[FIC] Star Trek: What We Need to See [2/8] (Kirk/Bones, R)
Title: What We Need to See [2/8]
Authors: salvaged_pride and sullacat
Artist: gadgetorious
Fanmixer: dizilla
Beta: shinychimera
Series: Star Trek XI
Characters/Pairings: Kirk/McCoy
Rating: R
Chapter Word Count: 5200 out of 42601
Summary: Jim is everything he needs to be when he's sent on a diplomatic mission to meet a potential new addition to the Federation - charming, calm, convincing - especially with his CMO at his side to back him up. But when Jim, Bones, and their security team wake up in the depths of an alien jungle and are given a mission to succeed or die, they'll need not only to survive, but come to terms with their true feelings for each other. Will it destroy their friendship or save them both?
Is it enough to teach Jim and Bones what they have been blind to - that sometimes there's more than just meets the eye, and the loss of one's world can lead to another?
<< Chapter 1 | Main Chapter Listing | Chapter 3 >>
The Art | The Mix
By the time night fell, everyone was exhausted. Jim could see it in not only the humans in the group but in Ruud as well. The humans bore cuts on their hands, arms, and legs that no uniform could have stopped, bruises from dealing with branches and climbing and hanging from cliffs, an array of bug bites, and sunburns across any exposed parts of their bodies. Jim could feel the burn throbbing across the bridge of his nose and cheeks, keeping him feeling hotter than he should have as the sun disappeared over the horizon.
Jim was relieved when Ruud stopped and pointed downwards on a steep hill, declaring it the valley they had been searching for. They saw how it would be considered a good stop for the night - an area as protected as they'd seen the whole day, with some ledges sticking out of the side of the hill that could provide cover for the night. There was a hint of gleam that suggested a source of water, that was good, and what Jim hoped were more of those berries or something more substantial. Maybe they could have some food ready for the next day's trip.
But they needed more tonight. "These berries aren't going to be enough to keep us going," Jim said quietly to Yamaguchi and Bones, sitting attempting to make fire on the few pieces of dried wood he could find. Ruud was staring at him from across their small camp as if he had lost his mind. "We need some better source of food if we're going to survive in this heat." For all the vegetation, there were startlingly few animals in the lush jungle, though now that it was getting dark they could hear strange noises in the distance.
Bones shook his head, then got up, and headed toward Ruud, sitting down beside him. Even without the translator between them, it wasn't hard to figure out that Bones wanted to check on Ruud's injured tail and that the Tuataran didn't like that idea at all. "Look," he heard Bones speaking loud and slow, as if it would make Ruud magically understand him. "I just want to check it. For infection." Ruud was keeping his tail close to his body, and it wasn't until they stared at each other for a long time that he uncurled his tail and allowed Bones to look at it.
Jim let out the breath he was unconsciously holding. Bones hadn't quite shed that little streak of xenophobia in him, but above all else, the man was a doctor. Jim couldn't have been more grateful for that.
"Ruud," Jim asked, as his hands rubbed the stick between them more and more rapidly, trying desperately to get an ember going, "do you have any other ideas than berries for food? We won't be able to handle another day of hiking and that heat on berries."
He was surprised enough to slow down his fire-making attempt at what he swore was a look and hiss of confusion from the Tuataran. "There is food all around us. Are you incapable of catching it?"
Catching it? Did Ruud expect them to trap one of the animals out in the jungle? Jim was hesitant in answering. "We don't have the resources to trap or hunt down something like that-"
"You have two hands. What more is needed?" Ruud asked. He looked to Bones and jerked his tail slightly, clearly wanting to be free of the doctor's hands. Bones let go, shaking his head at the lizard creature and headed over toward the water, kneeling to wash his hands. Jim wondered how much the snake's tail hurt, and after what Uhura had said about their body language, if it would impair his ability to talk to other Tuatarans. Suddenly, Jim saw exactly what he was looking for and tilted the tiny ember into the pile of tinder he had pulled together. One gentle blow later, and he almost cheered as the ember took and a fire began. He coaxed it to a larger one, relaxing slightly.
It was then that Bones returned back to the group. "What sort of animals are we looking for?" He looked down at the fire, and Jim was sure he saw some approval in Bones' face as they began to add larger branches and dead leaves to the fire, wanting to work it up.
Ruud slithered over and put something on the ground by Jim's tiny fire. It was a very, very large beetle-like creature on its back, trying to flip over. "See? Plenty of food."
From the corner of his eye, Jim could see Bones' face go pale, and despite the difficult situation, it made him want to laugh. "Well, there we go," Jim nodded with understanding, trying hard to ignore Bones' eyes. Not his favorite form of protein, but it was better that starving.
Survival class 101 said to eat anything that wouldn't kill you to stay alive, and insects were high on the list of things that could keep a man alive for a long time and were readily available almost anywhere in the universe. "Okay men, let's set up a foraging team. Yamaguchi, you go look for some fruit or something. I'm gonna follow Ruud and collect as many of these little treats as I can. Bones," he added, a tired smile on his face at this bit of levity, "you finish making camp."
There were nods all around, a few grumbles from the doctor's direction, and they made their way out into the surrounding jungle slowly. Surely there were things they could eat out here, hopefully something that wasn't poisonous. At least they had someone native to the area who could tell them if their meal would leave them sick or dead by morning.
Unfortunately, aside from the plentiful bugs, what they found was meager. Ruud looked it over what Adam had scrounged up, removed two of a purple-red fruit he'd found, and nodded at the rest. Jim marked in his mind that the purple-red fruit was off the menu and divided up what remained, along with a handful of fat beetles, roasting on sticks in the fire.
Watching the lizard pop them into his mouth whole, Jim twitched a little. When his own stick was ready, he flipped them over, removed the legs and head, then tried it for himself. Not the worst thing he'd ever had, and judging from the look on Yamaguchi's face, he agreed.
Bones appeared to be the lone hold out. "I'm fine," he replied to any offers of a roast beetle, with a look of pained politeness on his face. Jim could read him like a book, knew the stubborn doctor was hungry, but... instead Jim just gave him the last bit of his fruit. Roast beetle wasn't the most satisfying meal he'd ever enjoyed, but at least his body felt better afterward.
