Road to El Dorado Pt. 2

Posted on Mon Nov 10th, 2025 @ 4:21pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Chief Petty Officer Aaron Geiger & Lieutenant JG Vienna Steele

2,010 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Wild Wild West
Location: Planet - Durango City

With Jon, Kate, and Aaron now with her outside the livery stable, the search for the reinforcements could now get underway. "Captain said we would meet them here. I suspect they may be inside the stable getting their mounts."

Kate gave a wave to the new person and smiled, Wolfie next to her looking around with a look of wonder on its face, wondering- where's snacks.

Jon just looked at Kate and Wolfie but said nothing as the other team members should be here.

"Yeechooo!" Geiger sneezed loudly into his elbow. "Excuse me, i'm allergic to horses." He said sheepishly.

"I'll go find the rest of our troop and gather our horses" Deanna noted. She headed inside to meet with the others.

Wyatt was with Vienna, getting their horses ready to ride, he glanced over at her and smiled, She was so darn cute in her cowboy outfit. "I think this should be an interesting mission Vi, what are your thoughts?"

“Right now I’m thinking whether or not I’ll be able to ride a horse!” Vienna grinned. “I’ve rarely ridden one. As for the mission it’s certainly interesting.”

Riding out of the livery on a white horse and in an interesting and somewhat alluring white cowgirl outfit was Ensign Traci Kuzman. Based on how the horse seemed to be in a trained trot, she obviously had some skill. She rode over to the Jon and the others, "Commander. Glad we found you so quickly. The others are inside. Captain decided you needed more than just two considering what we found when we scanned things. Dr. Del Rio is making sure they are good to go. She is apparently quite the accomplished equestrian."

Kate only made it past the door and that was only because her horse decided to make it so. Once out the barn doors, Wolfie ran circles around her and the horse like a furry cheerleader. Kate pointed in the direction she wanted the horse to go but the horse did nothing. It wasn't until Wolfie snapped at the horse herd it down the road did the horse catch up with the group, her own dog being the only thing actually guiding the beast while the slender Asian held on for dear life.

"Thanks, Wolfie... um...guys?! How do I get off this thing when it's time to shut it off? How does it even turn off?!" Kate white knuckled the seat while the dog did the driving.

"I assume you've never rode a horse before" Viviana noted. "I can tell you one thing for certain, having the canine circle you and continually stay underfoot of the horse is a recipe for disaster, for you, the canine, and the horse. As for the rest, just light grip the reins, bounce with your legs as the horse moves, and you guide the animal. Understand, it will and does sense your fear."

"Okay'kay..." Kate said. "Hey Wolfie. You can stop now."
Wolfie sat down without hesitation. The horse then stopped moving altogether. "And you, that way!" Kate pointed and the horse did nothing. Kate grabbed the reigns and tugged. "Hello, hellooo!" She sat there and looked at the horse's ears because that was the only thing that was moving. "Alright you equestrian fracktard! Move!" Still nothing. Kate looked to the dog that looked as if he was smiling watching this and then to the horse. "I have a defective thruster..."

Wyatt came out of the barn, looking for all the world, like he knew how to ride a horse. he sat taal in the saddle, his legs slightly bent an dthe reins held loosely in his hands.

"Looking good Wyatt. I'm guessing Vienna is still in the barn?" Jon inquired.

"Jon! This transportation sucks!!!" came Kate's complaint. "I was given a four-legged lemon horse!"

Jon shook his head, "Lightly jiggle the reins and say, 'Giddy up' and push your heels into the horse's side also lightly." he said with a smile.

Kate gave his advice a try and the horse started to move.
"It's alive!! Muaahahaaa!"

Aaron swung his leg over and settled onto the horse, another sneeze slightly startling them both. "Listen pal, I can't say I'm pleased with this either, let's just agree to cooperate for the time being, eh?" He patted the horse's neck. "Now I just have to remember not to touch my face and I'll be fine...ish."

Kate adjusted her rifle so that it would stop bouncing on her shoulder at the sling as soon as the horse started walking in the direction of where they were supposed to go. Wolfie got up and started following, zipping across the trail to the left and to the right. Apparently, a long-distance trek across the woods wouldn't bother him and Kate saw that he had probably done these kinds of trips many times in his life and he was happy to do it. She looked over to Aaron and smiled. "I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble with horses. For a second there I thought I was the novice amongst experts," Kate stated.

Aaron's horse trotted in a circle before following the rest of the group, clearly on it's own program. "Uh no. I'm much more adept at operating vehicles of the mechanical variety." He straightened up in the saddle to the best of his ability. Aaron had wanted new adventures and experiences, this certainly checked both boxes. He glanced around at the rest of the away team, seemingly confident on their rides, the very picture of determined officers. Aaron calmed himself and kept up while setting his jaw. "Let it never be said that THIS noncom didn't keep up." He grumbled to himself.

