to find a shelter, which took even longer. Then with each of them keeping watch, the sleep they had was minimal at best. That rest was over now, as yelling could be heard nearby.
Lara stood up and followed the Crewman outside. "We can't keep running like this forever..." she muttered.
"We won't have to. Look," the Crewman pointed.
There, in the distance, was a building.
The pair moved towards it as stealthily as they could. It was no use; they were spotted the moment they left. Vaulting over rocks, sliding down sand dunes, the pair edged closer to the building.
When they reached the building they found that the door was sealed.
"Get it open," the Crewman hissed, before ducking as a shot whizzed overhead. A firefight ensued, as Lara tried to prise the door open.
"It won't budge," she muttered, before looking up. A shattered window. Leaping up, Lara scrabbled on the side of the building as she pulled her self up over the edge and falling in a huddle on the floor.
"Don't abandon me Ensign," came the yell of the Crewman. Abandon him was all Lara wanted to do. She stood and bundled down the stairs to the door. The room was bare, apart from a singular console. Believing this to be the door controls, Lara opened it and began to tap.
They weren't door controls. They were something else. Lara's mind instantly pressed the buttons. It was her only chance of getting rescued.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Lara caught a brief glance of something large grab a hold of her and throw her out into the sand...
Lara wiped her eyes as she got up. Dawn was just breaking. Lara felt like she got no sleep. They had been running for most of the night, with their captors close behind. It was only after they had run into the desert, when the stones underneath turned into sand, did they seem to evade their pursuers. Even then, they had to try to find a shelter, which took even longer. Then with each of them keeping watch, the sleep they had was minimal at best. That rest was over now, as yelling could be heard nearby.
Lara stood up and followed the Crewman outside. "We can't keep running like this forever..." she muttered.
"We won't have to. Look," the Crewman pointed.
There, in the distance, was a building.
The pair moved towards it as stealthily as they could. It was no use; they were spotted the moment they left. Vaulting over rocks, sliding down sand dunes, the pair edged closer to the building.
When they reached the building they found that the door was sealed.
"Get it open," the Crewman hissed, before ducking as a shot whizzed overhead. A firefight ensued, as Lara tried to prise the door open.
"It won't budge," she muttered, before looking up. A shattered window. Leaping up, Lara scrabbled on the side of the building as she pulled her self up over the edge and falling in a huddle on the floor.
"Don't abandon me Ensign," came the yell of the Crewman. Abandon him was all Lara wanted to do. She stood and bundled down the stairs to the door. The room was bare, apart from a singular console. Believing this to be the door controls, Lara opened it and began to tap.
They weren't door controls. They were something else. Lara's mind instantly pressed the buttons. It was her only chance of getting rescued.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Lara caught a brief glance of something large grab a hold of her and throw her out into the sand...
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