When the bugs and fruit had all been eaten, they sat down near the warm fire, the heat of the day replaced by what was turning out to be a surprisingly cool night. "What can you tell us about the rest of the journey?" Jim asked, recalling that Ruud had known about this protected valley. "What's tomorrow gonna look like?"
The clicks and hisses translated slowly through Jim's device. "There is more like this. Large river, was told, then many dangers."
"What does that mean, many dangers?" Bones asked, looking at Ruud, whose tail curled slightly when the doctor spoke.
"Was told, when preparing for journey, many dangers are on the second day." The Tuataran seemed to be relaxing a little as he explained, more comfortable with his human companions. "Must rest, must sleep under protection of Cyli, or I will not make the mountain by the third rise of the sun. Walk with Vioniss, sleep with Cyli. That is what I was told," he repeated, seeming insistent on that, seeming much younger now than he had earlier.
It made Jim wonder how old Ruud was, in comparison to the others they'd met so far. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, then looked around at what remained of this away team. "Why are we here, with you?"
"Any who survive this path will become one of Cyli's Chosen. They work in the great Temple where She shines brightest of all. They are the ones who serve Her in Her palace when life has ended." Ruud bowed his head as if in respect, then looked up at Jim and the others. "I do not know why you are here."
"It's their religion," Bones shook his head and folded his hands in front of him. "A test to make them priests of this goddess of theirs." Made sense, when Bones said it. A test of strength and cunning to become a priest for their goddess of the moon. They would have to have to fight against Vioniss by walking during the day and sleeping at night. A rite steeped in legend and danger, and Jim wondered how much blood.
Jim frowned, thinking through on that line of reasoning. "Maybe we're here because we need to prove ourselves too."
"So what, does that mean Darius wasn't worth being chosen?" Yamaguchi asked, a bitter tone to his voice. "This is all bullshit, Captain, and I just want to get out of here." With that, the security officer turned and began setting up a place for himself to sleep.
Jim looked over his shoulder at Yamaguchi, wanting to say something comforting, but knew it would only be insulting in the state Yamaguchi was in. Vickers should be with them, should be back on the Enterprise by now instead of laying dead and cold in alien soil. But there was nothing he could do to change it, and only time would ease Yamaguchi's anger. For now, Jim had to get all the information he could and he wasn't done with Ruud yet. "Okay, so is there another place like this tomorrow night? Is that where we're heading for?"
Ruud's muscular back rippled. "Was told there was another safe place to rest, away from the Hysilssa. Moves in the dark, must be silent in the dark."
"Is that why we're traveling in the heat of the day?" Bones asked, proving he was actually listening, not just sitting there looking at the trees. "Would make more sense to walk now, when its cool."
"Agreed, but if there's a reason... what's this-" Jim fumbled on the hissing, untranslated word, "Hysila?"
"The Hysilssa is ancestor. Cyli put all effort into making the Hysilssa, told it to have many eggs and spread itself across the world. Hysilssa became Tuataran. Is Mother and Father, but eats young. Is very dangerous, very fast. It protects Her temple, protects the jungle." Ruud's voice had gone respectful again while Jim's insides had gone cold.
So there was some giant monster between them and their goal. If the legend, and it definitely came across as a legend, was true, a snake or reptile-like monster. Great. He looked across the fire to Bones, then nodded. "As bad as it is, if this Hysilssa is asleep during the day, we need to travel then." Jim leaned forward, another thought entering his head. "If we're not supposed to move at night, how do we make it to that place, where ever it is, by sunrise?"
Ruud looked at him a moment before answering. "Was told," he said again slowly, as if the constant questioning was getting to him, "was told that Cyli's Eye was above the place of rest. Must move fast," he said to Jim, "in that time when Cyli and Vioness see each other. Must move fast to reach the Eye."
Jim looked to his team, to the injured Ruud, and sighed. "We'll need to take turns staying awake and watching out for danger. I want the three of you to get some sleep, I'll take first watch." He settled his back in against the rock enclave, so he could rest while still watching in the pool of firelight that made the trees sway menacingly just beyond its reach. Ruud moved away, curling up into a ball on the far end of the camp, and Yamaguchi was soon asleep, head tucked into his arms.
But Bones headed over to where Jim was sitting and got comfortable next to him. He poked at the ground with a stick, then turned to face Jim. "Hell of a story that kid's got, eh?" he asked, his expression hard to read so far away from the firelight.
Jim glanced up, surprised, and nodded. "Yeah, it is. Sounds like it could have a kernel of truth in it. If they evolved or descended from some creature... well, there's still monkeys on Earth after all."
That brought a chuckle out of Bones. "Guess you can look at it like that." Another minute passed before he continued. "I can't remember the last time I felt so fucking useless, Jim. Seeing Vickers like that." He shook his head, and tossed the stick in his hands onto the ground, a frustrated noise coming from him.
"Yeah. There wasn't even time to react other than dropping like a rock." Jim's eyes closed, and he let out a breath. "So much blood..." The look on Vickers' face would haunt his nightmares, he was sure of it. "Nothing we could have done, least not being stuck here in this shit." He slumped, then pushed down with his shoulders to work the ache out of them.
Bones nudged at him, resting a hand on Jim's shoulder, squeezing lightly. "You okay?" he asked, catching Jim's eyes.
"'bout as good as I can be," Jim said, hoping that the undercurrent of worry didn't come through. He was worried Yamaguchi would blame him for what happened even though it was something that could have happened to any of them. Worried that Vickers wouldn't be the only one of them that didn't make it. Worried none of them would make it. No different than the worries the others had, Jim knew, but he was responsible for them as their captain. It would be forever a part of him, just as Vickers' death already was. But there was something worse, almost like a poison, that made him whisper, "Just glad it wasn't you."
The hand on Jim's shoulder stilled, then squeezed again, Bones' thumb pressing small circles into the nape of Jim's neck. Jim could hear Bones' breathing slow down, the heat of his hand through his undershirt. Jim's hand snuck up and finally laid itself over top of Bones', Jim still staring into the firelight. For years now they had been friends, as close as friends could be without crossing the invisible barrier Bones had set up between them. A barrier with holes and flexed in certain places but one Bones always kept up and Jim did his best to respect. Better friends than nothing at all, Jim decided long ago, but that didn't stop him from feeling some certain things he wouldn't even admit to himself.
