A Difference of Perspective (Part 2)

Posted on Sat Mar 25th, 2023 @ 10:47am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Rin

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Frozen Tundra of Ice Planet Zebra
Timeline: MD 12
2769 words - 5.5 OF Standard Post Measure

From Part One


"OK, I thought we were talking," Rin said honestly as she pulled the vehicle up to the woods and put it in park. She climbed out, fetching a rifle from behind the seats and pocketing some flares and rations, just in case.

"And of course things are wrong." She gestured with open arms at the frozen wasteland they were standing in. "But that's not the bit I'm dwelling on. As previously stated, my family is, probably at this very moment, not merely dealing with terrible news but dealing with this for the *second* time in their lives. And I know what it's going to do to them because I have seen what it did the first time around. It's going to crush my ex *again*. I do not understand why you're counting that as saying nothing was wrong. I thought I was being rather forthwith. So what would you like to talk about?"

Gary climbed out, grabbed his rifle and the other phaser rifle. As well as the thermos and cups. He looked around the area they had parked. A vast forest was in front of them. "Should be some game in there." He said avoiding her question for the moment and then realizing that was the wrong approach, he turned back to her. "I'd like to start this entire conversation over. I fill it went sideways somewhere along the way."

"Fair enough. I have no objection," Rin replied.

Now the exciting sequel Part two!

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the released air coming out like a fog fromhis lungs. "I'm sorry Rin. I did not mean to sound cold or uncaring. I know what this is doing to you, thinking about your ex as well as your parents. I worry about my parents and what this is doing to them." He paused and looked at her, "What can I do to help you?"

Rin took a couple slow breaths to consider the question before calmly explaining: "I don't know. That's not me pushing away support. That's just me not knowing."

Another pause. "When you're upset, do you always know what will make it better? Because I don't."

Gary didn't rush an answer as he stood looking at Rin. "I'd like to say yes but that would be a lie Rin. I do try to put myself in the position of the person I'm trying to help and think what I would like to hear in that situation. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Though to be honest I have more success than not."

Rin shrugged. "My go-tos are talk to Ebi, talk to James, or play the violin. The first two obviously aren't available, and don't you dare replicate a violin. I'm enough of a power drain as it is. Also, I study astrophysics, but that wasn't working today either. None of those are a sure answer. My feelings don't come with a manual. The rest of me kind of does, but not my feelings."

"Feelings are difficult." Gary admitted, "It takes time to understand them and more importantly how to deal with them. "I'd like to give you another option Rin, you can talk to me. I'm a good listener and right now what I think you need is to have someone listen to you, so you don't feel alone and cutoff. I can assure you that anything to say, goes no farther than me."

"That's....not gone so well today," Rin said softly. "And while you *are* someone I speak with, you're not Ebi or James. I've known them for decades, and they've known me."

Gary was unfazed by Rin's honesty. "No, it hasn't." He admitted, "And no I am not Ebo or James but every friendship, every relationship has to start somewhere, and the first steps have to be taken for it to mature and develop."

"If you don't think our friendship has taken its first steps, then I'm not sure what else there is to say."

Gary sighed, "It has Rin and I consider you a friend. My point is, to develop a deeper friendship takes time and understanding. That comes from talking and listening."

"Yes, I get that."

Gary wasn't sure if Rin did or not. What he did know was he was going to give her the benefit of the doubt and not risk upsetting her. "Good." He answered, "Let's see what we can find in these woods to bring back to the camp."

Rin also had doubts that they were on the same wavelength, but she didn't think it likely for there to be more clarity. So she nodded in agreement and set off across the snow behind Gary.

Gary moved stealthily into the woods, his eyes looking all around his surroundings. He and Rin were the intruders here, this was undiscovered country they were entering, and they needed to be very aware.

Rin appreciated the silence. Snow barely crunched underfoot as she moved forward. The wind rattled tree branches, but the vicinity was otherwise silent. There were a few small tracks in the fresh snow from things perhaps the size of rabbits, but they were going to need a lot more than a few rabbits to meaningfully contribute to the camp's stores. She heard nothing overhead that suggested flying creatures.

There was, however, something coming from much deeper into the woods. It was impossible to categorize it at this distance, but it did suggest something was out there. Whether it was predator or prey she couldn't guess.

