By: Winter
Captains Log Stardate 2835.6 The USS Maverick is in orbit around Dalanta. The Dalantians submitted an application to become part of the Federation of Planets. Their application was approved and the Maverick was chosen to deliver the new ambassador and her entourage. The Dalantians have offered shore leave to the crew and I have granted it. First Officer Wilmington and myself will remain onboard and the crew will be permitted shore leave in shifts.
JD and Vin appeared in the courtyard where Vin
had met the Viceroy. This was also the transportation hub for the city where
they could catch a ride out to the rock formation called the Aerie. Vin watched
their gear while JD made arrangements for transportation. When he was finished,
he joined Vin over by the fountain.
"Another hovercraft is leaving in thirty minutes," JD said as he handed Vin
a ticket.
JD sat on the edge of the fountain and looked around the courtyard. The odd
yellow flowers reminded him of sunflowers. That is until an insect landed
on the petals and the flower closed trapping the insect. JD looked across
the courtyard to see a large feline running in their direction. No one else
in the plaza seemed alarmed but JD had never seen a cat that big.
"Ah Vin," he called nervously.
"What?" Vin asked.
As he turned the cat pounced on him throwing him to the ground. JD didn't
know what to do and was about to call the ship when he realized Vin was laughing.
"It's alright JD," Vin said sitting up. "This is Lila."
JD was about to pet her when a female Dalantian came running towards them.
When she got closer she scolded the cat in a language that was all whistles
and chirps. Vin stood up as Lila climbed off. The purple female was the servant
he had met the other day.
"I beg pardon," she said in broken Terran.
"It's OK," Vin said.
"Yeah no harm done," JD said.
Lila began rubbing against JD's legs and he would have fallen in the fountain
if Vin hadn't caught his arm.
"Guess she like you too," Vin smiled.
"She is very affectual," she said.
"I think you mean affectionate," Vin said.
"Yes, forgive, please," she laughed. "Your words are very soft."
"Hard," JD smiled. "Our words are hard."
"What are you called?" she asked pointing to JD.
"JD."
"Me Skala," she smiled. "You go crawling?"
"Climbing," Vin corrected. "We're going to climb the Aerie."
"Very hard," she frowned. "Maybe climb something softer."
"We can handle it," JD said with confidence.
Vin sat petting Lila while JD talked with Skala. She was eager to learn new
words and they laughed together when she used the wrong ones. The hovercraft
arrived and they said good by. She waved to them as they moved away. The
drive out to the formation would take an hour, so Vin decided to take a nap.
JD watched the planet's odd vegetation through the window. The trees outside
of town were huge and JD was surprised to see structures built amongst the
upper branches. Once past the trees, the terrain switched to a flat plain
covered in lush purplish grass that swayed in the breeze. In the distance
JD could see a large rock formation and he guessed that was the Aerie.
A half-hour out of the city they came to the first hot spring. A resort was
built close by and JD could see it was very popular. Hovercrafts of every
description could be seen parked there. Most of the visitors were Dalantian
but JD noticed a few Starfleet uniforms also. Past the resort more of the
plains were seen and JD decided to take a nap. JD felt like he had only been
asleep for a short time when he felt the hovercraft come to a stop. Vin sat
up and talked to the driver. He explained they needed to be picked up in
two days. The driver agreed and they got out. The driver wished them good
fortune as he drove away. They shouldered their packs and headed for the
rock.
"I figure we can get to the top by lunch," Vin said. "We can eat up there
then come down and camp. There's a hot spring on the other side."
"Sounds good," JD said.
They hiked around to the hot spring and set up camp. After the tent was up
they put on their climbing gear. They double-checked each other's harnesses
before heading out. The last items Vin pulled out were two helmets and he
threw one to JD. They decided to free climb with Vin climbing first since
he was stronger. Vin slung the ropes over his shoulder and headed for the
base of the formation. JD followed, buckling on his helmet. Vin inspected
the face of the rock. When he was satisfied, he reached for the first handhold
and began to climb. As Vin climbed he played out the rope. When he got to
twenty-five feet, he found a hook sticking out of the rock. The brochure
said all climbers must use pitons provided. The Dalantians wanted to preserver
the formation as much as they could. Vin hooked the rope to it and continued
climbing. JD saw Vin hook the rope to the piton and he held on to the end.
If Vin fell JD would be able to stop his fall. When Vin got to the second
piton, he anchored the second rope and threw it down to JD. JD tied off the
first rope to be Vin's anchor then hooked the second rope to his harness
and began to climb. The Pinnacle was 325 feet tall and by mid morning they
were at the half way marker. Vin hooked the rope at the half way mark and
looked down at JD's progress. He could see JD about fifty feet below him
and he was doing fine. Vin looked up for his next handhold and resumed climbing.