Even with the others nearby, the urge to turn around and kiss Bones, like he'd wanted to so many times before, was strong. But they weren't alone, and Bones had rejected kisses under less intense pressure many times before. Just wanted to convey some feeling of something stronger, something words couldn't expression and he couldn't say. But for now, he let the language of their hands talk, one on top of the other.
A minute of silence passed. Jim started to speak, to ease the sudden tension he had put in the air between them, when he heard Bones lean in and whisper, "I'm not goin' anywhere," so quiet no one else could hear.
Everyone else left in his life for some reason or another - his mother, Sam, his father, his Aunt and Uncle on Tarsus - but for some reason, he believed Bones. Believed that he would stay when no one else had. The words made Jim relax, closing his eyes. "I know." But he couldn't let down his guard. "Go rest now, Bones. I'm taking first watch."
Bones shook his head, folding his leg in front of him. "I'll watch with you, keep you company."
"No," Jim said, looking back over at him. He gave him a nudge toward the others. "Go sleep."
"I'm not tired, Jim," Bones replied, holding back a yawn without success. "And you need as much sleep as the others."
Jim had gone for much longer than this without sleep, and Bones knew it, but he wasn't going to argue about that right now. "Look, I'll watch three hours then wake up Adam."
"Two hours, and you wake up me, okay?" Bones gave him that look. "I wanna see with my own eyes that you're getting the sleep you need."
Jim chuckled a little to himself. That look always made him feel good, like someone gave a shit about him. "Okay, I'll get you up in two hours, only if you get your ass over there right now."
Bones touched his shoulder once more, then lifted himself up, not looking back as he settled close to the fire and rested his head on the ground. Jim could see his chest rising and lowering, and smiled to himself as he leaned back against a tree, getting comfortable.
These were his men, even Ruud, and fuck if he was gonna lose any one else.
Morning came with the scream of a bird in the distance, jerking Jim awake. Across their small camp he caught sight of Yamaguchi reacting just as quickly, actually getting to his feet and reaching for a phaser that wasn't there. Jim looked around but saw nothing of immediate danger, then let out a breath to calm his racing heart. Yamaguchi had been on watch, and Jim wondered by the expression on his face if the man had started to doze off. Jim didn't say anything, didn't blame the man for it. Already it was getting blisteringly hot, and he could just barely see the sun over the edge of the trees. They would need to get back under the trees and the shade they provided even if it meant more cover for approaching danger.
Jim looked over at Bones and Ruud, worried how Bones had slept. Twice during the night he heard Bones murmuring in his sleep, something he had heard the doctor do a few times during finals and stress tests while they were in the Academy. Ruud was moving now, and Jim could see his cautiousness in the slow, methodical way the snakeman stood, testing the air with his tongue. He nodded at Yamaguchi, who gave a quick nod back, and Jim wondered how long the Tuataran had been awake.
"Captain," Yamaguchi said quietly as Jim approached him. "All quiet, nothing unusual." They shared a look between them, with Jim able to read a hesitation in Yamaguchi's voice that told him his assumption about the man having dozed off to be right. Jim gave a little smile back, silently forgiving him, and saw Yamaguchi's shoulders slump slightly. They both turned at the sound of Bones sitting up, rubbing his face. "Morning, Doc," Yamaguchi said in a lighter tone as Bones stood, glared at Jim, and began walking away toward the treeline.
The glare seemed to confuse Yamaguchi, but Jim understood it perfectly. It was for the doctor's own good that they had let him sleep through his watch during the night, dividing the shifts between himself and Yamaguchi in some unspoken agreement. Not waking Bones up would keep them all safer, Jim rationalized, because the one doctor in their group needed to be the least sleep deprived should someone need medical help.
Or at least, that was what Jim told himself. He crouched down to work the fire back up so they could force down some more food before they had to get moving again, ignoring the sound of Bones taking a piss over by the trees.
But then Bones called his name in a loud whisper, so Jim glanced up from the stick in his hand. Bones beckoning him over to where he stood, zipping himself up.
"Yeah?" Jim asked, confused, walking toward him.
Bones pointed down at the ground about five feet in front of them, to a large puddle of mud. "Look at the size of it," he whispered, astonished.
Jim stared down at what Bones was pointing at, unable to wrap his mind around it at first. Then, all at once, it hit him. It wasn't a puddle of mud. It was a giant footprint sunk into the soft mud. The print were probably a yard across, and he could see the tips of claws or talons that punctured deep into the ground. Worse, there wasn't just one. He could see another beyond the one they were standing beside. It made him think of the creature Ruud told them of, and he felt his stomach sink. "...Could it have been that thing Ruud was talking about...?"
"Got fucking close, if that's what it was. So much for a safe place to rest." There was silence as both men tried to imagine the danger they had been in. "You didn't wake me up."
Jim didn't look up from where he was trying to calculate the distance between this print and the next one he could see. "...No."
Bones was silent until Jim was done figuring. When he looked up, Bones asked, "Did you sleep?"
"Once Yamaguchi took over," Jim said, gesturing with his head for Bones to give him a second. Not like they were going to get much in the way of privacy anyway, and he needed to relieve himself. "I'm fine."
"You promised you'd wake me up," Bones retorted, walking and waiting a few feet away. "I'm not some fragile kid out here, Jim."
"Didn't promise I would, I said I would," Jim shot right back. "You're the only one of us that matters if one of us gets hurt again. You need the sleep."
"Yeah, stupid me for thinking your word meant anything," Bones growled as walked away, heading back to the others. Dammit, the last thing Jim wanted was to be fighting with Bones. Not like this, with Bones being a stubborn ass when Jim was just trying to what he thought was best.
Jim finished up and walked back, and in silence the group ate some more of the fruit and berries, and Yamaguchi, Jim, and Ruud ate another round of the beetles fished from between the rocks. "We need to get as far as we can before high noon, or we won't make it to where Ruud says is safe for tonight," Jim said as Yamaguchi made sure the fire was completely out. There were a few grunts and a hiss of agreement, before they started out again.
