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Cdr Rian Kwai

Principles of Survival

Principles of Survival

 

"Okay, let's rock and roll." Evie Morgan dropped a bowling ball into the back of the camp's utility vehicle, and then flopped down in the seat next to Rian Kwai. At least Rian thought it was a bowling ball. What else would be in her bag that would make that noise and cause the vehicle's back end to sag under its weight? It was either that or bricks. Rian couldn't tell, and it wasn't worth the whiplash to glance back to check it out.

 

“I thought you said we weren't participating in this 'survival' training." Rian punched the ignition button, and then slowly backed the roaring 'gator' vehicle out of its parking space. After six weeks at summer camp as the Procurement Officer (Translation: Camp Gopher), Rian shouldn’t have been surprised at what creative lengths the camp staff or the campers would go to implement a program. Yet the bulging bag in the back of her utility vehicle had Rian both curious and afraid. Evie could go to such extremes when pursuing a ‘fun’ time. The last time Evie had one of her bright ideas it had landed Rian in the health lodge with a healthy case of poison ivy. So the appearance of the bad had Rian doubting the sanity of her decision to spend her last summer before the Academy under her best friend’s influence.

 

“We’re not,” Evie reached around to search the bag while Rian engaged the drive mechanism and started down the dusty road towards Pioneer Mountain. It wasn’t really a mountain per say, more like a big hill. One you could easily hike up to the top of in twenty minutes, fifty minutes if you had a bunch of young campers tramping along behind you. But due to the elevation above sea level, it was considered a mountain in Terrain terms. “We’re going to play the victims. I was thinking shuttle crash? Or, maybe, tornado refugees.”

 

“So what’s with the load of bricks in the back?” Rian dared to cast just a quick sideways glance at her friend before starting up the rocky terrain of the narrow mountain fire road.

 

Evie was holding a long neck bottle of red liquid, staring at the label intently. “Victim supplies.”

 

‘What, huh?”

 

“You know. Burn rags, face paint, fake blood,” She dangled the bottle near Rian’s ear. “Stuff to make it realistic. Gawd, I looooooove CIT survival training. I had such a blast during my CIT year.” She saw Rian’s skeptical look. “Oh come on now, don’t be such a stick in the mud. Think of it like practice for the Academy this fall.”

 

“I don’t think the Academy survival training will be anything like this.” Rian stopped the vehicle suddenly on a rare flat switchback and grabbed the bottle. “Nor do I think they’ll be using catsup for make-up.”

 

Evie grabbed the bottle back. “Hey, you do what you can with what you can. “

 

“I thought the first rule of camping is was to waste nothing, “ Rian twisted in her chair. “What happened to all your preaching about the Basic Principles of Leave No Trace. Isn’t this a bit… well… against the rules?”

 

“You just don’t want to get dirty.”

 

“Says the girl who was reading to the label to make sure it wouldn’t stain her clothing. Ha! Unlike you, I don’t mind getting dirty. I just don’t want to douse myself in a sticky sweet liquid. That’s like putting a sign on my body that says ‘Free Buffet Here’.” Evie made a face. Rian sighed, shifted the vehicle back in gear and started back up the mountain. “What happened to teaching these kids about the basics. Food. Water. Shelter. Fire. Basic Sanitation.”

 

“This is more fun. Who cares about that other stuff right now. They’re here to have a good time. Have an adventure. These kids are playing a game. A camp version of ‘Worse Case Scenario’. The What If game. None of it is stuff they’ll need to be staff. It’s just one night, Rian. Not a life time. ” Evie stowed the bottle back into her bag.

 

“But what if they *do* need to know?” Rian slowed down through a hairpin turn. “I mean, what if they found us splattered on the side of the mountain because the gator tipped over.”

 

“Oh, I didn’t think of that. Think Coop can help us tip the gator over to make it look realistic?”

 

“You are not tipping over my gator. The Director would kill me.” Rian scowled as Evie laughed. “Evie, I’m serious. What if—“

 

“If pigs fly.” Evie’s tone had Rian imagining her best friend rolling her eyes at Rian’s concerns. “Look, first, you’re too good of a navigator for that to happen. And second, these are kids. we’re trying to peak their interest, not scar them for life. Just relax. Enjoy the game. Quit taking this so seriously. Have fun.”

 

“I can’t help it. It’s the way I am.”

 

“Look, the secret to any survival scenario is simple. Just three things you need to know. “ Rian stopped the vehicle long enough to watch her friend tick off her three principles of survival with her fingers . “First – Stay Calm. Second – Act like you know what you’re doing. Third – “ She paused, flashing a toothy grin at her friend. “Don’t get voted off the Island.”

 

Rian snarled, punching the ignition so the vehicle lurched forward, Evie laughing hysterically in the passenger seat. “Why am I friends with you?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Stay Calm. Act like you know what you’re doing.” Rian muttered to herself as she walked with Joy towards the tree so they could speak privately. Staying calm wasn’t going to be easy. She wanted to scratch her arms. She dug her fingers into the meaty part of her palms until her knuckles turned white to keep from scratching. She could do it though, if she concentrated.

 

Acting like she knew what she was doing would be easier, considering her training both with the ‘Fleet and her one civilian summer at camp. Food. Shelter. Water. Fire. Sanitation. She knew what had to be done. She just needed to make sure she could clearly communicate it to the others so they could survive for however long it would take.

 

“Don’t get voted off the Island.” Rian muttered, then glanced at the others assembled behind her. Prevent mutiny, maintain order and harmony. If only Evie realized what her third principle could have meant to Rian now. Evie would be pitching a fit right about now.

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