Night had fallen and the five that had previously been prisoners of the tree monkeys were now enjoying a feast on the jungle floor... that is, all except Kira, who was kept isolated and under guard. The crew had managed to communicate with the monkeys through drawing pictures in the dirt.
What must have been the leader of the tribe was now sitting with Karissa drawing pictures in the ground. Tyran, McMillan and Hancock were sitting a few metres away, enjoying the delightful food that had been prepared for them, although delightful was hardly the word for it.
"I think I'd prefer Starfleet field rations," said Tyran as he reached into his backpack.
"That may offend them sir," suggested Hancock. "We'd better eat their food."
Tyran uneasily stretched out his arm and pulled off another piece of some kind of reptile. "I hope you got something in that pack that'll cure my stomach in the morning then, Doc," he said as he put the meat in his mouth.
Meanwhile, Karissa had been making a lot of headway with the monkeys. She had discovered that the monkeys didn't just live in the trees, but they kept their history written on the trees. They also provided them with a large source of food. It was hardly surprising they'd be protective of them. Karissa had also discovered that the monkeys had had a few skirmishes with the pirates, resulting in many monkeys being killed.
"What have you found?" asked Tyran as he joined Karissa after the banquet.
"These people are very protective over the trees and their jungle. They use the trees to live in, write on and gather food from. The pirates though, have been cutting down trees and burning them. The monkeys have lost many of their people defending their homes."
"Would they be willing to fight for their homes?"
"I'm not sure if it's a good idea to suggest it. A great many of them may die."
"I'm trying to think of what's best for the Galaxy Karissa. If these monkeys can help us in any way, then the bigger chance we have."
"I'll see what I can do."
Back at the main camp, the monkeys began jumping up and down and screaming. Will and Tricia looked around trying to work out what was going on, as Tyran and Karissa came back through the bushes. From the other side of the clearing, some monkeys came clambering out through the bushes, some clearly wounded, some carrying dead.
Kira stood to try and get to the injured, but the guards put up their spears. Will got up and headed over, taking out his tricorder.
"Will, no," said Karissa, taking him by the arm. "Let Kira treat them. If he treats them, then maybe he'll gain their trust."
Will nodded in agreement. Karissa walked over to Kira and took his hand. "Come on," she said. The monkeys looked confused but didn't try to stop Kira from leaving. Karissa took Kira to the wounded monkeys where he began scanning and injecting them.
"Ask them now, Karissa," said Tyran. "They will help us."
Pike's team were now moving under cover of darkness. Night had fallen sooner than they had anticipated, but it was working to their advantage. The jungle had gotten thinner too; they must have been getting closer to the compound.
"One more kilometre," announced Benton.
"'Bout time," said O'Neil.
They walked on a bit further and came out into a clearing. O'Neil and Talsmin took up firing positions as the other three stepped out into the clearing.
"Looks clear," said Benton as he walked on. The others followed. Ryan took up the rear, and soon felt something prodding into the back of his neck.
"Don't move," someone said. As the others turned around to see who had spoken, eight more pirates came out of the forest, weapons poised.
Ryan looked at Pike and his other officers, who all returned the same look. Ryan gave a swift elbow to the terrorist behind him, then grabbed him and flung him over his shoulder. O'Neil and Talsmin opened fire as the terrorists ran for cover behind some nearby rocks.
Benton threw a pirate ten metres or so and charged at another, when a phaser beam hit him in his back. He fell to the ground. Ryan was now behind a rock as well, firing on the pirates' position. Another shot hit Pike in the back, Pike fell to the ground too.
"Cover me!" yelled Ryan as he ran for Pike and Benton. Talsmin and O'Neil stood up and lay down fire on the pirates, although another couple of terrorists came out of the trees and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat. Ryan looked over to see his two officers get shot and fall, before he too was shot.
"How are the monkeys?" asked Tricia as Kira returned from treating them.
"Most of them should be fine... just a few phaser burns. The dermal regenerator fixed them right up. A couple though were a bit more badly hurt. They should be fine though."
"We can't wait here any longer," said Tyran.
"I agree," said Kira.
"We need to leave now and try and catch up with Pike and the Captain."
"What about the monkeys?"
"I'll stay here," suggested Karissa. "We can catch you up later."
"I don't like the idea of leaving you here," protested Kira.
"I'll be fine, Commander," she answered. "You just go and catch up with Ryan and capture that gate. We'll be right behind you."
"Let's go then," said Hancock.
With that, the four picked up their gear and headed off back into the forest in the direction of the Iconian gateway.