Enter the Hermat

Posted on Wed 22nd Apr, 2026 @ 1:40pm by Lieutenant JG Pifanyi Itzyana

1,234 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: [MAIN] Learning to Fly
Location: Hermav / Earth
Timeline: 3 Years Ago / A Short Time Ago

Young Pifanyi sprung through the forest atop the trees. Trunk to trunk, limb to limb, she left claw marks in the bark and embedded in the wood. Her breathing was rapid and heartrate was approaching 200 beats per minute. Anything more and...she was trying to avoid thinking of that. At the moment, the only thing on her mind was to lose the gang of children following behind, and closing in. They were likewise taking to the trees with but a few on the ground, running along on all fours. Once the forest ended, they hoped to be right beneath her, to be able to tackle and pounce as they had planned.

This chase had started out as fun and games, but, as the case with many Hermat children, it quickly became anything but fun and games.

One child was a little bit faster than the rest and was only seconds behind Pifanyi. This one was the alpha and who instigated the chase originally.

"I'm going to get you Pif."

They did not need a reason to prey on her. It was simply in the genes of all Hermat to hunt and to prey. It was the children, especially, who could not adequately control their prey instinct. And when simple playing and computer simulations were not enough, the children would oftentimes find another to pursue. This time, it was Pifanyi.

Pifanyi increased her pace to put more distance between her and the children on the ground. The bully close behind, she would, more than likely, have to deal with personally. Her heartrate was increasing and she could feel a survival instinct bubbling in hir hindbrain.

The trees ended and Pifanyi shot out from the forest, running along the ground on all fours. Getting to the tall grass ahead was a thought but not a good plan. The Hermat, with their heightened sense of smell could not be lost that easily. And the nearest river was still a 10 minute sprint away.

Pifanyi left claw marks in the ground, kicked up dirt as she sped along. It gave away her position but the bully close behind was almost able to reach her feet. He breathed and growled. Pifanyi did the same, though whimpered just a little in fright. "This is going to be your last day Pif," he said between breaths.

Not wanting it to be that, Pifanyi clawed the ground causing her pursuer to leap over and likewise claw the ground, coming to a stop. There, in a small clearing of grass did Pifanyi and her pursuer circle each other.

"No more running little one," he growled. "You end, now."

He leapt at Pifanyi who sprang forward and rolled along the ground beneath him. Pifanyi doubled back and launched herself on top of her predator. With hindmind blazing, did Pifani growl and protruded her claws to their maximum length. A slap later and half the bully's face flailed off to the side. He tried to flee in a howl but only managed to turn over and attempt to crawl away.

The other children were streaming from the forest in time to see their prey on top of their alpha, with Pifanyi, claws splayed, digging into his back. Pifanyi growled loudly as she continued. Bearing those canine teeth, did Pifanyi sink them into his back. The alpha howled loudly.

The alpha surrendered and went limp. The other children looked on in horror as Pifanyi dug those claws, fore and hind, into the ground, into the alpha's back, neck and legs, whatever Pifanyi could get those claws into to spring forward in a sprint toward the other children. Yapping, they turned and ran. Some started by running on only their hind legs before resorting to all fours. They disappeared into the forest with Pifanyi hot on their trail.

===== Later =====

Pifanyi sat in a chair at the local law enforcement office. Her parent was there, both in shock and angered. Ostag, the law enforcer was at his desk, speaking over a private comm. Pifanyi swung her feet, letting hir heels collide time and again. A device sat atop hir head. It blinked its lights and made it sounds as it scanned away.

Ostag finished at the desk and stood, moved toward Pifanyi's location.

"So the other parents are furious of course. That is to be expected."

"Those children were chasing my child," said Pifanyi's parent.

"I understand that. If the HB coefficient were to be..." and the head scanner atop Pifanyi's head started into an alert. The law enforcer arrived to took it away. "If the HB coefficient proves to be too high," he said while observing the readings, "...if the cycobaramine concentration is still too high at this point, then..." He set the device to the side. "Well the HB coefficient is too high."

Pifanyi's parent sighed a profound sigh of relief and said, "Gods be praised."

Ostag went to and knelt before Pifanyi. "You know what this means, Pifa? This means that those children drove you to that state. Your cycobaramine got too high and you lost control. That child that died out there. That is not on you. That death is on the children chasing you."

"They said today would be my last."

"That would do it," the Ostag said as he looked back at Pifanyi's parent.

"Mada," said Pifanyi, "when do we go home?"

"Soon Dearheart. "What about the other parents," she asked Ostag. "She sent two others to the hospital."

"Hospital is no big deal. A regenerator later and they are all fine. It is the dead child out there. That is where I come into play. But, once they see these readings," Ostag said as he stood, "then they will have no choice but to accept that the children drove Pifanyi to fight for survival. It is the law. This death and those injuries fall on the actions of the other children. You two can rest assured. This is an open and shut case and you can return home. One of my deputies will escort you and if you receive any threats or any sort of retaliation, do make contact and we will take the appropriate actions."

"Thank you officer," said Pifanyi's parent.

"Yes, thank you officer," said Pifanyi, not entirely convinced that all was well. "Mada, can we go home now?"

===== Three Years Later =====

Pifanyi, now the adult age of 5 was a graduate of Starfleet Academy with her medical certification authorizing her to serve as Assistant Chief Medical Officer. Despite her advantages, she was still required to serve as assistant before taking over a department as its head.

During her time at the Academy, Pifanyi was met with the regular animosity and intolerance from the other students who were not so inclined to just accept that she was blasting by them in classes and shooting quickly toward graduation. But it was not Pifanyi's smarts. Not in the least. She never let any adversity get to hir however. Pifanyi kept her eye on the prize, out there, in space, far away. There were lives to save and still more things to learn. Pifanyi learned all she could from books and lectures and hands-on experience from the Academy. Now it was time for the real Starfleet, real exploration, real away missions and real learning. Her extra-curricular experiments were churning away in her PADD as she stepped toward hir transport to take her to Starbase 109.

 

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