The wind lashed at him, biting through his uniform and numbing his fingers, but he pressed forward with an unwavering determination to find safety for them both. Every step was a struggle, the snow thick and treacherous beneath his feet. Flemen’s muscles burned with the effort, and his lungs ached with the cold, but he refused to stop. Tomaz’s life hung in the balance, and Flemen was not about to let him slip away.

Hours seemed to blur together as Flemen trudged through the snow, his thoughts focused solely on survival. Finally, just as exhaustion threatened to overtake him, he spotted a dark shape in the distance—a cave carved into the side of a snow-covered hill. The sight of the cave sparked a glimmer of hope in Flemen’s heart, a beacon of potential safety in the midst of the unforgiving landscape. 

“Finally,” Flemen shouted with a sense of joy. He turned to look over his shoulder. “Tomaz, I see our new accommodation ahead.”

Tomaz, who was wrapped up, put both thumbs up in response. Along their trek, Flemen had stopped regularly to check on him, and though the treatment he had given Tomaz had saved his life back in the shuttle, he wasn’t getting any better and needed access to proper medical care. 

With the cave ahead of him, a spark of hope ignited within Flemen. He pushed himself harder, dragging Tomaz the last few meters until they reached the cave. Stumbling inside, he nearly collapsed from the effort, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The cave was cold but out of the wind, a welcome respite from the biting cold and a temporary sanctuary from the elements.

Yanking on the sledge, Flemen brought Tomaz as far into the cave as possible without losing too much natural light but far enough to use a vast bolder as a natural windbreak. Taking out his tricorder, Flemen scanned the shelter to ensure it was completely safe. Once the tricorder gave him the green light, he put the device back into his pocket and took out his phaser from the other one. One at a time, he pointed to the number of small boulders dotted around the room and fired at them all. With a few zaps from the phaser, the heat started to pour from them. He moved several smaller rocks in the centre of the room before he whipped out an instant fire starter kit. Straight away, he started to feel warmer. 

He pulled Tomaz closer to the warmth. “That better, Tomaz?”

Nodding twice, Tomaz answered with a weak tone in his voice. “A lot warmer, thanks, Craigen.” 

Taking out the med kit from their sledge, Flemen rummaged for the tricorder. Once he opened the device, he scanned his friend. The tricorder made it clear that Tomaz was in a weakened state. Pulling out the hypospray, Flemen loaded it up with a concoction of medicine to give his friend some energy and relief from his agony. “Something to keep you going,” Flemen said, showing the hypospray, before he leant forward and pushed Tomaz’s scarf out of the way so he could inject his friend in his neck.

“Thanks,” Tomaz said out of alleviation. 

“Give me a shout if you need anything while I set up our camp,” Flemen said as he got to work.

Tomaz, again, just nodded.

After setting up a large sheet to block the rest of the cold coming into the cave, putting a four-man pop-up tent up, getting their emergency beacon operational, and then moving on to make some dinner from field rations, Flemen could feel his body yelling out in exhaustion from everything. Ignoring it, he wouldn’t stop until he knew they were safe. 

Once they had eaten, Flemen went over to where there was a gap between the sheet and the cave wall. Peering through it, Flemen noticed that darkness had started to fall over where they were. Nighttime was coming, and he knew that meant it would get colder. 

After cracking some glowsticks to help keep their abode lit with shade, Flemen once again fired his phaser against the boulders he had used earlier to generate some heat. Knowing they would be here for some time, they needed to keep themselves warm. 

Flemen looked over at Tomaz, who sat inside the tent. “It doesn’t look like anyone is out there yet to rescue us,” He muttered. 

“Hey, I thought you told me we had to remain optimistic,” Tomaz said between breaths. 

“I did,” Flemen responded. “I did say yet.” 

Tomaz smirked. “I’m tired; you must be too, Craigen.”