Traci rode in the front of the group with Deanna. As the horses led them out of town she spoke to her superior, "We need to travel northeast, just over nine kilometers. There is a labyrinth of trails in the mountains including a few that lead to some cul-de-sac style valleys. One of those valleys appears to be the location of your desperado and his gang, which happens to be 30 men strong."

Deanna nodded as she listened and they rode. "That explains why the captain sent extra personnel. You seem to know how to ride, which is a plus. How are your weapon skills?"

"If we were going to be in a phaser fight, I'd be fine. These antique weapons though, even the fact that they are vastly more stable, I'd say I can handle the situation, but I'm not looking forward to having projectiles fired at me" she replied.

"Suppose that is why the captain sent the doctor" Deanna said with a smile.

"Probably helps that she is a master equestrian" Traci noted. Looking around at the town she was amazed. "I understand why this is such an interesting period in our history. There is a romantic aspect to this era." She began to blush just a bit, "Suppose I shouldn't allow myself to take too close a look at some of these people, but the men are quite attractive, in a primitive manner of speaking."

Deanna chuckled. "At ease ensign."

Riding on the other side of Traci, Jon just chuckled softly and shook his head at her admission.

"They're hairy and stinky though," Kate said to the doomed away mission redshirt. Kate had just ridden past the other two girls with the horse on autopilot, clearly not in control as her body shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. "I saw this guy, like all shirtless on main street today... Talk about jungle chest!" The horse made her bonce up a down as she passed them only going slightly faster than the group. "Ouch. I'm getting sore...are we there yet?"

Traci shook her head. "Not even close. You better find a way to get comfortable with that horse, we have a long ride ahead of us."

Kate's eyes widened. "How are the guys not in the hospital... I mean, I can understand the horse making me just a little sore but with all the extra equipment the men got going on down there, how are they not blue as blueberries in the face after the epic ball beating they're getting from the saddle?" Kate paused a moment and leaned to one side to try and get the horse to give her more cushion. She eventually resorted to pulling a leg in and sitting on it while leaning to one side.

Deanna chuckled. "Kate, you are aware that most human males have hair on their chest, right?"

Kate shrugged, "Ben's pretty smooth. I know it's because of modern technology and all... But most 24th Century guys I run into don't look like a walking carpet. There was this one captain though... What was his name... His face looked like a cue tip with all that hair on his face... He steps over chairs before sitting down on them, which is kinda cool..." Kate smiled all dreamily while recalling the holovids of the living legend... She almost fell off the horse as she did so and quickly readjusted herself.

"If you know how to ride a horse, you aren't really sore" Traci replied.

"I believe you are referring to Capt. Riker. He is a solid officer. Exactly what you would expect for someone who was the XO of the flagship for a decade" Deanna noted.

Aaron began making his way through the team's weapons, using his tricorder as a makeshift collimator. Handing the rifles back mid ride. "While no substitute for a proper zero, this will at least get you 'on paper' so to speak. Hopefully we won't need to use these weapons at all." Aaron nodded in deference to the Commanders. "But should we have to, this should get you close enough to use Kentucky Windage."

Viviana took a look at the rifle, checked the sights, and then returned it to its holster on the left side of her saddle where she could draw it quickly if necessary. She had no desire to be in a gunfight. She was here in a medical capacity, and to assist as needed with those that needing riding assistance, which seemed to just be Kate. Looking around, the terrain reminded her of parts of Arizona and California, notably Tombstone and the Sierra Nevada mountains. "These people we are seeking out, how likely are they to start something? Are we talking about a group of Nausicans looking for a fight, or Klingons after several hours of drinking?"

Deanna looked back at the doctor, "More like a meeting with the Romulans along the Neutral Zone. They might fight, but only if provoked. They will test us, so everyone will need to be on guard. With luck, we won't need you to badge up anyone. But just in case, should something start up, stay close to Wyatt and Vi."

Hearing their names, Wyatt looked up from where he was riding with Vi. "That's right Doc, stick with Vi and myself we'll protect you." he said with a grin."

"The people we're seeking are criminals, outlaws to use the term of the day. Their leader seems to be a professional, reasonable man by the reports we've heard but that doesn't mean he won't resort to violence if needed." Jon added.

Vienna was getting used to riding now, she had one minor ride on a horse as a kid but wasn’t anything near an accomplished rider. “We’ll have to be extra careful.”

It took them several hours to reach the mountains and enter the mountain trails, but this gave Deanna time to look over all the new information that had been acquired by Aaron and Kate, as well as the scan information that Traci brought with her. Added to what she had learned with Jon when they saw the judge, it created a narrative that brought the picture of this mystery into focus. As they reached the mountains, she was ready to talk with Jon and share he beliefs about it all.


TBC

 

RSS Feed