Of course, if they brought it down, then clearly it was prey, no matter how high it might think of itself on the food chain.

Gary moved slowly, carefully on. His senses were on heightened alert and then he stopped and held a hand up to Rin to stop as well. he pointed at a series of tracks.... large tracks in the snow. "Look. Something big. Like a big cat or perhaps the bear. It's similar to n Earth bear just bigger. Check your rifle."

Rin just nodded. She knew her way around a rifle. She wasn't sure if she was being overly sensitive now, or if Gary really was treating her with kid gloves.

Maybe a bit of both.

She knew he had the best of intentions, but that didn't mean it was helpful.

She put some space between her and Gary as they continued forward. Things had gone quiet again. Either whatever had been making the commotion had moved on, or it was being clever.

She eyed the branches stretching above them. They'd be a good place for a predator to lie in wait.

She might have missed it if it weren't for the gleam in it's eyes, so well did it's fur blend in with the tree bark. Not anywhere close to the size of a bear, - more like a medium dog - but with obviously wicked claws as it threw itself downward.

Rin fired.

The thing hit the snow, lifeless.

She checked the branches again for any more of the things. Would hate it if they hunted in packs. For the moment, Gary and Rin seemed alone again.

Gary looked at the creature and then back to Rin. "Good shot Rin." He told her as he turned back to the dead creature. "What do you think? It's a start to feeding the crew but we'll need more."

Rin nodded. "Dress it, hang it from a tree, hope scavengers don't find it. Not worth hauling it back to the snowcat by itself."

Gary nodded, "True enough Rin. I'd like us to come across an elk or caribou or whatever passes as such on this planet. That would go a long way to help in feeding the camp."

"Or a mammoth," Rin offered straight-faced. "Although I don't suppose they lived in forests. Definitely didn't climb trees."

She gave their surroundings another glance. "Once we learn more about the wildlife, we might even be able to bait it. Only way we'd have enough to steadily supply the camp."

She looked at the carcass again. "While I do know how to shoot, I do not know how to properly field dress. Care to show me?"

"That's a good idea." Gary agreed. "As for field dressing, sure I'd be glad to show you." He answered, kneeling beside the dead animal and rolling it onto its back. "First thing you need is a sharp knife." He said banishing a wicked looking knife with serrated teeth. "Next you split the animal, like so." he said as he made a horizonal cut along the animal's stomach. "This frees up all connective tissue. Next. roll them to their side so we can get their entrails out. You may want to hold your nose Rin. After that, you make a cut into the wall of muscle separating the chest cavity and stomach. Be careful not to cut the bladder or paunch as spilling their contents could taint the meat. We can save the heart and liver. We can save the bladder and the free pee ans use it as an attractant."

As Gary finished, Rin cut a length of cable she was carrying and slung it over a branch in order to hang the carcass. "Ready to keep moving?"

"Gary nodded in approval. "I sure am Rin. Let's see what else we can turn up and bring back to the camp."

"Did you grow up doing a lot of hunting?" Rin asked, making casual conversation as they continued deeper into the woods.

"Yes, I did Rin, I was born in Cheyenne Wyoming. Lots of wide-open space but plenty of mountains to hunt big game. Like Bighorn sheep, some rams can weigh over three hundred pounds. Then there are bears to hunt along with wolves though those are hunted to keep them killing your cattle." Gary answered.

"I was born on the USS Curie. I don't remember it. I was very young at the time," Rin deadpanned.

"Oh and your ancient now." Gary teased. "Never too old to learn Rin and as you said you know how to shoot so that is a big plus." He smiled at her. "I would love for us to bring a mammoth back to camp but as you pointed out, the woods are not their natural habitat. We'll need to get out on the open tundra for that."

"Assuming such a thing even exists on this world. Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Rin cautioned as they continued. Then she smirked. "While I was not implying I was ancient, I do have a couple decades on you, young man."

"Not getting ahead Rin, more like just wishful thinking." Gary replied. As they continued to move deeper into the woods. He stopped and turned back to look at her as she made her comment. After a moment he chucked and then laughed, it was rich and vibrant and full of good humor. "Well, if you won't tell, I won't tell." he commented as his laughter subsided.