The small group headed in the direction Ruud led them, toward the mountain they had seen the previous day. It loomed before them in the distance and Jim wasn't entirely sure they'd be able to make it in a day's march, especially in this heat. But Ruud was moving fast, making good time, and Jim was thankful for the few hours of sleep he'd been able to get.
Soon it started raining, slow at first, then harder, and within ten minutes they were soaked to the bone. Now the jungle was hot and wet, so humid it was difficult to breathe. They were sliding on slick leaves, sticking in the mud until all of them were cursing, even Ruud in his hissing tongue. It was even more tiring than the day before, and all Jim could hear was the rain around them and thunder that was getting closer. A loud noise from the right side made them all turn around. Ruud shouted something that the translator couldn't make out, but the wide-eyed, open mouthed look on his face was all Jim needed to know that they needed to get out of here, now.
Then it was there upon them, twice the size of an elephant, but long, very long, with a tail thick as a tree trunk, armored in slick black and green scales. The Hysilssa, had to be. It lumbered toward them, knocking down shrubs and branches, making a terrible sibilant noise. Running as fast as they could, the men took off for cover, Jim watching each one dive under brush to keep out of sight before he did the same behind a fallen log. The creature's head lifted as it slowed to a stop, an enormous tongue flicking out, tasting the air. The sheer size of it was immense, awe-inspiring and terrifying. It's looking for us, Jim realized, his heart stopping as he saw the Hysilssa slowly turn in the direction that Yamaguchi and Bones had gone. No, no, no...
"HSSSSSSSS!" A loud noise from his left got Jim's attention, and he turned his head to see Ruud up in a tree, head up defiantly, his tail shaking a branch up and down viciously. Jim didn't understand at first, then realized all at once that the Tuataran was trying to get the beast's attention.
"No, don't!" Jim whispered loudly to Ruud. He saw their lizard guide glance once at him, then stand his full height, facing down the monster before he took off slithering as fast as he could. The Hysilssa roared - there was no other term he could think of for the sound it made - then took after Ruud faster than any creature that size should have been able to move.
And then they were gone.
Jim waited another minute after the Hysilssa vanished from sight before he got up, still not believing what he saw. Ruud had saved them, gotten the attention away from them so they could escape at the possible cost of his life. It was the most heroic damn thing Jim had ever seen, and he couldn't even say 'thank you'. Picking up his head, he saw the other men emerging from their spots as well, all of them covered in mud and leaves, all of them with the same shocked expressions.
"Can you believe that?" Bones said with a hard to read look on his face, still speaking in a low voice as they gathered.
Jim kept his eyes peeled in the direction Ruud had run - thankfully the opposite of their goal. Another choice that Ruud made to give them a real chance at escape. "That kid saved us," he answered with a tone of respect, then clasped each man on the shoulder, glad to see them unhurt. Jim tried to find better words to sum up what Ruud had done, almost like a eulogy, but when nothing came he said instead, "Let's hope he makes it." Looking ahead at the jungle they were heading into, he added, "Best not linger here. Let's go."
No one spoke for a while as they walked. Ruud hadn't spoken much to any of them, preferring to keep to himself, but his presence was missed, a sense of loss to their traveling party that all men seemed to feel. Perhaps each was thinking of the sacrifice the young Tuataran had made, and wanted to make the most of it by going as fast as they could. But Jim couldn't help but worry they were getting off the path without Ruud's guidance as they approached a chasm in the ground, like the one he'd almost fallen in the day before. There appeared to be a way across down to the right, so they headed that way, discovering a cave-like tunnel that Jim hoped would lead them to the other side.
"What do you think?" Yamaguchi asked, taking a hesitant step toward the opening of the cave.
"Only one way to find out," Jim answered grimly. "Its not like we've got many other options." So the three of them made slow steps into the cave, the cool dampness the only thing about this situation that Jim liked.
It was dark in the tunnel, the smell of the wet stone permeating everything. They moved single-file along the rock path, Jim taking rear position and Yamaguchi in front. The tunnel was so roughly cut, and just the right size that Jim's all too active imagination believed that maybe the Hysilssa had been the one to carve the tunnel out like some monstrous worm. With a shudder, Jim shook that image right out of his mind. All too quickly though, the light began to disappear from view. Jim called out for the other two to remove their shirts, and he tied their sleeves together to quickly make a rope. He slid the material through their belts to keep their hands free. So while it couldn't have held them up if one should fall, it would keep them from getting separated.
Then, the light vanished. Yamaguchi, he could hear, was feeling his way along with hands and feet. A dangerous situation, Jim considering going back for a piece of wood to make a torch. It could have only been minutes they were in the tunnel, but it felt like an eternity. Just moving slowly, step by step to make sure they didn't trip or fall into a crevice, with Yamaguchi's quiet words from the front giving them direction as they felt their way like blind men. Only the faint speck of light in the distance gave them a direction to go, a hope that they would find their way out.
Just when it felt like this was foolish, like he had led them the wrong way, Jim realized that the pinpoint of light was growing. Yamaguchi called out to them, verifying what Jim hoped - they were almost through to the other side of the tunnel. With some hope in his heart, nestled along side of worry for Ruud, Jim followed their man-and-shirt train towards the exit.
Suddenly the ground below felt strange, and they stopped moving. It reminded Jim of an almost strange spongy feeling, but more than that- no. No. He felt the ground moving under him. Rocks began shifting above them, filling the air with dust until the distant light of the exit was hard to see. Reaching for the wall to steady himself, Jim called out to the others, "Get out of here, RUN!" The three of them ran toward the light, but even as they got close, close enough he could see green on the other side, Jim heard Yamaguchi scream, "Look out!"
Jim looked up through the dim light just in time to see a chunk of the ceiling break loose, heading straight for Bones. Jim's eyes widened as he saw Bones looking the other way, not seeing the danger that was about to come crashing down on him. Jim ran, as fast as he could, slamming his shoulder into Bones' back and pushing him out of harm's way. The last thing Jim saw was Bones falling in front of him, safe, as rock crashed into the back of his head and then there was nothing.