Flemen nodded. He couldn’t deny that, so he sat down beside his friend when Tomaz pattered the makeshift seats that Flemen had created out of the shuttle’s bunk he had taken apart. 

The howling wind outside the cave had subsided into a distant moan, leaving behind a stillness that felt almost eerie in its quiet. 

Flemen sat with his arms wrapped protectively around Tomaz, who lay motionless beside him. He was now fast asleep, and after checking him once over with the tricorder, Flemen was pleased to see Tomaz’s vitals stabilising. The thermal blankets weren’t enough on their own, so Flemen had pulled Tomaz close, using his own body heat to keep his friend warm. He could feel the steady, albeit faint, rise and fall of Tomaz’s chest, and it was this rhythm that finally allowed him to close his eyes, his exhaustion catching up with him.

Sleep was a fragile thing, coming in brief, fitful snatches. Every time Flemen’s head nodded forward, his mind would jolt him awake, the weight of their situation crashing down on him all over again. But eventually, fatigue won out, and Flemen slipped into an uneasy slumber, his arms still holding Tomaz close.

The cave was silent, save for the crackling of the fire and the occasional drip of melting ice from the ceiling. Darkness pressed in around them, thick and suffocating, broken only by the dim glow of the flames and the glowsticks trying their hardest to be a source of light. Time lost all meaning as Flemen slept, his body and mind desperately seeking the rest they so badly needed. The silence was welcoming as Flemen felt himself fall further into sleep. Not even their distress beacon made a noise as it operated in the background.

But the silence didn’t last.

A low, almost indistinguishable sound began to echo through the cave, so faint at first that it blended with the natural sounds of the ice shifting above them. It was a rhythmic thumping, growing louder and more distinct with each passing moment. It reverberated through the cave walls, a steady, deliberate tempo. 

Flemen stirred, furrowing his brow as the noise filtered through his subconscious. His grip on Tomaz tightened instinctively, and his eyes fluttered open, blinking against the darkness. For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure if the sound was authentic or just a product of his dreams. But as the noise grew louder and more insistent, he knew it was no figment of his imagination.

Something or someone was out there.

Flemen’s heart began to race, his senses sharpening as the fog of sleep lifted. He couldn’t sense anyone with his limited empathic abilities. He carefully disentangled himself from Tomaz, trying not to disturb his friend as he reached for one of the phaser rifles that he had salvaged from the wreckage. The weapon felt cold and reassuring in his hand, though he couldn’t shake the fear that it might not be enough. He charged it up, and as he did, he heard Tomaz stir.

“Craigen, what is it?” Tomaz croaked in a soft, drowsy tone.

Whispering, Flemen told Tomaz to stay still as he could hear something. He passed Tomaz the other phaser rifle and took out his tricorder to see if whatever was making the noise could be scanned. 

Nothing was coming up.

“Stay here,” Flemen ordered Tomaz as he got up, unzipped the tent’s door and left to check out the source of the noise.

The thumping was closer now, accompanied by a series of low, growling noises that sent a shiver down his spine. Flemen crept toward the mouth of the cave, moving slowly to avoid making any noise that might give away their position. His breath came in shallow gasps, fogging in the frigid air as he crouched low, peering out into the snowstorm that raged beyond the cave.

At first, all he could see was the swirling white of the storm, the wind whipping up snow in blinding gusts. But then, as his eyes adjusted, he caught sight of movement—dark shapes emerging from the blizzard. Their forms were large and unclear against the backdrop of ice and snow. It was hard to distinguish them at all, and the night sky did not help. 

Flemen’s grip on the phaser tightened as he watched the figures approach. There were three of them, their silhouettes hulking and vaguely humanoid, though their proportions were wrong, too broad, too heavy. They moved with a purpose, their steps heavy and deliberate, each one sending that unsettling thumping sound echoing through the ice. 

Flemen swallowed hard, his mind racing. The aliens were clearly searching for something, and it wouldn’t be long before they found the cave. He glanced back to where he had set up base camp and wondered if there was a way he could disguise it. He just didn’t have the time. 

