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ST:TTV119 | "Once Bitten"

Writer's picture: LegacyLegacy

Updated: Mar 18, 2023

Stardate Unknown

Ghadruil flattened his body to the ground, presenting a smaller target to the predator which he could tell was near him. A hideous thing, and one that would surely try and kill the humanoid standing in front of him. Idiot. Get. Out. Of. The. Way. Hew would've spoken if not for him trying to focus on the creature trying to kill them.



As 'Steve' pounced on what appeared to be an easy target, Ghadruil raised his spikes, skewering the would-be attacker while releasing toxins through its system.

 

Ghadruil flattened his body to the ground, presenting a smaller target to the predator which he could tell was near him. A hideous thing, and one that would surely try and kill the humanoid standing in front of him. Idiot. Get. Out. Of. The. Way. Hew would've spoken if not for him trying to focus on the creature trying to kill them. As 'Steve' pounced on what appeared to be an easy target, Ghadruil raised his spikes, skewering the would-be attacker while releasing toxins through its system. Pulling the creature off his back before it could do any damage to the spines, Ghadruil coiled his tail around the beast's neck and body in a restrictive grip, while then repeatedly bashing its head in with his three-pronged beak. It was a gruesome and savage sight to the Trill with skull and brain matter now scattered over the forest floor, but to Ghadruil this was something any Korlackress would do - even to another Korlackress. After reaching in and pulling out a piece of meat to eat from the now fallen predator, Ghadruil slithered to Antia, swallowing the piece of meat.


"Apologies," came the roughly translated clicks "That was quite the struggle, and I have not eaten in quite some time. You may have whatever rest of the animal you want." He then dipped his head slightly to Antia, though his spines hadn't lowered in respect. "I am Ghadruil, it is good to see another person stranded on this planet."


While at first mostly frozen in place expecting the spine snake to be another predator, the following scene had her just watching in a mix of shock and awe. After it was all over and the snake creature pulled up to Antia and spoke, it must have had a translator circuit, Antia could tell this was no simple jungle creature.


Slowly as the look of surprise faded she finally said, "Dude... that was frakking awesome! I mean I could have killed it if it just slowed the hell down.. Fvadt though that was like.. cathartic really..." she said almost laughing at the situation. After she was finally collected again she actually responded to him properly.


"Hello Ghad, I'm Antia. You were in one of the pods I guess. Starfleet continues the tradition of unique recruitment I see. I dig it." she looked at Steve's remains a bit, "How's it taste?" then holds up a hand, "Ya know what, nevermind, you probably got the best parts already."


She hops off the log she only just realized she was standing on and moves around a bit. She apparently has lost any form of fear regarding Ghadruil, in fact with Steve taken care of she was quite calm now. The darkness of night was still a bit unnerving but her light orbs were still following her so it wasn't hard to see.


"Did you hear that noise? It came from the direction of that explosion. I think it is one of your compatriot's pods. I've mapped where a few of ya'll landed but I know Starfleet types.. they'll all converge to save the splodey person. Want to head there together? This place is rough, but you are clearly pretty good at rough, me too on a good day. Figure we could watch each other's backs... for lack of a better term in your case. I don't think there are anymore Steve's around that I've noticed but everything else likes to gang bang prey." she says, her use of crude language being a tell that she is not quite your typical Federation citizen (which she isn't at all of course).


Antia unfolds some microbinoculars and switches the night vision mode on to look toward the mountain line, "You sleep? I could rest now but if you want to get moving I can go for a bit... not sure if you are like in.. food coma mode now or whatever..." turns around and looks at the snake, suddenly curious, "Hey... are you fast? Can I ride you? That's not rude right?" she says completely serious apparently.

 

Mischa and Garvey had made relatively good progress through the jungle given his injuries, but night drew in and the dipping temperature was a warning to them both that shelter would soon be required.


Stumbling across a small clearing, Garvey forced a smile as he admired the beautiful dusk view, "You know Commander, under better circumstances I'd say this would make a lovely spot for a colony..." they paused at the sound of activity ahead; drawing closer the presence of fly-like insects buzzing around quickly gave well to the stench that told them all they needed to know. Sure enough, they had come upon the decaying corpse of a native herbivore - a pack of small lizard-like scavengers scurrying away at their approach, and leaving behind the less than appetizing sight of the creatures remains; with it's belly all but removed save for a few ribs left hanging where it had fallen on it's side.


Mischa moved past quickly, with a hand placed over her mouth and nose to suppress the gag reflex. Though as she continued forwards a few steps, her attention was drawn back by the sound rustling. She turned with wide-eyes to see that Garvey had stopped to feast on the rotting carcass; tearing raw flesh from it's bones and stuffing it into his mouth like it was his first meal in weeks, "Lieutenant!" she exasperated, but to no response. Still shocked by his unbecoming action - not least since they still carried food provisions - she returned to pull him up from his carnivorous feasting, grabbing Garvey by the shoulder and yanking him backwards.


Though Mischa did not pull his shoulder with particular strength, he still tumbled backwards to land laying on the ground, staring up at the sky - the creatures semi-dry blood still stained around his mouth as he winced and cringed - seemingly conscious of his actions and sharing Mischa's disdain for them. As she reached a hand down to help him back to his feet, he groaned painfully and clutched at his abdomen, causing Mischa to recoil and step backwards nervously.


As she watched, Mischa could see greenish-yellow spores leaving his mouth with each cough - spreading through the nearby air before settling to the ground around him - while his back arched with agony and his arms flailed, gripping desperately at the ground wherever they could. Mischa knew the desperation of the situation and reached for her phaser, rueing the decision before she even acted on it. However before she could bring the weapon to bare, Garvey's abdomen burst open as a dozen - maybe more - of the tentacles first seen around his escape pod, folded outwards from his midriff and burrowed into the surrounding ground.


Mischa leaped backwards, though she was already at a sufficiently safe distance, instinct overruled in that moment as she watched in horror; seeing Garvey's body slowly become enveloped by the tentacled creature which now embedded itself into the jungle floor - along with the remains of Garvey. Holstering her weapon once more, she resolved herself to press on and find shelter before she too succumbed to the vicious jungle.

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