Authors: salvaged_pride and sullacat
Artist: gadgetorious
Fanmixer: dizilla
Beta: shinychimera
Series: Star Trek XI
Characters/Pairings: Kirk/McCoy
Rating: R
Chapter Word Count: 5200 out of 42601
Summary: Jim is everything he needs to be when he's sent on a diplomatic mission to meet a potential new addition to the Federation - charming, calm, convincing - especially with his CMO at his side to back him up. But when Jim, Bones, and their security team wake up in the depths of an alien jungle and are given a mission to succeed or die, they'll need not only to survive, but come to terms with their true feelings for each other. Will it destroy their friendship or save them both?
Is it enough to teach Jim and Bones what they have been blind to - that sometimes there's more than just meets the eye, and the loss of one's world can lead to another?
<< Chapter 1 | Main Chapter Listing | Chapter 3 >>
The Art | The Mix
By the time night fell, everyone was exhausted. Jim could see it in not only the humans in the group but in Ruud as well. The humans bore cuts on their hands, arms, and legs that no uniform could have stopped, bruises from dealing with branches and climbing and hanging from cliffs, an array of bug bites, and sunburns across any exposed parts of their bodies. Jim could feel the burn throbbing across the bridge of his nose and cheeks, keeping him feeling hotter than he should have as the sun disappeared over the horizon.
Jim was relieved when Ruud stopped and pointed downwards on a steep hill, declaring it the valley they had been searching for. They saw how it would be considered a good stop for the night - an area as protected as they'd seen the whole day, with some ledges sticking out of the side of the hill that could provide cover for the night. There was a hint of gleam that suggested a source of water, that was good, and what Jim hoped were more of those berries or something more substantial. Maybe they could have some food ready for the next day's trip.
But they needed more tonight. "These berries aren't going to be enough to keep us going," Jim said quietly to Yamaguchi and Bones, sitting attempting to make fire on the few pieces of dried wood he could find. Ruud was staring at him from across their small camp as if he had lost his mind. "We need some better source of food if we're going to survive in this heat." For all the vegetation, there were startlingly few animals in the lush jungle, though now that it was getting dark they could hear strange noises in the distance.
Bones shook his head, then got up, and headed toward Ruud, sitting down beside him. Even without the translator between them, it wasn't hard to figure out that Bones wanted to check on Ruud's injured tail and that the Tuataran didn't like that idea at all. "Look," he heard Bones speaking loud and slow, as if it would make Ruud magically understand him. "I just want to check it. For infection." Ruud was keeping his tail close to his body, and it wasn't until they stared at each other for a long time that he uncurled his tail and allowed Bones to look at it.
Jim let out the breath he was unconsciously holding. Bones hadn't quite shed that little streak of xenophobia in him, but above all else, the man was a doctor. Jim couldn't have been more grateful for that.
"Ruud," Jim asked, as his hands rubbed the stick between them more and more rapidly, trying desperately to get an ember going, "do you have any other ideas than berries for food? We won't be able to handle another day of hiking and that heat on berries."
He was surprised enough to slow down his fire-making attempt at what he swore was a look and hiss of confusion from the Tuataran. "There is food all around us. Are you incapable of catching it?"
Catching it? Did Ruud expect them to trap one of the animals out in the jungle? Jim was hesitant in answering. "We don't have the resources to trap or hunt down something like that-"
"You have two hands. What more is needed?" Ruud asked. He looked to Bones and jerked his tail slightly, clearly wanting to be free of the doctor's hands. Bones let go, shaking his head at the lizard creature and headed over toward the water, kneeling to wash his hands. Jim wondered how much the snake's tail hurt, and after what Uhura had said about their body language, if it would impair his ability to talk to other Tuatarans. Suddenly, Jim saw exactly what he was looking for and tilted the tiny ember into the pile of tinder he had pulled together. One gentle blow later, and he almost cheered as the ember took and a fire began. He coaxed it to a larger one, relaxing slightly.
It was then that Bones returned back to the group. "What sort of animals are we looking for?" He looked down at the fire, and Jim was sure he saw some approval in Bones' face as they began to add larger branches and dead leaves to the fire, wanting to work it up.
Ruud slithered over and put something on the ground by Jim's tiny fire. It was a very, very large beetle-like creature on its back, trying to flip over. "See? Plenty of food."
From the corner of his eye, Jim could see Bones' face go pale, and despite the difficult situation, it made him want to laugh. "Well, there we go," Jim nodded with understanding, trying hard to ignore Bones' eyes. Not his favorite form of protein, but it was better that starving.
Survival class 101 said to eat anything that wouldn't kill you to stay alive, and insects were high on the list of things that could keep a man alive for a long time and were readily available almost anywhere in the universe. "Okay men, let's set up a foraging team. Yamaguchi, you go look for some fruit or something. I'm gonna follow Ruud and collect as many of these little treats as I can. Bones," he added, a tired smile on his face at this bit of levity, "you finish making camp."
There were nods all around, a few grumbles from the doctor's direction, and they made their way out into the surrounding jungle slowly. Surely there were things they could eat out here, hopefully something that wasn't poisonous. At least they had someone native to the area who could tell them if their meal would leave them sick or dead by morning.
Unfortunately, aside from the plentiful bugs, what they found was meager. Ruud looked it over what Adam had scrounged up, removed two of a purple-red fruit he'd found, and nodded at the rest. Jim marked in his mind that the purple-red fruit was off the menu and divided up what remained, along with a handful of fat beetles, roasting on sticks in the fire.
Watching the lizard pop them into his mouth whole, Jim twitched a little. When his own stick was ready, he flipped them over, removed the legs and head, then tried it for himself. Not the worst thing he'd ever had, and judging from the look on Yamaguchi's face, he agreed.
Bones appeared to be the lone hold out. "I'm fine," he replied to any offers of a roast beetle, with a look of pained politeness on his face. Jim could read him like a book, knew the stubborn doctor was hungry, but... instead Jim just gave him the last bit of his fruit. Roast beetle wasn't the most satisfying meal he'd ever enjoyed, but at least his body felt better afterward.