Flemen’s thoughts tumbled over one another as he tried to decide what to do. They couldn’t stay hidden in the cave, and the aliens would eventually find them. But Tomaz was in no condition to move, let alone make it through the storm. And if these creatures were hostile, any confrontation would likely end in disaster.

The noises grew louder as the aliens drew closer, their heavy footfalls now echoing off the cave walls. Flemen’s pulse quickened, his fear mounting. He couldn’t let them find Tomaz—couldn’t let them take him. His mind raced, trying to devise a plan. He could try to draw the aliens away, using himself as bait to lead them off into the storm. It was a reckless idea, but it might be the only way to keep Tomaz safe. 

Flemen took out his tricorder to see if it registered their life signs. Still nothing. Either they were using some cloaking technology that could hide their life signs, or they could naturally camouflage themselves with the cold surroundings. 

However, a sudden, sharp noise cut through the air before he could implement the plan. An alien cry echoed through the cave, sending a terror jolt through Flemen’s heart. He froze, his breath hitching as he realised the creatures had found something outside. His mind raced through numerous possibilities. Had he or Tomaz dropped something in the snow? Or was it the tracks of the sledge? Flemen couldn’t recall them losing anything that he had loaded up into their kit. Most of it was now sprawled across the cave’s floor or in their tent, secured away for them to access.  

The aliens let out another series of deep cries, and Flemen could hear them moving faster now. Their heavy steps pounded against the ice as they converged on a single point just outside the cave. For a moment, Flemen was paralysed with fear, his mind filled with the horrifying possibilities of what might happen next. 

Shaking his head, Flemen knew he had to once again rely on his Hazard Team training. Pressing a few buttons on his rifle, he set it to wide beam stun, so if and when he has to attack, he can hopefully take the aliens out in one shot. 

Then, as quickly as it had started, the noise stopped. The sudden silence was eerie, and Flemen strained to hear any sign of what the aliens were doing. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on their thoughts. But there was nothing: no footsteps, no gruff voices, no sign of movement. 

Nothing. 

Flemen’s heart raced in the oppressive quiet, his mind reeling. Were the aliens gone? Or were they lying in wait, hoping to lure him into a trap?

He remained crouched at the mouth of the cave; his phaser rifle clutched tightly in his hand. Minutes passed, though it felt like hours, and still, there was no sign of the aliens. The storm continued to howl outside, but the alien threat had seemingly vanished as quickly as it had appeared. 

Had he imagined it? Was he dreaming or going crazy? Flemen didn’t know what to believe. Slowly, he began to relax, though his body remained tense and alert. He needed to check on Tomaz to ensure his friend was still safe, but some of him was reluctant to move. The danger hadn’t passed, and any mistake now could be fatal.

Finally, he forced himself to turn away from the cave entrance, his eyes lingering on the darkened landscape outside for a moment longer. He crept back to where Tomaz lay in their tent, the fire still burning weakly outside their makeshift home. 

The sight of his friend brought a rush of emotions—relief that he was still alive, fear for what might happen next, and a fierce determination to protect him at all costs.

“Anything?” Tomaz whispered, still clutching the phaser rifle that Flemen had handed him earlier.

Shaking his head, Flemen knelt beside Tomaz, his heart aching as he looked down at his friend. “No, but I promise you, Tomaz, we’re going to get out of this,” he whispered back, though the words felt hollow in the face of the unknown danger lurking just outside. “I promise.”

But even as he said it, the uncertainty gnawed at him. The aliens were still out there, somewhere in the storm, and it was only a matter of time before they returned. He was sure of it. 

“Have you got those portable force field generators?” Tomaz asked, interrupting Flemen’s worries.

Flemen nodded. “I think so, why?”

“Set them up by that boulder,” Tomaz said, pointing his phaser to the boulder, shielding them from the wind. “It will stop them trying to come in. Give us some defence.”