JD stopped to take a rest. He glanced up and saw Vin at the half way marker.
When he was rested he searched for his next handhold. JD over estimated but
realized it too late. JD tried desperately to hold on but he could feel himself
losing his grip.
"FALLING!" he yelled.
Vin heard JD's cry and grabbed his rope. He was still close to the last piton
and braced himself. JD fell thirty feet before he was painfully stopped.
When he hit the end of the rope, the harness jerked painfully and he slammed
hard against the surface. JD was dimly aware of someone calling his name.
As his head cleared, he heard Vin call.
"JD! Answer me!"
"I'm alright," he called back.
JD opened his eyes to see he was looking straight down towards the ground.
He maneuvered around to grasp the rope so he could pull himself around to
face the mountain. Vin sagged in relief when JD finally answered him. It
had been a few minutes and Vin was afraid JD was unconscious. He also discovered
JD was heavier then he looked. Once JD finally got himself turned around
he climbed up to the nearest piton and hooked the harness to it. He felt
the rope go slack and knew Vin had let go.
"You sure you're alright?" Vin called down.
"Yeah I'm fine," JD said. "Keep going."
Vin waved down and resumed climbing. JD waited a little while longer to catch
his breath. His right side was killing him. He had slammed up against the
rock hard. JD was pretty sure nothing was broken but it sure hurt. When he
was sure he could continue he started after Vin. They climbed for another
two hours when Vin reached the top. He pulled himself over the edge and sat
down. Vin anchored the rope holding JD just in case he fell again. A few
minutes later JD's helmet popped over the edge and he climbed over. Securely
on top, they both lay back staring up at the sky. After JD caught his breath
he sat up and looked around.
"Wow!" he exclaimed in delight. "Look at the view!"
"It's great," Vin said as he sat up and removed his helmet.
Vin ran his fingers through his sweaty hair and looked towards the city.
It was small but very visible in the distance. JD removed his helmet and
stood up. Vin joined him and they explored the top of the Pinnacle. It was
100 feet wide and 200 feet long. They could see larger mountains in the far
distance with snow covered peaks. Vin found the grass plains fascinating
from their vantage point. They could see the grass swaying in the wind and
as it did it would change colors from a pale blue to a deep purple. JD soon
got bored watching and looked around some more. He went to the far side where
he could see their camp. Farther back from the camp was a series of rocks
that look like the backbone of some ancient animal. They weren't worth climbing
but JD could see caves all along their sides.
"Hey, Vin look," JD said calling him over.
Vin got up and walked over to JD. He saw the caves and smiled.
"You thinking what I am?" JD asked.
"Yup," Vin smiled. "Looks like we're going to explore some caves tomorrow."
"Vin. Look... did you see that?" JD asked as he pointed back to the caves.
Vin looked again and saw beings wandering out of one of the caves.
"Looks like someone else had the same idea," Vin said. "Come on, let's eat.
I'm starved."
Vin pulled various food packets out of his pack and they ate lunch overlooking
the plains. They rested for a short while then decided to head back down
before it got too late. Vin walked over to the ropes. He had pulled them
up and they were coiled by the edge. Vin tied each of them to a piton then
threw them over the side. JD came over to him and they both hooked the ropes
to their harness to rappel down the side. They both put on their helmets.
Vin gave JD a mischievous look.
"Last one to the bottom cooks diner!" he announced as he fell over the side.
JD jumped and began to rappel down. He realized he didn't stand a chance
when he saw Vin was facing towards the ground and running down the side of
the rock. Vin got to the bottom first and waited for JD. Once he was on the
ground he gave Vin an odd look.
"You're crazy," he said.
"Maybe a little, but it was fun," Vin smiled.
Vin hit a button on his sleeve and the ropes came tumbling down the side
of the cliff. They coiled the ropes then headed back for camp. Vin stowed
the gear inside the tent while JD went looking for firewood. Vin came back
out of the tent carrying a change of clothes for each of them. When JD came
back he threw his clothes at him.
"Come on let's go take a swim then soak in one of those hot springs," Vin
said.
JD followed Vin to the pool. Vin stripped down to his briefs then jumped
in. Once he was in the water he pulled them off and threw them on shore.
JD smiled as he stripped down. It was odd to see that Vin was modest about
his body. Buck always joked about it and he was surprised Vin had never gotten
mad. Once all his clothes were off JD jumped in also.
'Damn!!!!" JD yelped as his head broke the surface. "That's cold!"