When the bugs and fruit had all been eaten, they sat down near the warm fire, the heat of the day replaced by what was turning out to be a surprisingly cool night. "What can you tell us about the rest of the journey?" Jim asked, recalling that Ruud had known about this protected valley. "What's tomorrow gonna look like?"
The clicks and hisses translated slowly through Jim's device. "There is more like this. Large river, was told, then many dangers."
"What does that mean, many dangers?" Bones asked, looking at Ruud, whose tail curled slightly when the doctor spoke.
"Was told, when preparing for journey, many dangers are on the second day." The Tuataran seemed to be relaxing a little as he explained, more comfortable with his human companions. "Must rest, must sleep under protection of Cyli, or I will not make the mountain by the third rise of the sun. Walk with Vioniss, sleep with Cyli. That is what I was told," he repeated, seeming insistent on that, seeming much younger now than he had earlier.
It made Jim wonder how old Ruud was, in comparison to the others they'd met so far. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, then looked around at what remained of this away team. "Why are we here, with you?"
"Any who survive this path will become one of Cyli's Chosen. They work in the great Temple where She shines brightest of all. They are the ones who serve Her in Her palace when life has ended." Ruud bowed his head as if in respect, then looked up at Jim and the others. "I do not know why you are here."
"It's their religion," Bones shook his head and folded his hands in front of him. "A test to make them priests of this goddess of theirs." Made sense, when Bones said it. A test of strength and cunning to become a priest for their goddess of the moon. They would have to have to fight against Vioniss by walking during the day and sleeping at night. A rite steeped in legend and danger, and Jim wondered how much blood.
Jim frowned, thinking through on that line of reasoning. "Maybe we're here because we need to prove ourselves too."
"So what, does that mean Darius wasn't worth being chosen?" Yamaguchi asked, a bitter tone to his voice. "This is all bullshit, Captain, and I just want to get out of here." With that, the security officer turned and began setting up a place for himself to sleep.
Jim looked over his shoulder at Yamaguchi, wanting to say something comforting, but knew it would only be insulting in the state Yamaguchi was in. Vickers should be with them, should be back on the Enterprise by now instead of laying dead and cold in alien soil. But there was nothing he could do to change it, and only time would ease Yamaguchi's anger. For now, Jim had to get all the information he could and he wasn't done with Ruud yet. "Okay, so is there another place like this tomorrow night? Is that where we're heading for?"
Ruud's muscular back rippled. "Was told there was another safe place to rest, away from the Hysilssa. Moves in the dark, must be silent in the dark."
"Is that why we're traveling in the heat of the day?" Bones asked, proving he was actually listening, not just sitting there looking at the trees. "Would make more sense to walk now, when its cool."
"Agreed, but if there's a reason... what's this-" Jim fumbled on the hissing, untranslated word, "Hysila?"
"The Hysilssa is ancestor. Cyli put all effort into making the Hysilssa, told it to have many eggs and spread itself across the world. Hysilssa became Tuataran. Is Mother and Father, but eats young. Is very dangerous, very fast. It protects Her temple, protects the jungle." Ruud's voice had gone respectful again while Jim's insides had gone cold.
So there was some giant monster between them and their goal. If the legend, and it definitely came across as a legend, was true, a snake or reptile-like monster. Great. He looked across the fire to Bones, then nodded. "As bad as it is, if this Hysilssa is asleep during the day, we need to travel then." Jim leaned forward, another thought entering his head. "If we're not supposed to move at night, how do we make it to that place, where ever it is, by sunrise?"
Ruud looked at him a moment before answering. "Was told," he said again slowly, as if the constant questioning was getting to him, "was told that Cyli's Eye was above the place of rest. Must move fast," he said to Jim, "in that time when Cyli and Vioness see each other. Must move fast to reach the Eye."
Jim looked to his team, to the injured Ruud, and sighed. "We'll need to take turns staying awake and watching out for danger. I want the three of you to get some sleep, I'll take first watch." He settled his back in against the rock enclave, so he could rest while still watching in the pool of firelight that made the trees sway menacingly just beyond its reach. Ruud moved away, curling up into a ball on the far end of the camp, and Yamaguchi was soon asleep, head tucked into his arms.
But Bones headed over to where Jim was sitting and got comfortable next to him. He poked at the ground with a stick, then turned to face Jim. "Hell of a story that kid's got, eh?" he asked, his expression hard to read so far away from the firelight.
Jim glanced up, surprised, and nodded. "Yeah, it is. Sounds like it could have a kernel of truth in it. If they evolved or descended from some creature... well, there's still monkeys on Earth after all."
That brought a chuckle out of Bones. "Guess you can look at it like that." Another minute passed before he continued. "I can't remember the last time I felt so fucking useless, Jim. Seeing Vickers like that." He shook his head, and tossed the stick in his hands onto the ground, a frustrated noise coming from him.
"Yeah. There wasn't even time to react other than dropping like a rock." Jim's eyes closed, and he let out a breath. "So much blood..." The look on Vickers' face would haunt his nightmares, he was sure of it. "Nothing we could have done, least not being stuck here in this shit." He slumped, then pushed down with his shoulders to work the ache out of them.
Bones nudged at him, resting a hand on Jim's shoulder, squeezing lightly. "You okay?" he asked, catching Jim's eyes.
"'bout as good as I can be," Jim said, hoping that the undercurrent of worry didn't come through. He was worried Yamaguchi would blame him for what happened even though it was something that could have happened to any of them. Worried that Vickers wouldn't be the only one of them that didn't make it. Worried none of them would make it. No different than the worries the others had, Jim knew, but he was responsible for them as their captain. It would be forever a part of him, just as Vickers' death already was. But there was something worse, almost like a poison, that made him whisper, "Just glad it wasn't you."
The hand on Jim's shoulder stilled, then squeezed again, Bones' thumb pressing small circles into the nape of Jim's neck. Jim could hear Bones' breathing slow down, the heat of his hand through his undershirt. Jim's hand snuck up and finally laid itself over top of Bones', Jim still staring into the firelight. For years now they had been friends, as close as friends could be without crossing the invisible barrier Bones had set up between them. A barrier with holes and flexed in certain places but one Bones always kept up and Jim did his best to respect. Better friends than nothing at all, Jim decided long ago, but that didn't stop him from feeling some certain things he wouldn't even admit to himself.
