Kim and Riker had shifted position to the other side of the big boulder to try and keep out of the blistering sun as much as possible. For a full 360 degrees around and all the way to the too-near horizon of the small planetoid, not a single twig of plant life could be seen -- all was sterile rocks and dirt.
Riker was tossing small bits of shale around, while Kim was spending her time trying not to fall asleep. As it turned out, waiting to be rescued was a terribly dull business.
A loud thunderclap from the sky above brought both back to full wakefulness. Both Kim and Riker snapped their heads in the direction of the sound. There, clearly visible in the clear air was the contrail of a craft on atmospheric entry. As it descended and the air around it grew denser, the craft's vaporous tail billowed and thickened, then began to grow steadily fainter as it slowed its approach.
Instinctively, and without really being conscious of it, Kim crept closer to Tom for protection. "Who do you think it is?" she asked. "The Nausicaans?"
"We'll find out in a minute, one way or the other," said Riker grimly, pointing.
Kim looked, and saw that the craft was turning. It was still too far away to tell what kind of ship it was, but whoever it was, they were heading right for them. She crouched in her place, watching, wishing she had a phaser cannon in her pocket.
Meanwhile, Riker had made a quick dash for the wrecked fighter, and now he returned with his hands full. He dropped the pile in front of Kim and began sorting it out -- it was the contents of the small weapons locker. Kim reached out with her good arm and claimed one of the phasers for herself, and stuffed a few extra power packs into her flight suit's hip pockets. Riker took two phasers for himself as well as the rest of the power packs. Then, together, they positioned themselves behind the big boulder.
They didn't have to wait long. In just over a minute, the unknown craft was upon them. They remained hidden behind the rock in hopes they could catch whoever it was by surprise, but as she heard the ship's landing repulsors whine, she risked a peak around the edge of their cover.
The craft had kicked up tons of silt and debris into the air, obscuring it from view, but as it settled earthward again, the outline of the ship became reassuringly familiar. The hatch popped open on the side facing them and a lone figure stuck his head out.
"Garek!" cried Kim. Ignoring her aches and pains and broken arm, she staggered from behind her refuge and made her lop-sided way in his direction.
Garek caught sight of her, and a big smile of relief washed over his face. He descended the short distance down the landing ramp in two gigantic steps and closed the rest of the distance between them. He scooped her up in his arms, the arguments of the last few days completely forgotten, but instantly released her at her sharp outcry of pain.
"What is it?"
She indicated the splint around her arm. "I got a little tweaked, but that's okay now that you're here. Hug me again!"
Garek did gladly, but was careful with the arm. But again the hug was interrupted when he caught sight of Riker stepping out from behind a boulder and begin hesitantly walking toward them. He quickly released Kim and whipped out his phaser.
"Wait, Garek!" cried Kim, grabbing his phaser arm and spoiling his aim. "That's a friend."
"What do you mean, 'friend'?" asked Garek, suddenly very suspicious.
"Garek, this is Thomas Riker," Kim said, introducing the stranger. At the mention of the name, Garek's eyes widened in surprise and recognition. "Lieutenant Riker, this is Commander Garek Loran," finished Kim.
Riker stepped forward and offered his hand. "A pleasure," he said.
Garek took it. He'd been prepared for a fight and was somewhat taken aback by Riker's smooth manner. "Uh... Likewise, Lieutenant." Then, putting aside for the moment this unexpected turn of events, he turned back to Kim and got back to the business at hand. "Kim, we've got to get out of here before that beacon of yours attracts the wrong kind of customers, if you know what I mean. Explanations about him--" he pointed at Riker "--are going to have to wait."
"He's right," said Riker. "Let's go." With that he bounded up into the hatch of the Lambda Flier and disappeared from sight.
Garek watched him go, then threw Kim a wary, skeptical look. "I'm not going to believe a word of your explanation, am I?" he asked.
"Very likely," replied Kim. She patted him reassuringly on the shoulder, then bounded up through the hatch herself and disappeared after the mysterious man calling himself Thomas Riker.
Garek heaved a giant sigh of long-suffering and resigned himself to the improbability of the situation, then climbed back aboard the Lambda Flier and prepared to take off.
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