Raining And Pouring

Posted on Sun Dec 20th, 2020 @ 9:50am by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Commander Christopher Mitchell

Mission: Cosmos
Location: New Rixx - North East Jungle
Timeline: 2396
2638 words - 5.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Alexis knew as soon as they left the ship that there a problem as one the vision in front of her changed from the ship to greenery and the atrium that she had expected of the council building. The jungle they had appeared in was far-reaching, wet, and primal especially with the storm raging above them instantly soaking them. A hodgepodge of wild noises, most belonged to fleeing animals, echoed in the air, and almost completely muffled by the raging torrent that was coming out of the sky right then and there.

“By the deities where are we?” Alexis found herself yelling over the noise as she looked around for some type of cover for them. Coiling vines hung from many trees, and a medley of flowers, which were unique to this region, stuck out against the otherwise blue and brown all around them.

Christopher was already almost knee-deep in marshy undergrowth, his boots and lower uniform sodden within seconds. "Not where we're supposed to be!" he responded. He had to grit his teeth and haul himself onto a large rocky outcropping and shelter a little from one of the giant trees. Once secure he extended a hand to Alexis to help her up alongside him. "I don't recognise this area at all. Do you?"

Alexis levelled the man with a dark look as he answered her but now was not the time to answer back with just as much attitude. She took the offered hand and allowed him to help her up onto the rock. It was enough to get them up from the earth but they were still exposed a little to the storm. It allowed the Betazoid a moment to compose herself before she stood up straight again pulling out her tricorder and shook her head as she looked at the readings. “Nope. This could be miles and miles from where we should have been.” She touched her comment badge but nothing happened. “The air is too ionised for anything to work. We need to get out of the storm properly before it starts burning a path for a bigger lightning storm. This is probably caused by the broken weather controller.”

"Look on the bright side, Commander," he said, assessing their surroundings. "I could have been down here on my own."

Alexis looked at him as she wiped her dark hair out of her face wishing she had a band to tie it up. Starfleet uniforms were slightly waterproof but they were nothing against the torrential rain.

“That is looking on the bright side of life but you humans are a lot more susceptible to illnesses due to getting cold and wet sir. I would hate to have to explain to the Commodore why you are sick in bed for a week.” She advised trying to sound positive but it came out a little strained. She was not the best company for anyone but at least there were two of them and not just someone lost alone.

"This? This is just a little rain," Christopher replied, trying to keep things optimistic in spite of her apparent dampened mood. "So let's see if your tricorder can give us a general position and we can work out a way out of this jungle. Maybe up a mountain where the ionisation is likely to be lower."

“You have a truly unique opinion on just a little rain Sir.” She commented. It was lucky that it was them together because Alexis pack had an emergency kit. She never left the ship without something even if they were going to a colony world. She had made that mistake with that damn and would not be unprepared again. Alexis opened the tricorder again and focused on it for a moment before pointing in the direction they had come from. “It might not be a mountain but it is solid.” It was the only thing the tricorder could pick up through all the interference.

"All right then," Christopher nodded. "No time to waste waiting for this storm to end. Let's get moving - and try not to drown in the swamp of despair."

"You should never wait for a storm to end Sir. Learn to dance in it." Alexis called over the roaring noise as she started in the direction, she hoped was some type of cover. Jungles despite growing up on the edge of one always seemed to weigh down on her slightly and make her feel like she was breathing through syrup.

He held out an arm, putting on her shoulder to help steady her. "Easy, Agrax. I'm not about to carry you out of here if you end up taking a fall."

"I am fine. The atmosphere is just heavy for me." The storm must have been right above them now because the trees started to scream with the wind blowing through them, the crack of lightning and the bright flashes in the sky worse than she had seen on Betazed making her have to hold her arm above her to see clearly. A few hundred meters and there was still no sign of cover as a lightning strike hit a tree a few meters to their right causing it to split and fall blocking their current path and make Alexis grab the man back just in time. “Around it.” She yelled as the rain instantly put the spark out.

He nodded, not needing to reply as he clambered around the now scattered and fallen branches. It slowed their progress significantly.

"Maybe we're better-off finding shelter?" he called to her over the noise of the wind and rain. "Ride out the worst of it?"

There was no point in shouting now, the wind and the noise were far greater than either could produce with mere mortal lungs so Alexis nodded and followed what she hoped would be a new route to something safe. The tree falling over the path eventually paid off as rocks grew in size around them before finally a cave formation opened in front of them, not waiting a moment longer the pair moved quickly jumping over fallen trees and around boulders before finally the wind stopped beating down on them and the thunder though still present seemed further away as the cave offered the relative safety.

Alexis did not say anything as she sunk to the floor still wearing the rucksack and took in some deep breaths. She looked like a drowned rat but did not care. It took a few long moments of deep breathing for the woman to regain some composure and attempt to get her arms out of the bag. “Well…”

"I must admit, I'm glad you brought the equipment pack," he noted, motioning to the gear. "Let me know if you want me to carry it once the storm clears."

“I need to get it off first but sure you can carry it after the moosoon.” Alexis murmured working her arms out of the rucksack relieved to have the weight off of her now. It hurt like hell after the run and climbing especially now as she was cold. She stood and worked her uniform top off her chucking it by the fire they had to dry off.

"For now the important thing is to think about staying warm," he said, taking out his hand phaser - the only useful thing he was carrying - and touching the settings before preparing a small fire arrangement for them. "I assume you have rations?"

"Indeed." Alexis slowly worked about undoing the pack and held up the rations for him. She was really not feeling like anything to eat after the turn of event, she just wanted to warm up a bit.