Even with the others nearby, the urge to turn around and kiss Bones, like he'd wanted to so many times before, was strong. But they weren't alone, and Bones had rejected kisses under less intense pressure many times before. Just wanted to convey some feeling of something stronger, something words couldn't expression and he couldn't say. But for now, he let the language of their hands talk, one on top of the other.
A minute of silence passed. Jim started to speak, to ease the sudden tension he had put in the air between them, when he heard Bones lean in and whisper, "I'm not goin' anywhere," so quiet no one else could hear.
Everyone else left in his life for some reason or another - his mother, Sam, his father, his Aunt and Uncle on Tarsus - but for some reason, he believed Bones. Believed that he would stay when no one else had. The words made Jim relax, closing his eyes. "I know." But he couldn't let down his guard. "Go rest now, Bones. I'm taking first watch."
Bones shook his head, folding his leg in front of him. "I'll watch with you, keep you company."
"No," Jim said, looking back over at him. He gave him a nudge toward the others. "Go sleep."
"I'm not tired, Jim," Bones replied, holding back a yawn without success. "And you need as much sleep as the others."
Jim had gone for much longer than this without sleep, and Bones knew it, but he wasn't going to argue about that right now. "Look, I'll watch three hours then wake up Adam."
"Two hours, and you wake up me, okay?" Bones gave him that look. "I wanna see with my own eyes that you're getting the sleep you need."
Jim chuckled a little to himself. That look always made him feel good, like someone gave a shit about him. "Okay, I'll get you up in two hours, only if you get your ass over there right now."
Bones touched his shoulder once more, then lifted himself up, not looking back as he settled close to the fire and rested his head on the ground. Jim could see his chest rising and lowering, and smiled to himself as he leaned back against a tree, getting comfortable.
These were his men, even Ruud, and fuck if he was gonna lose any one else.
Morning came with the scream of a bird in the distance, jerking Jim awake. Across their small camp he caught sight of Yamaguchi reacting just as quickly, actually getting to his feet and reaching for a phaser that wasn't there. Jim looked around but saw nothing of immediate danger, then let out a breath to calm his racing heart. Yamaguchi had been on watch, and Jim wondered by the expression on his face if the man had started to doze off. Jim didn't say anything, didn't blame the man for it. Already it was getting blisteringly hot, and he could just barely see the sun over the edge of the trees. They would need to get back under the trees and the shade they provided even if it meant more cover for approaching danger.
Jim looked over at Bones and Ruud, worried how Bones had slept. Twice during the night he heard Bones murmuring in his sleep, something he had heard the doctor do a few times during finals and stress tests while they were in the Academy. Ruud was moving now, and Jim could see his cautiousness in the slow, methodical way the snakeman stood, testing the air with his tongue. He nodded at Yamaguchi, who gave a quick nod back, and Jim wondered how long the Tuataran had been awake.
"Captain," Yamaguchi said quietly as Jim approached him. "All quiet, nothing unusual." They shared a look between them, with Jim able to read a hesitation in Yamaguchi's voice that told him his assumption about the man having dozed off to be right. Jim gave a little smile back, silently forgiving him, and saw Yamaguchi's shoulders slump slightly. They both turned at the sound of Bones sitting up, rubbing his face. "Morning, Doc," Yamaguchi said in a lighter tone as Bones stood, glared at Jim, and began walking away toward the treeline.
The glare seemed to confuse Yamaguchi, but Jim understood it perfectly. It was for the doctor's own good that they had let him sleep through his watch during the night, dividing the shifts between himself and Yamaguchi in some unspoken agreement. Not waking Bones up would keep them all safer, Jim rationalized, because the one doctor in their group needed to be the least sleep deprived should someone need medical help.
Or at least, that was what Jim told himself. He crouched down to work the fire back up so they could force down some more food before they had to get moving again, ignoring the sound of Bones taking a piss over by the trees.
But then Bones called his name in a loud whisper, so Jim glanced up from the stick in his hand. Bones beckoning him over to where he stood, zipping himself up.
"Yeah?" Jim asked, confused, walking toward him.
Bones pointed down at the ground about five feet in front of them, to a large puddle of mud. "Look at the size of it," he whispered, astonished.
Jim stared down at what Bones was pointing at, unable to wrap his mind around it at first. Then, all at once, it hit him. It wasn't a puddle of mud. It was a giant footprint sunk into the soft mud. The print were probably a yard across, and he could see the tips of claws or talons that punctured deep into the ground. Worse, there wasn't just one. He could see another beyond the one they were standing beside. It made him think of the creature Ruud told them of, and he felt his stomach sink. "...Could it have been that thing Ruud was talking about...?"
"Got fucking close, if that's what it was. So much for a safe place to rest." There was silence as both men tried to imagine the danger they had been in. "You didn't wake me up."
Jim didn't look up from where he was trying to calculate the distance between this print and the next one he could see. "...No."
Bones was silent until Jim was done figuring. When he looked up, Bones asked, "Did you sleep?"
"Once Yamaguchi took over," Jim said, gesturing with his head for Bones to give him a second. Not like they were going to get much in the way of privacy anyway, and he needed to relieve himself. "I'm fine."
"You promised you'd wake me up," Bones retorted, walking and waiting a few feet away. "I'm not some fragile kid out here, Jim."
"Didn't promise I would, I said I would," Jim shot right back. "You're the only one of us that matters if one of us gets hurt again. You need the sleep."
"Yeah, stupid me for thinking your word meant anything," Bones growled as walked away, heading back to the others. Dammit, the last thing Jim wanted was to be fighting with Bones. Not like this, with Bones being a stubborn ass when Jim was just trying to what he thought was best.
Jim finished up and walked back, and in silence the group ate some more of the fruit and berries, and Yamaguchi, Jim, and Ruud ate another round of the beetles fished from between the rocks. "We need to get as far as we can before high noon, or we won't make it to where Ruud says is safe for tonight," Jim said as Yamaguchi made sure the fire was completely out. There were a few grunts and a hiss of agreement, before they started out again.