Liking the idea, Flemen rummaged through the bag of survival gear he had torn from the shuttlecraft. At the bottom of it, he found the field emitters that Tomaz had suggested. “You’re not just a pretty face, huh?” Flemen said as he showed his friend his luck in finding them.

“That’s why I’m the strategic operations officer,” Tomaz said with a frail smirk. 

With hesitation, Flemen went to work and used his tricorder to activate the field. It sparkled into life and covered their entrance with an invisible screen.

“Any other ideas?” Flemen asked his friend.

Tomaz shook his head. “Nothing right now.”

“It will do for now, I suppose,” Flemen relented. He used his tricorder one more time, attempting to scan their surroundings. “Whoever made that noise, I can’t detect them.”

“Maybe something outside scared them off,” Tomaz remarked. He looked up at Flemen. “Craigen, you look exhausted.”

He couldn’t deny that. Flemen felt his mind racing, but every muscle cried out in pain from the lack of sleep. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“I know I may not be in a fit state to resume seniority here, but I’m telling you to get your ass over here and rest,” Tomaz said, trying to find the energy to pronounce each word.

“Hey, I thought we agreed no more discussing of asses,” Flemen said as he walked over to the tent and got back in it. 

“Well, stop being an ass and rest,” Tomaz urged his friend with a smirk. His own exhaustion was pulling him down again. 

Flemen knew he had to rest, to conserve his strength for whatever lay ahead. He leaned back against the makeshift chair, drawing the blankets more tightly around him and Tomaz, and let his fatigue take over once more. Pulling Tomaz back into his arms, he knew he had to conserve his energy if they were going to survive this. He had to find a way to get them out of this.

“By the way, you don’t tell anyone we snuggled while we were here,” Flemen pointed out to his friend, who had his head on his chest.

“What happens in the cave stays in the cave,” Tomaz said, reaching over Flemen’s waist. “S’Tem is right; you are good to cuddle. Perhaps you’ve got some god-dad bod going on there!”

Chuckling at hearing Tomaz use his own words against him, Flemen shook his head. “I swear you better survive this, Tomaz, as I deserve a medal for putting up with you.”

“I don’t think so,” Tomaz muttered. “You owe me anyway.”

“I do?”

Tomaz mumbled an agreeing noise. “I saved you almost this time last year with Princess.”

“Ah, our baby telepathic pitcher plant,” Flemen recalled the incident too well. The space-dwelling lifeform they had nicknamed ‘Princess’ had been infected by blood dilithium, no thanks to the Devore, and in return, the bio-plasmic creature had taken control of most of the telepathic crewmembers on the Odyssey. They had mutined against McCallister, and if it hadn’t been Counsellor Horin linking with the baby telepathic pitcher plant, then none of them would have survived it. Flemen and the other telepaths on board had felt awful after their possession had ended. He had isolated himself from everyone else to recover, but Tomaz and his son S’Tem didn’t let him feel alone as he came to terms with what he did while under the influence of the telepathic creature. The two had rescued him by having breakfast with him, plenty of visits to the holodeck to play numerous holo novels, and while S’Tem slept at night, Tomaz had taken Flemen to the ship’s gym to help him release the inner rage he felt from being violated and used without his permission. If it wasn’t the gym they entertained, then it was having a few drinks in the private confines of Tomaz’s quarters while talking about the whole experience. 

Realising how right Tomaz was, Flemen looked down at his friend. “You’re right. You saved me, so I must do the same for you.”

Tomaz didn’t answer. He had fallen asleep, and his light snore was barely noticeable. 

The last thing Flemen heard as he drifted back to sleep was the distant howl of the wind outside. The memory of the alien cries haunted the edge of his consciousness, but with Tomaz beside him, Flemen allowed himself a moment of fragile peace.

Flemen pulled his phaser rifle closer to him before his eyes finally closed.