Rin shrugged as they continued on. "Doesn't bother me."

Gary nodded bit kept silent. He stopped after going several more feet. "More tracks Rin. Bigger." he advised his companion. "They are deep as well. Means whatever we're tracking is a heavy animal. Stay sharp."

Rin managed to neither grimace nor roll her eyes as she kept moving. Yes, sir, I understand how mass works, she thought. Regardless of any sensitivity she might be having at the moment, Gary was most definitely instructing her like a child. But she really wasn't looking forward to another argument, and especially not when they might be closing in on something dangerous. Snow was continuing to fall, after all, meaning the tracks were fresh.

She assumed she didn't need to explain that to Gary.

Gary realized Rin was probably upset with his instructions, but he didn't know what she knew or didn't know about hunting and rather than assume she knew something and didn't and it ended up getting one or both of them injured or killed. He was taking no chances. She could deal with it and tell him off later. They continued their tracking.

This time it was Rin who gestured for them to stop. They paused for several seconds to look and listen. There was still nothing to see, but she could hear a nearby rustling that seemed to be more than just the wind. She indicated silently to Gary and turned in that direction.

Gary stooped at Rin's signal and listened for any sound save for a slight rustling of the underbrush ahead of them. Gary couldn't the size of whatever it was making the noise and was about to walk up on it. He knelt, to see if perhaps he could get some idea of the size. As he did he released the safety on his rifle and brought it to his cheek.

Then he saw it, a break in the underbrush allowed him to see what he and Rin had been tracking. It was big, heavily muscled but low to the ground about four feet- to four and half feet above the turf its dark color blending in with the surroundings. As it moved out into the open, Gary could see it better it looked like a Musk Ox of Earth. It had thick shaggy fur and dangerous looking horns on its head. "That would be nice to bring back to camp." He whispered to Rin.

Rin nodded. She was trying to figure out how they were going to get something that big back to the snowcat, but worst case scenario they cut it up and bring it back in pieces, messy as it might be.

The creature looked up just then and darted off with a great deal more speed and grace than Rin expected it could have mustered. Her gaze snapped back to their surrounding.

"Something spooked it, and I don't think it was us."

Gary nodded, his attention immediately going to their surroundings. Rin was right, something had spooked the ox but what? His eyes went to the thick underbrush, and he saw a hint of movement then what he only had a glimpse of came into a view. It was a tiger or at least reminded him of a tiger. It was broad shoulders, a thick head. Its lips curled up and over six-inch teeth. Its coat was a mottled dark brown, helping it blend into its surroundings. However, its most striking feature was it yellow eyes. They were full of murderous hatred.

Rin took a moment to aim. If she missed, there was no telling what it would do. Maybe it would run away. Maybe...it wouldn't.

The thing jumped just as she pulled the trigger, catching its back leg. It hit the ground, largely oblivious to the wound, and pounced at Rin and Gary.

Gary's rifle was already up and he fired two quick shots in succession. One into the creature's chest and the other into its head. It dropped to the forest floor and lay dead a sneer on its lips. Gary turned to Rin. "Are you alright?" His concern obvious.

Rin hadn't moved, hadn't so much as flinched, as far as Gary could tell. Her feet were still solidly planted where they had been a moment earlier. Seeing the animal dead, she lowered her rifle. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks."

Gary nodded, "Good. cause I hate to have to drag or carry you back to the snowcat." He said teasing. He looked at the animal dead before them. "How much do you think it weighs Rin?"

"I'd say 300 lbs once it's dressed. Less if we leave behind the head and tail. We could rig a sled and drag it back."

"Let's get a sled rigged and we'll take this and the other animal we left hanging in the trees back to camp. "Not a bad haul for a day's work." Gary answered.

Rin nodded. "I'll send some of my people out in hunting parties. They're chomping at the bit to put their skills better to work."

"That is a good idea Rin, thank you." Gary paused in his rigging of the sled then looked to her." Thank you for coming out with me. It was an honor to have you with me."

"Thank you as well. It was good to get away from camp for a bit."

Gary nodded he had finished a sled. " We need to do it again." He said then pressed on. " Let's get him dressed and cleaned, pick up the other one and get back to camp."