"I wasn't expecting that either," Vin laughed. "It must be fed from under
ground."
"Forget this," JD complained. "I'm going in one of the hot ones."
JD got out and walked over to one of the smaller pools. He stuck his toe
in and found it pleasantly warm. This pool was much smaller and he lowered
himself into it. He was surprised to find the sides were smooth and seats
were carved into them.
"Hey Vin!" JD called "This one's nice."
JD closed his eyes and pretended to relax. He heard Vin get out of the pool
and walk over. When he heard Vin get into the pool he opened his eyes.
"This is nice," Vin said. "They must have figured after climbing people would
soak in one of the pools. I wonder if they're all carved with seats?"
"Probably," JD sighed in contentment.
Vin glanced at JD and noticed the huge bruise on his side as he leaned back.
"Oh damn!" Vin said running his hand over the bruise.
"OW!" JD protested.
"Buck's going to kill me," Vin sighed.
"No he won't," JD reassured him. "Besides he'll never know. You can just
hit me with a hypospray when we get back to camp and it will be fine by morning."
"I can't," Vin said quietly. "I forgot the medical kit."
JD started laughing. After all the preparation on the ship Vin actually forgot
something. Vin confessed he didn't want to call the ship for it because he
didn't want to be lectured about it. JD said it wasn't necessary, that he
was only bruised. Besides, the hot spring was making it feel much better.
They soaked in the pool until the sun started to go down. JD let Vin get
out first and get dressed. After Vin left to go back to camp JD got out and
dried off, then got dressed. When he got back to camp Vin had a fire started
and they cooked dinner. After dinner they sat around the fire talking. Vin
went into the tent and came back with a bag of marshmallows.
"Oh wow!" JD said as he hunted a stick. "I didn't even think of those."
"I read about them in a book," Vin said. "What do you do with them?"
"Here I'll show you," JD said.
JD explained that you put them on the end of a stick and roasted them over
the fire. Vin gave it a try but lost the first two in the flames. JD smiled
and told him to hold it a little further away. Once he got the hang of it
Vin roasted one to perfection then took it out of the fire. JD watched as
he tentatively tried it. JD had already eaten four of them. Vin smiled in
delighted after he ate it then roasted some more. After he'd had six JD took
the bag away.
"Maybe we better save some," JD suggested. "Some people can get sick from
eating too many."
"Really, why?" Vin asked.
"Um, I'm not sure," JD said
Vin shrugged and went to wash up. Sometimes Vin's questions came out of nowhere.
JD wasn't as good at answering them as Chris or Ezra was. Sometimes Vin and
Josiah could start talking about something and Vin would just ask all sorts
of questions. JD just figured he didn't have the patience to answer them.
JD washed up also and they both crawled into the tent to go to sleep.
The next morning they woke early and broke camp. When everything was packed
they sat down to a cold breakfast. When they were finished they shouldered
their packs and headed for the caves. Vin figured they were about two hours
from the camp. As they hiked Vin asked JD about living on Earth. Vin had
never been there and was curious. JD tried to answer his questions as best
he could. As they got closer to the hills they saw the first cave. When they
came up to it they peered in and saw it was shallow and didn't go very far
back. They decided to check out some of the others. As they were walking
Vin saw something up ahead and he pulled JD behind an outcropping. JD was
about to question him when Vin put his fingers to his lips. He watched as
Vin shrugged his pack off and he did the same thing. Vin looked around the
edge of the rock keeping out of sight. JD did the same thing and they were
both surprised at what they saw. Cardassians.
Vin signaled for him to stay close. JD followed Vin as he sneaked around
the rocks towards one of the larger caves. A group of Cardassians and Dalantians
were out front talking. Inside the cave, Vin could just make out wooden crates.
He motioned to JD and they moved closer. When the group turned their backs,
they snuck into the cave. Vin moved further back before he decided to look
in one of the crates. He pried open the top with his fingers. When he looked
inside he cursed softly.
"What is it?" JD whispered softly.
"They're producing Metagenic weapons," Vin answered. "They were outlawed
by the Federation. Their genetic altering properties were too devastating."
"That they were," said a Cardassian. "But they serve our purpose."
The Cardassian raised a rifle and Vin pushed JD out of its line of fire.
Vin felt the blast hit his side and he cried out and crumpled to the floor.
"VIN!" JD cried.
He ran to the fallen Vulcan but stopped when he felt a tearing sensation
across his chest. He looked down to see what looked like claw marks. JD looked
up to see a Dalantian standing in front of him licking his fingers. That’s
when he noticed their fingernails were actually talons. He was about to rush
the Dalantian when he felt a blow to the back of his head and the world went
dark.