He took the packet and delved in. After a moment, though, he noticed her faraway stare and mild shivering. "You should keep your strength up. Fastest way to lose body temperature in the cold is by getting dehydrated and malnourished." He sat down next to her, offering the package. "It doesn't taste that bad."

Alexis closed her eyes for a moment as she passed the package over only opening when she felt the man sit down next to her. She accepted the packet but did nothing with it just looking down at the high fibre meal that was inside. “I’m a bit damp, is all. You should consider drying off yourself .” She said with a shrug as a shiver hit her. She put the packet down carefully and moved to look to see what else is in the pack that she had brought along.

"Once it warms-up in here," he replied. "If you brought any of those insulation blankets it might help too." He shifted on the uncomfortable rock he'd alighted on. The cave they were in seemed safe enough; a natural formation rather than something a strange alien animal might have carved out. It was rock, too. Which meant they were well-protected from the elements for the time being. "How long would you say we have until nightfall?"

"Should have. Only one though." She commented on teasing him just a little as she shivered and stood up herself to pace, it warded off the shivered or at least him able to see it. It brought her in and out of the warm space from the fire. "Not long I guess. This was just meant to be a quick jolly to a colony fix weather controller and have a little bit of down time seeing we've jumped from one thing to another for months."

"Can only assume the ship will be looking for us, but at night that's likely to be a problem. Come morning, if the storm has passed, we might be able to create a more physical signal for those searching for us." Christopher rubbed his palms together. "You know to some people this might qualify as shore leave..."

"I do not consider shivering and having to consider if I sit here in my underwear shore leave sir." She replied trying to add some levity as they were stuck together for a bit but it was hard to keep her stubbornness at bay.

"I said to *some* people," he retorted. He hadn't even thought of removing clothing, despite shivering himself at the falling temperature. He shifted a little closer to their makeshift heat source. "When I was growing up our family would spend some time camping out in the wilderness for the weekend. This isn't too different from that. We'll be fine."

Alexis stopped and looked at him. "We never really went camping. I grew up on ships." She admitted. "But I am pretty sure you are not meant to sit down in damp clothing." She added crouching to the side of the heat source holding out her hands to it. A hot shower sounded like heaven right then and there.

"You'd rather I sit here in my underwear?" he replied, turning her earlier question back on her with a slight smile.

Alexis didn’t look over at the man feeling his gaze on her. He was was one of the few men who she attempted to not spout off venom or had not attempted to flirt with her in the last three months or so. She valued the friendship they were building and the fact he did not treat her like she was a bomb about to go off. “Merely suggesting that maybe some of it needs to come off Sir. Like the jacket or boots. Soggy feet not a good look.” She countered before looking back at him with her own smile.

"I've never been one to worry about a 'good look'," he shook his head, but proceeded to remove the sodden mud-soaked boots anyway. One night wouldn't be enough to get trench foot, but the thought of trying to scale a mountain in the morning left him thinking that it wasn't a terrible idea to let them dry a little. "So, never been camping, huh? I guess the survival courses in the Academy must have been a real eye-opener for you then?"

Alexis looked at him one way and then the other before shrugging. Did he really think her than prime and proper as a security cadet that she was unprepared? Did she really give off that persona or something? She supposed it was fair to assume that but she was not that bad in her head. She just liked her home comforts. “I was prepared and I appreciated a lovely warm shower on my return.” She declared with a smirk. “What about you huh? Were prepared for Academy? Was the Academy prepared for you?”

"I'll have you know I was a model student," he smiled. It was a proud achievement for him to have been the upper percentiles in all of his classes. "My tutors and classmates loved me. As I'm sure they adored you..."

"Pretty sure for different reasons Sir. I was seen as someone who had to prove themselves even if I was as good as everyone else and in some cases better. Looks are deceiving was my motto in the Academy." Alexis commented on feeling a bit better now that they were talking with less tension and more honesty, the effects of the running and rain leaving them for a bit.

"Prove yourself?" he asked, intrigued. "Why would you have to prove yourself? Your file doesn't say anything about trouble." Indeed, her record was reasonably good - despite a brief leave of absence that was particularly less clear in her service record. By his standards, she was almost as model an officer as he was.

"I was never a trouble maker professionally but when you look attractive in security people do not assume that you can do your job as well. You have to do a lot of proving physically and mentally." Alexis said honestly. It had caused people to have broken noses on more than one occasion.

"I never really thought of the academy in that light. Different experiences." Christopher gave a slight shrug. It made sense that his Command track would have felt different. "Well, you have nothing to prove to me. I've seen you at work this last few months, and I'm confident that between us we'll get out of this with a fine story to tell at the end of it."

Alexis had no doubt of that but it was certainly starting to grate on her nerves. Was this why she always wrecked and compromised everything as she was just tired of proving herself to everyone. It was draining sometimes and she was so tired of it. "Completely different experiences," Alexis assured with a shrug as she turned back to the rock that was providing the only source of heat.

"We should get some rest," he concluded, sensing her internal struggle over their respective pasts. "Things will look up in the morning."

Alexis nodded. It was a good suggestion but she was prepared for a lot less sleep. It was becoming the norm now. "You sleep. I will keep watch." She concluded back looking over at him seeing the worry written on his face. "I might even eat something, sir." She added trying to reassure him that it was fine.

"I'll take you at your word, Commander Agrax," he nodded with a knowing smile. "Don't stay up all night. Let me relieve you halfway."

Alexis just looked at the man and nodded. She had no intention of doing that but she would let him believe that was going to happen. She wanted her own thoughts and she was far too wired for sleeping and she really was inclined to protect him as the more senior officer. “Sleep.” Was all she instructed.

"Yes ma'am," he said back, finding a space to curl up and close his eyes.