The small group headed in the direction Ruud led them, toward the mountain they had seen the previous day. It loomed before them in the distance and Jim wasn't entirely sure they'd be able to make it in a day's march, especially in this heat. But Ruud was moving fast, making good time, and Jim was thankful for the few hours of sleep he'd been able to get.
Soon it started raining, slow at first, then harder, and within ten minutes they were soaked to the bone. Now the jungle was hot and wet, so humid it was difficult to breathe. They were sliding on slick leaves, sticking in the mud until all of them were cursing, even Ruud in his hissing tongue. It was even more tiring than the day before, and all Jim could hear was the rain around them and thunder that was getting closer. A loud noise from the right side made them all turn around. Ruud shouted something that the translator couldn't make out, but the wide-eyed, open mouthed look on his face was all Jim needed to know that they needed to get out of here, now.
Then it was there upon them, twice the size of an elephant, but long, very long, with a tail thick as a tree trunk, armored in slick black and green scales. The Hysilssa, had to be. It lumbered toward them, knocking down shrubs and branches, making a terrible sibilant noise. Running as fast as they could, the men took off for cover, Jim watching each one dive under brush to keep out of sight before he did the same behind a fallen log. The creature's head lifted as it slowed to a stop, an enormous tongue flicking out, tasting the air. The sheer size of it was immense, awe-inspiring and terrifying. It's looking for us, Jim realized, his heart stopping as he saw the Hysilssa slowly turn in the direction that Yamaguchi and Bones had gone. No, no, no...
"HSSSSSSSS!" A loud noise from his left got Jim's attention, and he turned his head to see Ruud up in a tree, head up defiantly, his tail shaking a branch up and down viciously. Jim didn't understand at first, then realized all at once that the Tuataran was trying to get the beast's attention.
"No, don't!" Jim whispered loudly to Ruud. He saw their lizard guide glance once at him, then stand his full height, facing down the monster before he took off slithering as fast as he could. The Hysilssa roared - there was no other term he could think of for the sound it made - then took after Ruud faster than any creature that size should have been able to move.
And then they were gone.
Jim waited another minute after the Hysilssa vanished from sight before he got up, still not believing what he saw. Ruud had saved them, gotten the attention away from them so they could escape at the possible cost of his life. It was the most heroic damn thing Jim had ever seen, and he couldn't even say 'thank you'. Picking up his head, he saw the other men emerging from their spots as well, all of them covered in mud and leaves, all of them with the same shocked expressions.
"Can you believe that?" Bones said with a hard to read look on his face, still speaking in a low voice as they gathered.
Jim kept his eyes peeled in the direction Ruud had run - thankfully the opposite of their goal. Another choice that Ruud made to give them a real chance at escape. "That kid saved us," he answered with a tone of respect, then clasped each man on the shoulder, glad to see them unhurt. Jim tried to find better words to sum up what Ruud had done, almost like a eulogy, but when nothing came he said instead, "Let's hope he makes it." Looking ahead at the jungle they were heading into, he added, "Best not linger here. Let's go."
No one spoke for a while as they walked. Ruud hadn't spoken much to any of them, preferring to keep to himself, but his presence was missed, a sense of loss to their traveling party that all men seemed to feel. Perhaps each was thinking of the sacrifice the young Tuataran had made, and wanted to make the most of it by going as fast as they could. But Jim couldn't help but worry they were getting off the path without Ruud's guidance as they approached a chasm in the ground, like the one he'd almost fallen in the day before. There appeared to be a way across down to the right, so they headed that way, discovering a cave-like tunnel that Jim hoped would lead them to the other side.
"What do you think?" Yamaguchi asked, taking a hesitant step toward the opening of the cave.
"Only one way to find out," Jim answered grimly. "Its not like we've got many other options." So the three of them made slow steps into the cave, the cool dampness the only thing about this situation that Jim liked.
It was dark in the tunnel, the smell of the wet stone permeating everything. They moved single-file along the rock path, Jim taking rear position and Yamaguchi in front. The tunnel was so roughly cut, and just the right size that Jim's all too active imagination believed that maybe the Hysilssa had been the one to carve the tunnel out like some monstrous worm. With a shudder, Jim shook that image right out of his mind. All too quickly though, the light began to disappear from view. Jim called out for the other two to remove their shirts, and he tied their sleeves together to quickly make a rope. He slid the material through their belts to keep their hands free. So while it couldn't have held them up if one should fall, it would keep them from getting separated.
Then, the light vanished. Yamaguchi, he could hear, was feeling his way along with hands and feet. A dangerous situation, Jim considering going back for a piece of wood to make a torch. It could have only been minutes they were in the tunnel, but it felt like an eternity. Just moving slowly, step by step to make sure they didn't trip or fall into a crevice, with Yamaguchi's quiet words from the front giving them direction as they felt their way like blind men. Only the faint speck of light in the distance gave them a direction to go, a hope that they would find their way out.
Just when it felt like this was foolish, like he had led them the wrong way, Jim realized that the pinpoint of light was growing. Yamaguchi called out to them, verifying what Jim hoped - they were almost through to the other side of the tunnel. With some hope in his heart, nestled along side of worry for Ruud, Jim followed their man-and-shirt train towards the exit.
Suddenly the ground below felt strange, and they stopped moving. It reminded Jim of an almost strange spongy feeling, but more than that- no. No. He felt the ground moving under him. Rocks began shifting above them, filling the air with dust until the distant light of the exit was hard to see. Reaching for the wall to steady himself, Jim called out to the others, "Get out of here, RUN!" The three of them ran toward the light, but even as they got close, close enough he could see green on the other side, Jim heard Yamaguchi scream, "Look out!"
Jim looked up through the dim light just in time to see a chunk of the ceiling break loose, heading straight for Bones. Jim's eyes widened as he saw Bones looking the other way, not seeing the danger that was about to come crashing down on him. Jim ran, as fast as he could, slamming his shoulder into Bones' back and pushing him out of harm's way. The last thing Jim saw was Bones falling in front of him, safe, as rock crashed into the back of his head and then there was nothing.